Mr. C. J. Bates in the Archaeologia Aeliana, vol. xii, page 191, as follows: "To say nothing of the great local interest that attaches to these three original documents of the twelfth century, they possess a peculiar value as examples of the far reaching, all embracing power of the mediaeval papacy, as evinced in the fact that the titles to properties in Scotland was secured by no less than three papal confirmations. The first is a bull from Adrian iv, (Nicholas Brakespeare, the only Englishman who has ever yet sat in the chair of St. Peter), addressed from Benevento, on the 8th of April 1156, to Anskitell de Ridale, who succeeded his brother Walter de Ridale. The second is from Pope Alexander iii, dated the 17th of May 1165, also addressed to the Knight Anskitell de Ridale. The third is also from Pope Alexander iii, to Walter de Ridale, son of Anskitell de Ridale, confirming to him Lilliesclive, Whittune and other lands of his father. Each of the bulls begin in the same manner, thus, "Alexander, the bishop, the servant of the servants of God, to his beloved son the Knight Anskitell de Ridale, greeting and Apostolic benediction etc." These documents derive their name of "bull," from the leaden seal or token attached to them and called in Latin "bulla." From Sir Anskitell de Ridale can be traced Andrew Riddell, son of Walter Riddell (1588), and grandson of Walter Riddell (1543). Andrew Riddell married first a daughter of Sir James Pringle and secondly Violet Douglas, and died in 1632, aged 82 years, leaving John, James, William, Andrew and other sons. He was succeeded by his eldest son Sir John Riddell, 1st Baronet of Riddell, who on 14 May 1628, was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia. He married Agnes, daughter of Sir John Murray and was succeeded by his eldest son Sir Walter Riddell, 2nd Baronet, who married Janet Rigg and had, with two daughters, five sons; Sir John, 3rd Baronet, who succeeded, William, Rev. Archibald, Thomas and Andrew Riddell. His second son William Riddell was bred to the law and married Elizabeth Wauchope, by whom he had issue Walter Riddell of Glenriddell, Dumfriesshire, who married in 1676, Catherine, daughter of Sir Robert Laurie, 1st Baronet of Maxwelton, and from whom were descended Robert Burns' two friends Robert Riddell and his brother Walter Riddell. Burns lived for many years upon the winding Nith, the beauties of which he more than once commemorates in song. His next neighbour, at less than a mile distant up the Nith, with its rich meadows, and woods, its stately old homes, its dark and swift waters, was Robert Riddell of Glenriddell, a gentleman of antiquarian and literary tastes, to whose residence "Friar's Carse," the poet was ever welcome. This lovely dale, once the scene of clannish strife, now presents a charming picture of peaceful beauty, pervaded everywhere with the sentiment of Robert Burns. Upon the death of Robert Riddell, in April 1794, he wrote this touching sonnet. No more, ye warblers of the wood! no more; Nor pour your descant, grating, on my soul; Thou, young-eyed Spring; gay in thy verdant stole— How can ye charm, ye flowers! with all your dyes? Ye blow upon the sod that wraps my friend! How can I to the tuneful strain attend? That strain flows round th' untimely tomb where Riddell lies. From the time of David i, of Scotland, 1124–1153, to the present day, the name of Walter Riddell appears once or twice in very nearly every generation among the descendants of this Roxburghshire family. The name of Walter does not appear, at any time, in the Riddells of Ardnamurchan, or of Felton Park, or of Cheeseburn Grange, or in any other family of Riddells in either Scotland or England. Since the year 1628, the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th baronets Riddell of Riddell, have been named Walter. The present holder of the title is Sir John Walter Buchanan Riddell, 11th Baronet, whose eldest son Walter Robert Riddell was born in 1879. It is not positively known when Walter Riddell, the elder, of Talbot County, planter, came to the Province of Maryland, but undoubtedly he was a scion of the ancient family of Riddell, of Riddell, Roxburghshire, and most probably descended from one of the sons of Andrew