Mariah E. Ridings Papers

137 THL MMF

Inventory created by Archives Staff  03/1996. Last revised 03/2018.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Collection is open to all researchers.

USE RESTRICTIONS: Restrictions may apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a member of the archives staff for information concerning these restrictions. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright.

EXTENT: 1 folder

DATE: 1865-1915

SCOPE AND CONTENT: This collection contains the letters from Brevet Captain Eri Davidson Woodbury, Company B, 1^st Vermont Cavalry to Mariah E. Ridings and two of her daughters from 1887 to 1916. Also included in the collection are two news article concerning the accidental wounding of Mariah E. Ridings by a sergeant in Captain Woodbury’s company on January 11, 1865.

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: Brevet Captain Eri Davidson Woodbury was serving as commander of Company B, 1^st Vermont Cavalry on January 11, 1865 when a sergeant in his company accidentally discharged his carbine, wounding Mariah Ridings who was in a nearly house. Immediately after the shooting, Woodbury entered the house and gave aid to Mrs. Ridings as well as summoning a surgeon from his regiment. After the war, Woodbury, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery at the Battle of Cedar Creek, became superintendant of a military academy in Cheshire, Connecticut. He was married to Emma M. McChesney. Woodbury died on April 14, 1928 and is buried in Saint Peters Church Cemetery in Cheshire, Connecticut.

Mariah E. Funkhouser, who was born on October 14, 1829, married John W. Ridings on January 10, 1850. In 1852 the couple bought a home along Middle Road near Stephens City, VA. It was at this home, while standing behind her kitchen door, that Mrs. Ridings was accidentally shot by a sergeant from Woodbury’s company. Ridings died on May 4, 1891 and is buried in Greenhill Cemetery in Stephens City, VA.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Varrial, Carla Franceschi, The Ridings Family of Virginia, self-published, 1985; Woodbury, Eri Davidson (1837-1928); Find a Grave Memorial, www.findagrave.com

CITE AS: Ridings, Mariah E. Papers #137, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA.

ORGANIZATION:

Notes -- Krouse, Mrs. Bertie (daughter of Mariah Ridings)no date, 4 leaves, manuscript 

New clippings – two articles from The Evening Star by Kate McVicar (“Nemo”), no date, 3 leaves, printed 

Correspondence