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Ninian Riley, Sr., performed Patriotic Service in the Revolutionary War (Ref: DAR PATRIOT INDEX page 571.) He signed the Oath of Fidelity and Allegiance to the State of Maryland. His was the eighth name on Samuel McGruder's Return. Ninian was Warden of St. Paul's Parish, Rock Creek Church (now in Washington, D.C.) for the years 1763 through 1767 and 1772. Three of his children were baptized there.
In the Colonial Wars of 1748, at the age of 22 years, Ninian was a member of Captain George Beale's Company. This company was comprised of Captain Beale's cousins.
From the Kentucky Gazette, 12 July 1808, Vol. EEI, No. 1185: We have received a communication from Mr. Ninian Riley who now resides near this town, giving an account of his family. His communicatin had met with an accident, by which it was mutilated as to prevent our giving his own words---however, the substance is retained, by which it appears, that he was born in the year 1726 and his wife in the year 1727--(they were both living), they were married in the year 1748, and have had 12 children, 105 grandchildren, and 61 great grandchildren-making a total of 178--154 of whom are now living. This was the last account received; but he supposes there are others, as they are scattered through several states.
From the Seneca Primitive Baptist Church , Dawsonville, Maryland records: Ninian was baptised July 16, 1775. Sept 11, 1775 - shoule exercise his Gifts and Speake or Exhort the People in or out of the Church. May 24, 1777 - to "attend our Meetings the first Sunday of Every Month and there Ex______his Gifts. Became a member in 1781. "Dismist" on Nov. 3, 1782.
Ninian Riley, Sr., was born March 18, 1726 in Montgomery County, Maryland, out ten miles north of the present-day Washington, D.C. He died in 1814 in Fayette County, Kentucky, and is probably buried in the Walnut Hill Cemetery which was close to his home.
Since Ninian Riley, Sr., was a Whig, a prominent man and a holder of landed estates, as well as Warden in the Rock Creek Episcopal Church, he suffered much criticism from his Tory neighbors for his loyalty to the Patriots cause. He was converted to the Baptist faith by listening to Jerry Moore who preached through the bars of his jail cell. Ninian became a minister. At least two of his sons were also ordained ministers in the Baptist faith. It appears that harassment and religion were his reasons for leaving Maryland to settle in Surry County (now Yadkin), North Carolina, with his family.
In 1746, Ninian married Elizabeth Taylor. She was born in 1726 and died in 1812 in Fayette County, Kentucky and is probably buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery with her husband. Ninian Riley, Sr., and Elizabeth Taylor had twelve children, all born in Maryland.
The first purchase of land by Ninian Riley, Sr., in Surry County, North Carolina, was issued, August 9, 1787, by Rich'd Caswell, Governor (Vol. D, page 126). "Ninian Reylee Land Grant from the state of North Carolina, 200 acres in county for 50 shillings every hundred acres." There is another record of a 400-acre grant from North Carolina in 1789 for which Ninian paid 50 shillings for each one hundred acres.
When Ninian was aged 71 years in 1797 he and his family and nine other North Carolina families migrated to Fayette County, Kentucky. They settled ten miles south of Lexington and seven miles north of the Kentucky River.
From the book "Twelve Families..An American Experience" ~A History of Selected Lineages ~ pg. 175 "The ancestors of Ninian Riley have not been identified, and only family legend reveals their having come to America in 1634 from North Ireland. Ninian's grandfather is said to have been Solomon Riley as mentioned in a Riley family reunion in North Indianapolis, Indiana in 1893 when Zachariah F. Riley, a great grandson of Ninian told of three Riley brothers who settled in Maryland in 1634. This legend is supported somewhat by other information that tells of a 1634 arrival of 220 immigrants who settled in Maryland. A great, great, great grandson of Ninian Sr., Otis V. Riley (b.1860), states in his biography that Ninian Sr. was born in England and 'was a noted member of the clergy.' However, there is nothing to support Otis Riley's contention that Ninian Sr. was the immigrant ancestor."
Robert S. Riley (Author of Riley Family Book ) found proof by deeds in Prince George's Co., MD that Ninian's brother was Samuel (II) and a deed which states Samuel (II) was heir-at-law (that is, a son) of Eliphaz Riley, b. 1688, d. in 1760.
Robert also tells me that his research shows that Ninian and his brother Jeremiah moved to Surry Co., NC in 1783 and they and their families moved to Kentucky in 1796. Ninian and family settled in Fayette and Clark Counties, Kentucky.
Ninian is buried in the Walnut Hill Cemetery.
