Elbert County GaArchives Deed: Biography Samuel Higginbotham ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Transcribed by Chandler Eavenson March 26, 2005 Biography Samuel Higginbotham Samuel Higginbotham was born ca 1745 in Albemarle Co., VA, the son of Aaron Higginbotham and Clara Graves, daughter of Francis Graves. In 1772 he married Jane Satterwhite of Essex Co., VA, she the daughter of John Satterwhite whose Will in Caroline Co., VA made reference to "my daughter Jane and her husband Samuel Higginbotham". Samuel received land by deed and inheritance from his father Aaron and patented land in his own name, most of the land being in Amherst Co. which had been formed from Albemarle Co. in 1761. By 1792 he was buying land in Elbert Co., GA and he took up an old land warrant there of Francis Satterwhite, his wife's brother. In Amherst Co., VA he was appointed Surveyor of the Road in the room of Philip Smith in 1777, qualified as Deputy Sheriff in 1781, commissioned Magistrate in 1790 and was a Gentleman Justice in 1791. He was in Elbert Co., GA by 1793 and was on a list of registered voters in 1795. In 1795 he was a Justice of the Peace in Elbert Co. and was a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention from Elbert Co. He was a Justice of the Inferior Court from 1797 to 1799 and a member of the Elbert Co. Land Court in 1799-1800. He was a member of Christ Church in Lexington Parish, Amherst Co., VA where he was a Vestryman in 1779 and subscribed to the building fund for a new church called St. Marks. In the same year he was appointed a Processioner of land at a time when the church had charge of civil as well as religious affairs, he serving for the district with Joseph Higginbotham. His military service is well documented. The dates of his commissions to offices in the VA State Militia are: Lt., 1767, Major, 1785, Colonel, 1787. During the Revolutionary War he served as a Captain. In pension applications of men who served under Samuel are these quotations: Benjamin Higginbotham served under Samuel Higginbotham to drive cattle to Williamburg "for the use of the main army"; William Pryor was drafted in 1779 under Capt. Samuel Higginbotham in the Regiment of Col. Christian; Zedekiah Shumake served under Col. Samuel Higginbotham; Edward Ware said he served seven days under Capt. Samuel Higginbotham guarding prisoners taken at King's Mountain; William Carter said "we marched against Cornwallis under Capt. Samuel Higginbotham, on the south side of the James River to Carter's Ferry, crossed over, and marched to New Kent County where we were joined by other trooops." On 29 Apr 1782 John Woodson of Carter's Ferry made a claim in Cumberland Co., VA for "L1.7.3 for ferriage of 80 men, 9 horses, 2 waggons and teams under the command of Capt. Samuel Higginbotham, Continental Service, on their way to join the army under Major General Marquis De La Fayette." Samuel was dead by 1803 when the February Court met in Elberton, GA. He died intestate and the estate was administered for many years by his son John Satterwhite Higginbotham. Reference: Records of Mrs. George F. (Mary) Crawford, Alexandria, LA but formerly of Elbert Co., now deceased. [Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson]