Hi Pheonix. I was always led to believe through family hearsay that the rileys were from Ireland. As i did my DNA with Ancestry it gave me 26% Irish. I am yet to determine where from and would be inclined to think that the rileys may be the connection. Particularily as others have been told the same rumours. Although the census says Emma Sarah Riley was born Portsea , I have also not found her birth registered. My connection with her is that she is my great great grandmother. Have you any updated info? Regards Bev

Hi, can i just add that Portsea is in Portsmouth Hampshire.

Hi China
If you look at post No 1, Merry has found the birth entry, indexed as Raily.

I don't doubt that the Rileys were Irish, just that they came to England rather earlier than my family believed. The family is in Portsmouth from 1841, and we were in touch with cousins through until the 1980s

Thats interesting, which cousins and where were they from? Regards Bev

Jim Riley was my grandfather's cousin and lived at the back of the football ground.
I never met, but know there were also cousins running a newsagent on Hayling Island in the 60s.

riley
 

Hi Pheonix, I am at a loss with our Riley line. Further back there is James Riley who is Emmas grandfather born c1797 according to 1841 census. He as you know married Polling but i am now at a loss. Have you had any joy further back? Or if i was to order their marriage certificate would it provide the information of his parents, being so far back? Regards Bev

Hi China

The Poling/Pulling/Poulden line goes straight back to Petersfield and (apart from the fact that the men never seem to marry) it's there for generations. But James and Eleanor's marriage at St Marys, Portsea has Eleanor's friends and relations as witnesses. It is too early for parent's names.

james riley
 

Thanks Pheonix, thats a real shame i wonder if i can ever get any further back on this line. Maybe if James had had siblings i couldve taken that track but seems he was an only child unless you know anything i dont? Regards Bev

If he hadn't died so young, we'd have a date of birth to go on.

This is age at death:

RILEY, JAMES 49 Order
GRO Reference: 1843 M Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND UNION Volume 07 Page 99

It agrees with burial details, and the fact that he was apprenticed in 1808, aged 14. Unfortunately, those records don't show his father.

Hi, do you have the burial details? regards bev