146
RIDDELLS OF SWINBURNE AND FELTON.
to John Clifton, Esq., of Lytham Hall, County of Durham, and died
Nov. 19, 1825.
Anne Riddell19 (4), youngest daughter of Thomas18 (14), was the wife
of Sir Walter Blount, Bart., of Soddington, County of Worcester. The
following account of the wedding will show the customs and manner of
the festivities of those times:"1792, Nov. 24,- being the anniversary
of the birthday of Miss Anne Riddell, of Felton Park, the morning was
ushered in by the ringing of bells; ale and other liquors were distributed
to the populace, and the evening concluded with a dance at Felton Park.
On the 27th, Sir Walter Blount, of Morley, in Shropshire, gave an ox to
the inhabitants of Felton and its environs, which was roasted whole.
Two men cooks, in proper uniforms, cut up the ox and distributed it in
equal proportions to the people; the bakers of the village did the same
with the bread, and the publicans with their ale. The whole was con-
ducted with the greatest decorum, with music and firing of cannon. The
favorite tune was, 'There's few good fellows when Watty 's awa'.
village exhibited a scene of laudable hospitality and harmless festivity.
On the following morning Sir Walter Blount and Miss Anne Riddell
were united in marriage. Immediately after the ceremony they took
their departure for his seat in Shropshire, amidst the blessings of the
poor, and the acclamations of the populace, who unharnessed the horses
and drew the carriage from Felton Park quite through the village. He
gave ten pounds to the poor of the parish, and three guineas to the people
who drew the carriage, to drink; at the same time Sir Walter ordered
two fat sheep to be roasted and distributed, and this was accordingly
done that day." Lady Blount died in 1823, one only son surviving her,
the eighth and present baronet, Sir Walter Blount.
TWENTIETH GENERATION.
The
Thomas Riddell 20 (16), eldest son of Ralphie (4), was born May 18,
1802; married Oct. 15, 1827, Mary, daughter of the late William Throck-
morton, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn. He succeeded his father as heir of Swin-
burne Castle and Felton Park, on the 19th of March, 1833. He was a
Commissioner of the Peace for Northumberland in 1836, and sometime
Sheriff for that county. He had four sons by his first wife, who, having
deceased, Mr. Riddell married secondly, in 1845, Laura-Anna, daughter
of Thomas-Joseph de Tafford, Bart., of Tafford Park, County of Lan-
caster, and by her had issue. He died at his seat, Felton Park, on the
5th of April, 1870, aged 67. Throughout the winter he had been an
invalid, but on Saturday before his death he was so well that he ventured
upon a drive to Alnwick. In waiting for his carriage to return home he
was seized with paralysis, and on being conveyed to Felton Park, under the
anxious care of Mrs. Riddell and a medical attendant, he never regained
consciousness, and gradually sank down to death. For many years Mr.
Riddell's constitution had been giving way; and in public life he had
taken little interest. Domesticated within the beautiful demesnes of Fel-
ton Park, his habits were simple and unostentatious. As a landlord, Mr.
Riddell was popular; his word was his bond, and his attachments strong
to the memories of generations upon his extensive estates. Sensible of
the dignity of family traditions, he sustained with admirable consistency
the best traits of a country gentleman. In proof of the unlimited confi-
dence in Mr. Riddell's honor, it may be stated that occupancy upon his
estates had existed for upwards of thirty-eight years without the evidence
