Added by Elwin C. Nickerson about my Great grandparents. With citations.

14. ELISHA^ HIGGINS {Jonathan^, Richard}), born about 1677-1679 at Eastham; died there shortly before Aug. 7, 1750; married (1) Sept. 30, 1701, Jane Collins, born March 3, 1684-5, at Eastham; died at date unknown, possibly in 1738; daughter of Joseph and Ruth (Knowles) Collins of Eastham, and grand- daughter of Richard and Ruth (Bower) KJnowles; married (2)

(mtention Nov. 23, 1739) EHzabeth Brown, born , 1681;

died December, 1744, in sixty -third year (gravestone. Ancient Cemetery, Eastham), possibly widow of John Brown who died at Eastham in 1730; married (3), April 4, 1746, Mrs. Rachel Hop- kins of Harwich, who probably married (3) (int. July 20, 1751) Mr. Theophilus Mayo.

Elisha Higgins resided at Pochet (now East Orleans), probably on lands that had belonged to his father. February, 1707-8, he was proposed as townsman, but for some reason not admitted until May 12, 1713. Dec. 30, 1717, he was chosen to serve on a "jury of Tryalls at Inferior Court of Common Pleas & General Sessions

71

of the Peace," and again Oct. 15, 1729. Oct. 5, 1726, he was chosen grand juryman, and again Dec. 27, 1731. March 19, 1732-3, he was elected constable. He served as surveyor (in- spector) of highways in 1724 and several times afterward.

He never learned to write his name, signing his mark, a "Z," as a witness of the will of George Shaw of Eastham dated Feb. 8, 1718-9. Elisha also signed his own will in the same way. Yet he must have been a man of intelligence, for he was elected to town office and often witnessed wills and made inventories of estates. In 1750 his taxes were abated, probably on account of his disa- bihty.

"May 31, 1703. Voted that Ehsha Higgins shall have a half share in the division of the meadow."

"Granted to Elisha Higgins July 1703 land in Eastham on pochy flats or hay ground in that parcel next toward potonomekut harbour."

"Granted by the town of Eastham to Elisha Higgins a parcel of upland being about half an acre more or less and it is approved by the major part of the men appointed to have a negative vote in disposing of land within sd town: sd parcel of upland lyeth at the southern end of the Swamp with a pond in it which is by the house of Joseph Higgins in sd Eastham and is by sd negative men laid out and bounded (viz) beginning at great white oak marked (?) near Sd Swamp . . . etc." Recorded by John Pain Town Clerk May 2, 1704.

"April 6, 1706. Granted by the town of Eastham to Elisha Higgins (by order of John Paine of sd Eastham in consideration for land conveyed to John Paine by sd Elisha Higgins lying near the barly neck in order to exchange for Sd Town with Sd Paine for land of Sd Paine at Samson's Hand) beginning at a white oak near the land of Barnabas Wixam running then to an oak which is the bound of Joseph Higgins from thence to land of Joseph Higgins . . . this granted land lyes about the house of Sd Elisha Higgins within these boundaries of his former grant."

"May 21, 1711. Granted by the town of Eastham and laid out to Elisha Higgins a parcel of land for his tenement lot — beginning at a saphng marked on the South side of the way that goes along by the Sd Higginses dwelling house."

"Mar. 26, 1711. To Elisha Higgins land granted by the Town of Eastham near the dwelling house of Sd Higgins."

"Feb. 18, 1712-3. At town meeting land granted to Elisha Higgins between his tenement lot and Cedar Swamp."

"May 12, 1713. Granted the wood left on the tenement lot of Mercy Mayo."

On Sept. 19, 1749, Elisha Higgins of Eastham, husbandman, made his will. "To wife Rachel all she brought to me when I married her, and my warming pan and frying pans, two washing

72

tubs, my Least Iron Pott and kettle, ray bed and furniture belong- ing thereto that we now Lodge on, my still and Bellows and one Cow and four sheep, and the Improvement of ye easterly End of my dwelling house from the top to the bottom, my daughter Ruth to have free liberty to live in said house so long as she live a single woman, and the Improvement of one third part of all my Lands, meadows and my two hangers and hand Irons so long as she continues my widow.

"I give to my well beloved Daughter Ruth Higgins my bed and Furniture in the northerly corner of my chamber. To son Elisha, daughter Martha Doane, daughter Else Doane, daughter Apphia Doane, and daughter Elizabeth Mayo, to each of them twenty shillings. To son Philip Higgins all my real estate, my two oxen, sheep, he paying all my debts. To my sons Beriah, Jonathan, Barnabas, and daughter Ruth all my personal estate, equally to be divided among them. Wife Rachel Higgins and son Philip executors. Signed Elisha X Higgins." Will proved Aug. 7, 1750.

Children born at Eastham.

32. i. Elisha, b. Jan. 3, 1701-2; married (1) Sarah Lewis;

(2) Hannah (Doane) Atwood.

ii. Martha, b. Jan. 5, 1703; married Aug. 8, 1723, Jonathan Doane. Children: Elisha, b. Nov. 25, 1724; Hannah, b. Aug. 25, 1726; James, b. March 11, 1728; Dorothy, b. Oct. 8, 1731; Elizabeth, b. March 7, 1733; Jesse, b. Feb. 2, 1735; Seth, b. March 2, 1737; Sylvanus, b. July 4, 1740; Nathan, b. Jan. 31, 1742-3.

33. iii. Beriah, b. Jan. 15, 1705; married (1) Jemima Witherell;

(2) Mrs. Abigail Higgins. iv. Alice, b. Nov. 22, 1707; married Aug. 3, 1727, Solomon Doane, b. Nov. 8, 1705; d. December, 1789, son of Samuel Doane of Eastham. Children: Solomon, b. Jan. 5, 1730; Noah, b. July 4, 1732; Sarah, b. Jan. 23, 1733; Dorcas, b. Sept. 16, 1735; Nehemiah, b. March 13, 1737; married (int. Jan. 25, 1766) Lydia (Higgins) Dill, widow of Samuel Dill and daughter of Benjamin Higgins, son of Isaac and Sarah (Mayo) Higgins; Joseph, b. April 21, 1739; Isaac, b. March 27, 1741; Betty, b. Feb. 7, 1742; Joshua, b. Jan. 6, 1744. v. Apphia, b. Nov. 22, 1709; married Oct. 1, 1730, Simeon Doane, b. Dec. 1, 1708; d. Dec. 4, 1789, son of Samuel Doane of Eastham.

34. vi. Jonathan, b. Oct. 8, 1711; married Rachel Doane.

vii. Elizabeth, b. in 1713; married Jan. 16, 1734-5, James Mayo. Children: Joshua, b. July 25, 1735; James, b. Oct. 12, 1745. viii. Joseph, b. in 1717; dead before Sept. 19, 1749; not named in father's will.

73

ix. Ruth, b. in 1719; unmarried Sept. 19, 1749.

35. X. Barnabas, b. in 1722; married (1) Mary Smith; (2)

Abigail Pame; (3) Mrs. Hannah Lewis.

36. xi. Philip, b. March 4, 1724-5; married Phoebe Lewis.

Authorities: Eastham Town Records, vol. i, pp. 68, 104, 167; Eastham Land Grants, 1659-1710; Barnabas County Probate Records, vol. viii, p. 387; Eastham Vital Records; Doane Family Genealogy; Mayflower Des., vol. v, p. 18; viii, p. 3; New York Gen. and Biog. Record, vol. xliv, p. 33. /ECN/

Links

• Thomas Rogers Society