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Mary Dean Calvit Higdon
Born 1723 PA
Died Feb 1807 Washington, Miss. Terr.

SPOUSE	CHILDREN
Antoine/Anthony Calvit m. 1738? ?NC b. 1694? France d. by ?Nov 3, 1760 ?Craven Co. NC	William b. 1740? ?VA d. by Mar 23, 1799 Sandy Creek, Adams Co. Miss. Terr.	Joseph b. 1746 ?VA d. 1819 Natchez, Adams Co. MS	Frederick b. Mar 23, 1747 Prince George Co. VA d. by Jan 16, 1791 Natchez District
	Thomas b. Sep 21, 1749 NC d. May 21, 1821 ?Franklin Co. MS
Daniel Higdon m. 1762? Johnston Co. NC b. 1714? Prince George Co. VA d. Mar 1785 Natchez Dist.	Jeptha b. 1763? Johnston Co. NC d. by 1809 Adams Co. Miss. Terr.	Louisa b. 1764? ?Johnston Co. NC d. between 1820/1830 ?Rapides Parish LA	Daniel b. ?NC d. ?MS
	Charles b. d.	?John b. d.	b. d.
Mary Dean was the daughter of William Dean who died in Natchez on Mar 6, 1791. She was the widow of Anthony Calvit who died by 1762. About 1782 she made a 2,000 mile journey down the Mississippi River to Natchez to settle.
According to Calvit family history, twelve families started together down the turbulent Tennessee River. Among them were Daniel and Mary Dean Calvit Higdon, their son Jeptha, and two of her other sons-and Joseph's brothers-Frederick and Thomas Calvit, from her first marriage to Antoine (Anthony) Calvet. With Frederick were his wife and several young children. The trip was dangerous, especially at the rapids at Muscle Shoals. On the rafts travelling with the Calvit's and Higdon's were the Green, West, Smith, and White families, and their heads became some of the most important men in early Mississippi [given as reference: McBee, David Smith, 22-23; Harmon, Good Inheritance, 176-77]. A total of 13 families were recorded by Spanish authorities as arriving in May 1782 from Tennessee, and the record was signed by Grand-Pré on Jul 6, 1782. No Calvit or Higdon names were recorded. These families were in the Cumberland Settlement, whereas the Calvits started from the Holston River in eastern Tennessee. It is possible they arrived later or were included in the 11 members of the James White family.
No Calvits or Higdons were on the list of flotilla captains recorded by Col. John Donelson as being with his flotilla expedition to the Cumberland Settlement in Washington Co. NC (now middle TN) which lasted several months into the spring of 1780 and travelled through Muscle Shoals mentioned in the Calvit history. There was a boat captained by "Daniel Dunham" [Whitley, p. 4].
Photo of a Map showing the Route of the Donelson Expedition on display at the Tennessee State Museum.
The Calvit family may have come from the Watauga settlement. There is an account from the Cumberland Settlement that founder James Robertson saved the life of a person who had been scalped. He had learned the procedure from a doctor who had done the same for a soldier he commanded named Frederick Calvit, in his thirties, in the Watauga Settlement in NC in 1777.
Son Frederick was likely the one who signed the 1777 Petition of Holsten Men, on page 6 just above the name of James Robertson, founder of the Cumberland Settlement [Tuller, p.6].
Son Joseph Calvit served in the Illinois regiment of VA troops and left in 1782, about the time he and brother William came to Natchez. While serving in the Illinois Territory, he married his wife at Iron Banks (Kentucky) on the Mississippi River by Aug 15, 1781. They had at least 3 children born in the Natchez Dist. His widow, Sydney nee Adair, who married him Jun 19, 1817, applied for a pension in 1830 [J. Calvett Clark, citing George Rogers Clark Papers]. Sons William, Thomas and Frederick also served in the war and received Reveolutionary War claims.
Two Calvit sons and husband Daniel Higdon were in Natchez by Jul 17, 1783 when William Dewitt and a William Rawlings gave a declaration that a horse race was fixed, that is, "two of the Calvits Sons in Law to Higdon Did Bett on Cobbs horse which horse Higdon who was Father in Law to the two Calvitts & one of the Judge's gave the race in favour of Cobb's horse" [MDAH Microfilm roll no. 5618, p. 3.65]. A Russell Jones also filed a suit against the same Arthur Cobb, objecting to the judges of the race who were "Messr. Brocus and Higdon" [McBee, p. 309-10]. The judge would be Mary's husband Daniel Higdon, and the son-in-laws would be two of her four sons, possibly Joseph and Frederick Calvit who lived in the St. Catherine's Creek area about that time. Higdon died in Mar 1785.
