Eastham Town (part 1 of 9)

Preface

About thirty-five years ago my husband and myself, in company with his brother Freeman Higgins and his wife, went to Orleans and Eastham on Cape Cod, accepting the hospitable invitation of Jonathan Higgins, Esquire, who was then the leading attorney in that section of the State. Mr. Higgins had many valuable old deeds and records pertaining to the history and genealogy of the Higgins family. He and his close friend, Mr. Josiah Paine of Harwich, rendered us great assistance in our search for the early historical records of .this family, which at one time had more representatives in Eastham and Orleans than any other.

The original records of the town of Eastham at that time were kept in a safe at the grocery store at Orleans and we were afforded access to them. The interest aroused at that time has never waned, although a whole generation has passed since its beginning. Our research has extended from Maine to California in our own country. In England we have diligently investigated both personally and through the Rev. Charles H. Pope, author of The Pioneers of Massachusetts. The result of his investigation will be found in this work. Mr. Pope also carefully revised the manuscript several years ago and prepared it for publication. The delay of the publication for several years has made it possible to secure many new records and to verify those already obtained.

Many new records have been obtained through the efforts of Mrs. Frederick W. Benham of New Britain, Conn., daughter of the late Nelson Higgins. She has been indefatigable in her interest and has given freely of her time and strength to this work for many years. She has gained a vast fund of information in regard to Higgins families in Connecticut and New Jersey. In the latter state she was assisted very materially by Mr. Hiram E. Deats of Flemington, N. J., publisher of many New Jersey records, who took a personal interest in supplying material.

Prior to 1905 Mr. Sidney Brooks Gifford of Syracuse, N. Y., had the intention of preparing a Higgins genealogy and collected much material concerning his own and other lines. This material he generously contributed when he became aware of the preparation of this book and gave further facts as he acquired them, for several years.

Miss Elida Estelle Higgins, then residing at Augusta, Maine, now Mrs. Wellington Bond of Winthrop, Mass., contributed much material concerning Higgins families in Maine, using the resources of the State Library at Augusta with effectiveness.

Mr. Franklin A. Higgins of Brooklyn, N. Y., has permitted the use of his valuable account of Eleazer Higgins of Portland and Yarmouth, Maine, and of Eleazer's remarkable family of sons and later descendants.

Mr. James Wallace Higgins of Roselle Park, N. J., has freely contributed the results of his research in his own line, tracing with almost complete fullness the descendants of James Higgins of Union Township, N. J. Much of this appears among the Addenda, having been received too late to be put in its proper place.

Dr. Paul Hagans Ludington of Omaha, Neb., has contributed the results of his long and remarkably brilliant researches, which prove that his Hagans ancestors were descendants of Richard Higgins. His deductions have been accepted and incorporated in their proper place in the book. In an Appendix will be found his own proof that the man who called himself while in Illinois and West Virginia George Hagans was identical with Josiah Higgins of Wllliamstown, Mass., and Willsborough, N. Y., and son of Elisha Higgins of Fort Massachusetts, who was born at Eastham, Nov. 21, 1727, and was son of Elisha and Sarah (Lewis) Higgins of Eastham.

Mr. Orra E. Monnette of Los Angeles, Cal., has supplied much information secured from Mrs. Frank Sullivan Smith, daughter of Orrin Thrall Higgins of Olean, N. Y., and sister of Frank Wayland Higgins, late governor of the State of New York.

Mr. Stanley W. Smith of Boston has very kindly allowed us access to his very large and valuable collection of original deeds and other documents relating to towns and persons on Cape Cod, which he has for many years been gathering. From this collection we have verified many of our previously obtained records and secured many new ones.

Mr. Homer W. Brainard of Hartford, Conn., has given much of his time for the past two years searching many original records and adding much valuable information. He has also revised the entire manuscript of the book and has attended to getting it through the press.

That we have made mistakes and that errors have crept in is inevitable, but in as far as possible we have taken our information from town records, deeds, wills, Bible records, and other equally reliable sources. Readers are requested to refer to the Addenda, page 595, where will be found some important data which was received too late to be inserted in its proper place.

We trust that this book will establish in the minds of many their especial place in the world's family history. We have reason to regard with pride the achievements and character of Richard Higgins' descendants, some of whom have occupied prominent positions and have been distinguished as statesmen, educators, scientists, engineers, and navigators. Especially have the members of the family been noted for their ability and perseverance in overcoming obstacles and for their sturdy common sense.

The size of the volume shows that the family has increased rapidly in the later generations, yet there are manifestly many families whose records are partially or wholly omitted. It is believed that those whose records are not included in the book will be able to trace their lines of descent from Richard Higgins by the information given in its pages.

We extend an invitation to all the descendants of Richard Higgins to join the Higgins Association and in this way and by attending the annual reunion to keep in touch with the present activities of the family.

Introduction Founders' Day At Eastham

In 1644 Gov. Thomas Prence, Edward Bangs, Dea. John Doane, Richard Higgins, Nicholas Snow, Josiah Cook and John Smalley moved with their families from Plymouth to Nauset and founded the town later named Eastham, which then included Wellfleet and Orleans.

Bronze tablets in memory of these founders were dedicated on August 26, 1916, with fitting exercises, and at the same time a tablet was fixed upon the exterior of the town hall presented to the town of Eastham by Timothy Smith of Boston, in token of the town's appreciation of Mr. Smith's gift. The tablets to the foimders are five in number, similar in design, fastened to the waUs of the spacious entrance lobby of the town hall. The Smith tablet being first dedicated, and those present entering the hall. Dr. Charles H. Bangs of Swampscott, secretary of the Edward Bangs Descendants, was introduced as the chairman of the exercises of the Associations of Founders Families. Lieut. Gov. Calvin Coolidge, representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, paid tribute to the pioneer settlers and presented the tablet in honor of Gov. Thomas Prence. The audience then sang to the tune of Auld Lang Syne the song written for the occasion by Mrs. Katharine Chapin Higgins, entitled:

Chorus. Then here's to heroes brave and true, Your ancestors and mine. Who toiled and fought and marvels wrought In the days of auld lang syne.

Clarence E. Leonard of Yonkers, N. Y., representing Elbridge Gerry Snow of New York, the donor of the tablet, presented the memorial in honor of Nicholas Snow. The tablet to Richard Higgins, contributed by Mrs. Katharine C. Higgins, was presented by her son, John Woodman Higgins; the tablet to John Doane, provided by the Doane Association of America, was presented by the president of that Association, Charles E. Doane of Middleborough, and the tablet in honor of Edward Bangs, provided by the Edward Bangs Descendants, was presented by George D. Bangs of New York, the first president of that Association. Following this came the official acceptance of the memorials by the town of Eastham. Elbridge S. Small of Danvers was present and spoke as a representative of the John Smalley family. The addresses were all eloquent and interesting. They were not, however, written out in full form as dehvered and as no stenographic report was taken at the meeting, it is impossible to give these addresses at length. The exercises closed with an original poem by Mrs. Higgins and the singing of America.

In the evening another entertainment, less formal in character, was provided, consisting largely of music, reminiscence, humorous recitations and a general social reunion, and was much enjoyed. The attendance was large, and the pleasure and enjoyment manifestly genuine. The bountiful and delicious collation served by the ladies of Eastham both afternoon and evening should be mentioned.

On the day after these exercises, which was Sunday, a union service was held at the Eastham Methodist Church, led by the Methodist minister. Rev. Arthur Wadsworth, and the pastor of the Universalist Church, Rev. Hazel Kirk. Bishop Atkinson of New York delivered a fine address or sermon in which he commended the principles of the Puritan ancestors and exhorted his hearers to adopt, as their ancestors did, religion as the guide of their whole lives.

After the exercises of Saturday afternoon those descendants of Richard Higgins who were present organized the Richard Higgins Association with a membership of fifty. A simple constitution was adopted and the following officers elected:

A Historical Poem

The seven first settlers fast increased to twenty. The twenty soon reached fifty, then fourscore. And you and I can't know how many more. But now, my friends, presto! - we're going back; The centuries fast unroll; we're on the track. They have passed on, but, oh ! they made our nation, And we glide back in sacred adoration. But now the transformation is complete, We'll change our song the story to repeat.

Come hither all ye relatives that hail from near and far And hitch your fam'ly wagon to your own especial star; Ten, twelve or fifteen golden finks are counted in the chain That proves that you and I the inheritance may gain.

Be thankful you descended from the famous group of seven Who founded Eastham and became the saving lump of leaven Which permeated with its life their whole community And furnished to the girls and boys their opportunity.

Those elements of virtue, perseverance, wisdom, pluck. Were better for descendants than a gold mine or good luck. Brave, true and strong, they bore the brunt; great hardships they aisles. With dignity and poise they wait, their faces wreathed in smiles. There's Thomas Prence, the leader, whose life we celebrate; When gov'nor he was noted as impartial magistrate. In spite of opposition by ign'rant, selfish fools, 'Twas he the revenue procured to carry on the schools. Renowned, he stands preeminent for piety and zeal. His deeds and character combined, his sterling worth reveal. His salary as governor was fifty pounds a year, But he held his oflBce sacred, and from none, however dear, Would he accept a present lest his promise it might bind. For he never could be bribed to be politically kind.

shape, Pursued a firm and steady course midst difficulties great; He radiated majesty, for his form was tall and straight. All honor to our ancestor, to Gov'nor Thomas Prence, The man who sowed in politics the seeds of common sense. He married Patience Brewster, whose father was revered. For Elder William Brewster all loved and no one feared.

apart To oversee the Indians and to guard lest one should start To steal the corn, or worse, the child, who in its heedless play Was apt to wander in the woods and could be lured away. Important in the colony, his greatest gift, we say. Was from Plymouth down to Sandwich to plan the first highway.

