Born ‎1644 at Portsmouth, RI, died ‎12 Jan 1720 at Dartmouth, MA‎, 75 or 76 years
On 6 May, 1673 he was a freeman and on 2 Jun 1685 he was on the grand jury in Dartmouth.
On Mar 11 1679, he received from his father a quarter share (35 acres) in Dartmouth, which his father, John had purchased in 1662 (see notes on John of Portsmouth)

Lilla Briggs Sampson's 1930 manuscript states that he was one of the 56 proprietors of Dartmouth, MA in 1694. He lived at Dartmouth, Bristol County, MA in 1712, and possibly held office in New Bedford Co., MA in 1679. New Bedford was set off from Dartmouth.

In 1667 he is mentioned as member of an early Colonial company of Cavalry, Captain Peleg SANFORD"S Horse Troop.

On 02 Jun 1685, he served on Dartmouth Grand Jury
claimed 1/16 of a share of John Dunham's right, by virtue of a deed from his father-in-law FISHER, dated 1668, which he gave to his son Thomas BRIGGS Jr. Mr. Briggs also claimed 8 acres and 3 acres of meadow, which he purchased of Thomas Eaton, and which he gave by deed in 1686, to his son-in-law, John AKIN.

Mr. BRIGGS married Mary FISHER, who died in 1717. She was the daughter of Edward FISHER, who in his will, bequeaths to daughter, Mary BRIGGS. A receipt for this was signed by Mary BRIGGS and husband, Thomas BRIGGS. Mr. BRIGGS made his will on 12 Dec 1717, and died in 1720.

His will was proved on 04 Jul 1720. Executors, wife Mary and son John He bequeathed to his wife, Mary,half of the homestead for life. To son John, rest if homestead, and at death of testator's wife, all the real estate to go to son John. To son Thomas, 5 s. he having had his share. To daughter Susanna Wilcox, 10£ and to daughter Hanna Dyre, 20£. To sons-in-law, John Akin, 5 s. and Henry Howland, 5 s.. To grandson Thomas BRIGGS, son of John, 2 acres salt marsh. To wife Mary and son John, all the rest equally.

***Since John Osborne Austin states on P. 26 of his book that Mary was the daughter of Edward and Judith FISHER, that is probably the correct parentage.

The six children born to Thomas, Sr. and Mary were: Mary (b. 1671), Susanna (b 1672), Deborah (b. 1674), Hannah (b. 1676), John (b 1678), and Thomas BRIGGS, Jr. (b. 1684)

Thomas BRIGGS, Sr. died June 12, 1720 in Dartmouth, Bristol Co. MA.

In addition to his land, the following was the inventory of Thomas BRIGGS, Sr. at his death: 'Inventory: 1001 pounds 4s. 9d, vis: purse and apparel-9 pounds,18s 6d. bible and book-6s; homestead-900£; linen wheel; 14 sheep; 5 lambs; 2 oxen; 6 cows; 2 calves; 2 yearlings; 2 steers; half of 3 cattle; a mare; warming pan, etc.

Samuel FISHER, who in his will, bequeaths to daughter, Mary BRIGGS. A receipt for this was signed by Mary BRIGGS and husband, Thomas BRIGGS. (I hope that this a mistake, as we have pretty well proved that Mary was the daughter of Thomas Fisher.)On 6 May, 1673 he was a freeman and on 2 Jun 1685 he was on the grand
jury in Dartmouth.

Lilla Briggs Sampson's 1930 manuscript states that he was one of the 56 proprietors of Dartmouth, MA in 1694. He lived at dartmouth, Bristol County, MA in 1712, and possibly held office in New Bedford Co., MA in 1679. New Bedford was set off from Dartmouth.

In 1667 he is mentioned as member of an early Colonial company of Cavalry, claimed 1/16 of a share of John Dunham's right, by virtue of a deed from his father-in-law FISHER, dated 1668, which he gave to his son Thomas BRIGGS Jr. Mr. Briggs also claimed 8 acres and 3 acres of meadow, which he purchased of Thomas Eaton, and which he gave by deed in 1686, to his son-in-law, John AKIN.

Mr. BRIGGS married Mary FISHER, who died in 1717. She was the daughter of Edward FISHER, who in his will, bequeaths to daughter, Mary BRIGGS. A receipt for this was signed by Mary BRIGGS and husband, Thomas BRIGGS. Mr. BRIGGS made his will in 1717 and died in 1720. He bequeaths to his wife, Mary, to sons John and Thomas, to daughters Susanna Wilcox, and Hanna Dyre, and to sons-in-law, John Akin and Henry Howland.

***Since John Osborne Austin states on P. 26 of his book that Mary was the daughter of Edward and Judith FISHER, that is probably the correct parentage.

The six children born to Thomas, Sr. and Mary were: Mary (b. 1671), Susanna (b 1672), Deborah (b. 1674), Hannah (b. 1676), John (b 1678), and Thomas BRIGGS, Jr. (b. 1684)

Thomas BRIGGS, Sr. died June 12, 1720 in Dartmouth, Bristol Co. MA.

In addition to his land, the following was the inventory of Thomas BRIGGS, Sr. at his death: 'Inventory: 1001 pounds 4s. 9d, vis: purse and apparel-9 pounds,18s 6d. bible and book-6s; homestead-900 pounds; linen wheel; 14 sheep; 5 lambs; 2 oxen; 6 cows; 2 calves; 2 yearlings; 2 steers; half of 3 cattle; a mare; warming pan, &.
Samuel FISHER, who in his will, bequeaths to daughter, Mary BRIGGS. A receipt for this was signed by Mary BRIGGS and husband, Thomas BRIGGS.

Died ‎1717
In Lilla BRIGGS SAMPSON's manuscript she is inconsistent in naming the father of Mary FISHER. On p.5 of the section on John, she states that John's son John married Hannah FISHER, daughter of Edward FISHER and sister to Mary FISHER who married his brother, Thomas BRIGGS. And on p.1 of the Thomas section, she states that Mary was the daughter of Samuel FISHER. WRONG! (In late 2003, I learned the other sister Frances, who is married to another John, is also my ancestor.) See notes on Frances FISHER

Since John Osborne Austin states on p. 26 of his book that Mary was the daughter of Edward and Judith FISHER, that is probably the correct parentage.

(Lilla Elizabeth BRIGGS SAMPSON made many errors in her manuscript, and I do not consider her an authority. She combined my second great grandfather, Giles BRIGGS, with another Giles, and it took me many years to find the correct combination. EL)

per Lila Sampson, 1930: In 1727 she was declared non-compos mentis and guardians were appointed for her.In Lilla BRIGGS SAMPSON's manuscript she is inconsistent in naming the father of Mary FISHER. On p.5 of the section on John, she states that John's son John married Hannah FISHER, daughter of Edward FISHER and sister to Mary FISHER who married his brother, Thomas BRIGGS. And on p.1 of the Thomas section, she states that Mary was the daughter of Samuel FISHER. WRONG! (In late 2003, I learned the other sister Frances, who is married to another John, is also my ancestor.) See notes on Frances FISHER

Since John Osborne Austin states on p. 26 of his book that Mary was the daughter of Edward and Judith FISHER, that is probably the correct parentage.

(Lilla Elizabeth BRIGGS SAMPSON made many errors in her manuscript, and I do not consider her an authority. She combined my second great grandfather, Giles BRIGGS, with another Giles, and it took me many years to find the correct combination. EL)