[phelps.FTW]
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #0988, Date of Import: Oct 22, 1998]
Thomas Riggs (1632)
Thomas Riggs first appears in town as a grantee of land at Goose Cove
in 1658. In 1661, he bought houses and lands of Matthew Coe and Thomas
and John Wakley, also situated near Goose Cove. A part of an old house in
that section of the town is still shown as the original tenement erected by
him. He is said to have been educated in England for the profession of a
scrivener; and his ability in that line made him a welcome acquisition to a
community, of whose men one-half were unable to write; while his repeated
election to the most important offices sufficiently attests the estimation
in which he was held by the citizens. He was town-clerk from 1665 to 1716
(fifty-one years), selectman upwards of twenty years, and representative
in 1700. Besides filling these offices, he often served on committees,
and sometimes officiated as schoolmaster. He married, first, Mary,
daughter of Thomas Millet, June 7, 1658. She died Jan. 23, 1695; and he
married, next, Elizabeth Frese, Oct. 30, 1695, who died June 16, 1722,
aged eighty: he died Feb. 26, 1722, aged ninety.
Sources:
History of Gloucester by Babson, FHL 974.45/G3 H2bj.
New England Historical and Genealogical Register , Vol.17, p.31-32, &
152-153. FHL 974 B2ne (Note: This has some mds. of the children.)
Gloucester Vital Records, Essex Co., MA. FHL 974.45/G3 V29v.
Thomas Riggs 
