Monthly Archives: May 2020

Stiggins

George Stiggins

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George Stiggins, born 1788, in the Upper Creek Nation, was a contemporary of David Tate, born 1778, in Creek Territory. Stiggins was the son of Joseph Stiggins, born 1755, and Nancy (Haw) Grey, a Natchez Indian (Upper Creek). Joseph Stiggins petitioned, in 1811, to have the legitimacy of his mixed marriage, and issue recognized fully by the government.

To the Honorable Legislature of Mississippi Teritory, Governor and Council:

The Humble Petition of Joseph Stiggins Showeth that having formerly resided in the Creek Nation amongst the Indians and marrying an Indian woman by whom I had Children, that I moved to the Country and Edicated and brought up to the Cristian Religion, and finding it Disagreeable that by the law of our Teritory that they can’t have their oath though borne of a free woman. Your petitioner prayeth that they may be Released from that Disability the same that their oldest brother, George Stiggins, was by his own petition. Viz: Mary Stiggins, Susannah Stiggins, Nancy Stiggins and Robert G. Stiggins their poserity this Indulgence your petitioner thinks he justly Intitled to whilst he is forever Bound to pray.

/s/ Joh Stiggins
August 1, 1811

Source: Record Group 5 (Legislative Records, Territorial Archives), Volume 26, Petitions of the general Assembly, 1810-1816, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi.

George Stiggins was the surviving “Chief,” or Head Man of the Natchez, at the cessation of hostilities in 1814. Stiggins authored “Creek Indian History: A Historical Narrative of the Genealogy, Traditions and Downfall of the Ispocoga Or Creek Indian Tribe of Indians by One of the Tribe.” He died in 1845.

Chief Chinnabee (Natchez) Blood brother to the Creeks, Haw’s father:

Joseph Stiggins = Nancy Haw Grey

George Stiggins = Elizabeth Adcock

Mary Stiggins = William Weatherford (Red Eagle)

et al.

African American descendants may be Tates, Conway (Conaways), Baileys, Dales, and their numerous cousins; all of Baldwin County, Alabama. I haven’t encountered any Stiggins or Miltons, though.

Also, George Stiggins referred to Margaret Dyer Powell – Tate, as his Aunt, prompting the conclusion that she was related to his mother, Nancy Haw, daughter of Chinnabee.

I did not quote him in my work, as I found he wrote with a jaundiced eye.

CEK ©2020

Bryars, Buford, Edmondson, Ellis, Ficklin, Gentry, Houston, Johnston, McDowell, McGill, Reed, Smith, Woods

Maria Ellis Huston Buford McGill

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Mariah ELLIS

Widow and Relic of

[John C. Huston, William H. Buford and Hiram McGill, Sr.]

My maternal second great grandfather was George Ficklin of Montrose, Baldwin County, Alabama. During my years-long search for his immediate family members, I fortunately noted his brother-in-law was Reverend Jeffrey Ellis, T[homas Jefferson] Ellison, born 1813.1

Rev. Ellis’ first wife was Louise Ann Ficklin, George’s sister. Reverend Ellis officiated at numerous weddings, including for his nieces, Millie to Frank Reed, in 18812; and Mary to Samuel Taylor, the year before he died, in 1889.3

During the search, I encountered members of the Ellis tree, namely, Elbert [Ethelbert] Ellis, Lowrey Ellis, and his wife Maria; as well as Jeffrey’s presumptive aunt, Mariah.

Illustration 1: Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950

Meriah [Mariah] Ellis, age 17, married John Huston, Esquire [sic], at Baldwin County, Alabama, in 1817.4 James Johnston officiated. John Houston was a very wealthy man, holding many land grants thoughout Florida and Alabama.

1Johnnie Andrews; William David Higgins, Creole Mobile : a compendium of the colonial families of the central Gulf Coast 1702-1813, Prichard [Ala.] : Bienville Historical Society, 1974, page 26, “T.J. Ellison.”

2“Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTWT-5QQ : 27 September 2017), Frank Reed and Millie Ficklin, 03 Mar 1881; citing Baldwin, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,839,621.

3“Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950,”, Samuel Taylor and Mary Ficklin, 09 Oct 1889; citing Baldwin, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,839,622.

4“Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950,” , John Huston and Meriah Ellis, 14 Jul 1817; citing Baldwin, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,839,621.

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