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Higginson

A family from Shropshire then Warwick, who spelled the name also Hykynson and Higinson, and pronounced it Hickerson. Captain Robert seems to have been prominent as an Indian fighter. In 1646 and earlier, he commanded the palisaded settlement at the Middle Plantation, later Williamsburg. A deed, recorded in York on 24 August 1682, states that for his services he was given 100 acres at Middle Plantation. He seems also to have owned land in Martin's Hundred. The epitaph of his daughter Lucy, who died 6 November 1675, on her tomb formerly in the Burwell graveyard at Carter's Creek, now at Abingdon Parish, Gloucester, states only that she was the widow of Major 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." Heathen?

Sources: Virignia Prominant Families, vol. 4; Putnam's Historical Magazine, vol. 6, nos 1 and 4; Virginia Historical Magazine, vol. 4, no. 2; William & Mary Quarterly, April 1894; Lucy Higginson tombstone at Abingdon Parish, Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia; Seldens of Virginia, vol. 1

generation no. 1

John Higginson, of Berkeswell, County Warwick, born c 1480, will dated 10 December 1540 and proved 4 February 1541 (see will abstracts). Married Jane.

Nicholas Higginson, male issue, grandsons
Gregory Higginson
daughter, married Ralph Olyver
Thomas Higginson, born 1506, died 1573
John Higginson, yeoman, will dated 25 October 1575, married Margery
Margerie Higginson, married Rowland Radforthe

generation no. 2

Thomas Higginson, yeoman, of Berkeswell, born c 1506, died 1573, will dated 29 November 1573, proved 10 February 1573 (see will abstracts).

Elizabeth Higginson, married Robert Wylmer
Dorothy Higginson, married Nicholas Hauslappe
Robert Higginson, born 1635, died 1614
George Higginson
Joane Higginson, married Thomas Benyan

generation no. 3

Robert Higginson, gentleman, of Solihull, born c 1535, died c 1614. Will dated 7 December 1610, proved at Lislefield, 10 May 1614 (see will abstracts). Married Joane.

Isabel Higginson, married Guerton
Thomas Higginson
Alice Higginson, married Thomas Elliott

generation no. 4

Thomas Higginson, born c 1557, died c 1665-66, of Berkeswell, tanner. Married Margery. Estate administered 31 October 1666.

Thomas Higginson
Robert Higginson, yeoman, one of the sureties of his father's will
Isabel Higginson, married Thomas Benion before 1588

generation no. 5

Thomas Higginson, of Berkeswell, born 24 January 1570-73. Married Ann.

Sources: Torrence, Winston of Virginia and Allied Families, pp. 24-5, 121-22; Putnam, Higginsons in England and America, p. 23

Thomas Higginson
Robert Higginson

generation no. 6

Captain Robert Higginson, born c 1597, died in Virginia about August 1649. Said to have come to Virginia c 1643. Married Joanna Tokesey, born 1610, who returned to England after his death.

Sources: Virginia Historical Magazine, vol. 25, p. 316-23. vol. 6, p. 198; McGhan, Virginia Vital Records; p. 71; York Co. VA records.

Lucy Higginson

generation no. 7

Lucy Higginson, born c 1626, died 6 November 1675. Married several times: (1) Major Lewis Burwell of Carter's Creek, issue, (2) Colonel William Bernard, issue, (3) Colonel Philip Ludwell, issue, including great-grandson Robert E. Lee.

Will abstracts

4 February 1541. John Higginson of Berkeswell, yeoman — Children and grandchildren Robert and Dorothy Higginson, each £8, and cousin Agnes Higginson who shall receive of Nicholas Higginson, dwelling in the parish of Wern, three kine [sic], as he had received from her father 36 shillings. His wife to deliver the kine to Nicholas. Small legacies of equal amount to Agnes Walton of Coventry and Margaret Banforth. Wife Jane. Sons-in-law Raufe Olyver and Rolande Radforth, overseers. Soul of Mistress Burway to be prayed for. Mr. George Mathew, overseer. Witnessed by Sr. John Fanchener clerk, Rowland Radforthe, and Thomas Higginson. Cons. Court Coventry and Lichfield. Children: Thomas, witness to his father's will; John, dwelling in Cotton in Wern; Nicholas; Gregory, unmarried in 1545; daughter; Margerie, wife of Rowland Radfrothe and mother of Robert and Thomas Radforthe; Alice; Margaret; Ellen alias Joys; Elizabeth (last four unmarried).

Source: Putnam's Historical Magazine vol. 6, no. 4 (Martyn vol. 10, p. 66)

29 November 1573. Thomas Higginson of Berkeswell — To be buried in the parish church. Three pounds to be lent yearly to the poor in the same manner as my mother gave seven pounds. To daughter Ursula, £30; daughter Elizabeth, unmarried, £30; son Robert and son Thomas, £5 and six oxen; daughter Dorothy Hauslappe, daughter Joane Benyan, son-in-law Thomas Benyan, £20, which he is to repay if he has no children; son George, unmarried, £20; Lawrence Donne, my men William Walt, John Raven, Raphe Slover, my maids Margere Barler, Elizabeth Milton, Dorothy Grey; my married children; brother John Higginson a clock, brother Nicholas Higginson a jerkin; cousin Allen Higginson horse grass during my lease; Adam Higginson 20 shillings; Thomas Benium son-in-law John Benyan £3.6; thomas son of daughter Hauslappe £5; Thomas Higginson son of son Robert £5; son Robert Higginson executor; John Myles and Thomas Benian overseers; witness Allen Higginson clerk, Leonard Frerleton, Richard Soughe, Hugh Higginson. Proved 10 February 1573-74.

Source: Putnam's Historical Magazine vol. 6, no. 4 (Martyn vol. 10, p. 66)

7 December 1610. Robert Higginson of Solihull, gentleman. To the poor of Solihull 40 shillings; to Christen Barker's children and Ann Randall's children, a ewe and land each; to my daughter Isabel Guerton's children and to my son Thomas, his children, the same; to Thomas Higginson my grandchildren, plate, etc. "I did owe to my son Thomas Elliott XXII VS (his three children which he had by my daughter Alice, viz., Sara and his sonnes when out of apprenticeshp; rest to Joane my wife whom exectrix. "I have received the XII which my son[-in-law] Guerton had for Sara, for use of Sara Elliott till of age. Inventory 27 April 1614 by Valentine Overton, John Horne, Thomas Taundye and Thomas Higginson. Proved, at Lichfield, 10 May 1614.

Source: Putnam's Historical Magazine vol. 6, no. 5

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