Looking through my genealogy stuff for info on Risleys in MA, I do find a Phillip Risley, whose name may have sometimes been spelled WRISLEY. This one was born on Oct. 10, 1790, in Gill, Franklin, MA, and his parents were Elijah (W)risley and Deborah Waters. Elijah’s parents were David (W)risley and Naomi Strickland, who removed to Gill from Glastonbury, CT. I don’t find entries for this Phillip on the usual internet sources, but he’s included in a list of vital records for the town of Gill, MA, complied by a Clifford S. Chapin in 1909. Also, a list of the children of Elijah (W)risley, which I got from the Risley Family Assoc. says this:

“Phillip, born 10 October 1790; married Clarissa Rice, 20 November 1818, Gill, MA; died 1 August 1850, Bennington, VT. 2(+?) children.” I don’t know what the “(+?)” is about.

This Phillip Risley is likely too old to be your senior Phillip Risely, but, of course, he could also be a father or uncle or close cousin to that Phillip you’re looking for. I don’t believe I’ve come across any other ‘Phillip Risley’s.

This branch of the Risley family adopted the spelling ‘WRISLEY’ starting with David, but not all of his descendants stuck to that spelling. So you might look for Wrisleys, too. Of course, spellings were not always consistent in those days.

According to the info I have, this Phillip had two brothers who had offspring, Merrick, who died in Bridgewater, Susquehanna County, PA in 1834, and had 7 children, and Elijah Jr., who had 5 children (his death date is unknown, it says). There was also a sister named Roxalana who married her first cousin, George Wrisley, had 11 children, and died in Springville, PA.

I should mention that, beginning in the early 18th century, there was a German-American family in Dutchess County, NY who altered a name like ‘Reuschle’ to Risely and Riseley, but I haven’t seen anything about any of them living in MA.

I hope this ‘Philip (W)risley leads to a connection.