Isbin Giddens (1788-1853)
Grave of Isbin Giddens, Burnt Church Cemetery, Lanier County, GA
In the winter of 1824-25 Isbin (or Isben) Giddens brought his wife, Keziah Knight Giddens, and their two young children, William and Moses Giddens from Wayne County, GA to settle in what was then Irwin County, near the present day Ray City, GA. They came along with Keziah’s brother William Cone Knight, her parents, and their minor children John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Aaron, and Jonathan Knight. Also making the move to Lowndes was Keziah’s uncle Samuel Knight, his wife Fannie, and their children Fatima, Moses, Aaron, Jesse, Thomas, and Joel.
Isbin Giddens was born in Blounts Creek, Beaufort County, North Carolina on November 4, 1788 just a few months after the ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America. He was the son of Moses Giddens and Catherine Jones.
Some time before 1816, “when he was about grown,” Isbin Giddens moved from North Carolina to Wayne County, Georgia . He served as lieutenant of the 334th District Militia, Wayne County, from 1816 to 1820. It was probably during that time period that he became acquainted with the family of William A. Knight and Sarah Cone Knight. William A. Knight was then serving as a Justice of Peace in the 334th District. William’s son, Jonathan Knight, was a captain in the Wayne County militia; another son, Levi J. Knight, served as a private.
Giddens became good friends with the Knights, and on Wednesday, April 7, 1819 just before Easter, Isbin married William A. Knight’s 17-year-old daughter, Keziah Knight (born November 25, 1801).
Isbin Giddens served as a grand juror the October, 1822 term of the Superior Court of Wayne County, and at other times also served on both petit and grand juries in the county.
About 1823 Isbin and Keziah Giddens were baptised into Kettle Creek Church in present day Ware County. Fannie Knight, wife of Samuel Knight, was a member of this church, as were Keziah’s parents, William and Sarah Knight.
Over the winter of 1824-25 Isbin and Keziah departed Wayne county along with her parents and brothers to settle in parts of present day Lanier County. Isben Giddens made his farm along what is now the Ray City-Lakeland public road. The following year, his brother-in-law, Levi J. Knight, joined the family and became the first to settle on land along Beaverdam creek at the present day location of Ray City, Berrien County, GA.
On February 10, 1827 Isbin and Keziah moved their letters from Kettle Creek Church to Union Primitive Baptist Church. Keziah’s father had been instrumental in the organization of Union Church, it being the first Baptist Church in this section. The church organization took place October 1, 1825, at Carter’s Meeting house, located on the west bank of the Alapaha River. Mr. Knight was the first clerk of the new church and later became its pastor.
For the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery, Isbin Giddens registered in the 10th District of Lowndes County. On the 33rd Day’s Drawing – April 13, 1827, he was the fortunate drawer of Lot 248 in the 13th District of of the newly formed Lee County.
In the Census of 1830, Isbin Giddens is enumerated along with early Berrien County settlers like Joshua Lee, William A. Knight and John Knight. He served on the Lowndes Grand Jury of 1833 which was convened at Franklinville, GA, then the county seat of Lowndes County.
In the Indian Wars of 1836-1838, Isbin Giddens and his sons, William and Moses served under the command of now Captain Levi J. Knight, in the Lowndes County Militia. The Giddens were among those who took part in the Battle of Brushy Creek, one of the last real engagements with the Creek Indians in this region.
Spouse & Children
Keziah Knight 1801 – 1861
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William Moses Giddens 1820 – 1899
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Moses H Giddens 1821 – 1906
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Matilda Giddens 1826 – 1887
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Sarah Giddens 1828 – 1918
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Aaron L. Giddens 1831 – 1862, married Mary Smith
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Keziah Ann Giddens 1836 – 1904
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Mary M Giddens 1838 – 1901
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Isbin T. Giddens 1840 – July 17, 1862
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Matthew O Giddens 1844 – 1865
In 1855 Kizziah Knight Giddens married the widower Allen Jones. She died in 1861 and was buried at Union Church, Lanier County GA.
Grave of Keziah Knight Giddens Jones, Union Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Lakeland, GA
Isben Giddens’ sons, Isbin T. Giddens and Matthew O. Giddens, served in the Civil War. On August 1, 1861 they joined the Berrien Minute Men, Company G, 29th Georgia Infantry at Milltown (now Lakeland), GA. Neither would survive the war. Mathew O. Giddens was taken prisoner on December 16, 1864 near Nashville, TN. He was imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio where three months later, on Feb 8, 1865, he died of pneumonia. His brother, Isbin T. Giddens, died of brain fever at Guyton Hospital in Georgia.
Related Posts:
- Lowndes Grand Jury of 1833
- Knights Come to Lowndes County, GA
- John W. Hagan Married for Third Time
- Bryan J. Robert’s Account of the Last Indian Fight in Berrien County
- Levi J. Knight and Lowndes First Superior Court.
- Matthew O. Giddens ~ Confederate POW
- Isbin T. Giddens Dies of Brain Fever at Guyton Hospital, Georgia
Ed Johnson said,
January 13, 2019 at 9:27 am
Ray City History Blog
Are the “Giddens” referenced in the article links below, related to those in your article? If so, please let me know, as I would like to include them in the research I am doing on my great grandfather, Joshua Berrien Lastinger.
http://www.lindseywilliams.org/index.htm?Articles/Oldest_Charlotte_County_Church_Marks_125th_Anniversary.htm~mainFrame
http://www.lindseywilliams.org/index.htm?Articles/Charlotte_County_Education1.htm~mainFrame
http://www.lindseywilliams.org/index.htm?Articles/American_History_Began_Here_Century_Before_Pilgrims_-_Charlotte_Harbor.htm~mainFrame
http://www.lindseywilliams.org/index.htm?Articles/Uncle_Dan_Smith.htm~mainFrame
In addition, I have an old subdivision plat signed by Matthew F Giddens and Mary C. Giddens and recorded January 28, 1886, Pine Level, Manatee County, Florida.
Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Ed Johnson
Arcadia, FL