Lewis Arnold Riddle (bef. 1777 - abt. 1851)

Born before 1777 in Virginia, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Barbee) Riddle — married 24 Feb 1803 in Caroline County, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1851 after about age 74 in Bath County, Kentucky, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michael Riddle [send private message]

Biography

There is much contradictory information about Lewis Riddle. First of all is the spelling of his name which varies between Riddle, Riddell and Ruddell. Then there is the year and place of his birth as well as the parentage attributed to him. All are questionable. One final disclaimer is the fact there was more than one man named Lewis Riddle living in Kentucky during the same time span.

Lewis' age has been estimated. Early researchers attributed his birth year as 1778 and place Orange County, Virginia without documentation. ^[1] Since his proposed father (William Riddle) died in 1777 it had to be assumed Lewis was born close to the time of his father's death. It should be added there is no documentation for the father of Lewis Riddle. The one documented source we have is the 1850 census in which Lewis himself declared his age was 72, thus born 1778 and his birthplace was stated to be Virginia.

Two dates have been given for his marriage to Elizabeth Barbee/Barby/Barbie in Caroline County, Virginia ...

- 24 Feb 1803 marriage bond with security Thomas Riddle and witnesses: Elijah Barbee, Bereman King ^{[2] [3]}

- 14 Jun 1803 marriage performed by Henry Goodlow ^[4]

The 1806 Caroline County, Virginia tax list for "Removals and Insolvents in the District of Wm Jones" has the notation: Lewis Riddle "Removed to Kentucky".

In 1807 Lewis Riddle appears in the tax list for Bourbon County, Kentucky and he remains on the list until at least 1816. For the year 1808 through 1810 he was listed under the spelling Ruddle or Ruddell, probably due to influence of that spelling being more popular locally. (There was a Ruddle's Fort and a Ruddle's Mill in Bourbon County, Kentucky named after an Isaac Ruddle who was probably related to Lewis, but the connection is not yet established.)

Tax records columns: Taxpayer / acres of land / watercourse [watershed] where land is located / # of white males 21+ / # of black males @16+ / total # of blacks / # of horses ...

1807 Riddle, Lewis - - 1 0 0 1 book#1

1808 Rudel, Lewis - - 1 0 0 0 1 book#1 (only white males @16-21)

1809 Ruddle, Lewis - - 1 0 0 2

1810 Ruddell, Lewis - - 1 0 0 3

1811 Riddle, Lewis - - 1 0 0 4

1812 Riddle, Lewis 50 Hinkston 1 0 0 4

1813 Riddle, Lewis 50 Hinkston 1 0 0 5

1814 [not found, either unlisted or entry unreadable]

1815 [not found, entire tax list damaged & mostly unreadable]

1816 Riddle, Lewis 50 Hinkston 1 0 0 6

1817-1820, not listed in Bourbon County, Kentucky.

A death date of 1851 has been attributed to Lewis Riddle but further documentation is needed. ^[5]

Residence

1810 Boone County, Kentucky, USA ^[6]

1810 Stoner, Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA ^[7]

1820 Owingsville, Bath County, Kentucky, USA. ^[8]

1830 Bath County, Kentucky, USA ^[9]

1840 Bath County, Kentucky, USA ^[10]

1850 Bath County, Kentucky, USA ^[11]

Court

The reason for his move about 1815 from Bourbon County to Bath County is explained in a lengthy court case that went all the way to the US Supreme Court and took more than twenty years to resolve.^[12] Simply put, Lewis Riddle was ejected from the land he had been farming in Bourbon County and paying rent on (by paying the taxes) because his landlord did not have a clear title and the court decided against the landlord so even though Riddle had been paying rent he was ejected from the land. Lewis Riddle moved to Bath County and acquired a farm there. ^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ This information resulted from a merge of data created by Michael Riddle through the import of Riddle Whitley Family Tree - 25082013 - 11052014 - 11052014.ged on 15 May 2014.
2. ↑ "Virginia Marriages 1785-1940" (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRCR-YZS), Lewis Riddle and Elizabeth Barbee, 24 Feb 1803; citing Caroline County, Virginia; p2; FHL#30,826;
3. ↑ Virginia, Marriages 1740-1850 on ancestry.com; citing Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850 compiled by Jordan R. Dodd, et al & Precision Indexing Publishers of Bountiful, UT, USA
4. ↑ Caroline County, Virginia Marriage Records 1795-1853; p2, 87.
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #172091673 for Lewis Riddle, b: 1778 Orange County, Virginia, USA; d: 1851 Bath County, Kentucky, USA; buried: Riddle Cemetery, Owingsville, Bath County, Kentucky, USA
6. ↑ 1810 USA Census of Barren County, Kentucky; citing FHL#181,350; NARA#M252; roll#5; p117; for Lewis Riddle=Riddel on the same page with William Riddle (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2T-31V)
7. ↑ 1810 Census of Stoner, Bourbon County, Kentucky; citing FHL#181,350; NARA#M252; roll#5; p207; line#18; for Lewis Ruddell @45+ with ...