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Descendants of Hugh Riley, Sr. (5 generations)
1 Hugh Riley, Sr. b: 1653 d: Bet. 1736 - 1940
. 2 Eliphaz Riley b: 1688
..... 3 John Riley
..... 3 Samuel Riley
..... 3 James Riley d: 1757 in Ft. Washington, Maryland
..... 3 Ninian Riley b: March 18, 1725/26 in Montgomery County, Maryland d: 1814 in Fayette County, KY
......... +Elizabeth Taylor b: 1726 m: 1746 in Maryland d: 1812 in Fayette County, KY
......... 4 Zachariah Riley b: in Maryland
............. +?
............. 5 ? Riley
................. +?
......... 4 Sarah Riley b: Abt. 1748 in Maryland d: in Georgia
............. +John Johnson d: in Georgia
............. 5 ? Johnson
............. 5 ? Johnson
............. 5 ? Johnson
............. 5 ? Johnson
............. 5 ? Johnson
............. 5 ? Johnson
............. 5 ? Johnson
......... 4 Rachel Riley b: December 31, 1750
......... 4 Mary Riley b: Abt. 1752
............. +William Allnutt m: February 12, 1779
............. 5 ? Allnutt
............. 5 ? Allnutt
............. 5 ? Allnutt
............. 5 ? Allnutt
............. 5 ? Allnutt
............. 5 ? Allnutt
............. 5 ? Allnutt
......... 4 Preshea Riley b: December 19, 1753 in Maryland d: 1835 in Greene County, IL
............. +Stephen Wood b: January 26, 1748/49 in Montgomery County, Maryland m: December 19, 1771 d: Abt. 1835 in Greene County, IL
............. 5 Amma Wood b: November 30, 1772 in Montgomery County, Maryland
................. +John Arnold b: September 05, 1771 in Fauqier County, Virginia m: August 15, 1794
............. 5 Bennet Macijah Wood b: January 17, 1775 in Montgomery County, Maryland
................. +Betsey Whitlock m: November 30, 1799
............. 5 Amon Wood b: April 30, 1777 in Montgomery County, Maryland d: June 26, 1854 in Greene County, IL
................. +Sarah Baker b: June 05, 1782 in North Carolina m: October 14, 1798 d: August 01, 1862
............. 5 Betsey Wood b: June 13, 1779
................. +Benjamin Johnson m: December 03, 1799
............. 5 Sarah (Sally) Wood b: March 17, 1782 in Rowan County, NC d: 1841
................. +Laurence March b: 1787 m: August 17, 1808 in Surrey County, NC d: 1845
............. 5 Hester Wood b: November 15, 1784 in Rowan County, NC
................. +Richard Vallandigham m: December 10, 1808 in Fayette County, Kentucky
............. 5 Macksey Wood b: May 20, 1787 in Rowan County, NC
................. +Thomas Poindexter b: Bet. 1775 - 1785 in VA? m: January 19, 1807 in Surrey County, NC
............. 5 Susannah Wood b: May 13, 1790 in Rowan County, NC
................. +John Fry b: August 07, 1787 m: October 27, 1808 in Nicholasville, Kentucky
............. 5 Stephen Wood b: February 24, 1794
................. +Matilda Webber m: October 04, 1818
............. 5 Nancy Wood b: November 03, 1800 in Fayette County, Kentucky
................. +Isaac Rucker m: July 17, 1819 in Jesamine County
......... 4 Elizabeth Riley b: 1756 d: in Fayette County, Kentucky
............. +Isaac Johnson d: in Fayette County, Kentucky
............. 5 Rachel Johnson
............. 5 Betsy Johnson
......... 4 Nancy Ann Riley b: February 08, 1760 d: in Surry County, North Carolina
............. +Isaac Windsor b: Abt. 1758 in Maryland d: 1821 in Surry County, North Carolina
............. 5 ? Windsor
............. 5 ? Windsor
............. 5 ? Windsor
............. 5 ? Windsor
............. 5 ? Windsor
............. 5 ? Windsor
............. 5 ? Windsor
......... 4 Ninian Riley b: April 10, 1762 in Frederick County (now Montgomery), Maryland d: February 1829 in Clay County, Missouri
............. +Sarah Wright b: March 20, 1764 in Fauqier County, Virginia m: March 14, 1790 in Surry County, North Carolina
............. 5 Benjamin Wright Riley b: September 02, 1793 in Surry County, North Carolina d: March 03 in Clinton County, Missouri
................. +Emma Cotton b: June 17, 1800 in Virginia m: September 02, 1818 in Fayette County, Kentucky d: October 25, 1882 in Andrew County, Missouri
............. 5 James Riley b: March 28, 1798
................. +Louisiana Lannane m: in Maryland
