THE family of Rigglesworth, or Wrigglesworth, lived in Yorkshire, England, prior to 1650. They were people of character and influence and were owners of lands. In the struggle between Charles I. and his Parliament, it appears they were supporters of the king and aided him in the field. Soon after Charles I.'s cause failed, Peter Rigglesworth came to America with his wife, Jane, and his daughters, Mary and Dorothy. They came from Yorkshire, and landed in Virginia about 1648-49; that haven for defeated royal adherents. That he was a person of means is evidenced by his purchase of large tracts of land on Lynn Haven Bay, in 1649, of John Dixon, Robert Bowers, and Walter Grimes, then as now very valuable for its fine fishing privileges. (It is quite possible he was known to the Jolliffes before his emigration to America.) He very soon became prominent in his adopted country, and in the year 1650 was appointed coroner of Norfolk County. He was then a planter and large land-owner. His name appears quite frequently in Norfolk County deed-books of that time, the last record bearing date October 4, 1650. His will was dated September 2, 1652, and probated soon after; so it would appear that he died in 1652. He left his entire estate to his wife, Jane, and daughters, Mary and Dorothy. The will is witnessed by Robert Springer, Even E. Willotts, and John Smith. In March, 1653, his widow, Jane Rigglesworth, married Thomas H. Lownd. Soon after this his daughter Dorothy must have died, for in a deed of date January 17, 1698, John Jolliffe speaks of Mary Rigglesworth as the sole heiress of Peter Rigglesworth. "To all Praying people to whom these presents shall come, know ye, that I, John Jolliff and Mary my wife, of Norfolk county, send greeting, that whereas Cornelious Loyd had 400 acres of land granted him by pattent dated 30 Nov. 1638, which land being now situated near the head of the Western Branch of Elizabeth River in Norfolk County, Colony of Virginia, Aforesaid, which said 400 acres land the said Loyd sold John Tyre, Robert Bowers and Walter Grimes, and to their heirs and assignes for ever more, by assignment dated July 25th, 1648, and the said Walter Grimes sold and assigned his share and right of the said 400 acres land unto the said John Tyre and Robert Bowers by assignment dated Dec. 16, 1649, and the said Robert Bowers sold and assigned his 200 acres thereof unto Peter Rigglesworth, and to his heirs and assignes forever, by deed dated Dec. 10, 1649, and the 200 acres land became due unto my said wife Mary, being only daughter and heiress of the said Peter Rigglesworth. Know ye that I, the said John Jolliff and the said Mary my wife, for and in consideration of the natural and fatherly love and affection, we have and bear to our son Thomas Jolliff for and towards his better support and future good being, hath given, granted, assigned, transferred and conveyed by these presents, doe give, grant, assign unto our said son Thomas Jolliff, one half of the 200 acres said land, viz.: one hundred acres thereof. The said 200 acres running for length near southwest and northeast, to be equally divided, and the said Thomas to have the 100 acres in the northeastern side thereof, to have and to hold, &c., &c. "Set to our band and seal the 17 day of January 1698. "Witness: HUGH CAMPBELL THOS. SCOTT JOHN JOLLIFF [SEAL] "A Thomas Wrigglesworth and wife came over in the Welcome' with William Penn, 1682, and settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He died in 1686. He was imprisoned for nine months for preaching. Was living in Yorkshire, 1652." Mary Rigglesworth, daughter of Peter Rigglesworth and Jane, his wife, was born in Yorkshire, England, and came with her parents to Virginia about 1648-49. She became the sole heiress of her father, and married John Jolliff (who had come to Virginia about 1651-52) about the year 1664-65. They had seven children, as follows: Joseph Jolliff, John Jolliff, Thomas Jolliff, Peter Jolliff, and daughters Sarah Lowe (who married Henry Lowe), Mary Bacon (who married John Bacon), and Elizabeth Hasgood (who married Thomas Hasgood). 1. Peter Rigglesworth and his wife, Jane, of Yorkshire, England, and of Lynn Haven, Virginia. 2. Mary Rigglesworth and John Jolliffe. 3. Joseph and Ruth [-] Jolliffe. 4. William and Phoeby [-] Jolliffe. 5. William and Lydia [Hollingsworth] Jolliffe. 6. John and Mary [Dragoo] Jolliffe. 7. William and Rebecca [Neill] Jolliffe. 8. William and Mary Ann [Branham] Jolliffe. |