Nelson T. Briggs

Nelson — Hannah Frances Place. Hannah was born Abt 1825, RI. [Group Sheet]

1. William Nelson Briggs was born Aug 1843, RI; died 2 Sep 1914, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Cemetery 35, Gorton-Arnold Lot, Warwick, RI.

Palmer married Amy Wilcox Abt 1812. Amy (daughter of Sylvester Wilcox and Amy Richmond) was born Abt 1791, South Kingstown, Washington Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Amy (later wife of Palmer Briggs) is mentioned as daughter of Sylvester in the 1807 will of William Willcox of SK. According to the will, Sylvester is son of Robert, William's brother.

Note the surname is often spelled Willcox.

Her name is sometimes given as Almy.

In son Nelson's death record, his mother's name is given as Amy Perry Briggs. Was Perry a middle name, perhaps named after her mother? Another possibility is that Palmer married two women, both named Amy.

Sweet married Martha "Patty" Tanner Abt 1777. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Sylvester is mentioned in the 1807 will of William Willcox of SK. According to the will, Sylvester is son of Robert, William's brother.

Sylvester was a Revolutionary War soldier. Here is a summary from his Revolutionary War Pension File: On 3 Sep 1832 he personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas in South Kingstown, Washington County; at that time he said he was age 73 and a resident of Exeter. He testified that he had served a little over two years in the Revolution [although not continuously]. He first joined early in Dec 1776. When the British fleet came there was an alarm and he was called up as a militiaman to guard the shore and quartered at Richard Gardiner's house. After that each half of the soldiers served during alternate months up until 1780. He was quartered part of the time at Robert Knowles' and part of the time at Silas Gardner's in Boston Neck and Benjamin Gardner's near the north ferry. He was on the island of Rhode Island [meaning Aquidneck Island] in Gen Sullivan's Expedition. After the British left he served two months on the island of Rhode Island part at Tomony Hill Fort [?] and part at Brenton's Neck. He served a total of two years and two months military service. He never had any written discharge; he has no record of his age. He was born in the town of Richmond, and has been living in South Kingstown since the war, until the spring of 1831 when he moved into Exeter where he now lives. (Rev War Pension File #S17797 Sylvester Willcox)

Sylvester Willcox is listed as a military pensioner age 84 in the Federal Census of 1840 at South Kingstown.

Sylvester married Amy Richmond Abt 1778. Amy (daughter of Adam Richmond and Amy Mary Hazard) was born Abt 1758, Exeter, Washington Co., RI; died Aft 1798, Washington Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Several online family trees at ancestry.com have her date of death as 10 Aug 1826, age 68, no source noted. These trees also have her maiden name as Sherman, no source noted and no parents given. They also say she was born 1758 in Exeter, RI.

However, the Richmond family book says she was Amy Richmond, and I am using the information from this book as it seems to be well done, with some images of original documents included for several individuals.
(Richmond family, 1594-1896 and pre-American ancestors, 1040-1594; Richmond, Joshua Bailey; Boston, 1981, p 69; at Heritage Quest accessed through my local library)

Ebenezer married Eleanor Sweet 22 Feb 1745/46, East Greenwich, RI. Eleanor (daughter of Daniel Sweet, Jr. and Naomi Hunt) was born 22 Nov 1727, Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Eleanor Sweet was "of David, of Warwick."

Notes:

He may have married a Hannah Tibbetts.

Notes:

At the time of his marriage, Robert was of South Kingstown. The marriage record identifies him as son of Robert, deceased.

The will of Robert Wilcox of Richmond is dated 3 June 1768, proved 4 July 1768. It mentions wife Martha; sons Robert & Sylvester; dtrs Sarah & Mary; Extr friend Stephen Hoxsie. Witnesses: Elisha Babcock (s/o Elizabeth), Mary Babcock, Anne Valet [Vallet] & John Webster. Inventory by Stephen Wilcox & David Potter.

Robert married Martha Potter 24 Dec 1749, Richmond, Washington Co., RI. Martha (daughter of William Potter and Mary Brownell) was born Abt 1730; died 6 Mar 1815, Richmond, Washington Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

At the time of her marriage, Martha was of Richmond. It identifies her father as William.

Martha Hoxie is mentioned as a daughter in the will of her father. She is also named as a grandchild in her grandmother Joan's will.

Receipt of Martha Wilcox & Robert Wilcox for legacy of grandmother Jane Potter paid by father William Potter, Admin., no date. Witnesses: William Test & Jasen Test Jr. (found online, probably Dartmouth, MA, records)

I haven't yet been able to verify the date of death.

A posting at genealogy.com has her marrying 2nd to Job Hoxsie (his 1st wife being Anna Rathbun). This posting also has her dob as 15 May 1736, which means she was age 13 at first marriage -- not likely. It says she is d/o William Potter and Mary Brownell. This appears to be accurate based on wills (see notes for her father and grandmother). I do question the date of birth, however.

Her second marriage to Job may be true, as his first wife was indeed Anne or Anna, and his will of Sep 1788 names his wife as Martha. Job is found several times in the land records, along with his father Joseph. He named a daughter Deborah, after his mother.

HOXSIE Job, of Richmond, and Anne Rathburn, of Exeter, at Richmond; m. by John Webster, Justice, March 25, 1749.

HOXSIE Job, May 21, 1731, born Richmond, to Joseph & Deborah.

The will of Job Hoxsie of Richmond, yeoman, is dtd 27 Sep 1788, proved 6 Oct 1788. It mentions wife Martha; sons Frederick, and Joseph under 21; and dtrs Deborah and Mary.

Notes:

WILCOX Robert, of Robert, dec., of South Kingstown, and Martha Potter, of William, of Richmond; m. by John Webster, Justice, Dec. 24, 1749; Richmond records.

Notes:

Richmond Adam, of Richmond, R. I., and Mary (Amy?) Hazard, of West Greenwich; m. by Philip Greene, Justice, Mar. 10, 1757, West Greenwich marriages.

Adam was admitted freeman of Exeter in May 1759.

Adam had one child by his first wife and 10 by his second wife.

Adam married Amy Mary Hazard 10 Mar 1757, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Amy (daughter of Robert Hazard) was born 21 Dec 1738, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died Bef Apr 1762. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Richmond Adam, of Richmond, R. I., and Mary Hazard, of West Greenwich; m. by Philip Greene, Justice, Mar. 10, 1757, West Greenwich marriages.

The Richmond book has her name as Amy Hazard.