Individual Details

William was a soldier in the Continental Line in the Revolution for more than 6 years. He was captured by the British in 1780, exchanged and continued serving. He received hundreds of acres of bounty land, some in KY. Moved to Elbert Co GA where the family lived for 10-15 years. He performed marriage ceremonies, and other duties of Justice of the Peace. He was appointed administrator to his father's estate in Elbert Co in 1791 and returned to Amherst Co ca 1803 to dispose of his father's property there. The family moved on to Hardin, Hickman, and then Perry Counties in TN. Only the daughters Dolly and Nancy are positively identified; the others are probably their children.

INDEX TO THE HEADRIGHT & BOUNTY GRANTS OF GEORGIA 1756-1909; Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas Jr., Vidalia GA, c1970
William Higginbottom, Wilkes Co, Grant Book NNN, #459, 550 acres, 1787


A 1790 CENSUS FOR WILKES CO GEORGIA PREPARED FROM TAX RETURNS WITH ABSTRACTS OF THE 1790 TAX RETURNS, Frank Parker Hudson 1988, p.13
DISTRICT KKK: Capt William Higginbotham commanded this district. One of his taxpayers, John Collins, was listed as Capt of the 7th District of the Elbert Co Militia in Jun of 1791 with boundaries described partially as: "begin mouth of Deep Creek, up the Broad River to Franklin Co line, north fork of Beaverdam Crk and down the Crk to William Higginbotham's.
The 1790 tax district was the same as that of 1791 plus an area along the SW side of Beaverdam, just East of Higginbotham's. This area is now in three couties- parts of Elbert, Madison in 1819, and Hart in 1853. The part that remained in Elbert Co contains the town of Bowman. William was listed with a tract of 20 acres and one of 350 acres and 5 salves.
Benjamin Jr. & wife Mary Gatewood, and Francis & wife Dolly Gatewood also were in the District of William Higginbotham. Benjamin had 780 acres, 3 slaves. Francis had 300 acres, 3 slaves.

Book A, Elbert Co, Loose Records:
p.166
1 Dec 1790. Folio 4 John Tollett & wife Marget to Wm. Higginbotham. For 40£. 100 acres on North Fork of Beaverdam Creek all sides vacant when originally granted 24 Feb 1785 to Moses Trimble. Wit: Richardson Hunt JP, Philip Wingom. Margaret Tollet relinquished dower rights before Richardson Hunt, Esq. 31 Dec 1789. Rec. 24 Feb 1791 [Also found Deed Book A, p.3.]
5 Apr 1790. Folio 15 John Tollet & wife Marget to Moses Trimble, all of Wilkes Co. 600 acres on Beaverdam Crk being the balance of tract on which Philip Vineyard now lives. Granted 1785 to said Tollett. Wit: Richardson Hunt, Will Higginbotham, Jean Mousin
30 Dec 1789 Folio 41. John Tollett to Philip Vineyard, both of Wilkes. 300 acres on Beaverdam Crk, part of grant of 600 acres, in 1785 to said Tollett. Test: Wm. Higginbotham. Richardson Hunt, JP

Elbert Co Land Court Records, 1791-1822 [Justices of the Peace were the Commissioners to issue warrants.
4 Apr 1791. Justices present: Richardson Hunt, Ralph Bank, William Higginbotham, Esqrs.
Higginbotham continued to appear periodically through the seesion 2 Sep 1793. He was present on 7 Jan 1793 when Moses Davis, himself with 4 in the family, had a warrant issued in the name of Robert Brown.

SOME GEORGIA COUNTY RECORDS, by Edward E. Van Schaick Jr., c1997
p.98 Franklin Co GA DB H, p.124
13 Jan 1792. Isaiah Hambleton of Elbert Co to Thoms. Haney. Land is in Franklin, bounded by John Web. Wit: William Higginbotham, William Johnson, Rec. 20 May 1793
p.112 Franklin Co GA DB K, p.456
14 Nov 1791. Robert Brown & Catherine of Elbert Co to Robt McGowan of Franklin Co. 200 acres on Stephens Crk, waters of Broad River. Wit: William Higginbotham JP [prob in Elbert Co] Rec. 29 Mar 1794

Elbert Co Deed Book A, Folio 144. Walker Richardson, late a LT in 1st VA Regt, commanded by Col Chas. Harrison, gave power of Attorney to William Higginbotham of Elbert Co to receive all pay due for service from the State of VA, or the United States. 1 Feb 1792.
Deed Book B, Folio 82. William Higginbotham and wife Dorothy sold 200 A to Robert Pulliam, part of a 600 A grant to sd William on 9 Feb 1792. 15 Feb 1794. Wit: John Crowder, Jacob Higginbotham, M. Woods.
Deed Book B, Folio 187 William Higginbotham sold to Thomas Napier, two slaves,Jack and Major. 7 Feb 1795
Deed Book B, Folio 188 William Higginbotham sold to Robert Middleton, four slaves, Philis, Sarah, Anthony & a little girl. 7 Feb 1795.
[One of William's sons was possibly named Middleton - did his wife Dolly have a connection to the Middleton family?]

