Individual Details

Married Judith Ware about 1798 [or 1801] in Georgia and also moved to Pike Co MS with his brother Samuel and probably their father, about 1819. His older brother Robert and sister Nellie may already have been there. Most if not all of Nelson and Judith's children were born in Georgia.

From notes in the Higginbotham Folder 1, Vertical File, GA State Archives:
Minutes of Inferior Court 1812-1824, Book A, p.1 & 2: Nelson Higginbotham served as a Juror in Madison Co GA, 1812
In 1813, as a taxpayer he was in Capt Ware's District [Danielsville].
He was again a Juror in 1814.

Possible War of 1812 Service. Nelson Higginbotham was a sergeant in the 1st Regt (Harris's), Georgia Militia.

Madison Co GA DB A, p.242
13 Aug 1816 Nelson Higginbotham bought at the courthouse steps, Lot Number 19 in Danielsville for $16. He was high bidder on one of five lots ordered sold by the sheriff.
Nelson Higginbotham was on the Madison Co Tax list for 1817 for this Town Lot.

Madison Co GA paper signed 1 Mar 1817: Nelson Higginbotham, Constable

Another Nelson must have lived in Madison Co - note the land ownership after 1819 when this Nelson had gone to Mississippi:
Georgia Property Tax Disgests, Ancestry.com. Madison Co, GA
1817, Captain Higginbotham's District: Nelson Higginbotham
Nelson is thought to have left Georgia about this time - the following appears to be Nelson Jr. who married Lucretia Beard.
1822, Capt Strickland's District: Nelson Higginbotham; several Sticklands on the same page. Nelson's land granted to Gimdrel, adjoins J. Bird
1824, Capt Christian's District: Nelson Higginbotham, 165 acres, granted Taylor & others, Adj Beard
1832, Capt Smith's District: Nelson Higginbotham, 500 acres, granted Johnston, adjoining Tailor
1833 Capt Vandeford's District: Nelson Higginbotham, 500 acres, land granted Johnston, adjoing Tailor


Madison Co. DB BDE, p.9 and p.32. Two deeds showing Robert Floyd & James Griffith as neighbors of Nelson Higginbotham and Nelson's proximity to the town of Danielsville.
24 Nov 1817 William B. Crowder for himself and for Robert Mitchell, both of Hancock Co to James Long of Madison Co, for $900, tract on waters of South Broad River, 477 1/2 acres adj the village of Danielsville, the old Franklin Co line, Robert Floid, James Griffeth & others, except the 50 acres deeded to the commissioners of Madison Co which lies with the bounds. Wit: James Griffith, Nelson Higginbotham, Edward Ware, JIC. Rec. 13 Jan 1818
3 Mar 1818 James Long to James Griffin for $125, 62 1/2 acres adjacent Robert Floid, James Griffith, Nelson Higginbotham, the 50 acres laid off for Danielsville, & others. Wit: Benj. Brown, Jno Hardaman, Edward Ware, Robert Groves JP. Rec. 5 Mar 1818.

Madison Co DB BDE, p.69
11 Apr 1818 Nelson Higginbotham to Augustus F. Harris of Augusta GA for $800, slave named Charles, about 18 years old. Nelson to pay $800 with interest before 1 Mar. Next. Signed: Nelson Higginbotham, Augustus F. Harris. Wit: Wm. Harris, Saml. Higginbotham. Proved by William Harris 19 Jul 1819. Henry Ware, JP. Rec. 19 Jan 1819
On the same day, Samuel Higginbotham also purchased a slave, Jack, about age 45 for $600 with the same provisions. It is also proved by Wm Harris and recorded on 19 Jan 1819.

Madison Co DB BDE, p.128
15 Aug 1818 Horatio B. Grewer to Robert L. Tate, tract on waters of South Broad, adj. Groves and others, 269 acres, tract sold by the sheriff the 1st Tuesday in December 1816 to Horatio G. Brewer. Wit: Nelson Higginbotham, Edmund B. Tate. Proved by Tate 27 Apr 1819. REc. 29 Apr 1819.
This appears to possibly have been the last act recorded for Nelson in Madison Co GA.

The Higginbotham file at the GA State Archives, says that Nelson Higginbotham was on a tax roll, 1819, Pike Co, MS as found on microfilm at the Mississippi Dept of Archives and History.

Madison Co DB BDE, p.162
8 Jan 1820 Burell Orr, sheriff, to Peter Smith & Henry Tankersly by virtue of an execution from the Superior Court in favor of Washington Allen against the property of Nelson Higginbotham, Samuel Higginbotham, Thompson C. Strickland & William Hitching Calhoun, levied on Lot #19 in Danielsville. Sold at the Courthouse 1st Tues, Apr 1819. Rec. 29 Jan 1820
p.163 29 Jan 1820 Peter Smith to Henry Tankersly all claims on several lots in Danielsville, including Lot #19 as the property of Nelson Higginbotham. Rec. 4 Feb 1820.

1820, Pike Co MS. Nelson Higginbotham. 3m -10, 1m 10-16, 1m 26-45. 3f -10, 2f 10-16, 1f 26-45.

1820 MS State census return.
Following Higginbothams listed - likely the three brothers
Robert Higginbotham, 4 (free white males), 7 (free white females), 1 (taxable inhabitants)
Nelson Higginbotham, 5, 6, 1
Sam Higginbotham, 2, 1, 1


History of Pike County, Mississippi, by Luke W. Conerly
p.29 26 Apr 1822 - Nelson Higginbottom listed as Justice of the Peace

From Abstradex of Annual Returns; Mississippi Free and Accepted Masons by Jeanne Hand Henry, 1969, p.42
Rising Virtue Lodge, No. 7
Nelson Higginbottom, 1823 [JW - Junior Warden], 1824
Samuel Higginbottom, 1823, 1824
Nelson is said to have had a lifelong membership in the Masonic Lodge, attaining his first degrees in Winn Lodge, Madison Co GA.

Soon after the Mason membership noted above, Nelson and family moved to St. Landry Parish, now Acadia Parish, in Louisiana where there is a community still known as "Higginbotham".

1830 Census. St. Landry Parish LA
Nelson Higginbotham 2m under 5, 1m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 1m 15-20, 1m 30-40
1f 5-10, 1f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 1f 40-50

Ware databases online say that Judith died 10 Dec 1831 in Lafayette, LA. Said born 20 Oct 1785, Virginia. There is said to be an Edward Ware Family Bible.

Nelson Higginbotham granted authority to celebrate marriages as JP, 13 Jan 1832
Conveyance Book H, No. 1, Parish of St. Landry, LA, p.126

Nelson married a second time to Susan Cole, 21 May 1835, Opelousas. She was the widow of James Forman, daughter of James and Marie Cotter Cole of Natchez, Mississippi.

1840 Census Calcasieu Parish LA
Nelson Hickenbottom: 1m under 5, 1m 10-15, 2m 20-30, 1m 50-60.
1f 5-10, 1f 15-20, 1f 20-30, 1f 50-60
1840 St. Landry Parish. "Jiles" was noted, with two males age 40-50.

Nelson seems to have been counted three times in the 1850 Census.

1850 Census. St. Landry Parish, p.29b, Hh 600
J. Higgenbotham, age 41,, b. GA. Euphonne, 38, b. LA
Lorena 19, John 16, Joasin 14, Thomas 12, Simon 10, Margaret 8, Monroe 6, Edw. 4, and Benjamin 2.
Nelson Higgenbotham, age 69, b. Virginia
and
1850, St. Landry Parish, LA, Opelousas, p.104b, Hh 1881.
Nelson was listed just below his son Giles, age 38 [born ca 1812].
Nelson was age 70, born in Georgia.
Giles Hickenbotham, age 38, b. GA
Euphronie, age 36, b. LA.
All children born in LA: Nelson age 20, Loreny age 18, Jerasin, [male] age 16, Thomas age 14, Simon age 12, Margt. [female] age 10, Monroe age 8, Edward 6, Benjamin 3.
The neigbors are very different, both enumerated by L. E. Nee; the first on 18 Oct and the second on 14 Nov 1850.

