RILEY

Edward Riley (1747-1855) married 21 Nov 1784 Mary Elizabeth Wood (1769 - 20 June 1853). In Edward Riley's 1833 Pension application in Rankin Co, Mississippi, he stated that he was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, lived in 96 District, South Carolina during the Revolution, volunteered in 1778, served under General Williamson in Col. McCrary's Company, as Indian fighter, Dragoon, and spy. He received a musket ball in his neck, which he carried the rest of his life, and the loss of two fingers from a sword. He was a wanderer, and would disappear for periods of time to live among the Indians, or other adventures. 

Edward Ryley was granted 100 acre of land 2 Feb 1768 on Duncan's Creek in South Carolina (near the boundary of current Laurens and Newberry Counties) This supports his birth in 1747, as he would have been 21 years old then.  300 acres were surveyed for Edward Ryly in Berkeley County 3 Nov 1772, but were granted to John McQueen 8 Feb 1773 when Edward did not file the paperwork to take possession.  

There was a Miles Ryly who was granted land on the Coosawhatchie River in 1759, of unknown relation.  But this might have been the same Miles Riley who married Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Weekly of Amelia Township, on 22 Sep 1750 in Orangeburgh by Rev. John Giessendanner.  Miles was witness to the wedding of Freeman Snellgrove of Amelia and Ann Jenkins, widow, 26 Sep 1751. Then Elizabeth wife of Miles Riley was a sponsor to the baptism of Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Barker of Amelia 10 May 1752.

Edward Ryly is listed in the South Carolina Census of 1790 in Orangeburg District, South, (one male over 21, one male under 21, and 3 female)     Elizabeth Riley is listed in Abbeville District in 1800, (one male under 10, one 10-16, 2 female under 10, 1 10-16, one 26-45)  They apparently moved to Georgia soon after 1800.  Edward appears in the 1823 tax list of Perry County, Mississippi.  In 1830, he was in Jones County, Mississippi

Edward was living in Rankin County, Mississippi, in September 1833, when he gave his deposition concerning his service in the Revolutionary War.  The story goes that after the judge accepted his claim, he was asked for documentation.  He replied that if his word wasn't good enough for them, they could keep their pension.  Edward's grandson Arthur Matthews remembered standing in his lap as a small child and putting his finger in the hole in the back of Edward's neck to feel the musket ball still there.

Elizabeth lived with their son Edward Miles Riley in New Hebron, Lawrence County, until her death in 1853, and is buried in the family cemetery on the old home place 3 miles north of New Hebron.  Edward was listed in the State Census of 1845 in Rankin County, living alone, and no further record of him has been found.  His two grandsons John Shows Riley and James Columbus Riley, moved to Tyler County, Texas, in 1855.  Edward apparently went with them, but stayed with his son William John Riley, who had moved there before 1846.  As best we can determine, Edward died there in 1855, at the age of 108, thrown from a horse. 
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1. Sity Vious Riley (22 Nov 1789 - 25 Aug 1854) married Allen Matthews (25 Mar 1789-1870/80)  They lived in Georgia until moving to Perry County, Mississippi, in 1817.  He entered land in Lawrence County, Mississippi, in 1827, and later purchased land in Copiah and Simpson Counties. He donated the land for the Hopewell Meeting House (Church) in Copiah County. After his wife's death, he gave his land to his children in a series of deeds dated 20 Nov 1855, and moved in with his oldest son Harmon in Harrisville, Simpson County.
. 11. Harmon P. Matthews (22 May 1813-23 Oct 1897) m.25 Dec 1834 Mary Gates (1813-1865), m.19
. . . . .Dec 1866 Adeline Holcomb (1829-1898) widow of Sam Miller, lived in Simpson County, MS
. 12. Emmaline Malisey Matthews (10 Apr 1815) m.1838 James Peters (1816-1906) lived in  Winn 
. . . . .Parish, LA, then Navarro Co, TX,
. 13. Seaborn Caswell Matthews (3 Aug 1817-31 Dec 1897) m.15 Nov 1843 Jane Newsom 
. . . . .(1829-1882). Lived in Copiah County, Mississippi
. 14. Allen Matthews (1819) died before 1830
. 15. Elizabeth Ellen Matthews (2 Jan 1821-1888) m. Alexander Harper (1827-1888) Florence, Miss.
. 16. Mary Ann Matthews (16 Oct 1822-aft1900) m.1839 James G Howell (1819) VanZandt Co, Texas
. 17. Arthur Tillman Matthews (2 Nov 1827-14 Sep 1898) m.8 Jun 1854 Martha Elizabeth Sample 
. . . . .(1833-1866), m.25 Dec 1866 Lucy Pierce (1840-1922) widow of Elijah Slay,  Copiah Co, MS

