Source: J. Percy Crayon, Rockaway Records of Morris County, N. J. Families, (Rockaway, N.J., Rockaway Publishing Co., 1902) A British biographer of Washington once made the asseration(sic) that in all the battles of the Revolution, Washington was never found at the front with the men he commended. To prove to the contrary it was related by Jonathan Wiggins, who was at the battle of Monmouth, N.J., and lost an arm there, that the company to which Wiggins was attached, had made an advance to a point far exceeding the rest of the army, when Washington rode up and ordered a retreat to a position of less danger. Wiggins related that he with others were climbing over a high Virginia rail fence, when a British cannon ball struck in the line of fence and completely demolished the under part of the fence, as they were in the act of getting over it, and scattered the fragments far and wide, much to the discomfort of the whole company. Fortunately no one was killed; a few were slightly injured and all badly scared. Soon after this occurrence he lost an arm at Monmouth, and soon afterwards returned to Mt. Hope and was placed in command of Faesch's favorite team, a position of honor, especially when that team knew their driver and learned that his word was law, and his whip was gospel. It is related that he became an expert in the use of the whip, not as an instrument of cruelty and punishment, but as a capital punishment to any refractory flies that might annoy the team, and it is said could kill a fly that alighted upon the leaders ear without touching the ear with the whip. When distinguished company came to the "big house," still standing and remarkably well preserved for one of its age, Faesch would amuse his visitors by getting Wiggins to show his expertness with the whip, by taking a chicken's head off with one blow from the whip. These stories have been handed down and related so many times that the narrators have believed them true, and as I have no means of confirming or rejecting the same, am not willing to give vouchers for authenticity. The Wiggins family came from Germany, but when, history does not relate. The first of the name recorded in Morris County, is one Stephen Wiggins, who married Sarah White in Jan. 19, 1752. Jonathan may or may not have been a son; he was born Aug. 29, 1763, married Phebe Fordham 1781, probably from Long Island, died at and was buried at Mt. Hope Dec. 6 1815. Phebe Fordham was born Dec. 22, 1764, died at Longwood Jan. 8, 1857, buried at Berkshire Valley. Children: - William Fordham, born at Mt. Hope Apr. 21, 1782, married Susan Wirtman, died Oct. 12, 1842. His wife was born 1776, died Jan. 9, 1839. Both buried at Berkshire Valley.
- David(1) born Apr. 24, 1784, died Dec. 27, 1786, buried at Mt. Hope.
- David Fordham, born May 24, 1787, married Jane Gard, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Merrick) Gard, Dec. 2, 1809, died Feb. 17, 1870. His wife was born July 8, 1789, died Mar. 4, 1856; both buried at Rockaway.
- Sarah, born Jan. 23, 1790, married Uel Hurd Apr. 28, 1810.
- Margaret, born June 7, 1792, married Terence Brannin, of Mt. Hope, died Mar. 28, 1857. He was born Aug. 14, 1784, died July 2, 1860; both buried at Rockaway.
- Theodosia, born Aug. 12, 1794, married Oliver Crossman.
- Thomas, born Mar. 4, 1798, died on the same day.
- Jonathan, born Apr. 26, 1802.
Some of the Bible records and tombstone records disagree, the Bible records have been given. Children of William Fordham Wiggins: - Jane Cook, born Apr. 29, 1803, married Henry Berry, of Dover, July 21, 1827.
- Cornelia DeCamp, born Feb. 15, 1805, married Jonathan Apgar, July 8, 1835.
- Mary Ann, born June 24, 1807, married George Moore.
- Phebe Fordham, born June 10, 1809 married Samuel C. Merritt, Nov. 10, 1827, died Sept. 19, 1892. He was born 1809, died Apr. 23, 1871; both buried at Rockaway.
- William Fordham, born July 13, 1811, died at Chicago Mar. 29, 1897.
- Sarah Hurd, born Jan. 13, 1815, married Samuel Monthall.
- Susan Wirtman, born Feb. 14, 1817, married William Williams Mar. 26, 1835.
- Uel Hurd, born Apr. 5, 1820, living near Berkshire Valley, married (1) Matilda H. Woodruff, Jan. 28, 1843. She was born Apr. 23, 1821, died May 20, 1871. (2) Mrs. Jalina E. Emmonds, July 29, 1890. Both buried at Rockaway. (3) Lucy A. Talmadge, daughter of Wm. H., Oct. 6, 1892.
Children of David F. Wiggins: - Sarah Fordham, born Dec. 8, 1810, married Alexander Norris, son of Jacob and Catharine, Sept. 27, 1832, died June 28, 1879. He was born Oct. 9, 1807, died May 8, 1883. Both buried at rockaway.
