Fourth Generation

99. Benjamin HIGGINBOTHAM^11,44,80 was born on 27 February 1784 in Amherst County, Virginia.¹¹

Benjamin and Joseph were twins. Not known if they were born in Amherst Co VA or after the move to Georgia.

Benjamin's two sons remained in Georgia when he moved to Feliciana Parish LA. He appears to have simply left his wife and the sons, Matthew & Woodson - they remained in Madison Co GA. Later Benjamin moved to Lafayette Co MS.

Elbert Co GA Deed Book P, p.59 8 Apr 1814 Benj Higginbotham & wife Elizabeth of Madison Co GA to Laveston Prior Gaines of Elbert Co. 91 1/2 acres in Elbert Co on Pickens Crk adj Aplin & John Davis. Witness: Elisha Ware, Edward Ware. Rec. 20 Jul 1814.

On 5 Jul 1847, Benjamin Higginbotham, resident of Lafayette Co MS made testimony in Yalobusha Co MS that he had lived within a mile of the place where Elizabeth Hilley & Edmond Rousey were married in Elbert Co GA. [They were married by his uncle William Higginbotham.] He also stated that he knew his brother's widow [Mary Brown Higginbotham, widow of James, who also testified to the marriage] had known the couple well. Benjamin was then 63 years old and was about 9 or 10 when the Rouseys were married.

1850 Census, Lafayette Co MS. p.270, Household 619. B. Higginbotham, age 64, a carpenter, born in Georgia was living in the household of his cousin Willis Higginbotham.

Benjamin HIGGINBOTHAM and Elizabeth ROUSEY were married. Elizabeth ROUSEY^81,82 was born in 1785 in Virginia.⁸³

Elizabeth Higginbotham is in the 1820 Madison Co GA census, as well as on an 1824 Tax List.
1m -10, 1m 10-16. 1f -10, 1f 10-16, 1f 26-45. 2 slaves.
The names of the daughters are unknown.

Milledgeville, GA, Newspaper Clippings Southern Recorder
Vol 1, 1820-1827
Tad Evans
Aug 1995 Self-Published, Savannah, GA
p.258-260
Tues, Jan 2, 1827
List of Acts. Passed by the Legislature at their annual session in 1826:
For the relief of Sally, Woodson, Matthew and Polly Ann Higginbotham.
From this record it would appear that Elizabeth was perhaps seeking a divorce or some settlement because of abandonment. Sally & Polly Ann apparently the unknown females of the early censuses.

Elizabeth, 1830 in Madison Co
1m 15-20, 1m 20-30. 1f 15-20, 1f 20-30, 1f 50-60.
There is a marriage record in Madison Co:
Polly m Jabez Graham, 22 Dec 1833 Book A-96

1840, Madison Co GA:
Mat. Higginbotham: 2m -5, 1m 20-30, 1f 20-30 1f 50-60 [Elizabeth]
[The 1840 census Index is not complete; I found the Madison Co pages inserted with those for Marion Co in Ancestry's online database.]
Woodson Higginbotham, 1m 30-40, 1f -5, 1f 15-20

1850, Madison Co GA:
Mathew Higginbotham, age 35, Farmer, b. GA. William 12, Ruby 10, and Elizabeth age 65, born in Virginia.
Woodson Higginbotham, age 43, Boss ShoeMaker, born Georgia. Huldah age 10, Mary 9, and Frances 6 [female].

Benjamin HIGGINBOTHAM and Elizabeth ROUSEY had the following children: