Dear Cousins,

Most people have a natural desire to know the history of their family.  The RISLEY, WRISLEY, or RIZLEY family was founded in America by RICHARD RISLEY SR who came here from England in 1633.  He was one of the founders of Hartford and the Commonwealth of Connecticut in 1636.  He also participated in the Fundamental Orders in 1639, the first written Constitution to govern the affairs of an American colony and source for the American Constitution.  Our family is among the oldest and largest colonial families in the United States.

 

We have an honorable, worthy, and hardworking ancestry.  Their labors and achievements should be remembered.  Our ancestors have left us a heritage of which we are justly proud.  We want to share and enjoy the knowledge of those people who, by the grace of God, prepared the way for us.

 

The first Risley family reunion was held in 1889.  At that time, The Risley Family Association was formed.  Then in 1906 The Descendants of Richard Risley, Inc., was incorporated in Connecticut.  In 1909, Edwin H. Risley published the first Risley Family History.  It is a wonderful accounting of the Risley family though today we know there are some errors and omissions.

Reunions were regularly held for several decades.  Then they were less regular as interest waned and eventually not at all.  As a result, the Risley Family Association became inactive.

In 1977, a Committee of Correspondence was formed, and the Association was reactivated by Roy and Verna Goold of Brockport NY.

The Risley Family Association is dedicated to preserving and sharing the historical and genealogical records of our ancestors.

Our newsletter, The Risley Record, is published for our members.  We also issue Certificates of Membership attesting to the descent of our members from the immigrant Richard Risley.

We would like to help you trace your lineage back to Richard Risley.  We will assist you in a reasonable way with information about your Risley ancestry and possibly be able to offer genealogical research assistance.  We have the most extensive records of the Risley family ever assembled.

We would love to have you join us.

Simply fill out the application form on the website.

Our annual dues begin at $20, and an application fee of $10.

The Risley family has a proud heritage.  We hope you will be interested and want to join us.

Sincerely, Doug Carter

President, Risley Family Association