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THE EVIDENCE CONNECTING MOSES HIGGINS OF CRAWFORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS, TO THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS

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THE EVIDENCE CONNECTING MOSES HIGGINS OF CRAWFORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS, TO THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS

Introduction

Moses Higgins and his wife Temperance Arnold married in 1808 in Christian County, Kentucky.[1] Their first child was a daughter born in about 1810 who appears with them in Christian County in the 1810 census.[2] In the early 1820s, they and several related Higgins families migrated from Kentucky to Crawford County, Illinois, where Moses received a land grant for 80 acres on 15 July 1823.[3] In the 1830 U.S. census, Moses appears as the head of a large household in Crawford County.[4] But on 2 April 1835, Moses Higgins and his wife Temperance sold their land in Crawford County[5] and there is no known record of their presence in Illinois after that. A few years later, a Moses Higgins appears as the owner of a cotton plantation at the head of Bay Prairie in Matagorda County, Republic of Texas by 1841.[6] This free space page outlines the documentary and DNA evidence which allows a confident conclusion that these two men are the same Moses Higgins.

Early Higgins Individuals Appearing In or Near Matagorda County, Texas, Before 1850

There are very few people with the Higgins surname documented in Matagorda County, Texas, before 1850. Electronic searches of the 1850 U.S. census databases on Ancestry and FamilySearch for anyone with a surname of Higgins or similar residing in Matagorda or adjacent counties returns only three, all located in Wharton County which was carved from Matagorda and Colorado counties in 1846:

  • M E Higgins (female), b. in Alabama abt. 1832[7]
  • L Higgins (female), b. in Texas abt. 1849[8]
  • J B Higgins (male), b. in Illinois abt. 1828, same household as L Higgins[8]

Not returned in this search but also appearing in the 1850 census for Brazoria County, adjacent to Matagorda, is a household containing:

  • E Higgen, b. in New York abt. 1815
  • Emaline Higgen, b. in Alabama abt. 1823[9]

A search of the Ancestry database “Texas, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1820-1890”[10] for anyone with the surname “Higgins” or similar in Matagorda or adjacent counties before 1850 returns five entries:

  • Ann Higgins, Matagorda County, 1843
  • Charlotte Higgins, Matagorda County, 1841
  • E. Higgins, Brazoria County, 1846
  • Eleazer Higgins, Brazoria County, 1841
  • Moses Higgins, Wharton County, 1846

Although the database identifies these as tax list entries, it appears that at least three of them are based on marriage records, i.e., the following three marriages which occurred in Matagorda and Brazoria:

  • Hannah Higgins married George W. Wallace on 14 March 1843 in Matagorda County. This marriage record identifies the bride as both “Anna” and “Hannah” in the same document.[11] The couple appears in the 1850 census for Wharton County as G W and H Wallace. The census entry for Hannah indicates she was born in Illinois in about 1830.[12]
  • Charlotty Higgins married Owen C. Powell on 7 January 1841 in Matagorda County.[13] No record of them has been found after their marriage but given the young ages of marriage for the others, a rough estimate of Charlotty’s age based on her marriage date would suggest she might have been born in about 1826 -- assuming she was age 15 at marriage, the average age of her sisters Elizabeth (16), Hannah (14), & Loretta (15) at their marriages.
  • Eleazer Higgins married Emeline Tatum in Brazoria County on 8 October 1841.[14] This is the E & Emaline Higgen who appear in the 1850 census Brazoria County as discussed above.

The Related Higgins Families of Matagorda, Wharton, and Colorado Counties, Texas, 1838-1850

Eleazer Higgins of Brazoria County died before 1855 when his wife Emaline was appointed administratrix of his estate.[15] The census indicates he was born in New York and there is no known connection between him and the others Higgins mentioned above. Thus, it seems likely that Eleazer Higgins of Brazoria County is not relevant to this analysis.

