86
RIDDELLS OF GRANTON, SCOTLAND.
charged with having broken his confinement, keeping conventicles, and
baptizing children, and, in consequence, the place of his imprisonment
was changed, he being sent to the Bass. He and the Rev. Thomas Pat-
terson are described by the proprietaries as "two persons who have been
in prison in Scotland for nonconformity, and are greatly esteemed among
the people who are of their persuasion in matters of religion"; and as
they are willing to transport themselves to East Jersey, and settle there,
which will be the occasion of inviting a great number to follow them,
the necessary directions were given to have two hundred acres of land
allotted to each immediately on their arrival, in such places as might
best accommodate them, provided they build them houses and continue
their own or some other family there three years.
-
On board the ill-fated "Henry and Francis" we are not able to follow
them. Mrs. Riddell and his children accompanied him, and she died on
shipboard; the children were spared to him, to contribute to his happiness
in his new home at Woodbridge, where his two hundred acres were allot-
ted him, and where he purchased other lands. He officiated at Trinity
Church at Woodbridge from 1686 to 1689, when he, having fulfilled the
conditions of settlement, left the country, and started on his return to
his native land, a land having more charms for him than the "New
World." He set sail with a son ten years of age, in June, 1689, but he
was doomed to other sufferings and disappointinents. Favorable weather
attended him, but on the 2d of August, when off the coast of England,
the vessel was captured by a French man-of-war, and the passengers sent
to the common jail at Rochefort, whence they were subsequently marched
to Toulon, chained two and two by their arms, and, at first, each ten pairs
tied to a rope, but this being found an impediment to their traveling,
was abandoned the second day. Mr. Riddell was chained to his little
son, who was so small that he gave them no little trouble, three different
bands being forged by the smith before one could be found small enough
to confine his slender wrists. They were six weeks on the way to Toulon,
the hardships of the journey causing the death of many, and on their
arrival were conveyed to the hold of an old hulk in the harbor, but
after the detention of a month, Mr. Riddell and his son and others were
taken back again to Rochefort, and thence to Demain, near St. Malo,
where for more than a year they were kept prisoners in the vault of an
old castle. At last, after having been confined nearly two years, they
were exchanged for two Romish priests and allowed to return to Scot-
land.* While they were imprisoned in the old castle they lay on straw,
never changed save once a month, suffering every indignity and misery.
But his trials were ended with his release, and he passed the rest of his
* The following royal letter was found by one of the Riddells some time ago in the
State Paper Office, London, which was issued directly from the sovereign, William
III, and directed to the Privy Council of Scotland, being to the following effect :
"WILLIAM REX, Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved. Whereas we are in-
formed that Mr. Archibald Riddell, Minister of the Gospel, and James Sinclair
of Freshwick, are prisoners in France, and are very hardly used, whom we are re-
solved to have released by exchange with two Priests now Prisoners in Scotland.
Therefore, WE require you to call for their friends and nearest relations of the said
Mr. Archibald Riddell and James Sinclair, and signify our Royal Pleasure to them
in exchange of these two Prisoners with the two Priests that shall be condescended
upon, and authorise them not only to speak with the two Priests, but also to write
to France anent the negotiating their friends' liberty, and that you cause these two
Priests to be condescended upon and securely keeped, and make intimation to them
