for arr123 - 20 Sep 2012
looking for Riggs in new zealand decendants from Dorset England
also read comments at end for more details


William RIGGS married Mary ANGEL 15 May 1807 in Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset
- they had a son:
1809 - 1897 George Angel Riggs
- George married Thomasine/Tamzin COOPER 20 March 1830 in Coombe Keynes
- they had a son:
1831 - 1915 Andrew Cooper Riggs in Wool, Dorset, England
Andrew's mother died Dec 1841 in Wareham, Dorset
His father next married Charlotte WHITE
- in April 1851 census Andrew was an unmarried Carpenter in Bethnal Green
- Andrew married Mary Ann RICHARDSON on 1 July 1851 Richmond-upon-Thames
- in November 1852 he is in Brownlow road, Haggerston, Hackney, London


Andrew Cooper RIGGS (1831-1915) arrived into Lyttelton, Christchurch on 29 Jan 1860 on the Robert Small, with his family, having left London on 6 Oct 1859
the family was:
? Andrew Cooper Riggs, aged 29, a Carpenter (1831-1915)
? Mary Ann Riggs, aged 35, his wife (1824-1908)
and their children:
? Andrew Cooper Riggs aged 7 (born 1852)
? Arthur 'George' Riggs aged 6 (born 1853)
? Alfred Henry Riggs aged 4 (born 1855)
? Julia Thomasine Riggs aged 2 (born 1857)
... there was also a 1 month old baby on board:
? Amelia Thomasine Riggs (born 1859)

NOTE a couple of the children are proving difficult to find either marrying or dying. Because in 1902 Andrew is said to have had 3 sons & 2 daughters living, we will find them by process of elimination. When Amelia married in 1888, her parents said "their youngest daughter" so she is to be counted in the 5 surviving children of 1902


the following was written in 1902 in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand and gives a lot of info for Andrew ... Mr. Andrew Cooper Riggs, who was elected to the Newton Borough Council in 1885 when the borough was formed, sat till 1894, when he did not seek re-election. No other member of the council has, so far, sat for so many consecutive years. For nearly his whole term of office he was chairman of the streets committee, and he acted as mayor for a time. The water scheme was initiated and carried out during his term, and so were numerous contracts for road-making and drainage. Mr. Riggs was born in Dorsetshire in 1831, and was brought up to the building trade at Blandford. After finishing his apprenticeship he went to London, where he married and established himself in business as a builder and contractor. In 1860 Mr. Riggs came to New Zealand by the ship ?Robert Small,? and landing at Lyttelton, went on to Christchurch, where he settled and started in the building trade. He removed to Wellington in 1866, was in business at Marton for sixteen years, during which he erected the Town Hall, Sir William Fox's residence at Westoe, and the whole of the township of Crofton also for Sir William Fox. In February, 1885, Mr. Riggs landed in Auckland, where he carried on business as a builder and contractor till 1892, when he established his present business, that of a land agent in Karangahape Road, Auckland. Mr. Riggs is a prominent member of the Rechabites, and other temperance societies, and has held the position of District Chief Ruler, and secretary. While he was at Marton, he organised a branch of Rechabites in that town. Mr. Riggs filled the post of past master and past grand treasurer to the Orange institution of New Zealand, and was at different times chairman, secretary, and treasurer of the Marton and Crofton public schools. His volunteer experience extended over sixteen years in Christchurch and at Marton; and while at Marton he was a member of the vestry of the Anglican Church Mr. Riggs is married to a daughter of the late Mr. Henry Richardson, of Tottenham Court, London, and has three sons and two daughters.


