The Creek Documents 17

Document about Mary STIGGINS WEATHERFORD
Many thanks to Mark Migura

Mobile County, Alabama Book 19 part 2, page 231 January Term 1852

WEATHERFORD Versus WEATHERFORD ET AL
Errot to Chancery Court of Mobile

Bill was filed by William Weatherford, claiming to be the only lawful son and heir of late William Weatherford, Sr., and as such entitled to whole of his estate. It alleges that complainants Mother, Superlamy, [Sopathe Thlanie] was legally married to said Weatherford, Sr. in 1812 or 1813 according to customs of Creek Tribes of Indians to which they belonged and among whom they lived, that said Weatherford Sr., afterwards lived with one Mary Stiggins in a state of concubinage and had several children by her; that after said Weatherfords death, said Mary Stiggins sent for complainant and had him carried to her house in Baldwin county; where she then resided and that she acknowledged him to be the lawful son of said Weatherford Sr. That after the death of Mary Stiggins, one Charles Weatherford, took out letters of administration on estate of said William Weatherford, Sr. Said Charles Weatherford and the children of said Mary Stiggins, by said Weatherford, Sr. are made defendants to bill and by their answers deny that said Weatherford was legally married to complainants mother and assert that he was married to Mary Stiggins.

Defendant, Charles Weatherford, as administartor had no interest in real estate.

Lucretia Sizemore says Mary Weatherford did not recognize him as a legitimate son of William Weatherford.

Susan Sizemore says he was not recognized as an heir. William Sizemore says that while Mary's children recognized him as a brother, they did not regard him as an heir. Testimony of Samuel and Lucretia Edmunds.

From "Alabama Records - Mobile County" by Kathleen Paul Jones & Pauline Jones Gandrud.

NOTE: basically I understand this to mean that William Weatherford, Jr., son of William Weatherford "Red Eagle" and Sopathe Thlanie, was bringing suit against Charles Weatherford after Wm, Sr. died and claiming Mary Stiggins was not legally married to William and therefore she and her children were not legal heirs. Charles and the Sizemore witnesses were saying the same thing: that while Wm. Jr. was recognized as a child of Red Eagle, he was not a legal heir because hiis parents had married under Indian law.


Company of Captain Thomas H. BOYLES, Captain in the Creek Indian War
Many thanks to Mark Migura

Of the 14 men listed here, 7 of them had families in Fort Mims at the time of the attack, and one, Edward STEDHAM and his brother Jessie escaped from Fort Mims.

That particular company was :

ADCOCK, John Private
ADCOCK, Lewis Private
ADCOCK, Reuben Private
BECKUM, Joshua Private
BOYLES, Thomas H. Captain
BYRNE, Thomas Private
CHRISTIN, Cary Private
LANGHAM, James Private
MILTON, Andrew Private
MIMS, William Private
MOYE, Jason Private
STEDHAM, Edward Private
STIGGINS, George Sergeant
WILLIAMS, Thomas Private