John R. Ridenour, Jr.

Notes:

"In the name of God Amen, I John Ridenour Senior of Campbell County and State
of Tennessee, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory,
do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say, principally,
first of all, I give and bequeath my body to earth to be buried in a christian
manner and my soul to God. Secondly I give and bequeath to my son John
Ridenour a piece of land lying on Indian Creek below John Sharp's mill
containing 20 acres. Thirdly I give and bequeath to my son Martin Ridenour my
chestnut sorrel mare, and my cow and all my notes and accounts that I have in
my hands now and all my tools and my trunk and one little wheel and one small
oven and one check real, three pewter plates and one dish and one bed stead and
I ordain my son Martin my executer of my last will and testament. Signed,
sealed and pronounced by said ridenour as his last will and testament in the
presence of us,

Test: George Sharp His
Test: Her John R. Ridenour
Nancy X Scruggs Mark
Mark

State of Tennessee)
Campbell County ) Court of pleas and quarter sessions
10th January 1828

The execution of the foregoing last will and testament of John Ridenour,
deceased, was this day proven in open court in due form of law by George Sharp
and Nancy Scruggs, witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded at full
length.

Test:

Jo Hart, Clerk
----------
Reference:
"Ancestors Are Forever", 17 September 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 386.
"One-From-Two", 20 January 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 39, 40, 129.
Melvin Otho Ridenour Letter, 21 Jan 1995, p 2.

John married Mary Harless 11 Aug 1791, , Montgomery, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

John Ridenour served in the Revolution. As a young man he left his Hagerstown, Maryland home and plunged into the wilderness. John Ridenour and his family moved to Berkeley County, Virginia in 1794 then to Tennessee before 1800.

He is found with his family in 1797 in Montgomery County, Virginia where, on 29 June, Caty (Noe) and John "Ridennour" gave consent for their son, Joseph "Ridenhour" to marry Mary Sharp. Mary's father, John Sharp, consented to the marriage and Peter Harmon, Martin Ritennour, William Sharp and George Sharp were witnesses and provided security.

Two months later, on 11 August 1797, John "Ritenour" consented to the marriage of his son, John "Ritennour," to Mary "Harloss." These names are spelled as they appear in the original records. Henry Harless and Mary Havin, parents of Mary, gave their consent to the marriage, while Peter Harmon and Thomas Smith were witnesses and provided security. Both John and Joseph Ridenauer were under age at the time of their marriages and thus parental consent was required.

John Ridenour Senior with his two sons, John Jr. and Martin, were pioneers at Grantsborough and followed the river traffic for more than forty years. Leading a life of a hunter and trapper he floated his furs to New Orleans. He roved through the middle west with the Indians, learning two or three Indian dialects. He knew many of the famous hunters of pioneer times.

There is a John Ridenour listed in the 1830 Anderson County, Tennessee census with 3 males 40-50, 1 male 30-40, 2 males 20-30, 2 males 15-20, 1 male 0-5, 1 female 70-80, 1 female 50-60, 1 female 15-20, and 1 female 0-5 years old.

Will of John Ridenour Probated 10 January 1828

In the Name of God Amen, I John Ridenour Senior of Campbell County and State of Tennessee, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say, principally, first of all, I give and bequeath my body to earth to be buried in a Christian like manner and my soul to God, secondly I give and bequeath to my son John Ridenour a piece of land lying on Indian Creek below John Sharp's mill containing 20 acres. Thirdly I give and bequeath to my son Martin Ridenour my chestnut sorrel mare, and my cow and all my notes and accounts that I have in my hands now and all my tools and my trunk and one little wheel and one small oven and one check real, three pewter plates and one dish and one bed stead and I ordain my son Martin my executer of this my last will and testament, signed, sealed and pronounced by said John Ridenour as his last will and testament in the presence of us.

George Sharp His
Her John R Ridenour Mar Her
Nancy X Scaggs Mark
Mark

State Of Tennessee, Campbell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
10 January 1828
----------
Reference:
"One-From-Two letter", 31 July 1992, Melvin Otho Ridenour p 2.
"One-From-Two", 20 January 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 28, 39, 45, 54, 76.
"Ancestors Are Forever letter", 5 October 1992, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 2.
"Ancestors Are Forever", 17 September 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 386.
Melvin Otho Ridenour Letter, 21 Jan 1995, p 2.
"The Noe/Noey/Noah Family", Elizabeth (Noah) Yost, August 1993, p 15.

