* Laurence Ryder was born c 1790 in Carrickmacross, County Monahan, Ireland.(7) This fact is taken from his military discharge but is not supported by other sources. There were no Ryders in Carrickmacross during the Tithe Applottment of 1832, nor during the Griffiths Valuation of 1855, nor are there any Ryders there in the 1992 telephone directory, nor on the 1992 voters list.(8) There was one family of Ryders in Dundalk who felt they were the only family of that name in the area. This is discussed later herein but no firm connection has yet been made to that family.

At an early age he learned the trade of Harnessmaking and Saddlery(12), (probably on either the Shirley, or Bath estates near Carrickmacross. These estates were in ascendency in the early 1800s and people would come from other places for employment.(8) If the question put to him by the military were "Where did you come from?" He could thus in all honesty say he came from Carrickmacross.)

Sometime before 1811 he married his first wife Mary. Their first son, Lawrence Jr. was born in 1811.(10)

On the 24th of April, 1815 in Dublin he enlisted in the British Army.(4) On the 13th August 1815 he joined the 17th Regiment of Light Dragoons at Maidstone England. On the 17th December the regiment embarked for Bombay(KAIRA), but the Colonel, Oliver Delancy and a number of troops including Lawrence did not go.(4)

On the 9th of August 1816 at GUINES France Lawrence joined the Second Regiment of Dragoon Guards, the Queen's Bays (5). This regiment formed the army of occupation in France for the next three years and late 1819 returned to Longford Ireland.

The 1820's were quiet times for the second Dragoon Guards, in August of 1821 the establishment was reduced to six troops; the total number of non commissioned officers and privates to 335 and the troop horses to 253.(1) Between March and June 1823 the regiment was stationed in Birmingham, however about one third of the troop including Lawrence were stationed in Leeds.(5)

Laurence and Mary's second son, George Ryder was born in 1823 (10)

Saint Patrick's York Road, Roman Catholic Church records show that George Ryder was born to Laurence and Mary Ryder in Leeds, Yorkshire England, in May 1823, and was christened on May 22 1823 in (14)

Mary Ryder died sometime between 1823 and 1831. (1827 would be a good guess, there was some ulterior reason for Laurence to get out of the army. He had never been listed as ill, yet he was discharged for disability. George would have been 4 years old and Lawrence Jr. 16.)

Lawrence Ryder was discharged on Oct 31, 1827 in Dublin.(6)

He was examined at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Monday, November 19, 1827, and granted a pension of 9d per day.(7) The examiner granted him two extra years of service. (With the cavalry records as we found them it would have been impossible for anyone to question his decision. This was probably done so that Laurence could be granted the maximum pension of 9d per day. Men with shorter service , say 10 years were given 6d per day.)

* The British Government in an effort to encourage it's former soldiers to become colonists, offered an alternative where pensioners could commute their pensions for a lump sum and also would receive a grant of land in Canada or the other colonies.

Laurence Ryder commuted his pension on February 10, 1832 (7) and emigrated to New Brunswick, arriving in St.Andrews, Charlotte Co. New Brunswick around the 2nd. day of May 1832 where he waited for his commuted balance until August of the same year. (12)

Sometime before 1834 he married Mary Anne Ohara. Neither the record of their marriage nor the record of the birth of their first son John can be found. Cemetery records indicate John was born in Nov 1831. C.A.Ryder made a late registration of birth in which he swore that his father John was born in St.Andrews.

Census records show his birth anywhere between 1832 and 1838.

* Laurence was 41 years of age when he arrived in New Brunswick possibly with his second wife Mary Anne O'Hara and his two sons,

Laurence Jr. age 21 and

George Percival age 9 (1)

The newspaper account of the death of John Ryder contained the following: "At St.Andrews he, Laurence, entered the employ of Mr. Snodgrass father of the late Wm.Snodgrass who was then engaged in that business. In 1838 he came to Calais and entered the employ of Sawyer and Robbins in the same line of business. In 1840 he came to St.Stephen and opened a shop in a building that stood until just a few years ago within twenty feet of the store so long occupied by his son just now deceased." (13)

Records do not entirely support this statement. James Ryder was born in Calais ME in December 1836.(20) PANB MC1388 includes harness shop records which clearly show that from March 11, 1840 to April 19th 1843, Ryder's harness shop operated in Calais Maine.

* He was assigned lot 11, Range 5, 100 acres, of the Clarence Hill survey in St.Patrick's Parish, Charlotte County N.B. July 3, 1832, which lot was granted to him on Dec 21, 1840. (14)

* He sold the lot to Corporal John Foster of Her Majesty's Royal Artillery on June 3, 1841 (15)

* Laurence Ryder's second wife, Mary Anne O'Hara was born in Ireland c 1809, (10) The date of her arrival in New Brunswick is not established. The date of their marriage is not established. The date and place of birth of their first son John is not established.

* they had five children

iii John b c 1832 d 28 Oct 1915 m 23 Oct 1863 Mary Ann Hutton m 04 Jan 1883 Mattie (Martha) Blaney

iv James b Dec 1836 d 12 Feb 1909 m.16 Sep 1870 Mary Agnes Armstrong

v Mary Ann b Apr 1839 d 19 May 1924 m 18 Dec 1873 James Mitchell

vi Thomas b c 1841 d 12 Feb 1879

vii Henry b 30 May 1848 d

Laurence Ryder died on April 8, 1856 at age 65. (17),(19). He is buried in the Loyalist Cemetery on King Street in St.Stephen.

Mary O'Hara, Laurence's wife died Dec 3, 1869 at age 65 (18)

Several Peculiarities exist in the records:

1. Laurence Ryder was born in Carrickmacross, according to Army records, but there is no record of any other Ryders living there. It has been established that in this time period there was a Ryder family living at Dundalk, about 15 miles away( See Jim Ryder).

An analysis of Griffiths Valuation reveals that the only location in Ireland where the name Laurence Ryder occurs is in Dunmore, County Galway. The 1992 telephone directory shows the following entries:

Ryder Della 2 Ballymote Road Tuam 28987
Ryder Denis Cloonkeely 47651
Ryder Denis Gortnagoyne Dunmore 38171
Ryder Frank Funeral Furnisher High Street Headford 35485
Ryder Lawrence Gortnagoyne Dunmore 38045
Ryder Michael Glanfocha Tuam 55485
Ryder Michael Jr. Glanfocha Tuam 55354
Ryder Patrick Ph Chesnut Headford 35422
Ryder Tom Doogara Tuam 47527

Three names, Laurence, Frank, and Tom are common to the Ryders of St Stephen.

2. In Laurence Ryder's family neither John nor Thomas are recorded in the RC church records. I have been unable to find them in the CofE records either. Laurence Sr., Laurence Jr., and John were Church of England. The rest of the family were RC. Mary Anne became Presbyterian when she married James Mitchell. It would not be possible to have been in the British Army in the early 19th century without being CofE.

(1) Historical Records of the British Army, The Second Dragoon Guards or Queen's Bays, Richard Cannon, London 1839 University of New Brunswick Library FC18.C5 no. 48379

(2) WO-97-116 Attestation and Discharge Documents Arranged alphabetically by name for each regiment

Cavalry of the line Rowl-Ryv
Robert Ryder 15 th Hussars 10 Dec 1851
Mayo John Ryder 3rd P.of W. Reg. of D.G. 1842
Patrick Ryder 4th.Lt. Dragoons 1823
Rich Ryder 19th. Lancers 1819
Thomas Ryder 10th. Hussars 1847
William Ryder 10th. Hussars 1804

From this one may conclude:
1. Lawrence Ryder was not in the Cavalry.
2. The records of WO 97 are incomplete.
Since we have Canadian documentation that Lawrence Ryder was a member of the Second Regiment of Dragoon Guards, the Queen's Bays the records must be incomplete.

(3) WO-25-2755 Index of Waterloo and other medals Waterloo Medals Received
Rooney
Rice
Roche
Rok
Reynolds
Robertson
Rennington
Rustallon
Ratcliff
Readford
Rofs
Rofs
Richards

From this one may conclude that Lawrence Ryder did not receive a medal, alternatively the list is incomplete.
We have no independent documentation of his receipt of a medal, just a statement in The St. Croix Courier.

MILITARY SERVICE RECORD OF LAWRENCE RYDER

(4) WO-12-1329 Regimental Pay lists and Muster Rolls 1815-1816 , 17th Regiment
25th. August to 24th September 1815, Maidstone
31th August to 24th. September
Ryder Laurence
(in the notes column-- Recruit from Dublin, Joined 31st August
Enlisted 24th April 1815)
25th. September to 24th. October 1815 Maidstone
25th. October to 24th. November 1815 Maidstone
25th. November to 24th. December 1815 Maidstone
The 17th. regiment embarked for Bombay (KAIRA) on the 18th. December 1815
Lawrence did not go with the regiment.
Neither did Col. Oliver Delancy who for the next several months is listed in the 17th regiment's muster rolls as "General Europe"

