Seaborn Hodges (1816 - 1899 ) Volunteer in Seminole Indian War of the 1830's

"I served in the Okeefenokee Swamp in the War with the Seminole Indians.  My Regiment was know as General Charles Floyd's Brigade of Volunteers."   Seaborn Hodges

Seaborn Randolph Hodges c. 1865

Seaborn Hodges served in a company commanded by Capt. William C. Newborn, of General Floyd's Brigade of the Georgia Volunteers, in the vicinity of the Okefenokee Swamp, in 1837.  Service Records show that he enlisted at Trader's Hill and was stationed at Fort Henderson, one of the several forts around the perimeter of the swamp.  During Seaborn's service General Floyd lead his army through the swamp to run the Indians out.  According to Grandfather Seaborn's account they cut logs and made rafts which they pushed through the bogs and floated through the rivers of the great swamp, from Caney Creek Fort on the north to a fort on the south side, without seeing any Indians although they knew they were there.
Hodges furnished his own horse and for the services of both he received eleven dollars per month, and the promise of another horse if his be killed.  When mustered out, he could have a cash bounty of fifty dollars or a land warrant for 160 acres of land wherever government lands were available.  He did not draw the cash nor claim the land then, but the government granted 160 acres of land in Utah to his widow, in 1899 the year of his death.  A bound copy of the Congressional Record in possession of the author recorded that Betsy was granted a pension for his service. 

References:  Indian War Pension Application dated 1892, Georgia.  Ind. Sur App. #3879, Cert. #3054, Ind. Wid. App. #7812, Cert. #5560.

Dr. Seaborn Hodges ( 1816- 1899 ) & Elizabeth Anne "Betsy" Hendricks Hodges

Seaborn and "Betsy" Hodges c.1870

Seaborn Randolph Hodges c. 1860 about age 50

Seaborn R. Hodges (April 26, 1816-October 11, 1899) son of William and Hanna fought with Elmore Callaway in the Seminole Indian Wars with General Charles Floyd's Brigade of Georgia Volunteers in the vicinity of the Okefenokee Swamp in 1837  in Florida.  Seaborn's sister, Samantha, married Elmore and they settled on Cedar Creek lands north of Manassas.  Seaborn married Elisabeth Anne "Betsy" Hendricks, daugher of John Hendrix and Jemina Brewton.  Jemina Brewton was the daugher of Nathan Brewton and Nancy Fontaine.  (Nancy Fontaine was the daugher of Francis Fontaine descended from a long line of French Heguenot ministers who broke away from the Catholic Church in the 1500's and left Europe for England and later migrated to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.)  In 1792 Nathan Brewton of North Carolina moved with his wife Nancy Fontaine to a site on the Canoochee River near Hendrix Bridge.  He founded Brewton Church and Cemetery in Hagan in 1835.

Photographed at their log home c. 1898, Seaborn (age 82) and "Betsy", are surrounded by their eleven children born between 1843 & 1865.  Located two miles east of Claxton and across Rogers' Bridge Road from the restored home of their son, Samuel Eli, the site originally included physician, Seaborn's drug store.  Seaborn was one of the earliest physicians in Tattnall County and his daughter in law, Jewel Branch, reported that she remembers that he and his assistant gathered roots and plants in the woods for many of his remedies.  His early mule drawn "cole" planter, a "Boy Dixie" one horse turn plow used to lay by corn, a grain cradle and rope bed have been restored.  Seaborn and Betsy are buried at Anderson Church Cemetery.
Seaborn and Betsy's children were; George Washington (b.1843, m. Levina Collins) , Susan Jemima      ( b. 1844, m. Gideon T. Burdett, Sr.),  James J. (b. 1846 um.), Nancy Jane (b. 1848, m. John Wesley Tippins),  John Hendrix (b. 1849, m. Mary Jane Tippins) Seaborn Layfaette (b.1852, m.1st Susan Brewton, 2nd Liza Collins) , Berry Hyram (b. 1854, m. Laura Frances Brewton) , Samuel Eli (b. 1857, m. Lurania  Williams) , Daniel Alexander (b. 1859, m. Utah Morgan),  Phillip Bartow (b. 1861, m.1st Mary Frances Rogers,2nd Emma Clanton) and Elias (b. 1865, m. Edna Elizabeth Coleman). 


References:  Anderson Church Cemetery, A History of  Evans County, GA by the Evans County Historical Society, A History of Our Locale by Lucille Hodges 1965, Once Upon A Time in Tattnall County, GA by Charles Edward Wildes, Family Bibles of Seaborn & Lurania Hodges from Lucille Hodges, National Archives Veterans Records.

