Evening star., 1937-06-27

which settled in Kent County at least
rs early as 1861. when James Ring
gold was commissioned a justice Of
the peace for Kent County. James
Ringgold was the son Of Col. Thomas
Ringgold and married. on July "a,
1878, the widow OF Edward Burton,
the daughter Of Capt and Mrs. Mary
Vaughan. Col. Thomas Ringgold is
said to have been the fourth pioneer"
and the first OF the name TO come to
Maryland.
JUST where Tench Ringgold fits in
with this family the writer can
only assume At an early date he
settled in Washington County. Md.
and was quite likely a son Of
Thomas Ringgold and Mary Gallo
way) Ringgcld. and the brother Of
Gen. Samuel Ringgold, who was born
in Kent County. January Is, ITO. and
who was also removed to Washington
County, and who married Mary Cald.
walader, daughter of Gen. John Cald-
walader. In Washington County.
Gen. Ringgold located himself at
Fountain Rock" near Hagerstovn.
In this part Of Maryland he owned
an estate said to contain some 1900
acres of land. in one Of the most fer
tile and attractive sections of the
State, his home being known as
Rlnggold's Manor. He was also in
terested in an extensive tract of land
in Pennsylvania. An indication of the
close relationship of Tench Ringgold
and Gen Samuel Ringgold may be
surmised from an advertisement ap-
pearing in the press OF September 10,
1893, in which Tench Rinegold states
that he will sell 900 acres of land,
lying IN Washington County within a
mile and half Of Hagerstown, 10
miles from Baltimore, and the same
from Georgetown and the Federal
City. The greater part of the land
was said to lie on Antietam Creek,
and was six miles from the Potomac.
The advertisement concludes BY
saying: The land will be shown and
tho terms OF sale made known by ap-
plying to Samuel Ringgold, esquire, at
his seat. near the premises. or the
subscriber. living In George Town, on
the Potomac
Gen. Samuel Ringgold was a MEM
Der Of Congress. and served in tho
United States House Of Representa-
tives from 1910 to 1915 and from 1917
to 1921. He received the title
general from his appointment as brig
adler general In the Maryland militia,
A FTER the death Of Gen. Ring.
Colds first wife he married rs his
second consort Maria Antoinette Hay,
granddaughter Of President Madison.
the ceremony being performed in the
White House. The general evidently
| was quite sport, and when driving to
Washington or back to his Maryland
home always did 80 in his coach and
four, with outriders, and frequently
brought his political associates homo
with him as guests. at times includ.
ing President Monroe. Henry Clay and
others. He Is said to have lived in
great elegance and state and to have
squandered . large fortune. One ira
! dition even goes 50 far rs to say that
he was won't to light his cigars with
banknotes. The inevitable result was
that during the latter part Of his life
he became financially embarrassed.
Tench Ringgold, who built 1901 F.
street. was born in Chestertown, Nd,
March 2. 1777, and died in Washing
ton, D. C., July ~. 1874. and is buried
IN Congressional Cemetery, where his
grave Is suitably marked. Looking in
four local newspapers around the date
Of his death, no reference to him was
found except the regular death notice
in the National Intellieencer on Au-
gust !, 1874. which said
AT his residence near the city. on
the 3lst ult., Tench Rinegold, ESQ.
His funeral will take place from
the residence Of his son-in-law tDr.
Thomas) this afternoon at 4 o'clock.
His friends and acquaintance are in.
:vited to attend"
Tench Ringgold was not only well
connected. but married into 6 fore
most Maryland family, his wife, Mary
Lee. being the daughter OF Thomas
Sim Lee. second Governor of Mary.
land, whose home, Melrose, is still
standing in Prince Georges County.
Thomas Sim Lees wife was Mary
Digges. daughter of Ignatius Digses,
and the latter was the son of William
Digges, who patented Clear Spring,
Montgomery County Md. August 7,
1882. He died August %, l74O.
TENCH RINGGOLDs family, be-
sides his wife, included, as far as
can be learned. Eliza L., BENJAMIN,
Anna Maria, who married DR.. Nenry
Hunt, an original member Of the
Medical Society Of this city and its
flrst secretary: Sarah Brooke Lee,
who married DR.. John NJ Thomas.
and Sydney, who married Edward
Douglass White. a Representative. in
Congress from Louisiana, whose son.
also named Edward Douglass White.
became Chief Justice OF the United
States in 1910.
When Ringgold built the house At
Eighteenth and F streets the city
directory showed but is persons re-
siding on F street from sevententh
street to the river. At this time tn
grounds were extensive and there were
few houses nearby. Ringgold was .
good entertainer and upon one oc-
casion. in June. 1928, when ex-Presi.
dent Monroe, with his wife, were visit
ing the city previous to going north,
he stopped at Mr.. Ringgolds. Chief
Justice John Marshall also boarded
at his home on several occasions,
and was also quite likely, at times, a
guest at his home when Ringgold
was residing at Twenty-fifth and l.
streets, where Is now the Columbia
Hospital.
During the residence of the CAROLS
At the F street home, and prior to
1864, Chief Justice Roger Brooke
Taney used to come there frequently
on Sundays TO dine.