254 RIDDELLS OF COLERAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NO. 2.
SECOND GENERATION.
Gavin Riddell² (1), eldest son of Robert¹ (1), was born in London-
derry, N. H., Feb. 22, 1753; married Margaret Taggart, in 1782, and had
issue eleven children, of whom hereafter. He removed from Londonderry
to Coleraine, Mass., with his parents, and kept a public-house there. He
was a soldier of the Revolution, and many traditions are preserved among
his descendants concerning his prowess in his frequent skirmishes with
the Indians, who grievously infested those regions at that early time. He
died July 29, 1812.
Robert Riddell (2), second son of Robert¹ (1), was born in London-
derry, N. H., Jan. 27, 1758; married Jemima Long, in 1784, and removed
to Sullivan County, N. Y. Mrs. Riddell was from Shelburne, Mass., born
Feb. 20, 1760, and died in New York, Sept. 18, 1822. They had issue
eight children, of whom hereafter. Mr. Riddell died Aug. 11, 1808, aged
50 years.
Susannah Riddell (1), only daughter of Robert¹ (1), was born in
Londonderry, N. H., in 1759; married- Edwards, and had children,
all of whom are deceased. She died previous to 1852.
THIRD GENERATION.
Capt. John Riddell (1), eldest son of Gavin² (1), was born in Cole-
raine, Mass., Dec. 15, 1783; married Lephe Gates,* in 1806, and had issue
ten children, of whom hereafter. He was educated at Deerfield Academy.
In 1805, he taught school at Norwich, now Preston, Chenango County,
N. Y. In 1807, with his family, consisting of his wife and one son, he re-
moved to a farm about one mile west of Preston Corners, where he built
a home and permanently settled. The house stood about eighty rods
northwest of the house occupied by his son Samuel T., in 1852. During
the winter of 1815-16, Mr. Riddell taught school in his own district. He
held the office of constable and Justice of the Peace, receiving his com-
mission from the Governor of the State. Subsequently he was frequently
elected to the office of supervisor, and ever enjoyed the entire confidence
of his townsmen. He was chosen captain of the militia, at that time an
office of considerable respectability, and his commission from Governor
Tompkins is still (1852) preserved among the family papers. Captain
Riddell was tall and rather slim; he had light blue eyes and dark hair;
was noted for his large stock of general information, being an extensive
reader all his days. As a leading, public-spirited man, he was highly es-
teemed, and was long a reliable and very useful public servant. He died
May 10, 1833, deservedly lamented by all who knew him.
Susanna Riddell (2), eldest daughter of Gavin (1), was born in Cole-
* LEPHE GATES, the mother of the above-mentioned family, was a daughter of
Peter Gates, who married Mary Allen, both from Groton, Mass. (?), then of Leyden,
Mass. Lephe was born Nov. 22, 1787. "Under circumstances (says her son
William) peculiarly embarrassing, after the death of her husband, she proved
herself a woman of peculiar energy of character, and her efforts in behalf of the
family, at that time composed chiefly of young children, are not likely soon to be
forgotten by them. During the time of her greatest perplexity, after her husband's
death, she seemed to receive great consolation from reading the Bible, and actually
read the whole through in five months." She used to tell, with apparent satisfac-
tion, of spinning one hundred and thirty-nine knots of yarn in a day, in early life,
besides attending to the household duties; this was done in 1826. She was enjoy-
ing good health in 1852, and had the care of two of her grandsons from New
Orleans, educating at the North.
