Southern Roots
Ancestors from the Courts of Kings to the American Presidency !
The DRIGGERS Family Pg. 1
Descendants of EMMANUEL DRIGGERS
1-Emmanuel DRIGGERS was born about 1620 and died about 1685 in
Northampton County, Virginia about age 65. Other names for
Emmanuel were Emmanuel DRIGGUS, Manuell RODRIGUES.
General Notes: Emmanuel Driggers was said to have been a slave of
African heritage, however, he could possibly have been of Portuguese
descent from Northern Africa.
It is commonly believed that the Driggers family is of Melungeon
descent.
"One misconception over Melungeon origins comes from confusion over
the status of these African-Americans who, along with whites and
Indians, gave birth to this mixed community. Modern scholars
mistakenly assume that the African heritage of Melungeons derives
from the offspring of white plantation owners and black female
chattel slaves in the years 1780 to 1820.
Wrong on two counts. In fact:
1. The very first black ancestors of Melungeons appeared in
tidewater Virginia, not in the 18th century, but in 1619.
2. Not one single Melungeon family can be traced to a white
plantation owner and his black female slave. The vast majority of the
African ancestors of Melungia were freeborn for more than three
hundred years.
This bears repeating.
Melungeons are not the offspring of white southern plantation owners
and helpless black slaves. Most of the African ancestors of
Melungeons were never chattel slaves. They were frequently black men
freed from indentured servitude just like many white servants of the
17th century. Less often, African ancestors of the Melungeons either
purchased their freedom from slavery or were freed upon the deaths of
their masters."
http://www.eclectica.org/v5n3/hashaw.html
Emmanuel also could have been an indentured servant of Portuguese
descent.
Research Notes: Emmanuel Driggers, said to have been a "Negro", born
perhaps 1620, was the slave of Francis Pott on his plantation in
Magotha Bay, Northampton County, Virginia. On May 27, 1645 when
American slavery had not yet fully developed, he purchased a cow and
calf from Francis Pott and recorded the sale in the Northampton
County Court [Orders 1645-51, p.82]. In 1649, Emmanuel and his wife,
Frances, maiden name unknown, were assigned as servants to a man
named Stephen Charlton, to pay a debt that Francis Pott owed to
Charlton [Orders 1651-54, p. 28]. Throughout this time Emmanuel was
able to buy some cattle and through breeding he started to build a
small herd. On December 30, 1652 his former masters, Francis Pott and
Stephen Charlton, clarified the status of the cattle he and a friend,
Bashaw Fernando acquired while they were servants (slaves), declaring
that ye said cattle, etc. are ye proper goods of the sd Negroes
[ibid., p. 114].
The name Driggers was apparently short for the Portuguese or Spanish
name, Rodriguez, since he was called "Manuell Rodriges" in 1660-1663
when he was listed as the head of a Northampton County household,
paying three tithes [Orders 165764, p. 102, 176]. In 1664 he was
taxed on only himself, "Manuell Rodriggs." In 1665 he leased 245
acres for 99 years from his former master, William Kendall, and in
1672 assigned the unexpired part of the lease to John Waterson
[Virginia's Eastern Shore, pp. 151,152]. In 1673 he gave a bay mare
to Frances and Ann, his daughters who were still slaves, and a bay
mare to Devorick and Mary, his free children [D&c 1668-80, f- 59-60]
- In 1677 he was taxable in his own household in John Michael's
Division paying tax on himself [Orders 1674-79 p. 191]. He was last
mentioned in a 1685 administration account presented to the court by
William Kendall [DW 1683-9, pp. 150-1].
http://home.comcast.net/~WestGenealogy/DescendantsEmmanuelDriggers.htm
Emmanuel married Frances about 1636 in Northampton County, Virginia.
Frances was born about 1621 and died about 1660 in Northampton
County, Virginia about age 39. They had eight children: Elizabeth,
Frances, Thomas, Jane, Ann, Edward, William, and Mary.
2-Elizabeth DRIGGERS was born about 1637 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died on an unknown date.
Research Notes: She was 8 years old when she was bound to serve
Francis Pott in 1645. She may not have been his natural daughter
since her indenture stated that she was given to my Negro (Emmanuel
Driggers) by one who brought her up by ye space of 8 years... [Orders
1645-51, p.82].
http://home.comcast.net/~WestGenealogy/DescendantsEmmanuelDriggers.htm
2-Frances DRIGGERS was born about 1640 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died on an unknown date in Northampton County,
Virginia.
2-Thomas DRIGGERS was born about 1644 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died about 1693 in Northampton County, Virginia
about age 49.
Thomas married Sarah KING about 1667 in Northampton County,
Virginia. Sarah was born about 1645 in Northampton County, Virginia
and died about 1701 in Northampton County, Virginia about age 56.
They had five children: Sarah, Frances, John, William, and Johnson.
3-Sarah DRIGGERS was born about 1668 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died on an unknown date.
3-Frances DRIGGERS was born about 1678 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died on an unknown date in Northampton County,
Virginia.
3-John DRIGGERS was born about 1680 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died about 1729 in Northampton County, Virginia
about age 49. Another name for John was John DRIGHOUSE.
3-William DRIGGERS, II was born about 1682 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died on an unknown date in Northampton County,
Virginia.
3-Johnson DRIGGERS was born about 1686 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died on an unknown date.
Research Notes: Johnson Driggers appeared in Northampton County,
Virginia court on 8 November 1702 when he, his brother John, and
Samuel George were convicted of stealing a hog and then abusing and
threatening several whites "in an insolent manner" [Orders 1698-1710,
102, 106]. He probably left the county shortly afterwards as he was
not listed as a taxable in the 1720-29 Northampton County lists. He
purchased 40 acres in Norfolk County on the north side of the
Northwest River known by the name of Horse Pool Point on 15 May 1718
[DB 10:18a, 34].
On 11 August 1752 he claimed head rights in the Craven County, North
Carolina court: Johnston Driggers Came into Court and made Oath that
his family consisted of seven Black Persons [Haun, Craven County
Court Minutes, IV:103].
http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:Mss5H-P0IzYJ:www.freeafricanameri
cans.com/Driggers_Dutchfield.htm+Emmanuel+Rodriguez+(Driggers)&hl=en&c
t=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
Johnson married and had 7 children, Johnson, Mark, Matthew,
Thomas, Caleb, Winslow, and William.
4-Johnson DRIGGERS, Jr. was born about 1716 in Northampton
County, Virginia and died on an unknown date.
4-Mark DRIGGERS was born about 1723 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died on an unknown date.
4-Matthew DRIGGERS was born about 1725 in Northampton County,
Virginia and died in 1785 in South Carolina about age 60.
4-Thomas DRIGGERS was born about 1727 and died on an unknown
date.
4-Caleb DRIGGERS was born about 1730 and died on an unknown date.
Research Notes: Caleb, number 43 in the 8 March 1754 muster roll of
Captain Casson Brinson's Craven County Company, listed next to
Johnston Drigers [Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 701].
http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:Mss5H-P0IzYJ:www.freeafricanameri
cans.com/Driggers_Dutchfield.htm+Emmanuel+Rodriguez+(Driggers)&hl=en&c
t=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
4-Winslow DRIGGERS was born about 1735 and died on an unknown
date.
Research Notes: Winslow, number 12 in the Muster Roll of Captain
Alexander McKintosh's Company of Colonel George Gabriel Powell's
Battalion of South Carolina Militia "Serving in the Late Expedition
Against the Cherokees from October 11, 1759 to January 15, 1760,
inclusive ..." [Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 892].
He was a notorious leader of one of the outlaw, back-country
communities which were said to accept free African Americans as
equals. In the fall of 1770 he escaped from jail in Savannah,
Georgia, and returned to the area of the Little Peedee River in North
and South Carolina where he continued his outlaw career. He was
described as: about six Feet; Complexion, black; Visage, pale, being
much reduced by Sickness; Hair, black and long, generally cued. The
following year a band of ex-Regulators captured him at his hideout
near Drowning Creek and used the provisions of the Negro Act as an
excuse to hang him on the spot [Brown, South Carolina Regulators,
29-31, 103; Saunders, Colonial Records of North Carolina, IX:725,
771].
http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:Mss5H-P0IzYJ:www.freeafricanameri
cans.com/Driggers_Dutchfield.htm+Emmanuel+Rodriguez+(Driggers)&hl=en&c
t=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
4-William DRIGGERS was born about 1737 in Cumberland County,
North Carolina and died on an unknown date.
Research Notes: William purchased land in Cumberland County, North
Carolina, by deed proved on 17 October 1759 and sold land in
Cumberland County by deed proved five years later in May court 1764
[Minutes 1759-65, 54, 103]. His improvements on Gum Swamp east of
Drowning Creek were mentioned in a 22 July 1769 Bladen County deed
[DB:91]. He may have been the William Driggers who was granted
administration on the Marlboro County, South Carolina estate of
Charles Kirby in December court 1788. Perhaps his wife was Mary
Driggers whose deed of gift from Sarah Kirby was recorded in March
court 1788 [Minutes 1785-1808, 52, 35].
http://209.85.207.104/search?q=cache:Mss5H-P0IzYJ:www.freeafricanameri
cans.com/Driggers_Dutchfield.htm+Emmanuel+Rodriguez+(Driggers)&hl=en&c
t=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
William married and had 1 child, Jonas
5-Jonas DRIGGERS was born in 1755 in Cumberland County, North
Carolina and died about 1822 in Bullock County, Georgia about
age 67.
Research Notes: Jonas Driggers, a forefather of the Driggers
connection of Wiregrass Georgia and North Florida, was born in North
Carolina about 1755, son of William Driggers, R. S. Just before the
Revolutionary War the family moved from Cumberland Co. N. C. to
Cheraw District S.C. After the war Jonas moved to Effingham County,
Georgia, his parents moving there also but others of the family
remaining in South Carolina. In 1796 they were detached from
Effingham and cut into Bulloch County when it was created partly out
of Effingham and Screven counties.
http://home.comcast.net/~WestGenealogy/DescendantsEmmanuelDriggers.htm
Mr. Driggers and his father served in the South Carolina Militia in
the Revolutionary War. He died in Bulloch county in 1822, and his
widow was appointed administrator of his estate.
http://home.comcast.net/~WestGenealogy/DescendantsEmmanuelDriggers.htm
Jonas married Elenor. Elenor died on an unknown date. They had
six children: William H., Jonas, Dennis, John, Simeon, and
Catherine.
6-William H. DRIGGERS, Sr. was born on 30 Nov 1776 in Kershaw
County, South Carolina and died after 1850 in Florida.
Research Notes: 1850 United States Federal Census
about William Driggers
Name:William Driggers Age:76 Estimated Birth Year:abt 1774 Birth
Place:South Carolina Gender:Male Home in
1850(City,County,State):Columbia, FloridaHousehold Members: Name
AgeEmily Driggers 66 Milly Driggers 13 William Driggers 76
Elizabeth Jones 24 Ealonor Lastinger 37
*According to information found on this census, William Driggers
cannot read or write.
William married Emily LASTINGER, daughter of Johann LASTINGER
and Unknown, before 1807 in Georgia. Emily was born on 25 Jun
1778 in Effingham County, Georgia and died after 1850 in
Florida. Another name for Emily was Millie. They had 15
children: Sarah, Mark, Rebecca, Mary Ann, Elender, Jonas,
Jacob, Simeon, William H., Millie (Emily), Matthew, Catherine,
Elizabeth, Penina L., and Diana.
7-Sarah DRIGGERS was born about 1807 in Bullock County,
Georgia and died about 1874 in Clinch County, Georgia about
age 67.
Sarah married Dixon BENNETT. Dixon was born about 1805 in
Sampson Co., North Carolina and died in May 1871 in Clinch
County, Georgia about age 66. They had seven children: John,
William, Rebecca, Felix, Sebastion, Sarah, and Matthew.
8-John BENNETT was born about 1831 in Emanuel County, Georgia
and died on an unknown date.
8-William BENNETT was born about 1833 and died on an unknown
date.
8-Rebecca BENNETT was born about 1834 and died on an unknown
date.
8-Felix BENNETT was born about 1836 and died on an unknown
date.
8-Sebastion BENNETT was born about 1838 and died on an
unknown date.
8-Sarah BENNETT was born about 1842 and died on an unknown
date.
8-Matthew BENNETT was born about 1848 and died on an unknown
date.
7-Mark DRIGGERS was born about 1809 and died on an unknown
date.
7-Rebecca DRIGGERS was born about 1810 and died in Apr 1878
about age 68.
Rebecca married Harris TOMLINSON, son of William TOMLINSON and
Nancy REGISTER, about 1830. Harris was born in 1808 in Clinch
County, Georgia and died about 1867 in Echols County, Georgia
about age 59.
7-Mary Ann DRIGGERS was born in 1812 and died about 1865 about
age 53.
Mary had a relationship with Seaborn LASTINGER. This couple
did not marry. Seaborn was born about 1805 in Emanuel County,
Georgia and died about 1864 about age 59. They had one
daughter: Millie.
8-Millie DRIGGERS was born on 22 Jun 1828 and died on an
unknown date.
Mary married John THORNTON before 1840. John was born in 1816
and died on an unknown date.
7-Elender DRIGGERS was born in 1813 in Emanuel County, Georgia
and died in 1915 in Hamilton County, Georgia at age 102.
Elender married Seaborn LASTINGER in 1829. Seaborn was born
about 1805 in Emanuel County, Georgia and died about 1864
about age 59. They had six children: Nancy, Mary, Ellen,
Sarah, William, and Susan.
8-Nancy LASTINGER.
8-Mary LASTINGER.
8-Ellen LASTINGER.
8-Sarah LASTINGER.
8-William LASTINGER.
8-Susan LASTINGER.
DRIGGERS - PG. 2