On Jan 13, 1784, Joseph Calvit was sued by a William Hurlburt for $26 and cost of suit [McBee, Book G, p. 318].
William Calvit was in the Natchez Dist. by Jun 21, 1784 when he sued his stepfather, Daniel Higdon $922 owed on bond [McBee, Book G, p. 323].
Present in the Spanish Census of 1784 in the sub-district of Santa Catalina (St. Catherine Creek) are Mary's sons Joseph Calvit, Frederick Calvit, Thomas Calvit and William Calvit. In 1792 census, Frederick has died but the others are present in the Santa Catalina and Second & Sandy Creek districts. These districts eventually became parts of Adams and and Franklin counties. By 1816, there are three Cavit households in Franklin Co.: William Calvit [son of Frederick who died in 1791] John Calvit [son of William who died in 1799] and Thomas with no children [likely Mary's son who lived until 1821] [Rowland, 1816 Franklin Co. Census].
In 1784, granddaughter Elizabeth Calvit married John Ford (1766?-1844) in the Natchez District. She was the daughter of Mary's son William Calvit and Jane Holmes. Son William was later married to Phoebe Crawford.
On Dec 28, 1784, son Thomas Calvit was among the buyers of the estate of Joanna Osborne [McBee, Book A, p. 29].
On Mar 1, 1785 Mary, aged about 62, gifted "all my goods, chattels and property, real and personal" to her son Jeptha. Court record [Clarke III, Appendix 6, citing McBee, Book A, p. 245].
Husband Daniel had died by Jan 5, 1787 when "Mary Higdon, widow ... mortgages her whole estate" to pay for 35 year old negro Rosa, native of America. She declared she could not write [McBee, Book D, p. 139]. On the same date she did the same "for payment of $735, due and owing to Don Juan Vauchere, merchant" which was recorded received by Vauchere on Mar 10 [McBee, Book A, p. 37].
Son "Frederick Calvet" received a Spanish grant dated Mar 15, 1788 for "500 acres, 12 mi. from Fort to north" which would be somewhere near Cole's Creek [McBee, Natchez Land Claims, Book B, p. 382].
Son "William Calvet" received a Spanish grant dated Mar 15, 1788 for "800 acres on Sandy Creek, 18 mi. east of Fort, all sides vacant" In 1804, "Anthony Calvet, one of the heirs" of William Calvet, decd., claimed the land [McBee, Natchez Land Claims, Book C, p. 420].
Map of the Natchez District as it may have looked between 1779 and 1799.
On Aug 7, 1788 sons William Calvit, Joseph Calvit, and Frederick Calvit appeared on a long list of people owing the estate of Richard Carpenter [McBee, Book B, pp. 54-57].
On Aug 18, 1788 son Jeptha Higdon, aged about 25, bought a "new negro" from Thomas Irwin for $500, $100 Jan 1789 and $400 Jan 1790. He signed with an X. On the same day, son Frederick Calvit also bought a "new negro" from Irwin at the same price and terms, with Frederick signing. Another son, William Calvit bought several negroes, two mortgaged, on the same day from Irwin, and he also signed his name. Full payment for these negroes was received from William's brother Joseph Calvit by May 12 1795, suggesting that William had died by then [McBee, Book B, p. 57].
Daughter Louisa married John Wylie. According to Diocese of Baton Rouge [La.] Catholic church records, "John Wily" married "Elisabeth Higdon" in New Feliciana on Sep 1, 1788. Generally, the parents of each are recorded, but the Church record says "not given" for each [Diocese of Baton Rouge, Catholic Church Records, vol. 2, p. 725].
New Feliciana was in what became in 1810 Feliciana Parish (see present day map for location). It borders Mississippi south of Natchez.
In a letter dated Mar 2, 1790, from Carlos de Grand-Pré, Natchez, to Governor Don Estavan Miro, the amount of tobacco was reported by growers of Natchez. Sons Frederick Calvit produced 10,100 lbs, William Calvit 10,000 lbs, Thomas Calvit 7,000 lbs, and Jeptha Higdon 10,000 lbs. Mary also reported producing 2,000 lbs. [MDAH, website].
