John Biggs

Family/Spouse: Sarah Etheridge. Sarah was born about 1690 in Virginia; died about 1750 in Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Joseph Biggs was born about 1720 in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia; died on 20 Nov 1784 in Williamston, Martin, North Carolina; was buried in Nov 1784 in Williamston, Martin, North Carolina.
2. James Biggs was born about 1728 in Norfolk, Virginia; died in 1789 in Currituck, North Carolina.
3. John Biggs was born about 1728 in Jamestown, Norfolk, Virginia; died on 12 Aug 1789 in Edgecombe, North Carolina.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1704, Norfolk, Virginia

Thomas married Mary Browne in 1670 in Lower Norfolk, Virginia. Mary (daughter of Edward Browne and Faith Lord) was born in 1650 in Norfolk, Virginia; died on 17 May 1696 in Norfolk, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

bMary E. Browne info
/b
Generation No. 1

1. Thomas2 Biggs (John (Bigge)1) was born Abt. 1648 in England, and died
Abt. 1696 in Norfolk Co., VA. He married Mary E. Browne Abt. 1670 in Lower
Norfolk Co., VA, daughter of Edward Browne. She was born 1656 in VA, and died
May 17, 1696 in Norfolk Co., VA.

Notes for Thomas Biggs:
Believed to have lived in Lower Norfolk Co., VA because of Deed Book 4,
pg.50A . His death is believed to come at the age of 48 because of a depostion on
17 May 1696/97. His wife, aged 40. (Norfolk Co. Book 8, p.88). There was no
will found for Thomas Biggs in Norfolk Co., supposedly because of a fire ca
1708 (Alta's book).



Notes for Mary E. Browne:
Will of Edward Browne of Lower Norfolk Co., VA: transferring 100 acres of
land by deed of gift to "my well beloved daughter Mary, wife of Thomas Bigge,"
dated 1678 and recorded 21 May 1679.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Virginia
• Religion: 1648, Southampton, Hampshire, England
• Politics: 1658, , Norfolk, Virginia

Notes:

On board ship "Increase".
John was a Quaker who was arrested and punished in the county of Buckinghamshire, England in 1648. John fled to the colonies of Maryland and Virginia around Chesapeake Bay.
John Biggs was undersheriff of Norfolk County in 1658 when Christopher Bustian and several other men criticized him for what they called oppressive actions against them on June 15, 1668 (Book "D,", p. 150 and 156), but he continued to serve throughout the year (same pp. 171 and 179); undersheriff of Norfolk County; Puritanism and later Quakerism
The first Biggs who came to America was ubiJohn Biggs/u/b/i. He has been designated as the founder of the Biggs family in America. He was a native of Worchester, England who came to America in 1664 with the Nicholls' Expedition for the conquest of New Amsterdam. He is believed to have come from the family of Biggs of Lenchwich and Norton, near Evesham, England.
On September 8, 1664 ubiJohn Biggs /u/b/iwas present at the surrender of the Dutch govern of New Amsterdam. Peter Stuyvesant. ubiJohn Biggs /u/b/iwas Lieutenant of a foot company in the forces under Governor Thomas Dougan. New Amsterdam was changed to New York after the Dutch surrendered. ubiJohn Biggs /u/b/iwas stationed at Kingston, New York in the Command of Captain Daniel Brodhead. After his company was disbanded he settled at Marbletown, Ulster County, New York where he acquired much landed property.
ubiJohn Biggs
/u/b/imarried his second wife Mary Hall, September 28, 1686. He had four daughters and two sons, George and John. George moved to Ridington, New Jersey about 1690. His son Peter Biggs was a farmer and served as a minuteman in the Revolutionary War. He died in a British prison in New York. The family had one son in the fourth generation who lived in North Carolina, we have no direct proof that he was connected to our family.
Mr. Warren Biggs, who was a member of the Biggs family in North Carolina and who was considered an authority on Biggs in North Carolina told us that his line came from Eves, England. Mr. Biggs was an older man and we thought he meant St. Ives, a port of Southern England. From the Cornwall Visitations Pedigrees only mention of the Biggs name was Rob Rashlegh and Grace Biggs married January 1652, Cornwall Records. Perhaps our Joseph Biggs sailed from Cornwall
Richard Biggs muster January 16, 1624: Muster of Inhabitants of West and Sherley Hundreds - "Richard Biggs, age 41, arrived in the Sun August 1610. Sarah, his wife, age 35 years, arrived in the Marygold May 1618. Richard their son age 3; Thomas Turner, age 11, and Susan old age 10, his cousins also came in the Marygold 1618.
There were many Biggs in Virginia. Some of the earliest were John and James Biggs. In the Norfolk County Deed Book 6, (1695-1703) page 77 ubiJohn Biggs' /u/b/iwill was probated March 15, 1696. (I have this will, but it is so old, one can hardly read it.) In the Northamption County Will and Inventories, No. 26 (1777 to 1783) pages 161-162, James Biggs made his will naming his wife Ann. The earliest mention ofubi Joseph Biggs /u/b/iwas from Norfolk County, Virginia, Deed Book 16, page 73. ubiJohn Biggs /u/b/imade a deed of gift to his son Joseph, recorded September 17, 1747. This could have been our Joseph since he came from Virginia to North Carolina in the 1740's.
North Carolina History
To understand the terminology of the deed, wills, etc. in North Carolina, one needs to know a little of the early history of the Carolinas. In 1629 King Charles I of England granted "Carolina" to Robert Heath. At this time the "Puritan Revolution" began in England. This was a struggle between Parliament and the King for power. Charles I was killed and from 1649 to 1660 England had no king. The country was ruled by Oliver Cromwell. When he died in 1658 power passed to his son Richard who was not a strong effective ruler. Two leaders made plans to restore the Stuart family to power, Edward Hyde the Earl of Clarendon and George Monch, the Duke of Albemarle planned the idea and in 1660 Charles II was brought back to the throne. Charles rewarded these men by giving them land in America. The Carolina Charter of 1663 has been called the "birth certificate of the two Carolinas." In this charter the settlers were to have the "right of Englishmen." This document is on display in the Hall of History in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Carolina was put under eight Lord Proprietors and given "full power and authority" to create a government. It is interesting to note the religious motive was first, the political motive second, and the economic motive last.
Albemarle County (1667-1689) was the only place of settlement and the only government of what is now North Carolina. The county was divided into precincts which were given Indian names. Albemarle district drew its settlers from Virginia. The two colonies, Carolina and Virginia were rivals in growing tobacco for sale. For many years there was trouble about the line between Virginia and North Carolina. The proprietors required the settlers to pay quitrents, a rent for the use of their land even when settlers had paid for the land. By 1712 Albemarle went out of existence, and North Carolina became a royal colony and separated from South Carolina. Bertie County was established in 1722 and here the Biggs lands were located. (Check Deed of Joseph Biggs 1755)
The losses of original wills and deeds have been great in North Carolina by 1751. Frequent changes in the location of the seat of government contributed to these losses but fires caused a great percentage. Bertie was one of the first counties formed. We found a deed of the Joseph Biggs land there. Tyrrell County formed 1729 from Bertie County, had the same deed and now the same deed of Joseph Biggs is in Martin County. Martin County burned in 1884 so many of the Biggs materials burned. Many of the older deeds and wills have been copied from the older counties. My land deed for Joseph Biggs was sent from Martin County but the same is in Bertie Courthouse also.
b


Will of John Biggs ( 1606-1696)
Will of John Bigg (Biggs, Sr.), proved 1696/7 Norfolk Co VA.Posted by: /bAndy (ID *****0702) bDate: /bApril 21, 2008 at 09:32:18 of 35678
Transcription, using modern spelling, of the Will of John Bigg of Norfolk Co VA, proved 19 March 1696/7. Recorded in Norfolk bCounty/b, Virginia, Will and Deed Book No. 6, page 77.

[TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: John Bigg is John Biggs Sr., ancestor of the North Carolina Biggs family that started out in the northeastern part of the state. In addition to the spelling, punctuation has been changed and paragraphing added. Where abbreviations and symbols were used in the original, words are written out. This should not be considered an exact transcription. Please do not post it to other web sites. The purpose of this version is only to make the will easier to read.]

In the Name of God, Amen.

I, JOHN BIGG of Elizabeth River in the bCounty/b of Norfolk in Virginia, being often sick and weak in body, but now of good and perfect memory -- laud and praise be to the Almighty God -- knowing that I am naturally born and ordained to die and to pass from this mortal world and transitory life, minding to put in order all and singular my estate both real and personal,

to the intent there should be no strife for the same after my decease, do therefore first of all, after thanks given to Almighty God for His great benefits, desire and pray my children and all others to be contented with my last will and testament without any trouble, business or vexation of any of them against the other for any of my said estate, as they will answer for the same before the Judgment Seat of Almighty God, who is the rewarder of all good persons and a severe judge and revenger of all those that do evil,

and to avoid all occasions of charges* I revoke and renounce all former and other wills and testaments whatsoever heretofore by me made by word, writing or otherwise, and make and ordain this to be my very last and only will and testament for and concerning all my said estate both real and personal in manner and form following, that is to say,

First, I commend my soul to Almighty God and to His son, Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, and to the Holy Ghost, three persons and one God, most humbly beseeching the most holy and blessed Trinity to have mercy upon my soul and to pardon and forgive me all my sins and offenses so that I may after this life arise with the elect and have life and fruition of the Godhead by the death and passion of our Savior Jesus Christ,

and I will that my body be decently buried according to the disposition of my executor hereafter named.

