Person:John Riley (6)

Some believe he is the son of John Riley of Wethersfeld (there by 1640) and Grace Buck (other's say her surname was O'Day or O'Dea*). See History of Ancient Wethersfeld, CT, Volume I Author: Sherman W. Adams, Henry R. Stiles; Picton Press, Camden, MA 1995, p. 291 Note: NEGHS Also the Wethersfeld vital records show: John, son John & Grace, b about Aug 15, 1646; however there is a John Riley who dies 1 Dec 1711, age 65, who would make a good match for this son of John & Grace. Therefore, I believe that the John Riley of Springfield, MA was NOT the son of John & Grace Riley of Wethersfeld. Others (see below) think he was the nephew of this John & Grace.

Some say his wife was Margaret O'Day/O'Dea.

Is listed on a list of inhabitants of Springfield, MA 1636-1664.

Freemen of Massachusetts Bay Colony: Riley John May 31 1671 Springfield

John Riley took the Oath of Allegiance 31 Dec 1678 in Springfield. Source NEGHS 1851 (vol 5) p 83.

From New England Irish Pioneers, "a tract known as Ireland Plain, so named by John Reilly or Riley, who came there from Hartford, and Riley Brook in this vicinity is still known by that name." (Chapter VIII, p. 143) and from same source:

Pioneer Irish in New England CHAPTER IX page 146 ...John Riley, settled further up the Connecticut River at Springfield, Mass., and the earliest mention of him there was on December 23, 1659, when he was assigned a Seate in ye Meeting House, and in the next year he married Margaret ODea, a relative of the Grace ODea who married his uncle. At a Genll Town Meeting on ffebr (3) 62 he received a grant of a plantation, described as lying on ye west side of ye great River by the great hill yt is by the way to the playn called Chickuppe playne, this Lott thus granted on Condition yt he build and Settle yt upon within five yeares from this tyme, and on May 5, 1664, the town granted him foure acres of meddow lying neere the great pond on ye back side of Chicuppe playne.Town Records, Book 3, p. 165.12 In 1671 he was made a Freeman by the Massachusetts General Court.Savages Genealogical Dictionary, Vol. 3, p. 542.13 In 1683 he purchased lands from one Henry Chapin at West Springfield, now part of the City of Holyoke, and a local chronicler says: It is said Riley was an Irishman, and with other settlers who came to that vicinity, gave the name of Ireland Parish to that part

From Our County and Its People: A history of Hampden County, MA Chapter: THe City of Springfield p. 15 Continuing still further the same line of narration, the records show that the settlers who came to the town in 1656 were.... John Riley who died there in 1684. p. 17: Here follows a Record or List of ye Names of the Townesmen, or men of this Towne of Springfield that is to say of the allowed and admitted Inhabitants, who they are this present Febr. 1664: ... John Riley...

• O'Dea is the surname of the spouse of the younger John Riley (b. 1646) (lcr)

1. ↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862).

   Macranney, William, Springfield, m. 1685, Margaret, d. of John Riley.

2. ↑ Burt, Henry Martyn. The First Century of the History of Springfield: The official records from 1636 to 1736, with an historical review and biographical mention of the founders. (Springfield, MA: H.M. Burt, 1899)
   p. 44.

   [list of residents as of (year):]
   1656 John Riley. Died here 1684.

3. ↑ Scott, Clifford L. (compiler). Vital Records of Springfield, MA to 1850. (Boston, NEHGS, 2002).
4.   U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, in U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700.

   Name: John Riley; Gender: Male; Marriage Date: 1660; Death Year: 1684; Marriage Place: New England, United States; Spouse's Name: Margaret O'Dea; Household Members: Name: Margaret O'Dea; John Riley

5.   North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, in North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
   see text, 1935.

   Name: John Riley: Gender: Male; Death Date: 24 Oct 1684: Transcription: RILEY ANCESTRY: JOHN RILEY: John Riley #107 first appeared in Springfield, Massachusetts, with his wife Margaret #108. He died on 24 Oct 1684 and she on 24 Aug 1689. He was an admitted inhabitant of Springfield Massachusetts, and of the church list of 23 Dec 1659; he was assigned to the 9th row. On the church list of 23 Feb 1662-3 he was assigned to the 8th row. Their daughter Mary #109 was born on 2 Jun 1665, died on 19 May 1736, and married Joseph Ely #105. Sources: 1) Life and Times of Henry Burt by H.M. and S.W. Burt, 1893; 2) Springfield Families by Thomas w. Warren. Typed by Ella May Lewis, Springfield, Mass., 1935; 3) Springfield Records in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 18, pg 147.

6.   Millennium File, in Heritage Consulting. Millennium File. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2003).

   Name: John Riley; Gender: Male; Birth Date: 1636; Birth Place: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; Death Date: 24 Oct 1684; Death Place: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA' Spouse: Margaret O'Dea; Children: Mary Riley; Mary Riley; Household Members: Name: John Riley; Margaret O'Dea

7.   Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, in Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988.

   Name: John Riley; Event Type: Death; Death Date: 24 Oct 1684; Death Place: Springfield, Massachusetts; Household Members: Name: John Riley

8.   MA Early Census Index, in Massachusetts, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890
   see text.

   Name: John Riley; State: MA; County: Hampden County; Township: Springfield; Year: 1661; Page: 083; Database: MA Early Census Index

9.   Family Data Collection - Births, in Family Data Collection - Births.

   Name: John Riley; Father: John Riley; Birth Date: 15 August 1646; City: Wethersfield; County: Hartford; State: CT; Country: USA

10.   American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI), in American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)
    Volume: 146; Page number: 487, 11 Jul 1928; 12 Feb 1934; 5 Mar 1934.

    Name: John Riley; Birth Date: 1646; Birthplace: Connecticut; Volume: 146; Page number: 487; Reference: A genealogical dict. of the first settlers of New England, showing three generations of those who came before May, 1692. By James Savage. Boston. 1861. (4v.)v.3:542 Gen. Column of the " Boston Transcript". 1906-1941.( The greatest single source of material for gen. Data for the N.E. area and for the period 1600-1800. Completely indexed in the Index.): 11 Jul 1928, 2301; 12 Feb 1934, 9063; 5 Mar 1934, 9063

11.   U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, in National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970.

    Name: Captain John Riley; Birth Place: Wethersfield; SAR Membership: 208; Role: Ancestor; Children: James Riley; Household Members: Name: Stephen Bulkeley; Nancy Riley; Frederick Bulkley; Goodrich Riley; James Riley; Captain John Riley