John married Catherine "Caty" Noe 1770/1779, , Maryland. Catherine (daughter of Peter Noe and Hannah) was born Abt 1746, Orange County, North Carolina; died Aft 1782. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"One-From-Two letter", 31 July 1992, Melvin Otho Ridenour p 2.
"One-From-Two", 20 January 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 28, 39, 45, 54, 76.
"Ancestors Are Forever letter", 5 October 1992, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 2.
"The Noe/Noey/Noah Family", Elizabeth (Noah) Yost, August 1993, p 15.

Other Events:

• AFN: 4RDS-R7

Notes:

Henry Reitenaur came with his parents at a young age as not to require an oath of allegiance when landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He left his farm in his old age and moved into town.

His will states:

"In the name of God, Amen. I, Henry Ridenour, Senr., of Washington County, and State of Md., being of weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, do make and publish this, my last will and testament, in manner and form following -- i.e., I give and bequeath unto beloved wife Eve during her natural, life, the brick house on lot No. 10 in Elizabeth Town (later Hagerstown) and wherein we now dwell, and all that part of said lot and cellar under the largest brick house which is now rented to Abraham Leighter. Also 1 cow and 1 bed and furniture, which is now used by me and my said wife.

I also give, devise and bequeath unto my sons Henry and David, jointly, their heirs and assigns forever, all that tract of land lying in the county aforesaid, called 'Ridenour's Pond,' containing 240 A., they, the said Henry and David, paying to John Kershner's wife, Mary, the sum of 20 pounds hard money in gold or silver within twelve months after the decease of my wife, which said sum of 20 Lbs. I give and bequeath to the said Mary Kershner.

I also give and bequeath unto my son, George, the sum of 10 Lbs. hard money, to be paid to him by my son, Henry.

I also give and bequeath unto my son, John, his heirs and assigns forever, that part of a tract of land in said county aforesaid, conveyed to me by Capt. Peter Reutch, containing 5 A.

I also give, devise and bequeath unto my sons, Martin and John, and my daughter, Elizabeth Woolford, a joint equal estate in the houses and lot No. 10, Elizabethtown aforesaid, to them and their heirs forever. And further it is my will and pleasure that my sons, Henry and David, pay and deliver to my beloved wife Eve yearly and every year during her natural life the quantity of 18 bus. of wheat, 10 bus. of rye, 5 bus. of corn, 1 1/2 tons of hay, 100 lbs. pork, and 6 cords of wood for her support.

I also give and bequeath to my said wife 1/3 part of all my personal estate, and it is my will and pleasure that the remainder of my personal estate be equally divided from appraisement amongst my children, George, Henry, John, Martin, David and Elizabeth; and I hereby appoint my brother, Mathias Ridenour, and my son, David Ridenour, Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 23d day of June, in the year of our Lord, 1781.

Henry Ridenour, Senr. (L. S.)

Witnesses: Elec Williams.
Mathias Nead.
Abraham Leiter.
----------
Reference:
"One-From-Two", 20 January 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 17, 24, 28, 29, 39, 52, 61, 76.
Ancestral File 4.02, Death date, AFN:4RDS-R7
"Ancestors Are Forever", 17 September 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 386.
"Genealogy of the Ridenour Family," Ephraim Valintine Ridenour, 1910, p 9-10.
Melvin Otho Ridenour Letter, 21 Jan 1995, p 2.

Henry married Anna Catherina Fuhrer 9 Jul 1737, Berg, Bas-Rhin, France. Anna (daughter of Benedict Fuhrer and Catherina Gerhr) was born Abt 1725. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: CT6Q-0Q

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"One-From-Two", 20 January 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 17, 24, 28, 29, 39, 52,
61, 76.
"Ancestors Are Forever", 17 September 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 386.
Melvin Otho Ridenour Letter, 21 Jan 1995, p 2.

