James RIGGS

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LZ8D-LGR
• LifeSketch: ; Information in Find a Grave:
• Military Service: ; Pennsylvania Regulars (Lt. Rose's Ranging Company), Revolutionary War
• Name: James RIGGS
• Name: James RIGGS
• Occupation: ; American Revolutionary Soldier
• _UID: B275A01D2FD84E1CA7BBB152F11E4699A810
• Will: Between 29 May 1813 and 30 Jun 1815, Marietta, Washington, Ohio; Probate Record Book I

Notes:

Details from arckrc april 2016:
JAMES RIGGS (son of EDMUND RIGGS and Mary Brook(e)(s))19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 was born September 17, 1742 in Rock Creek, Montgomery Co, MD, and died February 27, 1815 in New Matamoras, Ohio25, 26, 27.He married Mary Johnson on 1773, daughter of Benjamin Johnson.
Notes for JAMES RIGGS:
James served in REvolutionary War from Pennsylvania.He was a Justice of the Peace in Washington Co, Ohio.
His will was probated at Marietta, Washington Co, Ohio on Dec 1, 1815 in Book 1, page 281
REVOLUTION VET
FIRST TO SETTLE
MATAMORAS AREA
by Diana McMahan
Matamoras, Ohio - The first man to settle and build a cabin on the site of the Matamoras was a Revolutionary War veteran. Fort nine years before there was a town here, JAMES RIGGS came with all of his family and two sons-in-law and their families, and made claim to all the land which now encompasses Matamoras, and the territory south and west of town.
Riggs took for his farm the parcel of land which now encompasses Matamoras, going back to the hill, 200 acres in all. His son-in-law, MARTIN SHEETS, took 200 acres of rich river bottom land south of the town. His second son-in-law, ANTHONY SHEETS, took an area partially hilly along cemetery road, and coming to a point behind GARY BRADY'S back yard on Second Street.
INDIAN TERRITORY
JAMES RIGGS had served as a private in LT. ROSE'S RANGE COMPANY out of Bedford County, Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War. Accustomed to hardship and well acquainted to the Indian ways, he was wary in the new Ohio county. The stories of Indiana massacres were common, and were usually more truth than rumor. So the small RIGGS party, having come down the Ohio River on a flat boat, took precautions against hostile indians in the Ohio County and camped on the Virginia (now West Virginia) side of the river. Each day they crossed over into Ohio and worked on their cabin, and cleared land for the cornfields.
The log cabin they built was the first house in what is now known as Matamoras. Although the forest extended clear to the river's edge, the RIGGS log cabin was built on what now is Front Street in Matamoras. In later years, it was covered with clapboards, and finally torer down about 1920. Those remembering it being tore down remember the huge logs that made up the orginal cabin.
RIGGS FAMILY
JAMES RIGGS was born Sept 15, 1742 at Rock Creek, Montgomery County, MD, a son of EDMOND AND MARY BROOKS RIGGS. James married MARY JOHNSON, also of Montgomery County. Most of their children, excepting those who died in Pennsylvania, came to settle in the northeastern section of Washington County, Ohio or across the river in Tyler and Pleasants Counties of West Virginia.
Riggs children were: BASIL, who married MARY ROBY and gave Raven Rock, West Virginia it's name; HEZEKIAH , of whom there is no further record; SAMUEL, married ELIZABETH ROSS; JOHN, married SARAH WILSON; EDMOND who married ELIZABETH ROBY, a sister of Basils's wife; EMAXIE, who married ANTHONY SHEETS; POLLY; PRISCILLA, who married MARTIN SHEETS; MARY who married BENJAMIN RIDGEWAY; RUTH, died in Pennsylvania at age 19; JANE, married MOSES WILLIAMSON; and MALINDA died in infancy.
Priscilla Riggs Sheet, Martins wife, was the first death in the new grandview Township colony. She died in 1801. (Martun's second wife was SARAH COLLINS.) Priscilla was buried in the orginal Matamoras cemetery, which took in the lots now lived on by Helen Edwards, Mr and Mrs Elwood Hossman, and the Legion Hall Ground, as well as running under Front Street. The early settlers had procratinated and up until the time of the first death, there was no cemetery. So James and James Williams, a newcomer, each gave half of the already cleared land, which they called "the first burying ground".
SHEETS FAMILY
JAMES RIGG'S seond son-in-law, ANTHONY SHEETS , was Martin's brother. He and his wife, Emaxie Riggs, lived out their lifetimes in Matamoras and raised a large family. There children were: NANCY, married BENJAMIN FORT and lived in Indiana; MARTIN, who married NANCY LOVE and died in Indiana (his wife and children returned); POLLY, married JOHN TALBOR, and lived in Indiana; JOHN who died at seas unmarried; RUTH married ISAAC PARR; HENRY who married REBECCA PARR and helped plat Matamoras; MELINDA who married JESSE PARR; and AXIE (also called Achsah and Emaxie) who married WARREN WELLS.
Anthony Sheets and his wife, and Martin Sheets and his second wife, Sarah Collins, are buried in the Old Sheets - Cline cemetery in Matamoras.
JAMES RIGGS died Feb 22, 1815 and is the only Revolutionary War soldier (known) buried in the Matamoras Cemetery on the hill, overlooking the town. He was first buried in the orignal Matamoras cemetery on Front Street with other family members. However, when the old cemetery was disbanded, the family moved all the Riggs graves to the new cemetery on the hill. Riggs's can be seen next to that of his wife Mary Johnson Riggs, who died in 181, that of his daughter Pricilla Riggs Sheets, his grandson Lorenzo Dow Sheets (infant of James Rigg's son, Edmond) and another child's stone too shaled to read.
FAMILY TRADITION
JAMES RIGGS was not the first of his family to open new territory. His great grandfather EDWARD RIGGS , came to America in 1633 and was a sergeant in the PEQUOT INDIAN WAR in 1637.
SERGEANT RIGGS, protected WHALEY and GOFF, two of the English Parliment who had condemmed and executed CHARLES I, and subsequently received a large land grant in New Jersey. He eventually founded the city of Newark, New Jersey., and James Riggs' great - grandmother, Sergeant Riggs's wife,was the first white woman to spend the summer in Newark.
From the Pennsylvania Historical and Musuem Comission - This is to certify that, that under Militia Loan of 1 April 1784, a certificate of public debt, number 15087, in the amount of f2.9.0, was issued in the name of JAMES RIGGS, for a tour of active duty in the Bedford County Militia, which he performed from 5 October to 19 October 1782 as a member of Lieutenant Edward Rose's Company. Volume B, page 116 Militia Loans of 1784 and 1785, "Public Debt," Records of the Comptroller General, at the Division of Archives and Manuscripts Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
1790 Census, Montgomery County, Maryland, Microfilm # M637-3:
Riggs, page 89 and 90-Line 4T , Line 161, John, line 159, Samuel, Thomas, 160, Page 89, line 235 Thomas.
1800 Census Samuel Riggs family with two boys under 16 and Samuel age 45+ plus two girls under 16 and a wife plus 10 slaves.
John, John H, Thomas and Rubin families are listed.Reel M32-11--1st Division, Stamped # 162 AandSioundex R220.

