Joseph Riddick
Encyclopedia
Joseph Riddick was a North Carolina
politician who served as Speaker of the North Carolina Senate for 11 years from 1800 to 1804 and from 1806 to 1811. Only Bartlett Yancey
and Marc Basnight
have led the state Senate for a longer span of time. Riddick was also a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
. He attained the rank of General in the NC Militia.
He represented Gates County
in the legislature over a period of 35 years, including service in the North Carolina House of Commons (1782–1784) and in the North Carolina Senate
(1785-1811, 1815, 1817). He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives
as a Democratic-Republican in 1810 and 1813 (and also got a handful of votes, likely unsolicited, in 1815).
He was a Presidential elector for the state of NC on 2 occasions. (1809-Madison, 1817-Monroe)
His parents were Captain Joseph Riddick (1689/1759) & Hannah Hunter Riddick (1712??/1791)(daughter of Isaac & Elizabeth Hunter)
He Married Ann Stallings (__/1824)(Daughter of Simon Stallings)
Professor & Historian Isaac Samauel Harrell writes the following in "GATES COUNTY TO 1860"
Although no returns can be obtained further back than 1842, the county was in all probability anti-Federalist in the early days, for Joseph Riddick, who was in the assembly for 33 years, voted with the anti-Federalists.* He never wanted to spend any money. The county was opposed to internal improvements
and to the Literary Fund.
[*]Joseph Riddick was the leading man in the county from the close of the Revolutionary War to his death. He was in the Assembly from 1781 to 1811 and again in 1815 and 1817. For eleven years he was the speaker of the Senate; was a member of the convention at Hillsboro that debated the Constitution of the United States. During its sessions he made himself distinguished on account of his common sense. He bitterly opposed the ratification by the state of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions and their defeat is largely due to him. He was also a member of the convention of 1835 for a new constitution for the state. In 1798 Governor Johnston wrote to Supreme Court Justice James Iredell, "There are some men of very good understanding in both houses. Riddick, from Gates, has more influence in the Senate; he seems generally disposed to do what is right, but will go about it in his own way." He made his trips to Raleigh in a stick-gig and never missed a session. At his old home is a grape-vine that he brought from Raleigh when he was a member of the Assembly.
The following court record is stating that he was to be a commissioner to establish the county boundary line between Gates & Perquimans.
Gates & Perquimans County, NC - Act to Establish Dividing Line
An Act to appoint commissioners to lay off and establish the
dividing line between the counties of Perquimans and Gates
Whereas, the dividing line between the counties of Perquimans and
Gates have not heretofore been sufficiently described, either by
actual surveys, or by known and fixed boundaries, whereby it
becomes expedient in order to prevent disputes between the
inhabitants of said counties, that the said dividing line should
be more accurately ascertained and laid off.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina,
and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Willis
Riddick and Langley Billups, of the county of Perquimans, and Joseph
Gordon and Joseph Riddick of the county of Gates, be, and they are
hereby appointed commissioners with full power and authority to
lay off, extend and mark the line between the said counties, due
regard being had to the former reputed line.
And be it further enacted, That the said Commissioners shall appoint
such surveyor, chain carrier and other attendance as shall be necessary
for the marking, extending and establishing the said line, and shall
make or cause to be made a return of their proceedings to each of the
Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the said counties, to be
deposited and kept among the records thereof, and the said lines when
so extended, and laid off, shall forever thereafter be established,
and confirmed as the dividing line between the said counties.
And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners, surveyors,
chain carriers and attendants, shall receive such compensation for their
services as the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the said counties
shall deem just, to be paid out of the monies levied and collected for
the said counties.
Source:
NC Archives
Public and Private Laws of North Carolina
1819-22
Chapter CVIII
Page 73
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
politician who served as Speaker of the North Carolina Senate for 11 years from 1800 to 1804 and from 1806 to 1811. Only Bartlett Yancey
Bartlett Yancey
Bartlett Yancey, Jr. was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina, USA, between 1813 and 1817....
and Marc Basnight
Marc Basnight
Marc Basnight served as a Democratic member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing the 1st District, from 1984 through his resignation just before the start of what would have been his 14th term in 2011...
have led the state Senate for a longer span of time. Riddick was also a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He attained the rank of General in the NC Militia.
