246
RIDDELLS OF COLERAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NO. 1.
after, four in number. In 1729 his surname was found spelled "Ridell";
on May 10, 1750, it stood on a petition for a charter for Bedford, with
those of his two brothers, Gawn and John, spelled "Riddell," and in
1752 it was spelt "Ridel." In Patten's journal the name is always "Rid-
dell." Patten was a Scotchman, or of Scottish extraction, and un-
derstood the proper spelling of the surname. None of this branch of the
Riddell family seem to have adopted the surname "Riddle" until subse-
quent to 1790.
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Hugh Riddell was selectman in Bedford, N. H., in the years 1754 and
1755. The following is a fac-simile of his autograph:-
Hugh Kiddell
SECOND GENERATION.
Dea. Hugh Riddell² (2), eldest son of Hugh¹ (1) and Ann Aiken, was
born in Bedford, N. H., in August, 1740. He married Jane Morris, and
in the year 1763 removed to Coleraine, Mass., where he settled on a farm,
and remained until within fifteen years of his death, when he went to live
with his son Samuel, in Charlemont in the same State. He died June 5,
1817, aged 77 years. He was a sturdy man, and a sound orthodox dea-
con of the celebrated priest Taggart's church. His physical strength was
remarkable, and it is said that the parson and his deacon, after refreshing
the inner man, would frequently try each other's muscle in friendly wres-
tle, till they would pant like two bullocks; in these encounters they han-
dled each other roughly, but always in the best spirit. Mr. Riddell had
few equals in his day, where physical power was demanded. The town.
of Coleraine, where he lived, like that in the north of Ireland for which
it was named, was noted for its large men. Dr. Adam Clark, the distin-
guished commentator, writes that he had seen many men in Coleraine,
Ireland, whose height was seven and a half feet, and some whose stature
was eight feet. Mr. Riddell's wife, by whom he had issue nine children,
is supposed to have died at the home of her son Samuel, in Charlemont,
but I have no record. See account of descendants further on.
William Riddell² (1), second son of Hugh¹ (1) and Ann Aiken, was
born in Bedford, N. H., in the year 1742, and was lost at sea before the
removal of the family from Bedford to Coleraine, Mass.; unmarried.
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Robert Riddell (1), third son of Hugh¹ (1) and Ann Aiken, was
born in Bedford, N. H., May 11, 1744; married Jane McGee, she was
born in Deerfield, Mass., Oct. 23, 1747, and removed from Coleraine to
Ripley, Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he died Feb. 20, 1822, aged 78
years; his wife predeceased him, at Otsego, N. Y., April 5, 1805. They
had issue ten children, of whom hereafter.
Ann Riddell (1), only daughter of Hugh¹ (1), was born in Bedford,
N. H., in 1747; married to Jonathan Wilson, and had issue.
THIRD GENERATION.
Letitia Riddell (1), eldest daughter of Hugh' (2), was born in Cole-
raine, Mass., and died when ten months old.
Rev. William Riddel (1), eldest son of Hugh² (2), was born in Cole-
raine, Mass., Feb. 4, 1768; married, Sept. 4, 1797, Lucy, daughter of Rev.
