John Riley, Sr.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bryant H. Riley Reports that many of Robert Earl Woodham's research papers have been put online: https://digitalarchives.aum.edu/woodham

Bryant writes "A lot of the material pertains to his maternal Turnage family but fortunately documents have family names in the site index. There's a lot to look through in order to find what we might be interested in. Almost all the material is many pages of scanned images, not text and not suitable for OCR." Also, see Donna Griffin's earlier reports.

The book 'Riley and Relations of Southeast Alabama' by Manonia Snell and James H. Riley has been completed. The book is now available online. Click HERE to order. Please contact the website administrator with any questions.

David Gates recently submitted a newspaper clipping from 1944 describing the last battle of Curtis Riley during the battle of Germany. Please click HERE to read this moving account.

Manonia Snell- With sorrow we announce that Manonia Snell passed away on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at her home after a long illness. Manonia was a well known Dale County, AL, genealogist and was preparing a book on the Rileys, Wards and related families of Dale County before her illness. Please click HERE to read her obituary.

Jerry Gates, son of Bessie Riley Gates passed away on October 17, 2024 He will be missed by me and all that knew him. His obituary may be found HERE.

Jim Riley has made available the results of his years of work and analysis to all researchers interested in the history of our Riley ancestors. The reports submitted to date may be accessed by clicking HERE. This information is intended to stimulate conversation and feedback, and is, as all genealogy work, subject to revision as more information becomes available. Please offer comments and feedback to Jim.

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS

Please visit the MILITARY section to see a compilation of research performed by Ervin Riley on our Riley kin who served in the War Between the States.

Capt. Joshua A. Carson (US Army Infantry and a Riley cousin) has authored a report on the Battle of New Hope Church, in which some of our Riley ancestors fought during the Civil War. See MILITARY section.

Robert Earl Woodham (9/24/1932-8/2/2009) was one of the earliest Riley and Woodham family researchers, and was instrumental in piecing together the original John Riley, Sr., line of descendants. His research collection is currently in storage at Auburn University's Montgomery Library, pending organizing and cataloging. Please visit the PROJECTS SECTION or contact the administrator for details.

The information contained within this web site was compiled from various sources including Billy Wayne Riley, James H. Riley, Robert Earl Woodham, original census and other records, and from many living descendents of John Riley, Sr. Generations 1 through 4 may be browsed by the general public, information in subsequent generations may be obtained by contacting individual contributors (see DOWNLOADS section). This website is dedicated to all descendants of John Riley, Sr

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS

George Beck has done some interesting research concerning Elizabeth Riley Myers in relation to Mary, daughter of John, Sr., and Mary Whitaker Riley. The results may be viewed by visiting the MYSTERIES section or clicking HERE . George is very much interested in any "comments and discussion from our Riley community on this dissertation!

Donna Griffin reports that that the Auburn University Montgomery (AUM) library has recently made available some of the digital records collection of Robert Earl Woodham. Click HERE to read her updates. The library is currently migrating to a new system and there are issues with the search function, labeling and descriptions. The online records as they currently stand are available by clicking HERE. Donna has offered to work with them to review and make corrections.

Madelyn Stark has found records from NARA (National Archives) showing original vouchers and other documents describing the sale of corn and fodder to the CSA by Moses Riley (son of John, Sr.). Please click HERE to read these interesting records!

Madelyn Stark has also discovered records from NARA (National Archives) describing various interactions of Edward Riley (son of John, Sr.) with the CSA War Department. Please click HERE to read.

She has also found a Muster Roll Beat 9 (Dale County Reserves), which a number of Rileys and kin including Daniel Riley (age 55). Please click HERE to read.

Please visit the RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS page to see four pages of Mary Whitaker Riley's (wife of John, Sr.) estate settlement submitted by Madelyn Stark.

Please see the RESEARCH section to read of recent research by Erv Riley on Pinckney Riley's First Wife Martha

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Please click HERE to read an article submitted by Roy Strickland describing the reburial of John, Sr., and Mary Whitaker Riley at the Center Cemetery. The original article appeared in the Southern Star, Ozark, AL, on April 15, 1885. This article was submitted by Ms. Carla Miles.

RILEY HEADSTONE PROJECT AT OLD CENTER METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY. Please click HERE to visit the section documenting the efforts to replace and preserve some of the deteriorating headstones at the Old Center Church Cemetery.