Person:Theophilus Hickman (1)

From "Stripes", Volume XIII, September, 1973, Number 3: Theophilus HICKMAN, Revolutionary Soldier Buried in Texas by Mrs. V. G. GILLETT, pg. 26 (pg. 28 has Land Grants to HICKMAN's in Texas, also included here) (Starts off listing approximately 35 known Graves of Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Texas of which Theophilus HICKMAN is one. Other notes have been added to this by me, in parenthesis & noted as bbp.) Theophilus HICKMAN was born about 1753 according to his Revolutionary War Pension Application (P 4954) which application was evidently refused, probably because of insufficient length of service. He had lived at various times in Edgecomb Co., NC; Edgefield Co., SC; Jackson Co., GA; Ste. Genevieve Co., MO; Wilkenson Co., MS; Natchitoches Parish, LA; and Sabine & Jasper Counties, Texas. His estate was probated October 7, 1848, Case No. 5, Newton Co., Tex. From his probate & other records it is established that he had the following children: 1. James b. ca 1785 in Georgia, married 1811 (Jan 2, 1811-bbp) in Oglethrope County GA, Ellen BOWEN. He married 2nd Frances BARDLEY. He died 12-6-1865 & is buried in the Pine Ridge Cemetery, East of Leggett, Polk Co., Texas. (note from bbp: this is my direct relative thru his son Asa who m. Sarah McKIM) 2. Polly married Samuel DAVIS 3. William married 1st 28-12-1807 in Wilkenson Co., MS (Book A, p. 249) Rebecca Francis (?) and 2nd Frances PARROTT (?). He died ca 1845. 4. Wyatt 5. Mary married Asa CUMMINGS 6. Sabra married William CUMMINGS 7. Asa b. ca 1799 in SC married Lucretia DIXON (DICKSON) 8. Elizabeth b. ca 1800 in GA married 25-5-1818 Natchitoches Parish, LA. (DB 6, p. 405) James McKIM. (Note from bbp: James McKIM had the following heirs listed in Bk. A, pg. 200, Sabine Co., TX deed records: Major McKIM, John McKIM & Sarah Ann HICKMAN (wife of Asa HICKMAN). This Asa HICKMAN was the son of James HICKMAN, listed as child 1 above) Theophilus HICKMAN along with William, Nathaniel and another Theophilus HICKMAN, are listed on the Territory Tax Rolls of Wilkinson Co., MS, for 1807. He is listed as having recieved 800 arpents (French measure, Ed.) of land (American State Papers - Claims in Louisiana and Missouri) in Bois Brute, Horse Island, 3 miles from Mississippi River which he had inhabited in 1803. In the public land records he is mentioned in a grant as follows: #101, Asa HICKMAN, of the Parish of Natchitoches, assignee of Theophilus HICKMAN, filed his notice claiming, by virtue of occupation, habitation, and cultivation, a tract of land lying within the late neutral territory, and situated on Bayou Santaburb (Santabarb - bbp), bounded on the southeast by lands of the claimant, and containing 640 acres. The claim is supported by the following testimony taken to the board. "John SELF, being sworn, says that he knows the land claimed by Asa HICKMAN is his above notice; the said land is situated and lying as is therein described; that said land was occupied, inhabited and cultivated by Theophilus HICKMAN, under whom the claimant holds, by his living and growing corn, etc. thereon, on and previous to February 22, 1819; that said occupation, inhabitation, and cultivation was continued by said Theophilus and the claimant since that period to the present time; and that the claimant's sworn, says that all the foregoing facts are within his knowledge, but is not certain whether the land claimed was actually settled on February 22, 1819, or not; but he positively knows that Theophilus HICKMAN raised a crop thereon in 1819." The board stated that there were of the opinion that the claim ought to be confirmed, and in the abstract have classed it with claims of the third class. Theophilus HICKMAN is not listed in the 1820 census of Natchitoches Parish, LA, but there are deed records where he sold land there in 1819 and 1821. (Bk. 8, pg. 20, 3-16-1819 & Bk. 10, pg. 13, 9-15-1821.) (Note from bbp: Theophilus is listed on the 1830 Natch. Parish, Louisiana census as: Theop. HICKMAN, 1 m 70-80 yrs old & 1 f 60-70; Wyatt, his son is also listed in this Parish) Theophilus HICKMAN made his application for a pension in Sabine County, Texas on the 29th of April, 1846. He signed his name. He stated that he had served in the Revolution in the Militia of Edgecomb County, NC under the command of Captain John BOND, which company formed one of the regiments of Colonel Joseph CLINCH in the War. He stated that he was 93 years of age. As late as 30 April, 1853 claims were still being made for his pension when Asa HICKMAN, his son, was filing affidavits. Theophilus, Sr. and Jr.; Wyatt, Sr. and Jr.; Asy, Bart and James HICKMAN are listed in the 1838 Tax list of Jasper Co., Texas.

Was in the Revolutionary War. Revolutionary War Pension Claim papers for Theophillus (Rev War, Edgecombe Co, NC # R 4954) 1 Apr 1846, living in Jasper Co, TX. 29 Apr 1846, states that he was a volunteer in the militia of Edgecombe Co, NC under the command of Capt John Bonds. 30 Apr 1853 Theophilus gave Asa Hickman his Power of Attorney in the claim.

From "Early Settlers of Jasper County": "Theophilus Hickman, James McKim's father-in-law, is another very early settler who should perhaps have been named with those who came before 1828. If he were overlooked, it is understandable, for he lived entirely outside the radius of Smyth's acquaintance. This is to say he lived on the Sabine River where he operated a ferry a short distance above the Burr Ferry bridge of today. It is not known when or by whom the ferry was established. The Burrs, who ran it in the 1840's, lived in Louisiana, but such could not have been the case with Hickman, who received a grant of land as a Zavalla colonist. Half the league was three and one-half miles west of the ferry in what is now Newton County. Like his son-in-law, Hickman's name is not in the Mexican census of 1835. If the enumerator did not find him, the tax-assessor did, for his name is on the early tax lists of the Republic as a resident of Jasper County. He may have followed the McKim's for in 1850 several of his sons were living in Polk County. Also, Hickmans were in Jefferson County before that date."

There is a Jesse Hickman, age 32, born Unknown, living in Houston County, TX in 1850 with wife Hithe, age 41, born GA, and kids Martin, age 14, born Mex. (I think); Phemata (female), age 12, born Unknown; Cresa (female), age 11, born Unknown; Martha M., age 5, born Jasper County; and Keziah J. (female), age 2, born Houston County. Next door is William Hickman, age 30, born LA; wife Catherine, age 20, born MS; children Levy, age 2, born Houston County; Lotty, age 9/12, born Houston County. They live next door to Phoebe (McKim) Moore.