William Figgs (Frakes)

William Friggs/Figgs shows up sporadically in the Somerset Tax Lists of 1723-1759 in Nanticoke Hundred as head of household except for 1735 as follows:
1723: not listed
1724: not listed
1725: not listed
1726: no list
1727: not listed
1728: not listed
1729: not listed
1730: not listed
1731: not listed
1732: no list
1733: not listed
1734: not listed
1735: dependent of John Givans
1736: not listed
1737: not listed
1738: not listed
1739: not listed
1740: not listed
1741: no list
1742: no list, Worcester Co. forms
1743-1757: as Head of Household with slave Will
1759: not listed

In the Somerset Court of March 1741, William Friggs, planter, paid the fees of Rachel Freeman who had be declared guilty of begetting a bastard child and name the father to be Benjamin Derrickson: "Whereupon the said Rachell Freeman is Ordered to give Security for the payment of all fee or fees due on the Indictment afd to any person or persons whatsoever Thereupon William Friggs of Sommerset County planter present herein Court in his proper person undertook for the said Rachel Freeman to pay all fee or fees due to any person or persons whatsoever on the Indictment aforesaid In case the the said Rachel Freeman doth not pay the Same &c. (SoJ-1740/42:231) In the same court, we find Friggs listed again when, "Ordered that Thomas More recover against William Friggs one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco being due unto him for his Attendance five days as an evidence on behalf of the af.d William Friggs against Robert Edge he haveing made oath to the same &c." (Ibid:265)

On Sep 15 1752, William Friggs (Figgs) had surveyed for him a 180a tract called "Figgs Chance" in Worcester Co., MD (now Sussex Co., DE). He received a patent on it on May 17 1754 (WoCert:0918). This land is on Broad Creek on its north bank only about a mile east of the mouth of the creek where it empties into the Nanticoke River.

On Feb 6 1762, William Friggs [Figgs], planter, sold tract "Friggs Chance" to Moses Gordy, planter, near a tract now belonging to Martin Henry." (WoLR-E:286) On Dec 22 1764 Moses Gordy, planter, sold land in tract "Summer Range" to William Friggs [Figgs] (WoLR-F:257).

