My 4th gr-great grandmother, Sarah Briggs was b.01 Nov 1754 at E. Greenwich and married Joseph Cory of E. Greenwich on 19 Feb 1778. Arnold, in his "Vital Records of R.I." records Sarah to be a daughter of John Briggs, however, in Sarah's application for widow's pension, is an affadavit which states that she is a daughter of William Briggs and is submitted by Elder James Wightman who married them. Does anyone have information that can reconcile the discrepancy ?

How do you know for sure that the Sarah Briggs who is a daughter of John in the vital records, is the same Sarah who stated that her father was William? Sarah is one of the most common names, and very possibly these are two different individuals. Another possibility is that the town clerk wrote the incorrect father's name in the vital records. Perhaps Elder Wightman wrote down the wrong name. Without personally seeing these documents, I can't offer any other explanations. However, the will of John Briggs of East Greenwich, written 26 Aug 1795, does mention a daughter Sarah, single at that time. So, if your Sarah was married in 1778, she must be a different person -- inless she divorced and resumed her maiden name.

BOY !! Do I feel stupid,really. Thank you for your prompt and very useful reply. In Sarah's application for widow'a pension which is dated 27 Apr 1845,it is stated that she is 85 yrs old - so born 1760. Also in her application for increase in pension dated 1855, it is stated that she is 95 yrs old, again making her birth date in 1760. To cinch the matter, Elder Wightman's affadavit states that she is of North Kingston rather than E. Greenwich. This has been a case of irresponsible research and I thank you for showing me the way out - with your proper questioning attitude.
My Very Best Regards.

I found a copy of Sarah's death record at The Archives in Providence, R.I.::

Sarah Corey, age 96 years, 3 months, 8 days, died in Warwick, R.I. on Feb. 6, 1856. She was born in East Greenwich, R.I. and died of "old age". William Briggs is her father, no mother was given.

I thank you so very, very much for the Sarah Briggs information. I am pleased to learn of her date of death and age at death, and am especially happy to know that her father is reported to be William, which fact has been in contention among several of the Briggs "family" because Arnolds "Vital Records of Rhode Island" says her father is Joseph Briggs. But, in Sarah's application for widow's pension is an affadavit by Elder James Wightman which says that she is a daughter of William Briggs. Thank you som much for the confirmation. Best Regards.
Dick Stork, Davison, MI
dngstork@charter.net