RESEARCH DATA

This page includes links to research data as well as some photographs of information that corroborate dates and events that are given in the body of this website. If any reader has information relating to data on the website that has not been corroborated or is in conflict please CONTACT us, leave a message with your call back number or e-mail address and we will contact you for the additional or corrected information. Thanks for your interest and help.

RESEARCH WEBSITES

Ancestry
Arizona Library Archives
Find a Grave
U.S. BLM General Land Office

[1802 - 01] Unknown month and day of 1802 Thomas Riggs was born.
Documentation: Ancestry / Marriage Records, 1560-1900 / Birth Place: Kentucky
Find a Grave / Birth Place: Kentucky
view Ancestry information here
view Find a Grave information here

[1820 - 01] April 24, 1820 Thomas Riggs purchased land from the United States of America:
80.3 acres, the west half of the northeast quarter of section 14 T19S R14W in Tuscaloosa
County, Alabama.
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation: Recorded Deed (see photo below)
view record here

[1802 - 01] xxx xx, 1822 Alabama marriage license registers Thomas Riggs' birth state as Kentucky:
Ancestry / US and International Marriage Records, 1560 - 1900
view record here (no image of marriage license)  

[1822 - 01]   xxx xx, 1822 Alabama marriage license registers Rhoda (Casey) Riggs' birth state as Georgia:
Ancestry / US and International Marriage Records, 1560 - 1900
view record here (no image of marriage license)      

[182X - 03]  xxx xx, 1822 Alabama marriage license registers Thomas Riggs and Rhoda Casey marriage:
Ancestry / US and International Marriage Records, 1560 - 1900
(no image of marriage license)        

[182X - 04] xxx xx, 182x Thomas Riggs purchased land from xxxxxx:
640.0 acres, section 23 T10S R14W in Marion County, Alabama
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation: unknown
(no document to view)

[1825 - 01] xxx xx 1825 FORMATION OF IZARD COUNTY IN ARKANSAS (Thomas, Rhoda Riggs and their
family moved to Izard County prior to the 1940 United States Census.)
           
In the nineteenth century, Izard County served as a gateway to settlement across northern
Arkansas and was the parent county of seven other counties. Later, Izard County's virgin yellow
pine forests provided lumber to other parts of the state.
           
According to some historians, John Lafferty, a native of Ireland, traveled up the White River in
1802 to what became known as Lafferty Creek. He built a log cabin and attempted to claim 640
acres following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, but his claim was denied because he had not
lived on the land for ten years. In spite of this setback, Lafferty and his family established the
county's first settlement at Lafferty Creek in 1810.

           In 1825, the territorial government split off part of Independence County, naming the new county
for Governor George Izard. Adding Osage (1827) and Cherokee (1828) lands, Izard County
covered most of north-central Arkansas. In 1833, western Izard County was divided into Van
Buren, Carroll, and Johnson counties. Later, sections of Izard County were split off to become
Marion (1836), Fulton (1842), and parts of Baxter (1873) and Stone (1873) counties.

            Izard's first county seat and post office (then called Liberty, now Norfork in Baxter County) were
           established at the mouth of the North Fork River at Jacob Wolf's trading post. Sheriff John Adams
and Clerk John Houston (brother of Sam Houston) were the first elected officials. The county seat
was moved to Athens in 1830 and to Mount Olive in 1836. Mill Creek (later renamed Melbourne)
became the county seat in 1875. Courthouses there burned in 1889 and 1937. From 1938 to 1940,
the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from Camp Sage (near Sage) built the current courthouse.
It is the only courthouse in the country partly heated by a wood-burning furnace. [24]
           view Izard County records and other information here

[1830 - 01] 1830 Living in Pikens County, Alabama:
1830 United States Census registers “Thos” Riggs living in Pikens County, Alabama with one male
under 5 years old (Brannick), two males over 5 and under 10 (William and John), one male over 20
and under 30 (Thomas) and one female over 20 and under 30 (Rhoda).
view record here (photo of 1830 census) [9]