In the November court of 1761, William Figgs filed suit against Moses Lynn as follows:
Command was Given to the Sheriff of Somerset County that he Should take Moses Lynn Late of Somerset County Marriner if he Should be found in his Bailywick and him should Safe keep so that he might have his body before the Justices of his Lordships County Court of Somerset to be held at Princes Ann Town the third Tuesday of March Anno Dom. one thousand Seven hundred and Sixty One to Answer unto William Figgs of A plea of trespass upon the Case &c. And the Same day is Given to the afd. Wm. here &c Att which day here Came the afd. Wm. Figgs by George Hayward his Attorney and the Sheriff to witt John Dennis Gent now here Returned that he had taken the afd. Moses Lynn whose body here at this day he had Ready to Answer the afd. Wm. Figgs of the afd. plea as to him it was Commanded Whereupon the Said Moses Lynn at the prayer of the afd. Wm. Figgs is Adjudged to Give Special Bail to the Action afd. Thereupon a Certain Charles More of Somerset County Planter Present
here in Court in his Proper Person undertook for the Said Moses Lynn and Assumed upon himself that if it Should happen that Judgment in the plea afd. Should be Rendred for the Said William Figgs Against the afd. Moses Lynn or that he the Said Moses Lynn Should be therein Convict that then he the Said Moses Lynn Should Pay and Satisfie unto the afd. Wm. Figgs the Judgment of the Court thereupon or Render his body in Execution of Such Judgment to the Prison of the Sheriff of the County afd. in Satisfaction thereof or that he the Said Charles More Will do the Same for him &c Whereupon the Said Moses Lynn puts in his place Littleton Dennis Gent Attorney at Law Against the afd. William Figgs of the afd. plea And thereupon at the prayer of the Parties afd. day is to them now here Given untill next Court to be held at Princes Ann Town the third Tuesday of June then next following in the State that now Saveing to the Parties afd. Att which day here Came the Parties afd. by their Attorneys afd. And hereupon the Said William Figgs Complained of the afd. Moses Lynn in the plea afd. in form following Somerset fst Moses Lynn Late of Somerset County Mariner was Attached to Answer unto Wm. Figgs of A plea of trespass upon the Case and So forth And Whereupon the Said William by George Hayward his Atty Complains that Whereas the Said Moses the first day of Aprill Anno Dom. MDCCLii at Somerset County afd. was Indebted unto the Said William in the Sum of Ten pounds and four Shillings Curt Money of Maryland for the Sundry Articles And things in the Account hereto Annexed Mentioned And So thereof Indebted being the Said Moses in
Consideration thereof Afterwards to wit the Same day and Year afd. at the County afd. Upon himself Assumed And to the Said William then and there faithfully Promised that he the Said Moses the Sum of Money afd. when he Should be thereto afterwards Required unto the Said William well and faithfully would pay and Content Nevertheless the Said Moses his Promise and Assumption afd. in form afd. made Little Regarding but Minding and fraudulently Intending the Said William in that part Craftily And Subtilly to deceive and defraud the Sum of Money afd. unto the Said William hath not paid or him for the Same in Any Sort Contented (Altho the Same to do the Same Moses afterwards to wit the Same day and Year afd. and often Since at the County afd. by the Said William was Required but the Same to him to pay hitherto Altogether hath Refused and Still doth Refuse and Unjustly Detain Whereupon the Said William Says he is Worse and hath Damage to the Value of Twenty Pounds Curt Money of Maryland and thereof he brings Suit &c Pledges &c J: Doe & R: Roe
1752 Capn Moses Lynn Dr. May 19th: 1761 Then Came Wm. Figgs before me the Subscriber
Febry 25 To half a Gallon Rum 4/ To 1/2lb of Powder 1/6 To 1 pen knife 2/ £0..7..6 One of his Lordships Justices of the peace for Somerset County and
£1..0..6 To 1 pr. of Ribd. Hose 10/ March 1st
To Sundry of [illegible] Settled as pr [illegible] ^ 2..10..6 Made Oath on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God that the Book from
To Credit Jethro Vaughan of 4/ To 1/2 Gall. Rum ^
Credit Jno. Brown Mill Right 10/ 18..0 which the above Acct. was taken from was Proved According to the
Do. 5 To 1 1/2 Gall. Rum 12/ Do. 31st. To 1/2 Gallon Do. 4/ 16 Directions of the Act of Assembly in Such Case made and provided
April 1st To 8 Yds of Holland @ 10/ £4..0 0 thread 9d: 3 hanks of thread 1/ 4..1..9 Thos. Jones
To 1 pr. thread Stockins 10/: 1 1/2 Yds. of Muslin 18/9 1..8..9 And the afd. Moses Lynn by his Atty afd. Comes and
To 1 pr of Silk Garters 4/: 1 pr. of Worsted Stockings 7:
1/4 Quire paper 6d. 11..0 Defends the force and Injury when &c And prays Leave
£10..4 thereof to Imparle here untill next Court to be held at
Errors Excepted pr Wm. Figgs Princes Ann Town the third Tuesday of August then next following and
he hath it and the Same day is Given to the afd. William here also &c
Att which day here Came as well the afd. Wm. Figgs as the afd. Moses Lynn by their Attorneys afd. And hereupon the Said Moses prays further Leave thereof to Imparle here untill next Court to be held at Princes Ann Town the third Tuesday of November then next following and he hath it and the Same day is Given to the afd. Wm. here also &c Att which day here Came as well the afd. Wm. Figgs as the afd. Moses Lynn by their Attorneys afd. & hereupon the Said Moses as before defends the force and Injury when &c And Saith that he Cannot deny the Action afd. of the afd. Wm. Figgs nor but that he did Assume upon himself in Manner and form as the afd. William above Against him hath Complained and as to the Damage of the Same William by him by Occasion of the premisses in that part Sustained the Same Moses Saith and Acknowledgeth that the afd. William hath Sustained Damages by Occasion of the Premisses beyond his Costs and Charges by him about his Suit in that part Apposed to Ten pounds four Shillings Curt Money and not More and because the afd. Wm. Denys not this but the Same Allegation Grants to be true prays Judgment for those Damages Above Acknowledged together with his Costs and Charges afd. to him to be Adjudged Therefore by Consent of the Parties afd. it is Considered that the afd. William Figgs Recover Against the afd. Moses Lynn his Damages afd. to the afd. Ten pounds ^ four Shilings Curt Money by the Same Moses in form afd. Acknowledged as also ______ Pounds of Tobacco for his Costs and Charges afd. to the Same William at his Request by the Court now here of the Assent of the parties afd. Adjudged
which Certain Damages in the Whole Amount to Ten pound four Shillings Curt Money & 2162 Pounds of Tobacco and the afd. Moses in Mercy &c." (SoJ-1760/63:115-116)





