Soon to Be Published or Recently Published Items 2005-2008
The Probable Genetic Signature of Edward1 Riggs, Immigrant to Roxbury in 1633, in preparation, 2009.
The Probable Genetic Signature of Thomas1 Riggs, Immigrant to Gloucester c1656, submitted for publication, 2008.
The Genealogy of Edward1 Riggs of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Revisited, with Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, accepted for publication, The Genealogist, Fall 2009.
Proposed Hawkshead, Lancashire, Origins of Edward1 Riggs of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and Thomas1 Riggs of Gloucester, with Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, PUBLISHED, The American Genealogist, Apr 2008.
Dr. John Durand (1664-1727) of Derby, Connecticut: His Family Through Four Generations, Featuring the Branch of His Youngest Son, Ebenezer Durand, Through Ten Generations to 2003, REPRINTED (second printing), Newbury Street Press, Boston, 2007.
Microsoft Word for Genealogy: An Improvement, PUBLISHED, New England Ancestors, Fall 2007.
Word for Genealogy: Utilizing Microsoft® Word in Genealogical Documents in Register, or Modified Register [NGSQ], Format, PUBLISHED as chapter 7, 65-107, of Leclerc and Hoff, eds., Genealogical Writing in the 21st Century: A Guide to Register Style and More, 2d ed. (Boston, NEHGS, 2006). REPRINTED (second printing), 2007. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED (in 4 installments), New England Ancestors, Summer 2004, vol. 5, no. 3, 50-53; Fall 2004, vol. 5, no. 4, 51-54; Holiday 2004, vol. 5, nos. 5-6, 59-60; and Winter 2005, vol. 6, no. 1, 50-51, 54.
Elder Bethuel Riggs (1757-1835)of Morris County, New Jersey, and His Family Through Five Generations, PUBLISHED, Newbury Street Press, Boston, 2006. Winner of the 2007 Jacobus Award.
Hannah Parsons and Her Four Husbands: Early Mormon History and Apostasy, with Marsha Hoffman Rising, CG, FASG, PUBLISHED, The American Genealogist, Jul 2006 (published Jan 2007), vol. 81, no. 3, 199-219.
The Y-DNA Signature of Edward Riggs of Roxbury, PUBLISHED, New England Ancestors, Summer 2005, vol. 6, no. 3, 46-48.
The Probable Genetic Signature of Edward1 Riggs, Immigrant to Roxbury in 1733
In preparation, for publication in late 2009 (depends on the Fall 2009 article in TG).
ABSTRACT. The genetic (DNA) signature of immigrant Edward1 Riggs is derived formally on 67 markers from the genetic signatures of three living descendants. The descent proofs are established with classic paper-trail genealogy. The genetic signature is derived using using a maximum parsimony applied at each node of the descent tree, working from the living descendants up the tree to the immigrant ancestor.
The Probable Genetic Signature of Thomas1 Riggs, Immigrant to Gloucester c1656
Submitted for publication, 2008.
ABSTRACT. The genetic (DNA) signature of immigrant Thomas1 Riggs is derived formally on 67 markers from the genetic signatures of three living descendants. The descent proofs are established with classic paper-trail genealogy. The genetic signature is derived using a maximum parsimony argument applied at each node of the descent tree, working from the living descendants up the tree to the immigrant ancestor.
The Genealogy of Edward1 Riggs of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Revisited
with Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, accepted for publication, The Genealogist, Fall 2009.
ABSTRACT. The genealogy of Edward Riggs of Roxbury was first presented briefly by Congar in 1866, concentrating particularly on Edward’s New Jersey descendants, and similarly by Orcutt and Beardsley in 1880 on his Connecticut descendants. The first extensive treatment of the entire family was presented by Wallace in book form in 1901. Portions of the early genealogy were subsequently refined by Cory in 1937 and Jacobus in 1959, both relying to some extent on Wallace. There are enough genealogical errors and unsubstantiated relationships in these, and there is sufficient new information, to justify a corrective revisit to the early genealogy of this large and widespread American founding family.
Proposed Hawkshead, Lancashire, Origins of Edward1 Riggs of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and Thomas1 Riggs of Gloucester
with Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, published, The American Genealogist, vol 82, Apr 2008, 120-29.
ABSTRACT. DNA studies have proved that Thomas Riggs and Edward Riggs were related. Thomas Riggs's origin in Hawkshead Parish, Lancashire (now Cumbria), suggests that Edward Riggs's family might have originated there too.
Microsoft Word for Genealogy: An Improvement
Published, New England Ancestors, vol 8, no 4, 46-47, Fall 2007.
ABSTRACT. A set of eight macros is introduced which greatly simplify application of the techniques in my articles about using Word for genealogy (see below). An inexpensive application called ActiveWords implements them.
Word for Genealogy: Utilizing Microsoft® Word in Genealogical Documents in Register, or Modified Register [NGSQ], Format [in 4 installments]
Published in one article as chapter 7, 65-107, of Leclerc and Hoff, eds., Genealogical Writing in the 21st Century: A Guide to Register Style and More, 2d ed. (Boston, NEHGS, 2006), retitled to Writing Using Word for Genealogy: Utilizing Microsoft® Word in Genealogical Documents in Register, or Modified Register [NGSQ], Format. The book has been reprinted, with improvements to chapter 7, 2007. Originally published as an article in 4 installments, all installments published, New England Ancestor, 2004. Part 1 published, Summer 2004, vol. 5, no. 3, 50-53. Part 2 published, Fall 2004, vol. 5, no. 4, 51-54. Part 3 published, Holiday 2004, vol. 5, nos. 5-6, 59-60. Part 4 published, Winter 2005, vol. 6, no. 1, 50-51, 54.
ABSTRACT. Genealogists are generally unaware of the power built into Microsoft® Word that is directly applicable to their field. This paper demonstrates a set of Word techniques that greatly ease the burden of writing papers or books in Register, or Modified Register [NGSQ], format. The techniques can be easily added to already existing documents.
Elder Bethuel Riggs (1757-1835) of Morris County, New Jersey, and His Family Through Five Generations
Book, 794 pages, 35 illustrations, 3,095 footnotes, full name index, published December 2006, Newbury Street Press, Boston
Hannah Parsons and Her Four Husbands: Early Mormon History and Apostasy
Paper, with Marsha Hoffman Rising, CG, FASG, published, The American Genealogist (TAG), Jul 2006 (published Jan 2007), vol. 81, no. 3, 199-219.
ABSTRACT. Hannah Parsons was Nathaniel Riggs's second wife. Her story in various Mormon reference works was inconsistent so this paper is a rewriting of her history and an analysis of why other attempts failed. Hannah's life coincided with early Mormon history and involved several leading characters, including at least one apostate to what is now the main church.
The Y-DNA Signature of Edward Riggs of Roxbury
Paper, published, New England Ancestor, Summer 2005, vol. 6, no. 3, 46-48.
ABSTRACT. The Y-DNA signature of Edward Riggs, immigrant to Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1633, is established using Y-chromosome matching tests on carefully selected individuals. This can now be used to identify his descendants. Other results are also established: 1. Bethuel Riggs, born 1757, Revolutionary War soldier, is "Edwardian" - that is, he is either a direct descendant of Edward Riggs, or both are descendants of a common ancestor; 2. Putative brothers of Bethuel Riggs, namely Silas and James Riggs, are established as Edwardian; 3. Nathaniel Riggs Jr., thought to be adopted by Nathaniel Riggs Sr., Bethuel's son, is proved to be his natural son instead.