Anson County NcArchives Biographies.....Family, Degge ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K. Benner kbenner@processdesign.com September 5, 2009, 9:59 pm Source: Personal research Author: K. Benner Degge Family From William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine Pg 193 - 198, Degge Family Records (Vol XXI, July 1912, No.1) The investigations made from time to time in the British records are constantly proving the respectability of the emigrants to Virginia. The following shows the origin of the Degge family. This Degge has been corrupted into Degges and Digges, and under these different spellings (Degge, Degges, Digges) descendants of John Degge, the original emigrant, are still to be found in Virginia and the South and West. On page 982, Vol. III., of Familiae Minorum Gentium (Harleian Society Publications) appears the following pedigee: Thomas Degge, of Strongshall, in county Stafford, England, near Uttoxeter, where he is buried, married Dorothy, daughter of george Critchlow, of Wellescote, County Derby, who died in the third year of Charles I. (1627). They had issue: (1) Sir Simon Degge, one of the Justices of the Marches of Wales. He married twice: (1) Jane, daughter of Thomas Orrel, of Staffordshire, and (2) Alice, daughter of Anthony Oldfield, of near Spalding, widow of either James or William Trollope. By his second marriage he had a grandson Simon, aged 16 in 1710. (2) Robert, of Stronghall, married a daughter of John Rowley of the Ribs (?) (3) Issac, of Nantwich, Skinner, married Rose, daughter of John Marshal, of Wisbeche. They had three children: John, simon and Mary; (4) Catherine married George Walklett, of Staffordshire. A man of this name was a leader in Bacon's Rebellion, and this identity of name suggests kinship. Possibly he was a grandson. The following will is extracted from the District Registry of the Probate Division of His Majesty's High Court of Justice at Chester, Cheshire, England: In the name of God, Amen. This is the last will and Testament of me Mary Degge of Namptwich in the county of Chester Sprinster, being sound and perfect of mind and memory God be praised for the same I doe make and ordain this my last will and testament as following. First I comite my spirit into the hands of god who gave it me, my body to be decently buryed in Namptwich Church by my Father and Mother and Aunt and my other relations if Mr. Church at Touston will give me leave, if not by my brother and his burial place in the Church Yard in as deep a grave as they can well make, and I would have a sermon the text in 31 Psalm and the 5th verse "Into they hands I commend my spirit For thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of Truth" if not one this text noe Sermon for it is above forty years since I made choice of it and with these words as if my last I comite my self into the hands of Jesus Christ my Redeemer every night I sleep in whom is my whole trust and comforte Item I give and bequeath to my nephew John Degge, son of my brother John Degge, one duble pestole of gold one sermon book write by my Father an essay of Friendship Devine Poems by Speed Doc Hammonds Praticall Cateshisms Item I give and bequeath to my nephew Simon Degge son of my brother John Degge one Portugalle Piece of Gold one large Herball a booke of tith write by Sr. Simon Degge a book of Sermons a Collection of Naitivitis Sr. George Whartons works Item I give and bequeath to my nephew Marshall Degge son of my brother John Degge one piece of Portugalle God my Seall wth ye Degge & Marshall Armes the Practis of Piety ye Jews conspiracy against ther King. Exposition one ye Church Catechisme Item I give and bequeath to my nephew Charles Degge son of my Brother John one broad piece of gold St. Augustine Meditations Bishop Andrews demotion conference by Gilbert Burnet Item I give and bequeath to my nephew James Degge son of my brother John one broad piece of gold a book write by Henry ye 8th against Luther and ye Method of private devotion Item I give and bequeath to my nephew William Degge, son of my brother John, one broad piece of gold a book one Lent and meditation one eternity Item I give and bequeather to my nephew Anthony Degge Son of my brother John one broad piece of gold Biship Halls case of consience ye following of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis Item I give and bequeath to my niece Rose Morgan daughter of my brother John Degge one broad piece of gold wth a Septer one gold ringe with 7 white stones. The Art of contentment bound up wth 2 other Shelock one death Bishop Sands Sermon Doctor Featleys Fountain of tears Item I give and bequeath to my niece Mary Degge daughter of my nephew Simon Degge son of my brother John two broad pieces of gold one gold ringe enameled wth black marke T M one silver proringer markt M D a thick one one silver spoon wh my name att length a new one by eare rings my silver bodkin my silver bucklet in my best shoues; one pair of fine flaxen sheets markt M D 2 breaths and halfe one pair of fine Holland Pillibers markt R. D, ye whole Duty of Man, Ye Ladys calling my Common Prayer Booke Item I give and bequeath to my niece Rebeckah daughter of my nece Rose Morgan one broad piece of gold one gold ringe markt J M wth a death's head in black one silver porringer markt A M and one silver spoon markt A M my psalter a book called ye New years gift Docter Collets Devotions Item I give and bequeath to my nephew John Degge son of my brother Simon Degge ye bed bolster pillow curtains conterpain and blankets and all belongings to ye bed I lye one A paire of sheets and paire of pillobrs markt wh J D ye brase pote yt is set for a boylet in ye brewe house ye great goeburns in ye kitchen ye great table in ye kitchen ye great leather chaire in ye parlor and ye sum of --------- pounds