BRIGGS, Elizabeth L.

Elizabeth married OPPY, Jacob 8 Jan 1843. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Benjamin joined westward migration in 1836. They briefly lived in Miami Co., Ohio, then moved on to Grant Co., Indiana, and on March 3, 1838 they bought 136.88 acres with John Moore.
On October 24, 1844 he sold his portion and moved to Wabash Co., Indiana.
Benjamin lived his last years with his son Watson.
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A granddaughter later wrote "Papa's mother was a Jeffers." Jeffries genealogy states Sarah Jeffries married Benjamin Briggs. Her brother named his son Benjamin Briggs Jeffries. On March 28, 1808 Benjamin was shown as promising to pay $1.00 yearly to support the pastor of Shade Gap Church, first organized as the "Little Augwick Congregation" organized after 1776. He lived in Tell Twp until 1836. Benjamin deeded his Huntingdon Co Tell Twp land to William Clayton on March 29, 1836, land previously warranted to Benjamin Briggs and Jaconias Rose in 1790 and adjoining Jacob Crow's heirs, John Briggs and William Waters. (Huntingdon Co Pennsylvania Order book Y-1-668.)
He lived in Miami Co, Ohio briefly before settling in Grant, then Wabash Co. Indiana. He had a claim against his half-brother Jonathan in Huntingdon Co PA, according to probate records in Wabash County IN. Benjamin's son Watson collected on this claim.
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Huntingdon Co Pennsylvania 1820 census:
1 m. 26-45,
1 m. under 10;
1 f. 16-26,
2 f. under 10.
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Huntingdon Co Pennsylvania 1830:
1 m. 40-50,
1 m. 15-20,
1 m. 5-10,
1 m. under 5;
1 f. 30-40,
2 f. 10-15,
2 f. 5-10,
2 f. under 5.
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Grant Co IN 1840:
1 m. 50-60,
1 m. 15-20,
2 m. 5-10,
1 f. 40-50,
1 f. 20-30,
2 f. 15-20,
2 f. 10-15
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The 1850 Wabash Co., Indiana census shows a 66 year old Benjamin from Pennsylvania with his wife Sarah age 56 who was also born in Pennsylvania. The census states he was a farmer with property valued at $1000.00 and that Sarah could not read or write. James T. Briggs (our ancestor) age 19 was still living at home and attending school at the time.
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1860 census:
(Noble Township, Wabash Co., Indiana)
Benjamin Briggs, 76, M, Farmer, $1600 RE/ $200 Personal, b. PA
Sarah Briggs, 63, F, House Work, b. PA
Wilkin Briggs, 13 M, b. IN
(next door was son James and his young family)
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A family legend carried by descendants of this Benjamin stated they were related to Abraham Lincoln to some degree. Extensive research resulted in locating a Briggs connection to Abraham Lincoln's wife. Work family genealogy states Samuel Briggs (Benjamin's uncle) was the father of Jean Briggs who m. Richard Todd and became the mother of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. However, the mother of Mary Todd Lincoln, according to Todd genealogy was Jane Briggs (1761-1800) (the d/o Samuel and Sarah (Logan) Briggs and Levi Todd). Jane's father, Samuel Briggs, b. ca 1730 moved from Pennsylvania to KY and d. ca 1792. If Samuel Briggs, the father of Jane, is connected to this Briggs family, it would be in a prior generation than stated in Work genealogy. Samuel's will mentioned wife Mary, son Benjamin, daughter Jane Todd, children Margaret Drake, Joseph, Elizabeth, Hannah and Rachel Briggs, with Benjamin as executor. (DAR #4540)

Benjamin married JEFFRIES, Sarah Bef 1816, Probably Pennsylvania. Sarah (daughter of JEFFRIES, Richard and DAVIS, Nancy Anna) was born 27 Mar 1795, Tell Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania; died 16 Sep 1862, Wabash, Wabash County, Indiana. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

It is said that Sarah was a distant cousin to President Abraham Lincoln.
She was buried next to her husband in Matlock Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana.
The 1850 Noble Township, Wabash Co., Indiana stated that Sarah, age 56, could not read or write.

Notes:

1790 Census:
Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Briggs Junr.
1, free white males 16 and older.
2, free white males under 16
5, free white females
He was living next door to his parents.
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A private in Lt. Isaac Miller's Company of the Cumberland Co. militia during the Revolutionary War, called into service March 28, 1778. They lived in Dublin (later called Tell) Township, Huntingdon Co., Penn. in the Tuscarora Valley. Benjamin served as constable of Dublin Township in 1790.
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Letters of Administration on the Estate of Benjamin Briggs of Dublin Township was granted March 11, 1801 (page 170).
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Huntingdon County Jan. Term 1808 Orphan's Court Book B, Page 118.
"Petition of John Briggs, eldest son of Benjamin Briggs, late of Dublin Twp.
Benjamin died intestate leaving widow and 12 children.
Widow:
Mary
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Sons:
John,
Benjamin - all of full age.
Samuel - under guardianship of Isiah Evans;
Abner and Jonathan - under guardianship of William and Isaac Gifford.
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Daughters:
Margaret, Eleanor, Mary, Jane - all of full age.
Rebecca - intermarried with James Hockenberry.
Sarah, Fannie - minors under guardianship of Isiah Evans.
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That he died owning land in Dublin Twp held by right of improvement which adjoined Benjamin Jr. and others, including parcel surveyed on a warrant to Benjamin Briggs and Jaconias Rose, warrant dated January 14, 1790.
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More court records: "My" Benjamin held a claim against his half-brother Jonathan's estate. The estate was opened so Benjamin's son Watson could collect the claim.

