Individual Details
JAMES ALEXANDER RYDER
(12 Apr 1840 - C1920S)
In the Havelock area in the 1980s Alexander and Mealie are still recalled as "characters" amongst the Ryder family. It is not recalled that Alexander ever did much for a living, but in their later years Alex and Mealie lived in a small house still standing in 1989, just west of Harewood NB.
The domestic disputes of Alex and Mealie are still legendary in the area, though everyone agrees "that's the way they enjoyed each other's company." Here are three stories collected by Dana Ryder:
"Alexander married her because he hated her so bad he wanted to kill her."
"One morning Alexander told her to get up and fix his breakfast, and she wouldn't, so he went up on the roof and cut a hole in it so the rain came in on her."
"They would fight and break up all the dishes and later kiss and make up, and then go to Havelock to buy new dishes."
However, despite the stories, the pictures of Mealie and Alex in their old age suggest they had a long and "happy" marriage. Mealie died in 1928, aged 88; her place of burial is not known. Date of Alexander's death is not known , but the pictures show that he too lived into his old age.
Although they had no children of their own, Alex and Mealie played an important role as foster parents, raising at least five Ryder children. These were Unity and Mark Ryder, Henrietta and Norman Sutherland, and Frederick Ryder.
References: Dana Ryder; NBSalisbury census 1861.
The domestic disputes of Alex and Mealie are still legendary in the area, though everyone agrees "that's the way they enjoyed each other's company." Here are three stories collected by Dana Ryder:
"Alexander married her because he hated her so bad he wanted to kill her."
"One morning Alexander told her to get up and fix his breakfast, and she wouldn't, so he went up on the roof and cut a hole in it so the rain came in on her."
"They would fight and break up all the dishes and later kiss and make up, and then go to Havelock to buy new dishes."
However, despite the stories, the pictures of Mealie and Alex in their old age suggest they had a long and "happy" marriage. Mealie died in 1928, aged 88; her place of burial is not known. Date of Alexander's death is not known , but the pictures show that he too lived into his old age.
Although they had no children of their own, Alex and Mealie played an important role as foster parents, raising at least five Ryder children. These were Unity and Mark Ryder, Henrietta and Norman Sutherland, and Frederick Ryder.
References: Dana Ryder; NBSalisbury census 1861.
Events
| Birth | 12 Apr 1840 | New Canaan, Brunswick Parish, Queens County, New Brunswick |  | ||
| Marriage | 10 Oct 1874 | PERMELIA (MEALIE) ANN WHEATON | | ||
| Death | C1920S | Harewood, Salisbury Parish, Westmorland County, New Brunswick | |
Families
| Spouse | PERMELIA (MEALIE) ANN WHEATON (1840 - 1928) |
| Father | NATHAN RIDER (1817 - 1896) |
| Mother | MARY CATHERINE TOLSON (1822 - 1906) |
| Sibling | LUCINDA RYDER (1842 - 1860) |
| Sibling | WILLIAM FREDERICK RYDER (1844 - 1916) |
| Sibling | CHARLES MILES RYDER (1847 - 1864) |
| Sibling | JOSEPH CHIPMAN RYDER (1850 - 1883) |
| Sibling | ELIZABETH AMANDA RYDER (1852 - ) |
| Sibling | DAVID HART RYDER (1855 - 1879) |
| Sibling | CHARLES ERMINE RYDER (1856 - 1940) |
| Sibling | NATHAN E. (ARMAN?) RYDER (1857 - ) |
| Sibling | THOMAS HANFORD RYDER (1858 - 1887) |
| Sibling | MARY CATHERINE RYDER (1861 - ) |
Endnotes
1. RYDER GENEALOGICAL FILES.
2. RYDER GENEALOGICAL FILES.
3. RYDER GENEALOGICAL FILES.