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.

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