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Isaac Bridgman

My great-great grandfather, Isaac Bridgman, was born in 1811, in Wythe County, Virginia. He was the eldest son of William Bridgman and Mariam Brown.

Between 1813 and 1815, William Bridgman moved his family from Wythe County, Virginia, to Campbell County, Tennessee. Isaac grew up in Campbell County.

Isaac married my great-great grandmother, Jane Butler, about 1834, in Campbell County. Jane was born in 1814, in Virginia, the daughter of Taliaferro Butler and Mary "Polly" Miller.

Isaac is mentioned often in the Campbell County, Tennessee, court records. He served often on the Circuit Court jury. He also worked from 1838 until early 1841 as overseer of road work in part of Campbell County. Isaac was also a farmer.

Isaac's father died about August 1840. Apparently after his father's death, Isaac was required to spend more time farming. In early 1841, Isaac resigned from his job as road overseer and turned his full attention to farming.

In 1849, Isaac and Jane left Campbell County, Tennessee. Isaac's brother, Benjamin Franklin Bridgman, had settled in Marion County, Tennessee, just prior to 1840, and was operating a dry goods store there. (Marion County is located along the Tennessee and Georgia state line.) It is probable that Isaac's family visited for a time with his brother's family before settling a few miles across the Tennessee and Georgia state line in Walker County, Georgia, where Isaac resumed his occupation of farming. Eight children were born to Isaac and Jane in Campbell County, Tennessee, and four more were born after settling in Walker County.

The 1850 Walker County, Georgia, census shows the family in West Chickamauga Township, near Rock Spring. The census shows Isaac, age 39, a farmer, born in Virginia; Jane, age 36, born in Virginia; and children William, 14; Mary, 12; Franklin, 11; John, 9; Howard, 7; James, 5; Eliza, 4; and Thomas, 2, all born in Tennessee. They are living next door to Jane's parents.

Isaac Bridgman died in August 1859, in Walker County. His death is recorded in The Georgia 1860 Mortality Schedule, compiled by Ronald Vern Jackson. The book shows: "Isaac Bridgman of Walker Co, GA, age 49 years, male, died Aug. 1859 from overheat; born in VA; occupation: farmer." He is probably buried in either Barron Cemetery or Chickamauga Cemetery.

Jane appears on the 1860 Walker County, Georgia, census at Rock Spring Post Office. She is listed as a widow, age 46. Listed with her on the census are her children Franklin D., age 21; John F., age 19; Howard, age 17; James E., age 15; Annie L., age 14; Thomas W., age 12; Miller C., age 9; Lucinda J., age 7; and Emily H., age 3 years. Jane's real property is valued at \$3500 and her personal property at $6500. Living near Jane is her oldest child, William, and his family. Also living near-by is her father, listed as Toliver Butler, and her brother Miller Creed Butler.

Steve Strickland provided me with the following information: "Jane is supposed to have gone after one of the boys who was in the CSA and ill, she brought him home, nursed him, then became ill herself and died."

Jane died October 27, 1862, at her home at Pond Spring near Chickamauga. She is probably buried in either Barron Cemetery or Chickamauga Cemetery with Isaac.

4. John F. Bridgman, b. abt 1841, Campbell Co, TN; enlisted Mar 4, 1862 in Co. E, 39th Confederate Reg. Georgia Infantry (called Walker Light Gurards), Walker Co.

5. Howard Bridgman, b. abt 1843, Campbell Co, TN; enlisted Feb 23, 1863 in Co. D, 1st Confederate Reg. Infantry, Walker Co.

9. Miller Creed Bridgman, b. abt 1851, Walker Co, GA; d. abt 1867, Walker Co. from sleeping sickness

10. Lucinda Jane Bridgman, b. abt 1853, Walker Co, GA; never married (living with brother Franklin and family in Walker Co, GA in 1880 and with sister Emily and family in Vernon Co, MO in 1900)