Individual Details

George Laughlin

(Bet 1790 and 1800 - Bef 1847)


Time Line for George Laughlin [submitted by Anita (McDougle) Richmond]

after May 1796 - George Laughlin was born in Mississippi [Territory?] according to a census record, information from daughter Joanah Laughlin
1810 Census - George Laughlin is seen on the census with his father Thomas 'Langhly', or Laughly, [pronounced Lockley], and his mother, Catherine Forman: 2 males 10 and under 16 - [George, about fourteen, and a younger brother, about 11] 2 females under ten - [two sisters, one was Jane] 1 male 45 and upwards [Thomas was born in 1759, according to the Laughlin/Madison Bible 1 female 26 and under 45 [Catherine]
1813 Census - Opelousas
7 April 1818 - George Laughlin 'legitimate son of Thomas Laughlin and Catherine Forman'. and Miss Caroline West 'legitimate daughter of Thomas and Nancy Faulk', were married by Judge George King, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Witnesses were: William Perry [stepfather], Asa Foreman, Isaac Foreman, and 'Guy' Bell.
1820 Census - Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, George 'Lockley', head of household: 1 male under 10 [first child was a son] 1 male 16 and under 26, including head of household [would be George, age about 25] 1 female 16 and under 26, including head of household [would be Caroline]
1 engaged in agriculture [George was a farmer.]
1 April 1821 - daughter Martha Ann Laughlin was born.
4 May 1824 - Parish of Lafayette Probate Court - George Laughlin and Alexander McClain were appointed appraisers for the estate of one certain Plantation in Lafayette Parish fronting on the East bank of the Bayou Queue deTortu...' - Edward Forman II, and Nancy Anna Perry estate, [Anna had been widowed]. Edward Forman II was George's uncle.
March 1825 – daughter Drusilla Laughlin was born.

Separation & subsequent marriage of Caroline West to a Cummings.

28 August 1828 - George Laughlin 'legitimate son of Thomas Laughlin and Catherine Forman - native of this Parish, and Mary Higginbotham, legitimate daughter of Jacob Higginbotham and Sophia [Higginbotham], native of the State of Georgia, and now resident of this Parish', were married by Parish Judge, George King. On October 27, 1828, Mary Ann's brother Francis died.
28 May 1829 - daughter Catherine was born, baptized at Lafayette Church, v 5, p 24
1830 Census - George Laughlin and Mary Ann Higginbotham Laughlin are living with Jacob Higginbotham at this time. In Jacob's household were: Jacob, 54; Nancy, 21; Jackson, 15; Caleb, 13; Frances, 9; George Laughlin,34; Mary Ann Higginbotham Laughlin 24; Martha Ann, 9; Drusilla, 7 [children of Caroline West]; Catherine, 1. Grandmother Sophia had died by the time of the 1830 Census.
ca 1831 son George was born.
ca 1832 son John was born.
13 May 1834 last child and daughter, Joanah was born.
7 February 1837 - Mary Ann Higginbotham was baptized at age 30 years, with her three youngest children George, John, and Joanah, at St. John's Cathedral in Lafayette, Louisiana.
3 July 1837 - daughter Martha Ann Laughlin married Daniel Spell. Opelousas Courthouse record #76.
1840 (Census should be checked for location of families.)
1841 - Drusilla marries Benajah Spell, Daniel's brother. They stayed in Indian Bayou. They have nice tombstones there by the Methodist Church. - pictures?
1842 - George Laughlin brought the family to Texas to the Liberty District, formerly known as the Atastosito District. That year he bought a Bounty Land Certificate for $50.00, and surveyed 320 acres where he made his homestead,12 miles southeastwardly from the town of Liberty. His land was located on the Little Willow Marsh, headwaters of Turtle Bayou. A Letter Patent was issued from the City of Austin on 13 September, 1847. George Laughlin and Mary Ann Higginbotham died before the 1850 Census probably in Liberty County, Texas. The house looks similar to the one built in Texas for James Ellison McDougle and Joanah Laughlin.
1849 (Mortality Schedule should be checked for details.)
1850 Census - Catherine, George, John and Joanah are living with relatives in Liberty County, TX.
27 January 1851 - Catherine married Asa Abshire.
31 March 1852 - son George married Mary Daily
1852 - year that Daniel Spell and Martha Ann came to Texas.
1852 - year that Joanah moved to Harris County - came with her sister Martha Ann.
28 February 1853 - Joanah's grandfather Jacob Higginbotham died in Lafayette.
16 June 1855 - Joanah sold her share of her father's estate to Austin Abshier - her sister Catherine's brother-in-law, for $75.00. Witnesses were George McDougle and cousin James E. McDougle. Liberty County, Book M page 377, filed for record 29 March 1879
11 December 1855 - Martha Ann and husband Daniel Spell, gave a deed to Austin Abshier her sixth interest in the division of the 320 acres of her father's estate for $31.13 - recorded in Book N, pp. 407, 408, Liberty county. Witnesses: Caleb Higginbotham and James H. Davis, JPHC
7 February 1856 - Catherine and husband Asa Abshier, deeded to brother-in-law Austin Abshier her interest in her father's homestead for $75.00 - recorded Book M pp. 489, 490, County of Liberty'
13 November 1856 - Joanah married cousin James Ellison McDougle in Harris County.
19 October 1858 - Drusilla's interest in her father's estate of 320 acres, was granted by her husband Benajah Spell for $36.00 who appeared before Asa Forman, Notary Public, State of Louisiana, Parish of Lafayette. Mrs. Benajah Spell (Drusilla), personally appeared with the intention to renounce her matrimonial dotal in favor of James B. Reavis...
ca 1849 - Ages of George Laughlin's children when he died: Martha Ann 28; Drusilla 26; Catherine 20; George, Jr. 18; John 17; Joanah 15
11 March, 1867 - George, Jr. [age 36] is witness to a wedding of Francis (Fanny) Daily to Freeman Brown, along with Thomas Hoffpauir & Thomas Wagner - [in Lafayette]

Events

BirthBet 1790 and 1800
Marriage7 Apr 1818Amelia Caroline West
Marriage28 Aug 1828Mary Ann Higginbotham
DeathBef 1847

Families

SpouseAmelia Caroline West (1800 - )
ChildMartha Ann Laughlin (1812 - )
ChildDruzilla Laughlin (1826 - 1913)
SpouseMary Ann Higginbotham (1807 - )
ChildCatherine Laughlin (1829 - 1919)
ChildGeorge Laughlin Jr. (1831 - )
ChildJohn Laughlin (1832 - )
ChildJoanah Laughlin (1834 - 1922)
FatherThomas Laughlin (1759 - )
MotherCatherine Forman (1776 - )
SiblingJohn Laughlin (1799 - )
SiblingGenevieve "Jane" Laughlin (1806 - 1864)
SiblingMargaret Laughlin (1823 - )

Endnotes

1. Donald J. Hébert, SWLR-CD, Opel. Ct.Hse.: Mar.#5.

2. Felton Morgan (Hoffpauir Family Association CD), mar. no. 1828-046.

3. Donald J. Hébert, SWLR-CD.