Fourth Generation

128. Robert H. HIGGINBOTHAM^15,44,54,85 was born about 1777 in Virginia.¹⁵ He died on 18 September 1831 at the age of 54 in Yazoo County, Mississippi.¹⁵

Believed born in Amherst Co VA and married there. Wife was Emily Strickland. Moved to Pike Co MS ca 1809 and later to Yazoo Co MS where he died about 1831. Online databases have the date 18 Sep 1831.

One reference states that about 1810, Robert first moved to St. Tammany Parish LA from Clarke County GA. but went on to Pike county before 1820.

1820 Pike Co MS: 1m under 10, 1m 16-18, 2m 16-26, 1m 26-45. 3f -10, 3f 10-16, 1f 26-45.

1830 Yazoo Co MS: 2m 5-10, 2m 15-20, 1m 50-60. 2f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 1f 20-30, 1f 40-50

1 Dec 1830. Land grant, 77.69 acres in Yazoo County issued to Robert H. Higginbotham of Pike County, MS.

His wife Emily or Milly, is thought to have lived until about 1840.
1840 Census, Yazoo Co MS
Emily Higginbotham: 2m 15-20, 1m 30-40. 2f 15-20, 1f 40-50
No Higginbothams were found in Yazoo County in 1850.

Robert H. Higginbotham has an estate file at the Yazoo City courthouse, Probate Box 41. States that Robt. H. Higginbotham died in the month of September in the year 1831. His son, Henry, obtained letters of Administration with the will annexed, and proceeded to sell the personal estate of the deceased on 28 Mar 1832. The widow Emily Higginbotham, was the purchaser and gave her note for nine months, but never paid. The heirs were satisfied. In 1835, the said administrator left the state and has never returned. There was no administrator until after the death of the said Emily in the latter part of the year 1840. Thos. Catchings became administrator, of both estates. A clause under the will stated that the proceeds of his real estate should be appropriated to support and educate his minor heirs and he attempted to set a fund apart for Thomas T. and Robert J. Higginbotham, the two youngest. 22 May 1843.
A separate paper in the file shows the minor children at the death of R. H. Higginbotham to be:
Madison Green, age 18.
Mary, aged 14.
Caroline, aged 12.
Thomas Taliaferro, aged 10.
Robt. Jasper, aged 8.
The older children were Henry Higginbotham, Sophia, wife of Thomas J. Catchings, ?Mary [Mary was one of the minors) wife of Benjamin Leonard [this possibly should have been Letty wife of Benjamin H. Catchings since she was omitted], Louisa wife of Joab O'Neal, and Lurena, wife of John Johnson.

23 Jan 1932
Henry Higginbotham, witness to Robert H. Higginbotham dec'd who made his last will & published the same. Since the death of sd Higginbotham , the will has been destroyed. Here is the substance:
Real estate to remain in possession of my wife Emily and her death to be divided among all my legal heirs. Proceeds to be applied to support & education of minor heirs
Wife Emily & son Solomon to be Executors. Will was written in Sept 1831. Basil Williams was the other witness.

28 Dec 1840
Petition of Thomas J. Catchings. Yazoo Couty
Robt. H. Higginbotham died 18 Sep 1831. Emily became guardian of minor heirs:
Madison Green, 18, etc. She has since been supporting them. Requests an order to enter on the promissory note: pd in full for support & eduction of the minor heirs.

1840 Census. Thos. J. Catchings was in Madison Co MS. Age 40-50 with spouse, age 30-40.

Robert H. HIGGINBOTHAM and Emily "Milly" STRICKLAND were married about 1800.⁵⁴ Emily "Milly" STRICKLAND, daughter of Solomon STRICKLAND and Amy PACE, was born about 1784 in Georgia. She died in 1840 at the age of 56 in Yazoo County, Mississippi. She was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City, Yazoo County, Mississippi.⁸⁶

Madison Co GA DB A, p.84
On 14 Jul 1804, there was a deed of gift from Solomon Strickland to his children: Ephraim, Unah, Barshebah, Linny [now Linny Ware], Ezekiel and Nancy - property they were to be possessed of after the death of myself and my wife Amy - recorded in Elbert Co. Previously gave to other children: to wit, Henry Barnabas, Milly Higginbotham, Hardy, Solomon, Polly Carter and Jinny Bridges. I gave my daughter Nancy a Negro girl Easter, but Nancy has departed this life and it was her wish that my son Ephraim should have the girl. I do give Ephraim the girl and the tract of land on which I now live and a still containing 30 gallons, which he is to be possessed of after the decease of myself and my wife Amy Strickland. 5 Nov 1814. Signed: Solomon (X) Strickland.
Wit: Aaron Johnson, Elisha Johnson. Proved by Aaron Johnson 11 Nov 1813. Rec. 11 Nov 1813.

