Rebecca Briggs
Born: 10-25-1600, London, England
Married: Thomas Cornell,
1620, Essex County, England
Child: Rebecca Cornell
Died: 2-8-1673, Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island
Notes: "Emigrated about 1637 with Roger Williams and Ann Hutchinson in the second Winthrop expedition. 1638 licensed as an innkeeper at Boston, but was fined and ordered to close the inn, having to do with licensing laws. Sold in 1640 and the Cornell family moved to Rhode Island. They spent time in both Rhode Island and New York. Granted land in Portsmouth RI 1641. In 1642 moved the family to New Netherlands with Anne Hutchinson and John Throgmorton's company. Settled at Throgg's Neck near Hell Gate. In June 1643 Indians attacked, killing many settlers. They abandoned the settlement and the Cornell family returned to Portsmouth, then to New Amsterdam, settling on a 700 acre grant which became known as ""Cornell's Neck."" Driven out of Cornell's Neck by Indians in 1653, and returned to Portsmouth RI. Died under unusual circumstances in her home on Feb 8, 1673. She fell asleep by the fireplace and burned to death. After her death, her brother John Briggs had a dream in which his sister told him she was set afire by someone. Since her son Thomas Cornell Jr. was the last to see his mother alive, the court charged and condemned him of the murder of Rebecca. On the evidence of a dream, he was hanged May 23 1673. Sounds like Thomas Cornell Jr. was the one murdered - by his uncle."
Reference: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dphaner/HTML/people/p000015t.htm#I90343
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