Not until after I embarked on a career of practicing law, did I learn that I am a
direct descendant of some people who were very influential in the development
of American law.  

The Magna Carta, signed into English law by King John in June of 1215, is
considered to have been the beginning of constitutional government in England.  
One of the rights which the Magna Carta was first to establish was the people's
right to habeas corpus -- to not be held prisoner unless according to law.  Even
as recently as June 14, 2010, in Holland v. Florida, the United States Supreme
Court called the right to habeas corpus "the Great Writ" and "the only writ
explicitly protected by [our] Constitution."  Through my father's mother line, I am
a direct descendant of King John.

In 1620, when the Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic Ocean for Virginia, they
were blown off course and landed in what is now Massachusetts.  Before
everyone had even gone ashore, the men drafted and signed the Mayflower
Compact, in which they agreed "in the presence of God" to be governed by law,
provided that the law be "just & equal laws . . . for the general good." (Old
English spellings updated.)  In 1802, John Quincy Adams (later our 6th
President) called the Mayflower Compact "the foundation of the U.S.
Constitution."  Through my mother's father's line, I am a direct descendant of
Pilgrims William and Susannah White, William having been one of the 41 signers
of the Mayflower Compact.

In 1631, Captain Thomas Wiggin was appointed by England's King as the first
Governor of what is now New Hampshire. One of Governor Wiggin's acts was to
officially petition England's King James, II, to reconsider and apply due process
of law to an unfair and massive land grant.  In the 1700s, another of his
descendants, "Andrew Wiggin," became Speaker of the House in the New
Hampshire legislature.  Through my father (of course) I am a direct descendant
of Captain / Governor Thomas Wiggin.  

Long before I knew of any of these ancestors, my father taught me to treat all
people with dignity. He also modeled hard work and dependability.  Of his many
gems of wisdom, my Dad told me that "there is always room for someone who
can do a job better."  

My grandfather (Bemis) served more than 20 years on the Board of Trustees of
Hampton University, when it was Hampton Institute.  His uncle (Gregg) had been
President in the early 1900s.  The family was devoted to helping people learn to
better themselves.   

Through my 20s, my parents opened our Thanksgiving table to foreign students,
stuck here without family on a holiday they knew not. Then, while being extremely
"conservative" politically, my Dad began volunteering at a prison, giving his time,
his ear and his heart to people whose friends were few or none.  I joined him.  
We even had prisoners at our house, on their weekend Massachusetts furloughs
or after their release.  Then in 1987, I went to law school, with this curious
mixture of political conservatism and looking everyone in the eye, sometimes up
but never down.

From all of this, I consider it a privilege and a "high calling" to do my small part to
enhance the rule of law through Due Process, and to help individuals receive
that Due Process in their case.
Andrew G. Wiggin, P.C.
High Calling for Attorney
Andrew G. Wiggin
"Serving clients in all litigation after state criminal trials, all across Virginia!"
www.post-trial-litigation.com
                                                               
(757) 333-7539
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Andrew G. Wiggin does not serve as counsel of record in federal courts,
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referrals can be provided.  

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Copyright 2007 by Andrew G. Wiggin, P.C.  All rights reserved.