5993.Walter Briggs. Born in Bucklesham, Suffolk.42 Walter died ca 1684.25
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:53
“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.’”
L. Vernon Briggs, the author of History and Genealogy of the Briggs Family,42 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.’42
Walter second married Frances. Frances died in Scituate, MA in 1687.236
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:16
“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.”
From John Rogers of Marshfield:236
The family name of his wife, Frances, has not been discovered, nor the date of their marriage. Their son, John, was born in 1632 or 1633, in all human probability before they left England.
Miss Thomas, in her history of Marshfield, suggests that Frances Rogers was Frances (Vassal) Adams, daughter of William Vassal and widow of James Adams; but Frances Vassal was not married till July 16, 1646, and did not become a widow till Jan. 6, 1651, when Frances Rogers had grown up children.
Davis, in his Landmarks of Plymouth, under John Rogers of Marshfield, says “by wife Frances, perhaps daughter of Robert Watson,” &c.: also, Robert Watson came to Plymouth early, but finally settled in Connecticut; by wife Elizabeth, he had, born in England, George, 1603, Robert, Samuel, and perhaps Frances, who married John Rogers. No authority for this statement has been found ; but if Robert Watson had a daughter, Frances, who married a John Rogers, there can be scarcely a doubt that he was John Rogers^1 of Marshfield.
Frances survived her husband, and married Walter Briggs of Scituate. In his will d. Jan’y 16, 1676/7, p. June 4, 1684, Walter Briggs mentions, among others, his wife, Frances. Deeds, Vol. VI, p. 9.
Administration on the estate of Frances Briggs, widow, of Scituate, was granted Oct. 14, 1687, to her sons, John and Joseph Rogers. Probate, Vol. I, p. 11.
5994.Elizabeth Briggs. Born in 1617 in England.42 Elizabeth died in England bef 1640.42 unmarried.
5995.Ann Briggs. Born in 1619 in England.42 Ann died in England in 1639.42 unmarried.