Abram Trigg

Abram Trigg (1750 – unknown) was an American planter, lawyer and politician who represented Montgomery County, Virginia in the Virginia Ratifying Convention and U.S. House of Representatives (1797-1809) after fighting with the Virginia militia in the Revolutionary War.^[1]

Abram Trigg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 6th district
In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1809
Preceded by	Matthew Clay
Succeeded by	Daniel Sheffey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 4th district
In office March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1803
Preceded by	Francis Preston
Succeeded by	David Holmes
Personal details
Born	1750 New London, Virginia
Died	Unknown "Buchanan's Bottom", Montgomery County, Virginia
Resting place	"Buchanan’s Bottom", Montgomery County, Virginia
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Military service
Branch/service	Virginia state militia
Rank	General
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War

Early life and education

Abram Trigg was born on his father's farm near New London in then vast Lunenberg County in what was then the Colony of Virginia. That particular area became Bedford County in 1754. His grandfather of the same name had emigrated from Cornwall, England about 1710, and his father, William Trigg (1716–1773), served as a judge in Bedford County for many years. His mother, the former Mary Johns Trigg (1720–1773), bore eight children during that marriage. His brother, John, would serve with him in Congress. Another brother, Stephen Trigg, had been a member of a land commission in Kentucky in 1779, and died commanding a regiment at the Battle of Blue Licks. Another brother, William Trigg, had descendants including Congressman Connally Findlay Trigg and Richmond shipbuilder William Robertson Trigg.^[2]

Career

Trigg was admitted to the bar and began his legal career in then-vast Montgomery County, Virginia. He lived on his estate, "Buchanan's Bottom", on the New River and held local offices, such as clerk and judge, and various other offices in Montgomery County..^[3] He served in the Revolutionary War as lieutenant colonel of militia in 1782 and later as general of militia in Virginia.

Trigg was a delegate to the Virginia ratification convention of 1788, and voted with Patrick Henry and the Anti-federalists against ratification of the United States Constitution.^[4] He was elected as a Republican to the Fifth and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1809). He died and was buried on the family estate, death date unknown.

Like his father, brothers and others of his class, Trigg farmed using enslaved labor. According to the 1787 Virginia Tax census, he owned five slaves, six horses and 20 cattle in Montgomery County, slightly fewer than did Daniel Trigg, possibly a relative and who served several terms in the Virginia House of Delegates.^[5]

Personal life

In 1779 Abram married Susannah Ingles, daughter of William Ingles and Mary Draper Ingles, who escaped from Indian captivity and walked 800 miles to return to her home in 1755. The couple had ten children.

Electoral history

• 1797; Trigg was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed.
• 1799; Trigg was re-elected with 88.47% of the vote, defeating Federalist William Preston.
• 1801; Trigg was re-elected unopposed.
• 1803; Trigg was re-elected unopposed.
• 1805; Trigg was re-elected unopposed.
• 1807; Trigg was re-elected defeating Federalist Daniel Sheffey.