   1M@26-44 & 1F@26-44

   1M@16-25 & 1F@16-25;

   1M@<10; Since Lewis and Elizabeth were married in 1803, it is somewhat surprising to find only one child under 10 in the household. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2T-7ZX)

8. ↑ 1820 USA Census of Bath County, Kentucky; citing NARA#M33; film#16; GS#0186176; digital#005156945; image#00108; p196 for Lewis Riddle (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL5-1CM)
9. ↑ 1830 USA Census of Bath County, Kentucky; citing FHL#7,812; NARA#M19; roll#33; p208 for Lewis Riddle @50-60 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGG-YJY)
10. ↑ 1840 USA Census for west of Slate Creek, Bath County, Kentucky; citing FHL#7,823; NARA#M704; roll#104; p209 for Lewis Riddle @60-70 with neighbours John and Robert Riddle (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTG-XNF)
11. ↑ USA Census of Bath County, Kentucky; citing NARA#M432; family#518; (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M65T-3CN) which included (all b: VA) ...

    72 Riddle Lewis, occ: farming

    68 Riddle Elizabeth (wife)

    23 Riddle Lewis

    10 Riddle Thos. Vice

    31 Riddle S. C. (son)

    20 Riddle Sarah A.

    12 Riddle Elizabeth

    09 Riddle John

    05 Riddle Matilda

    04 Riddle Lewis

    01 Riddle Susan

12. ↑ Kentucky District Court Orders, 1816-1819, DGS 8664659. [page 333-334] John Doe on dem Francis Payton, plaintiff against Richard Roe ie Lewis Riddle, tenant defendant In ejectment Thursday, Nov 30th, 1815 This day came the plaintiff in the suits aforesaid by his attorney and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the tenants in possession have been regularly served with a copy of the plaintiff's declaration and notice thereunder written and they failing to appear and plead to the plaintiff's said action tho' solemnly called came not but made default. It is therefore considered by the court that unless they appear here on the first day of the next Term of the Court and cause themselves to be made defendants herein receive a declaration in a plea of Tresspass and Ejectment confess the lease entry and ouster therein supposed and plead thereto or on failure thereof judgement will be entered against Richard Roe the casual ejector and the writ of Habere facias possessionem awarded the plaintiff. And it is ordered that the surveyor of the county do go on the land in controversy between the parties on the day of the if fair if not on the next fair day and then and there survey and lay off the same as either party may direct having due regard to all deeds and other evidence that may be produced Report all matters of fact specially and return one fair platt and certificate thereof into the Clerk's Office of this Court in each cause thirty days at least before the day of trial and the Marshal or one of his Deputies are directed to attend the said surveyor to remove force should any be offered. Image 202 [page 308] Francis Peyton, plaintiff against Lewis Riddle, defendant in possession Doe v. Roe ejectment Monday, Nov. 17th, 1817. This day the plaintiff aforesaid by his attorney and the defendant { } failing to appear and plead to the plaintiff's action though solemnly called came not but made default. It is therefore considered by the court that the Plaintiff recover of the said defendant his { } yet to come and { } in and to the law an premises in the declaration mentioned and the writ of Habere facias possessionem is awarded to the plaintiff.
13. ↑ Francis Peyton of Virginia filed a suit of ejection against Henry Williams & Thomas L. Patterson of Kentucky on Nov. 9, 1814 (Federal Case #894). It mentions Peyton's 25-year lease agreement for his Montgomery County land with some unnamed tenants, beginning April 1, 1814. The tenants would pay the taxes in lieu of paying rent, according to Christopher Greenup's deposition in the file. Greenup was the surveyor for two of Peyton's patents in 1784, and agent for Peyton in 1794.

See also:

• Riddle Family of Bath County, Kentucky by Teri Pettit in 2003

• Ancestry.com family tree, "Young-Gooding Family" by Melissa Williamson