Benjamin married WELCH, Rebecca Abt 1774, Pennsylvania. Rebecca was born Abt 1755; died Bef 1790, Tell Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

NOTE:
The 1790 census of Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania shows a
"Nicholas Welch"
Huntingdon County., Pa
Free White males 16 years and over
Free white males under 16 years
Free white females
All other free persons
Salves

This individual may be related to our Rebecca. However this is not proven at this writing (4-2-2005).
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Nicholas Welsh/Welch, Dublin Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA, left his estate to two children in 1810 according to his will which I recently copied at the Huntingdon Co. courthouse. The children are Essable(not familiar with this name) and Robert M. Welsh/Welch. Robert M. Welsh/Welch left his estate to four children--Ann, Mary, David and William. He died in 1824. Nicholas transferred half of his Dublin Co. property to Robert in 1798. Robert left his property to David and William in his will of 1824. David and William M. Welch then transferred the property to William Stewart, Jr., in 1841.
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1810 census:
Welch, J. PA HUNTINGDON CO. DUBLIN TWP 010
Welch, R. PA HUNTINGDON CO. DUBLIN TWP 010
Welch, William PA HUNTINGDON CO. FRANKLIN TWP 011
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Notes:

Richard was the youngest of Robert's 13 children. He too was twice married, fathering 29 children, 21 of whom survived to adulthood. Richard and his first wife Jane moved to Tell Township, Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania in1785. He lost Jane, his first wife, the same year.
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Richard Jeffries, enlisted and served in the ranks of Washington's army.
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In 1786 he married his second wife Nancy Davis. Richard was buried in a graveyard on the home farm on the banks of the Tuscarora.
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Richard was enumerated on the 1790 census in Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania.
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Richard Jeffreis died at his home in Tell Township on March 27th, 1817 aged 87 years.

Richard married DAVIS, Nancy Anna 1786, Tell Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Nancy (daughter of DAVIS, James and MILLER, Patience) was born 5 May 1765, Of East Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania; died 1841, Piqua, Miami County, Ohio; was buried , Graveyard 2 Miles North of Piqua, Ohio. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The name Amor was used by James Davis and his wife Mary Miller Bishop in about 1756 near Chester Co., Pennsylvania.

This name was passed on by Richard Jeffries and his wife Nancy Anna Davis as the first name of their son.

Nancy's birthdate may indicate Amor Davis could have been her brother, and James and Mary, her parents.

Though I have included James and Mary in my data, it should not be interpreted as a documented relationship.

NOTE:
There was a John Davis and Arthur Davis in Piqua, Miami Co., OH in 1830.

Notes:

Benjamin was a private in Capt. Noah Abraham's company, Colonel William Chambers' Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania regiment, inducted on Oct. 23,1777.
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He was born in Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania . He purchased land in Lark Township, Cumberland Co. Pennsylvania (now Huntingdon Co.).
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1790 Census:
Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Briggs Junr.
1, free white males 16 and older.
1, free white females

Notes:

Robert Jeffries was the cousin of Judge George Jeffries, Baron of Wem, Chief Justice under King Charles II and Lord Chancellor of England under King James II, sometimes refereed to as the "Hanging Judge". George died a prisoner in the Tower of London in 1689.

Robert sailed from Bristol Harbor at age 25. After a 2 month voyage he reached the colonies on December 15, 1681 at Robert Wade's landing where he settled in an area called the Uplands, the 1st. settlement in the province of Pennsylvania. The settlement is now known as "Old Chester" as named by William Penn.
Robert bought land from William Penn and others which totalled about 600 acres in and near the new settlement of Chichester. However by 1702 he had purchase or exchanged his property for about 1,000 acres near the township of Bradford (now Birmingham) near the town of West Chester.
Robert moved his family to his holdings in Bradford and in 1703 he was appointed constable of Westtown, Bradford. Robert's first wife Jane (Chandler) Jeffries died in East Bradford in 1726. Three years later in 1729 he married Anne Archer, she was the mother of Richard Jeffries of our line. No portrait of Robert exists, however accounts passed down generation to generation speak of him as a tall man, about 6 feet, of fine physique and of dignified bearing. He is said to have been of good manners, cordial and hospitable, a man of energy, industry and business capacity, whose judgement was consulted in private and public affairs.

Robert married Anne Abt 1729, East Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Anne was born Abt 1660, East Bradford Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

James married widow Patience Miller Bishop on 5/30/1754 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. James Davis wrote his will in Randolph County, North Carolina (Will Book 3, page 18) on 8/16/1800 and it was probated May 1805.

Probated May 1805 - Randolph County, N.C.

Book 3, page 18: To my loving wife during her widowhood, 80 acres including the plantation adjoining the old ...... to the west of the tract for her support and my daughter Hannah and all personal property except the stud horse which I desire may be sold and equally divided between my wife and three daughters. And my will is that at the death of my loving wife, both land and valuables be the property of my daughter Hannah. I give unto my sons Jesse, Amos, and Job the remainder of my land to be equally divided between them. Thirty pounds each to my daughters, Rebecca, Eve and Hannah.

Exrs.: Samuel Millikan, Robert McCracken, Wit.: Elijah ....., Jacob Jackson, William Thornbury.

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Abt 1735

DEATH: Also shown as Died Bef 1800

James married MILLER, Patience 30 Jun 1754, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Patience (daughter of MILLER, Robert and HAINES, Ruth) was born 20/20 Mar 1730/1731, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania; died 6 Jun 1813, Randolph County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet]