Our first recorded glimpse of him occurs on the 1850 census for the 6th District of Decatur County, TN. The census taker recorded William, 22, and his wife, Evalene, 18, living at dwelling number 41 on Nov. 25th, and again at dwelling 86 on Dec. 5th. William was a laborer.

Although Ancestry.com shows that the marriage of William George and Evalene is recorded in U.S. & International Marriage Records, 1560-1900:

William George Riggs, b. AL, 1828
Spouse Name: Sarah Evelina Jenkins, b. TN, 1832
Marriage State: TN,

no certificate of marriage or bond document has yet been found.

While William settled in Decatur Co., TN by 1850, his siblings and mother, Melinda, are documented on the 1850 Tishomingo Co., MS census, minus the father. Why William chose to settle in Decatur Co., TN rather than be with the rest of his family in MS is unknown. All family members appear to have been farmers.

The 1860 census for Decatur Co., TN finds William and Evaline living at dwelling 553 in District 6, farming and with 4 children: John H., 9, born about 1851; James Granville, 5, born Oct. 14, 1854; Mary Cansady, 3, born about 1857; and Aura Almeda, 4 mos., born Feb. 20, 1860. The family has prospered showing land valued at $500 with personal property value of $525.

Living nearby at dwelling 537 in District 6 on this census is George's brother, Isaah Calvin RIGGS, wife Nancy C. (SCHOEMAKER) RIGGS, and their son, Henderson Calvin RIGGS. A sister to George and Isaah, Mary J. RIGGS lives nearby in the household of Richard GRAHAM, dwelling 563 in District 7.

On Jan. 18, 1862, William sold 25 acres of his land to Henry JOHNSON for $142.00, and on March 18, 1865 he sold 75 acres to William IVY for $550.

He is shown on the 1862 IRS Tax Assessment Lists for Decatur Co., TN as W.G. RIGGS, 104 acres, Valuation $500, Amount Charged $1.75.

Details of the location and extent of William's education are unknown, but in 1868 he qualified and was commissioned as a Magistrate of Decatur Co., TN. He resigned his commission in 1870 and became a Deputy Sheriff. He was also a Justice of the Peace and performed 49 marriages in Decatur County, TN. In addition he was postmaster for Roena, Decatur Co., TN between 1888-90.

The 1870 census for Decatur Co., TN finds William and his family in District 7, Perryville Post Office, dwelling 87. The family property is valued at $1,600 with personal estate of $1,000. The family has grown to 7 children: John H., 19; James G., 16; Mary C., 12; Aura A., 10; Martha A. 8; Roena J. 6; and Pinkney L. 3 mos.

On Jan. 8, 1874 William bought 160 acres of land from Dutton and wife Myriam HILL for the sum of $1,500. Final execution of the transaction was completed March 20, 1875.

Family legend relates that William changed his area of farmland a few times and on the 1880 census we find the family relocated in Civil District 12. According to the Commissioners Report of the Reastablished Lines of Districts in Decatur Co.- 1870, from the research of James H. Hanna as presented by David Donahue and Brenda Kirk Fiddler on Yesterday's Tennessee at http://www.tnyesterday.com/yesterday_decatur/maps/cd.html , District 12 appears further north of his previous lands in Districts 5 and 6. William is now 52; Sarah, 47; Martha A., 18; Roena J., 16; Pinkney L., 10.

Since the census for the year 1890 was destroyed by fire, we cannot determine how long William remained in District 12.

By 1900, at age 72, William and Sarah E., 67, along with their grandson, Lonza, 10, b. March 1890 in KY, live in District 2, Benton Co., TN. Lonza may have been James Lonnie RIGGS, son of John H. RIGGS. Dates of birth discovered for James Lonnie vary from 1890-93. William, still a farmer, and Sarah have been married 50 years, had 11 births with 7 surviving, both can read and write, own their home and farm mortgage free.

Sarah died March 22, 1908 and William followed March 21, 1909. Both are buried in Flatwoods Cemetery, Holladay, Benton Co., TN. No death certificates or wills have been found for either William or Sarah.

