Robert Riley (b. 1837 - d. 1913)
MSA SC 3520-4641
USCT Soldier, Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Biography:
Robert Riley was born a slave in Queen Anne's County, Maryland1 around April of 18372. Riley was the slave of Valentine B. Clements3, a farmer in Queenstown (according to the land records Clements sold land to William Bryan and John K. Griffin in Queenstown)4 in Queen Anne's County. The land records suggest that Clements had land in Queenstown. Riley seems to have received harsh treatment as a slave. According to a surgeon's certificate in his pension file listed under "permanent marks and scars" the surgeon listed "scars of whip lash on back received when a slave."5 When President Abraham Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, this enabled African-Americans to fight for their freedom in the Union Army during the Civil War.6 This was an opportunity for many free blacks and slaves to gain their freedom.
In the case of Robert Riley, it appears the harsh treatment he received as a slave was one motivation to fight against the institution of slavery. He was a slave until he was granted his manumission from Clements. In the manumission, Clements wrote "whereas my slave Robert Ryley has enlisted in the service of the United States" and "his freedom to commence from the date of his enlistment."7 However, the manumission did not appear to be officially acknowledged until September 8, 1864.8
According to the Act of 1864, Chapter 15, Section 4, "to the owner of every negro slave who shall agree to the enlistment of his slave as above, the sum of one hundred dollars shall be paid when such owner shall file with the proper authority a good and valid deed of manumission."9 Clements, like many slaveowners, may have viewed this as their final opportunity to receive compensation for the loss of their slaves as the institution of slavery was rapidly deteriorating. Not only were slaveowners entitled to compensation, but free blacks and slaves also counted towards the state quota, which meant many slaveowners could have protected their family members from having to join the war.
Shortly after, Riley officially enlisted as a private in Company B of the 7th U.S. Colored Troops regiment on September 23, 186310 and was mustered in on September 26, 1863.11 The Bureau of Colored Troops was established on May 22, 1863 and on September 11, 1863, the War Department Adjutant General's Office gave permission to Colonel Birney to raise a regiment of Colored troops.12 This regiment became known as the 7th United Stated Colored Troops.13
The 7th regiment participated in numerous battles and skirmishes in which were a contributing factor in winning the war. Some battles included, Cedar Creek, Florida, Camp Melton, Florida, White Point, South Carolina, Petersburg, Virginia, Fort Gilmer, Virginia, Fort Burnham, Virginia, and Appotmattox Court House, Virginia, among others.14 Riley stated that while in Jacksonville, Florida "on or about the 15 day of April 1864" that he "contracted piles caused by over exertion while engaged in building breast works."15 He was treated for this when the regiment returned to Bermuda Hundred near Fort Harrison in Virginia and "the hemmoroids increased from that time to present(1890).16
When the war ended in April 1865, the 7th regiment served out the remainder of their three year enlistments in Indianola, Texas acting as a garrison.17 While in Texas, Riley's company was sent to Lavaca where they patrolled prisoners, administered the oath of allegiance and acted as magistrate in cases of dispute where Civil authorities were not present.18 Much of Riley's time in Texas consisted of him being in the hospital. According to several affidavits given by Irvin Turner and Perry Johnson, Riley spent much of the remainder of his service time at Old Town Hospital in Texas for rheumatism.19 Perry Johnson stated that after their discharge, Riley often complained of rheumatism and that he saw "his hand so swollen that he could not use it."20 After approximately 18 months, Riley had served the remainder of his time and was officially discharged from the army on November 16, 1866.21
After the war, Riley returned to Queen Anne's County where he served as
a farm laborer around the Centreville area. Riley, did however,
move to Baltimore County for a short period of time. The 1880
U.S. census showed that he lived on Old York Road in the Waverly
neighborhood.22 During his time in Baltimore he
supported his family as a laborer. His family consisted of his
wife Anne, seven daughters, and two sons.23 Robert and Anne Maria were married on December 1, 1858 by
Reverend Reed, but no record existed since they were married during
slavery and Riley's "master gave orders to that affect."24 His
children were Maria, Margaret, Grant, Anne, Kate, Nancy, Rosa,
James, and Ellen.25
Along with
being a laborer after the war, Riley was able to
secure a pension for his disabilities sustained in the war. In 1888, Riley was receiving a pension
of $2.00 per month.26 Before 1890, soldiers were only able to
secure a pension if they
could prove they sustained an injury during the war. Riley
claimed disabilities such as, "disease of rectum and rheumatism,
disease of heart, lungs and kidneys, bronchitis, piles."27 He also
stated on a surgeon's certificate taken in 1901 that he "had rheumatism
for twenty years, due to age. Have severe pain in all my joints and
muscles. Cannot bend over. Cannot work."28 The act of
1890 allowed for veterans that received an honorable discharge
and
served for a minimum service of ninety days the ability to receive a
pension from a disability that did not originate in the service.
