This site aims to untangle the web that is 'The Biddles'...  

The Biddle family are fairly widespread around the world.  Originally from the area surrounding Birmingham, England, many settled in America however one son - Joseph Thomas Biddle did return with his family to Birmingham, England...

The mystery begins with John Joseph Biddle who was born in 1904 - possibly in Birmingham Alabama, although he could've been born in Ireland (there is no birth  certificate for him).  He was one of nine children of Joseph Thomas Biddle and Bridget  Keely (both born 1879-1880) who appear to have hopped back and forward across the  Atlantic.  A ship's passenger list of 1903 shows Joseph and Bridget (and baby daughter  Esther) to be naturalised American citizens but gives their race as 'Irish'.  Bridget  certainly was Irish; her husband JT was possibly born in Birmingham England however he  could have been born in Ireland (en route to the USA) his mother's native country or  even actually in the States (he can't be found on the 1880 US Census or the 1981 UK  Census).  Joseph, Bridget and their young family eventually left the States and  settled in Sparkhill, Birmingham around 1910 where they had several more children.   JT's mother Esther meanwhile returned to her native Ireland.

Biddle family lore has it that the Biddles at some point used the name 'Roberts' due to one family member going AWOL and deserting!  What isn't known is when this occurred - possibly when Joseph Thomas & Esther Biddle left the States to go East (we now know that 'Roberts' was Esther Snr's maiden name). 
  
 There is an article that appeared in an American Journal that depicts this 'Pioneering  Birmingham Family' of Joseph William Biddle who left these shores in 1886 to head for  Birmingham Alabama.   An excerpt from this journal article can be found in the photo's  section....