There is a Masonic symbol on William's grave. Records show that he was a member of the Mt. Carmel Lodge, No. 333, which was chartered October 8, 1867. The meeting place was Holliday, Benton Co., TN. William George was the Worshipful Master in 1900. A note in the records indicates the time set for the Lodge meeting to begin: "Wednesday on or before full moon." Amongst the membership were S. W. RIGGS and J.C. HILL.
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NOTE: CREDIT AND PROFOUND THANKS IS GIVEN TO GENEALOGIST PHYLLIS A. HILL FOR HER EXTENSIVE AND WILLINGLY SHARED RESEARCH ON WILLIAM GEORGE RIGGS .
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DECATUR COUNTY, TN - DEEDS - W.G. RIGGS TO HENRY JOHNSON, 18 JAN 1862
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Hill phill@redrock.net
Decatur County, Tennessee Deeds Book 5, page 510 W.G. Riggs to Henry Johnson I W.G. Riggs Have this day Bargained and Do here By transfer and Convey to Henry Johnson his heirs for Ever for the Consideration of One Hundered and forty Two Dollars paid to me in a certain Tract or parcel of land in the State of Tennessee Decatur County and District No. 6 Containing Twenty five acres Be the Same More or less and Bounded as follows Beginning at the North west Corner of a Two hundred Acre Entry in the name of Stephen C. Gibs Running West 82 poles to a Hickory and pointers thence South 44 poles to a Stake thence East 81 poles to a Black Oak on the Creek Thence with The Creek to the Beginning To Have to the Said Henry Johnson his heirs and assigns for Ever I do Covenant with the Said Henry Johnson That I am Lawfully Seized of Said Land and have a good Right to Convey it and That the unencumbered I Do further Covenant and Bind my Self my heirs and Representatives to warrant and for Ever Defend the Title to Said Land and Ever part thereof to the Said Johnson his heirs And assigns against the lawfull claims of all person what Ever This the 18th Day of January in the year of our Lord 1862. W.G. Riggs (Seal) N.C. Duke
State of Tennessee} Personally appeared Before me G.C. Roberts Clerk of Decatur County } the County Court of Said County W.G. Riggs who I am personally acquainted and acknowledged that he Executed the foregoing Deed for the purposes Therein Mentioned Given under my hand at office this Aug. the 6th 1865 G.C. Roberts Clerk
State of Tennessee} Decatur County } Registers office November the 11th at 12 Oclock A.M. Then was the foregoing Deed duly Recorded in Record Book No. 5 in Note Book B on page 52 Witness my hand at Office in Decaturville W.H. Milam, Rgt By C. Roberts Dpt Rgt
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DECATUR COUNTY, TN - DEEDS - W.G. RIGGS TO WILLIAM IVY, 18 MARCH 1865
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Hill phill@redrock.net
Decatur County, Tennessee Deeds Book 5, page 491 W.G. Riggs to William Ivy
State of Tennessee} Decatur County } I W.G. Riggs have this day Bargained and do hereby transfer and convey To William Ivy and his heirs for Ever for the Consider- ation of five Hundred and fifty dollars To Me paid a Tract of Land in the State of Tennessee Decatur County and District No. 6. Containing Seventy Five acres Be the Same More or less and Bounded as follows Begining 20 poles west of the South East Corner of Entry No. 1612 of 180 acres in the Name of Stephen C. Gils thence west 46 poles to a Stake on the Bank of the Creek thence up the Creek with the Meanders to the Maple Corner thence north 102 poles to a Stake thence East 100 to a white Oak thence South 84 poles to a Spanish Oak thence west 20 poles to a Black Oak thence South 21 poles To a maple thence west west 21 poles to the Beginning to have the same to the same William Ivy His heirs and assigns for Ever I do Covenant with the Said William Ivy that I am lawfully Seized of Said Land have a good wright to Convey it and that the unemcumbered I do further Covenant and Bind my Self My heirs and Representatives to warrant and for Ever Defend the title of the Said Land and Every part thereoff To the Said Ivy his heirs and assigns against the Lawfull Claims of all persons whatsoEver this 18th day of March In the year of Our Lord 1865.
