ANCESTRY OF JAMES & ANN (WELSH) RIDDLE

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Looking for more information about the early Riddle's & Welsh's Families of Maryland & West Virginia& Virginia & North Carolina

File is from Roy Lockhart a Goff & Riddle researcher

 

Background

          James Riddle (Riddel) was born December 10, 1740 and died Feb. 26, 1816 in what is now  Gilmer Co., WV.  His wife was Ann Welsh whose sister Elizabeth was the wife of John Turton Goff.  They lived at one time on the Maryland side of the Potomac River not far from Georgetown, which is now included in the District of Columbia.

 From here they went to Fredericksburg, Virginia, later moving to what is now Tucker County, West Virginia and finally to what is now Gilmer County, West Virginia.

 The 1869 Bible of Rev. Joseph H. Goff (1822-1893) states his grandfather James “Ridel” and his wife (not named) were buried at the mouth of Leading Creek, in Gilmer Co., WV.

 Their children were: Benjamin, Dorcas who married Joseph Hardman, James Jr., John, Elizabeth who married Alexander Goff Sr. and Jeremiah.  Benjamin married Ann “Nancy” Goff, daughter of Salathiel, and John married first to Tamar Goff, daughter of John Turton Goff, and half-sister of Alexander Goff.  Jeremiah Riddle married Margaret Hardman, sister of Joseph.

 See “History of Ritchie County, West Virginia”, Minnie Kendall Lowther, 1911, pages 276-278.

 

Riddle Ancestry

          Prince George's County, Maryland land records (Liber HH, Folio 98) show that on April  22, 1785 (recorded Apr. 18, 1786) John Riddle of Prince Georges Co., planter, made a deed of gift to his son James of Prince Georges Co. and his wife Ann of a negro girl named Dark and after the decease of James & Ann the negro girl to go to granddaughter Dorcas Riddle, daughter of James.

 Prince George's Co., Maryland  land records (Liber JRM, Number 4, Folio 383) also show that on Mar. 19, 1796 (recorded May 20, 1796) James Riddel of Washington, Maryland (now DC) made a deed of gift to his son Benjamin Riddel also of Washington, Maryland (now DC) of a negro girl named Dorcas (apparently the same slave as the 1785 deed).

 This deed also mentions James’ wife Anne and wife’s daughter Dorcas Harding.  (Harding should probably be Hardman as Dorcas Riddle and Joseph Hardman were married before this deed was made.)  Prince George Co., Maryland land records also include these deeds:  John Riddell to daughter Elizabeth, wife of Anthony Beck, Jun. 28, 1768; John Riddle, Sr. & Lucy Riddle, widow of his son Samuel, Oct. 21, 1774; and John Riddle, Sr. to son Jacob, Feb. 15, 1791.

          The 1785 deed above shows the father of James Riddle was John.  “Prince George’s County Maryland Index of Church Registers 1686-1885”, Helen W. Brown, 1988, Volume I, page 190 (Queen Anne Parish) shows that John Riddle, Jr. and Elizabeth Lentall were married Feb. 9, 1729 and had these children born to them:  John, Nov. 16, 1734; George (no date); Samuel, May 7, 1737; a child, Aug. 15, 1739; a child, Dec. 10, 1740; Basil (no date); Jeremiah (no date), Elizabeth (no date) & (Susan)nah (no date).  (The child born in 1740 is likely James.)

  The “1776 census of Maryland”, Bettie Stirling Carothers, 1992, page 124, Prince George's County.  (St. John’s & Prince George Parishes) lists John Riddell age 72, Elizabeth 70, 1 female 17 & 7 negroes.  “Index to The Tithables of Loudoun County, Virginia and to Slaveholders and Slaves 1758-1786”, Margaret Lail Hopkins, 1991, page 66, includes the following Riddles/Riddells:  Bazell, 1772; Benjamin, 1785; George, 1763, 1765-66, 1768, 1770, 1771-85; George Jr., 1779; John, 1770, 1772-1777; and Samuel, 1780-85.