After
1890, Riley's pension increased to $8.00 per month in 1901, $17.00
per month
in 1905, and $24.00 per month in 1908.29 One person who testified for Riley in an affidavit was Charles F.
Wilson. Wilson testified that he has "lived a neighbor to the applicant
for 20 years."30 Wilson outlines Riley's medical situation
by stating that "he (Riley) is now in a much more helpless and critical
condition than he has ever been, not able to do any work...his
disability is rheumatism and piles."31 Another affidavit was given by Emory Askins who states that he has "known Robert Riley the claimant about 30 years."32 Askins states that "immediately after his discharge he came to my house
in Baltimore City where I was then living. He was suffering from piles
of which he then complained from that time to 1875."33 Around this time, Riley moved back to Queen Anne's County with Askins where they became neighbors.34 Riley's disabilities were clearly deteriorating as a result of the war, especially as he was getting older.
During his time in Baltimore, he was an active member and an officer of a Grand Army of the
Republic (GAR) Post. According to family records, one possible post was Baltimore's Lincoln
Post No. 7, which met at the Frederick Douglass School.35 Robert
Riley was photographed around 1880 wearing his GAR medal.36
Riley was married several times throughout his life. His first
wife Annie Maria Riley, nee Coulter, died on October 25, 1903.37 His second wife Olivia
Riley, nee Brady, died on March 14, 1907.38 He was then married to Sarah V.
Glover by Reverend
David H. Hargis on February 23, 1908 at Corsica Neck in Queen Anne's
County.39 The Riley family eventually moved back to Queen Anne's County in
the late 1880s residing in Brownsville near Centreville.40
After experiencing the perils of slavery and war, Riley was able
to enjoy his own freedom before passing away on December 24, 1913.41 He was buried two days later in Centreville, Maryland.42
Riley was married several times throughout his life. His first wife Annie Maria Riley, nee Coulter, died on October 25, 1903.37 His second wife Olivia Riley, nee Brady, died on March 14, 1907.38 He was then married to Sarah V. Glover by Reverend David H. Hargis on February 23, 1908 at Corsica Neck in Queen Anne's County.39 The Riley family eventually moved back to Queen Anne's County in the late 1880s residing in Brownsville near Centreville.40 Riley's son with Anna Maria Riley, Robert Grant Riley, became a minister in the Delaware Conference of the Methodist Church. Riley himself was described as a local preacher of the Delaware Conference.41 After experiencing the perils of slavery and war, Riley was able to enjoy his own freedom before passing away on December 24, 1913.42 He was buried two days later in Centreville, Maryland.43
For a visual representation of Robert Riley's journey from slavery to freedom, please click here.
Users must have access to Google Earth in order to utilize this file,
which includes landmarks(pins) in Riley's life from around 1837 to
1913. You may take the tour and investigate individual sites under the
"Places" tab on the left of the screen, or you may navigate using the
slider and cursor on the map itself.
Endnotes:
1. COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY (Bounty Rolls) MSA S629, Robert Riley, Dates: 1864-1880, Description: Slaves and Owners, by USCT Regiment, Roll of Slaves, QA, MSA S629-1-25.14. Ibid., 41.
15. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) Robert Riley, Page 26.
16. Ibid.
17. Callum, Colored Volunteers of Maryland, 34.
18. Ibid.
19. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) Robert Riley, Page 24, 25.
20. Ibid., 25.
21. Wilmer, Jarrett, and Vernon. History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, 163.
23. Ibid.
24. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) Robert Riley, Page 29.
25. Ancestry.com. 1880, United States Federal Census, Baltimore, Maryland, Robert Riley, Page 24.
26. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) Robert Riley, Page 20.
27. Ibid., 5.
28. Ibid.
30. Ibid., 46.
31. Ibid.
32. Ibid., 47.
33. Ibid.
34. Ibid.
36. Ibid.
37. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) Robert Riley, Page 65.
38. Ibid.
39. Ibid., 28.
40. Ancestry.com. 1900, United States Federal Census, Baltimore, Maryland, Robert Riley, District 1, Centreville, Sheet 14, Enumeration District 61, Image Number 28. ; DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record, Counties). Robert Riley. 1913.
41. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record, Counties). Robert Riley. 1913.
42. Ibid.
Written and Researched by Tanner Sparks, 2012.
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