Reverend Archibald Riddell

From Wikipedia: Archibald Riddell (minister)

Rev. Archibald Riddell (1635–1708) was a Scots-born 17th-century Presbyterian church minister in Scotland and America. His name is sometimes spelled Riddel. He preached at conventicles in a time when such actions were considered high treason. He was imprisoned on the Bass Rock and was later banished to New Jersey.

Early life

His father was Sir Walter Riddell, second baronet of Riddell. His mother was Janet Rigg, daughter of William Rigg of Athernie, in Fife. Archibald had two older brothers: Sir John Riddell, who succeeded his father; and William Riddell, who started the Riddells of Glen-Riddell, in Dumfries-shire. Archibald graduated from Edinburgh University on 9 July 1656 with a Master of Arts degree.

Early career

Archibald was privately ordained to the ministry at Kippen by John Law around 1670. He was a field preacher along with John Blackadder and John Dickson. At one such conventicle, at which Robert Garnock was present there was an exchange of gunfire with government soldiers. Riddell was caught for keeping conventicles, by the laird of Graden, a relative of his wife, in September 1680 and taken to Jedburgh tolbooth before being taken to the Old Tolbooth, Edinburgh 55.9494306, -3.1917250 for about nine months. "From there he was sentenced to the Bass Rock 56.08, -2.64, on 8 July 1681 to remain prisoner there."

Following a petition from George Scot (whose wife was Riddell's cousin) who had himself been a prisoner on the Bass he was released from prison to be banished to a plantation in America along with other prisoners several of whom had been tortured:

"Edinburgh, 24 December 1684. The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council having considered a petition presented by Mr George Scot of Pitlochie, desiring that, in regard the Council have granted him the benefit of some persons lately sentenced to the plantations, in order to their being transported thither, and that he is willing to transport Mr Archibald Riddell, prisoner in the Bass, liberty might be granted to him for some time to put his affairs in order, and attend several processes now depending both for and against him before the Session, upon the petitioner's being cautioner for him, that he shall immediately after his liberty, come to his own lodgings in Edinburgh, and confine himself there during his abode here, and, in the mean time, keep no conventicles; and be by him transported to East Jersey in America, and never return to this kingdom thereafter, without special licence from the Council: The said Lords do grant the said desire, and recommend to the Lord High Chancellor, governor of the said Isle of Bass, to give order and warrant to his deputy-governor of that isle, to deliver to the petitioner, or his order, the person of the said Mr Archibald Riddell, in regard the petitioner hath become caution to the effect foresaid, under the penalty of five thousand merks Scots money, in case of failure in any of the premises."

Voyage and New Jersey

The voyage on the Henry & Francis was disastrous in that about 24 percent of the passengers died including George Scot and Riddell's wife and three of her relations. Riddell received calls to pastor three churches, one in New Bridge, one in Long Island and one in Woodbridge. He chose Woodbridge and preached there until the Glorious Revolution when he tried to return home. It is also recorded that he received a call from a church in Jamaica.

Return to Scotland

In June 1689 he boarded a ship for home, but just off the coast of England, on 2 August, he was captured by a French man-of-war. He and his ten-year-old son were taken as prisoners to France, where they were reportedly cruelly treated and imprisoned for around two years in prisons in Nantes, Rochefort and Dinard. After this lengthy detention they were released by the French government in an exchange programme with King William's government. They were traded for two French priests who had been prisoners in Blackness Castle.

Later career

Riddell was called to become minister of Wemyss on 28 September 1691. His subsequently was translated to Kirkcaldy on 20 May 1697. His final charge was in Trinity College Kirk 55.95278, -3.18611 in Edinburgh in 1702 which was later demolished and rebuilt due it blocking Waverley Station.

He died on 17 February 1708 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QQ 55.94667, -3.19222. His great-great-grandson, the advocate, antiquarian and peerage lawyer John Riddell was later buried with him. being the family's representative at the funeral.

Bibliography

• Edinburgh Beg. (Marr. and Bur.)
• Douglas's Bar.
• Nisbet's Her.
• Wodrow's Anal.
• Playfair's Bar.

Family

He married twice:

Firstly to Helen Aitkenhead, daughter of Rev Henry Aitkenhead, minister of North Berwick, and had two sons, Captain Walter Bennet Riddell of Granton, Edinburgh (died 1738), and Dr John Bennet Riddell MD, physician in Edinburgh (died 1740). Their daughter, Sarah Bennet Riddell, married Rev John Currie, minister of Oldhamstocks in 1703 who became Moderator in 1709.

He secondly married Jean Ker of the Canongate in 1694, who survived him.

From Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation by Hew Scott Volume 1 Published 1915 Page 133

1701 - Archibald Riddell, born 1635, third son of Sir Walter Riddell, Baronet of that ilk, and Janet Rigg, daughter of William Rigg of Aithernie, Fife. Educated at Edinburgh University, he took the degree of M.A. 9 July 1656, and was minister of Kippen about the year 1670. He became famous as a field preacher and suffered frequent imprisonments from 1680-1684. In the latter year he was released from the Bass on condition of removing to America. During the voyage fever broke out on the vessel and raged with fearful mortality, Riddell's wife being among the victims. On reaching New Jersey, he had calls from Newbridge, Long Island, and Woodbridge, the latter of which he accepted. After the Revolution he assayed to return to Scotland, but was captured with one of his sons by a French man-of-war, carried prisoner to Nantz and various ports, and cruelly treated for fully two and a half years. Released at the request of King William's government, he was admitted minister of Wemyss 28 September 1691, of Kirkcaldy 20 May 1697, of this charge Trinity College Kirk 8 December 1701; died 17 February 1708, "a singularly pious and laborious servant of Jesus Christ."

He married (1st) Helen Aitkenhead, daughter of Henry Aitkenhead, minister of North Berwick, and had issue:

• Captain Walter Riddell of Granton, died 1738;
• Dr John Riddell, physician, Edinburgh, died 1740;
• Sarah Riddell, who married, 26 November 1703, John Currie, minister of Oldhamstocks

[He married] (2nd) (proclaimed 8 May 1694) Jean Ker (Canongate Register), who survived him. — [Edinburgh Register (Marriages and Burials), Douglas's Bar., Nisbet's Her., Wodrow's Anal., Playfair's Bar.]

From The Kingdom of Kippen, its history and traditions by William Chrystal Published 1903 Page 147

Archibald Riddell, A.M. [Artium Magister or Master of Arts], third son of Sir Walter Riddell of that ilk, was ordained to this parish [Kippen] about 1670. He officiated as a Presbyterian minister at a communion in the fields at Eckford, near Haddington, in 1679, for which he was imprisoned, but liberated. In the end of 1679 he was again apprehended, and committed prisoner to the Tolbooth of Jedburgh in September 1680; examined before a committee of the Privy Council shortly afterwards, and sent to the Bass, in the Firth of Forth, in June 1681, for breaking his confinement at Kippen, keeping conventicles, and marrying and baptizing in a disorderly manner.

He was afterwards, in 1685, transported to America, where he had calls from congregations at New Bridge, Long Island, and Woodbridge, New Jersey. The latter he accepted, and he remained there till June 1689, when he returned to England, but on the voyage was captured by a French man-of-war, taken to Nantz, Rochefort, and Toulon, where he was confined nineteen months in an old vessel at sea. Being landed, he was again sent to Rochefort, and thence to Dinan, where he continued about a year in the vault of an old castle, with hundreds of other prisoners; and at length, with one of his sons, was exchanged for two popish priests sent by the Privy Council. He was at length presented to the Parish of Wemyss in 1691.

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Records - Marriages and Banns

• 8 May 1694 marriage or banns of Archibald Riddle to Jean Ker, in the parish of Canongate
• 12 May 1694 marriage or banns of Archbald Riddell to Jean Ker, in the parish of Wemyss

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Records - Deaths and Burials

18 February 1708 death or burial of Archbald Riddell, aged 72 [born about 1636], in the parish of Edinburgh
18 February 1708 death or burial of Archbald Riddel, aged 73 [born about 1635], in the parish of Edinburgh

From The baronetage and knightage of the British Empire for 1881 by Joseph Foster

(3a) Archibald Riddell, of Edinburgh, minister; died 1708 having married [blank] daughter of Rev. Henry Aitkenhead, minister of North Berwick, and had two daughters and two sons:

1st son: Walter Riddell of Granton, captain, Royal Navy, acquired the barony of Granton; died without issue 1738, having married Sarah Nisbet, sister of Sir John Nisbet, Bart. of Dean; she re-married to Sir John Rutherford, of Rutherford.

2nd son: John Riddell of Granton, M.D. Edinburgh; died 1740 having married Jane Livingston, daughter and heir of William Livingston, and had issue [Archibald's] grandson, viz:

Henry Riddell, of Little Govan, Renfrewshire, (son of John Riddell of Granton, W.S. by Christian Nisbet, daughter of Sir John Nisbet of Dean [Possible ERROR]); born 4 January 1745; died 4 September 1801 having married 1781, his cousin Anne, eldest daughter of John Glassford, of Dougalston; she died 13 December 1827, having had 4 sons and 3 daughters.

Life stories

From History Of The Ancient Ryedales, And Their Descendants In Normandy, Great Britain, Ireland, And America, From 860 To 1884 by Gideon Tibbetts Rildon, 1841- Published 1884 p85

Riddells of Granton, Scotland.

