Some family members might be interested to learn that 19 Pond Street, the “Grandma Riley house,” was sold last September for $449,000.
The seller was Yi Goo, and the buyer was 19PondSt, LLC. Time marches on.
It looks a bit different nowadays
Category: Riley
They Landed!
It was on this May 28th day in 1862 that Patrick Riley and Rose Kiernan set foot in the United States.
Patrick and Rose first left Ireland and traveled to Liverpool, England. I do not know how long they stayed in Liverpool. It was typical for the emigrating Irish to first book passage to Liverpool, where they would hopefully gain employment and secure enough money to purchase passage to New York. Patrick and Rose did not process through Ellis Island because it was not established as an arrival center. We can determine they traveled in steerage class because the passenger list had them in the last group departing the ship.
It appears they were not married at the time because Rose traveled under her maiden name and both were listed as single.
A Birthday for Paul Riley *
Paul was born on this date to the late Helen Frances Manning (1921-1994) and the late William Leo Riley (1912-1985).
- see previous posts July 8, 2020 and July 8, 2019
A Birthday Remembrance Margaret Frances Riley
Late night on July 3rd in 1911, as fireworks were sounding off all over the City of Pawtucket, Margaret F. (Bartley) Riley (1911-1978) was born. Her father, Francis Joseph Bartley (1889-1957), would always say that the combination of her auburn hair and those fireworks gave my mother her feisty personality. From what I was told, “Peg” as she was called, inherited more than just freckles from her mother, Margaret Zita Read (1890-1935). In a split second, Peg’s mother could lay you out in lavender, spin you around, hand you your hat, and boot you out the door before you knew what was happening. If it called for it, Peg could do the same.
It was late summer on Block Island in 1946 when Peg Bartley was introduced to the widowed Patrick J. Riley (1900-1985). My father remembered that he was a “goner” as soon as he saw her. Even though he had his four kids in tow, Peg didn’t shy away. Thank goodness for that, or somebody else would be writing this post.
Auburn hair, freckles and fireworks, there is just something extra special about the 3rd of July. Happy Birthday, mom!
A Birthday Shout-out. April 29th*
Today is the Happy Birthday for Katherine “Kate” Agnes Riley. Kate, who is the daughter of Joan Burggraf Riley and Stephen Francis Riley, hit the 40 year old mark and is enjoying life to the fullest.
Just last weekend, the halls of Georgetown University were rockin’ as Kate, her buddies and some family members gathered for her pre-birthday celebration. Below are two photos from the “Kate Bash”:
Kate, have the best Birthday ever!
- see previous blog posts April 29, 2021
A Birthday Remembrance March 31, 1865
Michael J. Riley, son of Patrick Riley (Ireland) and Rose Kieran (Ireland) was born on this date in 1865 in New York City. He was the 1st in our Riley family to be born in the United States. Michael never married. According to his death certificate, Michael died on January 15, 1953, while in a nursing home located in Central Falls. Prior to his stay in the nursing home, he resided at 181 South Bend Street in Pawtucket.
Another one for me March 3rd
When presented with a large canvas, someone is going to try and fill it.
Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Another one for me March 3rd
When presented with a large canvas, someone is going to try and fill it.
Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Birthday Shout-out February 15th*
Stephen Francis Riley was born on this day to the late Rita Patricia (Coleman) Riley (1917-1974) and the late Francis Charles Riley (1915-2004).
Steve, an attorney, is presently the Executive Director for the Potomac Community Resources, Inc. (PRC) To view PRC and its good works, click on this link ( https://pcr-inc.org ).
Stephen and his wife Joan ( Burggraf) live within the District of Columbia, where their eldest daughter Kate keeps both of them on the straight and narrow. Annie, their youngest daughter, lives and works globally and visits her parents and sister frequently.
Happy Birthday, Stephen! Understand that your birthday gift is a multipack of KN95 masks.
- see blog post of February 15, 2021
A Birthday Remembrance February 12th
William Francis (1931-1966) and James Augustus Riley (1931-2010), identical twins, were born on this day to Margaret C. McSally Riley (1900-1938) and Patrick J Riley (1900-1985).
Recently, I rediscovered a small photo that shows the twins being sworn-in to the US Navy. I suspect it was taken by Naval personnel. Although it is not dated, my guess is that it was taken in the spring of 1949.
Sorry for the quality, did my best to restore it.
