268
RIEDELS OF DOUGLASS, MASSACHUSETTS.
John Riddle² (1), a son of Richard¹ (1), is in the blacksmith and car-
riage business, in company with his brother, in Boston, Mass., unmarried.
Mary Riddle (1), a daughter of Richard¹ (1), was the wife of Thomas
Dolen; deceased.
Catherine Riddle² (1), a daughter of Richard¹ (1), now keeping a
hair store and wig manufactory in the city of Boston, where she has long
been established; unmarried.
Patrick Riddle² (1), a son of Richard¹ (1), is in the carriage and
blacksmith business in Boston.
Richard Riddle² (2), youngest son of Richard' (1), has been many
years a book-keeper for dry-goods houses.
RIEDELS OF DOUGLASS, MASSACHUSETTS.
[FRENCH BRANCH.]
John-H. Riedel' (1) was one of the two brothers who sailed from
France for America, presumably about 1760. Of his early life nothing is
known. He served in an American cavalry regiment during the war of
the Revolution, and passed the latter years of his life in Douglass, Mass.
Whether he was a resident of that town at the time of his enlistment, or
settled there after the expiration of his term of military service, is not
recorded. He married an English lady named Clark, and had issue four-
teen children,* nearly all of whom were born in Douglass. He was a Pro-
testant in religion, and was wont to tell of the persecution his Huguenot
ancestors had endured in the old country. His French Bible, sabre, camp
utensils, military accoutrements, and other personal effects were in exist-
ence fifty years ago, but their present whereabouts is unknown. He died
about 1800, and was buried in Douglass. The historian of the town in-
forms me that the old family residence was known as the "Riddle House,"
when he was young.
About 1850, and not later than 1855, a grandson,
of Boston, visited Douglass for the purpose of settling the estate, and to
sell the house and farm which had remained in the family, and on his re-
turn described the house as being a large, rambling affair, situated on an
elevation on the "Mail Road." The estate was sold to John Floyd, — at
that time connected with one of the railroads in that section,—who cleared
off the timber for the road. At this time there was a dispute among
some members of the family as to the propriety of spelling the surname
"Riedell." The grandson, John H. Riedel, of Boston, - after consider-
able search unearthed the old gentleman's sign and found his grave-stone:
the name was spelled "Riedel" in both instances. Evidently this man
was a direct descendant of some of the ancient houses of Ridel, in Nor-
mandy. This is the only branch in New England known to have spelled
the name in the German form, except a few small families recently from
Saxony and Bavaria.
-
* There are several descendants of John H. Riedel now living in New England.
some in Boston, among them John H. Riedell, formerly editor of the Union,
Manchester, N. H.
