Riggs Notes ─ Generation 9 ─ Abner N. and (1) Sally (2) Mary Riggs
Summary
Abner Nelson Riggs was born in 1821 in Steuben County, New York. He married (1) Sally Diver and (2) Mary Lilley. He and Sally had at least 3 children. Mary Lilley was born about 1840 in Cass County, Michigan, and married Abner in Van Buren County, Michigan, in 1859. They later lived in Ingham and Washtenaw Counties in Michigan. They had 3 children. He died in 1897 at Ypsilanti, Michigan. She died in 1910 at Lansing, Michigan.
Records
These are the principal records for Abner N. and Mary Riggs:
- Abner Nelson Riggs (age 18, White Oak) and Sally Diver (age 28, White Oak) married 17 Mar 1840 at the house of
William Brown, Henry Clements J. P. officiating, witnesses Clinton Riggs, William Brown and
Julia Ann Brown (White Oak) [Ingham County, Michigan, Marriages, 1838-1867, 1-18 (at DAR)]
- Nelson Rigs appeared as head of household in the 1840 Census of Ingham County, Michigan [record]:
[1840 Census of Ingham County, Michigan, Series M704, Roll 205, Page 92]
1840 Census Under 5 5- 9 10- 14 15- 19 20- 29 30- 39 40- 49 50- 59 60- 69 Males 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Females 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - Abner N. Riggs appeared as head of household in the 1850 Census of Ingham County, Michigan [record]:
[1850 Census of Ingham County, Michigan, enumeration date 8 Aug 1850, Series M432, Roll 351, Page 38B]
Names Age Sex Occupation Value -
Real EstateBirthplace Abner N. Riggs 28 M Farmer 100 NY Caroline Riggs 38 F NY Harriet N. Diver 16 F NY Martha Riggs 8 F MI Rensalaer Riggs 6 M MI Elizabeth A. Riggs 4 F MI - Mary Liley appeared in the household of Mary Liley in the 1850 Census of Cass County, Michigan [record]:
[1850 Census of Cass County, Michigan, Lagrange Township, enumeration date 28 Aug 1850, Series M432, Roll 349, Page 318A]
Names Age Sex Occupation Value -
Real EstateBirthplace Mary Liley 63 F 1000 VA Jas Liley 40 M Farmer VA Mary Liley 10 F MI Martha Liley 8 F MI John H. Liley 6 M MI Chas Fox 30 M Farming OH Jane Fox 22 F OH Saml N. Fox 11/12 M MI - Abner Riggs witnessed marriages in 1855 [Ingham County, Michigan, Marriages, 1838-1867 (at DAR)]:
William M. Riggs (age 33, White Oak) and Sally Munson (age 45, White Oak) married 13 Sep 1855 at the house of Simeon Munson (White Oak), George J. Sly J. P. officiating, witnesses John A. Sly and Abby Riggs (Abner?), 2-374
James Alchin (age 35, LeRoy) and Harriett Ann Diver (age 19, Ingham Township) married 20 Feb 1855, Geo. J. Sly J. P. officiating, witnesses Abner V. Riggs (sic) and Wm. M. Riggs (White Oak), 2-244
Note: George Sly (age 32, Grass Lake, Jackson County) and Samantha Riggs (age 28, White Oak) married 2 Feb 1841, William Ballantine J. P. officiating, witnesses Clinton Riggs and Hezekiah Riggs (White Oak), 1-44
- A. N. Riggs (age 31 (sic), of Kalamzoo County) and Mary Lilly (age 18, of Porter Township) married
8 Sep 1859 at Widow Harmon's, witnesses Peter and Sarah Onan [Michigan Heritage, Kalamazoo Valley
Genealogical Society, volume 9, 1967-1968, page 178 - Marriages in Van Buren County, 1836-1859 (at DAR)]
- Abner N. Riggs appeared as head of household in the 1860 Census of Van Buren County, Michigan
[record]:
[1860 Census of Van Buren County, Michigan, Porter Township, enumeration date 21 Aug 1860, Series M653, Roll 562, Page 1007]
Names Age Sex Occupation Value -
Real EstateValue -
Personal PropertyBirthplace Abner N. Riggs 38 M Farmer 300 250 NY Mary Riggs 19 F MI Rensaler Riggs 16 M Farm Laborer MI Elizabeth A. Riggs 14 F MI Philatus Coleby 9 M MI I've not found Abner Riggs in the 1870 Census.
