Matthew Briggs

MATTHEW BRIGGS II / 1705 - 1763

The eldest of six children born to Deacon Matthew Briggs / 1676 - 1764 and Abigail (Burt) Briggs / 1676 - 1752. Matthew Briggs was born in 1705 in Dighton, Massachusetts.

Matthew Briggs married Mary Pitts (born 1715 in Dighton, MA), the eldest of seven children born to Henry Pitts / 1687 - 1764 and Anne (Cary) Pitts / 1696 - 1735. While no record of the marriage is extant, a marriage year of 1732 can be extrapolated based on the 1733 birth year of their eldest child. Matthew would have been appr. 27 years old while Mary would have been appr. 17 years old.

Matthew and Mary (Pitts) Briggs were parents of up to ten children, eight of whom are well documented in "Massachusetts Births & Christenings, 1639 - 1915". Children documented in referenced source include -- 1.) Eliakim Briggs / born September 21, 1733 in Dighton, 2.) "Silvister" (Silvester) Briggs / born February 5, 1734 in Dighton, 3.) Marcy Briggs / born February 3, 1739 in Dighton, 4.) "Abigal" (Abigail) Briggs / born August 10, 1742 in Dighton, 5.) "Doiamia" (Diademia) Briggs / born July 20, 1744 in Dighton, 6.) Henry Briggs / born January 16, 1747 in Dighton, 7.) Matthew Briggs (III) / born January 16, 1747 in Dighton, and 8.) Mary Briggs / born March 31, 1752............Additional children referenced in some sources, but lacking any supporting documentation are Deliverance Briggs (Dryer) and Darius Briggs.

Various "smart matches" reference that Matthew Briggs died in 1756 at Crown Point (Essex County), New York. This is clearly belied by interment records. It is worth noting that the husband of "The Other Mary Pitts / 1712 - 1774", Samuel Andrews / 1694 - 1756, was a casualty of the "Crown Point Expedition".

Matthew Briggs II is interred at the Dighton Town Cemetery in Dighton, MA. Per inscription on headstone -- "In Memory Of Mr. Matthew Briggs who Died Of The Smallpox Nov. 20th 1763 in Ye 58d Year Of His Age". Thus, a birth year of 1705 is extrapolated from this inscription............Additionally interred at the Dighton Town Cemetery are -- 1.) father Deacon Matthew Briggs (1676 - 1764), 2.) mother Abigail (Burt) Briggs (1676 - 1752).

Data per Find A Grave Memorial #73821054 / Created July 23, 2011 by "colorsflashing"