Redpath/Ridpath/Reidpath Family Newsletter
2Q May 2002
Table of Contents:
Editor's Corner
Issue Notes
This issue contains several very interesting
contributions provided by family members without internet access who
sent in letters. Thanks go to Jeanne
Ridpath for transcribing them so we can all read these fascinating
stories.
The Redpath/Ridpath/Reidpath Newsletter is now available
in a paper version via regular postal mail. The cost is $20.00 US
annually (4 quarterly editions) for any address world-wide. This money
is collected to defray color printing and postage costs only. The
web and email versions are still free of charge and anyone is permitted
to print out copies and provide to family members who do not have
internet access.
The quarterly newsletter is in full color and includes all text,
graphics, and photos that are in the web version. A paper
subscription makes a perfect gift for family members who do not have
regular access to the internet.
Preferred method of payment that works online, internationally, and
with a credit card is PayPal, click button below [works on web version
only] to subscribe and pay. Newsletters will be mailed to the
shipping address entered.
The other payment option for the paper version is to send a check or
money order for $20.00 in US funds directly to:
Edward A. Ridpath
800 Oldwyck Drive
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
USA
Phone: (919) 567-2099
email: eridpath@ridpath.org
Web Site News
The website continues to grow as more Redpath, Ridpath,
and Reidpath family members discover the site and contribute information
to it. We are now up to 7 quarterly Newsletters,
100 messages on 30 topics in the Forum,
almost 150 Links to other
websites around the world, and over 28,000 individuals and 9,000 family
groups in the Family Tree Databases JavaGED and GeneWeb,
and over 125 people have become website Members.
So stop by today to read and contribute to the newsletter,
browse and post to the Message Forum, search for and add links to other
family-related websites, climb the family tree and add your own branch, or
join the other members at www.redpath.org
, www.ridpath.org , or www.reidpath.org
.
Meet the Family
Heather
Ridpath Pilcher Graduates, submitted by Heather Ridpath Pilcher,
Louisiana, USA
Heather Ridpath Pilcher will be graduating from The University of Louisiana at Monroe on May 18, 2002 with a Bachelor's degree in General Studies. She is the daughter of Roger Wood Ridpath. Heather plans to attend LSU to get her Master's degree in Library Science.
Carrie Lynne Redpath,
Nova Scotia, Canada
This is the web address for my family: http://www.geocities.com/care4uns/index.html
My father is Robert Edward Redpath, born 1943 in Toronto. He is the decendent of Robert
Menelaws Redpath born
in Edinburgh Scotland. I now live in Nova Scotia but most of my family is
in Ontario. We are the last of the Redpath's from this line.
I hope to build a family tree for the Redpath family and will need to come
to this address [ed. www.redpath.org]
frequently. I am grateful for this website. Keep it up!
William Dwight Ridpath,
Western, Nebraska, USA
Hello, I am William Dwight Ridpath. They call me Dwight, all my school friends call me Bill. I live on the farm 4 1/4 miles from a small town called Western. We are 50 miles south and west of the City of Lincoln.
I was born and raised on this place, live here all my 78 years.
Hilma and I celebrated our 50th anniversary on February 3rd. Wilma was a widow with 2 children when we got married so we raised them and we had one son Harold Dwight, then later on we adopted a little boy Clint Eugene so I guess you would say we have been busy.
Our family is scattered from Mass. to Oregon, with Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska in the middle - we have 5 grandsons, 2 granddaughters and 2 great grandsons.
Our farm has been in the Ridpath name for over 100 years.
We enjoyed reading about the other Ridpaths in your letter.
Our daughter-in-law from Iowa went to Spokane, Washington and she and 2 of her sons, stayed in the Ridpath Hotel. I have always farmed, had cattle until a few years ago, I had hip and knee surgery so had to slow up a little. Still have 2 dogs some one dumped when they were pups. I like dogs
and have had several over the years.
Clive Ridpath, Soquel,
California, USA
Born, raised an schooled in the London area, I graduated high school in the summer of 1940 (we graduated at 16 in those days). Wartime being what it is, there was no point in planning a career, so went to work driving ambulance/rescue vehicles during the "Blitz". Having joined the Air Training Corps School Squadron as a Cadet in 1937, I was inducted into the regular Royal Air Force in early 1941. Having already been in training for four years I by-passed many preliminary courses and arrived in Canada in late 1941 to do my combat flight training. At first we were advised not to cross the border
in uniform because of Geneva Convention protocol regarding combatants in uniform being found in a neutral country. Need I say that went down the toilet, and how, on Dec. 7th 1941!
Returned to England in 1943 and eventually wound-up as a "skipper" flying C.47 Dakotas on airborne operations. Had some minor adventures, then the whole thing began in earnest on "D-Day", June 6th 1944, when my squadron took the 6th Airborne Division in CAEN on the Cherburg Peninsula. Routing operations followed until September 17th 44 and the "Bridge Too Far" airborne assault at Arnhem. My crew and I were lucky - our return tickets were valid! More routing followed until the winter of 44-45 and the "Battle of the Bulge", when the Luftwaffe made it's last stand and hit us hard. Couple of month's later, we made an easy airlift over the Rhine.
Since there was not a pressing need for us anymore in the arena, in short order my crew and I found ourselves out in India (a part that is now Pakistan), moved down to an operations base in
Burma, and were getting ready for an airborne assault on Rangoon, when we learned of the Japanese surrender. After moving down to a base near Rangoon, our next activity was the evacuations of
POW's, internees, then the Japanese troops themselves. I finally finished up based at Batavia (now Jakarta) in the N.E.I. (now Indonesia) on routing supply operations, and was repatriated to England and released from the R.P.F. in the summer of 1946.
I went back to college and post grad. courses at universities to get myself some engineering degrees, and graduated in 1950 as a graduate of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Went to work for various aerospace companies in England, got married in 1957 and returned to Canada in 1958. Went to work for Avro at Toronto until early 1959 when Prime Minister Diefenbaker wiped out the Canadian aerospace industry. So - there being nothing in Canada - went down to Convair in San Diego, but that didn't last long either! So late in 1959 - came back up to central California - and went to work for Lockheed on the
Polaris / Posiedon / Trident submarine launched missile systems, and worked for Lockheed for thirty years!
I retired in May 1989, in time for the earthquake in Oct. 89. Being a "ham" radio operator (KB6EXB), and a Red Cross Volunteer, this was a busy period for a week or so!
I lived in San Jose from 1959 until 1974. Then moved to Soquel in Santa Cruz county in 1974, when the company transfered me from the main plant in Sunnyvale to the remote test base in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Daughter No. 1. - Simone - was born in Toronto, now married with an 18 year old daughter - and works in the computer business. Son Derek was born in San Jose, has a daughter and a son, and is a paramedic-firefighter with the Central Fire District of San Cruz County. Daughter Carol was born in Santa Clara, and has two daughters - Sylvia and Savanna, and presently is a receptionist at the Santa Cruz Medical Clinic.
Ex-wife Gloria went her own way in 1980 and re-married. We remain good friends and enjoy family events together. I have been enjoying my retirement since 1989 as a "carefree" bachelor!!
Howard M. Redpath, Mt.
Vernon, Illinois, USA
My wife (Sondra) and I have married for over 44 years. We are both retired now and are living a life of ease. She may contest that last statement because I have learned that a housewifes work is never done.
We have no titles, other than Mom and Dad, and have not received any noteworthy awards. We have three children, (all married and with families of their own) and seven grandchildren.
We have lived in southern Illinois for most of our lives with a brief sabbatical thanks to the US Army. We presently live near Mt. Vernon, IL which is approximately 300 miles south of Chicago.
I am familiar with a couple of the names in your newsletter, but have never met the individuals. Cathy Lampshire from California contacted me a few years ago and I have received some family information in round-about way from Roger Redpath from Atlanta, Texas. Roger Ridpath mentioned Robert Redpath whom I'm going to guess is Dr. Robert W. Redpath Jr. "Dr. Bob" is a descendent of the James
Redpath/Isabel Hays branch as am I. I can trace that branch back to Scotland but I can not testify as to
it's accuracy. I'm interested in knowing more.
Thank you for your efforts with the news-letter it is both fascinating and informative. Please continue if you can.
Norris
Redpath Memorial Golf Tournament submitted by Norm Redpath, Ontario,
Canada
August 3, 2002, marks the date for the Second annual Norris Redpath
Memorial Golf Tournament, being held at the Duntroon Highlands Golf Club,
near Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. BBQ and party afterwards at the home of
Norm Redpath in Collingwood.
First, a bit of history. Norris, my father, was an avid golfer, took a
special pleasure in introducing his grand children to the game. They also
where in seventh heaven, golfing with Grampa. Norris passed away in 1980
but the love of the game stayed with the kids. On Labor Day, 2000, a bunch of us went out for a game and while we were
regaling each other with tales of outrageous drives and miraculous putts,
on the 19th hole, Grandson John Sharpe stated that we should do this on a
yearly basis and he instantly called it The Norris Redpath Memorial Golf
Tournament.
The idea won instant approval and John, his sister, Ruth Watson , and yours
truly, appointed ourselves as the organizers. The date was set for the Civic Holiday in Aug 2001.
Needless to say, when the actual day arrived, it was a bright sunny and warm day, the 32 participating golfers wore shorts, suntan lotion, and
grins from ear to ear. Among the golfers, the ages ranged from 71 down to
10 years of age. There were 7 of Norris' s Great Grand Children playing
that day. He would have been in his glory.
