W
elcome to the Riley Family Club's History section honoring Riley men who served in the State Militias and Continental Army in their struggle for freedom during the American Revoltutionary War for Independence.If you have information or copies of records on a Riley ancestor who served in the military forces during the war, please make copies of these and send to us to preserve in the Family Library.
This website is sponsored by the Riley Family Club, an international, non-profit family club devoted to gathering and preserving the family history of all Riley families (regardless of spelling).
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Riley's in the Revolutionary War CHRISTOPHER RILEY
Pennsylvania Militia. Christopher Reilly served as a Private in the Pennsylvania Militia. After the War, he settled in Fayette Co., Ky. He was awarded a veteran's penions which began 19 Sep 1818, at age 74. He died 13 Jan 1829. with an annual allowance of $96. He was listed on the 1835 Pension Roll and had drawn $1,027.35 at that time.
DANIEL RILEY Jr.
Virginia Militia and Continental Service. Daniel Riley Jr. was b ca 1749 in Frederick, Va. He served in the Va. Militia and the Continental service during the war. For his military service, he received a bounty land warrant of 200 acres of land on 6 Apr 1784, which was sold to James Raburn. He died in 1837 in Russell Co., Va. (BLW # 2896.0)
DANIEL RILEY
New Jersey Militia. Daniel enlisted as a Private in Captain Charles Allen's Company of New Jersey Militia. He later lived in Pennsylvania and then moved to Copley, Summit Co., Oh. in 1815, with several sons. He was buried in Stimpson's Cemetery, Copley Township, Summit Co.
EDWARD RILEY
South Carolina Militia. B 1747 in Lancaster Co., Pa. Served as a dragoon in the South Carolina Militia. Entered service as a dragoon under the immediate command of General Williamson, under Colonel McCrary and Captain Grear. His first tour of service was against the Cherokee Indians and "after drubbing them into submission and obedience," was ordered to the seige of Augusta, Georgia. After the British forces received reinforcements under the command of General Provost, the seige was raised. The Americans were completely routed.
Edward followed the fortunes of General Greene in the famous Battle of Eutaw Springs as a dragoon under command of Captain Dillard. Previous to the Battle, he was detached in advance of the Army as a spy in company of others and falling in with a detachement of the enemy, was dangerously wounded by a ball in the neck. The loss of two fingers from a sword and many other flesh wounds of less injury. From his testimony when he applied for a veteran's pension in 1833. He carried the British minie ball in his neck for the rest of his life.
Later moved to Smith Co., Ms. where he died after 1833.GEORGE RILEY
Virginia Militia. George enlisted in the Virginia Militia. He lived in Fauquier Co., Va., son of John Riley Sr. and Elizabeth.
JAMES RILEY
North Carolina Militia. James enlisted in the North Carolina Militia and served as a Private. After the War, he settled in Hall Co., Ga. where he applied for a veteran's pension which began 13 Apr 1833 at age 78. He was awarded an annual allowance of $30. He was listed on the 1835 Pension Roll.
JAMES RILEY Sr.
Virginia Militia and South Carolina Militia. Served in the Virginia Militia of the Continental Line before moving to Camden District, South Carolina. He enlisted under Captain Miller and served also under Captain Burnett and colonels Bratton and Sumter. He fought in the battles at Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock and Blackstock's Plantation. After the war, he moved to Franklin Co. and Elbert Co., Georgia. James applied for a veteran's pension which began 7 Mar 1833 at age 75, with an annual allowance of $80. He received $140 by 1835, when he was listed on the Pension Roll of 1835.
JAMES RILEY
South Carolina Militia. Enlisted as a private in the Second Regiment on 4 Nov 1775.
JAMES RILEY
South Carolina Militia. Served in Captain George Warley's Company of the Sixth Regiment, South Carolina Militia during 1779. He was killed in action against the British at Savannah, Ga. on 26 Sep 1779.
JEREMIAH RILEY
North Carolina Militia. B Montgomery Co., Md. Enlisted in the Dobbs County Regiment of North Carolina Militia in 1776. He and his lieutenant were court-martialed on 7 July 1776. The record stated "That on the 11th instant Lieut. Jonathan Wright and Jeremiah Riley of Capt. Abraham Boyd's company while under arms in the field behaved in a very mutinous manner and seemed much inclined to encourage the same disposition among the men of the company they belong to."
JOHN RILEY Sr.
