---
title: "Edward Digges"
chunk: 2/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Digges"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:06:06.815126+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

William Digges (c. 1651 – 24 July 1697) served in the House of Burgesses as well as in local offices. He married Elizabeth Wharton, step-daughter of Lord Baltimore, and had ten children.
Dudley Digges (burgess) (1664 – 18 Jan 1710) served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly. He married Susannah Cole (1674 – 1708), daughter of Col. William Cole of Bolthorpe by his first wife, and produced four children:
Cole Digges (burgess) (1691-1744)
Edward Digges (who died in Woodford, England in 1711)
Dudley Digges Jr. (1694-1768)
A daughter, Elizabeth
Mary (– 1690/91); she married her first cousin Francis Page, and had a daughter Elizabeth, who in turn married a first cousin (John Page) and died in 1702, aged 19, leaving two children (John and Elizabeth), both of whom died without issue.
Anne (– 1686); she became the second wife of Col. William Cole (member of the Governor's Council) of Bolthorpe in Warwick County, Virginia. They had two sons, both of whom died in childhood, although her husband remarried and the son of his third wife, the former Martha Lear, was William Cole who represented Warwick County alongside Cole Digges mentioned above.
Edward; he shared in the 1692 division of his mother's estate, but died unmarried and without issue.
Catherine (1654–1729); she lived in New Kent, Virginia, and married three times. She produced 3 sons (Edward, James, and William Herndon).

== Death and legacy ==
Digges died in 1675. His widow (and sole executrix under the terms of his will dated 28 August 1669, and proved 16 June 1675) survived him by 16 years, and occupied the property until her demise, in addition to receiving 1200 pounds sterling under the terms of the will. A large tombstone marks his grave near his home at Bellfield Plantation, inscribed as follows:

To the memory of Edward Digges Esq.  Sonne of Dudley Digges of Chilham in Kent Kn t & Bar t Master of the Rolls in the rain of K. Charles the First. He departed this life 15th of March 1674 in the LIII d year of his age, one of his Mag ty Councill for this his colony of Virginia. A gentlemen of most commendable parts and ingenuity, the only introducer and promoter of the silk manufacture in this colony. And in everything else a pattern worthy of all Pious Imitation. He had issue 6 sons and 7 daughters by the body of Elizabeth his wife who of her conjugal affection hath dedicated to him this Memorial.
Digges' will left legacies "to all my children being four boys and four girls", although only sons William, Dudley and Edward II, and a granddaughter would survive their mother.
During Bacon's Rebellion not long after his death, Mrs. Digges and her eldest son William Diggs suffered losses because of family loyalty to the King, and William fled to the Maryland colony, where he held offices as well as property before returning to Virginia.
The plantation which Digges had purchased from Capt. John West (known as the E. D. plantation) remained in the family until 1787, when it was sold.  It was known as "Bellfield" by 1811, when it was advertised for sale as "Belfield, 1.000 acres in York Co., the only estate where the famous E.D. tobacco was raised, which never failed to bring in England one shilling when other tobacco would not bring three pence." It is currently under federal control as part of the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown.

== See also ==
Virginia

== References ==