Matilda RYDER [2910]

  General Notes:

Matilda married John James Lewis in 1881 and became step-mother to two sons and one daughter.

(A panorama image of pages of the original letter can be viewed in Events)
A letter from Matilda Ryder in England to her cousin Susanna Ryder in South Australia
Home & Colonial Schools
Grays Inn Rd.
October 16th 1860
My dear cousin Susanna,
I think you are quite right when you say it is the first time you have written to me, but I hope it is not to be the last. May we be spared to write many letters to each other. I am very glad to read such good news, respecting you and Mary, as regards spiritual things. It is a joyful thought, that though we may not meet here again, we shall certainly do so some day, yes dear cousin I could not have said this a short while ago, for although I trust I have been a enquirer after Christ for some time, it is not until the past year that I have been able to call Him My Saviour and Lord and now it is such a comfort for me to know that when my earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, I have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. God has been very good to our family during the past year for I trust that now we are all decided for the Lord. My dear brother was first called into the fold and I trust that we are now with him.
There has been a Great rock of Revival in London & many parts, it is still going on, though more silently. Several lay men have been raised up by God to preach the everlasting Gospel. It was through the instrumentality of one of these that my sisters and myself made our conversion. How strange are the dealings of the Lord! For years had we been privileged to hear a good and faithful minister and yet we continued far, far, from God, until we were aroused by the preaching of this layman. Now dear cousin, let us rejoice and endeavour to give our Saviour some little return for all His love to us by living for His cause. With regard to temporal God has indeed been good. I have passed all my examinations which have at present been eight in number. I was not quite so successful at the last as I had hoped to have been but I hope I shall be successful in the coming examinations which takes place at Christmas and I sincerely hope that will be the last. I was very unexpectedly appointed last year to take the Model Infant School in connection with the Boro Rd and that is the reason why I am having another year's training that I might learn the Infant System of these schools. I do not begin school till next year. Pray for me dear cousin that I may be successful.
Tom has gone to college probably for 3 or 4 years. He seems very happy and I hope He will grow to be a useful Minister of the Cross.
Emma is in hopes of entering the Training College at Christmas where I suppose she will stay two years.
Lizzie is at home she does not want to be a teacher, she likes better the unrestrained life and does not want to be so confined as we teachers are, but to those who love the work it is a pleasant confinement. I must now say Farewell, my studies prevent me writing you a longer letter. I am, Yours very affectionately, Matilda Ryder
Miss Susanna Ryder
A notation at top of letter but not in Matilda's hand.
Give my best love to Mary and tell her I will endeavour to write to her by the next mail.

National Probate Calender:
LEWIS Matilda of Hendra Clifford-road New Barnet Hertfordshire widow died 1 January 1926 Probate London 6 July 1926 to Arthur James Lewis manager. Effects £260 14s.

  Other Records

• Census: England, 6 Jun 1841, Clarkes Place, Grays Inn Lane, St Pancras, Middlesex. Matilda is recorded as daughter age 2 not born in this county.

• Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, 15 Pakenham Street, St Pancras. Matilda is recorded as Daughter age 12 Scholar.

• Matilda Ryder: Letter, 1866, to her cousin, Susanna Ryder, of Sth Australia.

• Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, 6 Pakenham Street, St Pancras, London. Matilda is recorded as Daughter unmarried age 32 born Shelton Staffordshire, Schoolmistress.

• Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, 7 Yerbury Street, Islington. Matilda is recorded as Wife age 42 (nee Ryder) & Father Thomas Ryder age 68 living at this address.

• Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, St John's Lodge, New Barnet, Hertfordshire. Matilda is recorded as Wife age 50.

• Census: England, 31 Mar 1901, Oak Lodge Barnet Vale Hertfordshire. Matilda is recorded as Wife age 62

• Census: England, 2 Apr 1911, Hendra, Clifford Road, New Barnet, Monken Hadley. Matilda is recorded as Wife age 72, born Shelton, Tollerton, Staffordshire, England

Matilda married John James LEWIS [2911] [MRIN: 971], son of John LEWIS [8048] and Harriott [8049], in 1881 in Islington, London, Middlesex, England. (John James LEWIS [2911] was born about 1840 in Bryanstoke St., Marylebone, London, England and died on 9 Mar 1921 in New Barnet, Hertfordshire, England.)