Third Generation


34. Francis HIGGINBOTHAM69 was born about 1759 in Amherst County, Virginia.61 He died in December 1828 at the age of 69 in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.39

Moved to Elbert Co GA soon after their marriage. About 1810, they moved to Feliciana Parish LA near the town of Clinton. Francis was guardian of his brother's minor daughter, Mary, after Benjamin died. She is likely the Mary Higginbotham who married Charles Carter.

Although the Mary Higginbotham who married William Hightower Jr in 1811, is usually placed in this family, I've found no indication that she belonged here. I believe she was more likely the daughter of Francis' brother Caleb. Some of Caleb's family, and the Hightowers, went to Alabama.

INDEX TO THE HEADRIGHT & BOUNTY GRANTS OF GEORGIA 1756-1909; Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas Jr., Vidalia GA, c1970
Francis Higganbotham. Wilkes Co, Grant Book PPP, #106, 200 acres, 1787.

ELBERT CO RECORDS, GA DAR
p.149 Militia for War of 1812. Francis Higginbotham.
Charles Carter, Capt. 3 Jun 1809

1820 Census, Beaver Creek, Feliciana Parish, LA
Francis Higgenbotham 1m 10-16, 1m 16-26, 1m 45+ [Francis], 1f 16-26, 1f 45+ [Dolly] 17 slaves
Clayton Higginbotham 1m 16-26, 1f 10-16 2 slaves

Feliciana Parish was divided in 1824 into East & West Feliciana Parishes.

Wilkinson Co MS Newspaper Slave Ads, 1823-1849, Ancestry.com database
Slaves, Slave Holders and Slavery in the "Woodville Republican and Wilkinson County Advertiser" 1823-1849, Complied by Louise Burns Hofmann, 1998, p.92
27 May 1928
Francis Higginbotham (owner): The slave LUCY was committed to the Wilkinson County jail May 24th. At first she stated that she belonged to Mr. Gilmore of Fort Adams, but then she admitted that she now belonged to Francis Higginbotham of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. She ran away with the slave, Dave, the man who murdered his master Charles Carson. The story of the murder appeared in the St. Francisville, LA, newspaper on May 24th and Lucy looked like the woman described in the paper as the accomplice to the murder. (W.R. 5-27-28)
Francis Higginbotham (owner): The slave Lucy was acquitted of being an accomplice to the murder of Charles Carson at a trial held in Clinton May 31st. (W.R. 6-3-28)

Francis died 9 Dec 1828 and his son Caleb was appointed administrator. However, a few months later, Caleb was murdered.

Francis HIGGINBOTHAM and Dolly GATEWOOD were married on 1 December 1783 in Amherst County, Virginia.7,61 Dolly GATEWOOD, daughter of Larkin GATEWOOD and Catharine PENN, died about 1830 in East Feliciana Parish, Louisana.

Francis HIGGINBOTHAM and Dolly GATEWOOD had the following children:

+153

i.

Caleb HIGGINBOTHAM.

154

ii.

Lucy HIGGINBOTHAM39 was born in 1789 in Wilkes County, Georgia. She died in 1862 at the age of 73 in Worthville, Butts County, Georgia.

Lucy married Durret Stodghill (1782-1857) about 1804.

155

iii.

Lawson HIGGINBOTHAM39 was born on 24 July 1794 in Elbert County, Georgia.39 He died on 12 January 1860 at the age of 65.

Lawson married Elizabeth McCants, 11 Apr 1822, East Feliciana Parish.

Will of David MCants, 5th Dist Court, New Orleans, East Feliciana LA, written 28 Feb 1856, proved 16 Aug 1865. Mrs. Maria Y. McCants was the surviving widow who presented the will. He left the following heirs: issue of the marriage of son David A. MCants, dec'd, with Eliza Livingston, to wit: Miss Maggie McCants [of age] and Rosamond, Texana, Caroline, Louisiana & David, all minors to whom Mrs. Eliza McCants is trustrix, all of East Baton Rouge Parish. Children of the deceased with said Maria: Robert [of age] and Imogene, Blanche, Junius, Thoma & Ernestine, minors. And the children of the testator's daughter Elizabeth McCants, isuue of her marriage to Lawson Higginbotham, to wit: Frances, Clayton & William [of age] and Thomas, Riley, Wesley & Caleb, minors for whom William W. Chapman of East Feliciana is agent, the said being residents of Morehouse Parish.