James married Mary Ann JOHNSON in 1768 in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland. Mary (daughter of Benjamin Franklin JOHNSON and Rachel SUMMERS) was born on 10 Jul 1748 in Clarksburg, Montgomery, Maryland; died on 9 Nov 1818 in New Matamoras, Monroe, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Robert RIGGS was born in 1764; and died.
2. Thomas RIGGS was born in 1767; and died.
3. Maxemelia (Achsah) RIGGS was born on 15 Sep 1768 in Frederck, Frederick, Maryland; died on 29 Mar 1846 in New Matamoras, Washington, Ohio.
4. Polly RIGGS was born in 1772 in Shennadoah, Frederick, Virginia; died on 20 May 1839 in Breckinridge, Kentucky.
5. Mary Ann RIGGS was born on 31 May 1772 in Prince George's County, Maryland; died on 10 Dec 1855 in Brownsville, Monroe County, Ohio; was buried on 13 Dec 1855 in Brownsville Methodist Cemetery, Benton Township, Monroe, Ohio.
6. Bazel RIGGS was born on 12 Jul 1774 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania; died on 26 Nov 1850 in Tyler County, West Virginia.
7. Ruth RIGGS was born in 1776 in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland; died in 1793 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
8. Hezekiah RIGGS was born in 1777 in Bedford, Pennsylvania; died in 1813.
9. Priscilla RIGGS was born on 25 Oct 1778 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania; died on 25 Oct 1801 in New Matamoras, Washington, Ohio.
10. John H. RIGGS was born on 3 Dec 1781 in District Of Columbia; died on 15 Sep 1851 in Jennings County, Indiana.
11. Edmund S. RIGGS was born on 25 Dec 1783 in Colerain, Bedford County, Pennsylvania; died on 15 Feb 1876 in St Marys, Pleasants, West Virginia; was buried in 1876 in Long Reach Cemetery, Sistersville, Tyler, West Virginia.
12. Samuel Hamilton RIGGS was born on 13 Jul 1786 in Pennsylvania; died on 31 Mar 1875 in Fayette County, Indiana.
13. Sarah Jane RIGGS was born on 25 Oct 1788 in Friends Cove, Bedford, Pennsylvania; died on 18 Sep 1872 in Connersville, Fayette, Indiana.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: L7J5-KJJ
• Name: Edmond RIGGS
• _UID: E9DEE2ED3BDF466AAD07DF9F8F405729E187
• Land: 3 Apr 1750, Frederick Co., MD; Edmond leased from Lucy Brooke, widow, of Prince George's County, 100 acres of "Dann",
• Land: 10 Sep 1750, "Holding Springs" on Dry Seneca Run, Frederick (later Montgomery) Co.,; purchased from William Coats
• Land: 1772, "John's Delight", Frederick Co., Maryland; purchased from John Harris, Sr.
• Will: Between 24 Nov 1783 and 11 Apr 1784, Montgomery Co., MD; Will Book B, p. 132

