Rev. William Ridley - further papers, 1872-1912

MLMSS 7104/Boxes 1X-2X

fonds

1872-1912

404541

Partly Digitised : Item 02 only selected for digitisation

0.16 metres of textual material (2 outsize boxes)
Textual Records
Textual Records - (printed)

William Ridley (1819-1878), Presbyterian minister, was born at Essex, England, son of William Ridley, miller and his wife Maria. He was educated at the University of London. Interested in missionary work he was recruited to Australia by the Rev. J.D. Lang in 1849, arriving at Sydney in March 1850. He was ordained by Lang shortly after his arrival. He taught classics at the Australian College during 1850. In 1851 he was appointed to the Dungog area and in 1853 he began an itinerant ministry in the New England district which later extended to Moreton Bay. He worked with local aboriginal tribes and in 1855 published his Report...of a Journey along the Condamine, Barwan and Namoi Rivers (Sydney, 1855). In 1866 he published Kamilaroi, Dippil, and Turrubul: Languages spoken by Australian Aborigines, which was republished in 1875 as Kamilaroi and other Australian languages. He returned to Sydney in 1858 and after a few years of parish work he became a journalist in 1861. As a journalist he worked as assistant editor of the Empire and as editor of the Evening News and the Australian Town and Country Journal. He remained involved with the Presbyterian Church, preaching most Sundays. Ridley died in 1878.

ITEM 01
Sermons of Rev. William Ridley, being small bound volume with ms. sermons by Ridley, 1872. Volume includes a list of contents at front with title or text of sermons and page numbers.

ITEM 02
Kamilaroi, and other Australian Languages, by Rev. William Ridley, 2nd ed. (Sydney, 1875), being published volume inscribed "William Ridley from his Father the Author. January 1876". Printed by the Government Printer, "Second edition, revised and enlarged by the Author: with comparative tables of words from twenty Australian languages, and Songs, Traditions, Laws and Customs of the Australian Race."

ITEM 03
Letter sent by William Ridley, son of Rev. William Ridley, to Sir John Henniker Heaton, 17 June 1912, being ms. copy of letter written in small bound autograph book, 48pp. Inscribed "The Rev. William Ridley, or the Secret History of the Evening News and the Town and Country Journal. Copy of letter to Sir John Henniker Heaton, Baronet, who married the only daughter of the late Samuel Bennett, Proprietor of the 'Evening News' and 'Town and Country Journal', Newspapers." Letter written by Ridley's son thirty four years after his death describes Rev. Ridley's life and work in some detail.

ITEM 04
Sketchbook of Rev. William Ridley, date unknown, principally containing pencil copy works of English illustrations and including three original pencil sketches 'View of St Stephen's Church, Louisa Creek, N.S.Wales'; 'Government House at a distance'; 'The dam at Cook's river'