p.91
On 14 Jul 1804, there was a deed of gift from Solomon Strickland to his children: Ephraim, Unah, Barshebah, Linny [now Linny Ware], Ezekiel and Nancy - property they were to be possessed of after the death of myself and my wife Amy - recorded in Elbert Co. Previously gave to other children: to wit, Henry Barnabas, Milly Higginbotham, Hardy, Solomon, Polly Carter and Jinny Bridges. I gave to my daughters Unah Thompson and Barshebah Thompson a Negro woman Isabel and her increase to have after the death of myself and my wife Amy. I hereby now deliver to my daughter Barshebah Strickland and Alexander Thompson, husband of Unah, four Negro children, part of the increase of said Isabel, Eve, Suky, Franky - girls, and Jack a boy. To divide as they think proper, retaining Suky until the death of myself and my wife. 28 Oct 1813. Signed: Solomon (x) Strickland.
Wit: Allen Daniel, Charles Sorrels, Elisha Johnson. Proved by Elisha Johnson on 3 Nov 1813. Rec. 30 Nov 1813.

Solomon Strickland's wife was Amy Pace.

Robert H. HIGGINBOTHAM and Emily "Milly" STRICKLAND had the following children:

206	i.	Judge Solomon HIGGINBOTHAM was born circa 1800. He died before 1843 at the age of 43 in Madison County, Mississippi. OFFICIALS OF YAZOO COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI REGISTERS OF COMMISSIONS, Office of the Secretary of State Register of Commissions 1818-1827 20 Jul 1826 - Solomon Higginbotham, Justice of the Peace In one of those weird meetings of ancestral families, Solomon was Chief Justice in Madison Co, MS when the following deed regarding members of the Haden family was recorded. Logan Co DB Q, p.481 4 May 1831 Josiah Newman & Nancy J his wife of Mississippi to Gideon Childres of Logan Co. $400 for tract alloted to Nancy as one of the heirs of James Haden, dec'd. Adj George McNeely's head right survey, corner to the Shakers, in the Dower line, Emily Haden's line. 200 acres. Another tract of 25 acres of timberland. Signed: Josiah Newman, Nancy J. Newman. Nancy relinquished dower in Madison Co MS; Solomon Higginbotham, presiding justice of county & Probate court for Madison Co - Chief Justice. Rec. in Logan Co 6 Jun 1831. By the time of the settlement in 1843, of the joint estates of Emily and Robert H. Higginbotham, this son was not living.
207	ii.	Henry HIGGINBOTHAM was born circa 1803 in Georgia. probably from Yazoo County: Probate Box 41. States that Robt. H. Higginbotham died in the month of September in the year 1831. His son, Henry, obtained letters of Administration with the will annexed, and proceeded to sell the personal estate of the deceased on 28 Mar 1832. The widow Emily Higginbotham, was the purchaser and gave her note for nine months, but never paid. The heirs were satisfied. In 1835, the said administrator left the state and has never returned.
208	iii.	Letitia HIGGINBOTHAM was born on 30 May 1804 in Georgia. She died on 26 January 1860 at the age of 55. Letitia is shown in the Catching database as born in Clarke Co, Georgia. I have not been able to locate a record of the Higginbothams in Clarke Co. She is said to have been married to Benjamin Holliday Catching ca 1824 in Mississippi. Children are shown as born in Copiah County. 1830 Census. Copiah Co MS Benjamin H. Catchings: 2m under 5, 1m 20-30. 1f under 5, 2f 5-10, 1f 20-30. his brother Thomas J. Catchings was also in Copiah Co. 1840 Census. Copiah Co MS B. H. Catching: 2m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 1m 20-30, 1m 30-40 1f -5, 1f 5-10, 1f 10-15, 1f 30-40 1850 Census. Copiah Co MS, Hh 543 Letitia Catchings, age 44, b. TA Children all born in Mississippi: Thomas J. age 22. Harriet E. age 21. Robert J. age 18. L. Josephine age 14. Julia S. age 10, William S. age 7, Nancy L. age 5, and Benjamin H. age 2. Ellison L. Norman, age 24, Overseer, b. MS. The Catching database lists an older daughter, Farnces A. who was probably married. There was also a Joseph born about 1834 who perhaps died young or maybe was left out in 1850. 1860 Census. Copiah Co MS, Hh 721 I could not find Letitia's young children in 1860. However there is this strange entry: J. H. Catching, age 26, Merchant - value of his property was $2000 with personal estate valued at $9000. J. H. Catching & others, value of property of property $7700, personal estate at $23,000. M. T. Deering, age 28, Overseer. J. W. Ford, age 26, Overseer. Thomas Hamilton, age 27, Clerk. The slave schedule for 1860 reveals that the Catching family owned a great many slaves. R. J. was listed with nine slaves. J. H. with six slaves. Others had considerably more, especially a listing for "J. K. Catching & others". All had only initials for the owner.
