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Please help our family solve a couple-generations-old mystery -- one created when one Illinois boy's family was wiped out in one day.
According to Riley family oral history, my grandfather, Edward Henry RILEY, was born a short time after his stepfather and mother (Patrick and Ellen -- known as Bridget) arrived in America, probably 1844 or 1845, from Ireland. Edward's birthdate was January 1, but different years for his birth have been found in official papers. His Civil War volunteer enlistment into the U.S. Army in October 1864 states he was then 18 years old, which would have made his birth year 1846. His discharge papers have deteriorated where the fold had been, and a portion of a sentence is missing. What is left states "Said Edward H. Riley was born in New York City in the State of.....is eighteen years of .....complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, a farmer. Given at Greensboro, N.C. this thirteenth day of July 1865."
If he was 18 years old in July 1865, his birth year would have been 1847. A Declaration for Pension signed 25th February 1907, stated he was born January 1, 1845, as does his death certificate.
Grandfather Edward Henry's birth father died when grandfather was a child in Ireland. We are unsure of the original surname -- was it possibly O'CAFFERTY, O'RAFFERTY, or maybe O'GARRITY? (Undoubtedly, the O was dropped when they arrived in America.) His mother, Ellen (Bridget) was married after her husband's death, to Patrick RILEY, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, and had come to America around 1830, according to a Biographical and Historical Record of Greene and Carroll Counties, Iowa, 1887.
Patrick, Ellen and Edward Henry lived in PA for several years, where Patrick worked on public works (canals, roads, bridges). Two children were born to them in PA -- Mary in 1853 and John in 1855. In 1856-7, the family moved to Henry Co., ILL, where Patrick took up farming in Phenix (correct spelling) township. A son, William, was born in 1858. Another daughter (name unknown) was born around 1862. The parents, two girls and John all died from food poisoning one hot summer day, believed to be 1864. Edward apparently was working away from home at the time, and William was staying with a nearby family, by the name of Heller, as his family was poor and living conditions crowded. Only a few years ago, we discovered where the family is buried, in Sharon Cemetery, Whiteside Co., ILL, next to the Henry Co. line.
No record has been found to indicate Edward Henry was adopted by Patrick, although years ago, an elderly aunt said she thought he had been, in ILL. Perhaps he just assumed the name Riley.
Edward married Mary Catherine BEERS in Henry Co., ILL two days before going into the Union Army, so that (according to legend) "he would have someone to whom he could leave his worldy goods, in the event he did dnot return from the Civil War." This leads us to believe the parenbts had died that year. The couple did not set up housekeeping until after his return from the war. They lived in ILL until 1869, when they moved to Greene County, IA, where they lived the rest of their lives.
I had just started searching ship's passenger lists for 1844-1848 at the Salt Lake City Mormon library in April, the day the gunman entered. (I've not returned since.) Thinking that perhaps Edward Henry had been named for his father, I was looking for any Edward or Henry RAF(F)ERTY or CAF(F)ERTY who had arrived during the above cited period. I had found two or three names to look up on microfilm, but the search ended abruptly that morning, needless to say, and the paper with numbers of microfilm rolls has been misplaced. ANY help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.
This mystery got me into genealogy almost 30 years ago (and my daughter since), and it remains unsolved. jemaddy@aol.com
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