The Risley Family Association held its reunion on Aug. 16 and 17.

The Risley Family Association held its biennial family reunion Aug. 16 and 17 at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center in Dunkirk. The family is descended from Richard Risley, Sr., an English immigrant to Boston and an original founder of Hartford, Conn Some of his descendants moved on to New Jersey and New York and finally to every state in the country. Richard Risley’s great-grandson Elijah Risley, Sr. and his family settled in Fredonia in 1807.

Max Walters, Curator of the D.R. Barker Museum, gave the first presentation on Friday morning entitled, “Planting Progress: The Risley family in Agriculture and Abolitionism.” Risley Family Association members enjoyed seeing Risley packet seed company and other Risley artifacts at the museum.

The second presentation by Todd Langworthy, Town of Pomfret Historian, entitled “The History of Fredonia and the Risley Connection.” was at the Fredonia Commons Gazebo. In the afternoon, members toured the Greek Revival mansions built in the 1840’s by Elijah Risley, Jr. and William Risley. The mansions still proudly stand on Risley Street in Fredonia.

On Friday evening the group “met” Capt. Alonzo Cushing, U.S. Army, portrayed by Pomfret Langworthy who told us about his Civil War Service. Alonzo’s grandfather was Zattu Cushing, founder of the Town of Pomfret. Alonzo’s bravery at the Battle of Gettysburg contributed to the Union victory for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He is buried at West Point.

Saturday morning, the Benjamin Prescott Chapter of the DAR conducted a graveside ceremony for Olive Risley Seward at Fredonia’s Forest Hill Cemetery. Seward was the great-granddaughter of Revolutionary War soldier Elijah Risley Sr. Next, members visited Risley graves at the adjacent Pioneer Cemetery. Then it was off to Liberty Vineyards & Winery in Sheridan for a tour, tasting, and lunch.

Mayor Michael J. Ferguson proclaimed Saturday, Aug. 17 as Risley Family Reunion Day in Fredonia. The Saturday evening speaker was Gail Dash, past President and current Secretary of the Chautauqua County Genealogical Society. Throughout all the events, the reunion members enjoyed reconnecting with their Risley cousins from throughout the United States.

The next Risley Family Association Reunion will be in 2026 in Hartford. If you have the name Risley anywhere in your ancestry and would like further information about joining the Risley Family Association, go to https://risley.family/ or contact them by email at risleyfamilyassociation@gmail.com