But apart from Eleazer, all the Higgins individuals who are known to have been present in Matagorda or adjacent Texas counties before 1850 appear to have been closely related. In addition to the marriages of Hannah in 1843 and Charlotty in 1841 listed above, the following additional Higgins marriages occurred before 1850 in Matagorda County, in Wharton County (carved from Matagorda in 1846), or in Colorado County (carved from Matagorda in 1835):

  • Loretta Higgins married Warren Wallace in Wharton County on 5 May 1848.[16] Warren does not appear in the 1850 census for Wharton County, but “Lor Wallace” does appear, living in the household of George Wallace and Hannah (Higgins) Wallace, the couple discussed above who married in Matagorda County in 1843. The census entry for “Lor Wallace” indicates she was born in Illinois in about 1833.[17]
  • James Higgins married Mary E. Snoddy in Wharton County on 19 May 1847.[18] They are the J B Higgins and M. E. Higgins who appear in Wharton County in the 1850 census (Mary appears in the household of her Snoddy parents, just two households away from Hannah and Loretta Wallace).[7] The infant L Higgins is their daughter Louisa, who appears in the household with J B Higgins in the household headed by J Wright, a female born in Kentucky in about 1815. As noted above, the 1850 census entry indicates that J B Higgins was born in Illinois in about 1828.[8]
  • Betsy Ann Higgins married Charles Messer in Matagorda County on 3 July 1838.[19] Betsy appears in later records as “Elizabeth,” and she and Charles appear in the 1850 census in Wharton County as C and E Messer. Their household is immediately adjacent to the household of J Wright (and JB Higgins), and just a few dwellings from the Snoddys. The census record indicates that Elizabeth (“Betsy”) was born in Kentucky in about 1822.[20]

The identity of “J Wright,” head of the household in which J B Higgins and his daughter L Higgins were living in 1850, requires a few extra steps to sort out, but the documentary evidence establishes that her maiden name was also Higgins and that she was closely related to Moses:

  • “Jemimah Bennett” married William [W]Right in Colorado County on 2 April 1839.[21] However, the death certificate of their son “John Higgins Wright” states that the maiden name of his mother was “Jemima Higgins.”[22] Thus, Jemima had been married at least once before her marriage to William Wright in 1839, and her maiden name was Higgins.
  • William Wright died before 1848, when Moses Higgins appears as the “agt of J Wright w of W Wright” on the tax lists Gillespie and Bexar counties for a large tract of 4605 acres originally granted to “William Wright.” (Although a substantially identical tax record exists for both Gillespie and Bexar Counties, they both appear to refer to the same single tract of land. Gillespie was carved from Bexar in 1848).[23]
  • Jemima appears as “J Wright,” the head of her household in Wharton County in 1850, with son J[ohn] H[iggins] Wright, as well as the J[ames] B Higgins and his daughter L Higgins discussed above. As noted above, the census record indicates that J[emima (Higgins)] Wright was born in Kentucky in about 1815.[24]
  • “Mrs. Jemimah Wright” remarried on 24 July 1853 in Guadalupe County, Texas, to William H. Bacon.[25] They had at least two children, including a daughter Loretta born on 29 Oct 1854. Loretta’s death certificate also confirms that her mother Jemima’s maiden name was Higgins.[26]

Higgins Timeline - Kentucky to Illinois to Texas

From these records we can construct the following timeline which combines what we know about Moses Higgins and Temperance Arnold of Kentucky/Illinois with what we know about this related group of Higgins individuals in Matagorda/Colorado/Wharton counties in Texas:

  • 17 Dec 1808 – Moses Higgins and Temperance ("Tempy") Arnold marry in Christian County, Kentucky.
  • 1810 – Moses appears as head of his household in Christian County, Kentucky, which includes a female born in abt 1810 who is likely their first child.
  • Abt. 1815 – Jemima Higgins is born in Kentucky.
  • Abt. 1822 – Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Ann Higgins is born in Kentucky.
  • 15 Jul 1823 – Moses Higgins obtains a land grant in Crawford County, Illinois.
  • Abt. 1826 – Charlotty Higgins is born, location unknown.
  • Abt. 1828 – James B. Higgins is born in Illinois.
  • Abt. 1829 – Hannah Higgins is born in Illinois.
  • 1830 – Moses Higgins appears as head of large household in Crawford County, Illinois.
  • Abt. 1833 – Loretta Higgins is born in Illinois.
  • 2 Apr 1835 – Moses and Temperance Higgins sell their land in Crawford County, Illinois.
  • 3 Jul 1838 – Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Higgins marries Charles Messer in Matagorda County, Texas.
  • 2 Apr 1839 – Jemima (Higgins) Bennett marries William Wright in Colorado County, Texas.
  • 7 Jan 1841 Charlotty Higgins marries Owen C. Powell in Matagorda County, Texas.
  • 3 Oct 1841 – Moses Higgins executes cotton deed in Matagorda County, Texas.
  • 12 Feb 1842 – Moses Higgins executes second cotton deed in Matagorda County, Texas.
  • 14 Mar 1843 – Hannah Higgins marries George W. Wallace in Matagorda County, Texas.
  • 1846 – Wharton County is carved from Matagorda
  • 19 May 1847 – James B. Higgins marries Mary Snoddy in Wharton County, Texas.
  • 5 May 1848 – Loretta Higgins marries Warren Wallace in Wharton County, Texas.
  • 1848 – Moses Higgins acts as tax agent for Jemima, widow of William Wright, for property she inherited from William in Bexar/Gillespie Counties, Texas.
  • 1850 – James B. Higgins and his child Louisa Higgins are living in household of the widowed Jemima Wright in Wharton County along with her son J[ohn] H[iggins] Wright; Loretta (Higgins) Wallace is living in the household of G. W. & Hannah (Higgins) Wallace in Wharton County, Texas.

This timeline strongly suggests that Jemima, Elizabeth, Charlotty, Hannah, James B., and Loretta are all closely related to Moses and came with him from Illinois to Texas before they reached adulthood. This conclusion is consistent with the 1830 census record for Moses’s household in Crawford County. The ages of these Higgins who married in Texas from 1838-1848 map closely to the ages of the younger members counted in that Illinois household in 1830:

  • Males < 5 -- (1) James B Higgins, b abt 1828
  • Males 10-14 -- (1) [?]
  • Males 15-19 – (1) [?]
  • Males 30-39 – (1) Moses Higgins, b abt 1791
  • Females < 5 – (2) Charlotty, b abt 1826 & Hannah, b abt 1830
  • Females 5-9 – (1) Elizabeth, b abt 1822
  • Females 10-14 – (1) Jemima, b abt 1815
  • Females 15-19 – (1) [?]
  • Females 20-29 – (1) Temperance

Based on this, is probable that the Moses Higgins who appears in the Republic of Texas by 1841 is the same man who appears in Crawford County, Illinois, until 1835; and that James B., Charlotty, Elizabeth, & Jemima are the children of Moses Higgins and Temperance Arnold.

DNA Connections to Higgins Children Who Stayed in Illinois

This probable conclusion that the group of younger Higgins in Texas are all the children of Moses Higgins is also corroborated by DNA matches between descendants of the Texas Higgins and descendants of the likely children of Moses Higgins and Temperance who remained behind in Illinois.

Oldest Daughter of Moses and Tempy

As noted above, the 1810 census in Christian County, Kentucky, indicates that Moses and Temperance had an older daughter, born in about 1810 in Kentucky, who does not appear to have been counted in their household in 1830, and so had likely either died young or already married and left their household before 1830. In addition, the 1830 census suggests there was at least one additional daughter aged 15-19 and two sons aged 10-19 who did not migrate with them to Texas; again, these children may have died young or already left the household and started their own families in Crawford County before Moses and Temperance left for Texas.

Their oldest daughter was likely Mary “Polly” Higgins, based on the following:

  • Polly Higgins married Benjamin Shook in Crawford County, Illinois, on 3 September 1826.[27]
  • The family of Benjamin Shook appears immediately adjacent to Moses Higgins’s household in 1830.[28]
  • The 1850 census indicates that Polly was born in about 1810 in Kentucky, matching the daughter who appears with Moses Higgins and Tempy shortly after their marriage in the 1810 census for Christian County, Kentucky, but does not appear in their household in 1830.[29]

Thus, the documentary evidence establishes a high likelihood that Polly Higgins is the oldest daughter of Moses and Tempy.

