Family Tree Briggs » Deacon Matthew Briggs (1676-1764)

Persoonlijke gegevens Deacon Matthew Briggs 

• Hij is geboren op 5 februari 1676 in Taunton, Bristol, MA.Bronnen 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
• (Construction of Mill/Forge) op 1696-1700 in 1141 Briggs Street, Dighton, Bristol, MA: Built Mill/Forge facility - in use through 1870.Bron 7
• Hij is overleden op 8 maart 1764 in Dighton, Bristol, MA, hij was toen 88 jaar oud.Bron 2
• Hij is begraven in First Church of Dighton Cemetery.Bron 2
• Een kind van William Briggs en Sarah Macomber

Gezin van Deacon Matthew Briggs

Hij is getrouwd met Abigail Burt.

Zij zijn getrouwd rond 1696 te Dighton, Bristol, MA.

Kind(eren):

1. Josiah Briggs  1700-1778
2. Matthew Briggs  ± 1705-1763 
3. Elizabeth Briggs  1708-> 1764
4. Lydia Briggs  ± 1710-1804 
5. Daniel Briggs  ± 1712-< 1756 
6. James Briggs  1716-1753 

Notities over Deacon Matthew Briggs

8 Mar 1764.
22 Feb 2009. Photo by Doreen McGuirk
19 Feb 2009. Photo by Doreen McGuirk
Inscription on gravestone, First Church, Dighton, Bristol, MA:

"Deacon Matthew died March 8, 1764 aged 88 years"

Both Matthew and his wife, Abigail, are recorded as having been born in Taunton and having died in Dighton. They may well have never moved, inasmuch as Dighton was named in honor of a woman, Frances Dighton Williams, and was founded in 1712 as the southern precinct of the Town of Taunton. Dighton to the present day retains close regional ties with Fall River, Providence, Rhode Island, and Taunton.

Matthew built a mill/forge complex on the Segreganset River between 1696 and 1700 which remained in active use until ca. 1870.

In the publication, "Sons of John Briggs of Taunton, Mass.", this Matthew Briggs is described as an "Inn keeper" and his son, Matthew is described as a "Blacksmith".

Per the Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1687-1745
Mathew Briggs of Dighton was commonly called upon by the courts to be an appraiser of property contained in wills when the wills were probated for deceased residents of Dighton, Bristol, MA.

Abstracts of Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1687-1745:

Appointment of Mathew Briggs of Dighton, Yeoman, to be guardian of Ichabod Aldrige (minor over 14), son of Elias Aldrige of Dighton, dated 6 Apr 1747 (11:237)

Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts:«/b»
Chapter: From 1776 to 1815

"On the Segreganset River were a number of very early industries, among them what was known as the White-Birch cotton factory, which was probably built a little earlier than the Wheeler mill; there is only a saw mill now on this site. A little above was the site of the old saw mill of Simeon Williams, and near by the lap-mill of Joshua Williams, in a building which had been previously occupied by Isaac Babbitt for making plugs for ship-carpenters. About the beginning of the last century Matthew Briggs came from England, bringing machinery for a grist mill, and a forge, which were set up on the pond west of the brick meeting-house. The property remained in that family many years, but the site is now occupied by only a saw mill."

History of Bristol County, Massachusetts: with biographical sketches ..., Part 1, edited by Duane Hamilton Hurd