          “Prince George’s County Maryland Index of Church Registers 1686-1885”, Helen W. Brown, 1988, Volume I, page 190 (Queen Anne Parish) shows that John Riddle, Jr. (father of James) was born Jul. 25, 1708, son of John & Elizabeth Riddle, his first wife, and that he had a brother, George, born Sep. 10, 1710.

 Also from this reference we learn that John Riddle’s second wife was named Margaret and they had a daughter Elizabeth born Dec. 13, 1721; and that his third wife was Eleanor Lee who he married May 31, 1735.  Eleanor’s maiden name may have been Thompson as “Maryland Marriage Records”, Annie Walker Burns, undated, shows John Riddle to Elenor Thompson, daughter of Christopher & Grace Thompson, Prince George's County Maryland and Chris. Thompson to Grace Williams, widow of James Williams, Prince Georges Co.

  The will of John Riddle (father of John, Jr.) was made in Prince Georges Co., MD Aug. 19, 1745 and recorded May 20, 1746 (Liber 24, Folio 402).  It names his wife, Elinor; son, John; and daughter, Elizabeth Linton.  “Maryland Marriage Records”, Annie Walker Burns, undated, “Eliza Riddle, daughter of John & Eleanor of Prince Georges Co., married George Linton.” 

The father of John Riddle is said to have been John also but this hasn’t been substantiated.

 

Welsh Ancestry

          “Pioneers in Roane County, West Virginia.”, John A.House, 1906, page 247, “John Goff married Elizabeth Welch, a sister of James Riddle’s wife...” 

 “History of Ritchie County, West Virginia”, Minnie Kendall Lowther, 1911, page 288, “John Turton Goff married Miss Elizabeth Welsh..., sister of Mrs. James Riddel ...”

The will of Thomas Welsh of Prince Georges County,Maryland was made August. 30,1799 and recorded October. 28, 1801 (Liber T, Folio 477).

  It names wife, Dorcas (Darcas); son, Richard; daughters, Rachel Rease, Dorcas Housley, Anne Riddle, Mary Beck, Elizabeth Prather, Comfort Wood & Deborah Edmonston; son-in-law, Nathan Edmonston; and grandchildren, Thomas Jones, Catharine Jones & Samuel Jones.

 Other children may have been Thomas, Jr. and Eleanor who married Henry Brewer.

 No marriage record for Elizabeth Welsh to John Turton Goff has been found but the marriage of Elizabeth Welsh to Joseph Prather is on record in Prince George's County,Maryland.  It was not uncommon in early days for siblings to have the same first same so it’s conceivable that Thomas Welsh could have had two daughters named Elizabeth.  (He had two sisters named Elizabeth.)  Thomas Welsh Jr., as well as Elizabeth (Welsh) Goff, were deceased at the time Thomas Welsh made his will and therefore would not have been included.

          The “1776 census of Maryland”, Bettie Stirling Carothers, 1992, page 128, Prince George's County  (St. John’s & Prince George Parishes) lists Thomas Welch age 54, Darcas 53, 1 female 28, 1 male 24, 1 female 20, 1 male 15, 1 female 13, 1 female 11, 2 males 5, 1 female 4 & 6 negroes.  (Some of the younger ones listed could have been grandchildren).  Dorcas was born about 1723 according to the census.  Her maiden name is unknown. 

Nor is it known if she was the only wife of Thomas.  Prince George's County,Maryland marriage records show the marriages of several of Thomas’ children, as follows:::

 Mary Welsh & Osborn Beck, Sep. 8, 1763 (Queen Anne Parish); Joseph Prather & Elizabeth Welsh, Jun. 12, 1781 (license Jun. 1, 1781); Richard Welch & Massey Prather, Oct. 1, 1781 (license); Dorcus Welch & Samuel Jones, Nov. 4, 1788 (license); and Deborah Welsh & Nathan Edmonston, Dec. 19, 1788 (license).

 The above marriage licenses are from “Maryland Records Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources”, Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh, Volume I, page 166; the marriages from “Maryland Marriages, 1634-1777”, Robert Barnes, 1975 and “Maryland Marriages, 1778-1800”, Robert Barnes, 1978.

