Hosia Briggs was born around 1811 in Fair Haven, Rutland County, Vermont. According to census records, his parents were born in Connecticut.
Throughout his life, Hosia worked primarily as a farm laborer or general laborer. He was married to Eliza Briggs.
In 1840, Hosia was living in Hampton, Washington County, New York. His household included four people: one male and one female under the age of 10, one female between the ages of 10 and 23, and one adult male—presumably Hosia himself.
By 1850, Hosia was living in Ausable, Clinton County, New York. He was 39 years old and listed as a laborer. Interestingly, although he was recorded as white in the census, the word “BLACK” was handwritten in brackets beneath it and capitalized.
That same year, Hosia also appeared in the census back in his birthplace of Fair Haven, Vermont. This time, his birth year was noted as about 1813, and he was listed as a farm laborer. His race was recorded as “mulatto.”
By the 1880 census, Hosia was 69 years old and still living in Fair Haven, Vermont, on West Street. His race was identified as Black. His wife was living with him, and both of his parents were again listed as being born in Connecticut.