General Notes

[.]

From Cornell web site which references "A Cornell Family History":

"John and Sarah Briggs became followers of Ann Hutchinson...who was banished from the Bay Colony by Gov. Winthrop. The Briggs followed to RI where Roger Williams had sought sanctuary. They founded Portsmouth on Aquindeck Island in Narraganset Bay. On the advice of Williams, they purchased their land from the Indians. John Briggs was a signer of the 'Compact' and one of the founders of Portsmouth and he became a special Commissioner to the General Assembly; of RI. (Raymond V. Nelson, 700 N. Forest St.., Bellingham, WA  98225)" Compact states: (from Osborne's Genealogical Dictionary) "We, whose names are underwritten, do acknowledge ourselves the legal subjects of his Majesty, King Charles, and in his name do hereby bind ourselves into a civil body politicke, unto his laws, according to matters of justice."

From John Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island:

March 16, 1641 Freeman.

October 5, 1643, Directed to go to every house to see what arms were defective.

1648.  Assistant.

1649. Licensed to keep an ordinary.

August 31, 1654.  Commissioner for uniting the four towns.

1654-55-56-59-61-62-63.  Commissioner.

1655.  Freeman.

May 25, 1655.  On a committee to  build a cage and stocks.

1656  Juryman.

October 6, 1662.  Bough a share in Dartmouth for 42L from John Dunham, Sr. and Abigail of Plimouth.

1664-65-66-68-69.  Deputy.

Feb. 20, 1673.  Calling himself 64 years of age, or thereabouts, testified in the trial of Thomas Cornell. He had a dream a saw a woman at his bedside, "whereat he was much affrighted and cryed out, in the name of God, what art thou?" The apparition answered, "I am your sister Cornell," and twice said, "see how I was burnt with fire."

March 11, 1679.  Deeded to second son Thomas and his wife Mary," for love, &c., one quarter of a share in Dartmouth (35 acres), and if Thomas die, his wife Mary to enjoy same, if she continues his widow."

October 14, 1679.  Deeded to oldest son, John, of Portsmouth, "one half of a share in Dartmouth, and if his wife Hannah survive him, she to enjoy same while widow. If she marry again, then to my grandson John, the second son of my son John, and if he die without issue, then to my son John's next younger son, &c. In case of failure of all, then to son John's eldest son Edward, he paying to daughters of son John, L20."

April 19, 1690.  Will proved. Executor son Enoch. "To son Enoch, all and every part of lands and personal estate, goods, chattels, debts and monies, he paying legacies, &c. To eldest son John, son Thomas, son William and daughter Susannah Northway, 1s. each, these four children having 'long since received their portions and are gone from me.' To son Job, three ewes, to wether lambs and two heifers."

From Sam. Briggs, A Partial Record of the Descendants of Walter Briggs of Westchester, N.Y.:

He concludes that John Briggs "must have been a busy person in governmental affairs, given the number of times his name appears in the records, and a person of some fortune, as would appear from purchases of land made by him at various times."

NOT THE SAME JOHN BRIGGS OF SANDWICH, WHOSE DAUGHTER SARAH MARRIED STPHEN WING.