A biosketch reports [1]:
John Ridgway, second son of Thomas and Ann (Pharo) Ridgway, born in Burlington county, New Jersey, 1705, removed with his parents to Little Egg Harbor, when a .'^mall child, and lived all his life there. He was executor of his father's will in 1724, and under it was bequeathed lands at Little Egg Harbor, some slaves, and a "new Sloop." As shown by a testimonial adopted by the Little Egg Harbor Meeting of Friends of which he was from "early life" until his death an Elder, "he followed the sea for a time, yet by attending to the Divine principal of Grace, he was preserved from that extravagance in his conduct and conservation too prevalent in men in that business." This "Testimony" of Little Egg Harbor Meeting further states that, "He was a steady and constant attender of Meeting when at home and in health." He was in early life appointed to the station of elder in the church which he conducted with reputation; being of a benevolent spirit, his heart and his house were open to entertain his friends and others, cheerfully, and liberally; assisting the poor in many respects; and in an extensive commerce and conversation with men of various ranks he demeaned himself with a becoming gravity which rendered him truly worthy of esteem. He was carefully concerned that his children and other youth might partake of the benefits of a sober education; and in his declining years was much afflicted with bodily indisposition which he was enabled to bear with patience and resignation; often expressing a desire to be contented in Divine Will. He quietly departed this life on the 21st of the Fifth Month, 1774, and was buried at Egg Harbor." John Ridgway was a successful business man, and owned at the time of his decease three farms and a considerable personal estate. He was twice married, (first) in 1728, to Phoebe Titus of Long Island, by whom he had no issue; and (second) in 1753, to Phoebe, daughter of James Bellangee, St., who survived him and died in 1783. The certificate of the last marriage is still in possession of their descendants in Philadelphia. It is a tradition in the family that Phcebe (Titus) Ridgway, shortly before her death, told her husband that Phcebe Bellangee, than an infant, named for her, should in due time become his second wife, a fact realized years later when Phoebe Bellangee had reached the age of sixteen.
A biosketch reports [2]:
John, son of Thomas Ridgway, Sr., in 1728, married Phebe Titus, of Westbury, Long Island; and twenty-six years after his marriage with Phebe Titus, he married Phebe, daughter of James Belangee,Sr. When Phebe Belangee was an infant, John Bidgway and his wife visited their neighbor, James Belangee, for the purpose of seeing the new baby. Phebe Bidgway carried the baby to her husband, and as she placed it in his arms said, "John, here is a second wife for thee." After some years Phebe Ridgway died, and her husband in the year 1754, married Phebe Belangee, who when an infant he had held in his arms when his wife pronounced her prediction of this future marriage. The second wife was the mother of his children, whose names were John, born (this is Gentleman John,) 14th, 8th mo., 1755, Phebe, born 16th, 4th mo., 1757; Thomas, born 12th, 9th mo., 1759; Ann, born 12th, 8th mo., 1763; Jacob, born 18th, 4th mo., 1768.
See also [3]
[1] John W. Jordan, Colonial Families of Philadelphia, Vol. 1 (New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911), 889, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[2] Leah Blackman, "History of Little Egg Harbor Township," Proceedings, Constitution, By-Laws, List of Members, &c. of the Surveyors' Association of West New Jersey (1880), Appendix: 171-420, 427-468, at 275, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[3] George C. Ridgway, Descent of the Ridgway-Ridgeway family in England and America (1875), 80-82, [HathiTrust].