West Creek Baptist Cemetery
West Creek Baptist Cemetery
New Stage Rd. (Rt. 347) near Mosslander Rd.
Map / Directions to the West Creek Baptist Cemetery
Map / Directions to all Maurice River Revolutionary War Sites
This cemetery sits in a field off the side of Rt. 347, behind the highway rail. There is only a small sign, and it is very easy to drive past the cemetery without noticing it.
Among the graves in the cemetery is that of James Riggins who served in the Cumberland County Militia during the Revolutionary War. He fought in several important New Jersey battles at Trenton, Princeton, and Red Bank. He was captured by the British in April 1781 and held prisoner until January 24, 1782.
Although his gravestone refers to him as a captain, Riggins served as a private in the militia during the war. He may have acquired the title of Captain at some point in the fifty-three years he lived after the war ended. It is possible that he was a ship's captain.
Some accounts of the August 1781 Skirmish on the Lower Maurice River state that Riggins took part in it. However, these accounts, which were published decades after the event, appear to be in error, because the battle occurred during the time when Riggins was being held prisoner. [1]