He represented Gates County
Gates County, North Carolina
Gates County is a small rural county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 12,197. Its county seat is Gatesville. It is part of the Albemarle Sound area of the Inner Banks...
in the legislature over a period of 35 years, including service in the North Carolina House of Commons (1782–1784) and in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
(1785-1811, 1815, 1817). He ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democratic-Republican in 1810 and 1813 (and also got a handful of votes, likely unsolicited, in 1815).
He was a Presidential elector for the state of NC on 2 occasions. (1809-Madison, 1817-Monroe)
His parents were Captain Joseph Riddick (1689/1759) & Hannah Hunter Riddick (1712??/1791)(daughter of Isaac & Elizabeth Hunter)
He Married Ann Stallings (__/1824)(Daughter of Simon Stallings)
Professor & Historian Isaac Samauel Harrell writes the following in "GATES COUNTY TO 1860"
Although no returns can be obtained further back than 1842, the county was in all probability anti-Federalist in the early days, for Joseph Riddick, who was in the assembly for 33 years, voted with the anti-Federalists.* He never wanted to spend any money. The county was opposed to internal improvements
Internal improvements
Internal improvements is the term used historically in the United States for public works from the end of the American Revolution through much of the 19th century, mainly for the creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, harbors and navigation improvements...
and to the Literary Fund.
[*]Joseph Riddick was the leading man in the county from the close of the Revolutionary War to his death. He was in the Assembly from 1781 to 1811 and again in 1815 and 1817. For eleven years he was the speaker of the Senate; was a member of the convention at Hillsboro that debated the Constitution of the United States. During its sessions he made himself distinguished on account of his common sense. He bitterly opposed the ratification by the state of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions and their defeat is largely due to him. He was also a member of the convention of 1835 for a new constitution for the state. In 1798 Governor Johnston wrote to Supreme Court Justice James Iredell, "There are some men of very good understanding in both houses. Riddick, from Gates, has more influence in the Senate; he seems generally disposed to do what is right, but will go about it in his own way." He made his trips to Raleigh in a stick-gig and never missed a session. At his old home is a grape-vine that he brought from Raleigh when he was a member of the Assembly.
The following court record is stating that he was to be a commissioner to establish the county boundary line between Gates & Perquimans.
Gates & Perquimans County, NC - Act to Establish Dividing Line
An Act to appoint commissioners to lay off and establish the
dividing line between the counties of Perquimans and Gates
Whereas, the dividing line between the counties of Perquimans and
Gates have not heretofore been sufficiently described, either by
actual surveys, or by known and fixed boundaries, whereby it
becomes expedient in order to prevent disputes between the
inhabitants of said counties, that the said dividing line should
be more accurately ascertained and laid off.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina,
and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Willis
Riddick and Langley Billups, of the county of Perquimans, and Joseph
Gordon and Joseph Riddick of the county of Gates, be, and they are
hereby appointed commissioners with full power and authority to
lay off, extend and mark the line between the said counties, due
regard being had to the former reputed line.
And be it further enacted, That the said Commissioners shall appoint
such surveyor, chain carrier and other attendance as shall be necessary
for the marking, extending and establishing the said line, and shall
make or cause to be made a return of their proceedings to each of the
Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the said counties, to be
deposited and kept among the records thereof, and the said lines when
so extended, and laid off, shall forever thereafter be established,
and confirmed as the dividing line between the said counties.
And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners, surveyors,
chain carriers and attendants, shall receive such compensation for their
services as the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the said counties
shall deem just, to be paid out of the monies levied and collected for
the said counties.
Source:
NC Archives
Public and Private Laws of North Carolina
1819-22
Chapter CVIII
Page 73