RIGG(E)S AND RIGG(E) IN HERALDRY
			INTRODUCTION AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS created 20APR2004 COATS OF ARMS FOR RIGG(E)S FAMILIES   see  below   COATS OF ARMS FOR RIGG(E) FAMILIES created 20APR2004   DOCUMENTARY SOURCES created 20APR2004

COATS OF ARMS FOR RIGG(E)S FAMILIES

		CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE
	INTRODUCTION RIGGES, of SOUTHAMPTON, HAMPSHIRE RIGGES or RIGGS, of FAREHAM, HAMPSHIRE RIGGS, of EASEBOURNE, SUSSEX RIGGS or RYGGES, of LINCOLNSHIRE RIGGES, of LONDON RIGGS, of IRELAND RIGGES or RIGG (unspecific) RIGGS-MILLER, of IRELAND   (Crest and Motto)

INTRODUCTION

The various Coats of Arms, crests and mottoes granted to persons with the surnames RIGGS and RIGGES bear no similarity to those relating to the surnames RIG, RIGG or RIGGE. But five of the seven each have elements in common with the others, and the other two have a strong similarities with each other.

However, unless specifically referred to in the text that accompanies each coat of arms, this does NOT mean that the families concerned must have been related. Often, in earlier centuries, the design chosen for the Coat of Arms was based on one previously issued to someone else with the same surname.

If you haven't already done so, I strongly recommend that you first read the Introductory Note on Sources for these pages, which will help you put the various sources quoted below into perspective.

	RIGGES, of SOUTHAMPTON, HAMPSHIRE
			CREST: A talbot passant gules eared or, holding...[S2][S3][S4][S5] ...in the mouth a birdbolt of the second, plumed argent.[S2] ...in the mouth a birdbolt gold, feathered argent.[S3] ...in the mouth a birdbolt of the last, feathered argent.[S4] ...(in mouth a birdbolt or plumed argent).[S5] ARMS: Gules a fess vair between three water spaniels argent each holding in the mouth a birdbolt or,...[S2][S3] ...plumed argent.[S2] ...feathered of the third.[S3]

Burke[S2][S3] ascribes this Coat of Arms to "RIGGES (Farnham, co.Surrey; Southampton; and Stanning, co.Sussex)". Fairbairn's original editions[S4] ascribe the Crest to "Rigges of Farnham, Surrey, Stanning, Sussex, and Southampton, Hants." and the revised edition[S5] ascribes it to "RIGGES (Surrey, Sussex and Hants.)."

It is the Coat of Arms associated with THOMAS OF SOUTHAMPTON (web-page not yet published). In common with others, Burke and the original Fairbairn editions misinterpreted Fareham (in Hampshire) as Farnham (in Surrey). By referring also to Stanning in Sussex (for which no reference can be found in a gazetteer) they are presumably referring to OGLE OF EASEBOURNE, Sussex, (web-page not yet published) a descendant of Thomas but whose Coat of Arms bore a "Difference Mark" as described in the next but one section.

	RIGGES or RIGGS, of FAREHAM, HAMPSHIRE
			CREST: A talbot passant gules eared or, in its mouth a birdbolt of the last feathered argent.[S14] ARMS: Gules a fess vair between three talbots (sic) argent each with a birdbolt in its mouth or, feathered of the third. Impaled for Blake, argent a chevron between three garbs sc.(scarlet?).[S14]

This Coat of Arms is attributed by Holworthy [S14] to RALPH OF FAREHAM, (web-page not yet published) grandson of THOMAS OF SOUTHAMPTON (web-page not yet published). In common with others, the source misinterpreted Fareham (in Hampshire) as Farnham.

RALPH married MARY BLAKE, only daughter of William Blake of Eastontown, "nigh Andover", Hampshire, hence the addition (or "impalement") of the additional arms on the sinister half of the shield, which his wife "inherited" from her father and which Ralph acquired through his marriage to her.

It is assumed that the reference to talbots instead of water spaniels on the Arms is a mistake, the charge on the shield having been confused with the crest.

	RIGGS, of EASEBOURNE, SUSSEX
			CREST: A talbot passant gules ears or, carrying a bird bolt or, feather argent, charged on the flank with mullet for difference.[S12] ARMS: Gules, a fess vair between three water spaniels argent, each carrying a bird bolt or feather argent, in chief a mullet for difference.[S12]

The Harleian Society Volumes[S12] identify this as the Coat of Arms associated with "RIGGS of EASTBOURNE(sic)", and give the pedigree of OGLE OF EASEBOURNE, Sussex (web-page not yet published), grandson of RALPH OF FAREHAM (web-page not yet published). The Coat of Arms are identical to those of his ancestor THOMAS OF SOUTHAMPTON (web-page not yet published) except for the "mullet", a "Difference Mark" used to identify a third son.