Elbert Co DB F, p.8 24 Aug 1797 William & Dolly his wife to Samuel Shepherd. Tract on branch of Beverdam. 150 acres adj sd Higginbotham, part of 550 acres granted to William Higginbotham on 24 May 1787.
DB G, p.52 24 Apr 1798 Robt McDowell and Susanna his wife to William Birden. 58 acres on Doves Creek, part of tract granted to William Higginbotham adj Saml Shepherd.

Bedford Co TN Deeds 1809-1811, p.275
13 Dec 1809 John Boyd of Davidson Co to William Hickingbottom, 300 acres on West waters of Big Flat Creek. Adj. land of Robert McCarey. Wit: Malcolm Gilchrist, William Hickbottom [son?], Mary Burcell, Moses Garrett. Proved by Gilchrist & Garrent in Court on Mar 1810.

1820, Hardin Co TN: William Hickinbottom, 1m over 45, 1f over age 45.
Next door was William G. Hickinbottom with 3 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1male 26-45, 2 females under 10, 1 female 26-45.
His Son Caleb seems to have been in Hickman Co TN:
Caleb Higginbotham. 3 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 16-26, 1 male 26-45, 1 female under 10, 1 female 26-45.
Middleton was in Dickson Co TN:
2 males under 10, 1 male age 26-45, 3 females under 10, 1 female 26-45.
In Bedford Co TN in 1820 were also two Higginbotham males with the same given names as sons of William:
James Higginbotham: 1 male under 10, 1 male age 16-26, 1 female age 16-26
Joseph Higginbotham: 1 male under 10, 1 male age 16-26, 1 female 10-26, 1 female 16-26.


William Higginbotham applied for his Revolutionary Pension from Hardin Co TN on 31 Jan 1829. He stated he enlisted in Amherst Co VA on 6 Jan 1777 & served as Sergt. in Capt Samuel J. Cabell's Co, 6th VA Regt. He again enlisted in Dec of 1778 and served to the end of the war in Capt James Mabon's Co., 2nd VA Regt. Cert. of Capt James Mabon dated May 28 1783: "Sergeant William Higginbotham enlisted with me for the war in Dec. 1778 in the 2nd VA Continental Regt. There was also a Certificate from Col. Samuel J. Cabell who stated further that Higginbotham was taken prisoner at Buford's Defeat in South or North Carolina in May of 1780. Dated 25 Feb 1810. His pension was allowed. William Higginbotham also entered a claim to the court of Amherst Co VA for public service. He was allowed 455 acres for service as a Sgt. of 6 years, 10 months, warrant issued 9 Mar 1793 and 28 Feb 1810. He was also issued bounty land as a Lieutenant on 7 Nov 1811 for 2,666 2/3 acres. These grants were in Kentucky.

Listed in the Journal of the House of Representatives of the U.S., 1827-1828
Wednesday, December 19, 1827
Mr. Crockett presented a petition of William Higginbotham, of the State of Tennessee. The petition was referred to the Committee of Claims.

By 1830, William was enumerated in Perry Co TN. Perry was formed from Hickman & Humphreys Counties in 1819 so he possibly moved to live near his son Caleb.
He was listed as aged 70-80 and so was the female in his household, presumbly Dolly.
Caleb, who had been in Hickman Co in 1820 was also in Perry Co with:
2 males under 5, 1m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 2m 15-20, 1m 20-30, himself as 40-50 [born between 1780-1790] 1 female age 10-15, 1 female 40-50.
Living nearby were Joseph Kelly and Ephraim Kelly, sons-in-law, husbands of Dicey and Jane, respectively.
There was a Jos. or Jas. Higgenbotham listed in Perry County. 1 male age 15-20 and 1m age 20-30. And a male age 70-80. One female age 20-30. This would seem to be not of William's family.
Son William G. was in Shelby Co TN in 1830.

1840 Census. Perry Co TN
William again listed as age 70-80. The females in the household was age 50-60 - one of his daughters perhaps? He is also listed as a Pensioner for Revolutionary Service and his age given as 79.
Caleb appears to be the only son still living in Tennessee.

William's place of death is also given as Hardin Co TN, but Perry Co seems correct, given the census records.

Birth	1762
Military	1776 - 1782	Amherst Co VA Militia, Revolutionary War
Marriage	By 1784	Amherst County, Virginia - Dorothy "Dolly" Sandidge
Death	Abt 1842	Perry County, Tennessee

Spouse	Dorothy "Dolly" Sandidge ( - )
Child	Joseph Higginbotham ( - )
Child	Caleb Higginbotham ( - )
Child	William G. Higginbotham (1785 - )
Child	Middleton Higginbotham ( - )
Child	Gabriel Higginbotham ( - )
Child	Pulliam Higginbotham (1795 - )
Child	Jane Higginbotham (1795 - )
Child	James Higginbotham ( - )
Child	Nancy Higginbotham (1796 - 1841)
Child	Dolly D. Higginbotham (1798 - )
Child	Dicey Higginbotham (1802 - )

Father	BENJAMIN Higginbotham (1723 - 1791)
Mother	ELIZABETH Graves (1733 - 1791)
Sibling	CALEB Higginbotham (1752 - 1823)
Sibling	Anne Higginbotham ( - )
Sibling	Benjamin Higginbotham Jr. (1757 - 1810)
Sibling	Francis Higginbotham (1759 - 1828)
Sibling	Joseph Higginbotham (1761 - 1817)