File:Inscription ThomasRidgeway Died1598 TorMohunChurch Devon.xcf

English: St Saviour's Church, Tor Mohun, Torquay, Devon, inscribed tablet to Thomas Ridgeway (1543–1598), a Member of Parliament for Dartmouth in 1584 and father of Thomas Ridgeway, 1st Earl of Londonderry (c. 1565 – 1631). Text:

Thomas Ridgeway armiger (cuius memoriae hoc monumentum praecipue consecratur) duplici (ut superius narratur) connubio foelix priorem conjugem (e qua sola sobolem reliquit) habuit Mariam primogenitam Thomae Southcott Armigeri matris sua Gratia Barnehusii cohaeredem. Ex his nata numerosa progeniis filii octo videlicet Thomas filius haeres eques auratus (dignissimae faeminae Ceciliae Macwilliam paternae haereditatis cohaeredi matrimonio junctus quibus nati filii tres Robertus juvenili aetate aequestri dignitate ornatus qui Elizabetham unicam filiam et heredem Symonis Weston militis in conjugium duxit Edovardus et Macwilliam filiae duae Maria in cunis defunctae et Cassandra Francisco Willughbye equiti aurato nupta) Georgius Richardus Johannes Petrus superstites Southcottus Aegidius et Guilielmus defuncti filiae vero septem Elizabetha (sola e filiabus adhuc vivens) Thomae Roche de Essex armigero in nuptiis data multiplici sobole beata Gratia Jacobo Walsh armigero conjugata Gertruda Maria altera Gratia Philadelpha una et altera omnes defunctas.

Which may be translated as:

“Thomas Ridgeway, Esquire (to the memory of whom this monument is chiefly consecrated) twice married (as is related above) had as his first wife (by whom alone he left progeny) Mary, firstborn of Thomas Southcott, Esquire, a coheiress of her mother Grace Barnehuse. From these were born numerous progeny, eight sons, namely: Thomas, son and heir, knight bachelor (joined in matrimony to the most worthy lady Cecilia Macwilliam, a coheiress of her paternal inheritance, from whom were born three sons: Robert, decorated in youthful age with knightly dignity, who took in wedlock Elizabeth, the only daughter and heiress of Simon Weston, Knight; Edward and Macwilliam; two daughters: Mary (who) died in her cradle and Cassandra, married to Francis Willoughby, knight bachelor); George, Richard, John, Peter surviving, Southcott, Giles and William deceased; daughters truly seven: Elizabeth (the only out of the daughters at present surviving) given in matrimony to Thomas Roche of Essex, Esquire, blest with multiple progeny; Grace, joined to James Walshe, Esquire; Gertrude, Mary, a second Grace, Philadelpha one and the other all deceased”

Further information see: Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp.647, pedigree of "Ridgeway of Tor Abbey".