Maryland Ss
In the Proceedings of the Chancery Court of the
Province aforesaid amongst other
things is Contained as followeth (vizt.)

To his Excellency Benedict Leonard
Calvert Esqr. Chancellor of Maryland
and Keeper of the Great Seal of 

The humble Petition of Henry
Ridgley of Ann Arundell County

Humbly sheweth That a Certain Colo. Henry 
Ridgley Your Petitioners Grandfather Intermarried
with a Certain Alice Skinner by whom he had an only 
son Named Charles That the said Charles Married & had
Issue your Petitioner and that all the said persons are
now Dead. That your Petitioner hath been lately
Informed that in right of the said Alice a very
Valuable Estate in the County of Devon in the King-
dom of Great Brittain is become the right of your
Petitioner as heir at Law of the said Alice. But 
Forasmuch as it is absolutely Necessary before Your
Petitioner can proceed to take and Lawfull steps
to recover the said Estate as being a Native & Inhabitant
of this Province that your Petr. should here prove 
himself to be the heir at Law of the said Alice And
for that the Evidences who can prove the same are
Antient & Infirm & Inhabitants of this Province and
the said Estate being in England

Therefore Your Petitioner humbly
prays your Excellency for the more
Effectuall obtaining the sd. Evidences
Deposes to grant your Petitioner a Com. 
out of the Honble. Court of Chancery
Directed to such persons as to your
Excellency shall seem meet to Examine
all such Evidence as your Petr.

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Shall be produced to them, In order for a Recovery 
of the said Estate
And your Petr. as in Duty bound &c.
Commissioners humbly proposed
are
Mr. Jno. Beale
Mr. Vachel Denton
Capt. Robt. Gordon
Mr. Thos. Worthington
Mr. Richd. Warfield
or any two of them

The Commission to Examine
Witnesses Directed to these Commissioners
is allowed & ordered to Issue according
Bendt. Leond. Calver Chan.

Thereupon Commission Issued accordingly Directed
to the severall Persons therein named & appoynted in 
the words following Vizt.

Maryland Ss.
Charles absolute Lord & Propry. of the Provinces
of Maryland & Avalon Lord Baron of 
Baltemore &c. To John Beale, Vachel Denton, 
Robert Gordon, Thomas Worthington and
Richard Warfield Esqrs. Greeting Know ye
That we have appoynted you or any two of
you to be our Commissioners to Examine
Evidences touching the Pedigree& Descent of
Henry Ridgley  of Ann Arundell County Junr.
whereby he Intitles himselfe to be by right
of Inheritance the heir at Law of Alice 
Skinner who Intermarried with Collo.
Henry Ridgley Grandfather to the said
Henry Ridgley Junr. We therefore require
you or any two of you that at such time & 
place as to you or any two of you shall Seem
meet you call & cause to come before you 
or any two of you all such Evidences as
shall be to you or any two of you Nominated
& provided by the said Henry Ridgley and

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That you or any two of you Examine them & every of
them on their Corporall Oaths to be by you or any two
of you Administered to them on the Holy Evangelists
touching their knowledge & remembrances in the 
premises & that you of any two of you reduceing
into writing their severall Depositions you or any
two of you send the same together with this our
Commission close under your or any two of your
hands & seales to us in our high Court of Chancery
with all convenient speed Witness our Dear Brother
Benedict Leonard Calvert, Esqr. Chancellor and
Keeper of the great Seale of our said Province of
Maryland this 24th day of August in the 12th year
of our Dominion &c.  Anno Dom. 1727
Rd. Clagett Regr.

On the back of the foregoing Comsn. was thus
Endorsed Vizt.
The Execution of the within Commission appears
in the ------ hereunto ---- next
John  Beale (seal)
Vachel Denton (seal)
Robt. Gordon (seal)

Maryland Ss
In Virtue of a Commission Issued out of 
his Lordships the Rt. Honble. the Lord Propry’s
high Court of Chancery Directed to us the 
Subscribers & other bearing date the 24th
Day of August 1727 to Examine Evidences
Touching the Pedigree of Descent of Henry
Ridgley of Ann Arundell County, Junr.
Whereby he Intitles himself to be by right of

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Inheritance the Heir at Law of Alice Skinner
who Intermarried with Collo. Henry Ridgley Grand
Father to the said Henry Ridgley, Junr.

Pursuant and in Obedience to 
which Commission we met & called
before us the severall Evidences
to us Nominated whose Depositions
are as follows (Vizt.)

Rachel Freeborn of Ann Arundell County
in the Province of Maryland aged Eighty Years
or thereabouts being Sworn on the holy Evangelists
of Almighty God Deposeth & saith That about 
fifty six years agoe as near as this Deponent
can Remember There came into the aforesaid
Province a Certain Alice Skinner & Mary Skinner
(The said Mary Skinner being a near Relation 
to the said Alice Skinner) from the County
of Devon in the Kingdom of Great Brittain
as this Deponent hath been informed and that
they came here at the Instance & Request
this Deponents Grandmother a certain Jane
Puddington as the said Jane hath Likewise
Informed the Depont. which said Jane
Puddington before her Intermarriage with
George Puddington was the Widow & Relict of
a Certain Edward Roberts (sic, Robins) as this Deponent hath
been told by her said Grandmother Jane Puddington
and this Deponent further declares upon her oath
That her said Grandmother told her that within a
Twelve Months after the aforsd. Alice Skinner came
into Maryland and whilst she lived with her
Aunt the said Jane Puddington as well as this
Deponent can Remember , she Intemarried

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With a Certain Henry Ridgley of Ann Arundell 
County, who afterwards bore the Title of a Colonel
by whom she had Issue an only son named Charles,
who survived both Father & Mother, after the Death
of his the said Charles’s Mother Alic aforsd., he the 
said Charles went to England, and there Marryed as
the said Charles hath Conjest to this Deponent, and
after his Return to the Province aforesaid had Issue
a son Named Henry Ridgley at whose Birth this
Deponent was present being sent for by the said
Charles Ridgley to be Midwife and was aiding and
assisting at the brining forth & Delivery of the
said Henry and the said Deponent Likewise
Declares upon her Oath that before & after the Birth
of the said Henry the said Charles owned his Marriage
in England and that the said Henry since his birth 
was always Deemed & taken to be the Lawfull Child
of the said Charles Ridgley, and that the said Charles
Ridgley hath to this Deponent owned himself as
such, And this Deponent further Deposeth that
the said Charles hath long Since been Dead, and that
since the Death of the said Charles this Deponent
hath been Informed that the ----n Estate in Right
of the said Alice fallen to the said Henry Ridgley
Son of the aforesaid Charles Ridgley and further
Saith not.
        	
  her
  Rachel     R Freeborn
              mark

Sworne to before us the Subscribers
Comrs. appoynted for that purpose
this 25th August 1727
     JohBeall
     Vachel Denton
      Robert Gordon

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Neale Clarke of Ann Arundell County
Planter aged Sixty three Years or thereabouts being
first Sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty
God Declares he hath heard & been Informed that
a Certain Henry Ridgley of Ann Arundell County
Gent. was Lawfully Marryed to a Certain Alice
Skinner who before her Marryage lived at one
George Puddingtons on the south side of South
River in Ann Arundell County, and that of this
Deponents own certain knowledge they 
the said Henry & Alice lived together as man and
wife and were Generally deemed & reputed as Such
and this Deponent further declares on his oath that
the said Henry Ridgley sometime before his death
bore the Title of a Collo. & had Issue by the sd. Alice
an only Son named Charles who survived both
his father and Mother, That the said Charles went
to England and as he Informed this Deponent
there Married a woman who he brought with
him and owned as his wife, by whom the said
Charles had Issue a son named Henry Ridgley, who
now Resides within a Mile of this Deponents
Habitation, and is at the best of this Deponents
Remembrance Twenty three Years of age or
thereabouts, and this Deponent further declares
on his oath that he Remembers to have heard it
said by the old Standers, that the said Alice came
into this Province from the West of England
and that the said Alice was Deemed a West Country
Woman
  Neall Clark
Sworne to before us the Subscribers
Comrs. appoynted for that Purpose
this 26th August 1727
   JohBeall
   Vachell Denton
  Robert Gordon