We seek to honor with our thanks the distinguished Nich'las Snow. For sixteen years he served as clerk; we wish that we could show Him all the honor he deserved, for we are met today Because he made our pathway back a bright and shining way. Three times he was a deputy and selectman seven years. And today both clear and legible his writing still appears.

We wait till the descendants shall tell us of their deeds. But all the seven were of the best, 'tis so the record reads. And now we've gone throughout the hst - Prence, Doane, Bangs, instead They had to gain consent from the deacons of the church Before they stirred from Plymouth, or even made research. For the land was deeded to the church; beginning at Namskeket To Billingsgate, the Herring brook, you'll find it if you seek it. With all the islands, meadowlands and great Bass pond included. When a famine threatened Plymouth some could go there, they

You see, in 1644, old Plymouth town was poor. With sandy soil and barren lands, the wolf howled at the door. And so our worthy ancestors went roaming up and down. To find some better, richer soil where they could found a town. When they returned from Nauset and were asked about their search. They reported very fully to the town and to the church. But the church called them disloyal and said that they must stay, 'Twas a sin to seek for riches, so they listened with dismay. Truly here they found abimdance in their children and their health And they never were afilicted with unbecoming wealth. So finally these seven, all respected, pious men. Came forward with their reasons; again and yet again They declared they were not seeking to be richer than the others, - They esteemed them all as friends and loved them all as brothers, - But when the blessed increase in their fam'lies was so great It was plain that they must scatter or else lessen the birth rate. So finally the Plymouth church sent out these pioneers; They sold their farms and started with many prayers and tears.

And today we meet together in this fine memorial hall Giv'n by Timothy Smith to Eastham, the most gen'rous gift of all; And with his consent these tablets we have placed upon the wall That future generations the founders may recall.

We have wrested from the past just a trifle of its story, But yet it is enough to inspire us with its glory. Today we pledge allegiance to our ancestors of yore, As 1916 bows "good-bye" to 1644.

Origin Of The Name Of Higgins

There appear to be two views regarding the origin of the name of Higgins. Bardsley, a well-known writer on the origin of names, says: "Higgin, Higgins, Higginson, Higgens, Higgons and Higgon are all of the same parent stock. The name is from the nickname 'Hick,' from Richard, which became 'Higg,' and its diminutive 'Hickin' became 'Higgin.' The parent of Higgin and all its descendants is indisputably Hickin, the diminutive of Hick, which means that Richard is ancestor of all. For a brief time Hickin and Higgins ran alongside, but the lazier Higgins speedily won, and now the surname Hickin is very rare." This view makes the name of English origin. Certain scattered branches have found lodgment in Ireland in later times. If this view of the rise of the name is the correct one, they must be supposed to have sprung from the English stock at an earlier time.

Another well-known authority claims that the name of Higgins is derived from Higgin or Higgeneye manor, which in the time of Edward I belonged to the Abbey of Ramsey. The De Hygon or De Higgeneye Family held large estates in the county of Huntington in the reign of Edward I and their arms were three cranes' heads. This view of the origin of the name makes it a Norman derivative, and the family itself a Norman family.

Perhaps neither of these views is correct. The first view, that of Bardsley, seems to be wholly academic, and unsupported by historical documents. At least he produces none, but rehes upon the etymology of words solely. The second view, if true, ought to be capable of demonstration from records and documents in England. As far as known, this has never been undertaken. The name in the form Huygens, or the hke, seems to have been common in those parts of Europe lying nearest to England, and the name may have had a continental origin. The many closely similar names make the extrication of the source of the name Higgins a problem of considerable complexity and difficulty.

In the latter half of the sixteenth and in the earlier years of the seventeenth century the Higgins family flourished notably in the city of London and in the shires of Buckingham, Bedford, Worcester, Somerset, and Hereford. It belonged to the nobility of the realm and its representatives were landed proprietors, owning and controlling vast estates. A common ancestor of many of the present-day English families bearing the name of Higgins was John Higgins of Weston Underwood, Bucks, born about 1600, died 1661. The arms, crest and motto granted to him have been borne by his descendants and are as follows: Arms, "Vert, three cranes' heads erased argent." Crest, "A griffin's head erased or, gorged with a collar gules." Motto, "Virtute nihil ohstat" The present Higgins family of this descent occupies Turvey House at Bedford.

The meaning of these heraldic terms may not be known to all readers and a brief explanation will be given. The three cranes' heads are in silver on a shield of green, the necks not cut off on a straight line, but with jagged edges, as if forcibly torn away. The crest is a grifl&n's head in gold, torn off in the same manner as the cranes' heads and wearing a collar of red.

The most illustrious of the name in England was probably the famed poet and man of letters, John Higgins, born according to his own account in 1545, who flourished 1570 to 1602. Hearn says that Higgins was a student of Christ Church College, Oxford. His writings and compilations gave him an easy ascendency and leadership among the literary men of his time.

Authorities : Bardsley's -Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, p. 382; Burke's Commoners; Burke's Landed Gentry; Burke's Heraldic Illustrations; Dallaway's Sussex; Hunter's Deanery of Doncaster; Robinson's Mansions of Hertfordshire; O'Hart's Irish Pedigrees, 2d Series; Metcalf's Visitation of Worcester; The Genealogists' Guide, George W. Marshall, 1893.

Higginses In America

Many persons named Higgins have emigrated with families or as unmarried persons from England or Ireland from the beginning of the New England settlements to the present time. Those who arrived in New England prior to 1660 were Abraham- Higgins of Salem, 1637 (possibly the same man as, or father of, the Abraham Higgins of Westchester County, N. Y.), Richard and Thomas Higgins of Plymouth, Mass., 1633, Alexander Higgins of Plymouth and John Higgins of Boston, 1655. Richard Whitehead of Windsor, Conn,, mentions in 1645 his kinswomen, Hannah, Sarah, Rebecca and Abigail Higgins. Who the father of these four Higgins women was has not been discovered. The relationship of these five Higgins emigrants to each other is unknown. The fact that Richard, Thomas and Alexander were all at Plymouth about the same time makes it probable that they were relatives, but nothing is known of the degree of relationship. There were also Higginses in the southern Colonies, notably in Virginia. The main portion of this volume is taken up with what has been discovered regarding Richard Higgins of Plymouth and Eastham and his descendants. Incident to the work of discovery much material relating to the other emigrants above mentioned has been brought to light. This material has been placed in the second part or Appendix to this volume.

The English Home Of Richard Higgins

Two views of the origin of Richard Higgins of Plymouth and Eastham have been set forth. They are not in agreement. If one is accepted, the other must be false. Perhaps future researches will show that both are false.

The first view was that held by Rev. Charles H. Pope, an investigator of some note, author of The Pioneers of Massachusetts^ and other genealogical writings, who was employed by the author of this book to discover, if possible, the parentage and birthplace of Richard Higgins. Mr. Pope furnished the extracts from English wills and administrations relating to estates of persons named Higgins which are given in this book. His work was unfortunately not exhaustive, being interrupted before its completion. Mr. Pope had no clue as to the origin of Richard Higgins upon which to work, save the statement in the records of Plymouth, Mass., that on April 1, 1634, Richard Higgins of Plymouth, tailor, took Samuel Godberson as his apprentice, with the consent of William Bradford, Samuel's guardian, and agreed to teach Samuel the trade of a tailor. (This document is later given in full in the account of Richard Higgins which is contained in this volume.) Mr. Pope assumed that Richard Higgins had in his turn served his time as an apprentice under the laws of England and so was entitled to receive and instruct an apprentice legally. In this view Mr. Pope seems to have had reason and probability on his side and he was fortunate enough to find in the records of the "Honorable Company of Merchants Taylors" of the city of London, Apprentice Book, vol. 9, folio 276, the following entry:

"Ricus Higgins fil Robi Higgins de Lemster in Com Hereff Mercer po se appren Phillippo Ruddock de St. Clem*^ Lane pro Septem annis a die dat herin pro tem Dat diet die anno. 23 die Aprilis 1627."

The meaning of this entry in scrivener's Latin is: "Richard Higgins, son of Robert Higgins of Leominster in the County of Hereford, mercer, places himself as an apprentice with Philip Ruddock of St. Clements Lane, London, for the term of seven years from the date given herein, for the term aforesaid, on said day and year, April 23, 1627."

Further examination of these records shows that this apprentice did not apply for freemanship in the city of London, to which he would have been entitled on the expiration of his apprenticeship. Nor does this young man appear in any records of London or of his native county of Hereford. As a considerable number of the early settlers of Plymouth were from London, it is not unreasonable to suppose that this young man obtained leave of absence or was released by his master's death and sought to better his condition in the New World. It is worth noting that Richard Higgins of Plymouth took an apprentice in the very month in which the seven years' term mentioned in the record above given expired.

Robert Higgins, mercer, of Leominster in Herefordshire is mentioned in the will of Christopher Higgins, verger to the Dean and Chapter of Hereford, as are also Robert's children. This will is dated July 18, 1610, and calls Robert Higgins "cosin" of the testator, probably meaning nephew. If the apprenticeship of Richard Higgins was to end at his majority, the term of seven years for which he was bound would have begun when he was fourteen years old. If he was fourteen years old in 1627, he was born about 1613, and hence born after those children of Robert who were hv-ing in 1610. The birth date of 1613 would accord well with known facts about Richard Higgins of Plymouth, who came to Plymouth about 1632, a young unmarried man. His marriage to Lydia Chandler would have occurred in 1634, when Richard was twenty-one. From the wills later given a pedigree of the Hereford Higginses can be made out. (See page 24.)

The second view regarding the origin in England of Richard Higgins was published by Mr. Orra E. Monnette in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, vol. xlvi, pp. 389, 390; vol. xlvii, pp. 20-32. The main portion is here given in his exact words, as follows:

"In the church at Western (should be Weston. - Ed.) Underwood, Buckinghamshire, England, can be found several monuments, on one of which are the armorial bearings of this branch of the Higgins family, viz. :

"Rev. John Higgins, b. 1528; m. 1544, Elizabeth, dau. and coheir of Thomas Clynton, Esquire, of Castleditch (High Sheriff of CO. Hertford, 1568), and Margery, dau. of Richard Tracy, Esq. of Toddington, descendant of Sir John de Chnton, temp. Edward L"

"Rev. John Higgins was instituted Rector of Blatchley of Newport Hundred, co. Bucks, Aug. 20, 1561, and lived at Bridstone, CO. of Hertfordshire, 1570. He was reinstated after the death of his wife. His curate was Sir James Walsh. By his wife, Elizabeth Clynton, he had two sons, John, the poet and Utterateur, of whom the following account is given, and Edward."

"John, son of Rev. John Higgins, b, 1544-5, was a student at Oxford, 1572, although his name does not appear in the University Usts. He is thus described in some of his books. He was poet, antiquary, a historian of great renown, author of a revised edition of Huloet's Dictionaire, London, 1572, dedicated to Sir George Peckham. In the Library at Greenock, Scotland, a copy of this Dictionaire is kept, marked 'by John Higgins, late student Oxford in 1572,' and the pages are covered with notes, drawings and crests by John Gibbon, who visited Richard Lee in Virginia in 1659. This John Higgins resided in 1586 at Windsham, Somerset."

"Edward, b. Sep. 7, 1545; m. 1598, JuHan, dau. of Christopher and Elizabeth Meals of Bridstone, co. Hertford. She was b. in 1582; d. in Langley Parish, Stoke-hundred, Hertfordshire, Aug. 1, 1603. In the church at Langley Parish, Stoke-hundred, a brass plate bears the following inscription :

" 'Here lieth the body of Julian Higgins, wife to Edward Higgins, and dau. to Chris. & Elizabeth Meals, who lived in the Feare of God and died in the Fayth of Christ, 1 x4.ug., Anno Dni 1603, A most Kind child, a wife most mild, a spouse and daughter deare. Though young of age, modest and sage. Behold interred here.' "

It is further stated that it was Richard Higgins, born Aug. 1, 1603, who became the settler in Plymouth, coming thither in the ship Anne in 1623, with Nicholas Snow, who had been his neighbor in England, and that Richard returned and was temporarily at Leyden, and again reached New England in the ship Talbot in August, 1629.

Mr. Monnette in the article before quoted further says that Mrs. Frank S. Smith of New York City (n^e Clara Alzina Hapgood Higgins, and sister of Gov. Frank Wayland Higgins) has old documents and records, tombstone inscriptions, deeds and wills, also a snuff box with the aforesaid Higgins arms thereon, preserved by her ancestor Timothy Higgins (see Number 267 of this volume), which prove the descent of Richard Higgins of Plymouth and Eastham from the Rev. John Higgins before mentioned. The article also contains a reproduction of an old portrait which is declared to be a genuine portrait of the emigrant, Richard Higgins, and further declares that Mrs. Smith has herself visited the ancestral seat in England and has procured Mr. Gustav Anjou, a genealogist, to verify each record, which, presumably, he succeeded in doing.

We regret to disagree with the conclusions of Mr. Monnette, based upon Mrs. Smith's records and relics, and doubt that the Richard Higgins, born Aug. 1, 1603, was the emigrant Richard Higgins who settled at Plymouth about 1632. It is only fair that reasons for this doubt should be given, and this will be done. Let it be understood that we do not question the accuracy of the English records, nor do we deny that Edward and Julian (Meals) Higgins of Langley Parish, Hertfordshire, had a son Richard, born Aug. 1, 1603. It is the identity of this Richard Higgins with the emigrant Richard which is doubted and denied.

Mention is made of wills and deeds as proof of the identification of Richard the emigrant. If by this is meant American wills and deeds, it can be said that no wills or deeds, now on record at Plymouth, Mass., Barnstable, Mass., or Middletown, Conn., prove any such claim, for all have been examined, and nothing to prove this has been found. If English wills are meant, only the wills or deeds of Richard's alleged father or his grandfather could prove any such fact. That these have been transmitted down to the present time by direct tradition from Richard the emigrant is doubtful.

Tombstone inscriptions in America would prove nothing. There are none old enough. English tombstone inscriptions, unless the fact was actually inscribed on the tomb of Edward Higgins that his son Richard really emigrated to New England and settled at Plymouth - a most improbable addition to a mortuary inscription - would prove nothing.

A snuff box bearing the Higgins arms, or what would pass for such, could have easily been procured or have originated at a time after the death of Richard Higgins, the emigrant. To prove that such a box was actually his property would require very unusual and complete evidence which has not yet been produced.

The costume of the young man in the alleged portrait of Richard Higgins is not of the period of the first half of the seventeenth century. Rather it is the costume of the period from 1790 to 1830. It is possibly the portrait of Timothy Higgins, or of some one of that period. Timothy Higgins was born in 1767 at Middle Haddam, Conn. His father, Israel Higgins, born in 1728, came to Middle Haddam about 1740. If these alleged proofs are genuine, they must have been brought to Middle Haddam from Eastham at the time of the removal to Connecticut, or obtained after that from Eastham. If the proofs had been in Eastham from the time of Richard the emigrant down to 1740 or later, they would have been common property to many branches of the Higgins tribe, for the period is long, more than one hundred years. There is absolutely no trace of any knowledge of the English home of Richard the emigrant among his descendants for the first hundred years. This is in itself reasonable proof that no such evidence existed in that early time.

Mrs. Crosby of Brewster, Mass., daughter of Simeon Higgins of Brewster, possesses an old coat of arms, painted in color, alleged to have been brought from England and certified to be genuine Higgins arms by Sir Something-or-other Higgins. Personal inspection of this "coat of arms" in the summer of 1916 showed that it bore no resemblance whatever to the genuine Higgins arms previously described. Further, the principles of heraldry were flagrantly violated in its composition. It is clear that both the arms and the alleged certification were inventions, probably of some unscrupulous trafficker in arms and pedigrees. The present owner of this "coat of arms" was ignorant of this deception and entirely innocent in her confidence of its value and genuineness.

Wills Of Persons In England Named Higgins

Henry Hygyns, backer and citizen of London within the parish of St. Leonard in Estchepe, made will 22 March, 1537, proved 9 Dec, 1540. Brothers Richard and Newdigate Hygyns; wife Marget.

Elizabeth Hygens, of London, made will 1 April, 1559, proved 21 Sept., 1560. Desired to be bm-ied in the cloister of St. Mary Woolnors in Lombard Street; bread to be distributed at the funeral, tapers borne by six children, her body to be borne to the earth by four priests and four clerks. She made bequests to brother Robert Hygens; to John's children, John and George Hygons, and to legatees of other names.

John Higgins, citizen and merchant tailor of London, made will 10 Oct., 1565, proved 4 Oct., 1567. All to persons of other names: sister Susan Burlingam, cosens Wm. Parker, Wm. Foster, brother Richard Bragdon of the city of Worcester.

To the poor of Colebrook and Horton in county Bucks. Sons George and Edward, daughters Isabel and Mary, wife Mary. Lands at Langley Marsh, Bucks. Mentions Stephen Higgons, apothecary, of London, and John Higgons of Bromesgrove; Thomas Higgins of Shrewsbury, one of the overseers. Son Edward and Thomas Higgins executors. Left something toward the paving of the floor of the cathedral church of St. Paul (that ancient one over whose ruins the present cathedral was erected); to poor prisoners in Newgate, King's Bench and Marshalsey prisons.

Thomas Higgons, the elder, of Lincolns Inn in the county of Middlesex, gent., made will Aug. 3, 1604, proved 10 Nov. 1604. To wife Margaret property in the town of Shrewsbury; brother Richard Higgons, sister Margaret, wife of William Harris, parson of Stretton; daughters Elizabeth Heyle and Katherine Heynes; nephew Thomas Higgons, preacher; Thomas Higgons, the younger, executor. To the poor of St. Julians, St. Alkmonde and St. Mary's.

I Richard Higgens of the precinct of St. Martin's Le Grand in London within the parish of St. Anne and St. Agnes at or neare Aldersgate in London Taylor beinge sicke and weake in body but of pfect mynde and remembrance I give god thankes therefore doe make and declare this to be my last will and testament, ffirst I give and bequeath my soule into the handes of Almightie god my maker, trusting through the meritts death and passion of my lord and saviour Jesus Christ to have and enjoye everlasting life in the Kingdome of heaven amongst the elect and chosen of god. Secondly I commende my bodie to the earth to be buried in christian buriall at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named. Thirdly I doe order give will devise and dispose of all my worldly goods & chattells in manner and forme foUowinge. ffirst I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sara the wife of Robert Thripland yeoman in money Twentie pounds of lawful] English money, to make up with that some of twentie pounds wch I have formerly given her the full some of fortie pounds in full satisfaction and payement of her childes parte of all my goods and chattells.

