Expansion and Explanation of problems Ridlon's Riddell book (largely unsourced)
repost from Facebook Riddell page
updated June 2024
1. "Mystery Parish of Ballymeath" from 2010 , I updated in 2020 from the 2010 version online. Leave a comment with your email if you want a copy.
Ballymeath does NOT exist as a townland in County Londonderry or County Colrain. If you disagree please provide source citations and analysis to prove your point versus assuming faulty research on my part. Note: Aghadowey church records have been searched and these are AFTER the proposed immigration date of 1739 to Londonderry, Northern Ireland. I have also checked Londonderry county church records too. Ballaymeath is found in Parliamentary British records in regard to Lord Landsdowne, a British landholder in Southern Ireland, the "roll call" for Parliament says "of Ballaymeath" this landowner also had an estate in England.
2. Ridlon assumes the Robert Riddell line came from Northern Ireland in 1719 with all the other signers of the Shute Petition. Robert Riddell aka Riddle does not appear in the Shute petition. The first instance he appears in Londonderry, New Hampshire is in 1739 where Robert appears as a witness to the will of Jesse Christie who is a related to Aiken family into which the Riddell family intermarried. Riddle does not appear in any records before 1739 in Colonial Londonderry, New Hampshire. Other people from county Londonderry do appear in 1718 in the Governor Shute list. A detailed analysis of the list should be made to see which of these petition signers actually went in 1718 to Londonderry, NH. I recognize families who intermarried with Riddle in Northern Ire such as John Wilson and Morrison (The Morrisons were named as a family who intermarried with the Riddells in Northern Ireland by Walter Riddell Carre in his book "Border Memories")
3. Ridlon assumes Hugh Riddell, James Riddell and Robert Riddell were in King James Army and present at the Siege of Derry in 1689. On the other hand, he ignores the William Pitt Riddell (edited by John Leonard Riddell) Riddell history which states that Hugh Riddell, James Riddell and Robert Riddell were in the Williamite (King William of Orange) army after 1689. Several Londonderry sources at the time of the seige were consulted. Message me for the complete source citation list or see the Ulster Scots Research Checklist pinned to the top of the post list. The WP Riddell Genealogy was published before Ridlon's book.
4. Ridlon does not seem to factor in the Irish Rebellion. He does not have a good grasp of Northern Irish History. He does not mention the Riddells who were at Carrikfergus during the Irish Rebellion and therefore cannot establish whether they stayed in Northern Ireland or went back to Scotland like most others did. However, there seems to be a link between some Scots who were followers of Munro who could possibly include Riddle/Riddell family members. Actually current research has found that Henry Riddell and William Riddell were cousins of Alexander Montgomery (Mount Alexander, Comber) The sequence of events were as follows. First the Scottish regiments were sent to Carrikfergus to help quell the Irish Rebellion in 1641. Scottish captians were under Munro who was the Scottish commander. The English broke their promise to feed and clothe Scottish troups if they would help the English who resided in Northern Ireland in Ulster. The Scots were forced to plunder and forage for food and clothing. James Riddell in Edinburgh, who was a wealthy trader and merchant gave all he could to support the Scots Army at Carrikfergus. But it was too daunting especially after his brother Hugh was transported for stealing silver buttons froma Burgess' coat in the merchant house in Edinburgh. James had to pay reparations and probably paid to transport his brother to the New York. [Could this Hugh have gone to Northern Ireland or was he transported to the American Colonies? This question is still under investigation] So, returning to Carrikfergus, Munro made an error in that he besieged Dublin which was English controlled. An English General Monck (under command of Oliver Cromwell) was arrested arrested Munro and threw him into prison. Later, after Cromwell arrived in Northern Ireland he released and pardoned Munro. Munro was not allowed to return to Scotland but he was allowed to settle in Mount Alexander, Comber Down which was the same area which the Riddle/Riddle family settled as they were cousins of Alexander Montgomery as previously stated. (Riddells are found in St. Mary's cemetary graveyard too). Ridlon completely missed this historic connection in his book. This connection is still being researched and analyzed. Also, in 1652 John Riddell receibed a Cromwellian land Grant to the following four Parishes in Monighan: Cornisoo, Glenish, Annamcneil and a Freehold (landholder) of Mullicrank.
5. Also, as previously mentioned in blog posts. Ridlon's section on "The Riddells of Ballymeath" does not hold up under analysis. The Ridlon claimed genealogy cannot be found as persons he mentioned are not in the same place at the same time. (The closer in time the document is to the event the higher the likelihood it is more accurate) Also, if you don't do exhaustive research like in Ridlon's case and you overly rely on correspondence or family lore you run the risk of loosing credibility. See Elizabeth Shown Mills: Professional Genealogy; the Genealogy Proof Standard and BCG's Genealogy Standards, Perils of Source Snobbery by Tom Jones, and Thomas Jones book Mastering Genealogical Proof (leave a comment for if you would like links and citations)
6. Ridlon shows a lack of knowledge about historic boundary changes. Lochinsholin barony, where some Riddle families appear in the records, was in county Tyrone before it was County Londonderry during the English Plantation period under King James. Another boundary change was that parts of the region that is between Londonderry and County Colerain were first under County Coleraine and then later under County Londonderry.
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