of lawfull money If he dyes or doth not perform his Fathers will to his sisters then to be divided betweene his sister Margaret and Rose of two ye longest liver Item I give and bequeath to my nece Margaret Axton daughter of my brother Simon Degge ye sume of ----pounds of lawful money, a silver cupe wth one handle a silver sugar boat a silver spoon wth my name att Length 2 little spoons markt M D one gold ringe wth a white deaths head Randle Church; my great Bible Doctor Collets Devotions advicee to a friend ye Devote Comminicant my great cabinet one little black cabinet my dressing box halfe my pictures of great looking glass a chushen of my mothers work two pillows markt M D a little oval table coper tea pot a green celler of bottles Item I give and bequeath to my nece Rose Degge daughter of my brother Simon ye sum of --- pound of lawful money one silver tankard a paire of silver salts one spoon markt A M 2 little ones markt E P one gold ringe wth a white deaths head Markt W D my own picture a little black cabinet my combe box ye looking glass in my closet the green curtains rug chairs fether bed bolster all as belongs to it a pair of pillows stript ticks ye table wth a drawer in it a Bible of my Mothers work the Government of Ye tonge ye weekly preparation Item I give to Mary Bailey for her true and honest service my clothes I weare every day 6 pewter plats markt R D one pewter dish ye brase kettle in ye chimney ye brase skelet wth 3 feet and forth shillings in money Item I give and bequeath to John Baley son of Charles and Mary Bailey Five pounds to put him out to prentice or to be paid to him at ye age of twenty one Item I give and bequeath to Charles Bailey ye sum of Ten Shillings this 7 pounds ten to be paid out of ye moneys Charles Bailey owes me ye rest of the moneys which will remain due from Charles Bailey to me I give to Margaret Axton and Rose Degg to take it as he can pay it and not trouble him for it. Item I give and bequeath all my wearing clothes and apparel of all sortes to my three neces in Virginia Rose Morgan daughter of my brother John and Rebeckah Morgan her daughter and to my nece Mary Degge daughter of my nephew Simon Degge and my household goods and house linings which is not named two be devided between my five neces Rose Morgan Rebeckah Morgan Mary Degge Margaret Axton Rose Degge and the rest of my books which are not named to be deviede between my 2 brothers sons and what money is left in gold or silver after legacyes paid and the furnerall charges and debt paid if I owe any I give it to my nece Margaret and Rose Degge and the rest of my books which are not named to be devided between my 2 brothers sons Item I give and bequeath to Ann Shacklock her weding ringe and if she pay twenty shillings to Margaret Degge twenty to Rose Degge when they shall deliver to the said Ann Shacklock the two rings above named which I have given them Item I give and bequeath to Mr. John comberbach one broad piece of gold to buy him a ringe Item I give and bequeath to Mr. Mathew Meken one broad piece of gold to buy him a ring and lastly I do nominate and desire the said Mr. Comerbach and Mr. Meken Executors of this my last Will and Testament my brother told me yt they were godfathers to John and Margaret Soe I make it my last request that they will take care of the children they having noe friends neare them this I desire should be performed as my last will and Testament I Witness Whereof I the said Mary Degg have hereunto put my hand and seall the 13th day of September in the year of our Lord 1716 Mary Degge _________-- Item I give and bequeath to my niece Mary Degge daughter of my nephew Simon Degge five broad pieces of gold 2 of my best Holland shifts 2 of my best flaxen shifts and all my pach work quilts chairs cushens and all the rest; my silver bodkin thimble buttons for my sleve uckles for my shoes, my c flourished apron and night vail hood and head clothers handkerchiefs and rufles paire of fine flaxen sheets 2 breath and half markt ____pair of fine pillebers markt R. D. the rest that is not named to be devided as above said In Witness whereof I the said Mary Degg have herunto put my hand and seall the 21 day of September in the year of our Lord 1716. Wittness Mary Degge L S I have snt ye ring to my Lady Sanderson and Ye Medle to her son. Proved in the Consistory Court of Chester on the 19th April 1722. It is evident that the maker of this will, Mary Degge, is the Mary mentioned in the pedigree as the daughter of Isaac Degge, of Nantwich, Skinner, and Rose, his wife, daughter of John Marshall of "Wisbeche." She was a niece of Sir Simon Degge. She refers to her "three neces in Virginia; Rose Morgan, daughter of my brother John and Rebecca Morgan her daughter, and Mary Degge, daughter of my nephew Simon Degge." In those days "nieces" and great-nieces" were not distinguished, but both are designed as "nieces." From this will, it seems that her brother John Degge had seven sons: John, Simon, Marshall, Charles, James, William and Anthony. Her brother Simon had a son John. The Virginia family begins with John Degge, who patented lands in Virginia in 1673. He was evidently John Degge, brother of the testatrix. It was evidently his son John, whose inventory recorded in Middlesex County, Virginia, in 1726, mentions a silver seal, which was probably the seal given to Marshall Degge by Mary Degge's will. Among the descendants of this John Degge, of Virginia, the rather distinctive names of Simon, Anthony and Isaac repeatedly occur, and a branch of the family in Virginia still holds a very ancient copy of a Degge coat-of-arms bearing date 1483 (see Quarterly, II., page 29). File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/anson/bios/family38bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ncfiles/ File size: 12.0 Kb