- Lewis Gard, born Mar. 17, 1813, married Eliza Fichter, daughter of Frederick, Sept. 5, 1835, died June 14, 1866. She was born Oct. 21, 1812, died Apr. 13, 1896. Both buried at Rockaway.
- William Fordham, born Mar. 28, 1815, married Susan H. Doughty, daughter of Moses, Nov. 22, 1837, died Apr. 2, 1891. She died 1880. Both buried at Succasunna.
- Phebe M., born June 28, 1817, died Sept. 30, 1818, buried at Rockaway.
- Jonathan (twin) born Apr. 6, 1820, married Elizabeth Minton, died Mar. 10, 1877, buried at Rockaway.
- Rachel (twin) born Apr. 6, 1820, married Abram W. Shawger Nov. 21, 1840, died Jan. 15, 1890. He was born July 5, 1816, son of Leopolt, died July 26, 1895. Both buried at Rockaway.
- David, born Nov. 5, 1822, married Helen Dow.
- Daniel Gard, born Mar. 17, 1827, married Phebe Belcher, died Oct. 4, 1895. She was born Oct. 9, 1830, died Mar. 12, 1888. Both buried at Rockaway.
Leopolt Shawger, settled at an early date near Rockaway, and had children: Joseph, born Sept. 19, 1805; George, born June 2, 1807; Elizabeth, born July 31, 1809; Hannah, born Oct. 9, 1811; William H., born Apr. 3, 1813; Abram W., born July 5, 1816, married as above. Morris, born Aug. 5, 1818. Children of Terence Brannin: - Barnabas K.,
- John E., born 1810, married Catharine Storms, died Mar. 13, 1896. She was born Apr. 14, 1811, died Sept. 1, 1891. Both buried at Rockaway.
- Jonathan, born 1813, died Feb. 13, 1895, buried at Rockaway.
- Catharine, living, married John Osborn, who is buried at Rockaway.
- Anthony, married Harriet, daughter of Joel and Almeda (Cole) Harrison.
Children of Lewis Gard Wiggins: - Harriet, born Aug. 13, 1836, married Wm. O. Dakin, died Apr. 20, 1875, buried at Rockaway.
- Mary Jane, born May 12, 1838, married Robert Richards, of Dover, died Sept. 18, 1894, buried at Dover. Had three children: Annie, Jessie and Robert.
- Phebe, born July 9, 1840, died Dec. 22, 1860, buried at Rockaway.
- George B., born Oct. 25, 1842, died Jan. 18, 1864, buried at Rockaway.
- David A., born Apr. 10, 1845, married Sarah A., daughter of William and Mary (Blanchard) Shawger, Dec. 20, 1871. Resident of farm formerly occupied by Rev. Barnabas King, as parsonage.
- John F., born June 24, 1851, died Oct. 31, 1856, buried at Rockaway.
- Anna, born Dec. 25, 1854, died Mar. 18, 1855, buried at Rockaway.
Children of William Fordham, son of David F.: - Albert D., soldier in Civil War, drowned in Cumberland River, near Somerset, Ky., May 6, 1863.
- Euphemia, married William H. Mase;
- Sarah Louisa, not married;
- Dr. Henry C., born June 13, 1844, married Belle M. Northrop, daughter of Moses, living at Succasunna.
- Martha D., married Wm. E. Coursen.
Children of David A. Wiggins: - George, born July 5, 1873, married Allie, daughter of Edgar W. Beam, Jan. 14, 1899, have one child, Helen, born Mar. 3, 1900, of the sixth generation from Jonathan Wiggins.
- Edith, born Aug. 2, 1877;
- Lewis A., born Mar. 14, 1879;
- Daisy, born Mar. 9, 1883;
- Sarah, born Feb. 10, 1887;
- Herbert, born May 22, 1890
Children of Daniel Gard Wiggins: - Frances M., born May 24, 1850, died Aug. 21, 1859;
- Phebe Ann, (twin) born Jan. 9, 1855, died Sept. 12, 1855
- Lewis McC., born Apr. 4, 1862, died Nov. 30, 1862;
- Wenona, born Aug. 6, 1863, died Aug. 20, 1868.
All buried at Rockaway. - Adam, married Alice VanDusen;
- Jane, married William Pollard, of Dover, and
- George, living.
Children of Uel Hurd Wiggins: - Matilda, born Feb. 5, 1844;
- Susan Cornelia, born July 13, 1845, died Jan. 22, 1846;
- Mary, born Nov. 11, 1848, married Stewart Mains, died Dec. 9, 1876.
- Angelina, born May 31, 1851, married Lewis G. Shawger, died Apr. 21, 1877.
- William, born June 30, 1853, living at Newark;
- Sarah Elizabeth, born Feb. 20, 1856, married William F. Merritt, died July 7, 1883;
- Myrtie D., born Nov. 29, 1963, died Mar. 10, 1865.
Children who have died are all buried at Rockaway.
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