Excerpt from History of the Ancient Ryedales, and Their Descendants in Normandy, Great Britain, Ireland, and America, From 860 to 1884: Comprising the Genealogy and Biography, for About One Thousand Years, of the Families of Riddell, Riddle, Ridlon, Ridley, Etc

Mr early years were spent in the home of my paternal grandparents, - a place where many members of our family connection resorted to discuss the history of the past, - and from listening attentively to the conversation that passed between those godly ancestors as they gathered around the ample hearthstone, I became, at an early age, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the history of my forefathers and their times. This interest increased with my years, and I determined that at some future day I would fully acquaint myself with the history of our family and its origin.

My grandfather was truly a patriarch, for he lived contemporary with eight generations of his family. From his standpoint he could look backward and remember three generations of his predecessors; looking downward he could see four generations of his descendants, and at the same time he himself was the connecting link of this chain between the first three and last four generations, making eight generations in all. This remarkable acquaintance with so many of his family, supplemented by the possession of a wonderfully retentive mem ory, which remained unimpaired till he was more than ninety years of age, qualified this venerable man in a peculiar manner to impart information respect ing the history and genealogy of his family connections. The elder members of our mmily seemed pleased to advert to all the traditions known to their ances tors, and delighted to transmit them from father to son, always careful that nothing should be lost. When these discussions were going on I used to draw near my grandfather's knee and listen with the keenest relish to every word spoken, frequently asking questions about the relationship between the various cadets of our family mentioned in the conversation.

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