Test W.G. Riggs (Seal)
State of Tennessee} Personally appeared Before me G.C. Roberts a Clerk of Decatur County } the Said County W.G. Riggs who I am personally acquainted and Acknowledged that he Executed the foregoing deed for the purposes There in Mentioned Given under my hand at Office on the 5th day of June 1865
G.C. Roberts Clerk
State of Tennessee} Register Office June the 5th at 3 oclock PM 1865 Decatur County } Then was the foregoing deed duly Recorded in Book No. 5 page 491 Noted in Note Book B ...
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Archives by: Phyllis Hill phill@redrock.net
Decatur County, Tennessee, Court Records April 28, 1999
Volume 1, Minutes July 1869-Sept. 1873
County Court August Term 1868
p. 14 This day H. C. Fryor and W. G. Riggs came into open court and produced commissions from D. W. C. Scott, Governor of the State of Tennessee as Magistrates of Decatur County, Tennessee. Whereupon the Said Fryor and Riggs were qualified as Magistrates to enter upon their duties of their Respective offices.
p. 116 April Term 1870 W. G. Riggs resigned his office
p. 120 W. G. Riggs} This day W. G. Riggs came into open court and was Qualified } qualified as dept sheriff for said County as Dept Shff}
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DECATUR COUNTY, TENNESSEE - DEEDS - Dutton Hill to Wm. G. Riggs 8 January 1874
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Hill phill@redrock.net
Decatur County, Tennessee Deeds Book 9, pp. 3-4 Dutton Hill to Wm. G. Riggs
I Dutton Hill and wife Myriam Hill have this day Bargained and Sold and do hereby Transfer and Convey to Wm. Riggs and his heirs and assigns forever for the consideration of Fifteen hundred dollars to me paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged a certain tract or parcel of land in the State of Tennessee Decatur County in Civil District No 7 Containing by estimation one hundred and sixty acres more or less and bounded as follows Beginning at the South East corner of an Entry in the name of Dutton Hill thence west 170 poles to a Stake Black oak and sassafras pointers thence South 4 poles to a Stake thence west ... poles to a Beech and Beech pointers thence south 38 poles to a Chestnut on the East bank of the little Creek thence over said creek with the meanders to the mouth ... ditch thence north up Said ditch 15 poles to an Elm thence due East 28 poles to a Stake thence East 20 degrees north 304 poles to a post oak in the East boundary line of an Entry in the name of John P. Hill for three hundred and five acres thence North with Said line 26 poles to the Beginning. To have and to hold the Same to the Said W.G. Riggs his heirs and assigns forever I do covenant with the Said W.G. Riggs that I am Lawfully Seized of Said Land have a good Right to convey it and that the Same is unencumbered I do further covenant and bind my self my heirs and Representatives to warrant and forever Defend the title to the Said Land and every part thereof to the Said W.G. Riggs his heirs and assigns against the Lawful Claims of all persons Whatsoever this January the 8 1874
Dutton Hill Witness Paul H. Fisher Myriam x Hill S.W. Riggs
State of Tennessee} Decatur County } To W.W. Somersett a Justice of the Peace in and for Said County you are hereby authorized and empowered to take the examination of Myriam Hill privately and apart from her husband relative to her per execution of the within deed and the Same so taken to certify under your hand and Seal Witness John McMillan Clerk of the County Court of Decatur County at office on the 19th day of February 1875 John McMillan Clerk
State of Tennessee} Decatur County } Myriam Hill wife of sd Dutton Hill having personally appeared before me and having by virtue of the authority in me vested been examined Privately and apart from her Said husband She having acknowledged the Due execution of the within Deed by her freely voluntarily without compulsion or constraint by her Said husband and for the purposes therein expressed the same is therefore certified Witness my hand and Seal this 20 day of March 1875 W.W Somersett J.P. Commission ...