This conclusion is corroborated by DNA evidence. Although not triangulated, there are numerous AncestryDNA matches between Michael and Mark McClain (2nd great grandsons of Polly Higgins), and at least the following well-documented descendants of the Texas Higgins:

  • TL & SK, 2nd & 3rd great grandchildren of Jemima Higgins
  • MN & DH, 2nd & 3rd great granddaughters of Hannah Higgins
  • SK, BP, & BC, 2nd & 3rd great grandchildren of James B. Higgins

There are no other known connections between Michael and Mark McClain and these DNA matches. Efforts to triangulate one or more matches confirming that Moses and Tempy are their common ancestors is ongoing.

WikiTree Profiles That Use this Source

Sources

  1. ↑ FamilySearch, "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28H-5T33 : accessed 7 May 2019), Moses Higgins and Tempy Arnold, 17 Dec 1808; citing Christian County, Kentucky, courthouse marriage records; FHL microfilm 464,808.
  2. ↑ 1810 U.S. census, Christian County, Kentucky, Hopkinsville, p. 546 (penned), Moses Higgins; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBS-S9Z3 : accessed 5 Aug 2019); citing NARA M252, roll 9.
  3. ↑ U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, ‘’General Land Office Records,’’ Patent Details: Higgins, Moses, Doc. No. 296, Accession Nr: CV-0078-568, Land office: Washington Office, issued 15 Jul 1823; image (https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=0078-568&docClass=CV&sid=yo40l31i.trm : accessed 1 Feb 2023).
  4. ↑ 1830 U.S. census, Crawford County, Illinois, p. 8 (penned), Moses Higgins; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY1-96VH : accessed 1 Feb 2023); citing NARA M19, roll 23.
  5. ↑ Crawford County, Illinois, Deed Book B, p. 405-6; images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSV4-R9JM-6 : accessed 5 Feb 2023); FHL 1,310,123, DGS 8,117,052.
  6. ↑ Matagorda County, Republic of Texas, Deed Book E, pp. 357 & 425, deeds 1310 & 1396; images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSBY-7TVZ : accessed 5 Feb 2023) & (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSBY-7TNJ : accessed 7 Feb 2023); FHL 351,797, DGS 8,402,139.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 1850 U.S. census, Wharton County, Texas, population schedule, Wharton District, p. 324 (stamped), dwelling 35, family 35, line 16, M.E. Higgins; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QBW-W8N : accessed 5 Feb 2023); citing NARA M432, Roll 916.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 1850 U.S. census, Wharton County, Texas, population schedule, Wharton District, p. 324 (stamped), dwelling 41, family 41, lines 5-6, L. & J B Higgins; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QBW-Q7J : accessed 5 Feb 2023); citing NARA M432, Roll 916.
  9. ↑ 1850 U.S. census, Brazoria County, Texas, population schedule, township not stated, p. 18 (penned), dwelling 170, family 170, E & Emaline Higgen; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRF3-LPQ : accessed 5 Feb 2023); citing NARA M432, roll 908.
  10. ↑ Ancestry.com, “Texas, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1820-1890,” database, (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3575/ : accessed 5 Feb 2023).
  11. ↑ Matagorda County, Texas, Marriages Book A, p. 20, no. 58, George W. Wallace & Anna Higgins; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3T-KCS : accessed 5 Feb 2023); FHL 351,794, DGS 4,820,250.
  12. ↑ 1850 U.S. census, Wharton County, Texas, population schedule, Wharton, p. 324 (stamped), dwelling 33, family 33, line 5-6, G W & H Wallace; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QBW-W8N : accessed 5 Feb 2023); citing NARA M432, roll 916.
  13. ↑ Matagorda County, Texas, Marriages Book A, p. 13, no. 37, Owen C. Powell & Charlotty Higgins; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPQ9-7MV : accessed 5 Feb 2023); FHL 1,011,463, DGS 4,820,335.
  14. ↑ FamilySearch, “Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977,” database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLCL-4J7 : accessed 5 Feb 2023), Eleazer Higgins & Emeline Tatum, m. 8 Oct 1841; FHL 1,008,075, DGS 4,539,471 (images available only at FHL/FHC).
