Captain Ashbel Riley

Ashbel Riley was a sea captain in the West Indies trade and during the American Revolution.

Riley was born in 1733 or 1734, son of Isaac and his first wife, Jemima (Sage) Riley. Ashbel Riley married Abigail Griswold on October 8, 1754 and together, they had four children before her death at 37 on July 29, 1772. His second wife was Jane Ayrault, whom he married on July 27, 1773. They had five children.

Ashbel commanded the brig Ranger (14 guns, 20 men) in 1776, and the Snake (4 guns, 20 men) in 1780. At nearly 60 years of age, his brig Nancy was captured by a British privateer. He rallied his men and recaptured his vessel.

He died on February 9, 1794, at the age of 60. His second wife, Jane, died on December 7, 1810.