Andrew Cooper RIGGS & Mary Ann RICHARDSON had another son, a year or so after their arrival bringing their family to 7 children:

... 1
1852 - 1928 ANDREW COOPER RIGGS, junior
- born 28 Nov 1852, baptised St Mary Haggerston, Middlesex
- Andrew married Bessie Maggie LUCAS (1853-1930) in 1890
found by janilye: NZ Electoral Roll has Andrew Cooper Riggs junior:
1880/81 - Rangitikei, 100 acres with shop etc
1890 - Newtown Ave, Wellington, Shoemaker
1896 - Austin St., Wellington, Shoemaker
1900 - 48 Austin St., Wellington, Shoemaker also Bessie Riggs, married woman
the known children of ANDREW & BESSIE:
*1892 - 1969 Louisa Elsie Riggs
- Louisa married Roy NIX in 1915 & they farmed in Carterton
- Roy was the 3rd of 4 children of Lewis NIX & Sarah Ann WOOD. His father was chairman of Parkvale School from 1880 to 1884 and 1893-1895. Roy served in WWI as Private 53060 with the NZEF, 28th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Regiment, B Company. He embarked from Wellington 14 July 1917 for Bapaume, France. He had been nine months in the trenches before he was KILLED IN ACTION 24 Aug 1918. His wife Louisa was then living at Seddon street, Carterton
- Louisa died 15 Sep 1969 aged 75 & buried Block 1, Plot 506, Lawn A at Clareville
*1894 - 1944 Clifford 'George' Riggs
- Clifford served in WWI as Private 10/4183 with the NZEF, 11th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Battalion, B Company. He embarked from Wellington 1 April 1916 for Suez, Egypt. His father, Andrew Cooper Riggs was then living at Seddon street, Carterton. Clifford died 14 Jan 1944 aged 49 & is buried PLOT 1, R.S.A. at Clareville, Carterton
*1898 - 1963 Mona Ivy Amelia Riggs
- Mona married Arthur Courtney CARWELL-COOKE (1901-1979) in 1924
- Mona died 20 Aug 1963 aged 65 & buried Plot 56Z/3, Lawn at Karori, Wellington with Arthur
*1905 - 1905 Harry Kenneth Riggs
- Harry died Dec 1905 aged 6 months (database has 6 years), he is buried in PLOT 29. OLD UNSEC at Clareville cemetery, Carterton
ANDREW COOPER Riggs died 3 Nov 1928 aged 76 in Carterton
- he is buried PLOT 3, NEW SUR A at Clareville
BESSIE Riggs died 1 June 1930 aged 67
- she is buried PLOT 4, NEW SUR A at Clareville