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Elizabeth Ridgley (widow of Wm. Ridg-
ley late of Ann Arundell County in the Province
of Maryland Deced.) aged Sixty five years or
thereabouts being first sworn on the holy Evangelists
of Almighty God Declares that even since she can
Remember she hath heard of one Alice Skinner
Coming over Sea from the West of England and that
the said Alice Skinner was a Relative of a Certaine
Jane Puddington wife of George Puddington of Ann
Arundell County, and that the said Alice Skinner after
her arrival into Maryland lived some time with the sd.
Puddington, after which she the said Alice was
Married to a Certain Henry Ridgley of the aforesaid
County, all of which this Deponent hath heard her 
Mother say, And as this Depont. grew in years being 
a near Neighbour to the said Henry Ridgley many
years, got acquainted with the aforesaid Alice
the wife of the said Henry Ridgley, and that they
the said Henry & Alice were always Reputed man
& wife & lived together as such, And that after they
had been Married some few Years this Deponents
Mother was sent for as a Midwife by the sd. Henry
Ridgley to his wife, and at her Return the Deponent
understood she had Delivered the said Alice of
a Son, who was after named Charles who this
Deponent was very well acquainted with during
his Life & after he grew to Mans Estate, And after
the Death of his the said Charles’s Mother he went
to England and at his return brought in a woman
with him who he said was his wife and they were
Marryed in England, And this Depont. further
declares that the said Charles & the woman he so
brought in with him were always reputed as man
& wife and lived as Such during his life, and after
they had been some Years in Maryland had Daughters
and a Son who is named Henry, and is about Twenty four
Years of Age, And this Deponent further Declares

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That she hath heard the aforesaid Alice say
that a Certain Gentl. named Cornish a Mercht. in
the west of England was her Uncle and
further saith not.
        	      her
  Elizabeth  E  Ridgley
                 marke

Sworne to before us the subscribers
Comrs. Appoynted for that Purpose
this 26th day of August 1727
       JohBeall
       Vachel Denton
       Robert Gordon

Elizabeth Ridgley the wife of Charles
Ridgley late of Ann Arundell County in the
Province of Maryland Deced. aged about fifty
six Years being first sworn on the Holy Evangelists
of Almighty God Declares that she has often
heard her Husband Charles Ridgley say & Claim
a Certain Collo. Henry Ridgley of the aforesaid
County & Province as his Father, and that she
has heard the said Henry Ridgley own and
Claim him the said Charles as his son, That
this Deponent was well Acquainted with the
Said Henry Ridgley, and further this Depont.
on her Oath declares that her said Husband
Charles Ridgley told her that his Mothers Maiden
Name was Alice Skinner, and that she was born
in the Kingdom of England in the West part
thereof. That she hath often heard her aforesaid
Husband say that he had an Estate in right of 
his Mother in England, and that a Certain Capt.
Rock, Master of a Ship & a Trader which used
Maryland, had advised him to sell, or Endeavour
to Recover the said Estate, but that her said

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Husband Charles Ridgley did neglect to do Either
and this Deponent further on her oath
Declares that she was Married to the aforesd.Charles
Ridgley at the parish of St. Mary Rotherheth in 
the County of Surry, on the Twenty fifth day of 
August 1698, and had Issue by the said Charles
Daughters, and one Son Named Henry Ridgley
now near about Twenty four Years of Age
and further saith not.
                      her
   Elizabeth    E. R.   Ridgley
                      mark
Sworn to before us two Subscribers
Comrs. appoynted for that Purpose
this 26th Day of August 1727.
      JohBeall
       Vachel Denton
      Robert Gordon

