Jeremiah Riley (1730 - 1804)

Born 1730 in Prince George's, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Willett) Riley — married 1752 (to 1771) in South Carolina

Descendants

Died Jul 1804 at about age 74 in Mercer, Kentucky, USA

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Biography

Jeremiah was born in 1730 in Prince George's, Maryland, United States. He was the son of Eliphaz Riley and Elizabeth (Burkett) Riley.

Residence in 1790:

Place: Montgomery, Maryland, USA

Residence in 1778:

Place: Montgomery, Maryland, USA

Residence in 1800:

Place: Mercer, Kentucky, USA<

The Harris Family Tree, but mostly the Rileys Tree states:^[1]

Immigration: traveled down the Great Wagon Road - in 1783: Surry, North Carolina, USA

Note: The Baptist Church was well established in North Carolina and had advertised that land was abundant and cheap to fellow Baptists. So Jeremiah and [his brother] Ninian's groups became Baptists, under sharp criticism from their Maryland neighbors. The group is listed in the book, "Marylanders to Carolina," by Jenry Peden. The book journals and catalogs the many families' exodus from Maryland into the "wilderness."

Military Service: Lieutenant in Maryland militia in Revolutionary war - ABT 1776

Note: Jeremiah was a surveyor and used his skill for coastal defense. He developed the first plan of the colonies for coastal defense called "Jeremiah Riley's scheme for Destroying Ships of War." His plan was to lure English Men of War into the coastal rivers where they could not maneuver easily and attack with faster and lighter American cutters. General Washington gave him a special citation. However, his prowess in strategy did not translate to field valor.

PROP: Hunting Creek, 470 acres 1790 Surry, North Carolina, USA

Religion: Episcopalian

Event: signed Maryland Oath of Allegiance Event 1798

Event: friend to General George Washington other ABT 1776

Event: Rock Creek Episcopal Church, St. Paul's Parish Membership

Death: JUL 1804 in Mercer, Kentucky, USA

Immigration: 1796 Mercer, Kentucky, USA

Military Service: court martialed - 07 JUL 1776

Note: Transcript reads (JN1&JN2), '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.'

Event: Flat Rock Baptist Church in Salisbury District of southwestern Surry Membership BET 1783 AND 1796 Surry, North Carolina, USA

Will:

EARLY WILLS AND MARRIAGES: COPIED FROM COURTHOUSE RECORDS By Reg. Hist. and State Hist., complied by Mrs. Wm. Breckenridge Audry. - Genealogical 1965.

Harrison County [KY] Will Abstract. By Cynthia Chapter.

Wm. W. Riley: Will Book A, pg. 412. Names wife, brother, Ninian Riley. 1 child mentioned. written March 26, 1818. Probated July 1818 Exectrs.: Ninean Riley, John R. Blair. Witn: Samuel Hine, James W. Riley. ^[2]

Jeremiah's father is most often given as Eliphaz Riley of MD. A few sources (family trees) say it was Eliphaz' son: Solomon but this note below by a family member denies that attribution:

"There is no such person as Solomon Riley in this family. Robert Shean Riley in his 2 Vols. "THE COLONIAL RILEY FAMILIES OF THE TIDEWATER FRONTIER" proved this. Solomon Riley has been shown as the father of the following children. This is NOT correct. These children are by Eliphaz Riley ,WD 8 Dec 1759; WP 30 May 1760; Prince George's Co. MD [son of Hugh and Elizabeth Burkett of Prince George's Co. MD]"

1. Eleanor Riley b. 5 Jan 1715
2. John Riley, Sr. b. ca 1716; d. Mar 1767 m. 1737 Elizabeth
3. Mary Riley b.ca 1718 m. abt 1738 Capt. Robert Douglas
4. Samuel Riley, Sr b. ca 1720; d. aft 1792 prob Edgefield Co. SC; m.(1) ca 1742 prob Prince George's Parish, Prince George's Co. MD Eleanor "Nelly" Wallace. Issue:
5. Ann Riley b. ca 1722; d. aft 1773 m. (prob) 1742 Prince George's Parish, Prince George's Co. MD Thomas Frazier
6. James Riley b. ca 1724; d. 3 Feb 1759 of smallpox at Fort Frederick [Washington Co. MD] prob. unmarr. Lt. James Riley served in the Colonial Maryland Militia during the French and Indian War (1756-1763)" ^[3]

He died in JUL 1804 in Mercer, Kentucky, USA

Research Notes

There are alternate names for this person:

• Jeremiah Riley
• Reyley

Sources

1. ↑ The Harris Family but mostly the Rileys Tree on RootsWeb - Jeremiah Riley
2. ↑ Foster, March Family Tree on RootsWeb - Jeremiah Riley
3. ↑ http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igmpostem.cgi?op=show&app=smithh2&notify=nRWuiuye49fQ8MavE4FqzIYgmgdYf_jV&key=I07071&return=%3Ca+href%3D%22%2Fcgi%2Dbin%2Figm%2Ecgi%3Fop%3DGET%26amp%3Bdb%3Dsmithh2%26amp%3Bid%3DI07071%22%3EReturn+to+WorldConnect%3C%2Fa%3E

See also:

• Public Member Trees Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006; - Repository: R1 www.ancestry.com
• The Harris Family but mostly the Rileys Tree on RootsWeb - Jeremiah Riley
• David Talbot Sr., "Ancestors of Maolmordha," "Miles" Riley [18737]. Cited on: 18737.htm Talbot Family History
• - WDC Gen Web
• McOwen Family Tree - Jeremiah Riley