BIO: John REILY, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 186.
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  REILY, JOHN, was born at Leeds, England, on the 12th of April, 1752.  
His father, Benjamin Reily, emigrated soon after, and was a gentleman 
of some note in the Providence of Pennsylvania.  Receiving a classical 
education, the former began the study of law, and was admitted to the 
bar on the eve of the Revolution.  Accepting a commission as captain in 
the Twelfth regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, subsequently (1778) 
transferred to the Third regiment, he served with valor and 
distinction, and was severely wounded at Bonhamton, J. J., being shot 
through the body.  Returning home he slowly recovered, when he resumed 
the practice of his profession.  He was present and took part in the 
first term of the Dauphin county court, in May, 1785.  In 1795 he 
published at Harrisburg "A Compendium for Pennsylvania Justices of the 
Peace," the first work of that character printed in America.  Captain 
Reily died at Myerstown, May 2, 1810.  He married, at Lancaster, on May 
20, 1773, by Rev. Thomas Barton, of the Episcopal Church, Elizabeth 
Myer, the daughter of Isaac Myer, the founder of Myerstown, Lebanon 
county, born April 2, 1755; died April 2, 1800.  They had a large 
family.  Captain Reily was not a brilliant orator, but was perfectly 
reliable as a lawyer, and had an extensive practice at the Lancaster, 
Berks and Dauphin courts.  He was a tall, courtly gentleman, and an 
ardent Whig of the Revolutionary era; was a polished writer, and a 
manuscript book of literary excerpts in the possession of his 
descendants shows a refined and cultivated taste.