William Ridgeway and Florence Louise Finnimore

St James, Taunton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/7064603

William Ridgeway (b. 29 Jun 1873), son of Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze, married Florence Louise Finnimore (b. 22 Mar 1880), daughter of Henry Finnimore and Louisa Beer, at St. James, Taunton, on 22 Mar 1903. Witnesses were Florence's father and her sister, Alice Maud.

William and Florence had five children:

1. Edith Maud Ridgway b. 28 Sep 1904 (1904 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 392), bap. 6 Nov 1904 in Uplowman, Devon
2. Lily Ridgeway b. 23 Feb 1907 (1907 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 380), bap. 24 Mar 1907 in Uplowman
3. Hilda Ridgway b. 7 Oct 1910 (1910 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 342), bap. 6 Nov 1910 in Uplowman
4. Elsie Ridgway b. 8 Jul 1912 (1912 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 670), bap. 28 Jul 1912 in Uplowman
5. Herbert Ridgway b. 4 Apr 1914 (1914 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 676), bap. 3 May 1914 in Uplowman

Only Lily was registered with the surname spelled Ridgeway, all of the others were Ridgway. The two spellings have been used interchangeably for many generations. All were baptised at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman.

In 1911, William Ridgway (37) Farm Waggoner, Florence Louise Ridgway (31) were living at Wallflower Cottage, Halberton, with Edith Maud (6), Lily (4) and Hilda (0), and William's widowed father, Thomas Ridgway (67).

In 1921, William Ridgway (47) Shepherd was living at Neddycott, Uplowman, with Florence Louise Ridgway (41), Hilda Ridgway (10), Elsie Ridgway (8), Herbert Ridgway (7) and Thomas Ridgway (77) Farm Labourer, Father. Edith Maud Ridgway (16) was a Domestic Servant in the household of Edward Gale, Farmer, at East Mere, Tiverton. While Lillie (sic) Ridgway (14) was a Domestic Servant at Widhayes, Uplowman. (William, his father Thomas and daughter Lily were all employed by L Batting, Farmer, at Widhayes.)

In 1939, at Wallflower Cottage, Uplowman, were William Ridgeway, Shepherd retired; Florence L Ridgeway, Edith M Ridgeway and Herbert Ridgeway, Farm Carter. 

William Ridgway died on 27 Jun 1941 (1941 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 1114), aged 67 and is buried at Uplowman.

Florence Louise Ridgway of Sellake Cottage, Uplowman, died on 27 Oct 1965 and is buried in Uplowman churchyard along with her husband. She was 85. She left her effects to her eldest daughter, Edith Maud Ridgway, spinster. 

• Edith Maud Ridgway never married and died in 1997, aged 92. Edith Maud Ridgway is also buried in Uplowman churchyard.
• Hilda Ridgeway married Louis Joseph Holway on 1 Jul 1933. From the Western Times 7 July 1933: "UPLOWMAN AND UFFCULM FAMILIES UNITED. The marriage was solemnised quietly at St Peter's Church, Uplowman, on Saturday, of Miss Hilda Ridgway, third daughter of Mr and Mrs William Ridgway of Neddicott, Uplowman, and Mr Louis Joseph Holway, third son of Mrs and the late Mr Thomas Holway of the Post Office, Cradock, Uffculme. The Rector (Rev. E J Sandford) officiated. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a pretty dress of lido blue silk crepe, the panelled skirt reaching to the ankles and the roll collar, white silk in one half and brick in the other, finished at the point with diamonds of white and brick, and the belt was fastened with a small paste brooch. She wore a large white felt hat and carried a prayer book in place of a bouquet. There was no bridesmaid. Mr Edgar Holway carried out the duties of best man. A reception was held at Nedicott, and the happy couple left for their new home at Bridge Street, Uffculme." In 1939, Louis and Hilda Holway were indeed living in Bridge Street, Uffculme, with their daughter Margaret. Hilda Holway died in 1953, aged 42.
• Lily Ridgeway married William John Palk (b. 16 Oct 1902), son of John Palk and Bessie Scorse, in 1928. They do not appear to have any children. In 1939, the couple were living at Sellake Cottage, Willand. Jack and Lily Palk both died in 1987. Jack died on 23 Feb 1987, which would have been his wife's 80th birthday. They are buried together in Uplowman churchyard.
• Harry Tremlett married Elsie Ridgeway, in 1932. Harry Tremlett died on 20 Jul 1961 and is buried at Uplowman. Elsie Tremlett of 2 Crosses Cottages, Uplowman, died on 29 Dec 1979 and is buried in Uplowman, with her husband.
• In 1946, Herbert Ridgeway married Elsie Kelland. Herbert Ridgway died on 28 May 1988, aged 74 and is buried at Uplowman with his wife, Elsie Ridgway (d. 14 Jan 2006).