Notes:

In the Name of God Amen The 15th Day of September in the Year of our Lord One
Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty One (1781) I Peter Noe of Orange County and
State of North Carolina Being in Perfect mind & Memory Thanks be to God
therefore, calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body & knowing that it is
appointed for all men Once to Die Do make & ordain this my Last Will &
Testament, That is to say Principally & first of all I give & Recommend my soul
into the Hands of God, that gave it, and for my Body I Recommend it to the
Earth to be buried in a Christian like & Decent Manner at the Discretion of my
Executors, Nothing Doubting but at the General Reserection I shall receive the
same again by the mighty Power of God, And as touching such worldly Estate
where with I hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life I giveth Devine and
dispose of the Same in the following Manner and form ... It is my will and I do
Order, That in the first place all my Just Debts and Funeral Charges be paid
and satisified --- Item I give & bequeath unto Hannah my Dearly beloved Wife
all my Estate Except Five Shillings & 1 Pence to my Son John Noe & Five
Shillings & 1 Pence to my son Joseph Noe and Five Shillings 1 Pence to
Kathereena Rightenhour my Daughter and Five Shillings 1 Pence to my Daughter
Susannah Ridge and Five Shillings 1 Pence to my Daughter Elizabeth Coons and
also to my Daughter Elizabeth Ragen Five Shillings 1 Pence; and I do appoint my
beloved Wife my Executor given under my hand and seal the Day and Year above
written . .

Test
Jn Armstrong ??? his
her Peter PN Noe Seal
Anne X Armstrong Marke
Marke
----------
Reference:
"Ancestors Are Forever letter", 5 October 1992, Melvin Otho Ridenour p 2.
"Will Book A", page 237, Orange County, North Carolina.

Peter — Hannah. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Ancestors Are Forever letter", 5 October 1992, Melvin Otho Ridenour p 2.

Other Events:

• AFN: 4RDR-BT

Notes:

Conf. 1698 France.

Nicholas Reitenauer and his family arrived in Philadelpia, Pennsylvania on the
ship Robert & Alice 3 September 1739. They came together with 238 other
immigrants from the Palatinates, (78 men, 57 women and 88 children).

The story was told that the Ridenours were close friends of Marie Antoinette and
planned to bring her to their home in America when things became difficult for
her, but the plan failed and she was executed.

In the Land Office, Annapolis, Maryland, August 1743 a patent was issued to
Nicholas Ridenour, of Prince George County, for 100 acres called Ridenours
Pond. According to Certificate of Survey, October 22, it is near the road from
John Thomas to N.E. of a pond about five miles from Conocoheague. Conocoheague
is a village six miles directly west of present Hagerstown, Maryland on a
stream of the same name which rises in Pennsylvania and flows into the Potomac
at Williamsport. This tract, as appears from the patent, was called "Nicholas
Reitenaurer's Pond."

The town of Hagerstown was named for John Jager a brother-in-law of Nicholas
Ridenour.
----------
Reference:
"One-From-Two", 20 January 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 23, 28, 57, 60, 61, 63,
76.
"Ancestors Are Forever", 17 September 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 386.
"Ridenour Family 983-1900s", Boulder Genealogical Society Quarterly, May 1979,
p 72.
"Genealogy of the Ridenour Family," Ephraim Valintine Ridenour, 1910, p 6,.
Melvin Otho Ridenour Letter, 21 Jan 1995, p 2.

Nicholas married Anna Magdalena Arnet 1720/1729, , Alsace, France. Anna (daughter of Heinrich Arnet and Amelia Springer) was born Abt 1690; died Bef 1771. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 4RDR-C1

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"One-From-Two", 20 January 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 23, 28, 57, 60, 61, 63,
76.
"Ancestors Are Forever", 17 September 1991, Melvin Otho Ridenour, p 386.
Melvin Otho Ridenour Letter, 21 Jan 1995, p 1, 2.

Notes:

----------
Reference:
Melvin Otho Ridenour Letter, 21 Jan 1995, p 2.

Benedict — Catherina Gerhr. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

----------
Reference:
Melvin Otho Ridenour Letter, 21 Jan 1995, p 2.