(All that in the margins was written before my will was signed.)

I will that all my debts be well and truly contented and paid.

I give and bequeath to my son JOHN BIGG (whom I do hereby make, ordain and appoint to be my sole, only and absolute and lawful heir, and do utterly debar and make void the claim or claims of any person or persons whatsoever that shall pretend any right or title thereunto) all my estate both real and personal, except such legacies hereafter mentioned, that is to say,

I give him, my said son, JOHN BIGG, all my land I am now possessed of, viz., my manor plantation and all the land belonging to the same, and all houses, gardens, orchards, wood land and all cleared ground and all other appurtenances thereunto belonging, including a small parcel of land that George WHIDBY lives upon by my permission during his life, also the land which my son JABEZ held in his lifetime by patent bearing date the 23rd day of April 1682*, which said land is also my proper right, all which, with the land I hold now by my own patent bearing date the 21st day of April, A. D. 1690, I give to my said son, JOHN BIGG, and his heirs forever, in as large and ample manner to all intents and purposes as is expressed in the patent aforesaid, to have and to hold the said plantation and land with the appurtenances unto the said JOHN BIGG, my son, and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, the heirs male first to take place and so in order,

but if my said son JOHN shall die without issue as aforesaid, then my land with the appurtenances to my grandson JOHN WHIDBY and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, the male first and then the female, and for lack of such issue, then to descend to my grandson George WHIDBY and his heirs lawfully begotten, and for lack of such issue, then to descend to the rest of my daughter ELIZABETH's children and their heirs, the male first to take place and so successively, as aforesaid, and for want of such issue, then to my daughter KATHERINE Mercer's children and their heirs, the male first always to take place, and for want thereof the female, and their heirs, and for lack of such issue, to the next right heirs of me, the said JOHN BIGG, the father, forever,

but if my son JOHN BIGG have children lawfully begotten as aforesaid, or in defect thereof my grandson JOHN WHIDBY, or for lack thereof the said George WHIDBY, in defect thereof any of the heirs aforementioned, meant or hereby intended, lawfully begotten as aforesaid, are at their own liberty to give the said land to which they like best of their children, either male or female,

but if my son JOHN BIGG have lawful issue and die intestate, then my land aforesaid to fall and descend to his children, whether male or female, the male first and so successively; the meaning is that if the male die, the female to take place.

I give and bequeath to my son Thomas BIGG, my daughters ANN FAUX, KATHERINE Mercer, ELIZABETH WHIDBY, JOANE SIKES, PHOEBE BIGG, DOROTHY BIGG, to each of them I give twelve pence or one shilling lawful money of England or the value thereof in goods,

and I do also give unto my son-in-law MATHEW bCASWELL/b and my grandchildren JOHN HASSOLD and MARTHA, FRANCIS, WILLIAM, JABEZ, JEAN and MATHEW bCASWELL/b, to each of them twelve pence or one shilling Sterling money or the value thereof in goods, all the aforesaid legacies to be paid by six months after my decease if the same be lawfully demanded;

and this to be the full share, part and portion for each of these persons above named of all my whole estate both real and personal, and the reason why I give them or each of them no more is for their disobedience and other material matters known to myself. (This line was erased before signing.)

Item, I do hereby make, ordain and appoint my son JOHN BIGG to be my full, whole and only executor of this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills heretofore by me made, and to take full and absolute possession after my decease of all my estate both real and personal to the use of himself and his lawful issue, he paying those legacies afore bequeathed, and if my son JOHN should die before proof of this will, his wife to act as executrix, but on the behalf of his lawful issue.

In witness whereof I, the said JOHN Biggs, have subscribed this, my last will and testament, with my own hand and thereunto put my seal this 4th day of September, A. D. 1694.

/s/JOHN BIGG {seal}

Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of us, viz.:

JOHN PORTLOCK
Thomas NASH (mark)
Thomas Etheridge
JOSEPH HODGES
REBEKA HODGES
WILLIAM MAUND (mark)
WILLIAM Etheridge (his E mark)

Proved in court 15th March 1696/7 by the oaths of:

JOSEPH HODGES, JOHN PORTLOCK, Thomas NASH, Thomas Etheridge
(and many others) and is ordered to be recorded.

Test: Malachi Thruston, Cl.
=========================
* NOTES:

"occasion of charges" is written as such in the recorded will, but the purpose of the statement is to avoid any "changes" that might arise to the present will based on what the testator might have indicated to the contrary in earlier wills or otherwise. Other wills use the terms "occasion of changes" or "variance".

