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From: "Linda Reno" <>
Subject: [MDSTMARY] Fw: Notes on Raley family
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 08:58:57 -0500


I just discovered this record that conflicts with the information from Linda
Ransom. She says that Bennet Riley died 1811 in Alexandria, VA.

Bennet Rily, 1739- May 1805, age 66 years; of "Greenhills". Buried at Old
St. Aloysius Cemetery. (Burials from Tombstones, Grave Markers, and Church
Registers of St. Mary's County, Maryland, 1634-1994, St. Mary's County
Historical Society).

Linda Reno

----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda Reno" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 8:19 AM
Subject: Re: [MDSTMARY] Notes on Raley family


> Don,
>
> The information below probably came from Linda Ransom. Some of it is
> incorrect. For instance, she states that Bennet Raley m. second, Frances
> Frazier and had Joseph, b. 1/25/1796 and then Elizabeth, b. 10/16/1801.
> She
> quotes a family bible, but the dates don't jibe. I believe that I'd
> previously asked for a copy of the bible pages with the actual entries,
> but
> it was never provided.
>
> I found that marriage record and it didn't happen until 1805. I'm still
> not
> convinced it was the same man who married Frances Frazier and obviously
> the
> last two children named didn't belong to Frances Frazier--they would have
> belonged to Susanna Drury, if they belonged at all.
>
> 12/28/1803: Bennet Raiby m. Frances Frazier, Alexandria, D.C. (Marriage
> Index: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, 1740-1920,
> FTM
> CD #399).
>
> I have Bennet Raley as the son of John Raley III (d. 1744) and his wife,
> Mary Heard, daughter of William Heard and Elizabeth Cole. Mary Heard
> married first, Francis Hopewell; second, Bennet Raley; and third, Thomas
> Greenwell.
>
> Will of William Heard, SMC, 4/18/1732-1/3/1732. Daughter: Mary and her
> husband, Francis Hopewell, 150 ac. "Thirds" as already divided to them
> during life, 40 ac. being where sd. Hopewell has built is bequeathed to my
> granddaughter, Susanna Hopewell and if she dies without issue, the sd. 40
> ac., with the other is to return to son, Mark and heirs. Son: Mark, 275
> ac. "Thirds"; if he dies without issue, land to fall with that of Mr.
> Francis Hopewell's (after their decease) to son, Matthew and heirs; and
> personalty. Son: Matthew, 115 ac. "William Heard's Purchase" and 150 ac.
> dwelling plantation to be laid out between brother John's and John Norris'
> land; if son dies without issue, to fall to son Luke and heirs; and
> personalty. Son: Luke, residue of real estate after death of wife and
> personalty. Daughters: Susanna, Priscilla, Eleanor, Elizabeth Wiseman,
> and
> Mary Hopewell, personalty. Wife: Elizabeth, certain personalty during
> life
> and at her death to be divided between three sons; proceeds of 3 hogsheads
> of tobacco in England and 1/2 the residue of my personalty. Remaining
> half
> of personal estate to be divided between 3 sons afsd. and 3 daughters,
> Susanna, Priscilla, and Eleanor, to be paid to them at marriage or when
> they
> go to housekeeping. Exec.: Wife, Elizabeth. Overseer: Brother, Edward
> Cole. Wit.: John Heard, Ignatius Heard, James Thompson. (Maryland
> Calendar of Wills).
>
> Will of Francis Hopewell, No County named, 4/9/1739-7/4/1739. Daughter:
> Susanna, pt. of 177 ac. "Lampton's Pleasure" and 1 shilling. Wife: Exec.
> Boys to care of wife until they arrive at age of 16; she giving bond that
> they will be brought up in faith of the Church of England; at age 16 to be
> bound to trades and receive their portions at age 21. Wit: Robert
> Hammett,
