Third Generation

35. Joseph HIGGINBOTHAM^18,40,41 was born in 1761 in Amherst County, Virginia.³⁹ He died in 1817 at the age of 56 in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.^39,40

1783 Amherst Co VA tax list has Joseph Higgenbotham.

Joseph and Frances were first cousins. I have also seen this marriage date as 17 Dec 1788.

Joseph and Frances moved to Elbert Co GA ca 1790. Benjamin's family had moved there several years before. At least 6 of the children were born in Elbert Co and named in a Deed executed by Joseph on 24 Jan 1805. His brothers Benjamin & Caleb witnessed the deed and Caleb proved it 16 Apr 1805. About 1811, several Higginbotham families moved to Feliciana Parish LA and there is substantial evidence that Joseph was among them and died there in 1817.

NDEX TO THE HEADRIGHT & BOUNTY GRANTS OF GEORGIA 1756-1909; Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas Jr., Vidalia GA, c1970
Joseph Higginbotham, Wilkes Co, Grant Book LLL, #336, 200 acres, 1787
Joseph Higginbottom, Wilkes Co, Grant Book NNN, #565, 150 acres, 1787.

Wilkes Co property tax:
1786 & 1787 Joseph paid tax on 200 acres. In 1790, he was listed in a district that became Elbert Co.

Wilkes Co DB HH, p.241
28 Mar 1789 John Torrence sold 350 acres to Byrd Prewitt on Rocky Comfort Creek, adj on the SW by Joseph Higginbothom, all other sides vacant; including fork of Rocky Comfort below upper trading path, grant to Torrence on 21 Mar 1789.

Elbert Co, Land Court Records, 1791-1822
7 Feb 1791. Francis Higginbotham, 3 in family. [Headrights were issued, 100 acres for the head of the family and 50 acres each for wife and children.

Elbert Co Book A, 1791-1803 [Mixed Records]
Will of Richard Gatewood dated 10 Dec 1789. All estate to wife during her widowhood and then to be equally divided. No names given. Wit: Peter Cashwell, John Ham, Joseph Higginbotham, Test.
Rec. 4 Nov 1794. Letters of Administration to Betty Gatewood & John Gatewood.
Wm. Higginbotham, Reg. Pro.

Madison Co GA, DB A 1812-1818 [Madison formed from Elbert in 1811]
23 Jan 1805 Joseph Higginbotham to John Brixey, both of Elbert Co for $400. Tract on South Fork of Blue Stone Creek, part of a larger tract. 78 acres. Signed: Joseph Higginbotham. Wit: David Sommack, Barnaby Strickland. Proved by Strickland 15 Apr 1809. Rec. 12 Feb 1813.
Strickland was a brother to Emily Strickland who married Joseph's nephew, Robert, son of Caleb.

24 Jan 1805
Elbert Co., GA Deed Book J, p. 145:
"To all people whom these presents shall come - I, Joseph Higginbotham do send greetings - Know ye that I, the said Joseph Higginbotham of the State of Georgia and the county of Elbert for and in consideration of the love, good will and affection which I do bear toward my children, to wit: Bartley, Willis, Permelia, Lindsey, Frances and Jackson, all of the state and county, given and granted, and by these presents do freely give and grant unto my said beloved children above mentioned, their heirs and executors or administrators the following property, to wit: five negroes, named as follows - Lewis, Myle, Dave, Esther and her child, Rube - and all the increase of the said Esther - also four feather beds and furniture including all household furniture, with all my stock - including horses, cows, hogs __ and all their increase - which property is to be equally divided amongst the above mentioned children as soon as the youngest child, Jackson, comes to the age of eighteen years of which before the signing of these presents, I have delivered them to the said children an inventory signed with my own hand and bearing dates - to have and to hold all the property before mentioned to them the said children, their heirs, executors or administrators from hence forth, as their property, absolutely without any manner of condition - in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and five - and in the twenty ninth year of the independence of the United States of America.
Joseph Higginbotham (seal)
Signed sealed and delivered
in the presents of us
Edward Ware,
Benjamin Higginbotham,
Caleb Higginbotham"

Personally appeared before me Caleb Higginbotham, and being duly sworn, saith that he saw Joseph Higginbotham sign, seal, and acknowledge the within deed for the purposes therein mentioned, and that he saw Benjamin Higginbotham and Edward Ware with himself sign their names as witnesses to the same.
Caleb Higginbotham
Sworn before me this
16th day of April, 1805
William Hightower, J.P.
Registered 16th April 1805

American State Papers, Public Lands, Vol. 3, p.64
Joseph Higginbotham was listed as one of the Actual Settlers on land in that part of Louisiana, which lies East of the Mississippi River and Island of New Orleans and West of Pearl River, who have no claims thereto, derived from the French, British, or Spanish Governments. He had settled, Jan'y. 1812.

Joseph HIGGINBOTHAM and Frances HIGGINBOTHAM were married on 15 December 1788 in Amherst County, Virginia.^7,39,40 Frances HIGGINBOTHAM, daughter of Moses HIGGINBOTHAM and Frances KYLE, was born about 1765 in Amherst County, Virginia.⁸ She died about 1830 at the age of 65.⁸

Joseph HIGGINBOTHAM and Frances HIGGINBOTHAM had the following children: