A family from Shropshire then Warwick, who spelled the name also Hykynson and Higinson, and pronounced it Hickerson. O, the English! Captain Robert seems to have been prominent as an Indian fighter. In 1646, and earlier, he commanded, at the Middle Plantation, a palisaded settlement. A deed, recorded in York August 24, 1682, states that for his services he was given 100 acres at the Middle Plantation. He seems also to have owned land in Martin's Hundred. The epitaph of his daughter Lucy (who died November 6, 1675) on her tomb in the Burwell graveyard at "Carter's Creek," Gloucester, only states that she was the widow of Maj. Lewis Burwell, and that "She was descended from the ancient family of the Higginsons. She was the only daughter of the valiant Capt. Robert Higginson, one of the first commanders that subdued the County of Virginia from the power of the heathen."
[Sources: various, Virignia Prominant Families, Volume IV; Putnam's Historical Magazine, Volume VI, Nos 1 and 4; Virginia Historical Magazine, Volume IV, No. 2; William & Mary Quarterly, April 1894; Lucy Higginson tombstone at Burwell grayeyard Carter's Creek, Virginia; Seldens of Virginia, Vol. 1]
John Higginson of Berkeswell, County Warwick, born circa 1480, will dated December 10, 1540 and proved February 4, 1541. Married Jane.
Thomas Higginson, yeoman, of Berkeswell, born circa 1506, will dated November 29, 1573, proved February 10, 1573.
Robert Higginson, gentleman, of Solihull, born circa 1635, will dated December 7, 1610, proved at Lislefiled, May 10, 1614. Married Joane.
Thomas Higginson, of Berkeswell, County Warwick, ? tanner. Estate administered upon by grant to his widow on October 31, 1666. Married Margery.
Thomas Higginson, of Berkeswell, born circa January 24, 1570-73 [?], married Ann.
[Source: B6E19 p 24-5 B11D8 p 121-2 Winston of VA & Allied Families; pg 23, "The Higginsons in England and America CS71 H637 1903]
Captain Robert Higginson, born circa 1597, died in Virginia about August 1649, married Joanna Torkesey, born 1610, who returned to England after his death. He and his wife said to have come to Virginia about 1643. He is described as "a printer and painter-stainer of London." He commanded at Middle Plantation (later Williamsburg), Virginia, in 1645.
[Sources: VA Historical Mag XXV, p. 316-323. Vol. VI, p. 198; Virginia Vital Records from the VA Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly" (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1984), "Inscriptions on Old tombs in Gloucester Co., VA," p. 71. Cites: (a) York Co., VA records. ]
Lucy Higginson, born circa 1626, died November 6, 1675. Married several times: (1) Major Lewis Burwell of Carter's Creek, by whom issue, (2) Colonel William Bernard, by whom issue, (3) Colonel Philip Ludwell, by whom issue and greatgrandson RE Lee.
Lucy Bernard, married Colonel Edmund Gwynne.
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