Pane-Joyce Genealogy
Family of Walter Briggs (357) & Anne Cooper
815. Walter Briggs. Born in Bucklesham, Suffolk.7 Walter died ca 1684.2
Walter settled in Scituate in 1643. His will was dated 16 Jan 1676 and proved 4 Jan 1684. It names his wife, sons John, James, and Cornelius, and daughter Hannah Winslow.
From Deane’s History of Scituate:6
“Walter Briggs appears in Scituate 1651, when he purchased a fram of Mr. Hatherly, on the north side of Farm neck. The cove within the glades still bears the name of Brigg's harbour. He was long an useful man in the plantation.
“His will dated 1684, gives
“‘To my wife Frances one third of my estate during her life, also a gentle horse or mare, and Jemmy the Negur shall catch it for her. To son John my homestead, bounded south-west by Mr John Saffin's farm, To son James the easterly side of my farm [bounds named]. To daughter Hannah Winslow [certain movables]. To son Cornelius one freeman's share in the twon of Swanzey, and 30 lbs. Son John Ex.’”
Constable of Duxbury 1665.58
L. Vernon Briggs, the author of History and Genealogy of the Briggs Family,7 did not know exactly when Water arrived in New England. In 1643 he was listed as able to bear arms as being in Scituate, so 1643 is an upper bound an his year of immigration. In 1649 he was a survayer of the highways, in 1651 on the ‘Grand Enquest,’ and he had taken the oath of Fidelity before 1644. In 1651 he purchased from Timothy Hatherley his large farm including the north side of Farm Neck on the ‘Glades.’7
Walter first married Mary [Briggs]. Mary died aft 1684.
Their children include:
Walter second married Frances [Rogers]. Frances died in 1687 in Scituate, MA.
Frances first married John Rogers, second Walter Briggs.
It is sometimes said that Frances was the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Watson of Plymouth, MA, and Windsor, CT. Here’s what Anderson says about Robert Watson in The Great Migration Begins:5
“Various secondary sources claim a Robert Watson, immigrant of 1632 to Plymouth, as brother of JOHN WATSON of Roxbury and father of GEORGE WATSON of Plymouth and of several other later immigrants [ Windsor Hist 2:776; Bassett-Preston 311; Snow-Estes 1:162]. This family construct should be rejected totally, as there is no evidence in Plymouth or elsewhere in New England for such a Robert, or for any connection between John Watson and George Watson. An assignmnet of a servant by ‘Elizabeth Watson, widow, ... unto Thomas Watson,’ on 8 November 1638 [ PCR 1:102], is cited in partial support of this claim, but this record says nothing about a Robert, nor does it connect to records of the other Watson immigrants.”
816. Elizabeth Briggs. Born in 1617 in England.7 Elizabeth died bef 1640 in England.7 unmarried.
817. Ann Briggs. Born in 1619 in England.7 Ann died in 1639 in England.7 unmarried.
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