Item, I will and bequeath unto my godson John Thripland Sonne of the said Robert Thripland forty shillings of lawful! English money. Item, I give, will and bequeath unto the foure children of my brother John Higgens to evry of them tenn shillings the peece of lawfull money of England. Item. I give and bequeath to my sister Joane Broome tenn shillings of lawfull money of England. Item. I give and bequeath unto my brother John Higgens my best hatt, my best cloake, my best doublett, hose, stockings, shirts and shirt bands. Item. I give and bequeath unto my brother William Higgens my gowne and my other cloke and my hat with the double sipresse bande, upon this condition that my said brother William Higgens shall come himselfe in pson and fetch them within three months next after the dale of my decease, if not I give and bequeath the same gowne to the said Robert Thripland, and the rest of the things to be disposed of at the pleasure of my executrix. Item. I give and bequeath to John Baker marchantaylor of London my Steele bowe and arrowes and a peece of money being an Edward peece of five shillings. Item. I give and bequeath to John Chester another Edward peece of five shillings and my broken lath, the old tiller, the nutt and bender of a Steele bowe. Item. I give and bequeath to my friend William Ball of St. Martin's Le Grand Shoomaker an other Edward five shillings. Item. I give and bequeath to Walter Deane five shillings. Item. I give and bequeath to my nowe servant Anne Webber (if she be dwelling with my wife at my decease) five shillings. Item, my will and mynde is that my loving wife Alice Higgens during her widowhood shall enjoye my house situate in Angel Alley in the precinct of St. Martin's Le Grand and immediately after her dale of marriage or daie of death first happeninge my said daughter Sara Thripland and her assignes to have the said house for all the years then to come in my lease thereof. And lastly I constitute and appoint my said loving wife to be my sole Executrix of this my last will and testament and I give her all the rest of my goods and chattells not herein otherwise given, willed or bequeathed. In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seall the daye and yere above written.

Robert Higgens, "citizen and Barber Surgeon of London," made his will Feb. 4, James 44, proved March 5, 1610. Bequeathed to the poor of the parish of St. Bride als Bridget, London, where he dwelt; to sister Lienor Blake and her son Thomas No well; cosen Mary Calcott; "man," John Everett.

Richard Higgins, "cittizen. Barber and Surgion" of London, made will 4 May, James 43, proved 5 July, 1611. Wife Joane, children Francis, Martyn, Elizabeth and Margaret; sister in lawe Anne Wildinge; kinsman Roger Smith, gentleman, and John Halsey, merchant taylor, executors; scrivenor, John Jackson.

Thomas Higgins, gent, and Groome in ordinary of His Majesty's Removing Wardrobe, made will 22 April, 1629, proved at London 22 May, 1629. Wife Sarah, daughter Dorothy. £300 due from Hjs Majesty.

Joane Higgins, of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, widow, 5 April 1636, mentions son Nathaniel Higgins, sister Frances, wife of Arthur Ardington.

"Anne or Agnes" Higgins, widow, of Arundell in the diocese of Chichester, made wiU in 1603, bequeathing to her children of other names Walwyn, Peter, etc.

Thomas Higgons, of Rye, co. Sussex, will proved 9 Nov., 1608. Wife Martha; sons WiUiam and Thomas. Brother William Higgons and John Halsey of London, gent., executors.

Richard Higgons, of Bury, co. Sussex, Esquire, made will 11 April, 1632. Sons Edward and George, daughters Anne and Katherine; wife Elizabeth, daughter of Wilham Ryman. Sister Dorothie.

Joane Hygens, widow of Arthur, made will 24 May, 1622, mentioning her husband's brothers Alexander and Robert, her bondsmen as executrix of her husband's will. No other important references.

Agnes Higgins, of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, baptized at Chalton, Southampton, spinster; bros. John and Edward, sister Margery. Will proved 16 Oct., 1633.

Richard Higgins, the elder, of Havant, Hants, yeoman, made will 12 May, 1642; proved 14 Oct., 1642, wife Joanna; son Richard Higgins to have five shillings within month after father's decease and to be residuary legatee; younger children John and Johann. Brother Alexander, executor.

Robert Higgons, gent., of Chilton, Bucks. Will 8 Feb., 1615. Son Theophilus and Anne his wife; son John and Frances his wife; my late servant John Chilton, etc.

Alice Higgens, widow, of Westlidford, co. Somerset; will proved 15 April, 1609. Daughter Joane Higgens; to Mary Higgens' sons Peter, Henry, Thomas and John; Thomas Higgens' daughter Joane. Other names.

Joane Higgin, single woman, Henbury, co. Gloc, made will 25 June, 1625, proved at London; gave her money to her mother EHzabeth, wife of Robert Hodges.

Edward Higgins, gent., of Tiderington, co. Gloc, made will 27 Feb., 1630. Sons William, Alexander, Edward and John; daughters Elizabeth and Anne; wife Martha. Proved at London 10 June, 1635.

Richard Higgins, of Sifton, husbandman, made will 20 Jan., 1648, proved at London 30 May, 1650. To son Richard £8, which is to be invested for his benefit. Wife Blanch. To be buried in the parish church of Culmington (Salop).

Richard Higgins, of Edge in the parish of Pontisburie, co. Salop, yeoman, made wiU March 1, 1597, proved at London. To be buried in the parish church near his last wife Joane. Sons John, Anthony, WiUiam, Thomas and Reignold, the latter to be executor. Daughter Johane; grandchildren Edward, Richard and John, sons of Reignold.

Edward Higgins, of Burton, co. Hereford, gent., made will 20 Feb. 37 James, 1605. Proved at London. Wife Margaret, sons Anthony, Charles and Rowland, daughter Elizabeth. Robert Higgins, of [Trerable?] in co. Hereford, gent., one of the overseers.

Christofer Higins, verger to the Dean and Chapter of the city of Hereford, made wiU 18 July, 1610, proved at London 21 Jan., 1611. Brother Richard Higgins of Hope under [Dinmore] in same county and his sons Christopher and Thomas; to every child of cosin Robert Higgins of Leomster, mercer; to the children of late cosin John Higins of Leomster and to Elinor Higins their mother, brother-in-law John Bishopp of London, gent., much property in leased lands.

John Higgins, of St. Olave's parish, Southwark, co. Surrey [now in London], scrivenor, made will 28 March, 1618, proved in March following. To the poor of the parish and of Yarpoll in co. Hereford where he was born; sister Jane, wife of Edward GrijQfith of Bedson, co. Salop; sister Elinor Higgins; to cosen John Davies his best desk of Virginia wood; only brother Thomas Higgins, blest with temporal goods.

Christopher Higgins, of St. Peter's parish in the city of Hereford, gent., made will 27 April, 1640. To wife Jane and sons Christopher and Richard (the younger son); daughters Jane and Haima; brother Thomas Higgins; sister Elinor.

Richard Higgins, "at present belonging unto the states shipp Swiftsure," made his will Aug. 1, 1657, proved at London Aug. 25, 1657. Wife Mary, sons Richard, William, Robert; to brother Robert Higgins best suite of apparell and coate at London; to brother Beaman pair of silk stockings.

Richard Higgins, of Portskewet, co. Monmouth, yeoman, made will 25 Oct., 1655, proved at London 19 Feb., 1656. Wife Anne, sons William and Thomas, daughters Elizabeth and Mary.

James Higgons, of Ballj'^kelly, co. Londonderry, Ireland, gent, made will Nov. 5, 1634, proved at London May 1, 1635. Only son James absent in England. To daughters Frances and Jane all his interest in the lands at Londonderry, set apart to the Fishmonger's Company of London. All friends mentioned bear English names. Nephew Wilham Higgons.

Theophilus Higgins, born 1578(?), died in 1659; was the son of Robert Higgins and was born at Chilton, near Brill, in Bucks. He was a student at Oxford and inclined to puritanism. Later he married and became a convert to Roman Catholicism.

Sir Thomas Higgins, born in 1624, died 1691; became celebrated as diplomatist and author. He was a son of Rev. Thomas Higgins, D.D., rector of Westbury, Shropshire, by his second wife,

Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Barker of Haghmond Abbey in Shropshire. Thomas Higgins, Jr., studied at Oxford, but left without a degree. In 1647 or 1648 he married Elizabeth, widow of Robert Devereux, third Earl of Essex, and daughter of Sir William Paulet, knight, of Edington, Wiltshire. He married for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth (Grenville) Leach. By his first marriage he had daughters, Elizabeth and Frances. By his second marriage he had sons, George, Thomas and Bevil.

Thomas Higgins became a member of Parliament in 1658-9 and was later knighted, receiving a pension of £500 and gifts worth £4000 in recognition of his valuable service to the government. He was the government envoy at Vienna for three years. He was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

John Higgins, poet and compiler, was born 1545. He was a student at Oxford according to Hearn. An account of his extensive writings and compilations is given, but nothing as to his family.

And His Descendants

1. RICHARD HIGGINS was born in England. Nothing is known of his childhood and youth, nor of the causes which led him to migrate to New England. How he reached Plymouth is miknown. It has been said that he arrived there in the ship Anne in 1623 in company with Nicholas Snow and that he returned to England, sailing again for New England about 1632, and again reaching Plymouth. This is most improbable. Nicholas Snow did come in the Anne in 1623, and in the autumn of that year lands were assigned to the men who were her passengers. Snow's name is among them, but not that of Richard Higgins. Bradford says that some who came in this ship were so bad that he was obliged to send them back at the first opportunity. If Richard Higgins were of this class, he would not have been readmitted ten years later. It is to be noticed that some who came in the Anne were Richard Higgins's friends and associates later at Eastham, but this can be accounted for without assuming that they were fellowpassengers in the Anne. The most probable view is that Richard Higgins was a passenger on one of the several ships which arrived at Salem, Mass., during the years 1629-32, most of whose passengers afterward settled at Plymouth. There is no evidence that Richard Higgins was ever at Leyden, Holland, at any time. He arrived at Plymouth in time to raise or to purchase some corn of the crop of 1633. He was then apparently a man of fuU age, possessing a trade, - that of a tailor, - but no family. On Oct. 7, 1633, he bought of "Thomas Little his now dwelling howse and misted, for and in consideration of twenty-one bushels of merchantable corne, whereof twelve bushels to be pd in hand, & the remainder at harvest next ensuing." March 1, 1633 (six or seven months later), he was taxed 9 shillings, and on March 27, 1634, he was taxed 12 shillings in corn, or two bushels. In 1633 or 1634 he was admitted freeman, that is, quaUfied to serve as a deputy and to vote for officials of the Colony government. (It may be that he

He Died Before 1675

A RESIDENT OF PLYMOUTH FROM 1633 T0 1644 A RESIDENTATPOCHETH^ EASTHAM FROM 1644 TO 1669. A PLANTER AT NEW PISCATAWAY IN EAST JERSEY IN 1669. HE DIED BEFORE 1675.