John Robert Hodges, Sr. ( 1736-1810 )

John Robert Hodges, Sr. was the first child born to Richard and Sarah Hodges of  North Carolina on June 26, 1736.  The 1747 will of his father, Richard Hodges of Beaufort County, NC he inherited "one plantation of 400 acres  on Chocowinity Bay" near Washington in Beaufort County, NC. He sold part of the property he had inherited in Beaufort County in 1756, the year he married  Tabitha Little who was born in Beaufort Co., NC on March 17, 1744, daughter of Thomas Little (1700-1764).  They married in Beaufort or Pitt Co.  ( Pitt Co. was formed out of Beaufort County).   He was a Revolutionary Soldier during the period from 1776 to 1781 and received a land grant for that service. In 1779 John Hodges of Washington County, NC (not GA) appointed his brother, Howell, as power of attorney and in 1780, Howell sold this land in Pitt Co, NC on the North side of the Tar River for John.

John Robert Hodges, Sr. and Tabitha had five children;  John Robert, Jr. born August 26, 1768, Howell, Robert, Matthew and William Henry  born  June 19, 1770 and died August 24, 1849.  William Henry married Ann Blitch first and second Hanna Colson.


Pitt County, N.C. Deed Book A. 1760-1761
Page 2245 reads as follows:
Grantor:  Cannon, Edward    Grantee:  John Hodges page 186 Year 1761
Page 2246 reads as follows:  Grantor:  Folson, Ebenezer    Grantee:  John Hodges  page 134  Year 1761
Page 2247 reads as follows:  Grantor:  Kennedy, John Sr.   Grantee:  Robert Hodges page 63  Year 1761

References:  From Pitt and Beaufort County, NC Records:
*Note:  Between 1700 and 1776 North Carolina Counties were created rapidly.  Pitt County was formed out of Beaufort County, NC; Lenoir was formed out of  Dobbs; Dobbs records burned,
but Dobbs records were also in other counties.
*Revolutionary War was from 1776 to 1781.  John Hodges got land for service as a Revolutionary Soldier. In 1779 John made his brother, Howell, Power of Attorney to sell his land (sold in 1780) in Pitt Co on the North Side of the Tar River in NC after he moved to GA.
*After extensive research with dozens of tax records, wills, census records, military records and other documents on the Hodges family having been examined by genealogist, Carl Swain, for this author, he proclaimed on June 15, 1999 that "all of my Hodges relatives came from within a 25 mile radius of Kinston, NC."


Note:  In May of 1994 a note from Carl Swain, genealogist, to this author read:
"At Last!!  The Family has been located -- ALL Living in Same County in 1762.  Carl "
He attached copies of North Carolina Genealogy Volume XIV No. 4, Winter 1968 which included Pitt Co. NC:  1762 Tax List  p 2211 and Pitt Co. NC Deed Book A, 1760-1761.  Note:   The first figure following each name is the total number of whites;  the second figure is the total number of blacks;  the third figure is the total number of taxables for each person.

Page 2214 reads as follows:
Hodges, John 1-1-2
Hewbanks, Richard 1-0-1
Hodges, John Senr.; Howell Hodges,
Couns (constable) 2-4-6
Hodges, Mathew 1-0-1
Hodges, Henry 1-4-5
Hodges, Robert;  Arthur Holden 2-3-5

John Hodges, Jr.  sold (August 1762) 200 a. to Edmond Kennedy.  Wittness:  Robert and Howell Hodges.  Bk B, p. 228, Pitt County, NC.


Thomas Little died in 1774 in Pitt County.  He had four sons all born between 1730 and 1740;  John, Josiah, George and James Little.

John Hodges of Washington County, GA gave to his brother Howell Hodges Power of Attorney to sell 150 a.  Bk F, p.537, Pitt Co, NC, May 22, 1779.

John Hodges and Tabby his wife to Samuel Walker, planter, all of Effingham Co., Deed dated November 6, 1790, for 150 acres on north side of Great Ogeechee.  Ga Gen.Mag, Vol 7, Eff. Co. Ga. Deed Book "A-B"

Robert Hodges of  Liberty Co., planter, to Joshua Loper of  Effingham Co., planter.  Deed dated August 1, 1792, for 575 acres in Washington Co., lying on Williamson's Swamp at the mouth of Little Beaverdam Creek, granted grantor April 8, 1785.  Witnesses:  Asa Loper and William Davis.  (Ga Gen Mag.Vol 8, Deed Book D, Montgomery County)

On February 3, 1794 a land warrant was granted and 200 acres surveyed in Screven County October 22, 1794 for William Hodges who resides in this state.  Joseph Suthers was the only adjoining landowner as bounded by vacant land on other sides.  Another tract of 150 acres was surveyed for John Hodges who resides in this state on August 14th 1802.  Still another tract was of 200 acres was surveyed for John Hodges who resides in this state on June 13, 1813 bounded by land of John Hodges.  (All records found in Land Plat Book A 1793 - 1812 Screven County, Georgia compiled by John M. Gould. and certified by Clerk of the Court of Screven County, GA  on January  4, 1991. )



Robert Hodges, Sr., of  Tattnall Co., land to Neal Smylie of Liberty Co. Deed dated January 12, 1804, for 200 acres in Liberty Co., Ga granted April 10, 1803. Liberty Co, Ga Deed Book F (GGM, V 6)

Howell Hodges sold (25 January 1780) 150 a. to Isaac Carrell formerly belonging to John Hodges.