In the August Court of 1762, William Figgs filed suit against Daniel Kinnigan as follows:
"Command was Given to the Sheriff of Somerset County that he Should take Daniel Kinnigan (also Kenikin) Late of Somerset County Planter if he Should be found in his Bailywick And him Should Safe keep so that he might have his body before the Justices of his Lordships County Court of Somerset to be held at Princes Ann Town the third Tuesday of March Anno Dom. One thousand Seven hundred And Sixty to Answer unto William Figgs of A plea of trespass upon the Case &c. And the Same day is given to the afd. Wm. Att which day here Came the afd. William Figgs by William Hayward his Attorney and the Sheriff to witt John Dennis Gent now here Returned that he had taken the afd. Daniel Kinnikin whose body here at this day he had Ready to Answer the afd. William Figgs of the afd. plea as to him it was Commanded whereupon the Said Daniel Kinnikin at the prayer of the afd. William Figgs is Adjudged to give Special bail to the Action afd. Thereupon a Certain John Williams of Somerset County planter present here in Court in his Proper Person undertook for the Said Daniel Kinnikin and Assumed upon himself that if it Should happen that Judgment in the plea afd. Should be Rendred for the Said William Figgs Against the afd. Daniel Kinnigan or that he the Said Daniel Should be therein Convict that then he the Said Daniel Should pay and Satisfie unto the afd. William the Judgment of the Court thereupon or Render his body in Execution of Such Judgment to the Prison of the Sheriff of the County afd. in Satisfaction thereof or that he the Said John Williams will do the Same for him &c. Whereupon the Said Daniel Kinnikin puts in his place Littleton Dennis Gent Attorney at Law Against the afd. William Figgs of the afd. plea And thereupon at the Prayer of the parties afd. day is to them now here Given untill next Court to be held at Princes Ann Town the third Tuesday of June then next following in the State that now Saveing to the Parties afd. &c. And thereupon at the pra    Att which day here Came the afd. Parties by their Attorneys
afd. And hereupon the Said William Complained Against the afd. Daniel in the plea afd. in form following Somerset fst Daniel Kenekin Late of Somerset County Planter was Attached to Answer unto William Figgs of A plea of trespass upon the Case and So forth And Whereupon the Said William Figgs by William Hayward his Atty Complains that Whereas the Said Daniel the day of Anno Dom. MDCCL at Somerset County afd. was Indebted unto the Said William Figgs in the Sum of thirty Pounds fifteen Shillings and four pence Curt Money of Maryland for the Sundry Articles and things in the Account hereto Annexed Mentioned and So thereof Indebted being the Said Daniel in Consideration thereof Afterwards to wit the Same day and Year afd. at the County afd. Upon himself Assumed and to the Said William then and there faithfully Promised that he the Said Daniel the Sum of Money afd. When he Should be thereto afterwards Required unto the Said William Figgs well and faithfully would pay and Content Nevertheless the Said Daniel his Promise and Assumption afd. in form afd. made Little Regarding but minding and fraudulently Intending the Said William Figgs in that part Craftily and Subtilly to deceive and defraud the sum of Money afd. unto the Said William Figgs hath not paid or him for the Same in Any Sort Contented (Altho the Same to do the Same Daniel afterwards to wit the Same day and Year afd. and often Since at the County afd. by the Said William Figgs was Required) but the Same to him to pay hitherto altogether hath Refused and Still doth Refuse and Unjustly deny Whereupon the Said William Figgs Says he is Worse and hath damage to the Value of forty Pounds Curt Money of Maryland and thereof he brings Suit &c. Pledges &c. J. Doe & R. Roe
1751 Mr Daniel Kinikan Dr. pr Contra Cr
Mar 1 To 1 Clasp Knife 1/3 To 1 Small Do. 6d To 2 Cotton Rowalls 5/ £0..6..9 Apr 6 By 2lb of Myrtle wax 1/3 By 2 1/2 Barrells of tar 10/£1..7..6
Do. 5 To 1lb. of Gunpowder 3/ (Aprl: 6) To 1 Bushell Corn 2/6
(Do. 15) To 8 3/4 yds Checks 2/ 1..2..0
By 5 Barrells of tar @ 8/ 2..0..0
To 2 1/2 yds Sheeting 4/(May 2) To 1 Clasp knife 1/3
To 1lb of powder 3/ To 2lb of Shott/ 0..15..3 Apr 7 By 27 Barrells of tar delivered at Sundry times @ 10/ 13..10..0
To Cash paid for you to J: Ralph 9/6 (Do 11)
To 4 yds of Sheeting 4/ 1..5..6 1752 Do. 14 By 5 1/2 Barrell tar 10/ 2..15..0