"Water-Power of the Segreganset.— The Scgreganset River runs its course almost wholly within the limits of this town. Excepting near its mouth, where it joins the Taunton, it is little more than a brook. One branch of it rises in the west part of the town, near Gofts Hill, and another takes its rise in the extreme northwest corner; these branches unite at the pond, just above the saw-mill and grist-mill of J. T. W. Reed. At this point, on the east side of the road, there was formerly a small cotton-mill, called the White-Birch factory, which was burnt more than forty years ago, while it was being run by David Westcont, now of Taunton. Just above the site of the White-Birch mill one Simeon Williams had a saw-mill in the last century, and near by was, at a later date, the lap-mill of Joshua Williams, the building having been previously used for the making of plugs for ship-carpenters' use by Isaac Babbitt. About a quarter of a mile west of the brick meetinghouse is the pond that gives power for the forge and grist-mill of Albert Briggs, son of Joseph Briggs, who carried on business here for many years. The property has been in the family for a long period. About one hundred and eighty years ago one Matthew Briggs came over from England, and brought the machinery for a forge and grist-mill, which was set up at this place. Mr. Briggs was one of the deacons of the Congregational Church. A part of his business was the making of pod-augers for carpenters' use, that being in the "good old pod-auger days," before the screw-auger was invented.

"Just below the Briggs Forge, and not far from Leonard Horton's house, there was many years ago a fulling-mill, all traces of which, as well as its history, have long ago disappeared. A short distance below the east and west road that leads to the Upper Four Corners is a stone building which was built in 1822, by Capt. David Perry, for a machine-shop. On his failure in business the property was sold, and the building was afterwards occupied as a tack-mill by various parties. About a quarter of a mile below the stone building there was, many years ago, a flaxseed-oil mill, but by whom it was owned or when it was built are not now known. It was an unfortunate concern, and the machinery was said to have been bewitched by .an old woman who had a spite against the owner. No sooner was it started to running than some part of it would break down. The iron spindle of the millstone seemed to be the particular object of the old lady's evil spells, for it would melt down almost as soon as the mill started, although its bearings were liberally supplied with tallow and other lubricants. That was long after the time of that zealous divine and witchhunter, Cotton Mather, and none of the women of the neighborhood were hung or tortured on suspicion of having bewitched the oil-mill. The building was afterwards used as a tub- and pail-factory by a Mr. Willard, the lower part being used by Mr. Cummings as a blacksmith-shop. The witch spell seemed to cling to it to the end, for it took fire from friction one night, and was destroyed. A plank had been run through the spokes of the water-wheel to prevent its turning, but a freshet coming on, the pressure of the water broke the plank, and the machinery started into rapid motion. As there was not enough oil on the bearings to prevent friction, the building was in flames before morning. Afterwards a saw-mill was built on the site by Joseph Briggs. About half a mile below the site of the oil-mill was the tack-factory of Nathaniel Leonard & Son, built about the year 1845, and which ran twenty-two machines until within a few years, when the concern was sold out to the combination of tack manufacturers, and has since been idle.

"Mr. Leonard was a skillful mechanic, and for some years was the only manufacturer in the county of the plated rolls used by jewelers. He was also the inventor of a tack-machine identical with what is called the Blanchard machine, but was forestalled in getting a patent by Blanchard. Some distance below the Leonard1 factory, on the road that was formerly one of the boundaries between Dighton and Wellington, was the grist-mill known as Simmons' mill, which has not been running for many years.

"Of all the many manufacturing enterprises that have been started on the Segreganset River only two are in operation at the present time, Mr. Reed's sawmill and Mr. Briggs' forge and grist-mill. Elderly and middle-aged people, who have been familiar with the stream from boyhood, say that the amount of water it carries down is much less than was the case when they were young. This is probably true of the other streams in this town. They have apparently shrunk within the last thirty or forty years. The reason for this shrinkage is no doubt to be found in the cutting off of the woods in the north and west part of the town.

"Sally Richmond's Brook.— This stream, named for one of the old maiden ladies before mentioned, takes its rise in the swamps northwest of Hunter's Hill, runs at first a northeasterly course, crossing the road leading to Pitts' Corner from the Four Corners twice, then turns southeasterly, skirting the base of Richmond Hill, and loses itself in the oozy flats of Muddy Cove, near the color-works of J. C. Jessop &Co.