... 2
1853 - ARTHUR GEORGE RIGGS
- nothing found for Arthur


... 3
1855 -1934 ALFRED HENRY RIGGS
- Alfred married Davinia Robinson BOULTROME? (1854-1935) in 1878
- their known children:
*1880 - 1891 Margaret 'Maggie' Davinia Robinson Riggs
- Margaret died 20 March 1891 aged 11
- she is buried Plot 63.I at Bolton st, Wellington
*1884 - 1977 Davinia Rhoda Amelia Riggs
- Davinia married Bernard Molineux HOLT in Perth, W.A. on 14 Jan 1909
16 Jan 1909 ... A quiet, but pretty wedding took place in Claremont, Western Australia, on January 14, at the residence of Mrs Holt - for a long time resident of Tinakori Road, Wellington - when her youngest son, Mr Bernard Molineux Holt, was married to Miss Davinia Riggs, only daughter of Mr and Mrs A. H. Riggs, of Claremont. The ceremony was performed by the Rev W. J. McClemaus at Christ Church. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr Donald Riggs, wore a pretty dress of ivory chiffon taffetas, with veil and orange blossoms, and she carried a shower bouquet. She was attended by Miss Winifred Holt, sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Blanch Pettard, of St Kilda, Melbourne, who both wore frocks of white silk muslin and white Merry Widow hats. Mr Lionel Preston acted as best men. The wedding breakfast was held at 'Muritai", (Fraser street, Claremont) Mrs Holt's residence, after which the newly married pair left for the Claremont jetty, where a private launch, gaily decorated with bunting, awaited and took them up the river to Applecross. There they spent the first few days of their honeymoon
- Bernard died 15 Aug 1955 aged 72 at Swanbourne, Perth
- Davinia died 16 April 1977 aged 93 at Claremont, Perth
- they are buried together Grave 0343, Anglican area at Karrakatta cemetery
*1888 - Donald Alexander Riggs
- Donald married Florence ROBBINS (1888-1956) in 1935
on 26 Oct 1935 at Christ Church, Claremont, by the Rev. J. Bell, Donald Alexander, only son of the late Mr and Mrs A. H. Riggs, of Rarotonga, Mann-street, Cottesloe, to Florence, third daughter of the late Mr and Mrs W. T. Robbins, of London, England.
On 10 August 1836 the staff of Elder, Smith and Co., Ltd., held a dance and bridge party at the Savoy Hotel ballroom. Mrs Donald Riggs wore amethyst satin. Mrs Bernard Holt wore maize angel skin. On 3rd August 1938 New Zealand Visitors were Entertained at the Covent Garden Cafe. Cries of "Haere-Mai" (welcome) and "Kia-Ora" (good luck) greeted the New Zealand Government Tourist and Trade Commissioner in Australia (Mr W. Taylor) and the New Zealand Government representative in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia (Mr. J. A. Malcolm) when they were guests of honour at a dinner arranged by the New Zealand Association of Western Australia... Mrs Bernard Holt wore maroon embossed satin peplum over navy blue satin frock and Mrs Donald Riggs, black velvet emsemble
- Florence died 18 Dec 1956 aged 68, her ashes scatterd over garden at Karrakatta
- in the West Australia Electoral Rolls, Donald was living in Fremantle from 1916-1963. Not known yet what happened to him (possibly look at Warringah, NSW)
ALFRED HENRY Riggs died 21 March 1934 at Cottesloe, Perth, aged 79
DAVINIA ROBINSON Riggs died 20 Feb 1935 at Cottesloe
on 20 Feb 1935 at her residence, Rarotonga, 25 Mann-street Cottesloe, Davinia Robertson Riggs, widow of the late Alfred Henry Riggs, darling mother of Davinia Rhoda (Mrs Bernard Holt) and Donald Alexander Riggs, and devoted grandmother of Merome Holt. Privately interred on February 21 in the Karrakatta Cemetery by Arthur E. Dariea and Company. The Rev Harry Beere conducted the last rltes. Nearer my God to Thee. Buried together Grave 0078, Section HA, Presbyterian area at Karrakatta cemetery. Albert's side of the headstone reads: (click the link above):- In Loving Memory of Alfred Henry Riggs, beloved husband of Davinia Robertson and loving father of Maggie, Davinia and Donald. Died 21 March 1934 aged 79 years. 'Forever with the Lord'. Davinia's side of the headstone reads:- Also Davinia Robertson Riggs, died 20th Feb 1935, aged 80 years. 'Nearer my God to Thee'. Devoted grandparents of Merome Holt (Merome became well known during WWII as part of an entertainment group to the troops overseas, she played piano, danced and sang)


... 4
1857 - ? JULIA THOMASINE RIGGS
- Julia married John WILLCOCKS (1847-1893) in 1879
- the known children of JULIA & JOHN:
*1881 - 1966 Frank Willcocks
- Frank married Margaret KELLY in 1913
*1883 - ? Mary Willcocks
- Mary married William James Henry FORD in 1906
*1886 - ? Elizabeth Willcocks
- possibloy married William Henry EDWARDS in 1921?
*1889 - Sidney Cooper Willcocks
- nothing known about Sidney
*1891 - Charles Willcocks
JULIA next married Frederick Charles WOLFERSTAN (1850-1926) in 1896
- not yet found what happened to them after this


... 5
1859 - 1921 AMELIA THOMASINE RIGGS
- Amelia married Charles David COLLIER (1866-1958) in 1888
24 March 1888 - AUCKLAND
... On March 15 1888, at the residence of the brides's parents, by Mr Robert Laing, Charles David Collier, eldest son of the late Mr C. Collier, engineer, to Amelia Thomasine Riggs, youngest daughter of Mr A. C. Riggs, builder; both of this city
- the known children of AMELIA & CHARLES:
*1894 - 1974 George Edward Collier
- George married Edith Elsie Gladys HAYTER (1894-1965) in 1920
- Edith was born in Brockenhurst Hants, Portsmouth
*1898 - ? Rose Amelia Collier
- Rose married Henry George PARSONS in 1924
*1900 - 1970 Charles David Collier
- Charles married Mary Ann WILKIN (1903-1979) in 1925
- daughter of Thomas WILKIN & Elizabeth HOCKLEY
*1903 - 1975 Alfred Herbert Collier
- Alfred married Florence Esther KILGOUR (1908-1972) in 1932
- daughter of William KILGOUR & Lillian 'Lily' BLAKE


... 6
1862 - 1949 ALBERT FREDERICK RIGGS
- the exact date of Albert's birth is not recorded, rather I cannot find it recorded, but he was born some time in 1862
- Albert married Kate Rebecca BURNISTON (1862-1948) in 1882
On 29 June `1882 - WELLINGTON
... at the residence of the bridegroom's father, College-street, Wellington, by the Rev R. Bavin, Albert Frederick, youngest son of A. C. Riggs, to Kate Rebecca, youngest daughter of the late G. F. Burniston, of Burton-on-Trent, England
- the children of ALBERT & KATE:
*1883 - 1928 Arthur Vernon Riggs
- Arthur married Catherine Isabel FERGAN in 1911
- Arthur was a Carpenter, he died 16 Dec 1928 aged 45 and is buried Plot 378 J, Section CH ENG2 at Karori, Wellington. The headstone reads "Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away"
*1885 - 1971 Albert James Stanley Riggs
- Albert married Minnie Elizabeth NICHOL (1887-1966) in 1910
*1887 - 1964 Lawrence Henry Cooper Riggs
by janilye on 2012-09-22 07:02:19: Lawrence Henry Cooper Riggs was born in Auckland and enlisted at Randwick, NSW the son of Albert Frederick Riggs. Joined up on the 29 August 1914 he was a carpenter and 27 years old. Before he joined up he spent 18 months in the Wanganui Rifles. He was at the landing on 25 April 1915, woumded at Lone Pine both legs and left arm, survived, returned to Australia 1917 shell shock. He was married, I found a letter from his wife asking for the Anzac Commemorative Medal she signs it G. E. Riggs. Her name was Gladys Edith and in 1967 she lived at 12 Lord St, Kempsey, NSW
- Lawrence served in WWI as Private 23/18/1 with the 1st Battalion, E Company. He embarked from Sydney 18 Oct 1914 on Transport A19 Afric. His next of kin was his father, Albert Frederick Riggs, Waipawa. He returned to Australia 8 May 1916
- Lawrence married Gladys Edith PHELPS (1894-1983) in 1917
- in the Australian Electoral Rolls:
1930 - Warringah, New South Wales
1937 - Macquarie, New Aouth Wales
1943 - 1963 Lyne, New South Wales
- Lawrence Henry Cooper Riggs died 23 July 1964 aged 77. He is buried Row: B, Portion: Col at Kempsey East cemetery, his wife Gladys Edith, died 13 July 1983 aged 89. Sydney Morning Herald 14 July 1983 RIGGS, Gladys Edith Phelps. - July 13, 1983, at Kempsey Hospital, of 6 Hodgson Street, Crescent Head and late of 9 Lord Street, Kempsey, loved wife of the late Lawrence H. C. Riggs, dearly loved mother and mother-in-law of Joan and Alan Dooley (Bathurst), Patricia (Crescent Head), Milton and Rita (Kempsey) and loved grandmother and great-grandmother of their children, aged 89 years
*1889 - 1943 Ernest Richardson Riggs
- Ernest was a Carpenter. He served in WWI as Rifleman 28538 with the NZEF, 9th Reinforcements 4th Battalion, H Company. He embarked from Wellington 11 Oct 1916 for Plymouth, England. His mother was then living at 18 Fritz street, Palmerston North
*1894 - 1963 Reginald Walter Riggs
Reginald served twice in WWI as Rifleman & Private 28539 with the NZEFC, 9th Reinforcements 4th Battalion, H Company in 1916 & 43rd Reinforcements F Company in 1918. In 1916 his mother was at 18 Fritz street, Palmerston North & in 1918 she was at 18 Russell street, Palmerston North
- Reginald married Mary Teresa REA in 1921
*1896 - ? Gladys Kate Riggs
- more info needed
*1900 - 1978 Florence Mildred Riggs
- Florence married Norman PLIMMER (1901-1962) in 1930
*1902 - 1959 Herbert Burniston Riggs
- Herbert died 19 July 1959 aged 56 & his ashes buried Plot 111 DIV 10, NICHE at Karori with his wife, Mona McDonell GRAY (1906-1983), whom he married in 1931
*1904 - 1977 Norman Leslie Riggs
- spouse not found
- Norman died 18 Oct 1977 aged 73 & buried SOLDIERS ASH BURIAL K Row 1a, Plot 230 at Waikumete, Auckland
ALBERT FREDERICK Riggs died 8 March 1949 aged 86 & buried Plot 432 L, Section CH ENG2 at Karori, Wellington with KATE REBECCA who died 19 Jane 1948 aged 86