............. 5 Martha Riley b: October 1800 in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky d: January 10, 1882 in Clay County, Missouri
................. +James Marsh b: January 02, 1793 m: May 1817 in Fayette County, Kentucky d: September 17, 1840 in Missouri
............. 5 Mahala Riley b: July 13, 1803 in Kentucky
................. +David Watts m: November 04, 1822 in Fayette County, Kentucky
............. 5 Sarah Riley b: December 12, 1805 d: June 08, 1871
................. +Benjamin F. Howard b: May 31, 1796 in Kentucky m: December 02, 1824 in Fayette County, Kentucky
............. 5 John T. Riley b: July 26 in Kentucky d: Aft. 1849
................. +Sarah Elsberry m: in North Carolina d: Aft. 1849
......... 4 James Taylor Riley b: April 10, 1764 d: Abt. 1823 in Clay County, Missouri
............. +Susanna Lanneau d: Bef. 1788
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
......... *2nd Wife of James Taylor Riley:
............. +Susan Mockabee
............. 5 Alfred M. Riley b: January 22, 1806 d: May 31, 1881 in Clay County, MO
................. +Lucy Jane Tapp b: May 11, 1810 in Jessamine Co., KY m: April 21, 1828 in Clay Co., MO d: June 07, 1849 in Clay County, MO
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
......... *3rd Wife of James Taylor Riley:
............. +Martha Cass m: February 25, 1789
............. 5 ? Riley
......... 4 Gerrard Riley b: May 20, 1766 in Frederick County (now Montgomery), Maryland d: December 30, 1832 in Bloomfield, Johnson County, Illinois
............. +Frances Wright b: February 14, 1769 in Fauqier County, Virginia m: January 12, 1786 in Surry County, North Carolina d: November 1835 in Bethel, Ohio
............. 5 Nancy Riley b: July 12, 1786 in Surry County, North Carolina d: November 28, 1857 in Bethel, Clermont County, Ohio
................. +Houten Clarke b: March 16, 1766 in England m: December 07, 1806 in Indian Farm, Clermont County, Ohio d: September 28, 1835 in Clermont County, Ohio
............. *2nd Husband of Nancy Riley:
................. +John Salt m: May 20, 1846 in Clermont County, Ohio
............. 5 Ninian Riley b: December 18, 1787 in Surry County, North Carolina d: March 15, 1843 in Owen County, Kentucky
................. +Sarah Hinds b: January 17, 1790 m: December 20, 1810 in Fayette County, Kentucky d: August 30, 1834 in Owen County, Kentucky
............. *2nd Wife of Ninian Riley:
................. +Judith ? m: Abt. 1835
............. 5 John Wright Riley b: January 13, 1790 in Surry County, North Carolina d: February 13, 1861 in Bloomfield, Illinois
................. +Sarah Conrey b: March 06, 1791 m: Abt. 1809 d: September 06, 1872
............. 5 Elizabeth Riley b: Abt. 1793
................. +Abraham Conrey m: in Grant County, Kentucky
............. 5 Sarah Riley b: December 25, 1795 in Surry County, North Carolina d: February 17, 1879
................. +Charles Carter b: August 25, 1789 in Pendleton County, Kentucky m: May 26, 1811 in Clermont County, Ohio d: Abt. 1863
............. 5 Zachariah Riley b: October 05, 1796 in Fayette County, Kentucky d: March 11, 1875 in Bethel, Clermont County, Ohio
................. +Mary Swing m: February 09, 1817
............. 5 William Riley b: Abt. 1797 d: 1818 in Harrison County, Kentucky
................. +? m: March 26, 1817 in Harrison County, Kentucky
............. 5 Mary Riley b: April 1806
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
......... 4 Lucy Riley b: Abt. 1770 in Maryland d: February 13, 1809 in Clark County, Kentucky
............. +Robert Cass b: 1768 in Iredell County, North Carolina m: February 16, 1790 in Surry County d: July 09, 1852 in Buffalo Hart, Illinois
............. 5 ? Cass
............. 5 ? Cass
............. 5 ? Cass
............. 5 ? Cass
............. 5 ? Cass
......... 4 John Riley b: 1778
............. +Sarah Elsberry m: August 12, 1797 in Surry County, North Carolina
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
............. 5 ? Riley
..... 3 Jeremiah Riley
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Colonial Riley Families webpage by Robert S. Riley
Riley Family Book by Robert S. Riley
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