In 1902, Jane Ridley, daughter of Paul and Matilda Higginbotham Willis, granddaughter of Sanford and Jane Holley Higginbotham applied for identification as a Mississippi Choctaw, as did her children.
Carrie Ridley Hart, the seventh child of Jane Willis Ridley and W.M. Ridley, applied for the same rights as her mother Jane Ridley, and Carrie was also refused.
Family legend has always provided us with the story that Jane Holley Higginbotham was full-blooded Indian, taken in and raised by the Holley’s as their own.
More research will have to be done, I’m not giving up on the thought that this can be proven. I just don’t think the family had the means, or ability at that time to prove their identity.
If you have anything to add to this, please contact me. Would love to hear from you!
Here are the pages below for you to read, just click on the page number:
Page 01, Page 02, Page 03, Page 04, Page 05, Page 06, Page 07, Page 08, Page 09, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13, Page 14, Page 15, Page 16
Brenda McCay
March 29, 2016 at 11:10 am
I would like to get in touch with you. We are related to some of the same family members..