William Ridler (1800-61) Headstone No. 83

19th-century headstone (H 0.72m x Wth 0.64m x T 0.13m) in Old St. Brendan’s Graveyard (OF035-012002-), in the town of Birr (OF035-012----), marking the graves of the Methodist William Ridler (born c. 1800) who died in 1861 & his son James Ridler (born c. 1835) who died in 1858 aged 23½ years. He was the son of James & Mary Ridler who lived at No. 6 Duke Street (O'Connell Street) in 1821. The 1821 Census recorded William working as an apprentice to Michael Lynne a Methodist watch and clockmaker who lived in a two storey house at No.12 Duke Square (Cumberland/ Emmet Square). William Ridler was recorded in 1846 as a watch & clock maker on Cumberland Square (Emmet Square). William married Eliza Anne Jackson (1809-81) daughter of Rev. Thomas Jackosn and Mary Davis of St. Kieran's (Clareen). His will of 1861 recorded that he lived on the Square at the time of his death & that he left money to Rev. Horatio Pearse of the Methodist Mission in Natal, South Africa. William was a trustee of the Wesley Chapel in Birr.