Thomas Rigg

Thomas Rigg appears in Charles County Maryland records between 1676 and his death in 1688. His estate was administered by John Gardiner who intermarried with Constance, relict of the deceased.

Thomas Rigg may have been born as early as 1636 (roughly the same age as Richard Morris) or as late as 1655 (since he was an adult in 1676). John Gardiner was born circa 1668. If Constance was roughly the same age she likely married Thomas Rigg in 1686, which means that Thomas was previously married. (Cattle marks for children Thomas Rigg and Mary Rigg would then have been in anticipation of his marriage to Constance.)

Maryland Calendar of Wills: Volume 1, page 188 Cornor, Job, Chas. Co. 9th Nov., 1676 16th Apr., 1676-7. To Thomas Rigg and Eliza, wife of Thomas Corker personalty. Wife Anne, execx. and residuary legatee of estate, real and personal, during life. To Thomas Corker, plantation, 300 A., at death of wife Anne afsd. Test: Thos. Corker, Philip Brown. Eliza Corker was the daughter of Clement Theobald and Mary. The 300 acre plantation was St. Nicholas, on the west side of a fresh run of Portobacco Philip Browne owned Greenah, a 100 acre tract adjacent to St. Nicholas. Philip Browne bought Greenah from Job Cornor on 9 Nov 1675. Prior to that, he leased 100 acres of land from Edmond Lindsey, who had in turn leased the land from Isaac Allerton. Philip Browne died shortly after Job Cornor. John Wood, administrator of the estate of Philip Browne filed an account on 9 Feb 1677 in Charles County.

A week after Job Cornor made his will, his friend, Thomas Corker did likewise. The will would have been hand written, witnessed, and later carried to the Charles County Register of Wills and to the Maryland Prerogative Court to be recorded (hand copied). The two recorded copies survive. There are differences between them. According to the Maryland Prerogative Court copy, Corker left a horse to an otherwise unknown Penelope Rigge. The Maryland Calendar of Wills summarized this as "personalty." RoM (p508) asserts that Penelope was the first wife of Thomas Rigg and that she was closely related to Eliza, wife of Thomas Corker. The will does not state a relationship to or between the Riggs. Elizabeth Theobald (wife of Thomas Corker) had a sister, Penelope Theobald, who married Richard Morris. Since Thomas Rigg witnessed Morris's will 10 years after Thomas Corker died, it seems clear that Penelope Theobald did not marry Thomas Rigg . According to the Charles County Register of Wills copy, Corker left a horse to an otherwise unknown Phillop Rigg. If an account exists showing distributions from Corker's estate, it would be interesting to see who actually received the horse. I would not be surprised if it went to Philip Browne. A week earlier, Job Cornor left a horse jointly to Phillip Browne and Thomas Rigg. Maryland Calendar of Wills: Volume 1 Corker, Thomas, Chas. Co. 17th Nov., 1676 12th May, 1677. To Penelope Rigge, Thomas Rigge, George Langham, Benjamin Rozer, William Chandler, Richard Chandler, Clement Theobald and John Theobald, personalty. Wife Eliza: execx. and residuary legatee of estate, real and personal. Test: Thos. Coates, Thos. Darcy. Charles County Register of Wills Maryland Prerogative Court Benjamin Rozer, sheriff of Charles County, owned the tract St. Patrick's, bordering on St. Nicholas Run. William and Richard Chandler were sons of Job Chandler and Anne Thorowgood. William married Mary Sewall and Richard married Elizabeth Burdett, though they may not have married until after Thomas Corker's will was made. Elizabeth Corker, Clement and John Theobald were children of Clement Theobald and Mary. Thomas Coates was a son of Bartholomew Coates and Mary.

27 Nov 1683 - 8 Jan 1683/4 - Thomas Burford vs Thomas Rigg in a plea of trespass on the case. Sheriff's return: Cepi corpus. Charles County Circuit Court, Liber K, page 281

27 Nov 1683 - 8 Jan 1683/4 - Thomas Rigg vs John Pembroke for 265 lbs. tobacco. Sheriff's return: Non est inventus. Charles County Circuit Court, Liber K, page 284

8 Jan 1683/4 - 11 Mar 1683/4 - Thomas Burford vs. Thomas Rigg in a plea of trespass on the case. Continued till next Court. Charles County Circuit Court, Liber K, page 314

11 Mar 1683/4 - 10 Jun 1684 - Thomas Burford vs. Thomas Rigg in a plea of trespass on the case. Continued till next Court. Charles County Circuit Court, Liber K, page 366

4 Aug 1684; Indenture from John Caine, Gent., to Giles Blizard of City of London;whereas marriage is intended between Giles Blizzard and Susanna Cane, d/o John Cane; in consideration of this marriage, a parcel called Blew Plane formerly granted to Geo. Thompson; containing 1,000 acres /s/ Jno. Cane; wit. Wm. Wells, Rich. Dodson, Tho. Rigg Charles County Court (Land Records), Liber L, Page 1

Apr/May 1686; Cattle Marks: Ignatius Wheeler, Tho. Riggs, Mary Morrise, Richard Morrise, Penelope Morrise, Christopher Morrise, Mary Morrise Charles County Court (Land Records), Liber M, Page 45 Ignatius Wheeler (b. May 1665, d. Mar 1698, m. 11 Nov 1693 Frances Slye). Perhaps, the son of Thomas Rigg. The others were children of Richard Morris, who were young at the time (Richard Morris, b. 1677; Mary Morris, b. 22 Dec 1680; Christopher Morris, b. 1682; PenelopeMorris, b. 13 Nov 1684).

Maryland Calendar of Wills: Volume 2 Morris, Richard, Chas. Co. 22nd Jan. 1685 14th May, 1686. To wife Penelope, extx., personalty. To child., viz., Richard, Christopher, Mary, and Penelope, personalty. Test: Jas. Lemaire, Thos. Rigg, Edw. Potter. 4. 196.

8 May 1686; The inventory of Richard Morris filed in Charles County shows a bill due from Thomas Rigg amounting to 1500 pounds of tobacco.

14 Jun 1686; Cattle Mark: Mary Rigg, d/o Tho. Rigg Charles County Deeds, Liber M, Page 100

In 1686 a certificate was issued for the tract Nonsuch, containing 87 acres. Developer/Owner: Thomas Riggs Patent Record 22, p. 225 In 1686 a patent was issued for the tract Nonsuch, containing 87 acres.Developer/Owner: Thomas Riggs Patent Record NS B, p. 444 When the tract was later sold by Peter Rigg in 1744,it was described as being on the south side of Mattawoman Creek, bounded by the land of Francis Adams. Mattawoman Creek is 30 miles long and runs East-West through the northern part of Charles County.

Thomas Rigg Rigg married (secondly?), Constance. He died in 1688, in Charles County. On 19 Jul 1688, the estate of Thomas Riggwas administered by John Gardiner, who "intermarried with Constance, the relict of the deceased."

On 5 Sep 1688, the inventory of the personal property of Thomas Rigge was taken by John Clement and Francis Adams. They placed the value at £7. 12s. 8d.

6 Apr 1689, John Gardiner filed an account of Thomas Rigge's estate with the Charles County Register of Wills.

On August 28, 1689, the administration bond on the estate of Thomas Riggs, "late of Charles County, deceased," was exhibited by John Gardiner. Francis Adams and John Clement were sureties in 10,000 pounds of tobacco. (RoM, p508)

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