"Frauncis RIGGES" was baptised at Roydon, Essex on 17APR1583.[S1]

He married three times. "Francis RIGGS" married LYDIA CARINGTON at Roydon, Essex on 12OCT1605.[S1] Lydia, the wife of "Frauncis RIGGS", was buried at Roydon, Essex on 22JAN1638N.[S1]

Francis's second marriage was to MARY BAYLY at Roydon, Essex on 26SEP1638.[S1] There is no record of her burial, but "Francis RIGGS, widower" married a third time, to SUSAN SPRATT, widow, at Roydon, Essex on 15MAY1649.[S1]

There is no record at Roydon of Francis's burial. This may be because from 1653-1660 registration was transferred from the clergy to a registrar (elected by the ratepayers) and a fee was payable on registration, which resulted in entries being very rarely made. Certainly, Francis was still alive on 01OCT1649 (see below). And the Hearth Tax Returns for Roydon in 1662 include an entry for a RIGGE (no Christian name quoted), described as a widow: this may refer to Susan, rather than a widow or daughter of Francis's son Thomas (or a possible widow or daughter of Richard's son Richard), in which case Francis died prior to that Return.

Neither is there a record at Roydon of the burial of Francis's third wife, Susan. This again may be because it may have occurred between 1653-1660. However, a Susanna RIGGS of Roydon married a Thomas READ, also of Roydon, at Hunsdon in Hertfordshire on 10SEP1665, and Hunsdon is the next parish 2¼ miles to the north of Roydon. As before, this may refer to Susan, rather than a widow or daughter of Francis's son Thomas (or a possible widow or daughter of Richard's son Richard).

On 16JLY1641 at the Midsummer Quarter Sessions, Thomas James, a labourer of Roydon, was indicted of stealing "there a 'tablecloth' worth 4d., a 'shirt' worth 4d., and a 'smock' worth 4d., of Francis RIGGS. Witnesses: Riggs, Mary Bailey." He pleaded not guilty but was found "Guilty for the tablecloth and smock, acquitted for the rest. To be whipped" [S14] Note that the second witness could have been Francis's wife (who he had married almost 3 years before) referred to by her maiden name (or a relative such as her mother).

On 01OCT1649 at the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions, a certificate was presented stating that "their ways both in their township and hamlet" of Roydon "which were indicted at the last Sessions are now sufficiently repaired". This certificate bears the signatures or marks of four "overseers for the said waies" and eleven others, one of whom was Francis, who signed his name as "ffrancis Ridges" [S15] (note that, in the style of handwriting used at that time, the capital letter 'F' was written as 'ff').

The known children of Francis are all by his first wife Lydia:

[--.	ALCE RIGGS] "Alce the daughter of Francis RIGGES" was apparently baptised at Roydon, Essex on 9NOV1606 [S1] - but please see the next section !
10.	DORCAS RIGGS The entry in the Parish Register for the baptism of 'Alce' is preceded by an entry stating that "Dorcas the daughter of Richard Goudge" was also baptised the 9NOV1606.[S1] Almost certainly the Christian names in these two entries were wrongly switched by the Vicar or Parish Clerk who made them, and that it was Dorcas who was the daughter of "Francis RIGGES" and 'Alce' was the daughter of "Richard Goudge". I say this because "Dorcas the daughter of Francis RIGGES" was buried at Roydon, Essex on 26SEP1607,[S1] (when Dorcas would have been 10 months old).
11.	THOMAS RIGGS Thomas was baptised at Roydon, Essex on 20APR1608 as the son of Francis RIGGS.[S1] No entry has been found of his burial or marriage, or of the baptisms of any children of his.
12.	ELIZABETH RIGGS Elizabeth was baptised at Roydon, Essex on 9OCT1614 as the daughter of Francis RIGGS.[S1] No entry has been found of her burial or marriage.
13.	RACHEL RIGGS Rachell was baptised at Roydon, Essex on 21MAY1620 as the daughter of Francis and 'Lidia' RIGGS.[S1] No entry has been found of her burial or marriage.

EDWARD RIGGS

Edward Riggs was almost undoubtedly baptised at Roydon, ESS on 30MCH1589, although the entry in the Parish Register does not mention him specifically by name, merely as the "The sonne of Richard Riggs".

"Edward Ryges and Elizabeth Holmes" (see the page on variations in spelling) were married on 16SEP1618 [S3][S4] at All Saints Church, Nazeing, Essex, which is the adjacent parish to Roydon.

"Elizabeth Homes" had been baptised at All Saints, Nazeing, Essex on 13DEC1590 [S3][S4] (21 months after Edward's baptism). Elizabeth's brothers were also baptised at the same church.

In common with a number of others in Nazeing, subsequently known as the Nazeing Christians,[S5] Edward and his family were Puritans. Early in 1633 they left England to sail to America as part of the Great Migration to New England, probably sailing from London, on either the 'William and Jane' or the 'Mary and Jane'.

Their subsequent history is documented separately under the pages for EDWARD OF ROXBURY.

Known children of EDWARD and ELIZABETH are:

14.	EDWARD RIGGS Edward was baptised at Nazeing, Essex on 17OCT1619 as "Edward RIGGES" (with no father's or mother's name entered). [S3][S4]
15.	LYDIA RIGGS Lydia was baptised at Nazeing, Essex on 15SEP1622 as "Lyddia RYGGE" (with no father's or mother's name entered). [S3][S4]
16.	ELIZABETH RIGGS Elizabeth was baptised at Nazeing, Essex on 30DEC1627 as "Elizabeth RIGGS" (with no father's or mother's name entered). [S3][S4]
17.	JOHN RIGGS John was baptised at Nazeing, Essex on 17JAN1630N as "John RIGGS" (with no father's or mother's name entered). [S3][S4]
18.	MARY RIGGS Mary was baptised at Nazeing, Essex on 1JLY1632 as "Mary RIGGE" (with no father's or mother's name entered). [S3][S4]