Family Group Sheet
NameJohn W. Riddle
Birth4 Apr 1825, Wilkes Co., North Carolina
Death10 Jan 1914, Sandy Hook, Elliott Co., Kentucky
BurialJ. H. Lewis graveyard, Lucile, Elliott Co., Ky
FatherJohn W. Riddle (~1781-)
MotherMary (~1800-)
Marriageabt 1847
SpouseSusan A. Cunningham (or Lettingham)
BirthMar 1828 (?), Virginia
Death15 Nov 1915, Elliott Co., Kentucky
Children
SpouseOwen W. Adkins
SpouseIsom Adkins
Notes for John W. Riddle
His death certificate records John W. Riddle, died 10 Jan 1914, in Elliott Co., age 89 yrs 9 mos 6 days. Born 4 Apr 1825 in Wilkes Co., N.C., father J. W. Riddle, mother’s maiden name Mary, both born in Wilkes Co., N.C. Informant B. M. Osborne, Lucile, Elliott Co. Cause of death senile debility. Burial in J. H. Lewis graveyard.
Notes for Susan A. Cunningham (or Lettingham)
Her death certificate records Susan Riddle, age 73 years 10 months, born 15 Jan 1842 in Virginia, died 15 Nov 1915 in Elliott Co., Ky, widowed, parents not known, informant Bernard Ball, Lucile, Ky.
The death certificate of her daughter Mary gives her maiden name as Susan Lettingham, but the presence of a Lucinda Cunningham in the household in 1870 suggests that the informant on Mary’s death certificate may have been mistaken about her mother’s maiden name.
The birth year of 1842 is definitely in error. Her age is given in the censuses as 28 in July of 1860 (b. ca 1832), 72 born March 1828 in 1900, 83 in 1910 (b. ca 1827), and assuming that she is the same person as John’s wife listed as Lucinda, as 45 in 1870 (b. ca 1825) and 52 in June 1880 (b. ca 1828). So the preponderance of the evidence is for 1828.
The death certificate of her daughter Mary gives her maiden name as Susan Lettingham, but the presence of a Lucinda Cunningham in the household in 1870 suggests that the informant on Mary’s death certificate may have been mistaken about her mother’s maiden name.
The birth year of 1842 is definitely in error. Her age is given in the censuses as 28 in July of 1860 (b. ca 1832), 72 born March 1828 in 1900, 83 in 1910 (b. ca 1827), and assuming that she is the same person as John’s wife listed as Lucinda, as 45 in 1870 (b. ca 1825) and 52 in June 1880 (b. ca 1828). So the preponderance of the evidence is for 1828.
Census Notes for John W. & Susan A. (Family)
I cannot find John or Susan in the 1850 census.
1860 of Floyd Co., Ky, enumerated 21 July, lists on p. 39 as family #236/236:
John Riddle, 35, laborer, b. NC; Susanah, 28, b. Va; Lucinda, 4, b. Va; Mary, 2, b. Ky; Lucinda Cunningham, 29, b. Va.
The ages for Mary and Lucinda are in conflict with the 1870 census and with the birth record for Lucinda. It appears that the census taker switched them in the birth order.
The next two census readings are problematic, because the name of John’s wife is shown as Lucinda, even though in the 1900 and 1910 censuses it goes back to Susan, and both of those years agree on a marriage date in about 1847, and that it was an only marriage for both of them. Yet I’m nearly certain that it is the same John Riddle, not only because of the daughters Mary and Lucinda, but also because there is no other record that comes even close. (There was a John Riddle in Greenup Co., Ky, also born in NC about 1825-1828, but he had a wife named Matilda and 6 children born between 1853 and 1869.) Since from the 1860 census Susanna apparently had a sister named Lucinda, it would seem unlikely that it would also be one of her given names.
1870 census of Morgan Co., Ky, Paint precinct, Relief P.O., enumerated 12 Aug, lists on p. 16 as family #106:
Riddell, John, 45, farmer, b. NC; Lucinda, 45, b. Va; Mary E., 13, b. Va; Lucinda, 2, b. Va.
1880 census of Elliott Co., Ky, Newcomb precinct, enumerated 17 June, lists on p. 18 as family #141/144:
Riddle, John, 55, farmer, b. NC NC NC; Lucinda, 52, wife, b. NC NC NC.
In 1900 they were listed in Elliott Co., Ky, with their daughter Lucinda and her husband Isom Adkins as:
Riddle, John, father-in-law, 75, b. Apr 1825, NC NC NC; Susan A., mother-in-law, 72, b. Mar 1828, Va Va Va, married 53 years, mother of 3 children, 2 living.
In 1910 they are still living with Isom, and his second wife Sarah:
Riddle, John, father-in-law, 85, b. NC NC NC; Susan, mother-in-law, 83, b. Va Va Va, first marriage for both, married 63 years, mother of 3 children, 1 living.
Lucinda had died about 1903, and Mary was still living, with her husband Owen Adkins. Presumably John and Susan had another child who died before 1860.
1860 of Floyd Co., Ky, enumerated 21 July, lists on p. 39 as family #236/236:
John Riddle, 35, laborer, b. NC; Susanah, 28, b. Va; Lucinda, 4, b. Va; Mary, 2, b. Ky; Lucinda Cunningham, 29, b. Va.
The ages for Mary and Lucinda are in conflict with the 1870 census and with the birth record for Lucinda. It appears that the census taker switched them in the birth order.
The next two census readings are problematic, because the name of John’s wife is shown as Lucinda, even though in the 1900 and 1910 censuses it goes back to Susan, and both of those years agree on a marriage date in about 1847, and that it was an only marriage for both of them. Yet I’m nearly certain that it is the same John Riddle, not only because of the daughters Mary and Lucinda, but also because there is no other record that comes even close. (There was a John Riddle in Greenup Co., Ky, also born in NC about 1825-1828, but he had a wife named Matilda and 6 children born between 1853 and 1869.) Since from the 1860 census Susanna apparently had a sister named Lucinda, it would seem unlikely that it would also be one of her given names.
1870 census of Morgan Co., Ky, Paint precinct, Relief P.O., enumerated 12 Aug, lists on p. 16 as family #106:
Riddell, John, 45, farmer, b. NC; Lucinda, 45, b. Va; Mary E., 13, b. Va; Lucinda, 2, b. Va.
1880 census of Elliott Co., Ky, Newcomb precinct, enumerated 17 June, lists on p. 18 as family #141/144:
Riddle, John, 55, farmer, b. NC NC NC; Lucinda, 52, wife, b. NC NC NC.
In 1900 they were listed in Elliott Co., Ky, with their daughter Lucinda and her husband Isom Adkins as:
Riddle, John, father-in-law, 75, b. Apr 1825, NC NC NC; Susan A., mother-in-law, 72, b. Mar 1828, Va Va Va, married 53 years, mother of 3 children, 2 living.
In 1910 they are still living with Isom, and his second wife Sarah:
Riddle, John, father-in-law, 85, b. NC NC NC; Susan, mother-in-law, 83, b. Va Va Va, first marriage for both, married 63 years, mother of 3 children, 1 living.
Lucinda had died about 1903, and Mary was still living, with her husband Owen Adkins. Presumably John and Susan had another child who died before 1860.
