Paternal Family Tree: Ridley of Blagdon Hall, Northumberland
On 14th November 1711 Matthew Ridley was born to [his father] Richard Ridley of Heaton and Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 1724 Matthew Ridley (age 12) commenced his education at Westminster School [Map].
In December 1727 Matthew Ridley (age 16) matriculated St John's College, Oxford University.
In 1730 Matthew Ridley (age 18) was awarded Master of Arts.
In 1733 Matthew Ridley (age 21) was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.
On 18th November 1742 Matthew Ridley (age 31) and Elizabeth White (age 21) were married.
On 28th October 1745 [his son] Matthew White Ridley 2nd Baronet was born to Matthew Ridley (age 33) and [his wife] Elizabeth White (age 24).
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 5th March 1749 [his son] Nicholas Ridley of Link House, Blyth was born to Matthew Ridley (age 37) and [his wife] Elizabeth White (age 28). He married 23rd November 1790 Letitia Atkins.
In 1756 [his brother-in-law] Matthew White 1st Baronet (age 29) was created 1st Baronet White of Blagdon in Northumberland, with remainder to the heirs male of his sister [his wife] Elizabeth White (age 35), wife of Matthew Ridley (age 44).
In 1764 [his wife] Elizabeth White (age 43) died.
On 6th April 1778 Matthew Ridley (age 66) died. Monument at the Cathedral Church St Nicholas, Newcastle upon Tyne [Map] sculpted by John "The Elder" Bacon (age 37).