James Piggott

Background

He was born probably in 1739 in Connecticut, United States.

Education

There is no information about his education.

Career

In April 1776 he appears as a captain from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to serve under Gen. Arthur St. Clair until October 22, 1777. According to family tradition, ill health following the Lake Champlain march caused him to resign his commission and as a volunteer to accompany George Rogers Clark to Kaskaskia. Although it has not been substantiated by records, Reynolds says that Piggott was in command of Fort Jefferson, near the mouth of the Ohio, during the siege of the Chickasaws, which occurred in 1780. This was the year, according to Piggott's later testimony, in which he became a resident of Illinois.

Whether he was the builder, in 1783, of "Piggott's Fort, " a stockade for colonists at Grand Ruisseau, near what is now Columbia, or merely one of the settlers there, it is a matter of record that in 1787 he led a movement against the French authority for which he was placed in irons for twenty-four hours. On August 27 of that year he was one of the signers of the contract appointing Bartholomew Tardiveau agent to Congress, and May 23, 1790, he "and forty-five others" at Grand Ruisseau petitioned the government relative to claims for land which they had risked their lives to improve. With the arrival of St. Clair in the territory as governor in 1790 Piggott rose to the place of importance which he had yearned for under French control.

Forthwith appointed a militia captain and justice of the peace at Cahokia, he was, September 28, 1795, made judge of the common pleas. The next year as justice of the quarter sessions, he proclaimed the opening of the orphans' court. Ferry service was the next step and this Piggott established in 1797, pledging to Zenon Trudeau, governor of Louisiana territory, "timber at lowest rates" and "products" in return for ferriage rights on the St. Louis side. Piggott's enterprise led Trudeau to make him an honorary citizen of St. Louis.

After operating the ferry for two years, Piggott died of "a fever" at his bark.

Achievements

• James Piggott's contribution to the establishment of American life in Illinois - as a pioneer officer in the territorial government, and as the founder of a business, which as the Wiggins ferry, became a most lucrative monopoly. He was one of the signers of the contract appointing Bartholomew Tardiveau agent to Congress. Besides, he participated in building of a bridge across the River Abbe, later Cahokia Creek, opened a road to the Mississippi bank, and erected two log cabins for the convenience of travelers bound for the Louisiana territory. He established Ferry service

Connections

He was twice married. His second wife, Francies James of Virginia bore him eight children, survived him and married again.

Spouse:

Francies James

coworker:

Arthur St. Clair