(5) WO-12-152 Regimental Pay Lists and Muster Rolls Feb. 1813-Jun. 1817
The 2nd Regiment of Dragoon Guards "The Queen's Bays"
Adjutants roll from 25th July to 24th. August 1816
No.50 Rider Laurence 9th. August to 24th. August
(in the notes column-- Enlisted 6th. August 1816
Transferred from 17th. Light Dragoons 9th August)
25th. September to 24th. December 1816 GUINES France
Troop 3
(1) Ryder Laurence 16th. Oct 70 days 2, 126
Joined from depot 16th October
Specification of the voucher transmitted with the pay list
(1) Original report No. 1 of a detachment joined from England 16th. October


Dec 1819- Mar 1820 Longford, Co. Lonfgford Ireland
Mar Jun 1820 Longford, Co.Longford Ireland
Jun Sept1821 Newcastle upon Tyne- Michael Ryder discharged 10 Sept, 1821
Mar Jun 1822 York
Sept Dec 1822 York
Dec Mar 1823 York
Mar Jun 1823 Birmingham
Ryder Law. 25 Mar to 24 Jun, 92 da 1/3 5:13 Leeds
(about one third of the troop was in Leeds)
Dec Mar 1824 Birmingham Ryder Law in Coventry
Dec Mar 1825 Norwich L.Ryder in Ipswich
Mar Jun 1825 Hampton town L.Ryder in Ipswich
Jun Sep 1825 Dorchester L.Ryder in Chercheck (Christchurch?)
Sep Dec 1825 Manchester L.Ryder in Chercheck (Christchurch?)
Dec Mar 1826 Manchester L.Ryder in Chercheck (Christchurch?)
Mar Jun 1826 Manchester
Jun Sep 1826 Manchester
Sept Dec 1826 Dublin
Dec Mar 1827 Dublin
Mar Jun 1827 Dublin
Jun Sep 1827 Dublin
There were no notes on Lawrence Ryder's Muster roll in this period
of illness or hospitalization.

(6) WO-12-156 Regimental Pay Lists and Muster Rolls, Cavalry at Home
Second or Queens Regiment of Dragoon Guards, Col William Loftus, Dublin
Quarterly Pay List 25th Sept to 24th Dec. 1827
Voucher 14-21 Laurence Ryder 25th. Sept. to 30th. Oct.
Notes Dudlese by Vol 21 discharged
(authorized?)
12-14 Authorities to discharge 8 men unfit for service
Dodd Wm. 30 Oct
Chennach John 30 Oct
Gullick John 30 Oct
Harrisole Wm. 30 Oct
Hutchinsole Chas. 30 Oct
Leyland Chas. 30 Oct
Gee John 30 Oct
Ryder Laurence 30 Oct

(9) Church of Latter Day Saints Film Number 1238604

(10) 1851 Census Page 307 and 1861 partII
Detail Lawrence Ryder Sr. p54 p71
George P Ryder p71
Lawrence Ryder Jr. p79 p76

(11) Soldiers and Widows Pensions RS566 File c1/12 petition 2706

(12) Soldiers and Widows pensions RS566 File c3/1847 petition 3285

(13) St Croix Courier Nov 4,1915 death of John Ryder

(14) Military Locations Book 1831-35 PANB RS 107 RNA/C/9/3/9a
Land Grants PANB RS686 Vol26 Grant 2603 Book4 No 118

(15) Registry Office Records RS98 reel F5187 Book S page 653

(16) Registry Office Records RS98 reel F5188 Book T page 130

(17) The St.Andrews Standard 16 April, 1856
On the 8th inst at St.Stephen, Mr.Lawrence Ryder in the 66 the year of his age . He was an honourable, kind hearted and friendly man and will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends both in St. Stephen and St. Andrews.
Morning News St.John N.B. 16 April 1856
dead St.Stephen (Charlotte Co.) 8th. inst. apparently of apoplexy Lawrence Ryder age 66 NBVSN 1856-57 Vol16 p55

(18) St. Croix Courier, Dec 9, 1869
Very suddenly on the morning 3rd inst. of paralysis Mary Ryder, relict of Lawrence Ryder Sr. age 65 years.
OBITUARY The death of Mrs Ryder was as sudden as it was universally regretted. She was a lady whose kindness and attention especially in times of sickness, almost every family in the place has experienced. She was generally respected and esteemed and leaves behind her a blameless record. " The memory of the just is blessed."

(19) PANB F1097 Christ Church Anglican St.Stephen Burials 1956 to 1861
Date of Burial Name Age Residence Calling By whom the ceremony
was performed
1856 Apr 10 Laurence Ryder 66 St Stephen Saddler Thos. W. Street, Curate

(20) Saint Andrews Roman Catholic Church records
On the same day (27, Aug 1837) I have baptized James, 9 months old, son of Lawrence Ryder and Mary O'Hara, sponsors Patrick Falls and Elizabeth Falls.
(In listing in the margin, the name is 'John' not James

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