Nelson was also apparently counted as living with his son James:
Nelson Higginbottom in Lafayette, LA in 1850 - age 72, b. TN living with James age 39, b GA p.244, Hh 1. M. Campbell, a female age 21 lived with James. E. Higginbottom, female age 13, J. Higginbottom, male age 8, and N. Higginbottom, male age 7, were also in the household.

Nelson served in the War of 1812:
Nelson Higginbotham - War of 1812 Muster Cards
Capt James Ware's co of Infantry, 1st Regt Georgia Militia
Muster: Aug 25 to Oct 23, 1813. Entered service 25 Aug 1813 for 6 months
Sept 30 1813 - Mar 4, 1814, Milledgeville. Commencement of service 25 Aug 183
Expiration 4 Mar 1814
Aug 1813 - Mar 1814. Charge for 6 months, 10 days
21 Jun 1851, appeared Nelson Higginbotham. Inhabitant of St. Landry Parish, was a 4th Sgt under Capt James Ware, etc. Applying for Bounty Land under the law passed 28 Sep 1850. Signed: Nelson Higginbotham
11 Jun 1855. Declaration of Nelson Higginbotham. Parish of Lafayette. He was aged 72 years, resident of this Parish. He is identical to the Nelson Higginbotham, Sgt in Co Commanded by Capt. Ware, Regt commanded by Col Groves in the Indian war of the Creek Nation. He volunteered about the 22 Aug 1813 and was in service about seven months; discharged at Milledgeville, the Capital of GA about the 6 Mar 1814. He is making petition for obtaining land to which he may be entitled.


Nelson was still with James, 1860, Attakapas, Lafayette Parish p.44, Hh 315.
James Higginbottom, age 48, born GA. Warehouse keeper. Elisabeth age 30, b. LA. Elizabeth age 23, b. LA. Davis age 18 and Nelson 16.
Nelson Higginbottom, age 80, born in Tennessee.

By 1860, it seemed that Giles' children were own their own. Perhaps the first wife had died and Giles had taken a common law wife or she followed the French fashion and kept her own surname.
Gerasin Higginbotham, age 28, lived with Louisa Guidry, age 36.
Three households away were:
Thomas, age 21, Simon age 19, Monroe 15, and Edward 13, and Benjamin Higginbotham, age 11, all lived with Trozine Savoir, age 39.
The following children had been added and they all had the Higginbotham surname: Tunny [male] age 9, Taler, age 7, Ernest age 5, and Troisine age 1.

Nelson's death seen as 2 Sep 1860, Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, LA, but it appears he may have died in Lafayette Parish at the home of James.

I have seen a list of as many sixteen children for Nelson. The list includes Nelson Jr., Bennett, Sarah "Sally", Julianne, MaryAnn "Polly", Giles, James, Sophia, Nancy, Monroe, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Judite "Judy", Edward, Samuel Thomas, and Robert Benjamin. I have included only those that I could discover more about.

Birth	1780	Amherst County, Virginia
Marriage	Abt 1798	Judith Ware
Death	2 Sep 1860	Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Burial		Church Point Cemetery, Acadia Parish, Lousiana

Spouse	Judith Ware (1785 - 1831)
Child	Nelson Higginbotham Jr (1799 - 1872)
Child	Bennett Higginbotham (1804 - )
Child	Sarah Ann "Sally" Higginbotham (1806 - 1867)
Child	Mary Higginbotham (1807 - )
Child	Julianne Higginbotham (1808 - 1852)
Child	Giles Higginbotham (1810 - 1858)
Child	James Higginbotham (1811 - 1897)
Child	Judith Higginbotham (1823 - )
Child	Burrell Higginbotham (1825 - 1910)
Child	Edward Higginbotham (1826 - )
Child	Samuel Thomas Higginbotham (1827 - )

Father	CALEB Higginbotham (1752 - 1823)
Mother	MARYANN Cash (1755 - 1794)
Sibling	Robert H. Higginbotham (1777 - 1831)
Sibling	Nellie Higginbotham ( - )
Sibling	WILLIAM HIGGINBOTHAM (1788 - 1852)
Sibling	Samuel Higginbotham ( - 1829)
Sibling	Mary Higginbotham (1793 - )
Sibling	Betsey Higginbotham ( - )