Rev. Archibald Riddell (1:1), the first of this denomination, was the third son of Walter, the second Baronet of Riddell, in Roxburghshire, and his wife, Jane Rigg. He was ordained as minister of Kippen about the year 1676, but preached often in field conventicles. He suffered persecution and imprisonment, and was obliged to leave Scotland and go to New Jersey, in the United States, where he spent three years as a preacher in Woodbridge. Although his name appears among those of other preachers who had drawn upon them the attention of the government by attending conventicles as early as 1674, yet the first serious proceedings against him seem to have been prompted by his connection in some way with the rising of Bothwell in 1679, the Privy Council ordering on the 24th of June that he should be sought for and offering a reward for his arrest. He was taken in September by the Laird of Graden, a relative of his wife, and sent to the Tolbooth at Jedburgh, whence he was removed to the prison at Edinburgh. On the first of October, and again in December, Mr. Riddell was called before the Council of Public Affairs, and so conducted himself as to secure the respect of his examiners. He was remitted to confinement, however, until released on the application of the Laird of Pitlochry, with the view of emigrating to New Jersey. During this period in April, 1681, he was allowed to visit his dying mother, at Riddell house, and in the following June he was charged with having broken his confinement, keeping conventicles, and baptizing children, and, in consequence, the place of his imprisonment was changed, he being sent to the Bass Rock. He and the Rev. Thomas Patterson are described by the proprietaries as "two persons who have been in prison in Scotland for nonconformity, and are greatly esteemed among the people who are of their persuasion in matters of religion"; and as they are willing to transport themselves to East Jersey, and settle there, which will be the occasion of inviting a great number to follow them, the necessary directions were given to have two hundred acres of land allotted to each immediately on their arrival, in such places as might best accommodate them, provided they build them houses and continue their own or some other family there three years.

On board the ill-fated "Henry and Francis" we are not able to follow them. Mrs. Riddell and his children accompanied him, and she died on shipboard; the children were spared to him, to contribute to his happiness in his new home at Woodbridge, where his two hundred acres were allotted him, and where he purchased other lands. He officiated at Trinity Church at Woodbridge from 1686 to 1689, when he, having fulfilled the conditions of settlement, left the country, and started on his return to his native land, — a land having more charms for him than the "New World." He set sail with a son ten years of age, in June, 1689, but he was doomed to other sufferings and disappointments. Favourable weather attended him, but on the 2nd of August, when off the coast of England, the vessel was captured by a French man-of-war, and the passengers sent to the common jail at Rochefort, whence they were subsequently marched to Toulon, chained two and two by their arms, and, at first, each ten pairs tied to a rope, but this being found an impediment to their travelling, was abandoned the second day. Mr. Riddell was chained to his little son, who was so small that he gave them no little trouble, three different bands being forged by the smith before one could be found small enough to confine his slender wrists. They were six weeks on the way to Toulon, the hardships of the journey causing the death of many, and on their arrival were conveyed to the hold of an old hulk in the harbour, but after the detention of a month, Mr. Riddell and his son and others were taken back again to Rochefort, and thence to Demain, near St. Malo, where for more than a year they were kept prisoners in the vault of an old castle. At last, after having been confined nearly two years, they were exchanged for two Romish priests and allowed to return to Scotland.[Footnote 1] While they were imprisoned in the old castle they lay on straw, never changed save once a month, suffering every indignity and misery. But his trials were ended with his release, and he passed the rest of his days in peace and security; indeed, as Woodrow states, when he returned all his losses were made up, and he and his children (his wife, who was a daughter of Henry Aitkenhead, minister of North Berwick, having died on the voyage to America) were in better circumstances than if he had conformed, to which he had been instigated. He was appointed minister of Trinity College Church, a fine structure built by Mary of Guelders, in which charge he died in 1708, and his remains were deposited in Greyfriars churchyard, where the bodies of many eminent servants of God are buried, and where his brother, Sir John Riddell, the Baronet of Riddell, had been previously interred. Mr. Riddell left a great reputation behind him, and Dr. Hew Scott says: "He was a singularly pious and laborious servant of Jesus Christ." English genealogists have stated that there were two sons and two daughters in this family, but there are divers evidences pointing to a son William settled in New Jersey, who became the ancestor of the numerous Riddells and Riddles in Virginia and about Cincinnati, Ohio, descended from William and John, sons of the William before mentioned.

[Footnote 1:] The following royal letter was found by one of the Riddells some time ago in the State Paper Office, London, which was issued directly from the sovereign, William III, and directed to the Privy Council of Scotland, being to the following effect: —

"William Rex, Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved. Whereas we are informed that Mr. Archibald Riddell, Minister of the Gospel, and James Sinclair of Freshwick, are prisoners in France, and are very hardly used, whom we are resolved to have released by exchange with two Priests now Prisoners in Scotland. Therefore, WE require you to call for their friends and nearest relations of the said Mr. Archibald Riddell and James Sinclair, and signify our Royal Pleasure to them in exchange of these two Prisoners with the two Priests that shall be condescended upon, and authorise them not only to speak with the two Priests, but also to write to France anent [Old Scots: concerning] the negotiating their friends' liberty, and that you cause these two Priests to be condescended upon and securely kept, and make intimation to them that they shall be used in the same way and manner as the French King uses the said Scots Prisoners, which they may be ordered to acquaint their friends in France with, that exchange may be more easily effected. For doing of which these Presents shall be your warrant, and so we bid you heartily farewell.

"Given at the Court of Kensington this 16th day of January, 1689, and of our Reign the first year. — By His Majesty's Command. (Signed) Melville."

From wikipedia - Archibald Riddell (Minister)

Archibald Riddell