	RIGGS or RYGGES, of LINCOLNSHIRE
			CREST(1): A talbot passant gules eared or,...[S2][S3][S5] ...holding in the mouth a birdbolt of the last.[S2] ...holding in the mouth a birdbolt gold.[S3] ...(in mouth a birdbolt, gold).[S5] CREST(2): A talbot passant gules eared or, holding in the mouth a birdbolt or, feathered argent.[S4] (underlining highlights difference) ARMS: Gules a fess ermine between three water spaniels argent...[S2][S3][S10] ...each holding in the mouth a birdbolt or.[S2][S3] ...in each of their mouths a birdbolt or.[S10]

Burke[S2][S3] ascribes this Coat of Arms to "RIGGS, or RYGGES (Strangle Thorpe, co.Lincoln; and Middlesex).". Fairbairn's original editions[S4] ascribe the Crest to "Rigges and Rygges, Middx., and of Strangle Thorpe, Lincs", and the revised edition[S5] to "RIGGES and RYGGES (Middx. and Lincs.)".

The Harleian Society Volumes[S10] identify the Arms as associated with "RIGGS of FULBECK and STRAGGLETHORPE" (but do not mention the Crest), and give the pedigree of THOMAS RIGGS of LINCOLNSHIRE (web-page not yet published).

	RIGGES, of LONDON
			CREST: A water-spaniel argent, holding in...[S3][S4][S13] ...the mouth a birdbolt or.[S3][S4] ...its mouth a birdbolt or.[S13] ARMS: Gules, a fess between three water spaniels argent each holding in...[S3][S13] ...the mouth a birdbolt in bend or.[S3] ...their mouths a birdbolt in bend or.[S13]

Burke[S3] ascribes these to "RIGGES (London. Visit.London, 1568)." In other words, it was a grant of arms recorded on behalf of a person named RIGGES of London during the Herald's Visitation to London in that year.

This is confirmed by the Harleian Society Volumes[S13], which state that the details were taken by Robert Cooke but do not identify the person to whom the Coat of Arms were granted.

	RIGGS, of IRELAND
			ARMS: Ermine a cross patonce purpure a mullet for difference.[S3]

Burke[S3] ascribes these Arms to  "RIGGS (Steward of the Household to Charles, Lord Mountjoy, Lord Deputy of Ireland; Fun.Ent.Ulster's Office, A.D.1600)."
It is the Coat of Arms recorded as a Funeral Entry on behalf of the person who may have been the father or grandfather of EDWARD RIGGS of RIGGSDALE, county CORK.

	RIGGES or RIGG   (no place specified)
			ARMS: Ermine a cross flory purpure.[S2][S3]

Burke[S2][S3] ascribes these Arms to "RIGG or RIGGES", without giving further details.

	RIGGS-MILLER, of IRELAND   (crest and motto only)
			CREST: A wolf's head erased gules, gorged with a collar wavy argent, and charged on the neck with a cross patée or.[S4] MOTTO: "Malo Mori Quam Fœdari"[S4] "I would rather die than be disgraced"[S16]

Fairbairn's original editions [S4] ascribe this Crest and Motto to "Thomas John Riggs-Miller, Esquire, J.P.,of Tyone House, Nenagh, co.Tipperary, Ireland"

The original Riggs-Millers' line of descent from EDWARD RIGGS of RIGGSDALE, county Cork came to an end on the death of Sir John Edward RIGGS MILLER. His Will directed that the person inheriting his freehold estates "shall take the surnames of Riggs Miller and bear my arms".[S4] "Thomas John Riggs-Miller assumed by royal licence in 1889 the names of Riggs-Miller in lieu of Ryan, in compliance with the Will".[S68]

Thomas could then use Sir John's arms instead of or in addition to his own. The Motto is that of the Clan RYAN and translates as "I would rather die than be dishonoured".[S77]. A wolf's head however is used as a crest by some MILLER families (whereas the Clan Ryan's crest was a griffin). It may have been the crest used by Captain John MILLER who became Sir John RIGGS MILLER. If so, on his death it would have been inherited by his son Sir John Edward RIGGS MILLER, and this may be what he referred to in his Will as his "arms").