And In New Jersey Maine And Connecticut

THROUGH FIVE SONS AND THREE DAUGHTERS HE BECAME THE FOREFATHER OF THE HICCINS FAMILY ON THESE SHORES AND IN NEW JERSEY MAINE AND CONNECTICUT took only the oath of fidelity at this time. In March, 1636, he certainly was a freeman of the Colony.) He soon took more important action. April 1, 1634, Samuel Godberson, son of Godbert Godberson of New Plymouth, deceased, was duly apprenticed to Richard Higgins, aforesaid, tailor, for the term of seven years from April 1, 1634. Samuel was a ward of the Colony, and Bradford agreed to deliver to Higgins "six bushels of come and a cowe calfe this present year or the next"; Higgins was to deliver to said Samuel the calf and half her increase at the expiration of the term of seven years. Meanwhile Richard Higgins had acquired a better dwelling place. January 13, 1633-4, John Barnes sold to Richard Higgins and his heirs forever "one dwelling house and twenty acres of land, being lately in the possession of Edward Holman, with all the fence, boards, timber (squared and unsquared) (belonging to the same) in consideration of ten pownd starhng to be paid in currant English money or beaver at the rate it shaU passe at the day of payment which is the 20th of March in the year of our Lord 1634. And also that the said Richard shall possesse the said John and his heirs of 20 acres of land in Scituate in some convenient place." Having now a good house and twenty acres of land, and being a tailor with an apprentice, Richard Higgins bethought himself of a wife and his eye fell upon Lydia Chandler, daughter of Edmund Chandler, of Duxbury and Scituate. She was favorable to his suit, and on December 11, 1634,* they were married and went to housekeeping in the house bought of John Barnes.

"March 14, 1635-6. To Mr. Heeks (Hicks) and George Watson (wth Rich. Higgens for one beast) was granted the rest of the said Island Creeke." (Hay ground for Plymouth and Duxbury.)

"Last day of August 1639. That Richard Higgins for and in consideration that John Smaley shall teach Samuel Godbertson the trade of a taylor, as far as in him lyeth, and principally to employ him therein, hath assigned and set over all the residue

We can only conjecture the reason why Richard Higgins wished to be rid of his apprentice. The most probable reason is that his increasing duties as farmer and citizen made it necessary for him to discontinue his work as a tailor. Possibly it was the competition introduced by John SmaUey, who was evidently also a tailor. There being insufficient business for two tailors in Plymouth, Higgins may have decided to retire from the field and leave it to Smalley. They were good friends and fellow planters at Eastham later, and it was doubtless a friendly arrangement.

"3 December 1639. Richard Higgins of Plymouth, taylor, was bound (gave bond) for xx li in the case of Samuel Chandler, accused of slanders against the govr and govt." The bond was afterward released.

"March 1638-9. Fourty acres of upland lying at the southeast side of the great South pond and two parcells of marsh ground for meaddow lying southwest from the sd upland, are graunted unto Richard Higgens."

"June, 1640. John Smaley and Richard Higgens have exchanged two parcels meadow land one acre Smaley had at Blew fish river, with Richard for a parcel of meadow ground granted him at Warren's Wells containing two acres."

"That one be made at broken wharf by Manassah Kempton, Edward Bangs, Richard Higgens, NathanieU Morton, Nicholas Snow, Anthony Snow, John Jenkins, Wilham Fallowell, Robte Finney, John and Ephraim Morton."

"30 Nov., 1640. Twenty acres of land at Mannamatt (Manomet) pond, formerly granted long since to Richard Higgins the Court doth now confirm to him, with enlargement at the head of his home lot, part where of is already taken in."

In 1642, 1643 and 1644 Richard Higgins was a juryman in several petty cases. In 1643 his name was among those of men from sixteen to sixty years old, capable of bearing arms, and there is no doubt that he engaged in the military training and exercises then in use, but there is no record of his serving in actual warfare as a soldier. During the twelve years or more of his residence in

Plymouth we see him acquiring land, and performing his civil duties, and there is reason to believe that his standing in the community was good, and indeed increasingly good, during the whole period. He soon took a step which showed his enterprise and increased still further his influence in the Colony. He left Plymouth with six other men, and settled at Nauset, later the town of Eastham.

"In 1640 Gov. Bradford, at the public request, transferred to the Colony the Warwich patent of 1630. For the original purchasers were reserved three modest tracts, - one at Sowams, one near Yarmouth, and the third at Nauset (Eastham). The latter soon acquired singular importance. Plymouth was so depleted by emigration to the newer towns that she became very dull, and her business scanty. Several of her people, attributing this decay to the poorness of her soil and the 'straightness' of the place, persuaded the community to declare for a general removal to some fertile region which should give room for all and admit of expansion as the population increased. Singularly enough, Nauset was selected, and to it the church prepared to emigrate in a body.

"Only a few had opposed this project; but soon there was a general waking-up to the fact that every objection brought against Plymouth would lie with equal or greater force against Nauset. Not only would the dwellers at the new spot be beyond the reach of prompt relief and without defence if assailed, but the territory, so far from allowing a progressive expansion, was not large enough for even those then preparing to occupy it. In fact, Plymouth was vastly superior in many respects, and inferior in none.

"Some few persisted in removing, and in 1644 a company went headed by ex-Governor Prence, Deacon John Doane, Nicholas Snow, John Smalley and Edward Bangs. The traveller along the Cape, where the purest English communities in the country are to be found, wiU constantly hear some of these surnames, and will often find them represented by the leading inhabitants. The new plantation prospered, and in 1651 became Eastham. Had the site chosen been in the region of Bristol or New Bedford, Plymouth would perhaps have shared the fate of Jamestown, or at least have fallen into obscurity. After this loss of active householders, Plymouth's fortunes reached a distressingly low ebb. In the same year with the migration death removed Brewster, Hopkins, Atwood and Jenney, and Bradford sadly wrote in his History: 'Thus was this poor church left like an ancient mother grown old and forsaken of her children (though not in their affections), until she that had made many rich, became herself poor.' " - Goodwin, The Pilgrim Republic, pp. 411-12.

In August, 1645, he sold for twelve pounds his dwelling house, outhouse and buildings with garden and orchard situated near Brownes Rock, provided "it shall be lawful for the said Richard to take away the boards that line the inward room and the bedstead and board overhead, and some fruit trees in the orchard so that he leaves the said John Church well 30 trees." October 29, 1649, it is recorded that Richard Higgens had received from John Churchwell "full satisfaction upon ^11 accompts. From the beginning of the world to the present time." This throws light upon the kind of dwelling Higgins possessed at Plymouth, and some of its furnishings. The house apparently contained but two rooms, an outer which was the kitchen and living room, and an inner which was both parlor and bedroom. Neither room was plastered, but the inner room was lined and ceiled with good boards, and had a bedstead in the corner, which was built into the structure of the house. There may have been a loft overhead, and there was certainly a large chinmey at the kitchen end of the house. Such houses were common in the early settlements in New England. The roof was probably thatched, but may have been boarded or shingled. This house was at the extreme southeastern end of the village, where Eleazer and Joseph Churchill were living in 1701, and possibly one of them occupied the ancient dwelling then. Hobbs Hole and Barnes Point and Ouberry are near-by, as shown by the map in Davis' Landmarks of Plymouth.

There is no record to show whether Lydia Chandler, the first wife of Richard Higgins, was living in 1645 or not, but probably she was hving and accompanied him to Nauset. She was, however, deceased by 1650. It has been asserted that she was not a daughter of Edmund Chandler for the reason that she is not mentioned in the latter 's will of 1662. This is not a potent argument, as she was not living at the making of the will, and therefore not likely to be mentioned by the testator. That she was a daughter of Roger Chandler, as alleged by another, has no confirmation in any record thus far discovered.

The records discovered at Leyden, Holland, and published by Dexter {The England and Holland of the Pilgrims, p. 609), mention Edmond Chandler, say-weaver, draper and then pipemaker in Leyden from November 11, 1613, to April 17, 1626. He married before March 26, 1619, but no children's names are mentioned. The Leyden records also mention Roger Chandler, who married at Leyden, July 21, 1615, Isabella Chilton. He was from Colchester, co. Essex, and a say-weaver while at Leyden.

At the census taken at Leyden, October 15, 1622, Roger Chandler and his wife Isabella, and two children, Samuel and Sarah, are mentioned, but there is no mention of Edmond or his family, although the record mentions his being at Leyden in April, 1626. If Lydia Chandler was daughter of Edmond, she must have been born several years before that child of his who was buried in St. Peter's Church at Leyden, March 26, 1619, to have been of marriageable age in 1634. Both Edmond and Roger Chandler migrated to America about 1629 or 1630, and settled at Duxbury, which is near Plymouth and under its jurisdiction at that time.

Richard Higgins located in that part of Eastham known as Pochet, the most fertile tract in the town, on the outer or ocean side of the peninsula, but separated from the open Atlantic by a quiet bay and the long barrier now called Nauset Beach. It must have been greatly exposed to wdnd and deluged with spray when easterly storms prevailed, and none too productive as tillable land. Daniel Cole, Lieut. Joseph Rogers and others were his nearest neighbors here. This part of the town is now called East Orleans, and is a mile or two east from the village of Orleans, the earKest and oldest vUlage in the town of Eastham, a town which originally covered much more territory than now.

"1 June 1647. In a petty jury for trials was Richard Higgins." Same date. "The committees for this Courte. Nawsett. Josias Cooke and Richard Higginson (sic)."

These two entries are interesting. They show that Richard Higgins had journeyed from Nauset to Plymouth on public business, probably by water across the bay. The trip by land would have been long, and roads were probably non-existent east of Barnstable and Yarmouth. He was attending the county court and also representing with Cooke the new plantation of Nauset, which had not yet attained the full rights of a town. When these rights were fully attained, its representatives at the General Court (legislature) of Plymouth Colony were called deputies. Richard Higgins later held this position also.

