1717-1812
Guide to the Collection
Abstract
This collection consists of the personal, business, and family papers of merchant Matthew Ridley of Maryland and France, spanning the dates 1717-1812.
Biographical Sketch
Matthew Ridley (1746-1789) was born in England. In approximately 1770, he moved to America and settled in Baltimore, where he worked as the manager of the Maryland branch of the London mercantile firm of Stewart and Campbell. While in Baltimore, Ridley maintained a correspondence with Nancy Richardson (ca. 1754-1784), who was still living in London. In 1775, Ridley returned to England to marry her, and in 1777, Nancy gave birth to a son, Essex Sherbourne Ridley.
The Revolutionary War made it difficult for Ridley to conduct business with his contacts in America while he was living in England, and his allegiance to and support for American independence apparently led him to feel that he was being closely watched by the authorities. As a result, in late 1778, he relocated to France, leaving his wife and young son in England. By July of 1779, he had returned to Maryland, leaving his family in Europe once again.
In March of 1781, Ridley was appointed agent for the state of Maryland and was sent to Europe to secure a loan for the state. Following a year in Paris, he traveled to Holland in May of 1782, where in July he secured a loan of 300,000 fl. from the firm of Nicolaas and Jacob van Staphorst of Amsterdam. He returned to Paris in August of 1782. During his time in France and Holland, Matthew spent time with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
In September of 1783, Nancy (Richardson) Ridley gave birth to a second son, Lucius Lloyd, who died in early January 1784. Weak from consumption, Nancy died later that month, on January 21, with Matthew at her side.
After his wife's death, Ridley spent some time in London. In the spring of 1786, he returned to Baltimore with his son Essex and his sister Jane and her son. The following spring, he married Catherine Livingston (1751-1813), daughter of Gov. William Livingston of New Jersey. He and Catherine had two daughters: Susan Ann Livingston Ridley (1788-1867), who married Theodore Sedgwick, Jr., and Matilda Frances Sherbourne Ridley (1789-1862), who married Robert Watts. After a prolonged illness, Matthew Ridley died in Baltimore on 13 November 1789, six days before Matilda's birth.
Collection Description
The Matthew Ridley papers consist of three boxes of his correspondence, 11 volumes of letterbooks, four diaries, one account book and a collection of loose accounts, one miscellaneous volume; one unidentified notebook possibly belonging to a John Ridley; and two volumes of math lessons, one belonging to Matthew Ridley and the other to his son Essex Sherbourne Ridley. The letterbooks and diaries are available on microfilm, P-178, reels 1-4. The collection spans from 1717 to 1812, with the bulk of the collection falling between 1771 and 1796, and is divided into three series: personal correspondence, business correspondence, and bound volumes.
Of particular interest in this collection are letters and diary entries that pertain to Ridley's business as agent for the state of Maryland in 1781-1782, during the Revolutionary War. Vol. 14 and most of Vol. 7 are dedicated to the time he spent in Holland in 1782 securing a loan for the state from the firm of Nicolaas and Jacob van Staphorst.
Also of interest are the many letters and diary entries that discuss the Revolutionary War. A firm supporter of American independence, Ridley documented the progress of the war in his diaries, and in his private business correspondence, the war is often discussed in terms of its effect on commerce. While in Europe, Ridley was involved in the sale of military stores to America, and these activities are documented throughout his correspondence and in a collection of loose accounts.
The remainder of the collection documents Ridley's business affairs as manager of the Maryland branch of Stewart and Campbell, a London mercantile firm, and his private business endeavors. Information about his personal life can be found in his personal correspondence and diaries.
Acquisition Information
The Matthew Ridley papers consist of items acquired from two separate sources. All of the correspondence, nine of the letterbooks, and the remaining bound volumes (except for the four diaries kept by Matthew Ridley) were the gift of Dr. Charles L. Nichols, 9 March 1922. One letterbook (18 July 1783-7 May 1785) and the four diaries were given to the MHS by Mr. Alexander Sedgwick on 8 March 1923.
Alternative Form Available
The letterbooks and diaries are available on microfilm, P-178, reels 1-4.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Expand allI. Personal correspondence, 1771-1812
A. Correspondence with Nancy (Richardson) Ridley, 1771-1782
Arranged chronologically.
These letters cover the time period before Matthew and Nancy's marriage, while Matthew was in America, and the period after their marriage when they were apart for a period of approximately four years. During these years, Nancy remained in London, while Matthew went to France in order to conduct business with clients in America during the Revolution, to Baltimore, and back to Europe, where he worked as agent for the state of Maryland. The letters discuss day-to-day affairs, their desire to see one another, and the health of their son Essex.
1771-1781
1782
B. Family correspondence, 1771-1812
Arranged chronologically.
This subseries contains a small amount of correspondence between Matthew Ridley and his mother, sister, and father-in-law Captain Richardson. Also included are letters between Essex, Matthew's son by his first wife, and Catherine, Matthew's second wife. The bulk of these were written in the years 1795 and 1796, six years after Matthew's death. Catherine had become Essex's legal guardian, and in the letters she refers to him as her son. Correspondence from 1810 to 1812 includes Catherine's letters to her daughter Susan Livingston Ridley Sedgwick and her son-in-law Theodore Sedgwick (1780-1839).
II. Business correspondence, 1772-1786
Arranged chronologically.
Included here are letters between Matthew Ridley and the many business contacts he made both as a merchant and as agent for the state of Maryland. Of particular interest are the many letters that discuss the effects of the Revolutionary War on various aspects of commerce. The letters are to and from many different people, but there are a select few who make up a large portion of the series: Mark Pringle, John Hunt, William Russell, John Holker, and Joshua Johnson.
III. Bound volumes, 1717-1793
A. Letterbooks, 1770-1788
Arranged chronologically.