  15. ↑ Brazoria County Bond Record Book B, p. 139; images, Ancestry, “Texas, Wills and Probate Records, 1833-1974,” database with images (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2004798:2115 : accessed 6 Feb 2023); Ancestry Sharing Link; FHL 1,008,069, DGS 7,574,037 (FHL/FHC access only).
  16. ↑ FamilySearch, “Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965,” database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-994V-1BWN : accessed 5 Feb 2023), Warren Wallace & Loretta Higgins, 5 May 1848; citing Wharton County Marriage Book A; FHL 1,012,395, DGS 7,255,688, image 33.
  17. ↑ 1850 U.S. census, Wharton County, Texas, population schedule, Wharton, p. 324 (stamped), dwelling 33, family 33, line 9, Lor Wallace; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QBW-W8N : accessed 5 Feb 2023); citing NARA M432, roll 916.
  18. ↑ FamilySearch, “Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965,” database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-894V-11GH : accessed 5 Feb 2023), James Higgins & Mary E. Snoddy, 19 May 1847; citing Wharton County Marriage Book A; FHL 1,012,395, DGS 7,255,688, image 30.
  19. ↑ Matagorda Marriages, Book A, p. 6, no. 16, Charles Messer & Betsy Ann Higgins; image, ‘’’FamilySearch,’’ (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3T-K4S : accessed 5 Feb 2023); FHL 351,794, DGS 4,820,250.
  20. ↑ 1850 U.S. census, Wharton County, Texas, population schedule, Wharton District, p. 324 (stamped), dwelling 40, family 40, C & E Messer; image, ‘”FamilySearch,’’ (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QBW-W8N : accessed 5 Feb 2023); citing NARA M432, Roll 916.
  21. ↑ Colorado County, Republic of Texas, Marriages Book B, p. 13, William Right and Jemimah Bennett; image, ‘’FamilySearch,’’ (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3B-9V7G : accessed 5 Feb 2023); FHL 969,533, DGS 4,820,264.
  22. ↑ Ancestry, “Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” database with images, (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2272/images/40394_b061913-03227 : accessed 5 Feb 2023), Mills County, 1924, Apr-Jun, John Higgins Wright; citing Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas Death Certificates, 1903–1982; Ancestry Sharing Link.
  23. ↑ FamilySearch, “ Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910,” database with images, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-4B9N-K7 : accessed 5 Feb 2023), Gillespie County, 1848, image 16, Moses Higgins; and (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WFWV-1 : accessed 5 Feb 2023), Bexar County, 1848, image 30, Moses Higgins.
  24. ↑ 1850 U.S. census, Wharton County, Texas, population schedule, Wharton District, p. 324 (stamped), dwelling 41, family 41, household of J Wright; image, ‘”FamilySearch,’’ (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QBW-Q7J : accessed 5 Feb 2023); citing NARA M432, Roll 916.
  25. ↑ Guadalupe County Marriage Record Book A, p. 106, William H. Bacon & Mrs. Jemimah Wright; image, ‘’FamilySearch,’’ (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P3B-96LF : accessed 5 Feb 2023); FHL 1,035,072, DGS 4,820,358.
  26. ↑ Ancestry, “Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” database with images, (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2272/images/40394_b062123-01679 : accessed 5 Feb 2023), Fort Bend County, 1937, Jan-Mar, Mrs. Loretta Halyard; citing Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas Death Certificates, 1903–1982; Ancestry Sharing Link.
  27. ↑ FamilySearch, "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFK3-F35 : accessed 7 May 2019), Benjamin Shook and Polly Higgins, 3 Sep 1826; citing Crawford County courthouse marriage records; FHL microfilm 874,276.
  28. ↑ 1830 U.S. census, Crawford County, Illinois, p. 8 (stamped); Benjamin Shook; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY1-96VH : accessed 6 Aug 2019); citing NARA M19, roll 23.
  29. ↑ 1850 U.S. census, Crawford County, Illinois, population schedule, p. 342 (penned), dwelling 83, family 83, Mary Shook; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC8F-X2 : accessed 4 Aug 2019); citing NARA M432, roll 104.




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