Hiram Riggs
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Riggs, contributing descendant.
My grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Deferment Riggs, was born in Tipperary county, Ireland, February 1, 1821, and came to this country when she was 16 years old with an Irish colony. She landed at New York City. She remained in New York possibly a year after which she came to Texas by boat, landing at the mouth of the Brazos River in 1838 or near that date, with the same Irish colony. She came with her uncle’s family, no doubt, and these colonists settled in San Patricio and Bee counties. This uncle, James Hefferman, and his entire family were killed by the Indians near Beeville, as it is located at the present day.
My grandmother was married about that time to Hiram Riggs and moved to Brazoria County. At one time, she and her family were compelled to take refuge in the Old Bahia Mission, which is still standing near Goliad, to escape the attack of the Mexicans, who were more vicious than the Indians at times. Grandmother helped to mold the bullets for her husband and the other refugees in the mission during the siege. While she was in this mission one of her children was born, amidst the terror of an armed attack by the Mexican foe.
She and her husband moved in 1844 to Corpus Christi where Mr. Riggs became the principal merchant and shipowner of the Corpus Christi port. Grandmother said that one time when the Mexicans made another raid on Corpus Christi the people all took to the brush to escape being killed. Grandfather was caught and his feet and hands tied together over a barrel, and then the store was set on fire, he being left to burn.
The raiders then left the town as there was no more damage to inflict on the little wilderness village. As soon as the raiders were out of sight, the people returned and Grandfather Riggs was rescued before he was badly burned. Grandfather died in 1855, having contributed to the primitive settlement much help in time of need, especially during the yellow fever epidemic of 1854, when only a few people were left in this little village. He was buried in the Old Bay View Cemetery, the U. S. Military Cemetery established by General Taylor in 1845 while his Army of Occupation was encamped at Corpus Christi.
Grandmother Riggs was left with several children to raise in this little town, without educational facilities by the church or public schools. She never faltered in the task before her. She outlived all of her children but one son, Leonidas Riggs, who was born January 26, 1848 and was supposed to be the first white child born in Corpus Christi. It has always been a question, although a close race, as to whether Leonidas was the first or second child born in the village. Peter Baldeschwiler, a neighbor’s boy, was born either a half hour before or a half hour after Leonidas Riggs. The two mothers contended all their lives about which baby was born first. Grandmother, having lived most of 82 years amidst the toil and hardships of pioneer Texas, passed to her reward in August, 1903, and was laid to rest in the Old Bay View Military Cemetery, where so many of her family had their last resting place.
How often I recall the scenes of my childhood at the special days of each year pass by. One time, it was Santa Claus, dressed for the part. Many ornaments were made from shells picked up from the beach, especially a shell bouquet. Of course, everyone was considered lacking in artistic adornment of home unless hair flower, was flowers, and ornamental butter molds were found in their homes.
I remember my grandmother’s four-poster bed with curtains and mosquito bars, also the steps by which to climb up to the high bed. I remember the crocheting, knitting and embroidery that every daughter was taught, and the fine sewing so that she would be qualified to look after the plain and fancy work of her own home, which every mother and daughter regarded as a filial duty. I also remember the old well, dug deep enough to escape the surface drainage, and the oaken bucket, the wooden churn with homemade dasher, the wooden milk “crocks,†wooden washtubs, etc.
I remember seeing, when I was small girl, ladies riding horseback on sidesaddles with long riding habits, also ladies wearing hoop skits and bustles with their dresses sweeping the floor held out as many as four starched petticoats as they danced the minuet and old-time square dances. – Ref. Times, Jan. 7, 1936.
Source:
DeGarmo, Mrs. Frank. Pathfinders of Texas, 1836-1846. Austin: Press of Boeckmann-Jones, Co., 1951.
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission