Silas Briggs (1732 - 1814)

Born 17 May 1732 in Dighton, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Esther (Soper) Briggs — married 31 Oct 1754 in Berkley, Bristol, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1814 at age 82 in Barre, Washington, Vermont, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jeremiah Hoffman [send private message]

Headstone Inscription

"Dea. " Silas Briggs

Died Sept. 9, 1814

Aged 82 years

Esther

his wife..................

NOTE:: if you add 82 years with year of his birth=1814, year he died.........

Biography

Silas was born in 17 May 1732 in Dighton, Massachusetts. Of interest is that part of Dighton and Taunton became Berkley, Mass in 1735 and residents of that portion of Dighton became citizens of Berkley. We see the result of this in the town records for various individuals, including the Briggs.

Birth

Massachusetts Births and Christenings

Name Silas Briggs

Gender Male

Christening Date 17 May 1732

Christening Place DIGHTON,BRISTOL,MASSACHUSETTS

Father's Name Seth Briggs

Mother's Name Anna

Citing this Record

Now his marriage is even stranger in that he married Esther Soper. But his brother Seth, after Seth's wife Ann died, also married Esther Soper. And the intentions of marriage for Seth and Esther were filed in Bridgewater, MA and they were married in Berkley. Their last child of record was in 1755.

So how could Silas also marry Esther. Well it turns out Esther's mother was also named Esther and her husband Samuel Soper died in 1749. So from this info it can be deduced that Silas married the widow of Samuel Soper, Esther. Or it could be the other way around as Seth didn't marry Esther until 1751 so he may have married the widow. However, I am inclined to believe it was Silas who married the widow Soper because as noted in the marriage intentions there is a line drawn between her 1st & last names to indicate her unknown maiden name.

At any rate, Silas and Esther had 5 children; between 1755 and 1768.

"The Children of Silas Briggs and Esther his wife are as follows:

1. Asa Briggs born June the 22nd 1755
2. Phebe born Jan 28 1757
3. Luce born Feb 15 1759
4. Allen born Oct 14 1763
5. Elias born Feb 16 1768
6. Jonathan Briggs Esq. Sept 24, 1772 Putney Vermont ^{[citation needed]} f-a-g headstone photo....
7. Amasa born Feb 11, 1775 ^{[citation needed]}f-a-g headstone photo....

Supposedly, Silas Briggs died in 1813.

Sources

• Photo of Headstone FindAGrave]
• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQDD-MLN : 4 December 2014), Silas Briggs, ; citing , ; FHL microfilm 905,533.
• Dighton VR book - Birth https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-HDFQ?wc=Q4DC-MNR%3A353350701%2C353577402%2C353578901%3Fcc%3D2061550&cc=2061550

remembered by Jeremiah Hoffman, Wednesday, July 23, 2014.

See also:

• Add sources here.