RIDDELLS OF GLASSLOUGH, IRELAND.
167
being dissolute and improvident, and was obliged to leave Glasslough
after his marriage, owing to his profligate conduct, and eventually dissi-
pated and lost all his father's property. He married, about 1768, Miss
Sarah Ankittell, a daughter of Roger Ankitell, Esq., of Mount Ankitell,
a grandson of the famous and gallant Matthew Ankitell, Esq., of Anki-
tell's Grove, County of Monaghan, who fell fighting in defence of the
Protestant interest in 1688, at Drumbanagher, near Glasslough. These
had issue one son (probably others), of whom hereafter. Soon after the
birth of this son his mother died, leaving him in the care of his grand-
father, his father having been obliged to quit the town. Robert married,
secondly, his housekeeper, a Miss Eccles, by whom he had three sons, some
of whose descendants have become well known in the United States. (See
"Riddells of Richhill," in this work.) It is not unlikely that Robert may
have had other sons besides the three mentioned. There are Riddells, or
Riddles, now living in the vicinity of Glasslough, whose origin seems un-
certain, but who may not improbably be considered as his descendants.
Having lost all his property in gambling and dissipation, and having both
talent and education, Robert turned his attention to the work of architect
and builder, in which he was followed by his son, as will be hereinafter no-
ticed. He became a converted, reformed character, under the preaching
of the Methodists. The date of his death is unknown, but it probably
occurred about 1800.
THIRD GENERATION.
Walter Riddell³ (2), eldest son of Robert2 (1), was born in or near
Glasslough, County Monaghan, Ireland, 1770, and died Dec. 5, 1818. He
was under the care of his grandfather, as before mentioned, until he was
five years old, and received in early years seeds of religious instruction,
which by God's grace he never lost. On his grandfather's death, he was
kept for a time among his mother's relatives; but was afterwards restored
to his father, who gave him all possible advantages of education. He was
Walter,' my ancestor, was very probably the eldest son of Robert, the second laird
of Glen-Riddell. This is my second fact. (3.) The time at which 'old Walter'
lived would agree with his having been a son of Robert, the second of Glen-Riddell.
He died in 1775, five years after the birth of his grandson, who was my grandfather.
(4.) The time also agrees with that portion of the tradition which refers to the
family feud about politics and religion. During the former half of the last century
there were fierce disputes in Scotland, with Jacobites and Covenanters. I do not
know what side my ancestor may have taken; but this much is certain, that he was
a very godly man, a member of the Church of Scotland, and strongly imbued with
Calvinistic principles. This last I have from a statement written by my grand-
mother, giving a short account of her husband, after his death, but which, I fear,
is lost. I have now stated the facts on which I rely, and I think it is easy to un-
derstand how, under the circumstances, my ancestor, 'old Walter,' was ignored and
lost sight of by his family, and how his stiff Scotch temper would prevent his at-
tempting to reopen communication, and thus how it came to be assumed that Glen-
Riddell had died out in the direct male line, though it had survived in Ireland all
the time. I do not press the conclusion that my ancestor was necessarily the eldest
son of Glen-Riddell; but that he was one of the sons (or a brother, possibly), I
have no doubt I only ask that the claim which I have advanced, may be fairly
and fully considered and fairly stated; having no doubt but that further investiga-
tions will confirm it hereafter." Mr. Riddall will continue to investigate the his-
tory of his family and forward every new fact until the last moment before this
goes to press. I should here state that Sir Walter-Buchanan Riddell, Bart., in a
letter to Rev. Walter Riddall, says, "I am sure you are right to consider yourself
one of the family of the Riddells of Riddell." Sir Walter's testimony should have
weight, as coming from the "Chief."
