John Riddle (1754 - 1814)

Born 30 Oct 1754 in Bedford, Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Agnes (McAffee) Riddle — married 1775 in Bedford, Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Descendants

Died 16 Nov 1814 at age 60 in Riddells Mills, Bedford, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

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Biography

"Lieut. John Riddle, was the son of Gaen Riddle and Mary Bell.

Marriage (1)

He first married Mary McAffee, and they had 9 children.^[1]

Children with Mary McAffee

1. Gawn Riddle b . June 28 , 1776 , Bedford ; d . July , 1837 , Bedford ; m . Dolly French , Bedford . 1-3 . He lived at No. 41 , and carried on a grist - mill below the Riddle mill . He was selectman , town treasurer , and a man of marked executive ability .
2. Molly Riddle¹ , b . Dec. 11 , 1778 , Bedford ; m . 1804 , Black , Prospect , Me .
3. Agnes Riddle¹ , b . Jan. 5 , 1781 , Bedford ; d . June 20 , 1852 ; m . Feb. 9 , 1807. William French , Prospect , Me .
4. Susannah Riddle¹ b . 1784 , Bedford ; m . Sept. 24 , 1807 , Daniel Moor , Bedford .
5. James Riddle¹ , b . Jan. 9 , 1786 , Bedford ; d . March , 1827 , Bedford ; m . Dec. 6, 1815 , Anna , dau . of Col. Stephen Dole , Bedford , b . Oct. 16 , 1790 , d . Oct. 11 , 1849. 4-5 . He lived at No. 31. He was an enterprising , energetic man , but unfortunately lost the use of his limbs by rheumatism , while in the prime of life .
6. Anna Riddle¹ , b . May , 1789 , Bedford ; m . 1841 , James Staples , Prospect , Me .
7. John Riddle¹ , b . about 1791 ; d . at the age of 21 . 8. Matthew Riddle¹ , b . Bedford , 1793 ; d . Sept. 1 , 1828 ; m . 1819 , Sarah , dau . of Col. Stephen Dole , Bedford , d . July 9 , 1844. He went West in 1820 , and settled in Terra Haute , Ind .; cabinet maker . 6-8 .
8. Matthew Riddle¹ , b . Bedford , 1793 ; d . Sept. 1 , 1828 ; m . 1819 , Sarah , dau . of Col. Stephen Dole , Bedford , d . July 9 , 1844. He went West in 1820 , and settled in Terra Haute , Ind .; cabinet maker . 6-8 .
9. William Riddle¹ , b . 1791 , Bedford ; d . 1845 , Bedford

Marriage (2)

Secondly, he married Sarah Hartshorn.

Children with Sarah Hartshorn

1. Gilman Riddle ' , b . July , 1811 , Bedford ; d . May 15 , 1893 , Manches ter , N. H. He m . , 1st , 1836 , Mary J. Eveleth . 9. He m . , 2d , 1841 , Emeline Henry . 10-11 . He was a man of quiet and unos tentatious habits , was long identified with cotton manufacturing , having first been engaged in the mill on the island at Amoskeag falls .
2. Eliza S. Riddle¹ , b . 1813 , Bedford : d . Sept. 18 , 1859 , Belfast , Me .; m . May 1 , 1834 , William W. West , Belfast , Me . 12-19 .

John was a millwright by trade, and built nearly all the mills that were in operation in this section of the country at that time. He built and resided in mill house, now (1884) occupied by Mr. Isaac C. Cutler. In 1780 he was surveyor of highways; 1781, ensign; 1784, committee to do what shall be needful to be done on "Scataquog Bridge"; 1785, surveyor of highways and committee on county bridge same year, pew no. 4 in meeting-house sold to him for $36; 1786, tythingman, juryman, committee to build a pound, and "lieutenant."

He subscribed to the " Association Test " of 1776 ; was a soldier in the Revolution . He built and lived at No. 41. He was a millwright by trade , an industrious , hard - working man , building most of the mills that were in operation in this sec tion of the county at that time . His name appears on the town records as holder of many offices . ^[2]

He was a volunteer in the Revolution, and signed the "Association Test." which read as follows: "We the subscribers do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies." Mr. Riddle fulfilled his promise by entering the active service as private in the New Hampshire troops." --North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 162, p. 80 : 1920 (as cited in https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62315938/john-riddle#view-photo=156675880 )

Burial

John passed away in 1816 and was interred in the Bedford Ctr. Cem., Bedford, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.^[3]

Military Service

Service: Rev. War; see Notes below

Research Notes

History of Rockingham , New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing , Chicago, Ill., 1915, Page 609

March 12, 1778, discharged March 12, 1781; Joseph Norris, enlisted March 4, 1778, discharged February 4, 1781; Jethro Pettengill, enlisted March 6, 1778, discharged December, 1781; John Riddle, enlisted March 7, 1778, discharged February, 1781. According to gravestone, John was a Lieutenant.

Sources

1. ↑ History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=43epVZYOew8C&pg=GBS.PA1048&hl=en) Page 1048
2. ↑ History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=43epVZYOew8C&pg=GBS.PA1046&hl=en) Page 1046
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62315938/john-riddle: accessed 11 July 2023), memorial page for Lieut John Riddle (30 Oct 1754–16 Nov 1814), Find a Grave Memorial ID 62315938, citing Bedford Center Cemetery, Bedford, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA; Maintained by Janice Brown (contributor 48126984).

See Also:

• North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 162, p. 80 : 1920 (as cited in https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62315938/john-riddle#view-photo=156675880

• Ancestor Biographies. Building Mills in Bedford, New Hampshire - John Riddle: http://ancestorbios.blogspot.com/2018/01/building-mills-in-bedford-new-hampshire.html?m=0