After the game, we adjourned to the home of Jean & Charles Cooke, (one of
his Daughters) for a BBQ, party, and awards. The golfers where joined by
several more family members and friends, totaling in the 60s. The BBQ was
hosted by Norris's 4 daughters and several of the Grand Daughters.
The winners of the 1st Annual where John Sharpe (grandson) and Tia Sharpe
(great grand daughter) pictured above. This event had taken the fancy of all of us, so much so that Tia had
travelled all the way from Calgary with her Dad, Bill and her Mother and
sister. She is coming back to defend her title this year. This years tournament plans are well underway and from all reports, the
attendance will be higher, the competition greater, and somehow, I have to
implement my "motto"-- youth and skill will not beat old age and treachery
two years in a row.
Ridpath
Family Reunion in Nebraska, USA submitted by Marion Ridpath
RIDPATH REUNION - 2002
WHEN: Sunday, June 2, 2002
WHERE: DeWitt Community Building, DeWitt, Nebraska, USA
TIME: 12:00 Noon
COST: Approximately $6.00 per person. All food/drink and table service will be provided.
Please RSVP by May 24 to:
LaRita Lang
5901 W. Van Dorn
Lincoln, NE 68532
Phone: 402-477-1614
Or
Marcine Holz
145 N East Ave.
Hallam, NE 68368
Phone: 402-787-6308
Please pass this information on to your children or other family members and
bring any family photos that you might have!
Family History
Redpath Village
Internet Map submitted by Robert Redpath
1. Go to www.streetmap.co.uk
2. Check "UK Place or GB Place" - the default is Postcode (zip)
3. Enter Redpath
4. You are then presented with a number of alternatives - select
Redpath(City/Town/Village)
5. There is zoom facility at the bottom of the map to show various levels of
detail.
A Red-eyed Redpath Saga
submitted by Clifford Redpath Brown, Yorkshire, England
Spent pre-Easter week 2002 at a Caravan site in the Town of Melrose, Scotland, with bright, cold days and even colder frosty nights which were enough to put a strain on marriage vows. The location is a handy 15 minuet car drive from the Scottish Borders Archives at St. Mary's Mill on the outskirts of Selkirk, where we spent most of our days staring at difficult to read, micro films of the Old Parish Records.
In some cases, the persons preparing them for filming had explained that moisture or "ink bleed" had obscured some of the detail. Will future technology enable us to revisit the old documents and read again what our ancients wrote or is that it? For instance the OPR's for the Roxburgh Parishes of STITCHEL and HUME, 1640-1819 are a hopeless case in point, up to about 1703 when it becomes a little easier. It starts on 12th July 1640, written in an old form of script that would deify the average reader to decipher without some previous learning skills, and to make matters worse, has ink bleed on both sides of the document. I'm sure I saw a Ridpath 2nd March 1651 and a female Redpath marriage to John? on the 22nd Feb 1683, and I could clearly read Robert Ridepath (sic) married Elizabeth Wilson on the !st April 1703.
My wife Ruth helps me with my hobby under sufferance, but once she get going she usually comes up with more of the goodies than I do! Sure enough, after been selected from a host of volunteers to look at the ECCLES, Berwickshire OPR, she came up with some information on my 3xgreat grandparents, who had only been names before. The first was the death of JENET OLIVER on the 1st November 1824, aged 52 years, wife of George Redpath at the village of Leitholm (later pronounced for us as "LEET_AM" by the lady in the Post Office come General Store there)
In 1838 the briefest of information was given of the death of George Redpath at Courthill? The gazetteer of Berwickshire only lists one Courthill and that is in the Parish of Nenthorn. It just so happens that George Redpath had a granddaughter Isabella Redpath born at this "Fermtoun" as the locals would have said, on the 9th December 1833. In the unlikely event of any other information coming to light I plan to accept these events as part of our family history. They were not to know 164 years ago that we would want to cram our computers full of their precise details.
Moved our caravan on Good Friday to another site beside the small river Blackadder at Greenlaw. Strange church there where the bottom of the tower doubled as the local prison. These canny old
Scots did not waste money if they could help it. Identified the only family gravestone we have come across, being that of David Redpath son of Janet Oliver & George Redpath born 30th April 1814 at Stitchel and husband of Margaret Knox and died 13th May 1882. Easy to find, third one in on third row from the gate but not so the connections with other Redpaths who are laid there. Neither could we find any clues to the whereabouts of his eldest son George Redpath, born Smailholm 15th February 1844, last known to be a Coachman on the 1881 census at Old Greenlaw with a wife Mary and child David. He is not on the 1891 or 1901 census for the Town .
The Farmers from east of the Earlston to Dryburgh road B6356 which passes the village of Redpath, were all out taking full advantage of the dry weather to work up the tilth on their field in readiness for the Spring seed sowing. What an amazingly distinctive red colour the soil has in these parts.
Thank you and the members for the magazine and all power to all your elbows.
Cheers from Clifford Redpath Brown in darkest Yorkshire, England
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