Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Briggs, Amos
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Bristol Township


AMOS BRIGGS attorney and ex-judge, residence 1303 North 
Broad street, Philadelphia, is a native of Bucks county and 
was born in Penn's Manor, January 22, 1825.  His early life 
was spent on a farm in Penn's Manor and attending school.  
At the age of 19 he began teaching in Tullytown, Falls 
township, where he taught for two and a half years, when he 
came to Philadelphia and began reading law in the office of 
William R. Dickerson in August, 1846.  He remained there 
thirteen months, when he left and was registered with the 
late Theodore Cuyler, with whom he finished his studies, and 
on his motion was admitted to practice at the bar of the 
Philadelphia courts in November, 1848.  He continued in 
active practice until 1872, when he was elected judge of the 
District Court of Philadelphia.  He remained on the Bench 
until January, 1883, since which time he has been actively 
engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of 
Philadelphia.  In October, 1863, he was elected a member of 
the city council, but as it interfered with his business, he 
resigned nine months later.  The Judge is a self-educated 
and a self-made man, and is a natural student.  By his own 
exertions he obtained an education equal to a collegiate 
course.  He is the oldest son and second child of John and 
Sarah (White) Briggs, who had two sons and two daughters.  
Three are living:  our subject; Benjamin, a successful 
farmer of Penn's Manor; and Sarah Ann, widow of John Hawke, 
residing in Bristol.  Judge Briggs married Miss Joanna 
Cheston, October 15, 1846.  She was born in Falls township, 
Bucks county, and was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Lovett) 
Cheston.  She was the mother of four children:  Mary L., who 
died at the age of sixteen; John; Anna, wife of William C. 
Newport, of Willow Grove, Pa.; Frank, an attorney in 
Philadelphia.  The mother died in November, 1863.  Judge 
Briggs married Mrs. Eliza Cheston in March, 1865.  She was 
born in Bristol township, Bucks county, and is a daughter of 
Amaziah and Susan Headley.  No children have been born to 
this marriage.  The Judge is a member of Lodge No. 3, A. Y. 
M., of Philadelphia.  He stands high in the estimation of 
the citizens of Bucks county and of Philadelphia.  He is of 
English and German descent on the paternal side.  His 
grandfather, Amos Briggs, was born in New Jersey, and was of 
English descent.  His maternal grandfather was of English 
descent and a native of Pennsylvania.