"March 11, 1657-8. Richard Higgins was one of four men chosen to settle the bounds between Barnstable and Yarmouth. They reported to the court of Oct. 6, 1660."

Richard Higgins was with others committee or deputy from Eastham to the Plymouth General Court in the years 1653, 1654, 1655, 1657, 1658, 1660 and 1665.

John Yates and his wife Mary (her maiden name unknown) were of Duxbury, where their son John was born August 15, 1650. They soon removed to Eastham, where John, the father, died in 1651, administration on his estate being granted to his widow Mary Yates on June 8, 1651. Richard Higgins and Mrs. Yates found themselves congenial, and in October, 1651, they were married. There were now three boys in the Higgins household, Jonathan and Benjamin, sons of Richard Higgins, and John Yates, a little more than a year old. To these in due course of time several more were added. Mrs. Mary Higgins was destined to survive her second husband, and to marry a third, whom she also survived, as will appear.

"Oct. 6, 1657. Mr. John Done, Josias Cooke, Richard Sparrow and Richard Higgins desired some proportions of land att a place about thirteen English miles from Rehoboth : the Court do condecend thereto, if they doe not intrench on any lands alreddy graunted to any others, and it bee orderly purchased of the right native proprietors, and likewise that they bee willing that others may bee accomodated by them there, if occation shall require."

"Court of June 1, 1658. A portion of land graunted unto Mr. John Done, Josias Cooke, Richard Higgins and Richard Sparrow, lying betwixt Bridgewater and Weymouth, which was formerly mencioned by Capt. Cudworth and others, the said Mr. Done, and the rest to have considerable proportions of the said land, answerable to others in like case, and for the remainder, that John Smalley and others bee supplyed out of it, bearing theire p'te in the charge."

These two grants appear to have been attempts toward new plantations, but nothing is known to have come of either. The following are from the oldest Eastham town book:

"April 20, 1659. A parcel of land lying on the northeasterly side of the Mill containing thirty acres, - six belonging to the Mill possessed by Richard Higgins."

"April 27, 1659. A parcel of land Granted to Richard Higgins near Young's Cove (commonly so-called), near Mr. Southworth's & Mr. John Mayo's."

"Land granted to Richard Higgins to the Mill at the East pond upon condition of his leaving a highway between him and Nicholas Snow downe to the water side. He had libertie to take in over (?) the high way on the westerly side of his land which went down to the Mill . . . down to a stump near the bass pond side, below Jonathan Higgins old house that was on the place of said house" (rest not legible).

"A parcel of meddow granted to the Mill possessed by Richard Higgins lying in a place commonly called Billingsgate meddow, lying next to John Mayo" (p. 6).

Date illegible. "The Town granted land to Richard Higgins & his heirs forever, with a suflBcient highway left on the other side of the bass pond river at the water side, running up by the west side of the rush marsh, so running up by the long Sv/amp containing four pole in breadth into the Common to the upper boundrees of the mill land . . . the Sayd Richard Higens is to have one this side the bass pond ... in his own land lying next to Nicholas Snows land, so running down to the water side, only the said Richard Higens had liberty Granted him (to use or discontinue?) the highway to the bass pond which was the way which formerly went to the Mill & on the other side of the bass pond"

"April 27, 1659. A house lott which was John Smalley's, lying next to Richard Higgins, with a small addition lying next to the water side . . . betwixt Mr. William Bradford & Richard Higgins" (pp. 86, 87).

"The 130th wood lot was Set to and is the one of Richard Higgins of Eastham . . . and lies in sd Eastham on the northerly side of the 129th lot of Benjamin Higgins."

"Granted at the same meeting (of the town of Eastham) Feb. 17, 1658 that Richard Higgins shall have a swamp lying at the head of the Bass Pond, containing half an acre, be it more or less, pro\aded he leave a sufficient watering place for cattle to drink."

"June 1, 1659. Whereas it is an order of court that every town in this colony is to choose two or three men for the oversight and disposal of poor children, this town hath chosen Edward Bangs, Nicholas Snow and Richard Higgins according to order."

"1659. Richard Higgins has one little black mare which was Job Cole's with a blaze down the face and a little white hair above her hoofs before, burn marked with an E on the right shoulder. Dec. 23, 1659."

"Feb. 8, 1660. At a town meeting. Ordered by the town that Lieutenant John Freeman and Richard Higgins and Thomas Williams shall have the land at Monomoy."

"May 15, 1660. Mr. John Doane, Richard Higgins and Thomas Paine with the surveyors are to appoint what particular highways are to be mended and those that are most concerned in the ways are to mend them by the appointment of the abovesaid for the present year."

The town of Eastham energetically asserted its right to enjoy the blubber and bone of any whale caught or cast up on its shores, and prosecuted those who cut up whales and appropriated the blubber and bone to their individual use. The town appointed groups of men to secure and cut up whales that should appear. "Dec. 13, 1660. Richard Higgins undertook to provide a company for to cut up the third fish" (whale).

"July 16, 1662. It is granted to Richard Higgins two acres of meadow at little Billingsgate, that is due upon the altering of the rates" (taxes).

"At a meeting the 16th of July 1662. These particular persons, Mr. Thomas Prence, Mr. Doane, Edward Bangs, Nicholas Snow, Josiah Cook, Richard Higgins, Joseph Rogers, Daniel Cole, John Smalley, Job Cole and Robert Wixam have jointly resolved that the land commonly called the Lieutenant's land with all the meadow ground appertaining thereunto shall not be disposed of to any person but by joint consent to some public use, and that no man shall appropriate the whole or any part to his own particular."

"The mark of Richard Higgins (for his cattle) is a piece cut off the hind side of the left ear, to the top of the ear, and a slit cut in the side of the ear slanting downwards. Jan. 22, 1660."

" 7 June 1665. Left. Freeman and Left. Rogers are appointed by the Courte to view a certaine iland petitioned for by Richard Higgins, and to purchase it if they shall see reason, and to make report thereof to the Court, that if they shall see cause they may dispose of it to him the said Richard Higgins."

"2 April 1667. Those appointed to be of Counsell with the commission officers in each town. For Eastham. Left. Freeman, Josias Cooke, Richard Higgins."

"December 14, 1668. The men that are of the jurie that weare Impanlled to lay out a highway from the towne of Eastham to Santukett brooke have agreed upon it as followeth: (here in the original the layout of the road is described) . Signed Daniel Cole, Nicholas Snow, Richard Higgins, Jonathan Higgins (and eight others)." - Eastham Book, p. 5.

"To all people to whom these Prsents shall come. Know yee that I Richard higgens of Eastham in the Government of Plymouth in New England in America, Taylor, for and in consideration of five pounds of good and lawful money of New England to him the said Richard higgens in hand payed att and before the sealing and deHvery of these prsents by Benajah Dunham as aforesaid, weaver, . . . hath freely and absolutely given, graunted . unto the said Benajah Dunham and to his heirs and assignes forever All the Land that belonged unto and are the lands of Richard higgens both uplands and meddowes containinge the tenth part of the whole Tract of land of Pochey Island, together with all and singular the Rights, priviledges, wayes, easments, proffitts and appurtenances thereunto belonging . . . att the place comonly called and knowne by the name of Pochey Hand and now within the hberties of the township of Eastham aforesaid."

"The above written deed acknowledged before mee the day and time of seahng and dehvery thereof by the prsons concerned herein this 25 day of March 1669. John Freeman Assist." - Plymouth Colony Deeds, vol. 3, folio 147.

"To all people to whome these presents shall come. Know ye that I Richard Higens of Eastham in the Government of New Plimoth in New England in America, Taylor, severall considerations mee thereunto moving do freely and absolutely by these presents give and grant unto my son Benj amine Higens of the Towne of Eastham abovesaid, Husbandman, a parcell of upland and meadowing the upland containing twentie acres be it more or less lying at a place commonly called Poche, the which upland lieth next to the lot of Job Cole and was bought and exchanged by the said Richard Higens of Jonathan Sparrow as appears by a deed; for twentie acres which Jonathan Sparrow doth enjoy adjoining to his owne land upon Poche; And two acres of marsh or meadowing, be it more or less, which was formerly Mr. William

Bradfords deceased, that Richard Higens hath and lieth at the harbor's mouth, which meadowing the said Richard Higens bought of the assigns of Mr. WilKam Bradford, videHcet Manasseth Kempton; abovesaid lands being bought and exchanged as will appear upon deeds and evidence extant as also upon record. The said Richard Higens hath freely, fully, absolutely given, granted with all the appurtenances belonging thereto: unto my son Benjamine Higens to him his heirs executors administrators and assigns to have and to hold forever. Assigned, sealed and delivered this 4th day of the 5th mounth (July 4/14) 1669 in the presence of us

This was acknowledged by the abovesaid Richard Higens to be his free act and deed according as is in this deed above mensioned this 4th day of the 5th mounth (July 4/14) 1669 Before me

This deed is recorded in a volume of records at Eastham entitled "Land Grants, 1659 to 1710, Town of Eastham." It does not appear to have been recorded at Plymouth, as was Richard Higgins's deed to Benajah Dunham. These deeds show that Richard Higgins ahenated most of his land in Eastham during the early part of the summer of 1669. It seems probable that he was at Barnstable when he executed the last deed, for Nathaniel Bacon and John Scudder were both residents of Barnstable. May it not be that at the time when he made it Richard Higgins had gone to Barnstable to commence his journey to New Jersey, either by land or sea, and made this parting gift to his son Benjamin?

