Note: The following is a section of a family history compiled by Herbert Armstrong Poole between 1905 & 1960, transcribed by AAA Maitland 1998. Subject numbers are HAP's originals. HAP's page divisions are shown: after subject page numbers are complete document page numbers in brackets and issue dates. The original text had generations indented in turn: here, generation numbers are added to each individual: the children of the title subject are "1/--". Subject 692. P1 (380/1) JOHN BRIGGS. The following is taken from the "Genealogy of Ten Generations of the Briggs Family of Rhode Island and Essex County, England", by Pearl Leona Heck, Washington (l932): and also from "The Archives of the Briggs Family", by Samuel Briggs, Cleveland Historical Society, (1880). Both are on file at the New England Historical & Genealogical Society of Boston. The latter contains many errors which are corrected by the former. John Briggs was born in 1609 at London, England, the son of Henry Briggs of Clerkenwell Parish, Essex County, England, and was a brother of Rebecca Briggs, wife of Thomas Cornell of England, and also an early settler of Rhode Island. John came to this country about 1635 and both and his wife died at Portsmouth in 1690. He is mentioned first at Newport, where he was admitted freeman October 1/1638, and on April 30/1639 was made a citizen of Portsmouth. He was a busy man in govern- mental affairs in the colony. Resident there in 1642, freeman of Aquidneck August 1/1640, lived at Portsmouth in 1655. He and two others were appointed commissioners for building a prison on May 16/1648. He was chosen Assistant of the General Court of Portsmouth and Commissioner for uniting the four towns of Providence Plantations in Portsmouth in 1656, He was a person of some fortune and on October 6/1662 purchased a tract of land at Dartmouth (New Plymouth, Mass) from John Dunham for œ42. On June 20/1687 he deeded part to son Thomas and his wife Mary, 35 acres. On October 14/1679, left his son John (subject 692) of Portsmouth, half the land at Dartmouth on condition that his wife Hannah, if she survived him, shall enjoy same during her life or while she remains a widow. If she marry again, then to my grandson John and his male heirs and if he dies without issue, then to my son John, next younger son and so on. In case of failure of all, then to my son John's eldest son Edward, and if he fail to my nearest male heir of my body, he paying to the daughters of my son John œ20. His Will, probated at Portsmouth April 19/1690 reads in part:- Item. I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Enoch, all and every part of my lands whatsoever also all and every part of my personal estate in goods, chattels, debts and monies. Item. I give and bequeath to my oldest son John, also to my son Thomas, to my daughter Susannah Northway, one shilling in money. The principal reason for bequeathing to my said son, and daughter one shilling each, is to prevent their future claims to any part of my estate, they having long since received their portions, and are gone from me. I give and bequeath to my son Job, 3 ewes, 2 wether lambs and two heifers, to be delivered to him within twelve months of my death. Issue:- 1. John Briggs. Born 1642, died 1713. He married Hannah Fisher, daughter of Edward and Judith Fisher of Portsmouth and Tiverton. The first Quaker meeting was held at his home in 1699. Issue:- 2/1. Edward Briggs. 2/2. Job Briggs. 2/3. John Briggs. 2/4. William Briggs. 2/5. Susan Briggs. She married Joseph Cooke, son of John & Mary (Borden) Cooke, see subject 322. 2. Thomas Briggs. Born 164-, died 1720. He married Mary Fisher, sister of his brother John's wife. He was Ensign in the Colonial Army of Rhode Island in August 1667 in Capt Peleg Sanford's Horse Troop. Issue :- 2/1. Mary Briggs. Born 1671. Married Stephen Wilcox in 1690. Subject 692. P2 (381) 2/2. Susannah Briggs. Born 1672. 2/5. Deborah Briggs. Born 1674. Married in 1698, Henry Howland of Mayflower descent, whose second wife was Elizabeth Northup. 2/4. Hannah Briggs. Born 1676. 2/5. John Briggs. 1678. 2/6. Thomas Briggs. 1684. Married Mary Allen. 5. William Briggs. (twin) Born at Portsmouth 1650, died 1716. He married in 1680 Elizabeth Cooke, born 1653, died August 1716. See subject 346 for issue and further particulars. 4. Susannah Briggs. (twin) Born at Portsmouth 1650. She married Mr Northway or Northington. Issue:- 2/1. Jeremiah Northway or Northington. 2/2. Job Northway. 2/5. John Northway. 2/4. Enoch Northway. 2/5. Mary Northway. 2/6. Sarah Northway. 2/7. Elizabeth Northway. 2/8. Amey Northway. 2/9. Waite Northway. 5. Job Briggs. Died 1732. Married Elinor -- and had children Jeremiah, Mary, Job, John and Enoch. 6. Enoch Briggs. He married Hannah (Cooke) Wightman, widow of Daniel Wightman and daughter of John & Mary (Borden) Cooke, sister of Elizabeth, wife of Enoch's elder brother William. Hannah was also sister of Joseph Cooke, husband of Susannah Briggs, daughter of Enoch's older brother John. Children: Abigail, Sarah and Susannah. Note. A very interesting and full Genealogy of the above John Briggs is contained in "Colonial Families" by the American Historical Society of New York (1929), on file at the New England Historical & Genealogical Society of Boston, showing that he was descended from William Brygge of Salle, Norfolk County, England, in 1334. The name was first Pontibus (Latin for Bridge) and spelled BRYGGE in Saxon.