RIDDELLS OF SWINBURNE AND FELTON.
147
of ink. Few men have passed away with deeper feelings of gratitude,
affection, and regret, on the part of those who mourned his loss as a land-
lord, a neighbor, and a friend to the poor. His mortal remains were
committed to their last resting-place in the family vault, at St. Mary's
Catholic Church, Felton Park. The chief mourners were John-Giffard
Riddell, Esq., Felton Park; Robert Riddell, Esq., Edward-Widdrington
Riddell, Esq., York; Henry-Matthias Riddell, Esq., London; Edward Rid-
dell, Esq., Cheeseburn Grange; John Errington, Esq., High Warden, the
deceased's son-in-law; Sir Humphrey de Trafford, and Mr. Augustus de
Trafford, of Trafford Hall.
[N. B. Mr. Errington of High Warden, who died in 1878, left his
third wife, née Riddell of Felton Park, a widow, and also a son and daugh-
ter by her.]
Edward-Widdrington Riddell 20 (4), second son of Ralph19 (4), was
born in 1803; married July 1, 1830, Catherine, eldest daughter of
Thomas Stapleton, Esq., of Carlton Hall and of the Grove, Richmond,
County of York, and a sister of Miles-Thomas, eighth Lord Beaumont,
father of the present baron, Henry Stapleton, by whom he had issue three
sons and three daughters. Mr. Riddell was an officer in the Eighteenth
Hussars, and became distinguished. He died in 1870. I think Mr. Rid-
dell resided at Felton Park.
Right Rev. William Riddell 20 (12), third son of Ralph19 (4), was
born Feb. 5, 1807. He was endowed with superior intellectual faculties,
and was early the subject of deep religious convictions. Having decided
to devote himself to the work of the priesthood in the Catholic Church,
of which this family have ever been supporters, he received his first les-
sons of knowledge and science in a celebrated house known as " Stony-
hurst," from the Jesuit fathers sojourning there; and having finished his
college course, he made a visit to Rome, where he entered holy orders,
and was called to a most honorable and responsible office under Cardinal
Wells. Then came a change in his vocation. In the autumn of 1833, he
was stationed as priest at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and labored there till 1844,
among the poorest classes of that great city, "always ready to receive the
penitent sinner in the holy tribunal of penance, to counsel those who came
to seek counsel, to encourage those who required to be reminded that,
however great the guilt and ingratitude of man, the mercy of God is in-
finite as His infinite being, and can never be restricted by human infirm-
ity." He was careful in teaching the flock he presided over those truths
they should know, and the sacred duties required of them. He was es-
pecially devoted to the young, and spent much of his time in giving them
instruction. The paramount interest of his ministry seemed to be, while
in Newcastle, the founding of schools of an efficient character. He was
ever ready to assist his poor brethren, and glad to part with anything in
his possession in the shape of wealth, that he might be a faithful steward
to the needy. In March, 1844, he was raised to the episcopal office of
bishop, having been appointed by Pope Gregory XVI, coadjutor to the
Right Rev. Dr. Mostyne, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. The
new prelate, who was styled " Bishop of Lango," in partibus infidelium,
was consecrated at Ushaw, with great pomp by the bishops in attendance.
On the death of Dr. Mostyne, in 1847, Dr. Riddell became sole bishop of
his district, continuing to discharge the duties of his high office with great
application and acceptability. He did not confine his labors to Newcas-
tle, but erected a church at Felling, almost exclusively by his personal
