Dr. John Briggs and Hannah Chickering Briggs Fletcher

Dr. John Kingsbury Briggs (1794-1843) Plot 124   (crypt 3 off Washington St.)

The youngest of twelve children born to Ephraim and Rebecca (Waterman) Briggs, John Kingsbury Briggs was born on December 9, 1794 in Halifax (Plymouth County), Massachusetts. He studied medicine under the direction of Dr. Arad Thompson of Middleborough and Dr. William Ingalls of Boston. He received his MD at Brown University in 1820.

He married Hannah Chickering (the daughter of Rev. Jabez Chickering and the granddaughter of Rev. Thomas Balch) on August 4, 1820 in East Greenwich (Kent County), Rhode Island. The couple settled in South Dedham and were the parents of four children: John, Richard, Francis, and Mary.

Dr. John Briggs was reputed to be a worthy and successful physician in South Dedham for 20 years. His handsome and substantial home was later purchased by George Willett and became part of the original Norwood Civic Association building.

Dr. Briggs died of pulmonary disease on December 26, 1843 at the age of 49.

Hannah Chickering Briggs was remarried to Samuel Fletcher, a graduate of Dartmouth College, who practiced law. They eventually settled in Concord, Massachusetts. After Fletcher’s death in 1858, Hannah returned to South Dedham where she died in 1876.