On Mar 18, 1790, a Spanish grant to John Ford of "700 arpents 18 miles east of the Fort [of Natchez], on Cole's [Creek]" that bordered the land of William Calvit was claimed, noting that the file containing information, such as the date of the original grant, is "missing" [McBee, Natchez Court Records, Book B, p. 400].
Son Thomas Calvit married Mary Hulda Covington.
Son Frederick Calvit married Mary Elizabeth Montfort.
On Jan 16, 1791, the the Last Will and Testament of son Frederick Calvit, dated Sep 22, 1790, was opened. It named his wife, his brother Thomas, Thomas "Marston" Green, and John Bisland as executors. A Jan 18, 1791 inventory of the estate of "Frederick Calvitt, decd." late of [Adams Co.]" included the 600 arpent plantation and five male slaves, 2 "wenches", 2 children, oxen, cattle and horses [McBee, Book B, p. 81-2].
On Sep 23, 1791, son Thomas, as executor of his brother Frederick Calvit, deceased, sued Arthur Cobb, because Frederick had lent him a horse "for the purpose of knowing if he could run" and it was returned "in bad condition" and died a month afterward. By Jul 14, 1792, no ruling had yet been reached because of the "evidence being so contradictory" and two more arbitrators were added by Gayoso to the three already assigned to the case [McBee, Book F, pp. 260-1].
Son Frederick owned 300f [arpents] situated on the "River Mississippi" (see line for volume 4, page 270 of the 1807 deed record for the "Legal representatives of Frederick Calvit"). According to the deed, there was an order for survey of the land on Jul 26, 1792 which was after he died [American State Papers, vol. 1, register B, p. 895].
The 1792 Census of the Natchez District was translated from the Spanish handwritten records. Located in the Second and Sandy Creek subdivision are two "Calvet" families: "Guillermo" or William owned 1500 arpents, with 8 white persons and 4 slaves. "Juan" or John did not own land but his household had 6 whites and no slaves. In a Head of Household Index to the same Census there are three other Calvet households: "Jose" [Joseph]; "La Vuida" [Frederick's wife the "widow Calvet"] in the subdivision of Santa Catalina (St. Catherine's - now in Adams Co. and Franklin Co.); and "Tomas" [Thomas] in the subdivision of Villa Gayoso (now in Jefferson Co. and Franklin Co.).
On Oct 18, 1792 an "Inventory of property of James Smith, decd." showed that "Widow Calvit" [Mary] and a Joseph Calvit, owed money to the estate for "blacksmith work" (James was the eldest son of John Smith) [McBee, Natchez Court Records, Book D, p. 150].
On Dec 19, 1792 a "Major" John Williams was living on 380 arpents on St. Catherine's Creek owned by son Joseph Calvit. Joseph had a $400 mortgage on the property that was depreciating greatly, put it for sale at public auction, and on Feb 6, 1793 was highest bidder at $300 [McBee, Book E, p. 186].
In early 1794, Mary was questioned under oath about conversations about a report of an attack on the province [Natchez] that she had with a Robert Stark, her son Thomas, and Col. Thomas Green. She gave her name as Mary Higdon, "widow of Daniel Higdon", her place of birth as "Pennsylvania" and her age as 70 years old [McBee, pp. 238-9].
On Apr 18, 1795 a John Foster sold a tract of land on a branch of St. Catherine's Creek that he had bought from Joseph Calvit, Mary's son. The sale was witnessed by "John Still Lee" [McBee, Natchez Court Records, Book C, p. 113]. .
On May 10, 1795, son Thomas Calvit, "of this District, planter" made a gift of slaves to "John and James Calvit, sons of my brother, Joseph Calvit, minors" and Joseph, being present, bound himself to their care until his sons were "of age to manage their property" [McBee, Natchez Court Records, Book C, p. 113].
On May 12, 1795, in recovering debts to Thos. Irwin, mortgages for two slaves he sold to William Calvit in 1788 was paid in full by Joseph Calvit, William's brother [McBee, Natchez Court Records, Book C, p. 57].
On Dec 19, 1795 son William's wife Phoebe sued William for cruelty and selling her slave without her consent, stating that "during her twelve years of marriage she had received nothing from him" [McBee, Book E, p. 202].
Son Jeptha Higdon had a son Jeptha who may have married Nancy Ford, daughter of John Ford (1766?-1844?), in Franklin Co. MS. on Mar 22, 1833.