The causes of his removal can only be conjectured. Religious and pohtical differences with his fellow townsmen at Eastham do not seem to have been a factor. As far as we can judge he was not troubled or influenced by either of these causes of dissension. Eastham offered but a limited amount of land, and by 1669 a considerable number of men had entered the town, and their numerous sons were now competing for the tillable land. Richard Higgins's eldest sons, Jonathan and Benjamm, had arrived at manhood and were rearing families of their own. They were hkely to need all the land Richard had acquired. Richard's younger children were numerous and must be provided for. Probably he and they yearned for a less rigorous climate and a more fertile soil than the outer side of Cape Cod afforded. Why New Jersey was selected in preference to Connecticut can only be guessed. A number of men with their families removed from the Cape to New Jersey in 1669, headed by Edward Fitz Randolph of Barnstable, and it is probable that Richard Higgins knew of this project to emigrate, and joined the company. He settled at New Piscataway, where he acquired a homestead and the rights of a proprietor. These rights netted in 1677 to his widow and children a total of two hundred and fifty-four acres of wild land, an amount they never could have acquired at Eastham. Richard Higgins lived about six years at New Piscataway. Neither the exact date nor the circumstances of his death are known, but it occurred between November 20, 1674, and June 1, 1675, probably nearer to the latter than the former. The late winter or early spring of 1675 is the most likely to have presented the cause of his death. Two documents are extant which fall within the period of Richard Higgins's residence in New Jersey, and they are here quoted in part:

"Know all men by these presents that I Richard higgens of New Piscataway in the province of New Jerse, yeoman, for the sum of nine pounds sterling to him paid . . . (convey) to Benjamin Higgens of Eastham in the jurisdiction of New Plimouth . . . land at a place called little billingsgate. Dated Nov. 20, 1672.

The witnesses were at New Piscataway at the time of signing, but on September 2, 1679, Joseph Snow made oath before John Freeman, Assistant, that he saw Richard Higgins sign and seal this deed. It is recorded on page 98 of the "Book of Land Grants of Eastham," and is followed by this, his wife's consent:

"New Piscataway in New Jarse Nov. 24, 1672. I Mary Higgens the wife of Richard Higgens of the town of New Piscataway doe consent that my husband make sale of any land in the Colony of New Plimouth, either in his own person or by his agent.

According to the law and custom of the time, when Richard Higgins married Mary Yates he became custodian and possessor of whatever estate her former husband left and the guardian of his son, John Yates, Jr. The records show that Richard Higgins was mindful of this trust.

"Granted to Richard higinse for the use of John Yate Twenty akers of upland to be layde out on the west of lands called Ralph Smith's neck."

(town herd of cattle) , Promised by Richard Higgins for John Yates one yearHng beast of cowkine." (Not dated, but about 1655-7.) - First Town Book of Eastham, p. 7.

On July 2, 1669, Richard Higgins exchanged three acres of meadow with John Doane which belonged to John Yates for four acres of land at BilHngsgate and a marsh commonly called the "Greatbridge meadow," an exchange which was confirmed by Mrs. Mary Higgins in 1682.

On Nov. 20, 1674, John Yates, born Aug. 15, 1650, son of Mrs. Mary (Yates) Higgins, conveyed to William Twining . "twenty acres of upland upon Pochey at a place commonly called Smith's Neck, graimted by the town to my father John Yates, deceased, as appears upon the town book, now legally descending to me, being his natural son (i. e. son by nature), the true and proper heir unto the said land."

"20 Nov. 1674. John Yeates and Deborah his wife appeared and acknowledged before John Freeman Assist. And likewise the said John Yeates did at the same time prsent a writing wherein hee was fully authorized from his father in law (i. e. stepfather) Richard Higgens and Mary his wife to make sale of the abovesaid land. Testis. John Freeman." - Plymouth Colony Deeds, vol. 4, folio 165.

This authorization for John Yates to sell land is the last act of Richard Higgins of which there is any record. It is known that in 1672 or 1673 he took the oath of allegiance to the new Dutch government.

In 1673 Benjamin Higgins receipted for "nine shillings seven pence of the widow Cooke upon the acompte of my father; as witness my hand. Benjamine higgens." On June 1, 1675, Richard Higgins had been deceased some httle time, for on that date Benjamin Higgins petitioned the Court at Plymouth for some share in the lands at Saconnet, which his father had not received and had been therein wronged, as the Court admitted. See the full text of the petition as given in the biography of Benjamin Higgins. These lands at Saconnet (now Little Compton, R. I.) probably were the lands "thirteen English miles from Rehoboth" granted to Richard Higgins and others in October, 1657.

The planters of New Piscataway settled there for peace and quiet and relief from all kinds of contentions. They had endured their share of inconvenience in New England from the severities of court justice and the intolerance of the established church order. Piscataway was from the first a plantation of pious people establishing homes in this new and unsettled township where they might enjoy the hberty of the gospel and the free exercise of their own convictions. The original pioneers to take up land in Piscataway came in 1666 from the northeasterly settlements in New England and New Hampshire, and they are said to have given the name of the New Hampshire river to their new plantation. They bought a large tract of land on the Raritan River from the Indians, comprising Piscataway and parts of other towns. Here in 1669 they were joined by several men from Cape Cod, including Richard Higgins and Benajah Dunham from Eastham and Edward Fitz- Randolph, Samuel Bacon and Nicholas Bonham from Barnstable.

A careful search has been made to find the will or a record of the will of Richard Higgins, but entirely without success. He left a will, for in more than one record his widow Mary is called executrix and his son Ehakim Higgins is called executor.

In land records of 1677 Mary Higgins is called widow, and Richard Higgins is called "her deceased husband, late of Piscataway." She obtained a warrant April 2, 1677, for the laying out in a lawful manner of the lands to which her husband had claim. March 8, 1677-8, there were laid out to her at Piscataway eight tracts of land, containing 16, 22, 17, 16, 19, 104, 55, and 5 acres respectively, a total of 254 acres. These lands were in the western part of old Piscataway township, near the, Raritan River.

"June 5, 1677. Mary Higgins widow and Ehakim Higgins, son of Richard Higgins, late of Piscataway, executors of said Richard's will, sold to Edward Slater lands purchased of John Smalley, Sr. and John Smalley, Jr." The three men last-named were all residents of Piscataway. The lands were apparently located in "Bottle Meadow" in Piscataway. - East Jersey Patents, Book No. 1, reverse.

In the effort to determine the exact location of the Higgins's homestead in Piscataway, there was disclosed, in the records of the Surveyor General of the East Jersey Proprietors at Perth Amboy (not under the State Government, but held as corporation property), a record of the survey and assignments of lands to Mary Higgins of Piscataway, dated March 8, 1677-8. The boundaries are chiefly trees and heaps of stones; a few names of adjoining proprietors are mentioned. The region was at the western part of Piscataway, about the locality called "Dismall," or "The Dismall Swamp," and in the uplands above it, and over the Raritan River. Some lots touched the hne of Woodbridge. The result of the effort to locate is negative, as it by no means follows that the home lot or house lot of Richard Higgins was included in these lands. The probabihty is that it was not.

It is difficult or perhaps impossible to state with precision the bounds of the ancieftt grant of land made to the first settlers of Piscataway. It probably included all the present townships of Piscataway and Raritan. The present township of Piscataway is about ten miles in length from northeast to southwest and five or six miles in width. The triangle bounded by lines joiniag the cities of Plainfield, New Brunswick and Bloomington includes most of it and some area besides. It is not believed that Richard Higgins's home lot was within this triangle, but he may have owned some lands within it. East and southeast of it hes the present township of Raritan (not to be confused with Raritan township in Hunterdon County, in which Flemington is situated). This township extends east and south to the Raritan River and includes extensive marshes along the river, which enters Raritan Bay opposite the southern end of Staten Island. In this township, about four miles east of the center of New Brunswick and one mile or a little more north of the river, lies the present tiny hamlet of Piscataway. A small stream known as the Mill Branch falls into the Raritan a mile southeast of this place. It was probably here or in the immediate vicinity that Richard Higgins first settled. Others have placed his home lot about three miles to the northwest, near the present station called Stelton. The latter has grown up since the construction of the Peimsylvania railroad. The former location is much the more probable. It would be practically impossible to locate the original Higgins grants by the ancient surveys. It is more than two centuries since any of the Higgins name Uved there, Thomas Higgins, son of Richard, being the last, his brothers all removing from Piscataway, Jediah to the southwest, near Kingston, and EHakim and Zerah to the northeast, at Woodbridge or Elizabethtown.

The few incidents known in the life of Mary Higgins, widow of Richard, subsequent to his death will be of interest. In Plymouth Colony Deeds, vol. 5, folios 139, 140, in immediate connection with deeds of exchange made July 2, 1669, between John Doane and Richard Higgins and already referred to, is the following:

"Mary Higgins executrix to ye last will and testament of the above named Richard Higgins deceased do by this present assign and make over this above written deed and all ye said lands comprised to my daughter in law Desier Yates, the relict of my natural son John Yates deceased as a feofee in trust for my grandchild John Yates now surviving to him, to him and his heirs forever, it being land that was my former husband's John Yates, given to

The mark 0 of Mary Higgins (seal) Signed sealed and deUvered before John Freeman Assist. Samuel Treat." This quitclaim is again recorded and in the second John Yates' relict is called Deborah.

John Freeman was the highest civil officer at Eastham and Samuel Treat was the minister of the First Church. It would therefore appear that Mrs. Mary Higgins was at Eastham when this quitclaim deed was signed.

About this time Samuel Moore, Sr., of Woodbridge, N. J., obtained a license to marry the widow Mary Higgins, but for some unknown reason the marriage did not take place. At some time subsequent to 1684 she married for her third husband and as his second wife Isaac Whitehead, son of John Whitehead of New Haven, Conn., who had settled in Elizabethtown in 1666, then having a wife and six children. He was a prominent man and dying about February, 1691, he by will bequeathed one-third of all his movables to his wife Mary.

