Jessie Craddick's exact birth date has not been confirmed. The 1840 census lists his age as between 20 to 30 years, and 1850 lists him as being 27 which would give his birth as 1823 which is probably too young. If had had been born in 1823, he would have been only 14 when his first child was born. The 1860 census age which would give him a birth year of 1819, is probably nearer to his age.

When Jessie married Malinda Wiginton on September 4, 1836, his mother, Cely Kelly gave permission for the marriage. The 1819 birth date would have made him 20 at the time of the marriage and would have required her permission.

The 1850 and 1860 census state that Jessie was born in Alabama, however, his son, Isom Craddick believed that Jessie was born in Tennessee and came to Alabama at a young age.

Jessie Craddick married Malinda Wiginton in Blount County Alabama in September of 1836. Malinda was born in ca. 1818 in Georgia and was the daughter of Martin Wiginton and Nancy (Crockett?). **

There were Craddicks in Blount County as early as 1828, when a Celia Craddick was married - name of groom not known. This was probably Jessie's mother's marriage to Mr. Kelly. In 1837 Sarah Craddick married Martin Cole. Sarah was probably Jessie's sister. He named his first child Sarah.

In 1840, Jessie was living in the Western Census District of Blount County, Alabama. In his household was 1 male under 5 yrs. (Joseph), one male 20-30 yrs. (Jessie), one female under 5 yrs. (Sarah), and one female 15-20 (Malinda).

 By 1850, Jessie had moved to Itawamba County Mississippi probably coming there with Malinda's family in the mid 1840's. According to the birth place of their children, John was born in Alabama in ca. 1841 and Isham in Mississippi in 1843. The census that year listed Jessie's occupation as overseer.

In 1857, Jessie and Malinda moved their family to St. Frances County Arkansas. Family oral history was that Jessie was a builder of small boats and barges, and that he came down the St. Frances River on a barge and settled there. According to the 1860 census his occupation was merchant.

Jessie and Malinda Craddick were the parents of at least eight children all born in Mississippi:

The dates and places of Jessie and Malinda Wiginton Craddick's deaths are not known at this time.

**Note: Wiginton information from "A Collected Memory of the Wiginton Family - Volume II" by Rev. Henry L. Wiginton.

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