Briggs Ancestors

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
HENRY BRIGGS AND
ELIZABETH LEECH

Henry Briggs was born in about 1600 of Sulgrave, the son of Thomas and Alice Briggs. Sulgrave is a Northamptonshire village, about eight miles from Banbury. It was the home of George Washington's wool merchant ancestors.

Henry married Elizabeth Leech 10 June 1625 in Daventry, Northamptonshire. Daventry is a market town about twelve miles north of Sulgrave.

Marriage record for Henry Briggs and Elizabeth Leech in Daventry:
"Henry Breges & Elizabeth Leech both of this parrish married the xth of June"

Elizabeth is likely the widow Elizabeth Leech. Elizabeth Owen married Thomas Leech 1 August 1618 in Daventry.

Marriage record for Elizabeth Owen and Thomas Leech in Daventry:
"Thomas Leech & Elizabeth Owen both of this parrish marrieed the ffirst of August"

Thomas Leech died and was buried 15 February 1622 in Daventry. Elizabeth married Henry Briggs three years later.

Henry and Elizabeth had the following children:

1. John, mentioned in grandfather's will of 1653.

2. Elizabeth, born in about 1640, mentioned in grandfather's will of 1653; married 1) John Hall, a mercer, 3 October 1664 in Chacombe, Northamptonshire, then 2) Samuel West in about 1669; died in about 1677 of Banbury.

SOURCES: Will of Thomas Briggs, mercer of Sulgrave, 1653, Prerogative Court of Canterbury; Daventry parish register, www.ancestry.com.

Sulgrave

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
THOMAS AND ALICE BRIGGS

Thomas Briggs was born in about 1575 of Sulgrave, Northamptonshire. He married Alice. Thomas was a mercer, or dealer of fine fabrics.

Thomas died in about 1653 of Sulgrave, leaving a will.

Will of Thomas Briggs of Sulgrave, 1653, PCC

In the name of God, amen, I Thomas Briggs of Sulgrave in the county of Northampton, mercer being sick and weak in body but whole in mind and of perfect memory (praised be God ) do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following viz., First I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it me through the merits of Jesus Christ and my body to be buried in the parish churchyard of Sulgrave aforesaid; Also I give and bequeath unto my son Edward Briggs my dwelling house with all the houses belonging thereto and my close with the garden orchard and all the ground adjoining thereunto and all my land, leys, meadows and pasture ground together with the profits & commodities and appurtenances thereto of rights appertaining; All which are situate, lying and being in the town and fields of Sulgrave aforesaid, to have and to hold all the aforesaid premises unto him the said Edward Briggs and to his heirs forever yet with this promise that if it shall happen that my said son Edward shall die before his now wife Sara then my will and pleasure is that she his said wife Sara my daughter in law shall have, hold and enjoy the aforesaid premises and profits thereof during all the time of her widowhood but no longer. Also I give and bequeath unto Alice Briggs and Sara Briggs my grandchildren and daughters of the said Edward, five pounds apiece of lawful money of England to be paid unto them by my Executors when they shall come to the age of one and twenty years. Also I give and bequeath unto John Briggs my grandchild the son of Henry Briggs the sum of forty shillings of lawful money of England to be paid by my Executors to the said John when he shall come to four and twenty years of age, if he shall live so long. Also I give unto Elizabeth my grandchild, daughter to the said Henry the sum of twenty shillings to be paid unto her by my Executors when she shall come to the age of five and twenty years if she live so long. Also I give unto the poor of Sulgrave five shillings to be distributed amongst them at the discretion of my Executors. All the rest of my goods I give and bequeath unto my wife Alice Briggs and my said son Edward Briggs whom I make my right and lawful Executors of this my last will and testament, they paying my debts and legacies and discharging my funeral expences. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord God, according to the computation of the Church of England one thousand six hundred fifty and two.

Thomas Briggs his mark
Sealed and delivered in the presence of Ric. Fisher, Abraham Richardson his mark, Samuel White.

Thomas and Alice had the following children:

1. Edward, occupation - mercer; married Sara; had children Thomas, Alice and Sara; died about 1662, leaving a will: "In the name of God, I Edward Briggs of Sulgrave in the county of Northampton, mercer, being sick & weak in body but well in mind & of good & perfect memory (praised be God) do make this my last will & testament in manner & form following; First I bequeath my soul into the hand of Almighty God my creator through the merits of Jesus Christ my redeemer and my body to be buried in the parish church yard of Sulgrave aforesaid. Also I give & bequeath unto my son Thomas Briggs all my house and homestall with all the profits and appurtenances belonging thereunto and all my land also appertaining thereunto in the town & fields of Sulgrave aforesaid when he shall come to the age of one & twenty years to him & his heirs for ever. Also I give unto my two daughters Alice & Sarah forty pounds of lawful money of England to be equally divided between them and to be paid to them by my son Thomas Briggs in manner & form following. That is to say my will & pleasure is that my said son Thomas shall pay twenty pounds to my daughter Alice when she shall come to the age of five & twenty years. And he shall pay the other twenty pounds to my younger daughter Sara when she shall accomplish the age of one & twenty years. All my goods moveable and immovable I give & bequeath unto my wife Sara Briggs in case & so long as she shall continue a widow, but in case she shall be married again, then my will & pleasure is that all my goods & household stuff shall be equally divided between my two daughters when the younger of them comes to the age of one & twenty years, and that from thenceforth they shall have & enjoy them forever, and that my said wife Sara shall not sell, give, embezzle, or take away any part of my household stuff from my said daughters in case she happen to marry again. But she shall have only in that case the thirds of my house & land. And lastly I make my said wife Sara my lawful Executrix of this my last will & testament, she paying all my debts & funeral expences. And I make Thomas Whitton & William Ould both of Sulgrave aforesaid overseers of this my last will & testament, desiring them to see the same truly fulfilled. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord God (according to the computation of the church of England) one thousand six hundred & fifty nine 1659"

*2. Henry, married Elizabeth Leech 10 June 1625 in Daventry; not mentioned in father's will of 1653, and was most likely deceased at that time.

SOURCES: Will of Thomas Briggs, mercer of Sulgrave, 1653, Prerogative Court of Canterbury; will of Edward Briggs, mercer of Sulgrave, 1662, Archdeacontry Court of Northamptonshire.