2.3. John Riddell (1826-1888)

John Riddell was born on 4 April 1826 to John and Margaret (Wrightman) Riddell in the village of Maxwelton, East Kilbride. He was baptized on 23 April. John's father was a cotton hand loom weaver. When the 1851 census was taken on the night of 30 March, John Riddell was 25 years old; lived with his paternal grandparents, John and Janet Riddell; and worked as an iron stone miner.

He married Martha Muir on 7 August in 1852. Their marriage was recorded in the parish church. That church was built in 1774 and still stands today. By the time the 1861 census was enumerated the family had moved into town of East Kilbride and lived on Main Street. They had three children. John Riddell's occupation was listed as cement miner. East Kilbride was known for its “Roman cement” and an 1816 map of the parish showed 15 limekilns or quarries in the area. The watermill in the village was also used for crushing limestone, and limestone mines undermine the eastern end of the present day town center.

1816 Map of East Kilbride with several lime quarries and works; image
courtesy of ScotlandsPlaces

Much was the same ten years later. The family was still living on Main Street and John was still mining cement. Their youngest child, Margaret was born four months after the 1871 census was taken on 5 August.

There was some sadness for John during the next decade. His wife Martha Muir died on 6 June 1876 and their youngest daughter on 7 February 1879 of whooping cough and purpura. Purpura are hemorrhages under the skin that cause a purplish discoloration. These hemorrhages may frequently be caused by violent coughing. Margaret was 7 years old when she died.

When the census was enumerated in 1881, John still mined cement and still lived in East Kilbride. John died on 26 January 1888 at his home in the village of Kirkton. He died of chronic bronchitis, which was common among stone miners, and was 61 years old.

_______________
"1816 Map of East Kilbride," ScotlandsPlaces
1841 Scotland Census, 06/06/1841 Riddel, John (Census 1841 643/00 004/00 003)
1841 Scotland Census, Parish: East Kilbride; ED: 4; Page: 4; Line: 659
1851 Scotland Census, 30/03/1851 Riddell, John (Census 1851 643/00 013/00 004)
1851 Scotland Census, Parish: East Kilbride; ED: 13; Page 4; Line: 17; Roll: CSSCT1851_152
1861 Scotland Census, 07/04/1861 Riddell, John (Census 1861 643/00 001/00 017)
1861 Scotland Census, Parish: East Kilbride; ED: 1; Page: 17; Line: 24; Roll: CSSCT1861_95
1871 Scotland Census, 02/04/1871 Riddell, John (Census 1871 643/00 001/00 016)
1871 Scotland Census, Parish: East Kilbride; ED: 1; Page: 16; Line: 1; Roll: CSSCT1871_122
1881 Scotland Census, 03/04/1881 Riddell, John (Census 1881 643/00 001/00 019)
1881 Scotland Census, Parish: East Kilbride; ED: 1; Page: 19; Line: 6; Roll: CSSCT1881_213
1885 Scotland Valuation Rolls, 1885 Riddell, John (Valuation Rolls VR107 / 112 / 153)
1885 Scotland Valuation Rolls, 1885 Riddell, John (Valuation Rolls VR107 / 112 / 154)
1885 Scotland Valuation Rolls, 1885 Riddell, John (Valuation Rolls VR107 / 112 / 157)
Scotland, Old Parish Registers, 1538-1854, 23/04/1826 Riddell, John (O.P.R. Births 643/00 0030 0031 East Kilbride)
Scotland, Old Parish Registers, 1538-1854, 07/08/1852 Muir, Martha (O.P.R. Marriages 643/00 0030 0221 East Kilbride)
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, Elizabeth Riddell
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, Francis Riddell
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, John Riddell
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, Robert Riddell

Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, Robert Riddell

Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950, Thomas Riddell

Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1888 Riddle, John (Statutory Deaths 643/00 0008)