Notes:

Benjamin Baird Siggins, son of Alexander and Margaret Kinnear Siggins,was born July 27, 1828, in Youngsville, Pa. He attended MeadvilleCollege, studied law and practiced awhile in Chariton, Iowa; then went toColorado near Central City, Gilpin Co., where he engaged for a number ofyears in gold mining. Became Judge of the Probate Court. While thefamily were on a visit in Warren County, the mother sickened and died atthe home of Kinnear Siggins at Cobham, Pa., near Tidioute. He themmarried Druzilla E. Belnap of Youngsville and went to Philadelphia,where they lived three years. After which they returned to WarrenCounty, Pa. He was always interested in educational matters, served as amember of the School Board in Youngsville for six years. While on avisit to his daughter, Emma S. White, in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1895or 1896, he wrote the following:

"After I left college, I read a course of law in the office of George B.Delamater; afterwards I taught school for three or four years. I wasconsidered quite a traveler for those days for I had been twice to theadjoining county of Crawford and had also visited New York state. In thespring of 1851, I made the trip form Brokenstraw to St. Paul gong all theway by water to Pittsburgh on a raft. From there I went down the OhioRiver to St. Louis and from there to St. Paul, Minnesota. While there Ivisited St. Anthony's Falls, which was the head of navigation for theMississippi boats. While in St Paul I worked in the office of theSecretary of State; here I met Irvine Siggins, son of my uncle William.

From St. Paul I went to Iowa and worked with a government surveying partylaying out township sites. I soon contracted fever and ague and was illfor some weeks. I fortunately fell in with a man who took the best ofcare of me and stayed with me until I had recovered. I then left theCoon River district near Ft. Des Moines for the more healthful localityon the Redbank River, -- here I met an attorney Mr. Allen, who madearrangements for me to call upon a judge in Des Moines before whom Iappeared for a verbal examination which resulted in my being turned overto a committee who finally after a lengthy questioning on their part,gave me a certificate which formally admitted me to the Bar at the nextterm of the District Court of Lucas County.

I settled in Chariton, Iowa in July 1852, and lived with a man namedHenry Allen. The court house was a small two story log structure, thelower floor being used for public meetings, post office, court room,etc. Rev. Searcy, the postmaster, had a method all his own fordelivering the mail. Untying the hemp mail sack, he scattered thecontents on the floor and shouted 'Pick out your mail' , all that wasleft he carried in his pockets as he went about town delivering them tothe parties to whom they were addressed."

His daughter tells the following:

In the summer of 1861 my father, Benjamin B, Siggins with his family wasjourneying overland from Iowa to Colorado, somewhere in Nebraska webecame separated from our friends who were making the journey with us.We stopped one evening to make camp and were just sitting down to ourevening meal when an old Indian chief of the Pawnee Tribe walked into thetent. Father gave him a generous helping of warm biscuits, after eatingthem he went outside and soon returned with a sharp stick in his hand,this he he proceeded to fill with the biscuits which remained on thetable. After his departure mother made more biscuits. When we were aboutto resume our interrupted meal our Indian visitor returned bringingseveral members of his tribe with him. These were fed as the others hadbeen, departing almost immediately thereafter. When the old chief againreturned with still other hungry men father was obliged to refuse to feedthem fearing his supply of flour would not last until we reached the nexttown. This angered the Indians and they withdrew to some distance tohold a council to determine what should be done with us. At the end ofabout an hour they returned and pointing off across the prairie motionedus to be off--we were not long in taking our departure. It was a verydark night and not until nearly morning did the stars appear revealing tous the fact that we had turned completely around and were drivingdirectly toward the camp we had quitted so hurriedly the night before.This timely discovery probably averted what might have easily been atragic encounter to say the least.

Laura Siggins Messerly

Notes:

Alexander Siggins was a son of John and Sarah Siggins. He was born May 1,
1793 on board the ship in which the family came from Ireland to America.
John was married in Venango County, November 1, 1816 to Margaret Kinnear
and settled at Youngsville. Alexander Siggins was a blacksmith, and was a
expert in that business; he owned a large farm extending from "York Hill"
to near the center of Youngsville Borough; he built the house now
occupied (in 1912) by Mrs. M.B. Davis; "it was the best house in the
county, in fact there are few, if any today, that are better, and
although now nearly one hundred years old, it is still in a good state of
preservation". He joined the Methodist Church while a young man and was a
leader in all church matters throughout his long life in Youngsville. He
lived a quiet and and honest Christian life, with nothing to make a
lengthy biography, but Youngsville lost one of its best citizens when he
was called home. His farm contained a fine tract of timber. Later this
was divided among his children, all except Benjamin receiving their share.
Benjamin had asked that he might be allowed to use his portion of the
estate in obtaining an education. His wish was granted. Alexander
Siggins and his wife joined the church in 1820. "Uncle Alick", as he was
familiarly called, organized a Sunday School of which he was
Superintendent.

