RIDDELLS OF BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NO. 1. 221
David Riddle (1), second son of Gawn¹ (1), was born in Bedford, N.
H., in 1756; married Mary Dunlap in 1798, and had issue five children,
of whom hereafter. He settled near the place of his birth, in a house he
erected on the hill where John D. Riddle lived in 1852, north of the mill.
He was a soldier of the Revolution, and drew a pension. In 1774-5, he
was pound-keeper; 1786, town voted to allow him four shillings for an en-
dorsement on a corn note. He died Dec. 18, 1839, and was buried at
Bedford Centre.
Susanna Riddle² (1), only daughter of Gawn¹ (1), was born in Bed-
ford, N. H., 1759, and died in Bedford, Nov. 4, 1841, aged 82 years. She
married Solomon Hutchinson; they removed to Maine, and reared a large
family. One child lived in Belfast.
Hugh Riddle² (1), third son of Gawn' (1), was born in Bedford, N.
H., in 1761. He married Ann M. Houston, sister of Rev. John Houston,
first minister of Bedford; built and lived in a brick house about two miles
south of the mill, known in 1884 as the Willard Parker house. He had
issue seven children, and died Aug. 17, 1833. He was a soldier of the
Revolution, entering the army when seventeen years old; was with Gen-
eral Stark at the battle of Bennington.
Capt. Isaac Riddle² (1), fourth son of Gawn¹ (1), was born in Bed-
ford, N. H., June 10, 1762; married, first, Ann Aiken, in 1788; secondly,
Margaret McGaw, in 1806. He built and lived in a house near the meet-
ing-house at Bedford, one-half mile east of what was known as "Riddle's
Mill," now known as the "Riddle Homestead." (See plate in this book.)
He was for many years an active, public-spirited citizen of his town; and
for a long time was extensively engaged in the lumber business, and one
of the first proprietors of navigation by locks and canals on the Merri-
mack River. He superintended the building of the canals and locks be-
longing to the "Union Lock and Canal Company," and in company with
Maj. Caleb Stark, he built and owned the first canal-boat that ever floated
on the waters of the Merrimack. It was named the "Experiment"; was
built at Bedford Centre, and drawn three miles on wheels by forty yokes
of oxen, to "Basswood Landing," so called, at which place it was launched
in the presence of the townspeople, who had gathered to witness the
novelties of the day. This boat was loaded, and sailed to Boston, and
the following notice relative to her arrival was taken from the Boston
Centinel of 1812: "Arrived from Bedford, N. H., canal-boat Experi-
ment,' Isaac Riddle, captain, via Merrimack River and Middlesex Canal."
Upon her arrival at Boston, she was received amid cheers and the firing
of cannon. From this commenced a large and extensive inland naviga-
tion on the Merrimack River, which continued until 1845, when it was
interrupted by the railroads. He built factories at Souhegan, afterwards
called "Riddle's Village," where, in company with his sons, William P.,
James, and Isaac, under the firm-name of Isaac Riddle & Sons, he carried
on an extensive manufacture of cotton, wool, and nails, until the estab-
lishment was destroyed by fire in 1829. Mr. Riddle filled many offices,
having been civil magistrate of his town, as well as their representative
to the State Legislature. His life was a proof of his energy and active
disposition. According to the "History of Manchester," when he became
of age he had about fifty dollars in his pocket, mostly saved from his
earnings during military service. He went to Newburyport, Mass., to pur-
chase a stock of goods; these were transported on drays, or dray-carts,
drawn by one or two horses, -if by two horses, in tandem teams, -
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