209	iv.	Lurena HIGGINBOTHAM was born in 1809 in Georgia. She died before 1880 at the age of 71 in Yazoo County, Mississippi. Lurena married John Johnson. They are in Yazoo County, MS censuses 1850-1870
210	v.	Sophia HIGGINBOTHAM was born about 1811. She died about 1841 at the age of 30. Thomas J. Catchings eventually became the Administrator of the estates of both Robert H. & Emily Higginbotham. Daughter Sophia is usually listed as the wife of Catchings. History of Pike County, Mississippi, by Luke W. Conerly p.52 States that Joseph Catching and wife Mary Holiday moved from Georgia and settled on the Bogue Chitto, two miles below Holmesville in 1812. They had five children: Thomas, who married Miss Clendenon, lived in Hinds County and were the parents of T. C. Catching, Congressman, Mrs. Mary Baird and Mrs. Nanie Torry. Benjamin who married Miss Hickenbottom and resided in Copiah County (this would be Letitia Higginbotham) Silas who married Miss Ann Drake and lived in Pike County Sally who married Robert Love Seamore who married Sarah Smith who came from North Carolina, 1812 Databases on WorldConnect indicate that Thomas J. Catchings was first married to Sophia Higginbotham and (2) to Nancy McNees Clendinen. His brother Benjamin was married to Letitia Higginbotham. Thomas Jefferson Catching was born 17 Sep 1806 in Georgia, died 13 May 1883 in Vicksburg, Warren Co MS. He was defeated in the 1851 election for the State Legislature. 28 Dec 1840 Petition of Thomas J. Catchings. Yazoo Couty Robt. H. Higginbotham died 18 Sep 1831. Emily became guardian of minor heirs: Madison Green, 18, etc. She has since been supporting them. Requests an order to enter on the promissory note: pd in full for support & eduction of the minor heirs. 1830 Census. Copiah Co MS Thomas J. Catchings: 2m age 20-30. 1f age 20-30 1840 Census. Thos. J. Catchings was in Madison Co MS. Age 40-50 with spouse, age 30-40. Thomas is said to have married Nancy Clendinen about 1845 in Warren Co. I believe it was probably a few years earlier. 1850 Census. Hinds Co, MS, p.196, Hh 1196 Thomas J. Catchings, age 44, b. MS Nancy M. age 30, b. SC Mary C. age 7, Nannie C. age 5, Thomas C. age 3. 1860 Census. Hinds Co MS, p.120, Hh 769 Thos. J. Catchings, age 53, b. MS, profession: M.D. N. M., female, age 40, b. SC Children all born in Mississippi: M. C., female, 16. N. C., female, 14. T. C., male, age 13. [these match the children from 1850] M. C. age 19, female. S. M., age 17, female. [were these daughters of Sophia? and if so, where were they in 1850?] 1870 Census. Brandon, Rankin Co MS, Hh 43 Thos. J. Catchings, age 63, listed as "Mayor", b. MS Nancy M. age 49, b. SC Mary E. age 23, b. MS [getting younger each census....] I didn't find Thomas in 1880.
211	vi.	Louisa HIGGINBOTHAM was born in 1812 in Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana. She died by 1848 at the age of 36 in Yazoo County, Mississippi. Louisa married Joab O'Neal. No children.
212	vii.	Madison Green HIGGINBOTHAM was born in 1813 in Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Married to Harriet.
213	viii.	Mary HIGGINBOTHAM was born in 1817 in Pike County, Mississippi.
214	ix.	Caroline HIGGINBOTHAM was born in 1819 in Pike County, Mississippi.
215	x.	Thomas Taliaferro HIGGINBOTHAM was born in 1823 in Pike County, Mississippi. He died on 16 July 1859 at the age of 36. He was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City, Yazoo County, Mississippi.
216	xi.	Dr. Robert Jasper HIGGINBOTHAM was born in 1824 in Pike County, Mississippi. He died on 29 May 1849 at the age of 25. He was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City, Yazoo County, Mississippi.