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Waters Upton memorial inscriptions: RIDGWAY

In Memory of
JAMES RIDGWAY,
OF WATERS UPTON,
who Died Feb. 24th 1890,
Aged 73 Years.

Also ANNE,
WIFE OF THE ABOVE,
who Died March 6th 1846,
Aged 39 Years.

Also HARRIET MAYNE
SECOND WIFE OF THE ABOVE,
who Died March 21st 1903,
Aged 90 Years.

James Ridgway of Waters Upton married Ann Jones at Cound in Shropshire on 20 Jun 1837, just before the introduction of civil registration. The 1841 census shows the couple (both apparently aged 30, although those ages could have been rounded down) living at Waters Upton with their children Harriet (age 2) and Eleanor (age 1). Ann’s early demise means that the census of 1841 is the only one on which she was recorded, so although it is possible she was born at Cound there is nothing to confirm this. Her age at death suggests the possibility that she was the Ann Jones baptised at Cound on 1 Dec 1805, parents Benjamin and Mary.

Ann’s husband James, who worked as a blacksmith throughout his life, was the son of John Ridgway and his wife Ann. Although he was born at Cold Hatton in the parish of Ercall Magna, he was baptised at Waters Upton (on 10 Mar 1811). He married his second wife, Harriet Mayne Knott, in Birmingham in 1851. Harriet’s birthplace was Worcester, where she was baptised at St Clement’s on 13 Dec 1812, daughter of Richard Knott and his wife Harriet.

How did Harriet and James meet? Well, the 1851 census shows her living at Cold Hatton, in the home of her married sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law George Ridgway – a blacksmith, and younger brother of James!

IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
ALFRED RIDGWAY,
OF WATERS UPTON,
WHO DIED AUG. 2ND 1925,
AGED 68 YEARS.
ALSO
SARAH ANN,
WIFE OF THE ABOVE,
WHO DIED DEC. 24TH 1945,
AGED 87 YEARS.
“REUNITED.”

Alfred Ridgway was born around 1857 in Cold Hatton, Ercall Magna, Shropshire, the son of George Ridgway, a blacksmith, and his wife Elizabeth. Alfred married Sarah Ann Woolley (born about 1859 at Great Bolas) in 1880. The 1881 census shows Alfred, 24, a wheelwright, and Sarah, 22, living at Waters Upton with their 1 month old son William and Sarah’s sister Mary Woolley.

20 years on the family was still at Waters Upton, with son William working alongside his father as a carpenter and wheelwright, and three younger children also in the household. Administration of Alfred’s estate (with his will) was granted to Sarah his widow in London on 14 Sep 1925, the value of his effects being £437 2s. 6d.