Letterbook, 12 June 1770-11 May 1776
On microfilm, P-178, reel 2.
These letters mainly discuss Ridley's business interests as manager of the Maryland branch of Stewart and Campbell, a London mercantile firm. The Revolutionary War is also discussed, mostly in terms of how it is affecting commerce.
Letterbook, 29 Sep. 1778-13 Apr. 1779
On microfilm, P-178, reel 2. Vol. 3 not microfilmed.
These letters were written when Matthew Ridley moved from London to Paris. Of interest are the letters Matthew wrote to his contacts in America upon his relocation to France, describing the hostile conditions in England that prevented him from writing earlier and repeatedly asserting his allegiance to America. Ridley was concerned with an American law involving penalties for those who left the colonies after August 1775. He also wrote of his interest in securing an appointment as U.S. consul in Nantes. The letters focus mainly on business and the war. This volume is housed with Vol. 3, which contains duplicate letters covering most of this time period.
Letterbook, 21 July 1779-8 Sep. 1781
On microfilm, P-178, reel 2.
These letters were written when Ridley was living in Baltimore. They primarily relate to his personal business, and after March 1781, they pertain to his position as agent for the state of Maryland.
Letterbook, 30 Nov. 1781-23 Feb. 1783
On microfilm, P-178, reel 2.
These letters discuss personal business and cover the time when Ridley was in Paris and Amsterdam. While Ridley was in Amsterdam, this letterbook was kept by someone else, possibly Mark Pringle. Many of these letters are in French.
Letterbook, 25 Dec. 1781-14 June 1784
Not on microfilm.
This book contains multiple copies of letters related mainly to business. They cover the time of Mrs. Ridley's death, but make very little mention of it. This volume is housed in Box 4 and is not on microfilm.
Letterbook, 16 Feb. 1782-16 June 1783
On microfilm, P-178, reel 3.
This book includes letters both from and to Ridley, primarily during the time he spent in Amsterdam securing a loan for the state of Maryland.
Letterbook, 18 July 1783-4 May 1785
On microfilm, P-178, reel 3.
Although these dates overlap with Vol. 6, the two volumes contain different letters. Some are written on the same day as those in Vol. 6. Some of these letters are in French. They include both personal and official business.
Letterbook, 27 Aug. 1784-12 Nov. 1784
On microfilm, P-178, reel 4.
These letters were written while Mr. Ridley was in England, after his wife's death. They are mostly related to Ridley's personal business. In September, Ridley discussed his plans to return to America in the spring.
Letterbook, 24 July 1786-18 Oct. 1787
On microfilm, P-178, reel 4.
This book starts upon Ridley's arrival with his son and sister in Baltimore, a year after he planned. In April 1787, he wrote of his marriage to Kitty Livingston, and soon after of his sister's death. These letters are more personal in nature, and convey a feeling of depression on the part of Mr. Ridley. He also wrote of being ill.
Letterbook, 21 Oct. 1787-5 Mar. 1788
On microfilm, P-178, reel 4.
These letters involve both business and personal matters. Of interest is one letter to someone who is to sell three people enslaved by Ridley. Reasons for the sale are given, as are evaluations of the enslaved individuals' characters. Ridley's illness is discussed throughout these letters.
B. Diaries, 1777-1784
Arranged chronologically.
On microfilm, P-178, reel 1.
Diary, 24 Oct. 1777-17 Feb. 1778
The majority of this diary consists of updates about the Revolutionary War, which Ridley gets from copies of an American newspaper. There are some entries that involve business, as well.
Diary, 20 Nov. 1781-8 May 1782
This diary includes more details about Ridley's everyday life, such as the day's weather or his dining companion. The entries describe traveling through France and mention some meetings with Benjamin Franklin. The war remains the primary subject, and he writes more about business, including his efforts to secure a loan for Maryland.
Diary, 9 May 1782-22 Sep. 1782
This diary covers the time period when Ridley was in Amsterdam securing the loan for the state of Maryland from Nicolaas and Jacob van Staphorst. The entries revolve mainly around those efforts. The diary also describes his return to Paris in August of 1782.
Diary, 23 Sep. 1782-23 Jan. 1784
This diary includes both personal and business information. Entries discuss Ridley's son's birth in September of 1783 and death in January of 1784. It was important to both Mr. and Mrs. Ridley that the child be buried in a Protestant burying ground. He writes of his wife's death the day she died and of his having been there at the time. His last entry is the day she was buried, 23 Jan. 1784.
C. Account books, 1776-1785
This series contains a daybook of commercial transactions (1 Feb. 1776-21 Aug. 1778), as well as a collection of loose accounts. Covering the time period between 1782-1785, the loose accounts consist of accounts kept by Ridley for the state of Maryland, including bills of exchange with Nicolaas and Jacob van Staphorst and shipments of military stores to Maryland.
Account book, 1 Feb. 1776-21 Aug. 1778
Loose accounts, 1782-1785
D. Miscellaneous, 1717-1793
This series consists of four miscellaneous bound volumes. The first (Vol. 17, 1717-1751) is an unidentified notebook primarily containing business records, including accounts of a salt mill in Portsmouth, England. The volume may have been kept by a John Ridley. The series also includes a math lesson book belonging to Matthew Ridley (Vol. 18, 1761), a book of notes also belonging to Ridley (Vol. 19, 1769-[178-]), and a math lesson book belonging to Essex Sherbourne Ridley (Vol. 20, 1793).
Notebook, 1717-1751
Math lesson book belonging to Matthew Ridley, 1761
Book of notes belonging to Matthew Ridley, 1769-[178-]
Math lesson book belonging to Essex Sherbourne Ridley, 1793
Preferred Citation
Matthew Ridley papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.