Higginson

Thanks to Trish (Patricia) Wylie, I have now accessed the Higginson family tree, going back to the 1300's!

Trish's great grandfather was Albert Higginson, brother of my grandmother May Coulter (nee Higginson). That makes us 3rd cousins!

This story is going to take some time to summarize, as confirmations are still needed. If everything is confirmed, then we have interesting facts to relate regarding our connection to America's founding fathers and the Kings of Scotland!

After some months, June - October 2013 I've managed to collate information from Trish's Family Tree, mainly from her Ancestry.com, and also cross referencing via Google, I have now produced the following document, basing the story on my grandmother Anna May's Higginson lineage!

 

THE HIGGINSON STORY……records taken from different sources. For full Family Tree details see “My Heritage.com”. I have also included some information about other members of the Higginson family who are NOT in our lineage, simply because of their involvement in historical and religious developments in Ireland and America! More research is being pursued as there is still more to find on this phenomenal family!

Yvonne’s and my Mum, Thelma Higginson Coulter was the offspring of James Coulter (see Coulter story) and Anna May HIGGINSON, Gortagilly , Moneymore. Anna May lived as a child with her parents in Ballymoghan More, Magherafelt, along with her grandparents, Hammond 1809-1903 and Mary 1819-1903.

 

I have already written some details about her as a Coulter under the Coulter Story!

As an introduction to the Higginson Story I have some observations to make about Granny Coulter. She was quite different to other ladies of her age in the district. From an early age I knew that she had worked, prior to her marriage, in an office in Belfast.

She had a brother Albert who was also based in Belfast working in a Bank! Just those two facts indicated most probably a difference in the social structure of the two families. Other information I heard as a young person was that they were horse dealers from the Moira area!!

From left : Albert Higginson, Granny Coulter, Mum, Aunt Mary Armstrong (Mum's sister), Uncle Bobby Coulter (Mum's brother) with daughter Myrtle in arms

Granny was not a normal house wife….she didn’t bake, nor did she make normal farm meals. Her sister in law from across the road, Maggie, Daniel’s wife, baked bread for her. Sadie Coulter remembers carrying that bread across the road.

Granny dressed differently. She was colourful and aware of fashion. She wore a beret, which I had never seen any other local woman wear! When she walked to the town on Fridays to do shopping, she attending the Royal Cinema in Molesworth St on her way home. (At a guess there was perhaps a double motive here, one, to watch a film, two, to have a rest!). That early life style which she perhaps enjoyed as a teenager, appeared to end when she married James Coulter. As a child I remember her working very hard, boiling tanks full of potatoes, (in the “perty house”) mashing/champing them with a long thick wooden shaft and then feeding that to the pigs in the sty across the yard! I remember too when the men of the house were farming at Clare, she would ride her bicycle from Tyresson, ca 800 m, with tea and sandwiches. This was fun for me, as a small boy I was a partaker of this feeding…for me this was picnic!

In her latter years and especially after the death of her husband, my grandfather James Coulter (Jimmy/Nim) in 1976, she had a quiet existence and although she lived at home in Tyresson until her death two years later, she endured a lot of hardship and had very little care. I look back with sadness, that I wasn’t closer to her to help and talk to her about her Higginson family. Especially after the research results which I have now available (thanks to Trish Wylie and Mr Google!) about her distinguished lineage. I would have been interested to know how much she really knew about the Higginson line?

I’ve always looked upon her as different to other woman in the district. The research to hand to day confirms just that!

Granny Coulter, Anna May Higginson. Her parents were Robert Henry Higginson 1857-1939 and Mary (Minnie) McCoy 1855-????. Mary was born in Gortraney, Ballinderry, Co Antrim. Unsure of Robert Henry’s birthplace.  They were married in Moira Methodist Church, Co Antrim on 24 March, 1880. He died in Gortagilly, Moneymore and interred in Magherafelt (perhaps in St Swithins, grave not yet located). They had 4 children, Edwin McCoy H b1882, Albert John H b1883, Lousie H b1887, Louisa Isabel b1888, Anna May b1894 (Granny Coulter). These families still to be researched in more detail!!

It is from Albert John’s line that Trish Wylie appears (See My Heritage Family Tree). She is our second cousin. From her My Heritage Tree I got a “Smart Match” in April 2013. We communicated and she directed me to her Ancestry.com website, where I discovered a wealth of information. From this contact I’ve also discovered some more second cousins, one being Johnnie Harpur BA, MSc, PhD (Trish’s full cousin). He was educated at Queens University, Belfast and is now Psychology Professor Emeritus at the Mount Allison Universtity, New Brunswick on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Robert Henry’s parents, Hammond Higginson 1809-1903. Born in Ballinderry, Co Antrim. Married Mary (maiden name unknown). The following information is taken from “Ireland The Civil Register of Deaths Index”. In 1845 he was residing in Cloughfinn, Stewartstown, Co Tyrone and in the same year it states that a Hammon Higginson was made Church Warden in Donaghendry Parish. (now 36 years old) In 1855 is still residing in Cloughfinn and is renting land for eight pounds, ten shillings and nine pence per year.