Mary Ann Riggs died 2 Sep 1908 aged 85
Andrew Cooper Riggs died 23 July 1915 aged 84
they are buried together WESLEY DIVISION A Row 6, Plot 14B at Waikumete, Auckland

it now appears we have found the "5 children"
research continuing


TIMELINE & NOTES
15 July 1863 - CHRISTCHURCH
Andrew had an unclaimed letter at the Christchurch Post Office

17 Dec `863 - CHRISTCHURCH supreme court
... The sittings under the Debtors'and Creditors'Act 1863, were resumed in the Town Hall on Tuesday last at 11 o'clock. Re: Andrew Cooper Riggs. Mr Slater appeared for the petitioner, who was a builder of various places, but latterly of the Town Belt, Christchurch. This was an application for final discharge. Affidavits were read to the effect that notice had been given to the creditors to attend meetings, and that they had failed to attend on the days named in the affidavit. His Honor, considering the whole circumstances, and it being evident that there was no estate, granted the order of discharge

13 April 1864 - CHRISTCHURCH Electoral Roll
... Andrew Cooper Riggs was living in the Town Belt, east in the leasehold property No.1137, corner of Tuam and Madras streets

13 Jan 1888 - AUCKLAND
... in the Auckland Police Court against Charles Barrett,


NOTES
because Andrew Cooper Riggs junior lived in Carterton and his father lived in Auckland we will assume at this time that this Last Will and Testament of Harriet Mann (1830-1902) was signed by her friend, Andrew Cooper Riggs senior on 28 May 1902 ... this is the last will and testament of me HARRIET MANN of Auckland in the provincial district of Auckland in the colony of New Zealand, Widow. Hereby revoking all former WILLS and testamentary dispositions made by me I direct my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my decease. I Appoint my friend Andrew Cooper Riggs of Auckland in the aforesaid, Estate agent and my son in law George Waddel of Auckland aforesaid court bailiff... (read the will at the link)

also, found by janilye, 1880/81 NZ Electoral Roll has Andrew Cooper Riggs senior:
College streeet, Wellington, Builder
Rangitikei, 100 acres, part of A.R.

see also RIGGS buried Karrakatta



PHOTO
ANDREW COOPER RIGGS senior
- taken form New Zealand Electronic Text Centre

last updated 21-9-12