Son of William Ridgeway and Deborah (-----)
Born ca. 1833 in Sussex Co., Delaware

Laborer, 1850; Farm Hand, 1870

Eli's age in the census records: in 1850, age 17; in 1860, missing; in 1870, age 35.
The family appears under the name Rigware in the 1850 census.
In 1870 Eli resided in the household of Ephraim and Mary E (-----) Garrison.

1850 - U.S. Census, Delaware, Sussex Co., Cedar Creek Hundred, Page 69 verso, 1014-1014, 05 Sep 1850
1870 - U.S. Census, Delaware, Kent Co., Little Creek Hundred, Page No. 2 [=312 verso], 7-7, 11 Jul 1870