John M. Riley — Caroline Foster
1816-1896 1837-1896
John M. Riley was born on February 14, 1816, into the family of Louis F. Riley and Elizabeth Soles. The only thing known about Louis and Elizabeth Riley is their being listed as John’s parents on his marriage record. John M. Riley was a shoe and bootmaker living at Gloucester Point. John’s first wife was Maria (maiden name is not known) with whom he had two children, Ann and Augustine.
Caroline V. Foster was born on May 11, 1837, into the family of Augustine Foster and Elizabeth Pew; the only thing known about her parents is their listing on her marriage record. Rebecca Emerson said that her grandmother, Caroline Foster, was orphaned as a little child and lived in Mathews County; this seems to be confirmed by the 1850 census records which has her living in the home of John Walker at the age of 10; however, this census record has her residence in the Abingdon district of Gloucester. Caroline Foster listed her place of residence as “Mathews” on her marriage record; apparently she had moved to Mathews between 1850 and 1856.
Caroline Foster & daughter, “Pokey”
John M. Riley (age 39) and Caroline V. Foster (age 19) were married on April 8, 1856. They had eight children: Samuel L. (1859-), Augustus, Elnora D. [Ella] (1861-1956), Elizabeth Lewis [Lulie] (1864-1938), Eugene S. (1874-1937), J. Warren (1876-1963), John Cornelius, and Pocahontas Victoria (1879-1961).
On April 20, 1861, John Riley enlisted in Co. A of the 26th Infantry of the Confederate States of America at Belle Roi. He was stationed at West Point, Virginia, and detailed to work on a gunboat as a mechanic. It seems that John Riley’s experience in the Civil War was less hazardous than was the case of most participants in that conflict; his unit saw no decisive battle during his tour of duty. John was discharged on July 20, 1862, by “reason of expiration of service,” which in his case meant that he had reached the age of 45. Apparently, he returned to Gloucester Point and resumed his trade as a shoe and bootmaker. John M. Riley died on May 3, 1896. Although his wife, Caroline, was 20 years younger than he, she followed him in death just five months later on September 29, 1896.