References:  North Carolina Genealogy, Vol. XIV No. 4, Pitt Co: 1762 Tax List p 2214; Pitt Co Deed Book A, 1760-1761, p 2245-2247. Pioneers of Wiregrass GA Vol 5 p 209 by Folks Huxford, Huxford Genealogical Society, Inc. Magazine Vol XVII #2, June 1990. Georgia Genealogical Magazine, Vol 5,6,7,8.

William Henry Hodges, ( 1770- 1849 )Pioneer Settler and Sheriff of Tattnall County, GA

William Henry Hodges was a pioneer settler of Tattnall County, Georgia in the 1790's.  He was a charter member, helped build Anderson Church and was the first burial there after his death on August 24, 1849. He was a farmer, civic leader and Sheriff of Tattnall County, 1832-1834.  He was born on June 19, 1770 in Beaufort Co, N.C. to John Robert Hodges, Sr., Revolutionary Soldier and Tabitha Little Hodges of Bertie County, North Carolina.  He came with his parents to Georgia soon after the Revolution, and they settled in that part of Burke County made into Screven County in 1793. 
William's first wife was Ann ( 1780- 1815 ), daughter of Abraham Blitch of Effingham.  Their children were:  James M.  ( m. Ann McCall), Cynthia ( m. Irvin Moore), Elizabeth( m. Obediah Garrett), William Riley (m. Nancy Leigh: Wm Lee, Mary, James Jackson, Willis Alex, John Riley, Martha Eliz., Henry Jesse), Samuel ( m. Elizabeth Daniel) and Willis Alexander Hodges (m. Mahala Jones) .  
He served as a private in the Effingham County Militia in 1794 in Capt. Nathaniel Hudson's Company.  In the War of 1812 he served in Capt. Robert Quarterman's Company, Second Regiment (Pray's), Ga. Militia, Liberty County. 
William Henry Hodges' second marriage was to Hannah Colson (Oct 1, 1787-August 30, 1870) the daughter of Benjamin Martin Colson.  Hannah had migrated here from Screven County, GA with her brother Benjamin Martin Colson, Jr.  and her mother (also named Hannah) after her father died in 1798.  William Henry Hodges and Hannah first settled on a farm near Anderson Church and later lived near what is now Bellville, GA on a spring head near the entrance of GA Pacific.  It was common for log homes of this era to have dirt floors.  Children of William and Hannah were Seaborn R., Samantha, Irwin Jackson and Phillip Powell Hodges.

Tattnall County Deed recorded September 4th, 1849 made by William Hodges on July 18, 1849;  " for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which he has and bears to his son Seaborn R. and Irwin J. Hodges and his son in law Elmore Callaway hath given granted and conveyed and does by these presents give grant and convey unto the said Seaborn R. Hodged, Irwin J. Hodges and Elmore Callaway - 300 acres granted to Charles B. Mulford dated November 1, 1814.  Also one other tract containing 83 acres granted to Lewis Williams dated December 8, 1818."  Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Simon Smith, Benjamin Brewton and James B. Smith, J.P.    William W. Rogers, Clerk.    William Hodges (his mark)

Tattnall County Deed recorded November 15, 1830 made December 25, 1815.  William Hodges, planter, purchased land from Paul Bevell and wife Sarah of Screven.  The 400 acres in Tattnall County was bounded at the time of survey by vacant land.  It is of note that William's first wife, Ann, died in 1815 and William married Hannah Colson mother of Seaborn R. Hodges born April 26, 1816 in Tattnall County.


Tattnall County Deed recorded November 18th, 1850.  Seaborn Hodges and his mother Hannah administrators of the  estate of William Hodges sold two tracts of land, one containing 300 acres granted to Charles B. Mullford, grant dated 1st November 1814 and another tract containing 500 acres it being a part of a tract containing 830 acres granted to David Henessey, grant dated the 7th December 1815.  Tracts were sold to Benjamin Brewton at the price of six hundred sixteen dollars being the highest and best bidder.  Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of Irwin J. Hodges and James B. Smith c. s. c.   
Seaborn Hodges       Hannah Hodges

References:  Anderson Church Cemetery,  Sadie Hodges Presson, Lucille Hodges & Jewel Branch Hodges Interviews, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia Volume V by Folks Huxford, Tattnall County Census, Deed & Court Records, Georgia Genealogical Magazine, Volume V.