William Digges

William Digges' grandfather, Sir Dudley Digges

William Digges was born in Virginia in around 1651, the eldest son of Edward Digges (1620-1674/5), an English barrister and colonist who served as the Colonial Governor of Virginia from March 1655 to December 1656. Edward Digges invested heavily in planting mulberry trees and promoting the silk industry in the colony, in recognition of which he was appointed Auditor-General of Virginia. In around 1675 Edward Digges died. As eldest son, William inherited the "E.D. Plantation", later known as Bellfield.[2]

William Digges began his career in Virginia, where he was appointed to a number of colonial offices. He became Justice of the Peace in 1671. He was captain of horse in 1674 and was appointed Sheriff of York County in 1679.[3] [4] He was a strong supporter of Governor Berkeley during Bacon's Rebellion. During an encounter with Thomas Hansford, one of Bacon's foremost supporters, Digges severed Hansford's finger, and as a result was forced to flee to Maryland.[3][5][6]

In Maryland Digges became a merchant and planter in St. Mary's County. He married Elizabeth Sewall, widow of Dr. Jesse Wharton and a stepdaughter of Lord Baltimore, the Proprietor of Maryland. Immediately following his marriage he was appointed to the Governor's Council.[3] He was also appointed Deputy Governor of Maryland. He was granted extensive land and property in Maryland, and became the "Lord of Warburton Manor" in Prince George County on the Potomac River.[4] In 1684 he, along with Major Nicholas Sewall, served as Collector of Patuxent River.[7][8]

During the Protestant Revolution in Maryland in 1689, Digges commanded the Catholic forces at St. Mary's, Maryland.[4] After 1689, having lost his positions, he returned to live in Virginia.[3] On April 20, 1693 a warrant for his arrest was issued, and on April 22, 1693, "Colonel William Digges was examined as to his knowledge of a plot to restore King James to the throne, and was bound over, with his wife, in £1,000 to appear before the next General Court."[9]

• Edward Digges married Elizabeth (Sewall) Wharton, with whom he had ten children:[3][4]
• William Digges, married Eleanor (Brooke) Darnall, widow of Philip Darnall
• Charles Digges (1685-1744), married Susannah Maria Lowe, a daughter of Susanna Maria Bennett and Lt. Col. Henry Lowe, and a granddaughter of Richard Bennett.[3] Charles and Susanna had two children, William and Ann Digges (1721-1814). Ann married the planter and politician Dr George Hume Steuart in 1744.[10][11]
• Dudley Digges
• John Digges, married Mary
• Nicholas Digges
• Jane Digges, married Notley Rozer
• Elizabeth Digges, married Anthony Neale
• Ann Digges, married Henry Darnall II, eldest son of Henry Darnall (1645-1711), Deputy Governor of the Province of Maryland. Henry Darnall II was a wealthy planter.
• Mary Digges
• Catherine Digges (b. 1655), married William Herndon

William Digges died on 24 July 1697, leaving a will which mentioned several large Maryland plantations "and directed that his plantation on the York River be used most advantageously for his daughters." However, the York River plantation was inherited by William's eldest son Edward, who on 21 Sept 1699 sold it to his uncle Dudley, William's younger brother.[3]

• Province of Maryland
• Protestant Revolution

• Browning, Charles Henry, Americans of Royal Descent, Genealogies Showing the Lineal Descent from Kings of Some American Families Clearfield; 7 edition (June 1, 2009) Retrieved 17 July 2018
• Nelker, Gladys P., The Clan Steuart, Genealogical Publishing (1970).

• History of the Digges family in Maryland Retrieved January 2012
• Digges family history Retrieved January 2012