Gathering Giddens: Too Many Abrahams

I had planned to name this post Abraham Giddens a.k.a. Abram - Wayne County, North Carolina to Monroe County, Alabama but as I started writing, I realized that I did not have any direct evidence that connected Abraham of Wayne County, North Carolina to Abraham of Monroe County, Alabama. What if I am writing about the wrong Abraham Giddens? 

I have been collecting bits and pieces about Abraham Giddens of Conecuh and Monroe Counties since my first trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City in 2008, when I found both Abraham and Isaac Giddens in the vicinity of Monroe and Conecuh Counties. 

However, several individuals named Abraham Giddens were found when looking at U.S. census records and other peoples' family trees. Although my search is far from complete, I will not be looking at Abraham again in the near future and think it would be a good idea to share what I have learned so others will not repeat my research. 

Note that all of these Abraham Giddens were also seen as Abram and that there were many spelling variations for the name Giddens which include but are not limited to Giddins, Giddings, Geddings, Gideons, Gideon, and Giddons. 

 Abraham Giddens, son of John Giddens of Wayne County, North Carolina 

 

Abraham Giddens of Wayne County was named as a minor son of John Giddens in the above probate record. John died in 1802, and documents reveal that Abraham was considered a minor in 1815 and possibly as late as 1817.[1] 

The probate document pictured above indicates that Abraham may have sold his inherited land to his step-father, Jesse Flowers, in 1817. No deed record was found. However, Abraham was named in a deed when Asher Flowers (relationship to Jesse Flowers unknown) sold Abraham's inherited land in 1823 to David Giddens, Abraham's younger brother.[2]   

Gathering Giddens: John Giddens, Another Son Who Moved from North Carolina to Alabama

In my mind, I imagined the Giddens brothers living and working together in Alabama. Knowing that Isaac, Abraham, and Jacob lived in the southern portion of Alabama, I was surprised to find John Giddens in Madison County. John's home, Madison County, is at the top of the state and borders Tennessee. Isaac and Abraham first lived in Conecuh County bordering Florida. Abraham later moved to nearby Monroe County. Jacob lived in Barbour County bordering Georgia and marked by the circle on the right.[1]

John Giddens is another Giddens who is thought to be the son of John Giddens, a planter and early settler, in Wayne County, North Carolina. There is no direct evidence showing John as a son of the senior Giddens, but a few documents do provide some convincing indirect evidence. In 1800, the census showed two males living in the senior John Giddens' home between the ages of 16 and 26. The younger John is thought to be one of those males as he was not named a minor in the senior John's probate file in 1802. This would give young John a birth year of no later than 1784.[2]

Gathering Giddens: Isaac Giddens - from North Carolina to Alabama

Isaac, his children, and his brother Abraham were found on membership lists for the Belleville
Baptist Church in Conecuh County, Alabama. [1]

I have not found direct evidence showing Isaac Giddens, born in 1782, to be the son of John Giddens of Wayne County, North Carolina. But, I have found records that indirectly point to Isaac as John's son. My first found record of Isaac Giddens was in John Giddens' probate record.  Isaac purchased items from John Giddens' estate on 10 December 1802. Isaac, the only Giddens making purchases, bought a set of hatters tools, twelve hogs, two steers, a mare, and five barrels of corn. [2]

According to this clipping in the 23 December
1806 issue of the Wilmington Gazette, Isaac 
married Fame Futch. This name differs from
numerous family trees that name Isaac's wife
as Phama Patterson. [5]

In 1806, on December 11th, Isaac Giddens married Fame Futch. According to the newspaper announcement both were of Wayne County. [3] John Giddens was the only Giddens in Wayne County in 1790 and 1800 so, can we safely assume that Isaac was his son? [4]

Isaac was found with his wife and children in Wayne County on the 1810 U. S. Census.[6] And, the 1810 Tax List showed that he owned 100 acres of land.[7] Isaac's land was situated on Jethro's Marsh Branch - the same location as land owned by John Giddens, at least three of his siblings, and by John's widow, Sarah.[8] Isaac sold that land before 1815 to Cullen A. Blackman and it doesn't appear that he owned land again in North Carolina.[9]