Charles Rigg

Charles Rigg was born 08 Jun 1756 in Charles Co., MD, the son of Thomas Rigg. His father died in 1761 and his widow, Mary Peel (Bowie) remarried William Parsons. On 19 March 1770, William Parsons and Mary Peel, his wife, filed Thomas Rigg's Account, which shows Charles as his minor child. Mary Peel Bowie was likely too young to be the mother of Charles Rigg, In the case of his six older siblings I can speculate a recent ancestor with a Townley surname given the use of Townley as a given name among their children and grandchildren. The same cannot be said for Charles Rigg. Is it possible that he had a different mother?

Orphans Charles Rigg and his brother, Townley, were bound to Sarah Scroggin by the November 1771 Charles Co. Court.

Townley and Charles bound to Sarah Scroggin

The account of Eleanor Andrews of 25 Oct 1777 shows 10s due to Charles Rigg.

Charles Rigg, served in the Revolutionary War for three years (29 Mar 1777 to 28 Mar 1780) and married Elizabeth Andrews (28 Dec 1781), daughter of John and Eleanor (Ching) Andrews of Charles Co.

When Sarah Scrogan made her will in Mar 1781, she left her bay mare to Charles Rigg by way of memorial. The will was probated in Jun 1784 and entered into the August 1784 Court record.

Charles and Elizabeth farmed in Charles Co. until 1 Jul 1784, when they purchased 154 acres of land on the North Fork of the Mayo River in Henry Co., VA. Charles Rigg appears in the Henry Co., VA personal property tax records for 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787 and 1788. He appears in the Patrick Co., VA personal property tax records for 1791, 1792 and 1793.

On 24 Apr 1793 they purchased 200 acres of land on South Beaver Island Creek in Stokes Co., NC.

He appears on the Stokes Co., NC Personal Property Tax List beginning in 1794.

Charles Rigg was active in civic affairs in Stokes Co. and appears frequently in public records.

Thomas Rigg appointed to a jury to lay out a road.

Concord Meeting House Road Extension, 03 Mar 1795

When his brother, Thomas Rigg, purchased 100 acres adjacent to his property on 03 Feb 1795 Charles Rigg witnessed the transaction.

Memorandum land purchase signed by Thomas, Charles and Townly Rigg

When the administrators, Sarah and Stephen Rigg, sold the moveable estate of Thomas Rigg on 14 Oct 1796, Charles Rigg was one of the purchasers.

Thomas Rigg's Estate Sale 14 Oct 1796 - Purchasers

On 06 Dec 1796, Charles Rigg signed the guardianship papers for Thomas Rigg's children.

Guardian appointed for Samuel P. Rigg, Joseph Rigg and Zachariah Rigg orphans of Thomas Rigg.

Guardian appointed for Charles B. Rigg and Philip Rigg orphans of Thomas Rigg.

The Charles Rigg family appeared in the 1800 census of Stokes Co., NC.
Charles Rigg listed in the 1800 Census of Stokes Co., NC

The official enumeration day of the 1800 census was 4 August 1800 (the first Monday in August). All questions asked were supposed to refer to that date. Those counted include: Samuel, George and Robert (under 10); Thomas and Levi (of 10 and under 16); Charles (of 26 and under 45) (It is hard to see, but the entry is ' vice "); Mary and Cassandra (under 10); Eleanor (of 10 and under 16); Elizabeth (of 26 and under 45).

In November 1803, Charles Riggs sold 400 acres of land on Beaver Island Creek in Stokes Co., NC to Hugh Martin. It seems likely that the sale of land was associated with his moving from NC.

According to the Charles Rigg Family Bible, James Harvey Rigg was born 22 Oct 1804. The 1850 mortality schedule for Wabash Co., IL gave his place of birth as VA. His daughter, Cassandra Bince, corroborated this in the 1880 census of Wabash Co., IL, though her siblings gave conflicting and inconsistent information (IL/KY) that varied from sibling to sibling and census to census.

By 1808 they were in Gallia Co., OH, where they remained until 18 Apr 1812, when they moved to Greenup Co., KY, settling in what is now Catlettsburg, Boyd Co., KY. 1810 census records for most of OH, including Gallia Co., burned in 1812. Tax records, court records and marriage records for Gallia Co. survive.

Charles Rigg of Gallia Co., OH, purchased 200 acres of land on the Big Sandy River in Greenup Co., KY, from Horatio Catlett on 18 Apr 1812 for $800.

Charles Rigg purchased 200 acres of land in Greenup Co., KY, 18 Apr 1812

Charles Rigg of Greenup Co., KY purchased a house and two additional lots in Greenup Co., KY from Horatio Catlett on 19 Apr 1813.

Charles Rigg purchased a house and 2 additional lots in Greenup Co., KY, 19 Apr 1813

The Methodist church met in their house from 1813 to 1836.

