LYONSJ9 Posted September 13, 2022 Share #1 Posted September 13, 2022 Grouping of Boy Seaman 1st Class Thomas Howe Ridgate: Civil War Veteran of the Union Navy Thomas Howe Ridgate was born in 1846 to esteemed lawyer, Judge, and War of 1812 Veteran Benjamin Cornick Ridgate and socialite Margaret King-Ridgate of Washington DC. Sadly, his comfortable childhood would come to an end when he would lose his elderly father (75 years old at the time of his death) at the age of 12, and his mother (37 years old at the time of her death) at the age of 17. Searching for a purpose in his life after facing two monumental personal blows, with the ongoing Civil War raging at a fever pitch, upon his 18th birthday in 1864, Thomas would enlist in the Union Navy. In the final year of the conflict, Thomas would serve honorably aboard USS Princeton and USS Sabine, and distinguish himself as a capable and hard working sailor. Sadly for Thomas, the war would end before he could see any combat, and after serving for a few more years after the war, he would be honorably discharged in 1873. After his naval service, Thomas landed a job as a clerk with the US Department of the Treasury and would begin to court his future wife Marion Beardsley. After the couple were married, they would have two children, Grace and Thomas Jr., and take up residence in the nation’s capital. After raising his children and retiring from the Treasury Department some time in the early 1900’s, Thomas would occupy his golden years as an active member of the Washington DC Chapter of the War of 1812 Society, and would be a popular figure in many of the city’s legal and political circles. Sadly Thomas would fall ill in the winter of 1922, and would die in his home on December 3rd at the age of 76. After a brief funeral service, he would be buried in the Ridgate family plot near his mother and father at Washington’s historic Oak Hill Cemetery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted September 13, 2022 Share #2 Posted September 13, 2022 Wonderful grouping and I really like the way you have displayed it, museum quality for sure. Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted September 13, 2022 Share #3 Posted September 13, 2022 Talk about a rare grouping! Can't say that I have seen many CW Navy medals. Wonder how many of these were issued with rim stamping that might still be out there "in the wild" somewhere in a long lost box/trunk in someone's attic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted September 13, 2022 Share #4 Posted September 13, 2022 Fantastic engraving and historic group. I love these types of groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nack Posted September 13, 2022 Share #5 Posted September 13, 2022 Stunning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivydiv Posted September 13, 2022 Share #6 Posted September 13, 2022 A really nice grouping. Thanks for posting. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 14, 2022 Author Share #7 Posted September 14, 2022 13 hours ago, LuftStalg1 said: Wonderful grouping and I really like the way you have displayed it, museum quality for sure. Congratulations! Thank you Luft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 14, 2022 Author Share #8 Posted September 14, 2022 10 hours ago, Brian Dentino said: Talk about a rare grouping! Can't say that I have seen many CW Navy medals. Wonder how many of these were issued with rim stamping that might still be out there "in the wild" somewhere in a long lost box/trunk in someone's attic? Thank you Brian! I wonder that too! Would definitely be cool to find one "In the wild", I've never been that lucky though. lol -Jimmy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 14, 2022 Author Share #9 Posted September 14, 2022 10 hours ago, manayunkman said: Fantastic engraving and historic group. I love these types of groups. Thank you! It's one of my favorites! Really enjoyed researching this one and finding the photos too! -Jimmy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 14, 2022 Author Share #10 Posted September 14, 2022 4 hours ago, Nack said: Stunning! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 14, 2022 Author Share #11 Posted September 14, 2022 3 hours ago, Ivydiv said: A really nice grouping. Thanks for posting. Dave Thank you Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted September 14, 2022 Share #12 Posted September 14, 2022 Nice medal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YNCM Doug Posted September 15, 2022 Share #13 Posted September 15, 2022 What a nice display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted September 15, 2022 Share #14 Posted September 15, 2022 Great presentation, and as someone who lived in DC from 1964 to 74, very neat to see a Navy Civil War medal to a lifelong DC resident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 15, 2022 Author Share #15 Posted September 15, 2022 8 hours ago, KASTAUFFER said: Nice medal! Thank you Kurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 15, 2022 Author Share #16 Posted September 15, 2022 3 hours ago, YNCM Doug said: What a nice display. Thank you Doug! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 15, 2022 Author Share #17 Posted September 15, 2022 2 hours ago, aerialbridge said: Great presentation, and as someone who lived in DC from 1964 to 74, very neat to see a Navy Civil War medal to a lifelong DC resident. Thank you Aerial! I was surprised at how similar DC looks in this hundred year old photo to when I visited a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted September 15, 2022 Share #18 Posted September 15, 2022 Really nice group...congrats! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted September 16, 2022 Author Share #19 Posted September 16, 2022 16 hours ago, katieony said: Really nice group...congrats! Mike Thank you Mike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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