In the Griffiths Valuations of 1859, Hammond is paying fourteen pounds, fifteen shillings to the Worshipful Company of Salters :  http://www.proni.gov.uk/introduction__salters__papers_d4108.pdf

for land and buildings at Ballymoghan More, Magherafelt.

So at some stage, between 1845 and 1859, land had been purchased in the townland of Ballymoghan More, which they had moved to.  In 1901 at the age of 91 he is still living in Ballymoghan More together with wife Mary, son Robert, daughter in law Minne, grandson Edwin and grand daughters Louisa and May (my Granny Coulter dob 1894).

Both he and wife Mary died, I assume, at different times in 1903, in Ballymoghan More, located between Magherafelt and Moneymore. (Unknown when the Higginson family moved to Gortagilly. This land I understand was bought from the Badger family!)

The Gortagilly homestead to day is in ruins……drove past in October 2013!

Hammond’s parents were Edward Higginson, dob unknown Ballinderry, died 1864 in Ballinderry, Co Antrim. Maria (maiden name unknown) was his wife and they had two children. Mary Jane b 1807 and Hammond b 1809. No further records or information found.

An Edward Higginson, born Co Down (Carnalea??) in the American Civil War, see link!!

To be researched further!!

http://weezy.info/pdf/GrandmaMePart3Chptr6.pdf

We now approach an era where I began researching a lot by using Google and the name HIGGINSON! I soon discovered there were many Higginson’s who had contributed to history. However having a well prepared Family Tree to follow and quite a few hours of research and puzzling, I began to get links that matched the names on the Family Tree. The observations from the Tree and the Google sources showed clearly that quite a few Higginson’s held professional positions in English, Irish and American society….clergy, military titles, solicitor etc. I have managed to associate some of them with the Ancestry.co Family Tree researched and prepared by Trish Wylie and have also succeeded in linking some of them to the “Higginson of Carnalea” blog on the following site. I now believe this to be the direct line to Hammond, Robert Henry, Anna May/James Coulter and not least to Yvonne’s and my Mum,Thelma Higginson Coulter!

http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.se/2012/07/carnalea-house.html

This is a remarkable find as it confirms some of the Higginson’s already listed in Trish’s Family Tree!

Edward’s parents were Thomas Henry Higginson 13 September 1730- 3 August 1773 (1768?) Ireland is given as birthplace. He married Mary Welsh 23 April 1712. She died 6 August 1741. Edward had 6 brothers & sisters. (See Family Tree for details) CONFUSION : MARY WELSH IS GIVEN AS WIFE ON 2 GENERATIONS, THIS GEN & BELOW!….to be investigated!!

Thomas’s parents were Edward Higginson 1700-1773 and Mary????. Born and died in Mosslands, Ballinderry.. In the 1851 Census, Edward is stated as being a labourer. Died at the age of 53.

Edward’s parents were William Higginson 1673-1726. He married Mary Hull in 1689. William was 16 and Mary 19. Can this info be correct? They had 6 children, including Edward. (See My Heritage Family Tree for other family members).

COL: EDWARD HIGGINSON

William’s parents were Col Edward Higginson 1634-1713  and Mary Savage 1634-1715. They seem to have been a very interesting pair……and now for some  interesting facts on Mary and Col Edward’s background.

Mary’s father was Richard Savage, b 1600 in Ardkeen Castle, Ardes, Co Down, Ireland. He was married to Jean Nevin born about 1602, from Monkredding House, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. Jean’s father was Thomas Nevin 1579-1651, the 3rd Laird of Monkredding.

Richard’s father was Janico (Jenkin Savage) Shenikin-A-Bui Savage, born 1538 in Ardkeen, Co Down. Died 15 June 1602. Killed in battle against the O’Neills at Clogny-ny-Castally, Co Antrim. During that period there were raging battles between the different Irish clans. More info on the battle and then the “Flight of the Earls” in 1607 in the following link!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_the_Earls

More on the Savage family in the following link!

http://www.northdowntourism.com/getattachment/Ulster-Scots-Heritage-(1)/Ulster-Scots-Trails-in-North-Down/History-of-Ulster-Scots-Trails-in-North-Down.pdf.aspx

Going back further Janico’s father was James Ferdorough Mac Jeniake Savage, born abt 1500 in Ardkeen and died in Ardkenn, Co Down. His father was Sir Roland (Rowland, Senachal of Ulster9 Savage. Born in Lecale, Co Antrim in 1445, died in Ardkeennnnn 1519. Their forefathers are traced (and illustrated on the Family Tree) back to Robert Savage 1272-1360, in Ardkeen, Co Down, Ireland!

Reverting back to Col Edward and Mary Savage!......There were 10 children from this union………..

