Fourth Generation


153. Caleb HIGGINBOTHAM was born on 3 April 1787 in Amherst County, Virginia.39 He died on 8 May 1829 at the age of 42 in East Feliciana Parish, Louisana.39

Caleb married Ann Minerva Bryant on 15 Jul 1812, Elbert Co. GA. They moved to Lousiana along with Caleb's father and others. After the death of Caleb, Ann married John Scott. Caleb and Ann M. lived on Doves Creek in Elbert Co GA.

Several Deeds in Elbert Co ca 1812 & 1815 involve a Caleb Higginbotham, wife Ann M, property on Doves Creek waters adj John Ham. This appears to be the son of Francis Higginbotham & Dolly Gatewood who married Ann Minerva Bryant about 1812.
DB O, p.78-9 16 Sep 1812 Drury Christian & Elizabeth, his wife to Caleb Higginbotham 25 A adj John Ham & others on Doves Crk waters. 5 Oct 1812 - another 130 A from Christians to Caleb. Witnessed by Oglesby and James Christian.
DB O, p.87 29 Oct 1812 William G. Bryant of Putnam Co gave his son in law, Caleb Higginbotham of Elbert Co 6 slaves. Rec. 3 Dec 1812
DB P, p.7 9 Nov 1812 William G. Bryant gave them 10 more slaves. Rec. 25 Aug 1813 - these slaves were relinquished back to Bryant on 15 Feb 1814 [DB P, p.33]
DB T, p.129 2 Aug 1815 Two deeds from Caleb Higginbotham to Levi Stinchcomb, one for 130 acres, another for 25 acres, on Doves Crk waters adj. John Ham, Critonton, Christian & others. Ann M., wife of Caleb, rel. dower rights on 27 Nov 1815. Rec. 17 Apr 1824.
[I would think this would be about the time they left for Lousiana]

1820 Census: Thompson Creek, Feliciana Parish, LA
Caleb Higginbotham: 1m -10, 1m 10-16, 1m 26-45. 2f -10, 1f 26-45. 16 slaves.

East Feliciana Notarial Book A show an exchange of land between David McCants & Caleb Higginbotham, executed 12 Jul 1827 and recorded 18 Nov 1828.

Caleb was murdered 8 May 1829. There are variations on the story. Ann, his wife, was charged, tried, but acquitted. It was decided a slave had killed him. One version is that he was stabbed with a pen knife. Said to have been six children but I only have four. Ann Minerva afterward married John H. Scott and moved to Indianapolis where he father, William Guerrant Bryant lived. He was a French Huguenot out of Manakintown, Goochland Co VA and served in the Revolution. She's said to have died about 1834. The children remained in Louisiana.

Mary, the daughter of Caleb & Ann Minerva Bryant, married William Sandel in East Feliciana Parish LA on 16 Dec 1830 - she is often mis-placed in the family of the older Caleb whose wife was MaryAnn Cash.

Caleb HIGGINBOTHAM and Ann Minerva BRYANT44 were married on 15 July 1812 in Elbert County, Georgia.

Caleb died 8 May 1829. He was apparently killed by a slave but his wife was charged with the murder.
Mabel Marie LaBiche, Author of "Higginbotham descendants of Benjamin and Elizabeth Graves", pub. Nov 1996.
"Caleb's father, Francis Higginbotham died on 9 Dec 1828 leaving a considerable estate of which Caleb was appointed administrator. A few months later, in the spring of 1829, Caleb was allegedly murdered by his wife Ann Minerva. She was indicted and tried for his murder but was acquitted by a court of law. However, Ann Minerva was ostracized by both relatives and neighbors who viewed her acquittal as a gross miscarriage of justice, perhaps with good reason."
Ann Minerva BRYANT44 died in 1833 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Ann was charged with the murder of her husband Caleb, was tried and acquitted. There are at least three traditional stories of the murder. That she had a slave kill him; that there were wrestling with a penknife and she accidentally killed him; and that he was shot.

Ann remarried to John H. Scott.

Circuit Court, Marion Co IN, May Term 1835.
Anna M. Scott, daughter of William G. Bryant. Husband of the deceased, John H. Scott, petitioned that letters of administration be granted him. William G. Bryant, father of the said Ann M. Scott relinquished his claim to administration on the estate of his daughter.

Caleb HIGGINBOTHAM and Ann Minerva BRYANT had the following children:

+241

i.

Mary HIGGINBOTHAM.

+242

ii.

Sarah Jane HIGGINBOTHAM.

243

iii.

William G. HIGGINBOTHAM was born on 7 March 1819 in East Feliciana Parish, Louisana. He died on 9 March 1888 at the age of 69 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

William G. married Sarah A. Palmer, daughter of Adam Palmer, 20 Dec 1838, East Feliciana Parish, LA

This man is the correct age, middle initial is wrong and the wife is not a Sarah:
The 1850 Census, East Feliciana, Hh 260
William ?T. Higginbotham, age 31. Susan A. age 27. [must have been an error in her given name - see 1880]
Leonora age 8. William age 7. Isaac age 2.
Jacob Lilley, age 21, school teacher

1860 Census. East Feliciana Parish, LA, Hh 343
W. G. Higginbotham, age 41. S. A., female, age 38
I. R. [Isaac Riley] male, age 12. M.O. [Mary], female, age 9. N. C. [?Caleb], male, age 8. S. J. [Sarah Jane], female, age 6. A. L. [Ada Louisa], female, age 4
L. A., male, age 2. N. C. Ainsworth, male, age 11.

1870 Census. East Feliciana Parish, LA, Hh 158
W. G. Higginbotham, age 51. S. A., female, age 49
Riley, 22. Lawson 10. Boyd 8. Sarah 16. Louisa 13

1880 Census. West Feliciana Parish, LA. Hh 106
Wm G. Higginbotham, age 61, b. LA, parents b. GA. Sarah A., age 60, wife.
Sarah J., age 23, daughter. Boyd W., age 19, son.


244

iv.

Elizabeth Leonora HIGGINBOTHAM was born circa 1824 in Louisiana. She died on 5 October 1883 at the age of 59.

7 Jun 1843. John R. Collinsworth petitioned for permission to marry Lenora Higginbotham, minor heir of Calib Higginbotham. Marriage was 8 Jun 1843.

1850 Census. Jackson Parish, LA Hh 601
John R. Collinsworth, age 29, lawyer, b. MS
Elizabeth L, age 23, b. LA
Mary, age 5. John age 3.