RIDDELLS of bedford, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NO. 2. 239
Blanch-Hayward Riddle (1), daughter of Daniel (2), was born
April 9, 1874.
Freeman-Benjamin Riddle (4), eldest son of Joseph¹ (1), was born
at Marshalltown, Ia., in 1866; died in infancy.
George-Sattler Riddles (3), second son of Joseph' (1), was born at
Marshalltown, Ia., in September, 1868; died in March, 1869.
Julia-Andrews Riddle" (1), eldest daughter of Joseph (1), was born
at Marshalltown, Ia., Oct. 20, 1870.
RIDDELLS OF BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NO. 2.
[JOHN BRANCH.]
John Riddell' (1), supposed to have been a son of John Riddell and
his wife, Janet Gordon, of Ballymeath, Ireland, was born Jan. 2, 1701,
an American account places his birth 1709,- and came to New England
in company with his brothers in 1718, being the youngest of the four.
He married Janet, settled in Bedford, N. H., alongside of many of
his Scotch-Irish neighbors from the old country, as a farmer, and had is-
sue, of whom hereafter. His name was signed to the original petition for
a charter for the town of Bedford, May 10, 1750. He was fence-viewer
June 6, 1750; fence-viewer and appraiser in 1751; he was a surveyor of
highways in 1752, and a tax-payer in each of these years. His name is
not found on the tax-list subsequent to 1752, but the following year, 1753,
"Janet Riddell" appears as a tax-payer, and continues as such until 1764.
The information found respecting this man and his family is meagre and
quite disconnected; indeed, the descendants of his brothers were not
aware of such a kinsman. The Rev. Samuel-Hopkins Riddell, an erudite
and very accurate man, who had gathered considerable genealogical infor-
mation relating to his family, was taken by surprise when, during my cor-
respondence with him, I announced the documentary evidence of the ex-
istence of four original brothers, instead of the traditionary three, of whom
he was cognizant, and for some time expressed grave doubts as to the au-
thenticity and accuracy of my proof; at the same time he and others had
before them the sketch of William P. Riddell, published in 1852, in which
he mentions this John Riddell as one whose genealogical connections were
left in obscurity. It has been plausibly assumed that this family was ex-
tinct in the male line; but I mention as of interest in the question, the
existence of a family descended from David Riddell, who was a native of
New Hampshire, and removed in early life to New York State. (See ac-
count of this family under designation of "Riddells of Rochdale, New-
York.") I can find no other New Hampshire branch from which this
David could have descended. John Riddell died July, 1757, and his slate-
stone monument in the Bedford cemetery bears the following inscription:
"To celebrate Jehovah's praise,
My very body shall arise."
SECOND GENERATION.
The
Mary Riddell (1) was a daughter of John¹ (1), of Bedford.
history of that town says of her: "John Riddle had one daughter Mary,