> Thomas Newton, William Aisquith.
>
> Will of John Riley, SMC, 12/22/1743-3/7/1743-44. Daughter: Ann, 70 ac.
> Daughter: Elizabeth, personalty. Son: Bennet, real estate at the death
> of
> his mother. Wife: Mary, Exec., life interest in real estate. Wit.:
> Samuel Bellwood, Richard Wimsatt, Richard Mahony (?).
>
> 4/10/1744-6/5/1744: Admin. accts. of John Riley, SMC. Appraisers:
> Samuel
> Bellwood, John Heardin. Creditors: Joseph Davis, Abraham Barnes. NOK:
> John Ford, Peter Ford, Sr. Execs.: ____ and his wife, Mary.
>
> 6/5/1745: Admin. accts. of John Raley, Sr. Sureties: Richard Cooper,
> Richard Wimsatt. Exec: Mary Greenwell, wife of Thomas Greenwell.
>
> 9/19/1746-11/16/1746: Admin. accts. of John Raley, SMC. Appraisers:
> Enoch
> Fenwick and John Campbell. NOK: John Raley and Jonathan Seal; Adm., Mary
> Raley (Skinner).
>
> Will of Elizabeth Heard, SMC 4/30/1745-3/6/1750. Daughters: Elizabeth
> Wiseman, Mary Greenwell, and Priscilla Gough, 5 shillings each. Daughter:
> Eleanor Clarke, a cow and calf. Son: Luke Heard, a negro boy Henry,
> furniture and cattle. Son: Matthew Heard, furniture and cattle.
> Remaining
> pt. of estate to be divided among sons Mark, Matthew, and Luke Heard.
> Execs: Sons, Matthew and Luke Heard. Wit: William Farthing, Mary Bright,
> Edward Cole.
>
> Will of Thomas Greenwell, SMC 3/11/1749-50; 9/4/1750. Son: Philip.
> Daughter: Winifred, negro man Robert. Daughters-in-law: Ann Riley,
> Elizabeth Riley. Son-in-law: Bennet Riley. To my three said
> children-in-law, each a two year old yearling. Son: George Greenwell, 1
> shilling. Daughter: Ann Cole, 1 shilling. Rest of my estate to my
> children: Philip, Anastasia, Monica, Mary, and Raphael Greenwell. Execs:
> Wife, Mary Greenwell and Robert Cole. Wit: Henry Jernigan, Ignatius
> Greenwell.
>
> 10/20/1751--Mary Greenwell and Robert Cole, Execs. of Thomas Greenwell;
> Sureties were Richard Cooper and John Cole; per will (Balance Books,
> Moxey).
>
> I've always had trouble buying the theory that Bennet Riley, 7th Military
> Governor of California. I'd love to claim him for St. Mary's County and
> would if I could make the dates work.
>
> Several versions say he was born in St. Mary's County in 1790. Ralph
> Eshelman sent me a bio that says "RILEY, Bennett, soldier, born in
> Alexandria, Virginia, 27 November, 1787." The Raleys were still here
> during
> that time.
>
> Bennet Raley and Susanna Drury had a son named Benedict Raley, born in
> 1786.
>
> 12/27/1786: Bapt., at St. Ign., Benedict of Benedict and Susan Raley.
> GP:
> John Drury and Anastasia Manley. (Jesuit Missions).
>
> Less than a year later, they supposedly have moved to Alexandria and there
> have Bennet Riley, born November 27, 1787 or was the dob wrong and Bennet
> Riley (actually Benedict Riley--the name was often interchangeable) was
> born
> November 27, 1786 and was baptized a month later on December 27, 1786?
> But
> that's a problem too as I show him as Benedict Raley married to Ann Combs
> with the following notes:
>
> 3/1816: Benedict Raley, adm. of Bennet Raley. 11/1820: Benedict Raley
> allowed a 6% commission on the estate of Bennet Raley. (Orphan Ct. Rec.,
> Fenwick).
>
> 1820, 2nd Dist.: 1M -10; 1M -10 (James); 1M 16-26 (Charles, bro.); 1M
> 16-26
> (Wm., bro.); 1M 26-44 (Benedict L.); 1F 16-26 (Ann Combs Raley); 12
> slaves.
>
> 1/1821: Charles Raley vs. Benedict Raley, adm. of Bennet Raley--on aus'
> of
> a negro drowned--summon Benedict (Orphan Ct. Rec., Fenwick).
>
> 3/1821: John G. Berry prays the court to issue against Benedict Raley,
> adm.
> of Ben' Raley to compel him to settle up the estate. 8/1821: A subpoena
> was issued for Benedict Raley, adm. of Ben' Raley to show cause why he has