Notes:

A Patriot of the American Revolution for MARYLAND. DAR A113320

Edmond married Mary BROOKE in 1742 in Montgomery, Montgomery, Maryland. Mary (daughter of Thomas BROOKE and Lucy SMITH) was born on 8 Oct 1709 in Prince Georges Parish, Montgomery, Maryland; died in 1750 in Montgomery, Montgomery, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: GJVX-54M
• _UID: 685A990F70BA4AD093524156D9D2A0E0555D

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• FamilySearch ID: LZDM-M4T
• LifeSketch: ; It appears that James Riggs, age 22, signed on with Thomas Tench an English merchant to came to Maryland from England as an indentured servant August 6, 1684 (Tepper, New World Immigrants 1:381).
• _UID: D292B10FEB8C42B2B284D168938A09F01403
• Will: 21 Aug 1744, Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland; Will Book 24, p. 10

Notes:

It appears that James Riggs, age 22, signed on with Thomas Tench an English merchant to came to Maryland from England as an indentured servant August 6, 1684 (Tepper, New World Immigrants 1:381).

Served as a ranger under Col. John Addison. James signed on May 19, 1698 as head of the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River.

Birth of sister Mary Riggs(1666? 1701)
1666 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Birth of brother Edward Riggs(1668? 1692)
1668 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Residence
1670 ? Newark, Essex County, NJ

Birth of brother Joseph Riggs(1675? 1744)
1675 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Birth of sister Martha Riggs(1677? )
1677 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA

Birth of sister Elizabeth Riggs(1678? )
1678 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Birth of brother John Riggs(1679? 1762)
1679 ? Anne Arundel, Maryland, United States

Birth of brother Samuel Riggs(1681? 1725)
1681 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA

Marriage
1684 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Elizabeth Ranger

(1668? 1740)

Marriage
1684 ? New

Birth of sister Charity Riggs(1685? 1774)
1685 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Death of mother Mary Munn(1639? 1688)
1688 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA

Birth of son Simeon Riggs(1689? )
1689

Marriage
1689 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Elizabeth Ranger

(1668? 1740)

Birth of daughter Jane Riggs(1690? )
1690

Marriage
1691 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Aphia Stroughton

(1670? 1715)

Death of brother Edward Riggs(1668? 1692)
1692 ? Basking Ridge, Somerset, New Jersey, United States