To 5 1/4 yds Check 2/ Cash pd. Margt Oliver for you £1..13..10 Jun 1-
2 Bush. Corn 2/6 2..9..4 Decr 4 By 32lb of Muytle Wax 1/3 Cash pd Thos. More 2..14..0 4..14..10
Do. 4th To 1 Ivory Comb 2/ To 1 hank thread 4d To 1 paper pins 1/3 0..3..7 1752 24..7..4
Do. 5 To 5 yds of Ozs. 2/ To 1 Cotton Gound piece 3/3
To 9 1/2 of Bacon 6d. 2..10..9 By Ballance due yett of 6..8
Do 24 To Cr Thos. Roberson £1..17..2 To 3 1/2 yds Linnen 3/6
To 1lb pepper 3/6 To 1 blanket 10/ 3..4..1
Errors Excepted pr me Wm. Figgs £30..15..4
To 2 1/2 yds of Linnen 3/6 To 1 Qt of Rum 2/ To 1 Gall. Do. 8
To you out of hand £3 3..18..9
Sep 18 To 1 Silk handk. 8/ To 1 Linen Do. 4/6
To 2 1/2 yds. of Stript Holland 5/ To 3 1/4 yds Check 4/6 1..19..8 And the afd. Daniel Kinnigan by his Atty afd. Comes and
To 1 pr. knee buckles 2/ To 1 Spelling book 3/6
To 1 prayer book 6/ To 1 Large Catto 2/6 0..14..0 defends the force and Injury when &c. And prays Leave thereof
To 3 1/2 pts. Rum 3/6 To 1 pair of Worsted Stockings 10/
(Do. 23) To 1lb of Shott 6d 0..14..0 to Imparle here untill next Court to be held at Princes Ann Town
To 4 Tarr Barrells 1/6 To 3 Hanks of thread 4d (Do. 24)
To 1 Qt. of Rum 2 9..0 the third Tuesday of August then next following and he hath it &
Ocr. 7 To 2 Quarts of Rum 4/ (Do. 12) To 2 Quts. Do. 4
To 1/2 Bushell peas 5/ Apr. 7 To 1 Qt. Rum 2 12..6 the Same day is Given to the afd. William here also &c.
1752 To Cash paid Eliza. Sander for you 11/ Do. 10)
To 2 Quarts of Rum 4/ To 1 Rasor 2/6 17..6
To 1 Bushell of Corn 2 (May 7th/ To 1 peck of peas 1/3 Do. 16
To 3 yds Oxbs. 1/6 7..9
To Cr. Benjn. Willess 1/ To 1 How 3/6 To 26 1/2lb pickle beef 3d 11..0 1/2
To 6 3/4lb of Bacon 6d June 26th To 2lb of Gunpowder 3/ Do. 28
To Sundry as pr day book 1..3..6 1..12..10 1/2
July 7 To Sundrys as pr day book 11/5 Do. 11th
To Sundrys as pr day book 1..1..6 1..12..11
To your Assumption for Thos. Venson £2..15
To Sundrys as pr day book at Shingle Landing 2..7..0 5..2..0 Att which day here Came as well the afd. William
Dec 4 To 1 Bushell of Salt 6 Figgs as the afd. Daniel Kinnigan by their Attorneys afd. &
1750 £30..15..4 whereupon the Said Daniel prays further Leave thereof to
Errors Excepted pr me Wm. Figgs
Imparle here untill next Court to be held at Princes Ann Town
the third Tuesday of November then next following and he hath it and
the Same day is Given to the afd. Wm. (SoJ-1760/63:157-158)