Riddell, before mentioned, who died in 1632, leaving several sons. Walter Riddell, the elder, died in 1682, leaving a daughter Jean Riddell born about 1671, who married in 1690, William Thomas, the elder, of Talbot County; and an only son Walter Riddell, the younger, planter, who died in 1732, upon whose estate the two sons of William Thomas, the elder, William Thomas, Jr., and Tristram Thomas administered. Contemporaneous with Jean Riddell, daughter of Walter Riddell, the elder, of Talbot County, and wife of William Thomas, the elder, was Jean Riddell, daughter of Walter Riddell of Minto, of the Roxburghshire family, Scotland, who married 27 July 1674, Sir Robert Laurie, 1st Baronet of Maxwelton, Dumfriesshire, whose daughter Anna, born 16 December 1682, celebrated for her beauty, made a conquest of William Douglas of Fingland, who wrote the following verses to her, and which are said to have been the original words. Maxwelton braes are bonnie, Where early fa's the dew; She's backit like a peacock, I'd lay down my head and die. * This song, many years afterwards, was revised by Lady Scott, and any one familiar with it can appreciate how much of the tender beauty of the present version of the popular song is attributable to the poetic talent of Lady Scott. Bonnie Annie Laurie, however, did not marry her lover Douglas, but she married in 1709, Alexander Fergusson of Craigdarroch, M.P. in 1717. She died in 1761, at the age of seventynine and is buried at the Church of Glencairn, not far away from her home for more than half a century, which was beautifully situated in a vale overlooking the winding Nith. Her grandson Alexander Fergusson was the hero of Burns' song of "The Whistle." As Walter Riddell, the younger, of Talbot County, who died in 1732, left no issue, he was the last male representative of his immediate family in Maryland. But there are now living in this State many descendants of Jean Riddell, wife of William Thomas, the elder, who have often sung the sweet song "Annie Laurie," without knowing that they and the heroine of that song were of the same lineage. * Her maiden name was Alicia Anne Spottiswoode, the eldest daughter of John Spottiswoode of Spottiswoode, Berwickshire. She married in 1836, Lord John Douglas Scott, a son of the Duke of Buccleugh, and a member of Parliament for Roxburgh, in 1832. The present air of "Annie Laurie," is the composition of Lady Scott, authoress of both words and music of many songs, which have become popular in her own country. THE LOWES The family of Lowe, originally of Cheshire, England, is of long standing and was once one of the leading families of Derbyshire, being possessed of a considerable estate there as early as temp. Henry vi. The surname is one of local origin, hláew, hlaw or low, is the Old English or Anglo-Saxon word for a small hill or mound. Robin Hoode sett Guyes horne to his mouth, And a loud blast in it did blow; That behearde the Sheriffe of Nottingham, As he leaned under a lowe. Robin Hood and Guye of Gisborne, 185–8. The name of Henry le Low is in the Lancaster Assize-Rolls (1246). Robert atte Lowe and Robert le Low are in the Parliamentary Writs (1272-1326), and Hugo de la Lowe, Robert de Lowe and Martinus de Low are mentioned in the Hundred Rolls (1274). The first of the family, of whom we have any specific or reliable record, are William del Lowe, who was living in 1392, and Thomas del Lowe who died 10 February 1415, both of Macclesfield, Cheshire, who were probably brothers. The above named Thomas Lowe, for it must be remembered that in the fourteenth century all surnames were simplified and all prefixes omitted, was a witness to a charter in 1407. He left a son Geoffrey Lowe of Macclesfield, who died in 1451. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Peter Legh of Lyme, Cheshire, leaving among other sons, Lawrence Lowe, who was living in 1472. He was the ancestor of the Lowes of Denby, Derbyshire, temp. Edward vi, and married the heiress of Rossell of Denby. The manor of Denby, at the time of the Domesday Survey, belonged to Ralph de Binon, and in the reign of Henry i, (11001135), it was held by Patrick de Rossell. It remained with the Rossells for upwards of three centuries, when it passed by |