George Alexander Briscoe

George Alexander Hamilton Briscoe, son of Caleb was born on April 19 1812 in Kent Co. Maryland. Many of his relatives eventually moved west and settled in Claiborne Co. Mississippi. When George came of age he journeyed west as well establishing a considerable estate with many slaves. In about 1839 he married, Emily Elliott Briscoe a distant relative and daughter to Gen. Parmenas Briscoe. The Geo. Briscoe Plantation was situated near Port Gibson, a picturesque Mississippi river town north of Natchez. Five children were born to George and Emily; George Leigh, Lucy Ann, John Pennington, Edward Parmenas, and Samuel Montgomery. The Mississippi gubernatorial election of 1851 created a substantial amount of controversy and the eventual election of Whig candidate, Henry S. Foote, was the last straw to many States’ rights Democrats. Among them was a bitter George Briscoe of Port Gibson. Oakland College Superintendent Sam’l. Chamberlain, a known abolitionist, openly defended the college faculty for suspending students who delivered a States’ rights speech at the campus during the election, as well as comments to the effect of “no man could be a secessionist and a Christian.” On the night September 5 the disgruntled and intoxicated Mr. Briscoe rode to the home of Chamberlain where he ordered the school dean outside. During the confrontation and the passion of the moment, Briscoe stabbed Chamberlain until he bled to death in front of his home. George rode to his plantation where he hid out in the nearby woods. He taken his own life by ingesting poison and died within a week. He was buried in the Beechland Cemetery near Port Gibson, Mississippi. Emily remained on the plantation in Claiborne County with most of her children during and well after the War of 61’.

During the Civil War, George Leigh, the eldest son, served as Sgt. Major in Co A, Wirt Adam’s 1st Mississippi Cavalry. He enlisted with the unit in Tensas Parish, Louisiana. He fought gallantly during the War and fell to his death in the Battle of Britton’s Lane near Denmark, Tennessee on September 1 1862. He was listed on a monument erected near the Britton’s Lane engagement to the two Mississippi Warriors who died there.

"In later years the monument has been broken with the desecrated top portion with George Leigh’s name gone."

References

"“A Horrid Tragedy” Editorial remarks of the Port Gibson Herald & Corr. 12 September 1851""Pg. 9-10, Reminiscences of a Mississippian in Peace and War, F. A. Montgomery, 1901""Deaths: New York Daily Times, 24 September 1851 (newspaper microfilm)"