          Thomas Welsh was born in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel County,Maryland January 24, 1721 (baptized Sep. 12, 1722), son of Col. John & Rachel Welsh, his second wife.

 Rachel’s maiden name is unknown.  The “Genealogy of The Welsh and Hyatt Families of Maryland and Their Kin”, Luther W. Welsh, 1928, page 20 states Rachel, daughter of John & Ann (Greenberry) Hammond, was born 1708 and married Hon. John Moale rather than Colonel John Welsh as stated in “The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland”, J.D. Warfield, 1905, page 92.

 The will of Colonel John Welsh of Anne Arundel County,Maryland was made Feb. 4, 1733 and probated March 5, 1733-4 (Liber 21, Folio 102).  It names his wife, Rachel (with child); sons, John, Thomas, Benjamin & Henry O’Neale; daughters, Sarah Warfield, Sophia Hall, Ann Hammond, Rachel, Elizabeth & Comfort; brother,  Robert; and cousin, Richard Snowden.

          Colonel John Welsh had married first in Anne Arundel County, Maryland March 13, 1700 to Thomasin(a) Hopkins Hopkins and their children (all born in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel Co., MD) were: Elizabeth (baptized Mar. 7, 1703); Sarah born November 26, 1711 married Anne Arundel County, Maryland October 24, 1727 to Samuel Warfield; and Sophia born November 10, 1713 married Prince George's County, Maryland in 1731 to Benjamin Hall.

  Colonel John Welsh and Rachel, his second wife, were married about about 1715 and their children (all born All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland) were:

Ann(e) born Jul. 10, 1716 (baptized Feb. 16, 1718) married Anne Arundel County, Maryland January 30, 1731 to Nathan Hammond; Rachel born February 11, 1717 (baptized February 16, 1718); Captain John born February 3, 1719; Thomas; Mary born November 25, 1723 (baptized May 6, 1724); Benjamin born July 8, 1725; Elizabeth born December 10, 1726; Henry O’Neale born March 18, 1729; Comfort born January 24, 1730; and Richard born 1734.  Births are from “Anne Arundel County [Maryland] Church Records of the 17th and 18th Centuries”, F. Edward Wright, undated; marriages are from “Maryland Marriages, 1634-1777”, Robert Barnes, 1975.

          Colonel John Welsh was a Justice, Commissioner and High Sheriff of Anne Arundel County,Maryland.  He was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland about 1673, son of Major John Welsh & Anne, his first wife, widow of Honorable Roger Grosse.  He had an older brother Sylvester Welsh born about 1670. 

 Anne died before 1675 and Major John married second to Mary, daughter of Damaris and stepdaughter of Nicholas Wyatt.  Mary remarried to James Ellis.  The children of Colonel John & Mary were:

 Elizabeth who married Dec. 4, 1691 to Daniel Richardson; Sarah who married Anne Arundel Co., MD Oct. 1, 1695 to John Giles; Mary who married Josias Toogood; Benjamin who married Anne Arundel County, Maryland Nov. 20, 1701 to Elizabeth Nicholson; Damaris who married Anne Arundel County, Maryland Apr. 9, 1700 to Thomas Stockett; and Robert born 1684 who married Anne Arundel County, Maryland, February 24, 1706 to Catherine Lewis.

"Marriages are from “Maryland Marriages, 1634-1777”, Robert Barnes, 1975".

          Major John Welsh, English immigrant, was born about 1622.  He served in the Nanticoke War; was High Sheriff of Anne Arundel County and a Commissioner of Anne Arundel County,Maryland.  His will was made in Anne Arundel County,Maryland, January 6, 1683 and recorded March 3, 1683-4 (Liber 4, Folio 35).  It names his wife, Mary; sons, Silvester (oldest), John & Benjamin; and daughters, Mary, Eliza, Sarah & Damaris; unborn child [Robert]; and brother, Henry.

          More detailed information on the Riddle and Welsh families can be found in the references cited, particularly “Genealogy of the Welsh and Hyatt Families of Maryland and Their Kin”, Luther W. Welsh, 1928.



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