[1832 - 01] February 10, 1832 Thomas Riggs purchased land from xxxxxx:
80.3 acres, a portion of section 14 T19S R14W in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1832 - 02] May 5, 1832 Thomas Riggs sold land to xxxxxx:
80.3 acres, a portion of section 14 T19S R14W in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
Amount received: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1833 - 01] July 26, 1833 Thomas Riggs purchased land from xxxxxx:
90.2 acres, Lot 2 or E2NE4 of section 28 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1833 - 02] August 1, 1833 Thomas Riggs purchased land from xxxxxx:
40.0 acres, N2 of Lot 7 or NE4SE4 of section 28 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1835 - 01] February 9, 1835 Thomas Riggs purchased land from xxxxxx:
90.75 acres, Lot 4 of section 33 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1835 - 02] July 8, 1835 Thomas Riggs purchased land from xxxxxx:
39.0 acres, S2 of Lot 5 or SE4SW4 of section 28 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1836 - 01] June 6, 1836 Thomas Riggs purchased land from xxxxxx:
79.5 acres, Lot 2 or W2NE4 of section 33 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1836 - 02] June 23, 1836 Thomas Riggs purchased land from xxxxxx:
39.75 acres, N2 of Lot 7 or NE4SE4 of section 33 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1839 - 01] April 26, 1839 Thomas Riggs sold land to Reubin Y. Rynolds:
90.75 acres, Lot 4 of section 33 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount received: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1839 - 02] April 26, 1839 Thomas Riggs sold land to Reubin Y. Rynolds:
39.0 acres, S2 of Lot 5 or SE4SW4 of section 28 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1839 - 03] April 26, 1839 Thomas Riggs sold land to Reubin Y. Rynolds:
79.5 acres, Lot 2 or W2NE4 of section 33 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1839 - 04] April 26, 1839 Thomas Riggs sold land to Reubin Y. Rynolds:
39.75 acres, N2 of Lot 7 or NE4SE4 of section 33 T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1840 - 01] 1840 Living in Izard County, Arkansas:
1840 United States Census registers Thos Riggs living in Izard County, Arkansas with one male
under 5 years old (James), two males over 5 and under 10 (Barney Kemp and Thomas), one male
over 10 and under 15 (Brannick), two males over 15 and under 20 (William and John C), one male
over 20 and under 30 (unknown), one male over 30 and under 40 (Thomas), two females under 5
(Margaret and Martha) and one female over 30 and under 40 (Rhoda).
view record here (photo of 1840 census)
            [24]

[1841 - 01] February 1, 1841 Thomas Riggs purchased land from the United States:
92.0 acres, Lot no. 2 of section 28, T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
U.S. BLM General Land Office Records, State Volume Patent
Accession #MS0060_.239, Document #66          

[1841 - 02] February 1, 1841 Thomas Riggs purchased land from the United States:
40.0 acres, N2E2SE4 of section 28, T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
U.S. BLM General Land Office Records, State Volume Patent
Accession #MS0060_.239, Document #87

[1841 - 03] February 27, 1841 Thomas Riggs purchased land from the United States:
90.75 acres, Lot 4 of section 33, T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
U.S. BLM General Land Office Records, State Volume Patent
Accession #MS1100_.370, Document #13516

[1841 - 04] February 27, 1841 Thomas Riggs purchased land from the United States:
39.0 acres, S2E2SW4 or the S2 of Lot 5 of section 28, T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
U.S. BLM General Land Office Records, State Volume Patent
Accession #MS1430_.366, Document #16202

[1844 - 01] September 10, 1844 Thomas Riggs purchased land from the United States:
79.5 acres, W2NE4 or the S2 of Lot 2 of section 33, T13S R19W in Monroe County, Mississippi
Amount of payment: unknown
U.S. BLM General Land Office Records, State Volume Patent
Accession #MS1450_.116, Document #27864

[1849 - 01] October 1, 1849 Land purchased in Izard County, Arkansas:
40.0 acres, NESE of section 26 T14N R11W
Documentation unknown
(no document to view)

[1850 - 01] 1850 Living in White River, Izard County, Arkansas:
            1850 United States Census registers Thos Riggs living in Izard County, Arkansas with the
following:
#248   John C. Riggs, Jane Riggs and Rhoda Riggs
            #249   Thomas Riggs, Rhody Riggs, Brannick Riggs, Barney Riggs, Thomas Riggs, James Riggs,
Margaret Riggs, Martha Riggs, Rhoda Riggs and Charles Riggs (Susan Riggs was not listed)
Census taken September 28, 1850 in White River Township, Izard County, Arkansas.
view record here (photo of 1850 census) [35]