In the same August Court for 1762, William Figgs faced a suit against himself as follows:
"John Dennis agst William Figgs: Command was given to the Sheriff of Somerset County that he Should take William Figgs Late of Somerset County Planter if her Should be found in his Bailywick and him Should Safe keep so that he might have his body before the Justices of his Lordships County Court of Somerset to be held at Princes Ann Town the third Tuesday of June Anno Dom. 1762 to Answer unto John Dennis of A plea of trespass upon the Case &c. And the Same day is given to the afd. John here &c. Att which day here Came the afd. John Dennis by William Hayward his Attorney and the Sheriff to witt Ephraim Wilson now here Returned that he had taken the afd. William Figgs whose body here at this day he had Ready to Answer the afd. John Dennis of the afd. plea as to him it was Commanded Whereupon the Said William Figgs at the prayer of the afd. John Dennis is Adjudged to give Special bail to the Action afd. Thereupon a Certain John Cox and Abraham Dean present here in and Each of them undertook for Court in their proper persons and undertook ^ for the Said William Figgs and Assumed upon themselves that if Should happen that Judgment in the plea afd. Should be Rendred for the Said John Dennis Against the afd. William Figgs or that he the Said William Figgs Should be therein Convict that then he the Said William Should pay and Satisfie unto the afd. John the Judgment of the Court thereupon or Render his body Execution of Such Judgment to the prison of the Sheriff of the County afd. in Satisfaction thereof or that they the Said John Cox and Abraham Dean and Each of them will do the Same for him &c. And hereupon the Said William Figgs puts in his place George Hayward Gent Attorney at Law Against the afd. John Dennis of the afd. plea And thereupon at the prayer of the parties afd. day is to them now here Given untill next Court to be held at Princes Ann Town the third Tuesday of August then next following in the State that now Saveing to the parties afd. &c Att which day here Came the parties afd. by their Attorneys afd. And hereupon the Said John Complained Against the afd. William in the plea afd. in form following Somerset fst William Figgs Late of Somerset County Planter Was Attached to Answer unto John Dennis of A plea of trespass upon the Case and So forth And Whereupon the Said John by William Hayward his Attorney Complains that whereas the Said William Figgs on the Nineteenth day of June in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred Sixty and One at Somerset County afd. did Make his Certain note in Writing Called a promissary note with his proper hand Subscribed bearing date the Same day and Year Last Mentioned and the note afd. to the Said John then and there did deliver by which note the Said William Figgs did promise to pay unto the Said John or his Order the Sum of Eight pounds Nine Shillings and Nine pence Curt. Money of Maryland on Demand for Value Recd. by Reason thereof as also by Virtue of the Statute in that Case made and provided the Said William Figgs became Liable to pay unto the Said John the Said Sum of Eight pounds Nine Shillings and Nine pence Curt Money afd. According to the tenor of the Said Note and So being Chargeable the afd. William Figgs afterwards to wit the afsd Nineteenth day June in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred Sixty and One at Somerset County afd. upon himself did Assume and to the
Said John then and there faithfully promise to pay the Sum of Money afd. According to the tenor of the Said Note Nevertheless the Said William Figgs his promise and Assumption afd. in form afd. made Little Regarding but plotting and fraudulently Intending the Said John in that part Craftily and Subtilly to deceive and defraud the afd. Sum of Eight pounds Nine Shillings and Nine pence Curt. Money afd. to the afd. John hath not paid nor him in Any Sort Contented Altho he the Said William Figgs was thereunto often Required but the Same to the Said
John hath Refused And Still doth Refuse to the great Damage of him the Said John Whereupon he Says that he is Worse and hath Damage to the Value of twenty pounds Curt. Money of Maryland and thereof he brings Suit and So forth. Pledges &c. J: Doe & R: Roe
And the afd. William Figgs by his Attorney afd. Comes and defends the force and Injury when &c. And Saith that he Cannot deny the Action afd. of the afd. John Dennis nor but that he did Assume upon himself in Manner And form as the afd. John Above Against him hath Complained and as to the damage of the Same John by him by Occasion of the premisses in that part Sustained the Same William Saith and Acknowledgeth that the afd. John hath Sustained Damages by Occasion of the premisses beyond his Costs and Charges by him About his Suit in that part Apposed to Eight pound Nine Shillings and Nine pence Curt Money and not More and because the afd. John Denys not this but the Same Allegation Grants to be true prays Judgment for those Damages Above Acknowledged together with his Costs and Charges afd. to him to be Adjudged Therefore by Consent of the parties afd. it is Considered that the afd. William John Dennis Recover Against the afd. William Figgs his Damages afd. to the afd. Eight pound Nine Shillings and Nine pence Curt Money by the Same William in form afd. Acknowledged as also 210 Pounds of Tobacco for his Costs and Charges afd. to the Same John at his Request by the Court now here of the Assent of the parties afd. Adjudged which Certain Damages in the Whole Amount to Eight Pound Nine Shillings and Nine pence Curt Money and Pounds of Tobacco and the afd. William in Mercy &c." (SoJ-1760/63:170-171)

In the March court of 1763, it was "Ordered that William Heath Recover against William Figgs ninety Six pounds of Tobacco being due unto him for his attendance four days as an Evidence on behalf of the said William against Shiles Moore he having made oath to the same &c. " (SoJ-1760/63:220)

William married.