The year of Jabez' patent is given as 1688 in online transcriptions of this will, but when magnified it looks more like 1682.

The spelling of Whidby is used in this transcription, but the name appears in the will also as Whitby. George Whidby is recorded in some early documents as Whedbee. Information online indicates John Hassold's descendants use the spelling Hassell. Faux also spelled Fewox. Sikes also Sykes.

The names of the "many others" whose oaths proved John's will were not specified.

The will's marginal notes were few, and unintelligible on microfilm. One concerned John Jr. and wife and executorship. Better success at deciphering these notes might be had by reading the will book in person. LDS filming was done in 1950 at the Norfolk Co Courthouse, Portsmouth VA. Film number is 0032827, Norfolk Co VA Deeds & Wills, v. 6, 1695

John + Johannah Nosworthy. Johannah (daughter of Tristram Norsworthy and Ann Lnu) was born in 1622 in , Middlesex, England; died on 2 Sep 1694 in , Norfolk, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Johannah Sawyer

Notes:

Will, 5/21/1679: "Will of Edward Browne of Lower Norfolk Co., VA transferring 100 acres of land by deed of gift to 'my well beloved daughter Mary, wife of Thomas Bigge,' [Thomas Biggs] dated 1678 and recorded 21 May 1679. (Transcribed by Ref. #16; Ref. #1 and #3.)"

bEstate of Edward Brown (1590 - 1660)
/bHistorical collections of the Essex institute
By Salem Mass, Essex inst 1859
pg 93
iEdward Brown. Mar. /i1660.
Will of Edward Brown of Ipswich, dated 9th Feb.. 1659, mentions 3 acres, a gift given to his son Thomas by his aunt Watson in Ok; Engl uid. said Thomas being dead he accounts bis son Joseph to be bis heir, Joseph to have his 8 acres in the common land which he bought of his brother Bartholomew; wile. Faith Browne, son John Browne, his wife sole ex'tx. Witnesses. Robert and Thomas Lord, proved 27tb 1st mo., 1660.
Inventory of above estate, taken 20th Feb., 1659. amounting to £225 5s 7d: debts due from the estate, £24 8s Id ; returnod by Moes Pingry and Robert Lord, 27th 1st mo., 1660.

Edward + Faith Lord. Faith (daughter of Robert Lord and Katherine Bartholomew) was born in 1628 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachutsetts; died on 10 Nov 1679 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachutsetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: Aft 1610, Virginia
• Residence: 1624, Virginia Pioneer, West Sherlow (100), Virginia
• Politics: 5 Mar 1624, Virginia

Notes:

Richard Bigge (Biggs)arrived on ship named Swan in August 1610 at age 41. He was a member of the convention of 1625 (Journal of Colonial Governer and Council) and a member of the house of Burgeuses assembled March 5, 1623-24. He is refered ro as "of West and Shirley Hundreds, late Deceased" in 1625. His wife was named Sarah and was survived by one son Richard Bigge Jr.

Richard married Sarah Biggs in 1619 in Hampshire, England. Sarah (daughter of Richard Biggs and Elizabeth Rogers) was born about 1589 in England; died in 1638 in Lower Norfolk, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1624, Virginia

Other Events and Attributes:

• Ancestral File Number: 1LZ9-G0W
• Land: , Isle of Wight, Virginia
• Land: 1634, , Nansemond, Virginia
• Politics: Between 1639 and 1640, , Nansemond, Virginia
• Land: 9 Jan 1643, , Norfolk, Virginia
• Land: 29 Sep 1645, , Isle of Wight, Virginia
• Land: 18 Mar 1650, , Isle of Wight, Virginia
• Politics: 1654, , Nansemond, Virginia
• Military: 1656, , Nansemond, Virginia

Notes:

Paid tax on 100 acres of land.
Was listed as having land close to "Craney Point".
Was one of the first Burgesses or Representatives from Upper Norfolk or Nansemond County, Virginia, to the Virginia Assembly.
Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume IV, Norsworthy, page 20.
Property located on a creek called "Mount Lawson Baye"
Had land in Isle of Wight County (Nugent, "Cavaliers and Pioneers").
Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume IV, Norsworthy, page 20.
Had land in Isle of Wight County (Nugent, "Cavaliers and Pioneers").
Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume IV, Norsworthy, page 20.
One of the justices of Nansemond County, Virginia.
Was first occassion of being referred to as Lt. Colonel of ye Ragged Islands

Tristram married Ann Lnu about 1625 in Widecombe In The Moor, Devon, England. Ann was born about 1608 in Devon, England; died about 1656 in New Kent, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Ancestral File Number: 1LZ9-FP3

Robert married Katherine Bartholomew in 1600 in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. Katherine was born in 1559 in Sudbury, Essex, England; died on 3 Dec 1650 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]