Ben Nelson was born on this day in Providence, Rhode Island to Lynne (Daley) Nelson and Russell Nelson. Ben’s grandmother was the late Joan (Riley) Daley (1929-2019) and his great grandfather was the late Patrick J. Riley (1900-1985).
Growing up in Middletown, Ben attended the local elementary and middle schools, and is now enrolled in Middletown High School. Having a good mixture of both Riley and Daley genes, so naturally… Ben plays baseball. Blessed with great speed and quick hands, Ben patrols second base for Middletown’s High School Varsity team and was 2nd Team All-State last year!
Here is Ben pictured with his late grandmother Joan. She never missed a game.
Here’s wishing Ben a great baseball season and a very, very Happy Birthday.
Stephen Francis Riley was born on this date in the City of Providence to the late Rita Patricia (Coleman) Riley (1917-1974) and the late Francis Charles Riley (1915-2004).
Stephen grew up in Pawtucket. He may have the singular distinction among the Rileys of having grown up on both sides of the Blackstone River. His infancy and very early years were spent on Sayles Avenue, between West and Pawtucket Avenues. While in his pre-adolescent years, his parents moved to Wilton Avenue right near Slater Park. It was fun to visit the house on Sayles Avenue, because there was always the possibility that the doors of a nearby fire station would swing open, and the fire trucks would come rushing out with their sirens blasting and lights flashing.
After moving to Wilton Avenue, Stephen attended Saint Teresa’s Parochial Elementary School and later, like his father, graduated from Saint Raphael’s Academy. Stephen enjoyed quite a bit of academic success at Saints and received recognition for his involvement in various community organizations.
Given his many impressive high school accomplishments, Stephen’s acceptance into Georgetown University was a just reward for all his hard work. The wonderful education the University provided must have also improved Stephen’s social graces and ability to communicate with the opposite sex. It was there at GT that he met the woman who was to become his wife and life partner, Joan Melissa Burggraf. The couple married on August of 1978 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Garden City, Long Island, New York. Their two daughters, Kate and Annie have brought joy, pride and much love to Joan and Stephen.
After receiving his law degree from Catholic University, Stephen built an international practice representing several countries from the African continent. He was also instrumental in facilitating improved communications for several of those developing countries. After many years in that field, Stephen switched his area of interest and presently is the Executive Director of Potomac Community Resources, Inc., which “promotes the full inclusion into community life of teens and adults with developmental differences by providing over 35 therapeutic, recreational, social, educational, and respite care programs.” You may find out more about the PCR at this link: https://pcr-inc.org
Happy Birthday to Stephen and may the wine be properly chilled.
William Francis Riley and James Augustus Riley in Pawtucket on this date in 1931 to the late Margaret Cecelia McSally (1900-1938) and Patrick Joseph Riley (1900-1985).
The earliest photo I have of the twins.
The “twins” grew up on Perrin Avenue in the Darlington section of Pawtucket along with their two older sisters, Barbara (1927-2015) and Joan (1929-2019). The identical brothers were inseparable and enjoyed their early years as youngsters, most likely oblivious to the deepening Depression. The kids were blessed to have a dad with a steady job, a great mom, a grandmother McSally (Margaret A Corbishley (1877-1940), and a relatively new house which was built in 1925.
All seemed well until June 0f 1938, when their mother died. Margaret Cecelia Riley was 38 and the twins were 7 years old, Barbara was 10 and Joan 9.
On the right at age 5 and a school photo at age 7 three months before their mother died
The twins attended JC Potters School, Goff Junior High and Pawtucket East High School (now named Tolman), graduating in 1948. Let’s just say that school wasn’t the highest priority for the boys, but they got through it. Here are their graduation pictures.
James A. Riley William F. Riley
As best as I can determine, the boys were the first set of twins in the family. Not until Elizabeth and Caitlin were born to Kevin and Gail Mulligan did another set of twins appear.
Billy and Jimmy had a separate language, which they used to communicate with each other in times of, shall we say, stress or mischief. The term for such communication/language between twins is called Cryptophasia. Their father said that it used to drive their teachers mad. The twins also used their language while caddying together on the golf course to make comments about the golfers’ game, or lack there of.
After high school, both Bill and Jim joined the Navy and found themselves doing shore patrol (SP’s) in Newport! Jim said that they used their “special communication skills” to help deal with the unruly servicemen in the bars and on the streets of Newport. In the 1950’s, certain parts of Newport were better known as a “bucket of blood.” Newport was not the charming seaside city it is today. Couldn’t figure out why these two guys were assigned to shore patrol duty, when they stood just about 5’8″ and weighed around 145 lbs. It wasn’t until quite a few years later that one of their longtime buddies told me, “Nobody wanted to pick a fight with either one of the twins, cuz you’d lose and lose badly.” Enough said.
