Abe Riggs -- d. 1927, white, 85, at Almshouse for 7 years

               
                     Again, we have an individual for which almost no information is available.  Abe Riggs was white.  He was born around 1842, and died on December 30, 1927 at the age of 85 of arterio-sclerosis and senile debility.  He had been at the New Castle County Hospital/Almshouse for seven years prior to his death.  He was buried under grave marker #1953, in the same grave as stillborn “Baby Grier.”
                The only information available is that he was a laborer who worked for Harlan & Hollinsworth, who made iron steam ships, steam boats, and iron sailing ships in their boat yard on the Christina River.  At one point he lived at 403 E Front St. as a boarder, and he also lived at 419 E Front St. in 1890.  He was arrested in 1890 for disorderly conduct.  The Morning News printed a brief article about his arrest on March 21, 1890:
“He Tried to Escape.  Abraham Riggs, living at No. 419 East Front street, was arrested by Officer Burrows last evening on a warrant sworn out by ‘Squire Smith, for disorderly conduct.  Officer White went to Riggs’s house, and after reading the warrant to him he asked to be given  permission to put his coat on.  Instead he escaped through a rear door of his house.  He was afterward captured at Front and Poplar streets, and take to the ‘squire’s office where he was fined $5 and costs.”