> not settled the estate. (Orphan Ct. Rec., Fenwick).
>
> 12/11/1827: SMC Court, August Term. Petition of Benedict Raley stating
> that he is in actual confinement and praying for benefit of relief of
> insolvent debtor. (National Intelligencer Newspaper Abstracts,
> 1827-1829).
>
> 1840, 2nd Dist.: 1M 5-10 (Charles); 1M 10-15; 1M 20-30; 1M 20-30 (James);
> 1M
> 40-50 (Benedict)--wrong age group; 1F 5-10; 1F 10-15; 1F 15-20.
>
> Linda Reno
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "donald drury" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 8:45 PM
> Subject: [MDSTMARY] Notes on Raley family
>
>
>> Dear List,
>>
>> I've been following this discussion with interest for several days. I'll
>> include what I have but it may not help much with Henry Sylvestor Raley.
>> My connection starts with Bennett Raley (1740-aft 1810) who married
>> Susanna Drury 16 Aug. 1784. She died (probably in childbirth) in 1789
>> after which Bennett married Francis Frazier.
>>
>> I don't know how the Greenwells fit in but there are mentions of Rileys
>> so I will include the below will.
>>
>> I believe Bennett to be the son of John Raley ( 1710-1746) who married a
>> Mary by 1735 according to information posted on this list. My data is
>> posted below. If you all agree then I hope we can establish the maiden
>> name of John Raley's wife.
>>
>> Don Drury
>>
>> ******************************************
>> Note from Elizabeth Ransom <> in ltr of 23 Oct 2002
>>
>> Bennet Raley Bible notes:
>>
>> Bennet Raley: his Bible:
>> Born to Bennet Raley and his wife Susannah
>>
>> John Raley B. 6/1/1785
>> Bennet Raley B. 11/27/1787
>> Nancy Raley B. 9/18/1789
>>
>> Wife: Frances Frazier Raley
>>
>> Joseph Raley B. 1/25/1796
>> Elizabeth Raley B. 10/16/1801
>> ******************************
>> Will of Thomas Greenwell, SMC 3/11/1749-50; 9/4/1750. Son: Philip.
>> Daughter: Winifred, negro man Robert. Daughters-in-law: Ann Riley,
>> Elizabeth Riley. Son-in-law: Bennet Riley. To my three said
>> children-in-law, each a two year old yearling. Son: George Greenwell, 1
>> shilling. Daughter: Ann Cole, 1 shilling. Rest of my estate to my
>> children: Philip, Anastasia, Monica, Mary, and Raphael Greenwell. Execs:
>> Wife, Mary Greenwell and Robert Cole. Wit: Henry Jernigan, Ignatius
>> Greenwell.
>> *********************************
>> Portion of Will of John Drury (d. 1797) listing Susanna Raley as legatee
>> among others.
>>
>> Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved children Annastania Vepells
>> (Vessels) Susanna Raliy (Raley) Mary Mandley Monica Drewry (Drury) John
>> Christophor (Christopher) Drewry (Drury) Francis Decalus (Desales) Drury
>> Ignatius Drewry (Drury) Joseph Drewry (Drury) & William Drewry (Drury)
>> all
>> the residual & remaining part of my estate both real and personal to be
>> equally divided between my children before mentioned to them & their
>> heirs.
>>
>> ************************************
>> Fresco.
>>
>> 6/1801: Bennet Raley was granted letters of admin. on the estate of his
>> sister, Elizabeth (Orphan Ct. Rec.).
>>
>> 1/1803: Bennet Raley, admr. of Elizabeth Raley (Orphan Ct. Rec.,
>> Fenwick).
>>
>> 12/1805: John Raley, Admr. of Bennet Raley.
>>
>> 9/1807: At the request of Thomas G. Delahay, the court appointed James
>> Thompson and Peter Gough to divide the personal estate of Bennet Raley,
>> Jr. between Thomas G. Delahay in right of his wife and William Raley, a
>> minor and orphan of said Raley, alloting to the said Delahay 1/3 part and
>> the other 2/3 to the minor (Orphan Ct. Rec., Fenwick).
>>
>> ************************************
>>
>>
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