[1850 - 02] 1850 Living in Syllamore Township, Izard County, Arkansas:
            1850 United States Census registers the following living in Izard County, Arkansas:
            #89     William C. Riggs, Nayoma Riggs, Charles Riggs and Isaac Riggs
Census taken xxxx xx, 1850 in Syllamore Township, Izard County, Arkansas.
view record here (photo of 1850 census) [35]             

[1850 - 03]  1850 United States Census registers Thomas Riggs' birth state as Kentucky:
        Census taken September 28, 1850 in White River Township, Izard County, Arkansas.
view record here (photo of 1850 census)      

[1850 - 04] 1850 United States Census registers Rhoda Casey Riggs' birth state as Georgia:
Census taken September 28, 1850 in White River Township, Izard County, Arkansas.
view record here (photo of 1850 census)        

[1855 - 01] March 1, 1855 Land purchased in Izard County, Arkansas from the United States:
43.2 acres, S2 of Lot 2 in the ?west quarter of section 19 T14N R10W
Amount of payment: unknown
Documentation: U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776 - 2015
view record here (photograph of recorded deed)

[1855 - 02] March 1, 1855 Land purchased in Izard County, Arkansas from the United States:
40.0 acres, SW4NE4 of section 19 T14N R10W
U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776 - 2015
(photograph of recorded deed)
view record here

[1855 - 03] March 1, 1855 Land purchased in Izard County, Arkansas from the United States:
40.0 acres, NE4SE4 of section 26 T14N R11W
U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776 - 2015
(photograph of recorded deed)
view record here

[1860 - 01]     1860 United States Census registers Thomas Riggs' birth state as Tennessee:
         Census taken September 13, 1860 in Blue River Township, Izard County, Arkansas.
view record here (photo of 1860 census)        

[1860 - 02] 1860 United States Census registers Rhoda Casey Riggs' birth state as  Georgia:
Census taken September 13, 1860 in Blue River Township, Izard County, Arkansas.
view record here (photo of 1860 census) 

[1860 - 03] May 1, 1860.  Thomas Riggs purchased from the United States:
40.0 acres, NW4NW4 of section 12, T14N R11W
view record here (photograph of recorded deed)       

[1880 - 01] 1880 United States Census registers Rhoda Casey Riggs' birth state as Georgia:
Census taken June 2, 1880 in Bell County, Texas.
view record here (photo of 1880 census)

[1981 - 01] 1981 A publication titled "The First Land Settlers of Marion County, Alabama” 1820-1850 by James
C. Lawler, published in 1981. Searching for a copy of the publication. [4]

[2015 - 01] 2015 "THE BRANNICKIAN RIGGSES" by Alvy Ray Smith (March 4, 2015), page 6
The death certificate of Thomas and Rhoda's daughter, Rhoda (Riggs) (Copeland) Miller registers
Thomas Riggs' birth state as North Carolina.
(no image of death certificate) [01]
view record here link broken!!!!!!!!

[2015 - 02]    2015 "THE BRANNICKIAN RIGGSES" by Alvy Ray Smith (March 4, 2015), page 6
The death certificate of Thomas and Rhoda's daughter, Rhoda (Riggs) (Copeland) Miller registers
Rhoda (Casey) Riggs' birth state as Alabama.
(no image of death certificate) [02]
view record here link broken!!!!!!!!