1850 E. Feliciana LA Census: Hh 264
David McCants, age 69 b. SC. Mary, age 35, b. SC. R. L. [Robert], male age 10. William, male age 8. M. S. [?Imogene], female age 6. V. B. [Blanche], female age 5. J. C. [Junius], male age 3. Thomas C. age 2, E. R. [Ernestine], female age 1.

Lawson's family moved to St. Helena Parish before 1840 where they lived for 15-20 years before moving again to Morehouse Parish in northern LA. There were 11 children. At least 3 of the sons served in the Confederacy. Two of the younger sons, Charles William and Samuel Riley moved to Robertson Co TX.

1830 Census. East Feliciana Parish, LA
Lawson Higginbotham. 1m under 5, 1m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 1m 30-40. 2f under 5, 1f 20-30

1850 Census. St. Helena Parish, LA; Hh 45
Lassin Higginbotham, age 55, b. GA. Elizabeth, age 45, b. SC
All children born in Louisiana. Cleaton, age 26. Thomas age 18. J. N., male, age 17. C. W. [Wesley], male, age 10. Caleb, age 6. S. R. [Riley], age 3.

1860 Census. Morehouse Parish, LA; Hh 346 & 347
Lawson apparently dec'd between 1850 and 1860.
D. T. Higginbotham, Head of household, age 36, b. LA
E. E., female, age 56, b. SC [Elizabeth]
T. C. [Thomas], age 29, farm manager, b. LA
J. N., age 28. Caleb. age 11. Saml. A. [?R] age 13.
Three men listed as Master Carpenters: J. P. Brown, age 33. David Short, age 23. John McFaden, age 25.
Next door:
C. Higginbotham, age 36 [Clayton] C. A., female, age 25. Ira W. age 6. L. J., female age 4. Lawson age 3. A. R., female age 6/12.
Hh 333
W. D. [William] age 32, b. LA. M. A. female age 27. Willie age 2.

Buried Higginbotham Family Cemetery, Mer Rouge, Morehouse Parish, LA.
Elizabeth McCants was b. 30 Nov 1804, Berkeley Co, SC; d. 5 Nov 1863, Mer Rouge, Morehouse Parish.

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iv.

Martha HIGGINBOTHAM.

157

v.

Clayton HIGGINBOTHAM was born about 1798 in Georgia.39 He died in 1822 at the age of 24 in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.39

Clayton married Mary McKneely, 17 Apr, 1820, West Feliciana Parish.

1820 Census, Beaver Creek, Feliciana Parish, LA
Francis Higgenbotham 1m 10-16, 1m 16-26, 1m 45+ [Francis], 1f 16-26, 1f 45+
Clayton Higginbotham 1m 16-26, 1f 10-16

Mary Higginbotham in West Feliciana Parish married John G. Reily on 28 Jul 1823 - she was the widow of Clayton Higginbotham [brother of Martha & son of Francis] who had died in 1822 leaving her with a young son.

158

vi.

Amy HIGGINBOTHAM39 was born on 10 December 1800 in Wilkes County, Georgia. She died on 26 September 1853 at the age of 52 in Clinton, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.

Amy married Isaac Reily, 31 Mar 1823, West Feliciana Parish.

Her grave marker is pictured on FindAGrave #68412129, but is unreadable - presumably the dates can be read.
Isaac McDe Reily was born 2 Jun 1791, died 21 Jul 1850.
They are buried East Cemetery, East Feliciana Parish. The tombstone inscriptions were complied by the Louisiana NSDAR, 1957-1960.

Children noted o FindAGrave:
Capt Joseph C. Reily - no dates, served in the Civil War
Reily, Joseph C.,1st Sergt. Capt.
Co. E, 1st Cav. En. Sept. 16, 1861, East Feliciana Par., La. Rolls May, 1862. to Feb., 1864, Present, Roster dated Clinton, La., June 21, 1864. Elected 3rd Lt. Dec. 20, 1861. Promoted Capt. June 21, 1863; successor, J. S. Palmer Official Rolls Paroled Officers, C. S. A., Paroled Galnesville, Ala., May 12, 1865, as Capt. 1st La. Cav. Co. E

Catherine N. Riley, married to Isaac Taylor Felps (1828-1906)
b. 14 Sep 1833, Louisiana. d. 11 Nov 1911, East Feliciana Parish. Buried Munday Cemetery, Clinton, East Feliciana.

Mary E. Reily
b. 30 Sep 1836, d. aged 3, 22 Jun 1840. "Daughter of Isaac McDe & Amey T. Reily"

S. F. Reily
b. 11 Nov 1839, died aged 3 months, 27 Feb 1840. "Son of Isaac McDe & Amey T. Reily"