Epaphroditus Hightower Sr (1742 - 1832)

Born 1742 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Eleanor Hightower — married 1768 in Amelia County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 13 Feb 1832 at about age 90 in Highland Springs, Grainger County, Tennessee, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Chet Snow [send private message] and Ellen Pierce [send private message]

Biography

A 2013 Genealogy Study states: ^[1]

ID: I12274

Name: Epaphroditus HIGHTOWER

Sex: M

Birth: 1742 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia [sic = N. Farnham Parish in Richmond County, Virginia]

Death: in Grainger, Tennessee

Father: Joshua HIGHTOWER b: BET 1696 AND 1698 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia [sic = N. Farnham Parish in Richmond County, Colony of Virginia]

Mother: Susannah TAVENOR

Marriage - Eleanor HIGHTOWER b: 1750 in Amelia, Virginia

Married: 1768 in Amelia, Virginia

8 Children: ^[2]

1. Agnes Hightower; m. John Kersey
2. Elizabeth Hightower; m. Jeremiah Jarnigan
3. Epaphroditus Hightower, Jr.; m: Nancy Clay
4. Frances Hightower; m. Herndon Lea
5. Lettice Hightower; m: James Paul
6. Sally Hightower; m: Benjamin Walker
7. Susannah Hightower; m: John Tyre Curl
8. Joshua Hightower, b: 1770 in Amelia, Virginia; m (1): Delilah Slade; m (2): Eunice Lea; died bef. 1843 in Bloomington, Indiana

NOTE: “The will of Epaphroditus Hightower is a story in itself. Written in July 1819 and the estate was presented to Grainger County Court 21st day of February AD 1832: some 13 years later by the Administrator L.L. Massengill.” ^[1]

“In the Name of God Amen. I Epaphroditus Hightower of the state of Tennessee and County of Grainger, being aged & infirm but of Prefect Memory and sences, thanks be to Almighty God for the same. Calling to mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it is ordained for all men to die, and after death the Judgement. I do in my proper senses and deliberately make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following. Viz. I lend to my Loving wife Eleanor Hightower the following Negroes, to wit George Mary and her increase and Dick, also the plantation whereon I now live during her natural life time also all my house hold and Kitchen furniture and farming Utensils. And to my loving Daughter Fanny Arrs Lea, I leand the following Negroes, to wit. Winney and all her children that is with her in her possession with all their future increase to her and her heirs for ever And to my loving son Joshua Hightower I lend Sarah and her increase for ever to him and his heirs. Also at or after the death of his Mother half the Value of the tract of land that I now live on in the same way."

And to my loving daughter Agnes Keersey I lend the following Negro Alexander to her and her heirs after her for ever. Also to my Grand Daughter Elizabeth H. Massengill the only Child of my Daughter Lettice Paul deces'd I lend the following Negro, Thomas to her and her heirs for ever. Also to the offspring of the body of my Daughter Sally Walker deceased I lend the following Negro man Anthony to them and their heirs for ever. Also to my loving Daughter Susannah Curl, and her heirs for ever the following Negro woman Abbe and her increase. And to the offspring of the natural body of my loving daughter Betsey Jarnagin the following Negro Creasey and her increase to them and their heirs for ever.”

“Also to my loving son Epaphroditus Hightower I lend the following Negros Jinney and her increase for ever to him and his heirs. And the balance of the Value of my land. The land to lie in the hands of and for the use of his Mother her natural life time as heretofore Mentioned, and at her death it is not my will the land should be divided, but one of my two sons heretofore named to keep the land altoger and pay up the other for his part as they best can agree. And also the following Negroes with their increase (if any) to be equally divided between my two sons heretofore mentioned to wit. Lucy Nann and Nancy, and all my stock of horses cattle hoggs and sheep to remain on the plantation for use of my beloved wife her natural life time and then after her death with all the property that I leave with her except the land heretofore named to be equally divided between my lawful heirs

"And I do hereby appoint by these presents my two sons Joshua and Epaphroditus Hightower my whole and sole Executors of this my last will and testament disannulling all and every will or wills here to fore made in witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this fourteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and nineteen in the presents [presence] of,”

Epaphroditus Hightower (Jr.)

L. Satterfield

Robert D. Eaton

Jonathan Aldridge

Feby 1832

The Hightowers moved to Grainger County, Tennessee, in 1812. ^[3]

Epaphroditus Hightower Sr. passed away on 13 February 1832 in Highland Springs, Grainger County, Tennessee, USA. He was about 90 years old. He was buried at the Clay Family Cemetery, Highland Springs, Grainger County, Tennessee, USA. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Speculation On Genealogy Along Walker's Line - Epaphroditus Hightower on RootsWeb
2. ↑ Memory document on Epaphroditus Hightower Sr. on FamilySearch
3. ↑ Information taken from: "Grainger County, TN and it's people 1796-1998" published by the "Grainger Co. Heritage Book Committee, Inc.: 1998".
4. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #107681622 - Epaphroditus Hightower Sr.

• United States War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29K-CZPV : 8 March 2021), Epaphroditus Hightower, 1812-1815; citing NARA microfilm publication M602 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); roll 99; FHL microfilm 882,617.

See also:

• Speculation On Genealogy Along Walker's Line - Epaphroditus Hightower

• Will abstract from the book “Grainger County, Tennessee and Its People 1796-1998,” pub. Grainger County Heritage Book Committee 2nd printing 1998 LC#98-84037 – Entry #373 p.133, submitted by Mrs. J Reed Howard.

• NOTE: The will abstract is also found online at:GRAINGER COUNTY, TN - WILLS - Epaphroditus Hightower, 14 July 1819. It was submitted by, Nancy Jones Crawford with her notation: “Transcription of the Will of Epaphroditus Hightower of Grainger Co. TN, my 5g-grandfather. It was written 14 July 1819, but not submitted to the Court until February 1832. This will was located in Box 49, Grainger County Court House.”

• Find a Grave, database and images (Find A Grave.com : accessed 18 March 2021), memorial page for Epaphroditus Hightower Sr. (1742–13 Feb 1832), Find A Grave: Memorial #107681622, citing Clay Family Cemetery, Highland Springs, Grainger County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Allen Brabston (contributor 47065079) .

• Details for the profile of Epaphroditus Hightower Sr. on FamilySearch; cites 15 sources.