(I am entering this family in my database because of the son named Lewis, who, since he died without heirs in 1794, could not be the Lewis Riddle of Bath Co., Ky, but who may well be his uncle.)
Moved in 1744 from King & Queen Co. VA to Orange Co., VA (Orange Co. Deed Book 9, p. 181)
William died testate, his will dated 22 Dec 1776 and recorded 25 Feb 1777 will (Orange Co., VA, Will Book 2, pp. 504-506), lists wife Joyce Riddle, sons James, Lewis, and William, daughters Winneyfret Coursey, Janet Shepherd, Joyce Powell, and Sally Powell, and granddaughter Joyce Riddle daughter of Sally Powell. William's wife Joyce and sons James and Lewis are named as executors.
I have transcribed the entire will in a separate document, but will summarize the main points here.
Sally's daughter Joyce was apparently born out-of-wedlock. Riddle is not a married name because the bequest is specifically described as going to her at the age of eighteen or when she marries. Moreover, a condition of her inheritance is that she live with William's widow, or with his son Lewis should the widow Joyce Riddle die before the young Joyce Riddle comes of age. So she was apparently not part of the household of Sally Riddle Powell, and may not have been a daughter of Sally's husband.
The bequest to William Jr. is rather different than those to James and Lewis. All three sons are given one third of the tract of 250 acres of land upon which William Sr. resides, to be transferred upon the death of their mother, but James and Lewis's bequests are "to him and his heirs forever", while William's heirs are not mentioned, and it is stated that his portion is to go to him if he is living at the time of Joyce's death, otherwise his portion is to revert to James and Lewis and their heirs. Either William Jr. had no heirs at the time and was not expected to have any before Joyce's death, or William Sr. meant to exclude them. It may have been simply that since William P. Riddle was living in Augusta Co., his father expected that he would be likely to sell the land soon after inheriting it (as in fact he did, in 1784), and did not see any reason to give land to grandchildren who would not live on it. |