Yesterday was Kyle Clearwater Brown’s Birthday
Kyle Clearwater Brown, was born on December 29th in Westerly, Rhode Island. The youngest of Patricia Marguerite Riley Brown’s two sons, Kyle lives and works in the Pawtucket area.
And now some sad news:
Kyle and Brian’s father has passed away.
“Keith Romaine Brown, traditional Sub Chief of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot Indian Tribe Niantic- Narragansett, 70, of Wakefield, passed away on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at South County Hospital. He was the loving companion of Shirley (Everett) Brown. Born in Westerly, on July 3, 1951, he was the son of the late Raymond O. and the late Myra D. (Brown) Brown.
Keith worked as a machinist at Monsanto for a number of years as well as Stop & Shop. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and visiting local pow wows around New England. Keith was an avid genealogist and loved his culture and history. He passed many of these teachings onto his children, nieces and nephews. Keith was also a maternal nephew of the late 2-time Boston Marathon winner and 1936 U.S. Olympian Ellison ‘Tarzan’ Brown.”
The above is from Keith’s obituary published by Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, Westerly, RI.
Brian Lightfoot Brown had a Birthday
How is Brian doing? Well, besides having a birthday back on the 23rd of July, the oldest son of Patricia Riley Brown is still out in Arizona enjoying the weather and his Native American culture.
Speaking of the weather, the forecast for the Phoenix area indicates a bit of a cool down with daytime temperatures in the low 90’s to mid 80’s this week. Don’t know how Brian handles those 110 degree summer days. You are a better man than me, cousin.
Brian, hope you had a good birthday back in July and my apologies for being late on its posting.
Today would have been Barbara Fleury’s 97th Birthday
Barbara Hope Riley Fleury was born on October 4, 1927 in the City of Pawtucket to the late Margaret Cecelia McSally (1900-1938) and the late Patrick Joseph Riley (1900-1985). Barbara was the first of the four children born to Margaret and Patrick. She lived her life in Pawtucket, but enjoyed multiple travel experiences, both domestic and foreign, throughout her life.
During the summer of 1938, at the age of 10, Barbara and her siblings, the late Joan, Jim and his twin, Bill, suffered the loss of their mother. In July of 1949, Barbara married Richard “Dick” Fleury in St. Leo’s Church, Pawtucket. The couple was blessed with 4 children: Cynthia, Richard, Timothy and Nancy.
Barbara passed on September 21, 2019.
Thinking of Barbara on her birthday.
A Birthday Shout-out July 8th* **
Paul C. Riley was born on this date to the late Helen Frances Manning (1921-1994) and the late William Leo Riley (1912-1985). His paternal grandparents were the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955) and Marguetta E. Greenhalgh (1876-1962).
Paul grew up in Pawtucket, where the family home was located. A graduate of St. Raphael’s and Providence College, Paul has always forged his own path in life. A hard and dedicated worker, he has spent the last 30 years or more in, or should I say, “on” the roofing industry.
So, in honor of Paul’s birthday, we send out to him some of the lyrics that Carol King wrote and the Drifters made famous:
Up on the Roof
“On the roof’s the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let’s go up on the roof (Up on the roof)
At night, the stars put on a show for free
And, darling, you can share it all with me
I keep-a tellin’ you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a paradise that’s trouble-proof (Up on the roof)
And if this world starts getting you down
There’s room enough for two up on the roof (Up on the roof)”
Keep enjoying the view Paul.
- * see post July 8, 2020
- **see post July 8, 2019
It was on this day, May 28, 1862, when…
Patrick Reilly and Rose Kearnan departed the passenger ship Neptune and stepped out onto America’s New York City. Patrick was 23 and Rose(a) was 17 years of age.
Patrick’s father’s name was Michael and Catherine was his mother. Rose’s parents were named Patrick Kiernan and Rose (McHugh) Kiernan,
The Neptune left out of Liverpool, England sometime around the middle of May,1862 and sailed directly into New York harbor. Back in 1862, depending upon the type of vessel and weather, the Atlantic crossing could have lasted up to fourteen days.
Passengers departed the ship according to the class of their tickets. The holders of the First Class tickets disembarked first, Second Class next, and finally the people in steerage who were the last to leave the ship. An examination of the manifest shows Patrick and Rose were listed on the last page. At the time of their crossing, the cost of the cheapest ticket would have been around the equivalent of $39.
Here is a photo copy of the last page Neptune’s passenger manifest. You can just make out numbers 4 and 5 – Pat Reilly and Rose Kearnan (sp).
19 Pond Street 