State of Tennessee} Decatur County } Personally appeared before me John McMillan Clerk of the County Court of Said County Dutton Hill the bargainer with whom I am personally acquainted who acknowledged that he Executed the foregoing Deed for the purposes therein Contained on the day it bears date given under my hand at office on 18 day of February 1875 John McMillan Clerk
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From: http://genealogytrails.com/tenn/decatur/postmaster.html
Postmasters and Post Offices: ROENA
William G. Riggs 2/29/1888 11/19/1890 - disc. - papers to SPELLINGS
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DECATUR COUNTY, TN - MARRIAGES - MARRIAGES PERFORMED BY W.G. RIGGS, J.P.
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Hill phill@redrock.net
MARRIAGES PERFORMED BY W.G. RIGGS, J.P.
John Ballard to Kizzie Pate, 25 Jul 1889
John H. Box to Sarah E. Bowman, 22 Jul 1886
A.S. Boyd to Dilcy A. Miller, 16 Jun 1889
J.C. Bostick to M.C. Dodd, 11 Mar 1889
James E. Brinkley to Margaret L. Ivey, 30 Mar 1887
William R. Clifft to Rachel C. Baker, 20 Jan 1894
Emerson E. Clifft to Mary J. Cottrell, 29 Dec 1892
John W. Clifft to H.E. Baker, 16 Dec 1883
George W. Cole to Anna B. Allen, 26 Jan 1890
Pink Cottrell to Sallie Rice, 13 Aug 1889
J.T. Colewick to Josie E. Batten, 11 Feb 1885
A.M. Dodd to F.E. Pritchard, 7 Feb 1889
J.R. Fullerton to N.E. Johnson, 1 Dec 1887
Jack Gibson to Susanna Smith, 3 Mar 1889
James Greenway to Elizabeth Conley, 5 Jul 1875
G.W. Greenway to M.A. Smothers, 25 Jan 1887
J.T. Griggs to M.C. Miller, 8 Jan 1893
John S. Haggard to Martha E. Gullage, 25 Nov 1877
George W. Haynes to Martha Young, 21 Oct 1886
G.M. Haynes to Mollie Graves, 6 Feb 1890
J.W. Herrington to Mary E. Woodell, 20 Nov 1879
U.S. Hill to B.J. Brewer, 1 Mar 1888
William Ivey to Nancy Henson, 10 Dec 1888
John Ivey to (Mollie) (Martha) Steagald, 24 Dec 1885
J.W. Johnson to Sarah E. Cagle, 21 Aug 1890
J.N. Johnson to Nancy C. Cagle, 26 Aug 1890
J.M. Johnson to Fannie L. Ballenger, 14 Apr 1892
Anderson King to Narcis Quinn, 2 Jan 1887
A. Kirby to S.A. Loven, 10 Jun 1889
W.S. Long to (Emma)(Emily) Arnold, 24 Dec 1885
James McCormack to Sarah Smith, 19 Apr 1877
William Maxwell to Liza Ann Gulledge, 20 Feb 1890
William E. Morgan to Sarah E. McCommack, 14 Jan 1880
James T. Pate to Dorinda Gulledge, 8 Feb 1886
John T. Quinn to Jane Gulledge, 22 Sep 1884
William F. Renfroe to Mary Jane Quinn, 26 Nov 1885
William G. Smith to Mahala C. Tate, 5 Feb 1879
J.C. Smothers to Mary (Cagle)(Taylor), 30 Aug 1890
Andrew Still to Martha J. Woods, 21 Oct 1888
M.H. Taylor to Mary Haggard, 18 Jul 1889
J.C. Taylor to L.S. Brewer, 1 Aug 1889
W.R. Tinner to Susan Jane Walker, 25 Mar 1870
James C. Warren to Clara Parnell, 7 Dec 1890
John Westerman to Margret Greenway, 18 Aug 1889
S.C. Wood to Mary Greenway, 10 Jun 1889
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DECATUR COUNTY, TN - MISC - TAX RECEIPTS OF W.G. RIGGS
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Hill phill@redrock.net
These are some tax receipts I received from Robert Riggs, son of Pinkney Lafayette Riggs, whose father was William George Riggs.
Received of William Riggs two dollars and fifty cents full of his account due for the year 1852 this Nov. 2nd 1852. Kelly Stacy
Received of W.G. Riggs Two dollars and no cents in full of his State and County tax for 1867 in District No. 7 J.W. McWhirter
Received of W.G. Riggs Sixteen 03/100 in full of his State and County Tax for the year 1873 in District No. 19. (This can't be right, Decatur Co. had only 12 Districts). This the 5th day of January 1874. R.S. Lovelace Tax Collector
Decatur County, Tenn June 7, 1880
Received of W.G. Riggs. In full for taxes of 1879 in District No. 12, Decatur County, the Sum of Five Dollars 20 cents. J.A. Long, County Trustee
Received of W.G. Riggs four dollars and 50/100 and two dollars county tax in case State vs Pete Taylor Joseph Conrad. This October 2, 1882. J.A. Long, Trustee
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http://www.tngenweb.org/records/benton/cemeteries/donahue/flatwood.htm
Riggs, W. G., Mar. 11, 1828-Mar. 21, 1909 [Masonic symbol]
Riggs, S. E., June 23, 1832-Mar. 22, 1908, "Wife of W. G. Riggs"
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