Rita Patricia (Coleman) Riley was born in Pawtucket on this date in 1917 to the late Mary Anne Kenney (1885 – 1952) and the late Martin F. Coleman (1877 – 1853).
Rita lived her whole life in and around Pawtucket, but had strong ties to Ireland with both of her parents being born in The Emerald Isle.
She married Frances Charles Riley (1915 – 2004) in October of 1941, just before Frances joined the US Army and left for WWII in the European Theatre. They had one son, Stephen F. Riley who’s own daughter, Annie celebrated her birthday yesterday.
Ann Rita Riley was born on this date in Washington, DC to Joan M. Burggraf and Stephen F. Riley. Her paternal grandparents were the late Rita P. Coleman (1917 – 1974) and the late Francis C. Riley (1915 – 2004).
Martha Mulligan was born on this date in the City of Pawtucket to the late Margaret Ernestine Riley (1910 – 1989) and to the late Walter Francis Xavier Mulligan (1906 – 1957).
Martha was the second born of four Mulligan children (Judy, Martha, Paula and Kevin). She spent her early years in Pawtucket before entering the Roman Catholic religious order of the Sisters of Mercy. Martha’s devotion and vocation have taken her to all levels of the teaching profession, from her first teaching assignment at St. Edward’s in Pawtucket to her principalships at St. John the Evangelist in Attleboro and then Mercymount Country Day in Cumberland.
Have a good Birthday, Sister.
Here are a few photos:
Bay View Academy graduation
Habit and a hat. Pictured with Peg RileyHappy Birthday
Liam Mahony was born on this date in Sacramento, CA to Elizabeth Daley and Thomas Mahony. Liam is the oldest of the Mahony’s children.
Liam’s Riley connection is through his maternal grandmother, the late Joan L Riley Daley (1929 – 2019) and his maternal great grandfather, Patrick J. Riley (1900 -1985).
Marion Rosemond Riley was born on this date in 1902 to the late Marguetta E. Greenhalgh (1876 – 1962) and the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875 – 1955) in the City of Pawtucket.
Marion was the third born in this second generation family (Kathleen, Patrick J., Marion R., Gertrude C., Rosanna, Margaret E., William L. and Francis C.) and lived her whole life in Pawtucket, primarily in two locations; 19 Pond Street and 52 Wilton Avenue. Although she never married, Marion was engaged to a young man named Robert F. McElroy, who, by all accounts was a great guy. Mr. McElroy, who died on the 10th of January in 1937, actually plays an important part of this blog/website.
Robert’s mother Catherine, a widow, owned the three story house at 19 Pond Street. The Riley family lived on the second and third floors, 21 and 23 respectfully. When Robert passed away, Marion became Catherine’s caregiver. In fact, I seem to recall my father (Patrick J. 1900 -1985) saying that Marion moved downstairs and lived with Mrs. McElroy all in an effort to provide her needed late night care. When Mrs. McElroy passed away, the 19 Pond Street property was deeded to Marion. For the next forty years, 19 Pond Street became the setting for the Riley Family gatherings, thus the name of this blog – 19 Pond Street.
Marion’s working life was spent as a weaver toiling in Pawtucket’s textile factories (I have a wooden bobbin from one of her spinning lines). A quiet and kind woman, Marion loved her cups of tea, her puzzles and novels. She lived 91 years, passing away on August 22, 1993 at the Mount St. Rita’s Health Centre in Cumberland.
Attached are some photos of Marion:
Portrait taken at the Shepard Store Studio in Providence post WWII Picture taken from driveway side of 19 Pond StreetMarion with some youngster somewhereAt a beach with her sister Gertie, maybe they are 17 and 15 years oldOne of Marion’s 91 birthdays Another birthday cake, this one at the Riley Family reunion on Wilton Ave.
Recently, I was reviewing the information I have on Patrick Riley, who was born in Ireland about 1835 and died in Pawtucket on September 12, 1906. There isn’t much documentation of his early years and some of the information we do have is conflicting. It appears he arrived in New York City on May 28, 1862 and first emerged in Pawtucket, with family in tow, in 1872. It seems bit strange that there is little mention or reference to those 10 years he spent living in and around New York City. Where were he and his young family living? Were they living on their own, or with another branch of the family? Still can’t figure that out.
What gave thought to all of this was a re-reading of the obit of his death in the Evening Times (Pawtucket) on September 12, 1906.
As posted:
“RILEY – In this city, Sept 12th, Patrick Riley. Funeral from his residence, 181 South Bend Street. Saturday Sept 15th. at 8:00 am. Services at St Joseph’s Church. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. New York papers please copy”
What struck me was the last line which called for the New York papers to copy the notice, that is, to post the news of Patrick’s death. To me, that indicates the strong possibility of other Riley family members were still living in the New York City area in 1906. Love to know if that was the case.
William Leo Riley, Jr., born to the late Helen Francis Manning (1921-1984) and the late William Leo Riley (1912-1994). Born in Providence, Bill has lived in and around Pawtucket all his life and was the second of the three Arch Street Riley children.
It is interesting to note, that Bill’s middle name, Leo is shared not with just his father, but also with his grandfather, Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955). It seems they are the only family members to have that name.
Bill lost his wife, Janet Barbara Schmitz Riley on January 12, 2015. May Janet, and all the souls of the faithfully departed, rest in peace.
19 Pond Street 