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Submitted: 7/8/13 • Approved: 7/8/13 • Last Updated: 8/15/15 • R142-G142-S3
October 10, 1812 - April 10, 1873
Wife of Alfred Higgs
Martha Bates Martin Higgs was the fourth daughter of Thomas and Drucilla Martin. She was born October 10th, 1812 in Virginia and died on April 10th, 1873 in Weakley County. Martha married Alfred Higgs in 1839, presumably in Virginia. Alfred was born on May 4th, 1802 in North Carolina. From his will, which was recorded on April 6th, 1846, and a Higgs family bible, we determined that he died on March 14th, 1846. From Higgs family papers housed at the Special Collections Archives at the University Of Tennessee at Martin, it was evident that Alfred Higgs was a scholarly man. Colonel James Corbett, a descendant of the Vawter family, donated the Higgs family papers to the University. The papers contain numerous mathematical calculations and philosophical essays written by Alfred Higgs. Alfred and Martha had five children, John Andrew born September 29th, 1840, Mary Ann Malinda, born December 11th, 1841, James Napoleon born March 23rd, 1843, Thomas Jefferson born August 3rd, 1844, and Martha A. born December 28th, 1845. Albert and Martha both died in Weakley County, however, neither are buried in the Old Martin Family Cemetery. According to William "Bill" Higgs, a grandson of Thomas Jefferson Higgs, Albert and Martha are buried on their old family farm. The farm is no longer in the family and sadly, the tombstones are destroyed. When Agnes Smyth attempted to restore the Old Martin Family Cemetery, she determined that Martha Higgs was the only child of Thomas and Drucilla Martin not buried at the Old Martin Family Cemetery. So she asked Bill Higgs to place a representative tombstone for Martha at the cemetery. Bill graciously provided the Martha B. Higgs tombstone in about 1990.
Photograph and data courtesy of:
bobfarmer@mac.com
Contributed on 7/8/13 by ashaw444
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Record #: 142