Ryley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Ryley family came to North America quite early:

Ryley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Ann Ryley, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 1
• Anne Ryley, who landed in Virginia in 1653 1
• Dina Ryley, who arrived in Maryland in 1662 1
• Thomas Ryley, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 1
• Richard Ryley, who landed in Maryland in 1668 1

Ryley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Edmund Ryley, who landed in Virginia in 1712 1
• Margaret Ryley, who landed in Virginia in 1714 1

Ryley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• David Ryley, who landed in America in 1811 1
• Edward Ryley, aged 45, who arrived in New York in 1812 1
• Phillip Ryley, aged 19, who arrived in New York in 1849 1
• Daniel Ryley, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 1

Ryley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Ryley, British Convict who was convicted in Portsmouth, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
• Mr. Patrick Ryley, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life , transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
• Thomas Ryley, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4
• Mr. John Ryley, Welsh convict who was convicted in Montgomery, Powys, Wales for life, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
• Adam Ryley, English convict from Chester, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ryley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Ellen Ryley, (b. 1838), aged 28, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 5th January 1867 7
• Mr. Ryley, American settler travelling from San Francisco aboard the ship "Dakota" arriving in Port Chalmers, South Island, New Zealand on 11th January 1873 7

• Samuel William Ryley (1759-1837), English actor and author, the son and only child of Samuel Romney, a wholesale grocer of St. James's Market, London
• John Ryley (1774-1815), English mathematician, the eldest son of Samuel Ryley, a farmer and clothier, of Alcoates, near Pudsey, Yorkshire
• Charles Reuben Ryley (1752-1798), or Riley, English painter, son of a trooper in the horse-guards, born in London, a student of the Royal Academy, where he obtained a gold medal in 1778 for a painting