THE ANCIENT NORTHMEN, RIDDELL ANCESTRY.
41
these three brothers it seems probable that nearly all of the Scotch-Irish
Riddells have sprung. Political troubles drove other families of the
Scottish Riddells into Ireland at different times, and it is now a well-
established fact that some of these were from the branch of the Rox-
burghshire house denominated "Riddells of Glen-Riddell," in Dumfrie-
shire, and their descendants are still in the city of Belfast.
In many respects the settlement of these devoted Presbyterians in Ire-
land was a misfortune; there could be no peace between them and the
Catholic Irish. A conspiracy was raised in 1641, which aimed at the com-
plete extermination of the Protestant population of Ireland; and it so
far succeeded that forty thousand were suddenly massacred in different
parts of the island. A contemporary writer states as follows: "No con-
dition, no age, no sex, was spared. But death was the slightest punish-
ment inflicted by the rebels; all the tortures which wanton cruelty could
devise, all the lingering pains of body, the anguish of mind, and the ago-
nies of despair, could not satiate the revenge of the Irish." This rebellion
continued until 1649, when Cromwell avenged the blood of the slaugh-
tered saints and crushed the insurrection.
After the Restoration in the year 1660, James, a brother of King Charles,
was appointed Viceroy of Scotland, and being a bigoted Roman Catholic,
the Scottish Presbyterians were the objects of his hatred and persecu-
tion. An old writer says, "He let loose upon the Protestants the dogs
of war and drove hundreds of them into exile; large numbers escaped to
Ireland and joined the remnant of their brethren who had preceded them."
Still, there was no peace, liberty, or safety, for these Presbyterians so long
as the laws and inhabitants around them were hostile to the principles
which they loved dearer than life itself.
Such constancy, steadfastness, and perseverance, as was exhibited by
these Scotch people in endeavoring to maintain a footing upon the soil of
their adopted country, has seldom if ever been witnessed, but their suffer-
ings availed but little. They held the troops of James in check, while
they defended the last stronghold of King William in Ireland; at London-
derry and at Boyne-water they poured out their blood most freely; they
suffered every hardship and endured the most severe deprivations for the
sake of their religious faith and the protection of their homes, but they
were doomed to disappointment under the bloody policy of their enemies.
The Rev. David H. Riddle has said of these Protestants," My forefathers
were Scotch Presbyterians, and fought side by side in the Logan forces,'
and suffered together at Derry, and Enniskillen, and in the revolutionary
struggles, and their cherished memories go back to Ulster and Boyne-
water, Donegal and Coleraine." From a communication received from
Scotland I make the following extract, which was copied from some old
book: "Among the families from Scotland who suffered at the siege of
Londonderry, were Hamiltons, Morrisons, Pattersons, Grahames, Watsons,
Murrays, and Riddels." From another letter written from Ireland in the
year 1727, we learn that "Londonderry was besieged nearly half a
*
Londonderry was founded on the site of ancient Derry, which was burned in
1608, on account of its resistance to the authority of King James I. The site was
made over to the corporation of London, and the new city of Londonderry became
the stronghold of Protestantism. In December, 1688, its gates were closed against
King James II, who laid siege to it April 18, 1689 The siege kept up one hundred
and five days, when a man-of-war and two ships loaded with provisions ran past
the batteries and relieved the starving inhabitants.