- Abner N. Riggs appeared as head of household in the 1880 Census of Ingham county, Michigan [record]:
[1880 Census of Ingham County, Michigan, Mason, enumeration date 9 Jun 1880, Series T9, Roll 583, Page 484]
Name Age Sex Relationship
to headOccupation Birthplace -
SelfBirthplace -
FatherBirthplace -
MotherRiggs, Abner N. 58 M Laborer NY CT CT Riggs, Mary 39 F wife Keeping House MI OH OH Riggs, Lillie 15 F daughter At school MI NY MI Riggs, Della 11 F daughter At school MI NY MI Adams, Bion 23 M Works on Brickyd MI NY NY Adams, Winnie 18 F Boarding MI NY MI - Abner N. Riggs appeared in Lansing and Ingham County Directories, Polk [Library of Congress]:
Year Data Page 1887 Riggs, Abner N., f lab, Williamston 331 1892 Riggs, Abner N., lab, res e s Fulton 3 s of Middle, Williamston 355
- Abner Nelson Riggs died 3 Nov 1897 in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan; age 76 years 8 months and 14 days,
born in Steuben County, New York, married (first married at age 18), father of 7 children with 5 living, clergyman; father Hezekiah Riggs born
Connecticut and mother Annis Rigbe born Connecticut; burial proposed at Williamston; informant Walter D. Riggs [record]
- Mary Riggs, widow, resided in the household of her son Walter D. Riggs in the 1900 Census of Wayne
County, Michigan [record]:
[1900 Census of Wayne County, Michigan, Township of Brownstown, enumeration date 23 Jun 1900, Series T623, Roll 754, Page 13]
Name Age Birth
MonthBirth
YearSex Relationship
to headOccupation Birthplace-
SelfBirthplace-
FatherBirthplace-
MotherRiggs, Walter D. 31 Nov 1868 M Head School teacher MI NY MI Riggs, Nan G. 30 Sep 1869 F Wife MI MI MI Riggs, Harold W. 4 Oct 1895 M Son MI MI MI Riggs, Mary 61 Apr 1839 F Mother not any MI OH MI Nan: number of years married = 6; 1 of 1 children living
Mary: widowed, 3 of 3 children living. - Mary Riggs lived in the household of son-in-law J.B. Adams in the 1910 Census of Ingham County,
Michigan [record]:
[1910 Census of United States, Ingham County, Michigan, Lansing City, enumeration date 16 Apr 1910, Microfilm series T624, Roll 651, page 91]
Name Age Sex Relationship
to headOccupation Birthplace -
SelfBirthplace -
FatherBirthplace -
MotherAdams, J. B. 52 M head Machinist, Shop MI NY NY Adams, W. A. 48 F wife None MI NY MI Riggs, Harry D. 26 M son Machinist, Shop MI MI MI Riggs, Roy W. 12 M son None MI MI MI Riggs, Mary 69 F mother-in-law None MI MI MI Gardner, M. H. 40 M son-in-law ?, Shop NY NY NY Gardner, Lola May 29 F daughter None MI MI MI Winnie: number of years present marriage = 30; 4 of 6 children living
Mary: widow; 3 of 3 children living
Lola May: number of years present marriage = 8; 0 of 1 children living - Mary Riggs died 17 Sep 1910 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan; residence 536 Larch Street, age 70, born in Michigan
in Apr 1840, widowed; father James Lily born Michigan and mother Harris born Michigan; place of burial Williamston; informant
Winnie Adams [record]
Click on a link to see an abstract or copy of the record.
Discussion of Records
What can one learn from these records?
Birth
Abner N. Riggs was born in Steuben County, New York, on 17 Feb 1821 (calculated - he died 3 Nov 1897 at age 76 years 8 months and 14 days) (record 10).
Family
His father was Hezekiah Riggs and his mother Annis Rigbe (record 10). More information on Hezekiah and Annis Riggs can be found here.
Marriages
Abner N. Riggs married (1) Sally Diver on 17 Mar 1840 in Ingham County, Michigan (record 1), and (2) Mary Lilly on 8 Sep 1859 in Van Buren County, Michigan (record 6).
Wives' Families
I haven't identified the family of Sally Diver. In the 1850 Census she was called Caroline, was age 38, and born in New York.
Mary Riggs' death certificate identifies her father as James Lily and her mother's last name as Harris. In 1850 Mary (age 10) was living with Mary Liley (age 64), James Liley (age 40) and others in Cass County. Her mother probably died before 1850.
Children
Abner N. Riggs had 7 children (record 10 and Censuses):
Martha Riggs, born about 1842 (daughter of Sally)
Rensalaer Riggs, born about 1844 (son of Sally)
Elizabeth A. Riggs, born about 1846 (daughter of Sally)
Winnie Riggs, born about 1862 (daughter of Mary)
Lillie Riggs, born about 1865 (daughter of Mary)
Walter D. Riggs, born Nov 1868 (son of Mary)
Della Riggs, born about 1869 (daughter of Mary)
Residences
Abner N. Riggs lived in Steuben County, New York (where he was born), and in Washtenaw, Ingham, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties in Michigan. Mary Lilley lived in Cass County, Michigan, before her marriage.
Death
Abner N. Riggs died 3 Nov 1897 in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan (record 10).
Wives' deaths
Sally Riggs died before 1860. Mary Riggs died 17 Sep 1910 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan (record 13).
Land
[to be added]
Contemporary Events
The most momentous occurrence of Abner Riggs' lifetime was the Civil War. His son Rensalaer enlisted in the 4th Regiment, Company C, Michigan Cavalry, on 28 Aug 1862 and was mustered out on 01 Jul 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee. The 4th Michigan Cavalry captured CSA President Jefferson Davis on 10 May 1865 [Robertson, Michigan in the War, 1882, pages 682-685].
References
[to be added]