Captain Charles Ridgely Incoming Letters, 1757-1767

These papers are an addition to those in MS. 692. The papers in this collection are largely those of Captain Charles Ridgely and deal with his earlier career as sea captain and merchant. There are a few papers pertaining to Charles [Carnan] Ridgely.

Captain Charles Ridgely Papers

Ridgely's papers in this collection supplement those in MS. 692. They deal primarily with the years 1757-1778 and are almost exclusively concerned with Ridgely's mercantile pursuits, although there are a few items relating to the Northampton Furnace, Ridgely's political career in Baltimore County, and his home Hampton.

Ridgely's papers in MS 692.1 consist of incoming letters with some drafts of his replies (1757-1790, circa 300 items), bills and receipts (1757-1789, circa 400 items), and land and legal papers (1759-1789, circa 100 items).

The letters are concentrated in the years 1757-1778. During this period Ridgely acted alone or as Ridgely and Goodwin (1757), or as Ridgely, McLure, and Goodwin (circa 1770-1773). The letters are business letters dealing with shipments of goods and methods of payment. Ridgely frequently was unable to pay his debts to London merchants and there are letters requesting payment. The London merchants he dealt with most frequently were James Russell, William Molleson, John Buchanan, and the firm Mildred and Roberts. These letters reveal much about colonial trade in the 1760s and 1770s.

Two topics outside routine trade arrangements were land and guns. There is frequent correspondence between Ridgely and James Russell over Affinity, a tract of 1500 acres on the Gunpowder River, that Russell purchased for Ridgely from John Hyde. This dispute was under discussion throughout the 1760s. Letters from William Molleson during 1765-1768 discuss procuring guns and shot for Ridgely.

The few letters in this collection that do not concern mercantile activities deal with Northampton Furnace and Baltimore County politics.

The letters concerning the Northampton Furnace include two from Colonel Charles (1765) to his sons and two from John Ridgely (1768, 1769). There are two letters, (1777, 1780) from doctors for the iron works. In 1777 Dr. Randle Hulse detailed the reasons he was leaving Ridgely's employ. Included were Ridgely's poor treatment of his workers and Rebecca Ridgely's inept attempts at medical practice. Hulse's indenture and will are in Box 5. In the 1780s there are several letters referring to the furnace from Ridgely's employees John Sterett and Daniel Sheredine.

The four letters concerning Baltimore County politics complement those letters in MS. 692. Samuel Chase wrote Ridgely in 1778 asking him to oppose an unnamed pending proclamation. Ridgely also had a copy of a 1778 letter from Samuel Smith to Governor Thomas Johnson. In it Smith explains how and why the continental Army should enlist convict servants before General Howe did. An undated exchange between Ridgely and Harry Dorsey Gough discusses Gough's impending candidacy. Another undated (possibly 1786) letter from Ridgely discusses a pending road bill. This could be in reference to the turnpike Ridgely opposed in Baltimore County.

One unrelated letter was one written in 1788 by a Richard Sheepshanks. In applying for a job as clerk for Ridgely he gives a detailed autobiography.

Ridgely's bills and receipts (1757-1789, circa 400 items) also deal largely with his mercantile activities in the 1760s and 1770s. Many receipts are for money owed Ridgely or money owed London merchants which Ridgely was empowered to collect. There are some receipts relating to Northampton Furnace and receipts for building Hampton including the account with the estate of builder Jehu Howell. This account (1787) details the cost of building.

Among Ridgely's legal papers are land deeds and bonds for convict servants bound to him and to others. In circa 1785 there was a move to create a new county, to be called Paca County, out of Baltimore and Frederick counties. Several signed petitions for this are in these papers. Also included is a list of books purchased possibly by Ridgely and a list of horses beaten by Ridgely's horse, Figure.

Charles [Carnan] Ridgely Papers

There are also some of Charles [Carnan] Ridgely's papers in this collection. Most are bills and receipts (1787-1808, circa 50 items) for food, clothing, and some household items.