Every time my sister Vickie comes for a visit she brings with her missing parts of our family history, this trip was no different. Once in a while Vickie will find some new bit of family history, this time we now have a face to put with the name of our Great, Great Grandfather and his three brothers.
The American branch of the Riggan family tree has been traced back about thirteen generations to the 1500's when they arrived in the Virginia Tidewaters. After a while they migrated down in to Warren County, North Carolina then at a later date they moved westward into Wilson County, Tennessee. Surely there are family relations still living in Wilson County, their name may have changed due to marriage but they are family.
I remember that there was a small room in Grandpa's house, it held some old pieces of furniture and there were a couple of framed pictures of what I considered "old people", I was a young boy then and not interested in old pictures. It was a long time ago but I probably had my first glimpse in to the past. The picture at the top of the page was taken sometime back in the 1800's. That's Daniel Newton "Newt" Riggan in the top left, top right is James Madison "Matt" Riggan, bottom right is William Henry Riggan and the bottom left picture is Benjamin Calvin Riggan - my Great, Great Grandfather. They were a scruffy looking bunch with their beards and in need of a haircut but that was the fashion of the day. Scruffy or not these brothers are my Great, Great Uncles and Grandfather, it is sort of nice to put a face to a name.
The mid 1800's were troubling times for the nation. Southern states, Tennessee for one, didn't like the northern states telling them how to live and it wasn't long before there was a war between the states. The Riggan's and Wade's have fought in almost every war this country has been involved in, the men in the picture were no different, at least two of them enlisted in the Confederate army. James Madison Riggan signed up but that's about all we know. Then there was Daniel, he enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 as a Private in Company K of the 7th Regiment of the Tennessee Infantry. He was described as being dark complected, 5'10" with hazel eyes and black hair. He fought and was wounded at the battle of Manassas on August 27, 1862. He recuperated in the Sudley hospital and after a time was assigned as baggage guard in Staunton, Virginia. On January 23, 1865 Daniel was listed as a "Deserter" but then according to a document Vickie found, Daniel signed an "oath of allegiance" and became a member of the Union Army on January 25, 1865. The war ended in April 1865 and Daniel went home to Tennessee. William Henry Riggan and Benjamin Calvin Riggan may have fought in the war but so far no record has been found to verify that.
The family lived in the Leeville area of Wilson County, Tennessee, I understand there are a lot of family buried in the Leeville cemetery. Not much is known about William Henry Riggan or about James Madison Riggan although we wonder why the picture calls him "Matt", nickname maybe ?
Benjamin Calvin Riggan was born on October 20, 1833. In 1848 about the time he turned 15 his father Samuel Harper Riggan passed away. There were seven children, four boys, three girls and after the death of their father all of the kids were spread around to other family members. Great Great Grandpa Ben named one of his sons Sam, he was my Great Grandfather, who named one of his sons Howard Edgar who was my Grandfather.
There is more to this story but it gets confusing trying to keep straight who was married to who and who were the in - laws. I'm not someone who likes to rummage around in old papers and files or spend hours in libraries, little sister Vickie though seems to live for the hunt and I get to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Sis likes to put the leaves on the branches of the family tree and I have no doubt she could create a very dense family tree. I on the other hand, think that while it is interesting to see a tree full of names branching out in all directions I am alright if a little sun shine filters through.
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