ONE of them being Granny Coulter/Higginson’s line and that is WILLIAM HIGGINSON 1673-1726, born and died in Mosslands, Ballinderry, Co Antrim. He married MARY HULL 1670-1740, from Lisburn….more research!

Another of Col Edward’s sons was Thomas Higginson, died 1756. He married Mary Colley, from Wexford. He is named in the “Higginson of Carnalea” site, as issue of Col Edward and that the Colonel accompanied the army of William 3rd! Thomas and Mary had one recorded son…..Rev Thomas Higginson 1722-1789. He married Ann Moore 1722-1798 from Moore Hall, Boley, Co Wexford and death is recorded as Co Antrim.  Rev Thomas Edward H 1767-1819 mentioned in the “Higginson of Carnalea” web blog and found in the Tree in Ancestry.com, is from this marriage. He became Rector of Lisburn 1775 and Vicar of Ballinderry.

 http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I54244&tree=Nixon

He married his cousin Jane in 1788. One of his offspring was Thomas Edward 1789-1891, who became a Solicitor with the Honourable East India Company. He died in Madras. No offspring. He was succeeded by his brother Henry Theophilus Higginson 1798-1869. He later became JP for the irish counties of Down and Antrim, Capt of the Derriaghy Yeomanry and Sheriff of Carrickfergus.

http://books.google.se/books?id=3-78JbUTUewC&pg=PA375&lpg=PA375&dq=henry+theophilus+higginson&source=bl&ots=g9K66J-UYv&sig=tLMnPz9Ztf

Col Edward H’s parents were William Higginson 1615-1650, born in Antrim and Ellinor 1615-1678 born in Ireland!

Williams’ father was Rev John Higginson 1540-1624, Leicester, England and was Vicar of Claybrook 1577-1624. The mother was Elizabeth 1545-1635. An educated guess would say that Rev John Higginson moved to Ireland at some stage, as William is recorded as born in Antrim! Could it be that the Higginson family came to Ireland during the Ulster Plantation, which was from 1607 onwards, sponsored with land ownership, by the English parliament, to manage the new planter families. They came to Ulster mainly from Scotland and the North of England…. More research needed!!

Rev John and Elizabeth had other family who are not recorded in the Family Tree……I have deducted from available Google documentation, dates that agree with the period, that they also had another son, William’s brother, Rev Francis Higginson 1587-1630…..the following quote is taken from Wikisource. The link to the full story is : http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Higginson,_Francis_(DNB00)

 

 “HIGGINSON, FRANCIS (1587–1630), puritan divine, born in 1587, son of the Rev. John Higginson, was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, and subsequently became a member of St. John's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1609, and M.A. in 1613, and about 1615 obtained the living of Claybrooke in Leicestershire. At this time he appears to have been a strict conformist, but falling under the influence of the Rev. Arthur Hildersam, he became a conscientious nonconformist. He obtained the preachership of St. Nicholas in Leicester, but was deprived about 1627 for his nonconformity. The Bishop of Lincoln (Williams), however, permitted him to lecture during one part of the Sunday, and to assist an aged parson during the other, his late parishioners agreeing to maintain him by voluntary contributions. He also preached at Belgrave, a neighbouring village, until Archbishop Laud insisted on the withdrawal of his license, when Higginson became a leader among the Leicester puritans, and devoted much time to the preparation of young men for the university. Notwithstanding his nonconformity, he was offered the preachership to the mayor, but this, as well as several livings in the neighbourhood, he declined, on account of the degree of conformity required. He appears to have given a number of books to the town library, and to have been active in promoting measures for the relief of the protestant exiles from Bohemia and the Palatinate”

Higginson was strongly impressed with the advantages New England offered to persecuted nonconformists, and, on learning that proceedings were commenced against him in the court ofhigh commission, offered himself as a minister to the Massachusetts Bay Company in March 1628 (Young, p. 65). In 1629 the governors of the company appointed him minister to one of their settlements in New England at a liberal salary, with a promise of sufficient provision for his family in case of his death; he was also appointed one of the council (ib. pp. 194, 1209–12). With his family he sailed from Gravesend on 25 April 1629 in the Talbot, and arrived in Salem harbour on the 29th of the following June.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Higginson,_Francis_(DNB00)

Rev John’s father was Nicholas Hyggenson 1510-1581, Leicester, England and mother was Elizabeth Claybrook (or from Claybrook?) 1525-1611

Nicholas’s father was John Hyggenson 1470-1540 from Berkswell, Warwicks, England. The mother was Joanne Beauchamp 1485-1573. Married in 1505. John was apparently married twice as another female is included in the Tree. Jane Stanley 1485-1545- No marriage details given!

 This is now the extent of the Family Tree researched and prepared by Trish Wylie, to whom I extend a big thank you and with great admiration for work done. I hope that my further research via the Google sources and the written story has added to this family story, to whom we are a small part of! More research in progress!

desallen//25 October 2013

 

 

 

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