Benjamin Briggs Goodrich (1799 - 1860)

Born 24 Feb 1799 in Brunswick County, Virginia, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 16 Nov 1860 at age 61 in Grimes County, Texas, USA

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Biography

Benjamin Goodrich was a Texan.

Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Briggs Goodrich was born in Brunswick County, Virginia on 24 Feb 1799, son of John Goodrich and Rhoda Goodrich. Benjamin went to the Medical College of Baltimore, then began practicing medicine in several of the southeastern states.

Before age 28 Benjamin Briggs Goodrich married Serena Caruthers/Carrothers ^[1] (b 11 May, 1807 in Barren County, Kentucky). ^[2]The couple had many children. Dr. Benjamin Briggs decided to also try life in Texas. He and wife followed brother John C out to Mexican Texas. ^[3][4]

Upon arrival in Texas in latter 1834, Dr Benjamin Briggs Goodrich found a place to settle. He bought a plot nearby in Washington Colony (later to be named Washington County), where he also practiced medicine. This seemed to be the colony where many of the politically inclined settlers were located near Washington-on-the-Brazos by 1835. Brother, John Calvin obtained a land grant in Grimes County. ^[5]

Dr. Benjamin Briggs was interested in the cause and government, He was selected to represent Washington-on-the-Brazos Municipality when the Convention of 1836 started, as one of its 4 delegates. They discussed the coming secession and war with Mexico. He became knowledgeable of the members and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. ^[6]Benjamin was still at the convention when he was notified that his brother John had been killed fighting at the Alamo. ^[7]

Following the war for independence, Benjamin Briggs Goodrich and wife, Serena moved to Grimes County, where he lived the rest of his days.

Benjamin passed away 16 Nov 1860 in Grimes County, Texas, USA. He is buried at the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Anderson, Grimes County, Texas, USA Goodrich was buried alongside his wife. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Goodrich family history shared with Richardson-7161
2. ↑ http://www.starmuseum.org/signers_descendants/Goodrich/rr01/rr01_001.htm#G1
3. ↑ Goodrich family history shared with Richardson-7161
4. ↑ L. W. Kemp, "GOODRICH, BENJAMIN BRIGGS," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgo12), accessed July 02, 2015. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
5. ↑ http://www.thealamo.org/history/the-1836-battle/the-defenders/defenders/goodrich.html
6. ↑ Louis Wiltz Kemp, The Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence (Salado, Texas: Anson Jones, 1944; rpt. 1959).
7. ↑ L. W. Kemp, "GOODRICH, BENJAMIN BRIGGS," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgo12), accessed July 02, 2015. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
8. ↑ Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18544345&ref=acom

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Alamo_defenders
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18544345&ref=acom

See Also:

• Louis Wiltz Kemp, The Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence (Salado, Texas: Anson Jones, 1944; rpt. 1959).
• Thomas L. Miller, "Texas Land Grants to Veterans of the Revolution and Signers of the Declaration of Independence," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 64 (January 1961).