[2015 - 03]     2015 "THE BRANNICKIAN RIGGSES" by Alvy Ray Smith (March 4, 2015), page 6
April 26, 1839.  Thomas Riggs sold to Reubin Y. Rynolds lot no. 4 of section 33, Township 13 South,
Range 19 West, containing 90.75 acres for $8.05 per acre.
(digital image of deed but not available as yet)
view record here link broken!!!!!!!! [22]

[2015 - 04]     2015 "THE BRANNICKIAN RIGGSES" by Alvy Ray Smith (March 4, 2015), page 6
April 26, 1839.  Thomas Riggs sold to Reubin Y. Rynolds the W1/2NE of section 33, Township 13
South, Range 19 West, containing 79.5 acres for $8.05 per acre.
(digital image of deed but not available as yet)
view record here link broken!!!!!!!! [22]

[2015 - 05]    2015 "THE BRANNICKIAN RIGGSES" by Alvy Ray Smith (March 4, 2015), page 6
April 26, 1839.  Thomas Riggs sold to Reubin Y. Rynolds the NESE of section 33, Township 13
South, Range 19 West, containing 39-plus acres for $8.05 per acre.
(digital image of deed but not available as yet)
view record here [22]

[2015 - 06]    2015 "THE BRANNICKIAN RIGGSES" by Alvy Ray Smith (March 4, 2015), page 6
April 26, 1839.  Thomas Riggs sold to Reubin Y. Rynolds NESE? of section 28, Township 13 South,
Range 19 West, containing 39 acres for $8.05 per acre.
(digital image of deed but not available as yet)
view record here [22]

[5]    
Headstone located in the Land Cemetery in Jarrell, Williamson County, Texas.
view headstone here

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[26]    
This information came from......... which is most likely a mistake since the property was sold prior to this date and based on footnote [18] this same property was purchased by Thomas in 1836.

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[30]    
Thomas Riggs was appointed postmaster of Rich Woods on February 27, 1847 until August 29, 1860 when Rich Wood became Riggsville.  See [55]
view record here

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[43]    
Third child, William C was born in Izard County, Arkansas on September 15, 1856 and fourth child, John R was born in Coryell County, Texas on November 10, 1858. John C Riggs facts as reported on the Ancestry website.
view record here

[44]

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[46]    
Page 180 - 184 of "The History of Bell County" by George W. Tyler, a copy located in Special Collections at the University of Arizona Library, Tucson, Arizona.

[47]

[48]
1860 United States Federal Census for Brannick and Mary Riggs / Texas

[49]
1860 United States Federal Census for Barney and Eliza Riggs / Texas

[50]
1860 United States Federal Census for Thomas and Hannah Riggs / Texas

[51]
1860 United States Federal Census for Thomas and Rhoda Riggs / Arkansas

[52]
1860 United States Federal Census for William Carroll Riggs / Arkansas

[53]
1860 United States Federal Census for James Monroe Riggs / Arkansas

[54]     
           

[55]

[55]    
Thomas Riggs was named postmaster of Riggsville on August 29, 1860.
 view record here

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Page 35 of the book "Chicosa Bill" compiled by Mary E. Riggs 1984

[73]

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[75] 
Riggsville, Stone County, Arkansas

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Our El Dorado (page 15 and 16): The Riggs family left Buttermilk Point (named for the Riggs dairy) near Fort Thomas along the Gila River in the early spring of 1879.

Our El Dorado (page 16): The Riggs family camped at Nine-mile Water Hole, about nine miles northwest of Fort Bowie, until water went dry.

Our El Dorado (page 16): The Riggs family left Nine-mile and moved to the mouth of Big Immigrant Canyon about six miles east of Fort Bowie. It was here that Barney Kemp “BK” was born. (He was born on August 23, 1879)

Our El Dorado (page 2): The Riggs family came to the Sulphur Springs Valley in the summer of 1879. 

Riggs Centennial Reunion (page 9): The Riggs family started for Dos Cabezas, Arizona from Fort Thomas in the spring of 1879 to the mouth of Big Immigrant Canyon where Barney Kemp “BK” was born. 

Riggs Centennial Reunion (page 9): Several months later the Riggs family moved to Sulphur Springs Valley. Their first camp was located south of the Old Star Ranch. They camped there for only a few months.

Riggs Centennial Reunion (page 9): The Riggs family moved to what became known as the Riggs Home Ranch.

Mary Elizabeth Riggs Diary (Volume 1, in separate pages after her last entry dated November 30, 1812): The Riggs family left Big Immigrant Canyon on October 11, 1879.

 Assumptions:
The Riggs family arrived at their first camp in Sulphur Springs Valley in October 1879.
The Riggs family arrived at the location of Riggs Home Ranch in January 1880.

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