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At Kaskaskia, Piggott begins a relationship with Frances James Ballew. She already has four kids by a man named Bennet Ballew, whom she married against her father's wishes. William James suspected Mr. Ballew to be part Indian due to his "copperery skin," and an adventurer not worthy of his daughter. The father, who owned the Mt. Etny Iron Works in Maryland, disinherited his daughter when he learned the news of her marriage. Bennet Ballew abandoned his family in 1780 (in part because he received no dowry) while they were at Kaskaskia. Piggott and Frances Ballew live together for a number of years before they marry. She will bear him an additional seven children and becomes well-known in the area as a "surgeon-doctor," stitching up those who are injured fighting the Indians.

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In the late fall, Piggott leads another band of settlers further north and builds a fort just west of present day Columbia, Illinois. The fort is named Grand Ruisseau and is sometimes called Piggott's Fort. He settles in that area because he believes that Cahokia has the only efficient government in southern Illinois. They cut down trees and build seventeen cabins and a blockhouse.

Piggott prematurely anticipates American rule and declares his own government with him as a magistrate (judge) at Fort Ruisseau. He is arrested and placed in chains by French authorities for 24 hours under peace bond. Thanks to George Rogers Clark, who captured Cahokia, Kaskaskia and Vincennes, America receives Illinois Territory by the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War. The British are ousted before they can leave much impact on the area's legacy. Had it not been for Clark, Illinois might now be part of Canada. Our ally Spain gets Louisiana Territory which includes Missouri and St. Louis.