Gaen Riddle (abt. 1688 - 1779)

Born about 16 May 1688 in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Dec 1779 at about age 91 in Bedford, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bob Nichol [send private message]

Biography

Gaen was the son of John Riddell Sr. and Janet Gordon. ^[1]

Christening

2 JAN 1701 Londonderry, N. Ireland

Note: According to gravestone, name is spelled Gaen. [Bob Nichol--Nichol-198-- note: Gaen, or Gawen, is the Scottish form of the English given name Gawain, and is pronounced "GAH-wen."

Marriage

Gawn Riddell married Mary Bell , b . 1724 ; d . Jan. 7 , 1813 , dau . of John Bell

Children

Six

Research Notes

Mary Jane Cook Notes:

Reference: Riddells of Bedford, Hillsborough, New Hampshire USA, No. 1 pg. 219. Gawen Riddell, supposed to have been born at Ballaymeath, Londonderry, N. Ireland, (more likely Scotland) May 16, 1688; came to America in 1718. He married Mary Bell, a lady of Scottish descent (she was born in 1704), and has issue six children, of whom hereafter. He was a brother of Hugh, Robert, and John, who came over from Scotland at the same time. See "Riddells of Coleraine, Massachusetts," and of "Ballaymeath, Londonderry, N. Ireland." His name appears on a petition to the Governor of New Hampshire for a charter for the town of Bedford, May 10, 1750; also tythingman in Bedford the same year. In 1750, a road was laid out from William Kennedy's land to the brook near "Ghan Riddell's house." In 1751, "Gan" was constable; also took "invoice same year for 40 shillings Gold tenor." In 1753 "Gan" was surveyor of highways; in 1754, tythingman; in 1756, selectman and clerk of the Market in 1757, constable in 1759, committee to build a meeting-house; 1761, surveyor of highways; 1770, collector of taxes: 1773, committee to examine town-accounts; 1775, subscribed the vote about Rev. John Houston, ___in all these years he was a taxpayer in Bedford. He lived in a house east of "Riddell's Mill," ___which mill was owned by him in 1754, ___upon the site of the present (1874) house of S.C.Damon, and had large tract of land, which he divided among his sons. Reference: Riddells of Ballaymeath, Londonderry, N. Ireland, pg. 195 Gawen (this name is common in Scotland and should be spelled Gawen as it came to the Riddells from the Hamilton family.) second son of John and Janet Gordon, was baptized at Ballaymeath, May 16, 1688, and presumably emigrated to America, where he became the head of a numerous family. See "Riddells of Bedford, Hillsborough, New Hampshire USA."

"Gawen, the oldest child of John and Janet Gordon Riddell, was born May 16, 1688 according to records in Ballaymeath, Londonderry, N. Ireland. He died in Bedford on December 22nd, 1779 and the age of 91. With his three brothers (Hugh, Robert and John) and his sister (Margery), Gawen came to Londonderry (original name Nutfield) New Hampshire and from there all except Robert removed to Bedford in about 1738. Gawen settled on and improved a piece of land, and his name appears upon the town records as tythingman, constable, selectman, clerk of Market, committee to build meetinghouse, and so forth. He married Mary Bell, who was born in 1724 and died January 7, 1813 at the age of 81. She was the daughter of John and Katherine Bell, who immigrated from Scotland to Bedford about 1736. Gawen and Mary had six children: John, David, Susannah, Hugh, Isaac, and William." David was a soldier in the American Revolution as was his brother Isaac.

Sources

1. ↑ HIstory of Bedford, New Hampshire from 1737 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=43epVZYOew8C&pg=GBS.PA1046&hl=en) PA 1045

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Bob Nichol for creating WikiTree profile Riddle-598 through the import of Nichol Ancestry.GED on Feb 14, 2013.