2. Ellender Riley (19 Jun 1794 -1 Feb 1831) married Burrell Upchurch (2 Mar 1782-31 Dec 1847)  Burrell was born in Brunswick Co, VA, and was in Franklin Co, NC by 1803, and Greene Co, GA by 1805.  He moved to Greene County, Mississippi, by 1817, and to Wilcox County, Alabama, by 1829.  He died in Choctaw Co, AL.  Ellender died and was buried in Atkinson, Alabama.
. 21. Harriet Upchurch (7 Mar 1813-15 Jun 1890) m.14 Feb 1833 Ennis Loftin (1810-1854) lived in
. . . . .Marengo Co, AL, in 1850.
. 22. Elizabeth Upchurch (1814-1855/60) m.3 Aug 1831 Littleberry "L.B." Champion (1810)  L B lived 
. . . . .in DeKalb, Bowie Co, TX, in 1860, without Elizabeth.
. 23. Moses Upchurch (19 Apr 1816-24 Jun 1886) m.15 Feb 1834 Lucinda Dickson; m.20 Sep 1852 
. . . . .Nancy Lary (1836-1888).  Lived at Bedias, Grimes Co, Texas
. 24. Jordan Upchurch was constable in Lauderdale Co, MS, in 1842, and died in Grimes Co, TX, 
. . . . .31 Jan 1858.  Little else is known about Jordan.
. 25. Burrell Miles Upchurch (5 Jan 1821-26 Aug 1884) m.1843 Margaret James (1824-1891), lived 
. . . . .in Grimes Co, TX
. 26. John Tillman Riley Upchurch (19 Feb1829-11 Jan 1851) m.16 Dec 1847 Sarah Dudley Mary  
. . . . .Hester Margaret Scott (15 Aug 1829-23 Jan 1899).  John was buried near Yantley, Choctaw Co,
. . . . .Alabama.  His widow married about 1856 B W Bryan, and moved to Red River County, Texas,   
. . . . .before 1860.  Later she married a McGregor, and died in Red River County.

3. Edward Miles Riley (8 Aug 1796 - 10 Mar 1873) m.3 Jul 1816 Mary Nancy Shows (14 Sep 1798- 19 May 1859), daughter of John Shows (Johann Adam Schauss), lived north of New Hebron, Lawrence Co, Mississippi.  All children were born in Mississippi.
. 31. John Shows Riley (28 Jun 1817-25 Dec 1880) m.6 Jan 1845 Delila Shivers (1829-1901); moved
. . . . .to Tyler Co, TX in 1855.
. 32. Elizabeth Riley (29 Nov 1818-aft1880) m.26 Oct 1848 William Truett Keen (1825-1909) lived in 
. . . . .Polk Co, TX
. 33. Nancy Riley (29 Nov 1820-9 Oct 1849) married Joseph M Ragland (c1820-aft1860); lived in 
. . . . .Simpson Co, MS
. 34. Ellender Riley (14 Dec 1822-8 Oct 1889) m.1839 Isaac Waltman (1816-1885) Angelina Co, TX
. 35. James Columbus Riley (15 Nov 1824-May 1881) m. Nancy Matilda Chandler (1829-1906) moved 
. . . . .to Tyler Co, TX in 1855.
. 36. William Miles Riley (21 Nov 1826-11 Mar 1831)
. 37. Mary Riley (20 May 1829-22 Feb 1838)
. 38. George Washington Riley (8 Feb 1831-4 May 1863) m.26 Dec 1852 Jemima Charity Ann 
. . . . .Fortenberry (1833-1870/80) Tyler Co, TX.  He died in the Confederate Hospital in Petersburg, VA
. 39. Andrew Jackson Riley (9 Mar 1833-28 Mar 1905) m.22 Dec 1856 Sarah Amanda Fortenberry
. . . . .(1840-1902) Tyler Co, TX
. 30. Franklin Lafayette Riley (10 Feb 1835-19 Feb 1907) m.21 Oct 1862 Elmyrah Balsorah Indiana
. . . . .Weathersby (1845-1921) New Hebron, Lawrence Co, MS.  Their son F L Riley, Jr, was a 
. . . . .historian and a professor at the University of Mississippi at Oxford, helped establish the 
. . . . .Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and wrote a paper in 1902 about Edward Riley
. . . . .and his descendants.
. 31. Edward Madison "Ned" Riley (23 Feb 1837-8 May 1917) m.11 Jan 1866 Zillah Berry  
. . . . .(1840-1922)  New Hebron, Lawrence Co, MS
. 32. Sophronia Ann Riley (29 Oct 1838-1907) m.1856 Asa Messer Keen; m.1863 R C Wilson; 
. . . . .m.1872 Allen J Murrey;  Angelina Co, TX
. 33. Missouri Jane Riley (19 Sep 1839-aft1900) m.1 Aug 1861 John Coker Keen (1827-bef1900) 
. . . . .Tyler Co, TX

