When Barnett W Briggs was born in 1838, in Benton, Benton, Yates, New York, United States, his father, Joseph Tinless Briggs, was 34 and his mother, Asa Andrews, was 34. He married Acelia M Shaw on 24 August 1865, in Kent, Michigan, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Michigan, United States in 1870 and Courtland Township, Kent, Michigan, United States for about 20 years. He died on 1 June 1920, in Rockford, Kent, Michigan, United States, at the age of 82, and was buried in Rockford Cemetery, Rockford, Kent, Michigan, United States.