Alexander Eagan  [James Cook Sedwick / Elizabeth Eagans]
AKA Alexander Higgins, Iggins, Egins
b. 1843, Port Republic, Calvert, Maryland
d. March 16, 1942, Los Angeles County, California
bu Carson, Los Angeles, California, Lincoln Memorial Cemetery
m1 February 20, 1873, Bagdad, Santa Rosa, Florida, Elizabeth B Kelker
m2 May 24, 1921, Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, Mary Ann Ward
Freed man Nov 21, 1867 document
relationship to James Cook Sedwick (1786-1853) confirmed by DNA testing

Elizabeth B Kelker  [John Kelker / Cecilia Gomez]
b. January 29, 1851, Santa Rosa County, Florida
bp 20 June 1854, Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, St Michael's Catholic Church (as Betsy Kelker)
d. November 28, 1920, Pensacola, Escambia, Florida
bu Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, Zion Cemetery

Mary Ann Ward  [parents unknown]
b. abt 1868, Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia
d. March 29, 1946, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
bu Carson, Los Angeles, California, Lincoln Memorial Cemetery
m1 bef 1872, Evigan Edwards
m2 May 24, 1921, Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, Alexander Eagan

Census Records:

Alexander Eagan was born a slave, the son of a slave woman and her master. During the Civil War he made his way north and fought in the Connecticut 29 Infantry Regiment (Colored). At war's end he found work as a sailor and lived in a boarding home in Boston. On one voyage, according to family tradition, he was shipwrecked in Florida, where he met Lizzie Kelker. They were married and lived in Pensacola, where he worked as a bayman. Lizzie reported in the 1900 census that she had had 17 children with 10 still living. After she died Alexander married Mary Ann Ward. They moved to Los Angeles with daughter Julia and her husband, where he lived to the age of 99 years. From slave to soldier to sailor to father, Alexander had seen a very eventful life. From Maryland to Connecticut to Boston to Florida to California, he had seen more of the country than many.

Elizabeth and Alexander owned a grocery store, which she operated, on Twelfth Avenue and Scott Streets, Pensacola, A bag of goodies was always around whenever her grandchildren came to visit. She also served on the Mother's Board of Zion Hope Primitive Baptist Church. These were the ladies responsible for serving communion.

Mary Ann Ward and her first husband Evigan Edwards lived in Pensacola as early as 1872, but it is not known when they were married. She was a school teacher. He died September 9, 1907.

Children:

More about Alexander Eagan:

Read also about Alexander's brother James Edward Egans (abt 1845 - 1906)

Julia Eagan and George Eagan

1. Records of descendant/researcher of this family
a. Del Alexa (Eagan) Jupiter, grand-daughter of Alexander Eagan

2. Census records, any of those indicated

3. Affidavit given by Alexander Higgins as evidence of his birth (Compiled service record of James E. Egins, Co. A. 9th U.S. Colored Inf., Civil War, National Archives, Washington, D.C.)

Gentlemen:
Replying to the above letter I beg to state:
1. The writer cannot furnish evidence of the date of his birth, because he was born of a slave mother and no record was kept of the birth of slave children that he has ever heard of .
2. His mother died in 1866.
3. His father was a white man and died when applicant was 7 years old.
4. Applicants discharge was given him by J.E. Lockwood, Capt. U. S. C. V. Pctpber [October] 24th 1865 at Brownsville, Texas, and the discharge cites that the applicant was twenty years old.
5. This is all the evidence that applicant can furnish with respect of the date of his birth.
Very truly yours,
Alexander Higgins

Additional documents:

Certificate of Title showing John Sedwick, son of James Cook Sedwick, as the owner of James E Egins, brother of Alexander Eagan. (Compiled service record of James E. Egins, Co. A. 9th U.S. Colored Inf., Civil War, National Archives, Washington, D.C.)

Certificate of Title showing Sarah Sedwick, widow of James Cook Sedwick as the owner of Murray Egins. (Compiled Service Record, Murry Egins, Co. G 7th U.S. Colored Inf., Civil War, National Archives, Washington, D.C.)

Affadavit May 5, 1895 relating to disability pension claim for veteran Alexander Higgins.