Richard Duckett of Prince Georges
County in the Province of Maryland aged 55 years
or there abouts Deposeth on the Holy Evangelists of
Almighty God that about year 1692 he came into
Maryland a Servant for 4 Years Consigned to
Majr. Henry Ridgley a Mercht. near the head of
South River and about two days after his coming home
his Mistris the wife of the said Master Henry Ridgley
askd. him what Country man he was, he told her he was
Born in London, she said that was farr from her for
she was born in West of England he told her he
had been in most parts of the West & askd her where
she told him the place he hath forgot the name
Tho he is an call to mind he said he had been there
Upon she askd him if he knew any of the Skinners
There for said she my Maiden Name was Alice

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Skinner, he told her no for his Stay was short, she
added I have something of an Estate there & tho I am
not much the better for it at present yet my Son
Charles Ridgley (who was then a Lad about Twelve
years of age and the only child his sd. Master had
Living by the said Alice his wife, or his Children
may. The  Depnt. doth further Rembr. there used
to come to the said Masters house one Capt. Rock
whose Ship Lay in Severn River & came in 
Yearly who this Depont. hath often heard Converse
with his said Mistris about her Relations and
Friends in the West of England by which he 
Supposed he was of the same place or near it
and about two years after his being in the Country
his said Mistris the Mother of the said Charles
Ridgley Died and his Master in her Trunk found
some Letters which he brought to me to read and
he did so &found they came from her Relations
& Friends in the West of England but he can 
Neither Remember the Names of those they
came from nor the place but then told his Master
they ought to be kept safe, for they might do his
son Charles good for they Did Intimate some
right his Mother had there and when his said
Master sent his said Son Charles into England
which was Some Years after, ordered him to
take care of those Letters & alsoe writ to Mr.
Isaac Millner his Corespondent in London 
to be assisting to him if he was minded to goe
into the west about the said Estate But after
the said Charles had stayed some time in England
he Married there Returned & brought his wife
into Maryland with him and lived on his
Plantation And this Deponent doth further
say that soon after the said Charles settled in 
Maryland he the Depont. particularly Enqiared
what Progress he the said Charles had made in

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The West and what Information he could give abt.
the Affair of the Estate he told him the Deponent
that it was so farr off that he would not goe but 
had sent severall Letters But had recd. no answer
and that he had Enough without so much Trouble
& charge and that Mr. Millner would do what he
could in it. After some Children the said Charles
Ridgley had by his wife (which were Girls) he 
had a Son who was named Henry & is the same
that is now present whom this Deponent hath
known from his Birth and was always called
and known by the Name of Henry Ridgley the
son of the said Charles Ridgley, son of Henry 
Ridgley by his wife Alice whose Maiden Sirname
was Skinner. This Deponent living with and
near the said Majr. Henry Ridgley and being
Imployed in Book keeping for the said Majr.
Henry Ridgley who bore the Title of a Colo. some
time before and until his Death and was
Intimate with all of the Family, and further
saith not.
                 Richard Duckett
Sworn to before us Comrs. appoynted
for that purpose this 9th Septr. 1727
  JohBeall
 Vachel Denton
 Robert Gordon

Copia Vera
Rd. Clagett, Regr.
 in Chancery

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Maryland Ss   I  John Beale Deputy Notary Publick
Constituted and Appointed by the Honble. Phil. Lloyd Eqrs.
Deputy Secretarie and Notary Publick with this his Lordships
Province of Maryland by Legal Authority Admitted and
Sworn Dwelling at the City of Annapolis in the Province
afsd. Doe hereby Certifie that Mr. Richard Clagett the
person said to Signe the foregoing Transcript is Register
of the right Honble. the Lord Prop:ry’s high Court of Chancery
in the Province afsd. and that to all Transcripst by him so
Signed with his Lordships Great Seale of the said province
thereto Affixed full faith and Credit is and Ought to be
Given in Justice Court and thereout In Testimony
whereof I the said Notary have hereunto Set my hand
and affixed my Usuall Seale of Office this 16th
Day of April Anno Dom. 1728
  JohBeale