Alexander Siggins was born on board a ship from Ireland to America.

Alexander married Kinnear, Margaret on 1 Nov 1816 in Venango, Pennsylvania, United States. Margaret (daughter of Kinnear, Henry Sr.. and Kinnear, Margaret) was born on 1 Dec 1801 in Venango, Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 16 Apr 1877 in Youngstown, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Margaret Kinnear Siggins, wife of Alexander Siggins, was born in Venango
County, Pa., December 1, 1801; she was a daughter of Henry Kinnear, Sr.,
who was born in Ireland, on Easter Sunday about the year 1764; son of
Robert and Elizabeth Verow Kinnear. He was an officer in the English Army
and was sent in 1790 to America to buy horses for the army; after buying
and shipping the horses, he resigned, and settled in Centre County, Pa.,
where he married in 1797 Margaret Kinnear, born 1779, in Leitrim County,
Ireland, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret Kinnear. This Margaret Kinnear
was a daughter of William and Jane Simpson Kimmear, who lived near
Carrick, on the Shannon River, in Connaught Parish, Leitrim County,
Ireland. Soon after his marriage he removed to Youngsville, and was the
first merchant in the town; he died March 6, 1826; during his residence in
Youngsville he held many offices of public trust.

Notes:

John and Sarah Siggins, the first American ancestor of the Pennsylvania
Siggins Family. John was born in 1750, in County Sligo, Ireland. Died 1801
on a farm called: "Spring Creek", two and one-half miles below "Old Center
Furnace", Center County, Pennsylvania, of which he was a tenant, this farm
was owned by Robert Whitehall. John married Sarah Hood about 1776 in
County Sligo, Ireland. In April of 1793 they, with their five children
emigrated to America, settling first near Philadelphia, from there to
Centre County. After the death of John, his widow with her family moved
to Youngsville, Warren County, Pennsylvania, where the widow died
September 30, 1835, age 85 years. Soon after their marriage, both John
and Sarah experienced religion through the instrumentality of the
Methodist preaching and united with that church. Of Sarah Siggins the
Rev. William Todd says: "Sister Siggins came to Youngsville in 1816 united
with the Methodist Church of that place, and for more than fifty years she
was a Methodist and walked consistently ---in every situation she was
sustained, she was loved, her end was peace".

John married Hood, Sarah in 1776 in Sligo, Ireland. Sarah (daughter of Hood, Samuel Rev. and Hoskyns, Mary) was born in 1750 in Sligo, Ireland; died on 30 Sep 1835 in Youngsville, Warren, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sister of Admiral Hood.

Moved from Center County, Pa. to Youngsville, Pa. in 1816.

Henry married Kinnear, Margaret on WFT Est. 1781-1815 in Centre, Pennsylvania, United States. Margaret (daughter of Kinner, Thomas and Kinnear, Margaret) was born in 1779 in Of Carrick, , Leitrim, Ireland; died on 10 Oct 1856 in Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William Siggins lived in Druncliffe Parish, County Sligo, Ireland, on land
probably granted him by the Crown for military services. His son, John
had the title of esquire, and an income of two hundred pounds a year.
William and his wife Mary, lived and died in the parish of Druncliffe
where his forefathers had dwelt before him. He was brought up in the
Church of England, and was a very pious man and would often "pray a-loud
in secret". He was very friendly to the Methodists and frequently
entertained them and often went to hear John Wesley preach. William was a
farmer in Drumcliffe, as his forefathers were in Scotland. The Siggins
family crest being a sheaf of wheat. William was much esteemed by the
nobility of Drumcliffe; was was a yeoman and always fought for his King
and country.

William married Taylor, Mary on WFT Est. 1741-1771. Mary was born about 1726 in S. Drumcliffe, Ireland; died on WFT Est. 1754-1820 in S. Druncliffe, Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Samuel married Hoskyns, Mary on WFT Est. 1711-1741. Mary (daughter of Hoskyns, Richard Esq.) was born about 1699; died on 10 Oct 1766. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Verow, Elizabeth on WFT Est. 1739-1782. Elizabeth was born on WFT Est. 1722-1745; died on WFT Est. 1767-1833. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Kinnear, Margaret in 1776 in Connaught Parish, , Leitrim, Ireland. Margaret (daughter of Kinnear, William and Simpson, Jane) was born in 1760 in Of Carrick, , Leitrim, Ireland; died in 1821 in Franklin, Venango, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]