William Ridge was probably born in England and first appears in Pennsylvania around 1725 when he married Mary Walmsley, daughter of Henry Walmsley and Mary Searle.1 There is no record of William and Mary’s marriage in Byberry Meeting or Abington Monthly Meeting. They must have remained in good standing with Friends, since their deaths and the births of their children were recorded there.2 William and Mary were not active in Byberry meeting.3

They lived in Bensalem, probably on the land bought from Stephen Townsend in 1737.4 It was at the northern end of Bensalem township, on the Southampton township line, originally part of the large tract owned by Joseph Growdon. William bought 56 ¼ acres from Townsend. This was very small for a farm holding, suggesting that William made his living as a craftsman. His son Thomas was a carpenter; perhaps William was also.5

Their five children were born between 1727 and 1743. The spacing between births was unusually large for the time; there may have been difficulties with pregnancies or children who died at birth. Four of the children stayed around Bensalem, while one moved up to the northeast corner of Bucks County.

In 1759 William and Mary inherited part of her parents’ estate. Her mother had died in 1747, but her father Henry lived on until 1759 and died at the age of 88.6 He left a tract of 220 acres in Bensalem, and after his death the seven married daughters sold their share of the land to their brothers Frances and Thomas.7 William and Mary got £40 as their share.

William made his will in November 1775.8  He left the plantation of 57 acres to his wife Mary, with the usual provision that one of the sons should provide firewood; this was the son Henry who was probably living on the land already, and who was to have it after Mary’s death. To the other four children William left cash legacies, to be paid after Mary died. The amounts were uneven, but he explained that this was in addition to what they have already had. Henry also received a plantation in Southampton of 48 acres.

William died in 4^th month 1776, aged between 78 and 79. His death was noted in the book of deaths kept by Henry Tomlinson, which included Henry’s neighbors around Byberry.9 This does not mean that William was a member of Byberry Meeting by the time he died. Mary outlived William by twenty years, and died in 1795, age 91.10

Children of William and Mary:11

Thomas, b. 1727, d. 1810, married in 1759 Rachel Duncan, daughter of William Duncan and Mary Carver. Thomas was a carpenter.12 In 1802 they granted to their son Mahlon 9 acres “off the southerly corner” of their land in Bensalem, for $200.13 The same day they granted 4 acres of the northeast corner of their land to their son William, for $315.14

Grace, b. 1731, m. Samuel Cooper, son of William Cooper and Mary Groom. Samuel, b. about 1732; the Groom family owned land near the Ridges in Southampton. Samuel is supposed to have “died very old” according to the Cooper Genealogy.15 He did not leave a will. He and Grace may have had children Grace and William.16

William, b. 1735, d. 1821, m. Catharine Marshall. She was born in 1743, the daughter of Edward Marshall and Elizabeth Oberfeld. Edward was notorious as one of the runners in the Walking Purchase. His family was targeted by an Indian raid in May 1757 and his wife Elizabeth was killed.17 Edward Marshall died in 1790, leaving 15 children including Catherine, wife of William Ridge.18 William and Catharine lived in Tinicum on land inherited from her father. William died there in 1821. In his will he named six sons and five daughters.19 It is not clear how William, from Bensalem, met Catharine, from Tinicum. They lived in opposite corners of  Bucks County.20

Mary, b. 1738, m. 1760 John Praul, the son of Peter Praul and Elizabeth Van Horn. They were married on Nov 6, 1760 at the Presbyterian Church in Abington. The Praul family was of Dutch ancestry, originally from Staten Island.

Henry, b. 1743, d. 1822, m. Elizabeth. Her last name is unknown. They lived in Northampton. Henry died in 1822, and left a will, naming his wife Elizabeth, and children William, Jesse, Aaron, Mahlon, Grace Searl, Rebecca Hicks, Elizabeth Fisher, son Henry deceased, Mary Walton, Lydia Scott.21