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37. THE RIDOUT HOME |
| In 1822 Surveyor-General Thomas Ridout Sr. (1784-1829) and his wife Mary owned a stately single-storey house on the north side of Duke Street (now Adelaide), east of the head of Prince’s Street(1). Its setting on the wooded lot gave the Ridout home a certain prominence, as did the portico entrance. Behind the house was the family graveyard, used only briefly until public cemeteries were established. The Ridouts were for many generations prominent citizens in the life of York. Thomas Ridout Sr. was a native of Sherbourne, Dorset in England. He emigrated to Maryland in 1774 and despite the growing rebellion, Ridout was seen as a colony-supporter(2). On a journey to Kentucky, with orders from George Washington to explore and settle there, Ridout was captured by Shawnee Indians(3). He was held for 3 months then released in British-held Detroit. Soon after he found himself in Montreal which eventually lead him to York. Because of his support, conservative views and success as Surveyor-General (1810-1829), Ridout became part of the growing Family Compact(4). Other powerful families included their neighbours, the Jarvis family. The two families clashed frequently, culminating in a duel in 1827 between Thomas’ son John and Samuel Peters Jarvis Jr. [site 49](5). John died and Samuel was charged, jailed and acquitted. The jury found him not guilty because duelling was seen as the appropriate recourse for a gentleman to defend his honour. Mary Ridout owned the property for 10 years. It eventually fell into disrepair and was demolished. The Ridout house was a good example of an early Canadian family home. In its day it was solid and durable, able to withstand the varying degrees of winter cold and summer heat. |
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| © Town of York Historical Society, 2006- All rights reserved. |