Hello,
My name is Arabel Borel Riddle. I?m an FR-EN translator and I live in Manosque, a small town not far from Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France.
I ws born in London where I lived until I was 21 when I married my French husband. I have a son living in Bangkok and my daughter is in San Francisco.
I?m researching the Riddell/Riddle family.
My father Hugh Riddle?s father, Hugh Howard Riddle (married to Christine Simons-Brown) was from America and I have had virtually no trouble tracing back to Northern Ireland (specifically Castlefinn, Mar, Donegal.
The top of the tree is for the moment Thomas Riddell (of Scottish ascent ?) who died in 1770 after his business folded. He left a wife and 4 children in very dire straits.
Relatives in America encouraged his widow, Elizabeth Sims to emigrate to Baltimore with her four children, Elizabeth, eleanor, James and the Hon. John in 1772 or 1792 (conflicting records).
All I can find beyond Thomas is a William, probably his father and probably from Scotland or the north of England.
The Hon. John (above 1770-1854) had 10 children, one of whom was Robert Moore Riddle (1812-1858) who was mayor of Pittsburgh.
One of his sons, John Sims Riddle (1845-1906) married Kate Howard, daughter of Willam Alanson Howard. Here the surname of his great grandmother Elizabeth Sims crops up again, but I can find no trace of her or of Thomas?s father.
Here is the only reference I?ve found (History of the ancient Ryedales):

RIDDELLS OF CASTLEFINN, IRELAND.

[Pennsylvania Branch.]

Thomas Riddell 1 (1), was a relative of the ancestors of the "Riddells
of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania,''' and of the "Riddells of Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania." He was engaged in business at Mar, Castlefinn,
County Donegal, Ireland, but was not successful, and having failed, soon
died, leaving a widow and four children in destitute circumstances; these,
at the solicitation of relatives, came to America in 1772, and for a time
made their abode in Baltimore, Md.


I do so hope someone will be able to help me !
Thanks
Arabel