Thomas Higgins, son of Richard and Mary, in his will of Dec. 2, 1702, made provision for his mother, Mary Whitehead. She made her home with him and he says : "My will is that my honored mother, Mary Whitehead, shall have and quietly possess the Parlor or Rooms where she now lives and also one-third part of the orchard during her natural life." This is the last mention of her that has been discovered. She probably died here, but the date of her decease is unknown. She was about seventy years old at this time. Thomas Yates, probably a grandson of Mrs. Mary (Yates) Higgins, settled in New Jersey before 1712 and appears in transactions with relatives there.

This date of his birth is clearly impossible. Savage boldly amends the record to read "Dec. 15, 1655." This is unsupported. The best explanation is that the person who transcribed the returns of births from Eastham into the Plymouth Colony record book made a copyist's error, and by mistake gave to Richard Higgins a child William, who belonged to some other parents. The William Higgins who was on Long Island about 1700 was probably of another family. This Genealogy accordingly will not count William among the family of Richard Higgins.

Authorities: Neiv England Hist, and Geti. Register, vol. xxx, p. 242; Freeman's History of Cape Cod, i, pp. 173, 261 ; ii, pp. 347-8, 357-9, 371, 413-4; Pratt's History of Eastham; Rich's Truro and Cape Cod; Churchill Genealogy; Mayflower Des., several references; Plymouth Colony Records, many references; Hatfield's History of Elizabeth, N. J., pp. 261-2; Whitehead's Contributions to East Jersey History, p. 401; Bradford's History of Plymoidh, p. 426; Deeds, wills and administrations of New Jersey, prior to 1700; Vital and town records of Eastham; Articles in New York Gen. and Biog. Record for October, 1915, and January, 1916, by Mr. O. E. Monnette; Mr. Hiram E. Deats of Flemington, N. J.

2. JONATHAN^ HIGGINS {Richard'), born July, 1637, at Plymouth; died at date imknown; he was certainly living May 21, 1711, and perhaps in 1721; married (1) at Eastham, Jan. 9, 1660-1, Elizabeth Rogers, born Sept. 29, 1639, at Duxbury, Mass.; died about 1678 at Eastham; daughter of Joseph and

(2) (date not found) Hannah Rogers, sister of Elizabeth Rogers. Both were granddaughters of Thomas Rogers who with his son Joseph (then a boy) was a passenger of the Mayflower in 1620.

Jonathan Higgins was about eight years old when his father removed from Plymouth to Eastham. Hence he grew to man's estate there, and had what education the town afforded. Nothing has been found to indicate that his father ever gave him any land. In 1670, when he was about thirty-three years old, he sold his house and land to Ephraim Doane, and probably removed to another locality, as the following deed shows:

"To all people to whom these presents shall come, Jonathan Higgms of Eastham in the Gov^'ment of New Plymouth in New England in America sendeth greeting. . . . The said Jonathan for the sum of £13 paid to him by Ephraim Doane of Eastham, husbandman, doth sell ... his dwelling house in Eastham with twenty -two acres of upland, two acres whereof lyeth about the dwelling house, being near a pond called the Basse Pond, the other twenty acres lying on the other side the Basse River by the Bayside (bounds are given), together with four acre of meadow lying at Billingsgate att the mouth of the Silver Springe on both sides the Creek. Dated Nov. 19, 1670. Acknowledged Nov. 19, 1673 (sic) before John Freeman, Assist." - Plymouth Colony Deeds, vol. 4, p. 198.

WTiere Jonathan Higgins resided immediately after this sale does not appear in any record discovered. It is probable that he settled on some land in Pochey or on some land in Barley Neck, near Lieut. Joseph Rogers.

"May 12, 1675. The town hath chosen to be presented to the Court for ensigns Jonathan Higgins and Jonathan Bangs. The Court has conferred the office of ensign of the miUtary company of this town upon Jonathan Higgins." The Plymouth Colony Records show that he was confirmed ensign June 1, 1675. He held this honorable office for just four years. In 1683-4, or possibly earlier, he was admitted a freeman of the Colony, which gave him the right to vote for Colony officers, and to hold office in the Colony. There is no evidence that he ever held such office. For a certain reason he had been obliged to resign the office of ensign (standard bearer), and the reason was not forgotten.

"Feb. 1707-8. Jonathan Higgins, senior, townsman of Eastham." The name occurs with others and the record is probably a list of those who were townsmen at that date. It seems clear from references in the Eastham records that Jonathan Higgins, Sr., was living in 1715 and probably in 1719. If he survived until 1719, he was in his eighty-second year. He may have hved a few years longer. It is certain that he attained a ripe old age.

In the hope of finding proof that Elisha Higgins was son of Jonathan Higgins, Sr., all the grants of lands by the Town of Eastham to Jonathan Higgins, Sr., as recorded in the ancient book of Lands and Ways have been carefully studied and are given herewith.

"Sept. 1, 1677. Granted by the town of Eastham to Jonathan Higgins six acres at poche on a neck of land by the side of the Cove that runs up to heutenant roggerses on the northerly side of the Cove."

"Sept. 1, 1677. Granted to Jonathan Higgins Senr a piece of land near the head of the Town Cove at the westerly end of his son Jonathan Higens his land on the northerly side of Ceder Swamp . . . to a white oak near the northwesterly corner of Jonathan higens Jr. his land, - a rock marked I. H."

"July 15, 1696. The eleventh lot (of the undivided land) is the lot of Jonathan Higens containing 6 acre of medow & two acres of upland at little bUlingsgate the medow lying in two parcels the first layeth at the northeasterly end of griffiths Iland . . . and the other piece on the southerly side of the herring river . . . near some land formerly granted to Gov. Prence" (p. 152).

"July 31, 1700. The town voted that Jonathan Higgins might exchange a bit of land at Pochet on the west side of the Barley Neck for his convenience of fencing."

"July 6 or 26, 1703. Land granted to Jonathan Higgins Senr. in Eastham at pochy low flats between pochy Island and hog island, being the 28th lot as they were laid out in the division of the common meadows in Eastham."

"March 26, 1711. Set out to Jonathan Higgins Senr. land to make up his plains lot, 4| acres lying in Sd Eastham on the westerly side of the highway that goes toward Potonomekut and on the northerly side of the way that goes from pochy towards Harwich . . . the other parcel one acre more or less lyes on the northern side of the house lot of said Jonathan Higgins Senr. and beginning at ye stones at the partition line between him and Jonathan Higgins Junr. ..."

If we are right in filling the blank in this record (from the ancient Eastham Town Book), with the name Jonathan, then it would seem probable that Jonathan Higgins may have seen active service in King Philip's War. However, the record may have referred to Benjamin Higgins, brother of Jonathan. There are other indications that Benjamin served actively in that war, and it is very probable that both Jonathan and Benjamin did so.

The clauses in Lieut. Joseph Rogers' will relating to his daughters taken with the grants and deed given below are believed to be proof that Jonathan, Jr., Joseph and Elisha were all sons of Jonathan, Sr.

"I doe Give to my Daughter Elizabeth higgens the wife of Jonathan higgens six acres of Land lying Neare the Barley neck, by a swamp called Cedar swamp: as it is Recorded and bounded in the Towne book, I say I give this six acres To her and her heires of her body forever: shee nor they shall not sell nor farm it out, directly or Indirectly to any person whatsoever, except in case of Removall it shall be lawful for my sonnes or their heires to buy or purchase it."

"Item. I doe give unto my daughter hannah Rogers, if shee be not disposed of in Marriage before my decease and my wife's decease, then I say I doe give her my bed and beding with all the furniture thereto belonging or that shall belonge thereto att our decease; Alsoe it is my will that shee shall have her Choise of one Cow before my Cattle be distributed, and the use of three acrees of Tillage Ground ffenced in, with the arable Groxmd of her brethren, in the barly neck if shee desirs it, soo longe as shee lives unmarried." - Plymouth Colony Wills, vol. iii, part ii, pp. 103-5. Also printed in Mayflower Descendant, vol. iii, p. 67.

"Granted to Jonathan Higgins by the town of Eastham liberty to exchange part of his six acres (the grant of Sept. 1, 1677) of upland at Pochet where he formerly hved for a piece of common that lyeth betwixt this six acre lot and the land which his father Rogers gave him on the west side of the barley neck, so as to lay his land together, and it is alowed of by the major part of the men appointed by the Town to have a negative in disposing of land within the same and by them laid out and bounded: that is to say the bounds of said six acres lot of sd higinses land are now as foloweth: viz: beginning at a rock marked J H on a hill nigh the Cove side against the northerly end of a cedar swamp which Rock is ye alowed (word illegible) corner of the (illegible) six acres of land which was formerly granted to heutenant Rogers : on the west side of the barley neck and from said Rock down to the water westerly; and again from sd rock easterly to a stone marked (blank) a little to the eastwards of the southerly corner of a little piece of marsh, alowing a cart way by gate or barrs for Jonathan linnel to cart from the cove to his own land and from sd stone northerly on a strait line to another stone marked J H, a little above the northerly corner of said marsh alowing a way by gate or barre by the side of sd marsh for carts to use on any ocasion from the Cove to the common and from said stone stUl northerly to another stone marked J H and from thence westerly to a low rock marked J H, and so on a strait line with this rang westerly to the water, and so round southerly by the water till it comes even with the Rock first mentioned. Recorded Sept. 20, 1700." - Eastham Lands and Ways, 1659-1710, p. 161.

"Ichabod Higgins sells a parcell of land to Jonathan Sparrow lying on the southerly side of Sampson's Island, - the one third part of a lott of meadow formerly granted by said Town of Eastham to Jonathan Higgins Senr., as may be seen on record; (compare the grant of Sept. 1, 1677) it being same the tract of meadow I bought of Elisha Higgins, as may appear by deed duly executed." - Mayflower Descendant, vol. xv, p. 92.