Mary made a will on Aug 3, 1805 in Jefferson Co. MS and named living sons Thomas and Joseph Calvit and Jeptha Higdon. Thomas and Joseph were named executors. Frederick had died about 1790 and William had died by 1800.
According to The Mississippi Messenger, February 17, 1807 "Mrs. Mary Higdon, whose death we announced last week, had resided in this Territory 25 years, and had borne during her lifetime 14 children, 65 grandchildren, 70 great grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren."
Son Joseph Calvit served in the Illinois regiment of VA troops and left in 1782, about the time he and brother Frederick came to Natchez. He married Cidia or "Sydney" nee Adair (1799 Ga.-1885) in Jefferson Co. MS in Jun 7, 1817. She remarried in Feb 1822. As Joseph's widow, she applied for a pension in 1830.
There are 3 Calvit households in the 1816 Franklin Co. MS Census, all on page 5: On line 21, there is a household headed by Thomas Calvit with a male [Thomas] and female [wife Mary?] over age 21 with no children and no slaves. This is likely Mary's youngest son by Anthony Calvit. On lines 16 and 19 of the same page are two other Calvit households: William Calvit, in a household of 7 family members [probably Frederick's son]; John Calvit, in a household of six members [probably son of Mary's son William who died in 1799] [Rowland, 1816 Franklin Co. Census].
SOURCES: Adams Co. Mississippi Genealogy & History Network, "1792 Census for Natchez District (under Spanish Government control)", 2009, 1792 Census. American State Papers, Documents, ... of the Congress of the Unitied States, ... 1789-1809, vol. 1, Gales and Seaton, Washington DC, 1832, register B, p. 895. Aymond, Greg, Holloway Family of Holloway Prairie, internet website, Dec 1999. "Franklin County, MS 1810 Census", abstract from Gillis book, rootsweb website. Documents ... , US Congress, 1815-24] "John Holloway, 1851", File H-3, on p. 208 of "The MS Cains", website. Clarke, J. Calvit III, Appendicies to Joseph Calvit and his Family in Mississippi, Appendix 6, "Land and Property in the Calvit/Higdon Families", website. Clarke, J. Calvit III, The "I" In History: ... The Calvet's from France to the American Frontier, Jacksonville Univ. Expanded Paper Presented to the Annual Meeting of the Florida Conference of Historians, Tampa, FL, Mar 2005, website. Diocese of Baton Rouge Department of Archives, Catholic Church Records, vol. 2 (1770-1803), Baton Rouge LA, p. 725. McBee, May Wilson, comp., Natchez Land Claims, 1767-1805, Greenwood MS, 1953, v. 2, Book B, p. 382. McBee, May Wilson, comp., Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Greenwood MS, 1953, v. 2, pp. 328-9, Book A, pp. 29, 37, Book B, pp. 54-57, 81-2, Book C, p. 113, Book D, pp. 36-7, 51, 150, 288, 400, Book E, p. 186, Book F, pp. 260-4, Book G, pp. 318. 323. Franklin Co. Genealogy & Hustory Network, Franklin Co. Mississippi Marriages, website. MS Dept. of Arch. & Hist. (MDAH), Jackson MS, rootsweb, Americans Arriving in Spanish-Held Natchez 1788-1790. MS Dept. of Arch. & Hist. (MDAH), microfilm no. 5618, roll 3, various doc. MS Dept. of Arch. & Hist. (MDAH), 1816 Franklin Co. Census in "Territorial Censuses", website. Rowland, Dunbar, "1816 Census for Franklin Co. Miss.", taken from The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi,Centennial Edition, 1917, rootsweb website. Tuller, Roberta, "1777 Petition of Holston Men", in An American Family History, website, Amazon Services, 2020. USGenWeb, Early Southwest Miss. Territory, "Natchez District 1792 Spanish Census Index", website. USGenWeb, Franklin Co. Mississippi, "Franklin County Mississippi Early Settlers", website. Veach, Damon, "Louisiana Ancestors", article in Sunday Advocate Magazine, Baton Rouge LA, Feb 21, 1982. White, Gifford, James Taylor White of Virginia and some of his descendants into Texas, Austin, TX, 1982. Whitley, Edythe Rucker, comp., Pioneers of Davidson Co., Tennessee, Clearfield Publ., 2009. Unknown author, "...to John ..." [illegible], correspondence detailing discovery of baptismal records of Stillee children in Cathedral Archives, no date but possibly mid 1900's.