Elizabeth Wright (Braden) Hixon, 1813-1838

Elizabeth Wright Braden was born in Loudoun Co., Virginia on 16 December 1813.  She was the youngest child of Robert and Elizabeth (Stevens) Braden.   She was named in her father’s will (written June 1827) and was only 13 when her father died in November 1827.  Probate records from her father, Robert’s estate, indicate that she received $100 annually from the estate.

She lived in Waterford, Virginia, with her mother until after her mother’s death in February 1831 when Elizabeth was 17.  After her mother’s death, she seems to have lived with various friends.  In April 1831, she was living with the family of Thomas and Rachel (Taylor) Phillips.  In September 1831, she was living in Alexandria, Virginia with William H. and Amy Ann (Phillips) Miller.  

Family letters indicate that her brother, Hector, encouraged her to move to Florida to live with him.  Other letters indicate that the family of her brother, Burr, in Indiana  suggested she move to Indiana to be with them.

In 1834, Elizabeth was living with her brother, Noble, and his wife, Mary Ann, at Eudora near Waterford, Loudoun Co., Virginia.  

On 11 September 1834, Elizabeth Wright Braden married Fleming Wilson Patterson Hixon at the First Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, Maryland.  The marriage announcement in the Genius of Liberty newspaper dated 20 September 1834, states: "Married Thursday, Sept. 11 at the First Presbyterian Church in Baltimore by Rev. Nevins, Fleming Hixon of Leesburg to Elizabeth W. Braden, daughter of the late Major Braden, of Loudoun Co.."  A notice in the Virginia Free Press of 18 September 1834, gave the same information.  Comments in the Braden family letters indicate that Elizabeth and Fleming were married sometime between 30 August 1834 and 15 February 1835. 

   

By February 1835, Elizabeth and her husband, Fleming, were living at Harper’s Ferry, which at that time was part of Virginia.  On 21 January 1836, their daughter, MargaretElizabeth Hixon, was born at Harper’s Ferry.  She was named for Fleming’s mother, Margaret, and Elizabeth’s mother, Elizabeth.  The family called her “Bettie.”

By 1837, the family was living in Leesburg, Virginia.  Apparently, Elizabeth’s health was not good.

On 3 October 1838, Fleming, Elizabeth and Bettie sailed from Baltimore, Maryland for Tallahassee, Florida.  It seems the family thought Florida’s climate might be better for Elizabeth’s health.   But on 10 October 1838, Elizabeth Wright (Braden) Hixon died aboard ship.  A letter from her husband, Fleming, gives the full story of her death and burial.  That letter can be read in my blog biography of Fleming.

Elizabeth was buried on Great Stirrup Cay.  The account of her burial is also in Fleming’s letter.  Here is a link to her Find-A-Grave Memorial.

Notices published in the Genius of Liberty, the Alexandria Gazette, and the Richmond Whig and Public Advertiser all give the same information:  "Died at sea, Oct. 10, on passage to Tallahassee for restoration of health, Mrs. Elizabeth W. Hixon, wife of Fleming Hixon, Esq., Daughter of late Major Robert Braden."