Benjamin, from whom our Rideout line descends, was born on Feb 15, 1729 or 1730, at Falmouth, ME (now Portland). He died on Nov 29, 1793 in Bowdoinham. He married on Nov 29, 1752 in Georgetown, ME to Mary Ruth Getchell. She was born Apr 23, 1732 in New Meadow, Brunswick, ME and was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Getchell.
Benjamin bought land from Benjamin Thompson (Lot #6), which he cleared and it became his lifelong home. The deed is dated May 6, 1763. A house he built on the property was still standing in 1935, and in good condition.
Benjamin operated his father's shipyard, and was a member of the Committee of Inspection and Safety during the Revolution in 1777 in Brunswick, ME. He signed the "Association Test" at New Meadows, ME.
The "Association Test" reads as follows: "We the subscribers do hereby and solemnly engage and promise that we will do the utmost of our power, at the risk of our own lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets against the United American Colonies."
(NOTE: through the line of this Benjamin Rideout, we are eligible for membership in DAR - Daughters of the American Revolution).
The children of Benjamin and Mary Getchell Rideout were:
- Benjamin Jr; born abt 1756
- William;
- John;
- Eunice;
- Lois;
- Josephine (born Nov 16, 1765);
- Isaac (born May 29, 1767);
- Ruth;
- Prudence;
- Jacob (we descend from this Jacob)
Posted by Linda | April 4, 2008