Birth of daughter Sarah Riggs(1695? )
1695

Birth of son Edmond Riggs(1695? 1784)
25 Dec 1695 ? Prince George's, Maryland, United States

Death of sister Mary Riggs(1666? 1701)
1701 ? Morristown, Morris, New Jersey, United States

Death of father Edward Riggs III(1636? 1715)
Mar 1715 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Death of sister Anna Riggs(1664? 1715)
Mar 1715 ? Morristown, Morris, New Jersey, United States

Death of wife Aphia Stroughton(1670? 1715)
1715 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States

Death of brother Samuel Riggs(1681? 1725)
1725 ? Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA

Death
21 Aug 1744 ? Prince Georges, Frederick, Maryland, United States

James married Elizabeth RANGER in 1689 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey. Elizabeth (daughter of Edmund RANGER and Sara FULLER) was born in 1668 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, British Colonial America; died in 1744 in Prince George's County, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: MJ5D-QN5
• _UID: 6B4AEB7037A4493EA5C287532871CE38523E

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• FamilySearch ID: L2SG-7ZH
• _UID: 5429348440D748E2AAEBBA49D15B3F4AC3D5

Thomas married Lucy SMITH in 1705 in Prince George's County, Maryland. Lucy (daughter of Colonel Walter SMITH, I and Rachel HALL) was born in 1688 in Halls Croft, Calvert, Maryland; died on 15 Apr 1770 in Prince George's County, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LRPF-JHT
• _UID: 95DE614E1099452098196D21E0CA6E9C23B3

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• FamilySearch ID: 9J3F-1N1
• _UID: FF51CD14A5E449F1A00B777A6963451CBDB0

Notes:

Children:

James Riggs
1664? 1744

Anna Riggs
1664? 1715

Mary Riggs
1666? 1701

Edward Riggs
1668? 1692

Joseph Riggs
1675? 1744

Martha Riggs
1677?

Elizabeth Riggs
1678?

John Riggs
1679? 1762

Samuel Riggs
1681? 1725

Charity Riggs
1685? 1774

Edward married Mary MUNN on 14 Jun 1667 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, British Colonial America. Mary was born on 6 Dec 1639 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Colonial America; died on 6 Mar 1689 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, Colonial America; was buried in First Presbyterian Churchyard Memorial Garden, Newark, Essex, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LVHL-VJS
• _UID: 2C05D9BD096C43DF8C8FFD490A5CCC291AA8

Other Events:

• Arrival May 1671 in MA: ; Per the U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s about Edmund Ranger he arrived 1671 in MA.
• FamilySearch ID: LHBR-SSP
• Freeman 31 May 1671 in Boston, MA: ; Source: Paige, Lucius R.. List of Freemen of Massachusetts. Boston, MA, USA: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1849.
• LifeSketch: ; SON OF: Edward & Joyce { EATON } Ranger
• Occupation: ; He was a bookseller and a very accomplished bookbinder. He was Ratcliff's competitor. Many believe that Ratcliff's return to England was due to his inability to compete on any grounds with the younger Ranger's superior workmanship.
• _UID: CDEF7507E3EA4508A45CC7F6D0D6D933C101

Edmund married Sara FULLER about 1671 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America. Sara was born on 21 Sep 1647 in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; died on 26 May 1679 in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LTS2-Y12
• _UID: 0DA0DE25CDAA4C2583CF6E0EFF10FD87F9AC

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• FamilySearch ID: 9XHM-V2M
• _UID: C11D8AF0C5614D8198F902DEF4A8E29BD689

Thomas married Anne ADDISON in 1681 in Maryland, British Colonial America. Anne was born in 1660 in Brookefield, Prince George's, Maryland; died in 1692 in Prince George's County, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: GSL8-ZH4
• Name: RITTER
• _UID: 54395D8BDA2E490C86669C02F8D4330C67AE

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• FamilySearch ID: L4TG-PSP

Colonel married Rachel HALL. Rachel (daughter of Richard HALL and Elizabeth WINGFIELD) was born in 1670 in Calvert, Maryland, British Colonial America; died on 28 Oct 1730 in Calvert County, Maryland; was buried on 6 Nov 1730 in Calvert Co., Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LZQR-QTP