Individual Details

Francis Higginbotham

(Abt 1759 - Dec 1828)



Moved to Elbert Co GA soon after their marriage. About 1810, they moved to Feliciana Parish LA near the town of Clinton. Francis was guardian of his brother's minor daughter, Mary, after Benjamin died. She is likely the Mary Higginbotham who married Charles Carter.

Although the Mary Higginbotham who married William Hightower Jr in 1811, is usually placed in this family, I've found no indication that she belonged here. I believe she was more likely the daughter of Francis' brother Caleb. Some of Caleb's family, and the Hightowers, went to Alabama.

INDEX TO THE HEADRIGHT & BOUNTY GRANTS OF GEORGIA 1756-1909; Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas Jr., Vidalia GA, c1970
Francis Higganbotham. Wilkes Co, Grant Book PPP, #106, 200 acres, 1787.

ELBERT CO RECORDS, GA DAR
p.149 Militia for War of 1812. Francis Higginbotham.
Charles Carter, Capt. 3 Jun 1809

1820 Census, Beaver Creek, Feliciana Parish, LA
Francis Higgenbotham 1m 10-16, 1m 16-26, 1m 45+ [Francis], 1f 16-26, 1f 45+ [Dolly] 17 slaves
Clayton Higginbotham 1m 16-26, 1f 10-16 2 slaves

Feliciana Parish was divided in 1824 into East & West Feliciana Parishes.

Wilkinson Co MS Newspaper Slave Ads, 1823-1849, Ancestry.com database
Slaves, Slave Holders and Slavery in the "Woodville Republican and Wilkinson County Advertiser" 1823-1849, Complied by Louise Burns Hofmann, 1998, p.92
27 May 1928
Francis Higginbotham (owner): The slave LUCY was committed to the Wilkinson County jail May 24th. At first she stated that she belonged to Mr. Gilmore of Fort Adams, but then she admitted that she now belonged to Francis Higginbotham of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. She ran away with the slave, Dave, the man who murdered his master Charles Carson. The story of the murder appeared in the St. Francisville, LA, newspaper on May 24th and Lucy looked like the woman described in the paper as the accomplice to the murder. (W.R. 5-27-28)
Francis Higginbotham (owner): The slave Lucy was acquitted of being an accomplice to the murder of Charles Carson at a trial held in Clinton May 31st. (W.R. 6-3-28)

Francis died 9 Dec 1828 and his son Caleb was appointed administrator. However, a few months later, Caleb was murdered.

Events

BirthAbt 1759Amherst County, Virginia
Marriage1 Dec 1783Amherst County, Virginia - Dolly Gatewood
DeathDec 1828Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Families

SpouseDolly Gatewood ( - 1830)
ChildCaleb Higginbotham (1787 - 1829)
ChildLucy Higginbotham (1789 - 1862)
ChildLawson Higginbotham (1794 - 1860)
ChildMartha Higginbotham ( - 1833)
ChildClayton Higginbotham (1798 - 1822)
ChildAmy Higginbotham (1800 - 1853)
FatherBENJAMIN Higginbotham (1723 - 1791)
MotherELIZABETH Graves (1733 - 1791)
SiblingCALEB Higginbotham (1752 - 1823)
SiblingAnne Higginbotham ( - )
SiblingWilliam Higginbotham (1762 - 1842)
SiblingBenjamin Higginbotham Jr. (1757 - 1810)
SiblingJoseph Higginbotham (1761 - 1817)

Endnotes