RIDDELLS OF COLERAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NO. 2. 253
Edwin-Augustus Riddell (1), third son of Thomas¹ (3), was born at
Wauwatosa, Wis., April 11, 1857; unmarried.
Francis-Imogen Riddell (1), fourth son of Thomas¹ (3), was born
at Wauwatosa, Wis., July 22, 1859; unmarried.
4
Sarah-Josephine Riddell (1), eldest daughter of William (6), was
born at Cherry Valley, Ill., Sept. 12, 1846, and married Feb. 5, 1866, to
Ashley Alexander.
Eugene Riddell (1), eldest son of William (6), was born at Cherry
Valley, Ill., Sept. 4, 1847; married Sept. 16, 1870, Nellie Maurice.
Frank Riddell (2), second son of William (6), was born at Cherry
Valley, Ill., Feb. 22, 1849.
Mary-A. Riddell (6), second daughter of William (6), was born at
Cherry Valley, Ill., June 3, 1854; died March 7, 1856.
William-0. Riddell (8), third son of William (6), was born at
Cherry Valley, Ill., Oct. 12, 1867.
RIDDELLS OF COLERAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NO. 2.
[ROBERT BRANCH.]
Robert Riddell' (1), presumed to be a son of John Riddell and Janet
Gordon, of Ballymeath, Ireland, was born March 14, 1698, and came with
his three brothers to America in 1718. He married Mary Thompson, a
lady of Scottish extraction (she was born in 1706, and died May 27, 1759),
and had issue, of whom hereafter. He settled in Londonderry, N. H.,
alongside of many Scotch-Irish families. He was surveyor of highways
in Londonderry in 1748, 1749; and in 1753 was "haward." His name
does not appear on the tax-list or town records of Bedford, and he prob-
ably never lived there. He removed to Coleraine (now Franklin County),
Mass., and joined a Scotch-Irish settlement there; bought a large tract of
land and built a spacious house, that was for many years used as a tavern
for the accommodation of the traveling public. Mr. Riddell was a man
of gigantic proportions, and of symmetrical form; a man of formidable
strength, but of mild disposition. His eyes were blue, and his complexion
fair. There are many traditions preserved in the family, among his de-
scendants, respecting his great feats of strength, one of which was the
shouldering of a cannon on muster-day, which was considered a Hercu-
lean feat. He was notorious as a bold Indian-fighter. Many of his de-
scendants are very large men. He died at Coleraine, Sept. 14, 1787, aged
(according to date on grave-stone) 79 years; if born in 1698 (as per rec-
cords from Ireland), he was 89 years old at his death. His tombstone
stands near the northern extremity of the old burying-ground at Cole-
raine, nearly concealed with rank briars, and bears the following inscrip-
tion:
"All you advanced in years,
You healthy and robust,
Are tott'ring round the grave,
And soon must turn to dust."