The Charles Rigg family appeared in the 1820 census of Greenup Co., KY.
Charles Rigg listed in the 1820 Census of Greenup Co., KY

Charles Rigg listed in the 1820 Census of Greenup Co., KY

The official enumeration day for the 1820 census was August 7, 1820 (the first Monday in August). All questions asked were supposed to refer to that date. Those counted include: James (of 10 and under 16); Jarriott (between 16 and 18 & of 16 and under 26); George (of 26 and under 45); Charles (of 45 and up); Elizabeth (of 10 and under 16); Cassandra and Mary (of 16 and under 26); Elizabeth (of 45 and up). Charles was the guardian of the minor children of his son, Thomas Rigg, who died in 1819. Those should add John (under 10); Thomas (of 10 and under 16) and Malinda (under 10). Four persons were engaged in agriculture (Charles, George, Jarriott and James). I cannot account for one male (10-15).

The Charles Rigg family appeared in the 1830 census of Greenup Co., KY.
Charles Riggs listed in the 1830 Census of Greenup Co., KY

Charles Riggs listed in the 1830 Census of Greenup Co., KY

The official enumeration day for the 1830 census was June 1, 1830. All questions asked were supposed to refer to that date. Those counted should include John (son of Thomas Rigg) (of 10 and under 15); James (of 20 and under 30); Charles (of 70 and under 80); Malinda (daughter of Thomas Rigg) (of 10 and under 15); Elizabeth (of 70 and under 80).

Elizabeth (Andrews) Rigg died in Greenup Co., KY on 18 Sep 1832.

Charles Rigg applied for a Revolutionary War Pension on 25 Nov 1832 in Greenup Co., KY. His application was approved. Certificate #13727 was issued 08 Jun 1833, paying $80.00 per annum.
Kentucky records of Charles Rigg's pension

Kentucky records of Charles Rigg's pension

In Greenup Co., KY, Charles Rigg bought, sold, and financed real estate.

Indenture: Spangler to Rigg, Greenup Co., KY, 2 Mar 1833

Receipt: Rigg to Catlett, Greenup Co., KY, 24 Apr 1833

Horatio Catlett was in debt to Charles Rigg, with the debts secured by a mortgage on Catlett's house. Catlett put up slaves as collateral in order to release the mortgage on his house.

Indenture: Catlett to Rigg, Greenup Co., KY, 8 Jun 1833

On 27 Sep 1836, Charles Rigg sold his land in Greenup Co., KY and moved with his sons, George Penn Rigg and James Harvey Rigg to Wabash Co., IL, joining his sons Samuel Rigg and Robert Hannah Rigg, who had settled there in Dec 1817.
Illinois records of Charles Rigg's pension

Illinois records of Charles Rigg's pension

Charles died in Wabash Co., IL on 24 Feb 1839.

Is there a pattern in the names given to the children? The eldest son, John, has the same name as Elizabeth's father. The eldest daughter, Elenor, has the same name as Elizabeth's mother. The second son, Thomas, has the same name as Charles's father. The second daughter was named Mary. Is the name meaningful? It seems unlikely to refer to Mary Peel Bowie.

Children of **Charles Rigg**
John Rigg	b. 02 Nov 1783 Charles Co., MD	d. 16 Nov 1784	m.
Thomas Rigg	b. 15 Feb 1785 Henry Co., VA	d. 11 May 1819 Lawrence Co., OH	m. 13 Aug 1809 Polly Hobbs
Levi Rigg	b. 08 Feb 1787 Henry Co., VA	d. ca 1845 Lawrence Co., OH	m. ca 1811 Elizabeth Bellmid
Elenor Rigg	b. 02 May 1789 Henry Co., VA	d.1830-1834 Fayette Co., IN	m. 27 Sep 1813 Hughes Green Larimore
Samuel Rigg	b. 14 Aug 1791 Henry Co., VA	d. 01 Apr 1858 Wabash Co., IL	m. 27 Jan 1814 Rachel Beauchamp
George Penn Rigg	b. 06 Sep 1793 Stokes Co., NC	d. 14 Dec 1867 Wabash Co., IL	m. 05 Mar 1823 Caroline S. Ham
Robert Hannah Rigg	b. 14 Jan 1795 Stokes Co., NC	d. 20 Mar 1842 Wabash Co., IL	m. 08 Aug 1822 Elizabeth McCleary
Mary Rigg	b. 06 Mar 1797 Stokes Co., NC	d. 18 Sep 1829	m.
Cassandra Rigg	b. 02 Jun 1799 Stokes Co., NC	d. May 1883 Greenup Co., KY	m1 17 May 1830 Christian Spangler m2 20 Feb 1850 John Gilkerson
Jarriott P. Rigg	b. 14 Aug 1802 Stokes Co., NC	d. 1893 Wayne Co., WV	m. 19 Nov 1829 Mary Deering
James Harvey Rigg	b. 22 Oct 1804 VA	d. 23 Feb 1850 Wabash Co., IL	m. 28 Nov 1833 Mary Rice
Elizabeth Rigg	b. 19 May 1807	d. 19 Sep 1831	m. 17 Feb 1824 William Strahan

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