"There were formerly in operation on this small stream a shingle-mill and a forge, both on the west road. The first, owned by Gen. William Peck, who used to saw cedar shingles in the winter, there not generally being water enough in the summer for the purpose. Gen. William Peck, who owned the farm that formerly belonged to the father of Commodore Talbot, was born in Swansea, April 12, 1795. His father's name was Thomas, who married Elizabeth Mason, of Swansea. William Peck was colonel of the First Regiment, Second Brigade of the county militia from Aug. 27, 1828, to Sept. 11,1830, when he was promoted brigadier-general of the Second Brigade, consisting of five regiments and a battalion of artillery. He was also president of the court-martial which met in Boston for the trial of Lieut.-Col. G. S. Winthrop for failing to properly do escort duty with his command on election-day in 1832. His unflinching firmness on this occasion and his somewhat stern expression of features won him, in the newspaper reports of the affair, the sobriquet of Gen. Pluck. He married Lemira Mason, daughter of Job Mason, of Swansea. They had four daughters, whom he used to term his bushel of girls. His death occurred in October, 1851, his wife surviving him three years.

"The forge and blacksmith-shop of Matthew Briggs stood about a quarter of a mile below Gen. Peck's.

1 Tlio Leonard! came from Wulei, and hart alwaya been noted In the working and manufacture of Iron erer aluce the two brothers, Jamra and Henry Leonard, came over In 1652, and, in company with Hhijiii Buaeel, art up in Taunton (now Raynhani) the Brit iron-worka built In thia country.

shingle-mill. There was a small pond in the rear, from which a flume led to the undershot-wheel that carried the tilt-hammer. Mr. Briggs was a man of Falstaflian proportions, and almost of FalstufHau humor. He was quick at repartee, his eyes would twinkle under his round spectacles, and his rotund form would shake with laughter at anything that tickled his fancy. He was, withal, a skillful smith, and could make almost anything in his line from a horse-nail to a monkey-wrench. His forge being near the school-house, the boys used to find it a fascinating place of resort during recess, especially when the trip-hammer was in motion, sending horizontal showers of sparks from the white mass of metal it was beating into shape. Mr. Briggs was captain of the Second Company of Dighton militia from 1818 to 1822. His father's name was Matthew, and he was a seventh son; he also had seven sons, the youngest of whom ought, according to the old superstition about seventh son of seventh son, to be endowed with the gift of curing by touch the king's evil. Matthew Briggs' forge has long been torn down, the dam leveled, and the pond converted into a meadow."

History of Bristol County, Massachusetts: with biographical sketches ..., Part 1, edited by Duane Hamilton Hurd

In 1767 the meeting-house on the hill was destroyed by fire, the work of an incendiary. The building of a new meeting-house had been agitated for some time. The old house was found too small for the increasing congregation, but there was a division of opinion as to the proper location for the new one. Some thought the old place the best situation that could be found; others preferred Buck Plain, as that would be nearer to their own homes, while a few were in favor of enlarging the old house. One dark night there was a blaze upon Meeting-House Hill, and the question of repairing and enlarging the primitive structure that stood on its summit was decided beyond reconsideration in the negative. After the fire the dispute about the site for the new house still continued to agitate the community, and-there being no prospect of agreement, it was found necessary to call in referees from another town to settle the vexed question. The names of five men were drawn from the juror-box in Atticborough, and the referees thus called upon, after a careful hearing of all parties in the dispute, decided to stick up a stake on Buck Plain as the spot where,

in their opinion, the new house should be built. The place chosen was about a mile westerly from where the first house stood. There were but few houses in the immediate vicinity. Nature has not been lavish in her gifts to that level portion of the town known as Duck Plain. The land is not remarkable for fertility, and the plain is chiefly covered with a low growth of scrub-oaks, and such was undoubtedly the case in the early settlement of the locality.

