commercial center of the state. From 1751-1754, he also served in the Maryland Legis-
lature for Baltimore County.

C.1721, COLONEL RIDGELY married first Rachel Howard (d.1750), daughter of John
Howard and Mary Warfield of Anne Arundel County. They had five children who grew
to adulthood: two sons, John and Charles; and three daughters, Pleasance Goodwin,
Achsah Holliday Carnan Charmier, and Rachel Lux. COLONEL RIDGELY married
second Lydia Warfield Stringer by whom he had no children.

The Development of the Family Fortunes 1761-1790

In 1760, COLONEL RIDGELY gained control of 100 acres situated just north of
"Northampton" for the purpose of establishing an ironworks. The Northampton
Furnace and Forges were organized in 1761 and put into blast in 1762. The company
was a three-way partnership between COLONEL CHARLES RIDGELY and his sons,
John and Charles. The tenth ironworks established in Maryland, the Northampton Com-
pany took advantage of the easily mined deposits of iron ore in the area.

Bar and pig iron had become a staple
export of the Chesapeake region with
both the local government and the
British Crown encouraging this industry
through tax incentives and other bene-
fits. Large quantities of wood, limestone
and water power, as well as the ore itself,
were essential to production. To provide
the raw materials necessary to support
the furnace, the Ridgelys continued to
acquire large tracts of land.

To help them sustain their share of
the ironworks, COLONEL RIDGELY
conveyed parts of his property to his
sons. In November 1760, he deeded
some 2000 acres of land, including a
major portion of "Northampton" and
parts of "Hampton Court," "Oakhampton"
and "Stone's Adventure," to his younger
son, CAPTAIN CHARLES RIDGELY.
CAPTAIN RIDGELY, also known as

Captain Charles Ridgely (1733-1790), by John
Hesselius, c.1770. First owner, and builder of
Hampton Mansion, he was also a successful sea
captain, iron master, plantation owner, merchant
and politician. Hampton NHS Collection.

"CHARLES THE MARINER" or
"CHARLES THE BUILDER," soon un-
dertook responsibility for managing the
ironworks.

As a younger son, CAPTAIN RIDGELY (1733-1790) had gone to sea by about 1755.
It is believed that he was employed first as a supercargo on one of his father's ships, in
charge of the commercial aspects. He later assumed command of the ship "Baltimore
Town," bound from London to Maryland and Virginia. The purpose of the voyage was
typical of its time—the exchange of finished goods from England for tobacco, raw