4. William John Riley (12 Mar 1803-1867) m.1829 Nancy Collins (13 Apr 1809-1882), lived in Jasper County, MS from 1838 until 1843.  They moved to Tyler County, Republic of Texas, before 1846.  That portion of Tyler County fell into Hardin County when it was formed in 1858.  He was called John.  Nancy died in Hays County, TX, murdered by an insane neighbor.
. 41. Edward John Riley (21 Feb 1835-5 Dec 1876) m.1 Dec 1853 Martha Jane Daniel (1837-1906)
. . . . .Moved to Hays County, TX, in 1868. Texas Ranger killed by rustlers. She remarried Warren Collins
. 42. Sarah Elizabeth Riley (26 May 1833-1 Oct 1849) m.9 Jan 1846 Samuel Abraham Fairchild
. . . . .She was struck by lightening at the age of 16, buried in Fairchild Cemetery, Hardin Co, TX.
. . . 422. Jackson Roberts Bruce Fairchild (9 Oct 1848-4 Oct 1933) m.17 Aug 1865 Mary Elizabeth  
. . . . . . . .Hendrix (1850-1942)  Deputy Sheriff in Hays County, TX.  Remembered his great-grandfather 
. . . . . . . .Edward Riley, who lived with his grandparents in Tyler County, and told tales of his participation
. . . . . . . .in the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he received the musket ball in his  
. . . . . . . .neck. This detail was omitted from his sworn testimony in 1833.  But many of Edward's 
. . . . . . . .descendants also seem to subscribe to the philosophy that "there's no reason to repeat a story 
. . . . . . . .if you can't improve  upon it."
. 43. Saleta Riley (1836) not listed in Census of 1850.

5. Tapley Tillman Riley (4 Apr 1806-after 1863) married Salina Bankston (1808 TN), daughter of Thomas Bankston (1760-1849) and lived in Lauderdale County, MS, at least from 1836 until 1843, then at Enterprise, Clarke County, MS.  He was visited by his nephew Edward M Riley, son of Edward Miles Riley, while on leave from his company near Enterprise in 1863.  No contact after then.
. 51. Mary Elizabeth Riley (22 Sep 1831)
. 52. Amelia Ann Riley (1834-1931) m.8 Dec 1859 James A Fontaine (1840-1917) Clarke Co, MS
. . . 521. Kate Fontaine (12 Sep 1868-5 Sep 1960)  also buried at Mont Rose Cemetery, Quitman, MS
. 53. Emeline Melissa Riley (4 Jan 1837-6 Oct 1915) m.1856 Edward Franklin Scruggs (16 Mar 1824- 
. . . . 26 Dec 1907) Lauderdale County, MS.  Oak Grove Cemetery,  Valley Road.
. 54. Barabra Riley (1837)
. 55. Edmond Riley (1838)
. 56. Abner Riley (1839)
. 57. Salina Riley (1841) m.26 Apr 1861 R G Sullivan
. 58. Tapley Tillman Riley, Jr (1843) m.13 Aug 1875 Frances Elizabeth Robinson. served in Civil War
. 59. Susan Riley (1847) may have married 1 Oct 1877 L F Neeley
. 50. John Riley (1849) 

Arthur Matthews (1827-1898) m.1866 Lucy Pierce

Carson B Matthews (1874-1948) m.1913 Jeanne Marie Tynes

Frances Mary Tate Matthews (1917) m.1949 Virgil Raymond Liptrap

James Matthews Liptrap (1951)