RIDDELLS OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.
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Stony Creek, where both of those officers were taken prisoners; was in
the detachment of five hundred men, June 23, 1813, who marched from
Fort George, under Col. Charles G. Boerstler, to Beaver Dam, to seize
British stores, in which action the colonel was wounded and captured,
with all his force; during this action sergeant Riddle was ordered to as-
sist in hauling a cannon up a steep bank, and was lifting at the wheels
when the drag-rope broke, letting the wheel of the cannon run across his
hip and abdomen, the weight crushing his body, causing a severe hernia.
He was carried a prisoner to York (now Toronto), where his injuries were
dressed by a British surgeon.
After his recovery he was, with two other prisoners, - one having his
arm in a sling,—put on board a batteau, with a guard of nine men under
a lieutenant, to be taken to Kingston, and in the night, Riddle finding the
fellow-prisoners ready to co-operate, planned a rescue, which, by throwing
the arms overboard, except those retained for their own use, and by sep-
arately capturing the lientenant, was completely successful, and the boat
and prisoners triumphantly landed, July 26, 1813, at Fort George (dis-
tance sixty miles), where a large number of officers and men assembled to
congratulate them upon their good fortune. Mr. Riddle was furloughed,
and returned to his home at Schenectady, where he might be nursed and
recover from his injuries. It is believed that Mrs. Riddle accompanied
her husband in the army after their marriage, but how long, and for what
purpose, is not specified. He died at Schenectady, N. Y., April 1, 1865;
his widow was living in 1876.
Robert Riddle² (2), third son of Robert¹ (1), was born in County
Monaghan, Ireland, in 1792; married Sarah Harkness, and had issue eight
children, of whom hereafter. Resided at East Davenport, N. Y. Died
July 4, 1863, aged about 71 years. He enlisted at Schenectady, N. Y.,
March 9, 1813, for five years, under Capt. John McChestney, in the Sixth
Regiment, United States Infantry, Colonels Boyd and Brady, and was
marched to Fort Oswego, N. Y., thence to Niagara frontier, and stationed
at Fort Niagara for a while; thence crossing the river was at the capture
of Fort George, in Canada. He received a wound at the battle of Beaver
Dam, Can., in his right ankle, producing necrosis of tibia, and with his
colonel and all his forces was taken prisoner and carried to Toronto, King-
ston, Montreal, Quebec, and Halifax. After a captivity of nine months
he was sent to Salem, Mass., and thence to the hospital at Albany, and
Sackett's Harbor, N. Y.
William Riddle² (1), fourth son of Robert¹ (1), was born in the
County Monaghan, Ireland; married Catherine Conley, in Delaware
County, N. Y., and had issue, of whom hereafter. He lived in Delhi,
Delaware County, N. Y.*
Nancy Riddle (1), a daughter of Robert' (1), was born in the County
Monaghan, Ireland; was married to James Riddle, of Delaware County,
N. Y., and had issue, of whom hereafter. She and her husband were not
relatives. He was a carpenter by trade.
THIRD GENERATION.
William Riddell³ (2), eldest son of John² (1), was born at Broadalbin,
James Riddell's address, also his brother Robert's, is Imlay City, Lapeer
County, Mich.; John's, son of William², address is Kortright Centre, Delaware
County, N. Y.; Newton Riddell, son of Nancy and James, North Kortright, Dela-
ware County, N. Y.
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