Warren Township - Revolutionary Patriots Honored by Local SAR

The following is an update from the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), Ebenezer Zane Chapter, St. Clairsville, Ohio, submitted by George Livingston, SAR historian for 2006}.

This update includes two patriots found in Jefferson County, John Tilton and Francis Riley; both lived in Warren Township at the time of their deaths. Francis Riley was buried on his farm where he was killed along with several members of his family during an Indian raid. Due to the remote location of the burial, which is now on private property, it was decided to place his bronze marker as a memorial to him, at the Brilliant Veterans Park, a fitting location.

John Tilton, who played an important role in aiding the Revolution, had a town named after him, Tiltonsville, and many of his immediate family and descendants are buried in the Mound Cemetery. The Mound Cemetery is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest burial grounds in Jefferson County. This sacred burial ground is listed in Columbus as a State of Ohio National Pre-historic Burial Mound.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 – This morning we placed bronze markers at the Mound Cemetery in Tiltonsville for John Tilton. At the Brilliant Veterans Park we placed a bronze marker for Francis Riley. Carl Sgalla, Warren Township Trustee was present at Tiltonsville and the Commander of Brilliant American Legion, Post #573, Bill Smythe, was present at Brilliant, as was Ernie Riley, direct descendant of Francis Riley. Ernie presented the Post Commander with a framed copy of the page on Francis Riley, taken from our Revolutionary Book series. That framed copy is now hanging in the American Legion Hall in Brilliant.