South Carolina Militia. Born 1760 in Amherst Co., Va.; died 1854 at Blue Mountain, Tippah Co., Miss. Later moved to Camden District, SC and enlisted as a private in the South Carolina Militia under Capt. Barnett in the 2nd Regiment. He fought in battles at Thompson's Fort, Orangeburg Fort and was wounded at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in 1781. He later lived in Wilkes, Elbert and Franklin counties, Georgia; then moved to Sevier Co., Tn.; then to St. Clair Co., Al. and Franklin Co., Al. He eventually settled at Blue Mountain, Ms. where he died. Buried at Macedonia Church Cemetery, Blue Mountain, Ms. His grave was the first marked with a Memorial Marker in Mississippi by the DAR, in 1907 by the Major Matthew McConnell Chapter.
JOHN RILEY
South Carolina Militia. South Carolina Militia. Enlisted in the Second Regiment, South Carolina Militia on 5 Feb 1779 under Capt. Peter Gray and re-enlisted on 1 Nov 1779. Served 4 months, 13 days as quartermaster of the Colleton County Regiment during 1781 and 1782 under Major Charles Harding.
JOHN RILEY Sr.
Virginia Militia and Continental Service. John was b ca 1754 in Va. He served in the Va. Militia and in the Continental Army during the War. He received a bounty land warrant in 1783 for 200 acres of land in payment for his military service. (BLW #1101.0)
JOHN RILEY
Virginia Militia. John served as a Private and was later promoted to Lieutenant and also served as an Ensign in the Virginia Militia. After the War, he settled in Shelby Co., Ky. where he applied for a veteran's pension. He was awarded an annual allowance of $26.66 and his pension began 26 Oct 1832, at age 78. By 1835, he had received $169.98.
JOHN RILEY Jr.
Virginia Militia. John Riley 2nd enlisted in the Virginia Militia. He later settled in Greene Co., Ky. He applied for a veteran's pension and was awarded an annual allowance of $96 which began 21 Jul 1819, at age 65. He received $128.80 before the pension was suspended--"not Continental".
JOSEPH RILEY
Connecticut Militia. Joseph was born 15 Sep 1752 at Hartfort Ct. He enlisted as a Private in the Connecticut Militia in Aug 1776. He later moved to Copley Township, Summit Co., Oh. where he died in 1834. He is buried at Stimson's Cemetery, Copley Township.
PATRICK RILEY
Pennsylvania Militia. Patrick served as a Private in the Pennsylvania Regiment of Artillery. He served as a Matroos in Capt. James Lee's Company of Artillery from Philadelphia under Brig. Gen. Henry Knox.
PHILLIP RILEY
South Carolina Militia. Served in the Third Regiment, South Carolina Militia. Was court-martialed on 27 Jan 1777 for being AWOL.
RICHARD RILEY
South Carolina Militia. Enlisted in the First Regiment, South Carolina Militia on 4 Nov., 1775 and re-enlisted on 4 Nov., 1776.
STEPHEN RILEY
Maryland Militia. Stephen was born in Md. He enlisted in the Maryland Militia as a Private. He applied for a veteran's pension while living in Baltimore Co. and was granted an annual allowance of $23.33, which began 2 Sep 1833 at age 75. He had received $69.99 by 1835 when he appeared on the Pension Roll.
VALERIUS RILEY
Maryland Militia. Valerius was born in Md. He enlisted in the Maryland Militia during the War. He applied for a veteran's pension while living in Harford Co. He was granted an annual allowance of $96 which began 29 Apr 1823 and by 1835 had received $1,048.
WILLIAM RILEY
Maryland Militia. William served as a Captain of a Company of Maryland Militia. He was awarded four 50 acre lots in Allegany County for his service by the State of Maryland in 1787.
WILLIAM RILEY
North Carolina Militia. William was born 29 Sep 1759 in Delaware Co., Pa. and at age 9, moved with his father to Orange County, NC. William lived there when he enlisted as a Private in the North Carolina Militia. He was later promoted to Sergeant of his company. He served in both the infantry and cavalry. William later applied for a veteran's pension while living in Guilford Co. He was listed on the Pension Roll of 1835: his pension began 30 Jan 1833 at age 75; he was awarded $106.18 annual allowance and by 1835 had drawn $318.54.
William stated in his pension application that he married Nancy Davis in Orange Co., NC 5 Dec 1792. After the War, he later lived in Person County and then Guilford County, where he died 25 Mar 1835.
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