? Higdon [H235] Genealogy

? Higdon

Born: bef. 1815 in MD
Married:
Died:

Father:
Mother:
Religion:

Children:

Andrew Francis Higdon (1833 - aft 1884)
Joseph W. Higdon (1835/6 - bef. Oct 1883)

Discussion

Possible parents of Andrew Francis and Joseph W. Higdon are:

Possible Thomas Higdon (<1808 - ~1843) and Susan Osbourn, who were married 13 Aug 1828 in DC. Listed as applying to be released from insolvent debtors' prison in 1833, Thomas disappears after an 1834 Washington directory listing. Susan Osbourn Higdon is likely to have married James H. Howard in 1844; they show up in the DC 4th Ward in the 1850 census (her age 36 but she's only 43 in 1860 and then up to 62 in the 1870 census) with children ranging in age from 17 to 6, all born prior to their marriage. [In the following, the names are based on Andrew, his brother, and the children listed in 1850 for James and Susan Howard.] A Susan Higdon, without a Thomas, shows up in the 1840 DC Census in Ward 7 with two boys 5-9 years (Andrew?, Joseph?) and one 0-4 years (James W?) plus one male 20-29. There is also one each daughter 0-4, 5-9 (Mary E.?), 10-14. Two females: one 30-39 (Susan) and one 60-69. In the 1850 DC Census, 7th Ward again, there are a Susan and Catherine Higdon, ages 33 and 30, respectively; they do not appear to fit. There's also a 16 year old male listed just above for whom the first name is wholly illegible and the surname could be Higdon. The 1830 DC Census, 4th Ward, shows an entry for just "Higdon" [0000000100000/1011000000000] eight lines above Osbourn [0000001000000/0000010000000]. Finally, the 1820 DC census, 6th Ward, has Gust. [Gustavus] Higdon [200001-11301] eight lines above Dennis Osborn [000100-10100].
Possible John C. Higdon (1812 - 1870?), a son of Gustavus, and wife Mary of Washington, DC - no children are ever associated with the couple. They are insolvent in Washington in 1835. In 1842, John C. Higdon is listed as a tavern owner. In the 1850 census for Washington's 6th Ward, John C. Higdon appears alone, age 38, carpenter, born in DC. On 5 Aug 1855, a possible son John C. Higdon died, age 1 yr, white, born in DC, buried Foundry. There's no John Higdon in DC in the 1860 census, but there is a John Higdon, a carpenter age 47 born DC, in MD, Prince Georges Co., Surrattsville, 9th District, with James B. & Julia Bunch. In 1870, again in Surrattsville, Prince Georges, MD, with Daniel King, John C. Higdon is age 58, born MD, occupation carpenter. John C. may be the one who death certificate is recorded for 4 Aug 1870 in Washington.
Possible John Higdon (1793 - 1838) and Ann Nancy French (1797 - ~1870), m. 5 Nov 1826 in DC. Since he seems to disappear by 1840, he may be the John Higdon reported to have died 26 Feb 1838 at age 45. There are no record of children of the couple. In the 1850 Washington DC census, Ann Higdon is listed in the 4th Ward, age 53, born MD, with Elizabeth French, Lewis Higdon (age 12); one household from Sarah French (age 70), Sarah French (age 30). The 1855 and 1860 directories show Mrs. Higdon at 56 Washington st and Ann widow 271 4th west, respectively. No Ann Higdon appears in the 1860 census, although there is an Ann French, age 67, in the Tenleytown area with the Sisters of the Visitation. In 1860, Louis Higdon is listed in the census in the 4th Ward, age 21, a carpenter, born in DC, with Elizabeth French (62, b. MD). There is a possibility that this Lewis Higdon is actually Lewis Miles, since in 1852, Ann Higdon is recorded in DC as guardian of Lewis E. Miles, son of Edward Miles. Civil War entries list a Lewis (Louis) E. Higdon, making it likely Lewis Miles took the Higdon name. Andrew Francis named his first son Lewis. [In 1820 DC census, Sarah French age 26-44 has two boys 10-15 and is listed in the 3rd ward on the same page (97) with Edward Miles.]
Possible Thomas Higdon, son of John B. and Rachel Higdon. This is likely the Thomas who married Louisa 19 Oct 1826 in Washington, DC. There is no further information on their activities (e.g., no census entries in following years).
Unlikely Ralph Higdon (~1786 - 1858) and Harriett Bell (1803 - 1871) of Baltimore. There is a son Joseph but no evidence of an Andrew or Francis. Neither name appears in the family. Also, son Alexander B. was born in 1833, about the same time as Andrew Franics. There is no indication Ralph & Harriett ever lived outside of Baltimore, making a DC birth for Andrew and Joseph unlikely.
Unlikely John & Rebecca Reynolds Higdon - married 21 Feb 1816 in Alexandria. This is probably the John Higdon & wife, age 30-39, who show up in the 1830 DC census in Alexandria with 1M 5-9, 2M 10-14, 1M 15-19, 2F <5, 1F 10-14, another F 30-39, and 1F 80-89. Based on an obituary, it appears he died in 1838. This is consistent with Rebecca in the 1840 DC census in Alexandria with 3M 15-19, 1M 20-29, 1M 30-39, 2F<5, 1F 5-9, 1F 10-14, 1F 30-39, and 1F 60-69. She appears, age 61, in the 1850 Alexandria, VA census in the household of William E. & Mary J. Atwell. She does not show up in the 1860 census. She died in Alexandria 6 Feb 1867. From a Higdon bible and other sources, John & Rebecca's children are: John Henry (1821 - bef. 1860), Daniel Baugh (1824-1825), Sarah Frances (1826-1838), Hannah Maria (1828- ?), and Margaret Rebecca (1832-1911). Although one child has a middle name Frances, there are no other family naming similarities and the Virginia location reduces the likelihood of Andrew Francis being a child, even though Alexandria was part of DC when he was born. Also, the 1840 census does not have two males young enough to be Andrew and Joseph. However...

No Elizabeth Higdon in the 1840 DC census is almost certainly Gustavus Higdon's wife, and Gustavus' known children do not include an Andrew Francis or Joseph.

No John F. S. Higdon in Charles Co. However, in the 1840 census, he is alone with his wife (i.e., no children).

No John Thomas Higdon and Mary Farrell in Charles Co. Their early deaths would explain the absence of a census record showing Andrew in a family in 1850 and there is a Joseph Higdon, but all of the children seem to be specified in court documents and Joseph appears to be a separate individual.

A possible clue is the death certificate for Margaret Higdon, who died 12 Jun 1911. The certificate notes "remains to 2210 Channing" and her age as "65?" 2210 Channing is the block inhabited by Lewis A. Higdon's family. The obituary in Washington Post 13 Jun 1911 p8, "DIED - On Monday, June 12, 1911, at the Home for the Incurables, MARGARET R. HIGDON." She appears to be the Margaret Higdon living with Magnus Julihn, who married two of her nieces, per the census in 1880, 1900, and 1910 {her age wanders, implying birth dates of 1832 [1850], 1841 [1880], 1835 [1900], 1846 [1910]}. If she was actually about 80, then she likely was Margaret Rebecca Higdon, d/o John and Rebecca Reynolds Higdon of Alexandria, tying Andrew Francis Higdon's line to the Virginia Higdons. Alternatively, she could be Margaret Higdon (b. ~1838), second wife of Joseph Higdon, son of Ralph and Harriet Bell Higdon of Baltimore, which would tie Andrew Francis to the Baltimore line.

Supporting Information

Census

1850 Census - MD, St. Marys Co, 323, 4th E. D.
Higdon, Joseph M, age 16, b. St. Marys, MD, listed w/Mark Baily
1880 Census - MD, St. Mary's Co, 3rd Dist, Leonardstown; 17 / 138 / 42 / 12:
Andrew Francis Higdon age 47, with brother Joseph W. Higdon age 44.

Secondary References

St. Mary's Beacon Index

10 Sep 1857 - A. F. Higdon, carpenter & builder [notice] V12:35, p2, c6
15 Oct 1868 - Joseph Higdon, voter 3rd E.D.
07 Oct 1869 - Joseph Higdon, voter 3rd E.D.
12 Oct 1876 - Andrew Higdon, new voter 4th E.D.
10 Aug 1877 - Joseph Higdon, Flagrante Delicto [newspaper not on microfilm, so who knows?]
23 Sep 1880 - A.F. Higdon and Louis A. Higdon, new voters 3rd E.D. & removed 4th E.D.
20 Jul 1882 - Joseph W. Higdon, voter 3rd E.D.
18 Oct 1883 - Joseph W. Higdon, list of dead voters.