Bill had his fill of the Navy after a few years and came back to Pawtucket, where he worked in the City’s Housing Authority. Billy never married, struggled with life, and left us in March of 1966.
Jim adapted and stayed in the service for some 24 years, before he retired and moved back to the city. He told me that the Navy took him around the world three different times, and he saw things he never would have seen if it weren’t for the service. Jim also never married. There was a special young woman in Yokohama, Japan. It was a different time back then and attitudes aren’t what they are now. So a singular life he led, until his passing in December, 2004.
Margaret Cecelia McSally Riley was born on this date in 1900 in the city of Warwick, Rhode Island to the late Margaret A. Corbishley (1877-1940) and the late James A. McSally (1875-1928).
In 1925 Margaret married Patrick J Riley (1900-1985) in Pawtucket at St.Mary’s Church. Margaret and Patrick lived most of their married life in the Darlington section of Pawtucket and had four children – Barbara Hope Riley Fleury (1927-2915), Joan Louise Riley Daley (1929-2019) and twin boys William Frances Riley (1931-1966) and James Augustus Riley (1938-2010).
Unfortunately Margaret Cecelia died when she was only 38 years old on June 14, 1938.
Wedding picture of Margaret Cecelia McSally and Patrick J. Riley Best Man – Frederick (Freddy) Leddy; Maid of Honor – Miss Mae McSally (sister of bride) Sitting: Patrick J. Riley and Margaret Cecelia McSally
Kyle Clearwater Brown was born on this date to Patricia Marguerite Riley and Keith Romaine Brown. Kyle is the grandson of the late Helen Frances (Manning) Riley (1921-1994) and the late William Leo Riley (1912-1985).
Having grown up in Pawtucket, Kyle attended St Teresa’s Elementary School, Saint Raphael Academy and graduated from Tolman High School. Today, Pawtucket remains a stronghold in Kyle’s life as does his Narragansett Tribe heritage.
Happy Birthday Kyle and keep on stylin’!
Below are a couple of great photos from Kyle’s collection:
Kyle took the pic of his mother Patricia and two uncles – Bill and Paul. The center pic is the birthday guy himself. The last is Kyle, mom and Brian.
Francis Charles Riley was born on this date in 1915 in the city of Pawtucket to the late Marguetta Etta Greenhalgh (1876-1962) and the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955).
The youngest of the eight Riley siblings, Francis (Frank) grew up in Pawtucket attending St. Joseph’s School on Walcott Street. He graduated from St. Raphael Academy in 1933. In his youthful days, Frank was quite a second baseman. His oldest brother Patrick J. said teammates referred to Frank as “Honey”, because he had the sweetest moves around the bag at second base.
On October 18, 1941, Frank married Rita Patricia Coleman in Pawtucket’s Sacred Heart Church. Just four months after their wedding on February 2, 1942, Francis entered the US Army serving in Europe during World War II. He was honorably discharged on December 3, 1945.
It was on February 15, 1954 that Francis and Rita’s son Stephen was born.
Francis was well known throughout all of the city and town halls in Rhode Island, because of his profession as a title examiner for real estate insurance companies. Frank came in contact with most of the Rhode Island’s top lawyers and city and town officials. Many of those officials sought out Frank’s advice on complicated title questions. Frank continued to work well beyond the traditional retirement date, enjoying his daily contacts and solving some of the State’s tricky real estate problems.
Francis and Rita were married for almost 33 years before Rita passed way on January 6, 1974. Francis passed on March 2, 2004 at the age of 88.
Gertie, Francis, Mae McCrea (Frank’s sister-in-law) and Marion
Kathleen Mary McLoughlin Riley was born in Pawtucket on this date to the late Ruth Anne Geddes (1924-1990) and the late Raymond Thomas McLoughlin (1924-1997).
Kathy had four younger brothers. They are in decending age:David, Terry and his twin, the late Tom and then Michael. The McLoughlin kids grew up in Cumberland.
After graduation from college, Kathy taught elementary school in the city of Pawtucket. It was on a very warm Sunday, the 16th of August in 1987 that she married the man of her dreams…ME!
Here’s wishing Kathy a wonderful birthday.
P.S. This administrator has been forbidden from including any reference to age or from adding any photos to this post entry.
Helen Frances Manning Riley was born in Pawtucket on this date in 1921 to the late Mary Geraldine Duffy (1893-1951) and the late Phillip Manning (1884-1954).
One of eight Manning children, Helen grew up in Pawtucket living on Sisson Street and Derby Street. Her paternal grandfather was born in Scotland and her maternal grandmother was born in the Irish Free State.
On September 6, 1952 Helen married William Leo Riley (1912-1985) at St. Raymond’s Church which is located on the Pawtucket/Providence line.
Helen and Bill had three children: Patricia, William (Bill) and Paul and three grandchildren. Helen passed away on June 25, 1994.
Helen Frances Manning RileyHelen is pictured on the right in the dark skirt.
Gertrude C. Riley was born in Pawtucket on this date in 1904 to the late Margaret E. Greenhalgh (1876-1962) and the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955).
According to Patrick J. Riley, Gertie’s older brother, she was always a strong- willed personality with a quick mind and a determined path. Not only was “Gertie” the first of Margaret and Patrick Leo’s children to attend high school, but she was the first to graduate from college – the now, Rhode Island College.
After college, Gertie’s work life was devoted to Pawtucket’s school children. For 47 years she taught in the city’s elementary grades and rose to be the long time principal at East Avenue Elementary and was the first principal of the Frances Varieur School. Although “Miss Riley” never married, she had thousands of Pawtucket children whom she helped mold into adulthood. We all should be quite proud of our “Miss Riley”, for Gertie was something special.
Gertie beside the house at 19 Pond StreetGlamor Shot
Karen Ann Matteson Fleury was born on this date in Providence, RI As a youngster growing up in Cranston, Rhode Island, Karen had a very good athletic career. She participated in basketball, softball and volleyball during her high school years.
It was in early fall of 1986 that she married Timothy Patrick Fleury, son of the late Barbara Hope Riley (1927-2015) and the late Richard B. Fleury, Sr (1928-1992).
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 had 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.
Dick died in August of 1992 and Barbara passed on September 21, 2015.
John Frances Riley, son of Patrick Riley (Ireland) and Rose Kieran (Ireland) was born on this date in 1885 in Pawtucket. He was the 7th of the 8 children born to Patrick and Rose.
According to his death certificate, his birth date was September 4, 1885, but two separate US Census forms listed his birth on the 15th of September. In additional support of the census forms, there is his WWII draft card, which gives his birth date as the 15th. Since he signed that draft card verifying the information as correct, I going with today as his birth date. Additional information from his draft card lets us know that he was 5′ 7 1/2, had hazel eyes, gray hair and weighted 125 lbs with a light complexion.
Michael never married. His work history indicates he was a laborer all his working life. My father, Patrick J. Riley (1900-1985), told me that when John was in his early 50’s he had injured his back while at work and became unemployed till his death. His passing occurred on December 18, 1951 at 181 South Bend Street in Pawtucket.
Patricia Marguerite Riley was born on this date in the City of Providence to the late Helen Frances Manning (1921-1994) and the late William Leo Riley (1912-1985). Patricia’s paternal grandfather was the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955) and Marguetta Etta Greenhalgh (1876-1962).
Blessed with two sons, Brian Lightfoot Brown and Kyle Clearwater Brown, Patricia also has two brothers, William and Paul.
Patricia has great hair. (L to R) her former style, her very recent cut coif styled by her son Kyle.
Patricia Marguerite Riley was born on this date in the City of Providence to the late Helen Frances Manning (1921-1994) and the late William Leo Riley (1912-1985). Patricia’s paternal grandfather was the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955) and Marguetta Etta Greenhalgh (1876-1962).
Blessed with two sons, Brian Lightfoot Brown and Kyle Clearwater Brown, Patricia also has two brothers, William and Paul.
Patricia has great hair. (L to R) her former style, her very recent cut coif styled by her son Kyle.
Margaret Mary Riley was born on this date in 1869 in New York City to the late Rose Kiernan (1843 Ireland – 1908) and the late Patrick Riley (1839 Ireland – 1906). She was the 2nd child born to our immigrant ancestors and the 1st female.
According to the 1900 census, Margaret Mary was living at 181 South Bend Street in Pawtucket and had employment as a “fancy dryer” at the Print Works. If the job description information in the 1920 and 1930 census sheets is correct, it appears that she held the same job for more than 30 plus years.
Margaret Mary never married. Her age at the time of her death on April 23, 1955 was 93. She was survived by her sister Rose V. Riley and several nieces and nephews.
Here is an old copy of the death notice and obituary from the Evening Times
19 Pond Street 