THE FAMILY OF ROBERT AND JANE MILLER BIGGS
Robert Biggs served in the Revolutionary War, 8th Pennsylvania Regiment. He enlisted in August 1776 and served for 18 months as a private in Captain Eli Meyer's and Captain Huffnagle's companies, Colonel McCoy's 8th Pennsylvania Regiment.
He received a land grant in Clark County, Indiana, 1798.
Robert Biggs Family
“The first settler in Monroe Township of who”m there is any definite knowledge was Mr. Robert Biggs who came here in 1806 from Kentucky, but was originally from Pennsylvania. He settled on Millers or Biggs Fork of Silver Creek, one mile above what is now Henryville. His wife, whose maiden name was Miller, bore him a large family, the children of which are scattered in all the states and territories. Mr. Biggs was of Scotch-Irish extraction. He held the faith of the Seceders Church of England. Mr. Biggs lived and died within sight of Henryville [Indiana]. He took much pleasure in hunting and was considered a superior marksman.”
–from Riley Gray Genealogy by Emma Deiser.
“Robert Biggs, a Revolutionary War Veteran, and his family were known to have been the first recorded settlers in what is now Monroe township of Clark County, Indiana. The family settled in a home located on Millers (or Biggs) Fork of Silver Creek. This is about one mile above the present day town of Henryville.
“Robert Biggs was of Scotch/Irish extraction, and held the Seceders Church of England as to his religious beliefs.
“Robert and Nancy Jane had sixteen children, with all but one born prior to their Clark County settlement. Abner Biggs Sr., their thirteenth child, was our direct descendent. The family came to Indiana in 1806, originating in Pennsylvania, by way of Kentucky. The eldest of the children, John Biggs, was married in Bondelo (Bond), Kentucky in 1779 to Jane Collings. Jane was the daughter of William Collings, one of the first Clark County settlers.
“Another of the Collings children married the daughter (Rebecca) of one of our direct descendants, Peter Huffman. Peter and his family were the first generation of that side of the family to settle in the area.
“Both Jane Collings Biggs and Rebecca Huffman Collings were involved in the Pigeon Roost Massacre which took place a few years later.
“Although no birth or death records were found, it is felt that both Robert and Nancy Jane Biggs were born around 1758, and that they lived well into their seventies.”
–from Our Folks—A Family History by William Crone Huffman, Jr.
McBride-Allen-Biggs Cemetery (on Highway 160, about 1 1/2 miles west of Henryville):
This is from Robert Biggs’ gravestone: “In memory of Robert Biggs, who departed this life Nov. 9, 1831, aged 79 years.”
This is copied from the “Clark County, Indiana, Cemeteries” website: “Robert BIGGS was the first settler in what became Monroe Twp. He came here in 1806 from Shelby Co., Kentucky, and prior to that, he lived in Westmorland Co., Pennsylvania. He is referred to in David McBride’s narrative as ‘Old Father Biggs.’ David McBride was the son of Isaac.”
1820 US CENSUS: Robert Biggs, 1 male 16-26; 1 male 45 and older; 1 female 26-45.
“The Methodist Episcopal church of Henryville was erected in 1839. It stood on the farm of Mr. Seymour Guernsey, near the village. The class, however, was organized in 1828 at the house of Mr. Robert Biggs, who lived southwest of town. The first preachers came from the Charlestown circuit, and were the Rev. Messrs. Lock and Wood. Among the early members were Abner Biggs and wife, David McBride and wife, James Allen and wife, Robert Carns and wife, Mrs. Miller, and Mrs. Townsend. The old church is yet standing, but is not used for church purposes. A burying-ground is connected with it, ...”
–from History of the Ohio Falls Counties, pg. 356.