The origin of the name is said to have been as follows: In former times there were three distinct families bearing the name of Briggs in the town, and to distinguish them they were called respectively the "Stout Briggses," the" Buckhorns," and the " Whippoorwills." What was the signification of the latter appellation is not, perhaps, known at the present day. Possibly some members of the family lived in the woods, and were nocturnal in their ways. The "Buckhorns" were so called from certain curious protuberances like budding deers' horns that appeared on the heads of many of that branch of the name, even down to a late period. The "Stout Briggses" were distinguished for great bodily strength, the word stout being here used in its original sense of strong, and not in the later sense of corpulent tin Washington Irving used it in his sketch of the " Stout Gentleman." According to the story which has been handed down, one Samuel Briggs, of the Buckhorn branch, lived not far from the locality that is now called Buck Plain; how long ago the tradition does not state, but it was some time, probably, in the first half of the last century. Samuel was crossing the plain one day when he came upon a large buck lying under a rock among the scrub-oaks fast asleep. Being an active young man he determined, as he had no gun to shoot the animal with, to attempt to capture it alive. He therefore crept cautiously up to the sleeping deer, and sprang upon its back, seizing one of its horns in each hand. The astonished and frightened buck leaped to its feet, and made on" at a headlong pace in the direction of the river, which was more than a mile distant, Briggs clinging to his back as best he could. On they tore through bushes, briers, and scrub-oaks, and reaching the river at lust, the panic-stricken animal plunged in with its rider, who managed to drown and capture it. According to tint talc, when Briggs reached the river he was very nearly in purti nuluralibtu, all of his clothing having been torn oil" excepting his shirt collar and wristbands. Mazeppa's famous bareback ride was a tame affair compared to Samuel Briggs' ride on the buck. Although the Cossack hetmun's condition as to clothing was much the same throughout his involuntary ride as Briggs'condition was at the end of his, yet, unlike the latter, his clothes were not torn from him piecemeal by cruel thorns, nor was he in danger of falling oil', being securely tied to his horse's back. While Mazeppa's ride has been the theme of poets like Lord Byron, of novelists like Bulgariu, and of painters like Horace Vernct, Samuel Briggs' exploit has been celebrated neither in poesy, fiction, nor art.1

The mccting-houso that was built on tho plain was much more capacious than the one that was burnt. It was fifty-five feet long by forty-five wide, and with twenty-four-fect studs. The sum of five hundred pounds was appropriated in town-meeting for building expenses. While it was building meetings were held at the house of Samuel Whitmareh, nearly opposite. In after-years this Buck Tlain meeting-house was cut down to one tier of windows, and used exclusively for a town hall. When the present townhouse was built a few years ago the old house on the plain was sold at auction, and torn down by the purchaser.

Among the names that are prominent in the records of vital statistics of the period before the Revolutionary war are those of Shove, Walker, Talbot, Gooding, Hathaway, Pitts, Stephens, Atwood, Deane, Ware, Briggs, Pool, Whitmarsh, Waldron, Jones, Andrews, Fisher, Paull, Williams, Westcoat, Austin, Bobbitt, afterwards Babbitt, Goff, Wide, afterwards Ide, Burt, Nichols, Crane, Hoar, afterwards Hoard, Smith, Perry, Baker, Simmons, Phillips, Pierce, Shaw, Luther, Cleveland,1 Tucls, afterwards Tew, Vickery, Linkhorn, afterwards Lincoln, Peck, and Francis. The number of children to a family at that time would probably average more than twice the number of the averago family of to-day, twelve to fourteen being not uncommon in the days of our great-grandfathers.'

Men and Families of SoutheasternMassachusetts

“MatthewBriggs, son of William and Sarah (Macomber) Briggs, of Taunton, bornFeb. 5, 1676, is probably the Matthew Briggs who is referred to inthe early records of the South Purchase (later the town of Dighton)in 1710 as figuring in the seating at the meetinghouse, and who isalso referred to in the records as bringing from England machineryfor a grist mill and forge, which were set up on the pond west of thebrick meeting-house. This property remained in the Briggs family manyyears. It may be worthy of note to add that Dighton was incorporateda town in 1712. According to the gravestone Deacon Matthew Briggsdied March 8, 1765, aged eighty-eight years.”

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