Philip Higgins, Sr.

Descendant of Mayflower passengers William and Mary Brewster

Descendant of Mayflower passengers Francis Cooke, and John Cooke

Descendant of Mayflower passengers Thomas Rogers and Joseph Rogers

Descendant of Mayflower passengers Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins and Constance Snow (Hopkins)

On his mother's side: Descendant of Thomas Rogers, Joseph Rogers and Stephen Hopkins both of whom were passengers aboard the Mayflower on its passage in 1620.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Higgins-3030

Philip Higgins was born about 28 Jan 1727 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay to Thomas Higgins Sr and Abigail Paine. He is the brother of Thomas Higgins, Benjamin Higgins, Jonathan Higgins, Jesse Higgins, Thankful (Higgins) Freeman, Sarah Higgins and Solomon Higgins. He married Mary (Wiley) Higgins on 27 Jul 1748 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts. He is the father of Benjamin Higgins, Rueben Higgins, Abigail (Higgins) Williams and Thankful Higgins. Philip died about 1795 in Bath, Sagadahoc, Maine

Profile last modified 4 Jul 2018 | Created 7 Nov 2014

Biography

Philip was born about 1727. Philip Higgins ... He passed away about 1795.

Sources

Roser, Susan E. Mayflower Births and Deaths: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Volumes 1 & 2. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1992.(list of parents and siblings)

Name: Philip Higgins Birth Date: 28 Jan 1728 Relationship: Child

Father: Thomas Higgins

Mother: Abigail Paine

Household Members: Name Relation

Thomas Higgins Self (Head)

Abigail Paine Wife

Philip Higgins Child

Thomas Higgins Child

Benjamin Higgins Child

Jonathan Higgins Child Jesse Higgins Child

Thankful Higgins Child

Sarah Higgins Child

Solomon Higgins Child

Source Information Roser, Susan E. Mayflower Births and Deaths: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Volumes 1 & 2. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1992.

Marriage Philip Higgens mentioned in the record of Philip Higgens and Mary Wiley Name Philip Higgens Spouse's Name Mary Wiley Event Date 27 Jul 1748 Event Place Eastham,Barnstable,Massachusetts

Citing this Record "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC4F-85Q : 4 December 2014), Philip Higgens and Mary Wiley, 27 Jul 1748; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 905,406.

Name: Philip Higgins Spouse: Mary Wiley Marriage Date (Day, Month, Year): 27 Jul 1748 State: MA Source Information Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Marriages

Reference: ancestry.com:

'Philip Higgins

Born in Eastham on 1728 to Thomas Higgins and Abigail Paine.

Philip married Mary Wiley and had 10 children.

He passed away on 27 May 1796 in May Bath, Maine, USA.

Family Members

Parents

Thomas Higgins 1707-1789

Abigail Paine 1707-1789

Spouse(s)

Mary Wiley 1727-1796

Children

Benjamin Higgins 1749-Unknown

Reuben Higgins 1750-1829

Ruth Higgins 1750-Unknown

Abigail Higgins 1754-1824

Simeon Higgins 1755-1830

Phillip Higgins 1758-1836

Mary Higgins 1760-Unknown

Sarah Higgins 1762-Unknown

Benjamin Higgins 1764-1857

Thankful Higgins 1764-1830

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Higgins-3030

Philip Higgins (abt. 1727 - abt. 1795)

Philip Higgins

Born about 28 Jan 1727 [uncertain] in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay

Son of Thomas Higgins Sr and Abigail (Paine) Higgins

Brother of Thomas Higgins, Benjamin Higgins, Jonathan Higgins, Jesse Higgins, Thankful (Higgins) Freeman, Sarah (Higgins) Dean and Solomon Higgins [add sibling]

Husband of Mary (Wiley) Higgins — married 27 Jul 1748 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Father of Benjamin Higgins, Reuben Higgins, Ruth (Higgins) Mariner, Abigail (Higgins) Williams, Simeon Philip Higgins, Phillip Higgins Jr., Sarah (Higgins) Holbrook, Thankful (Higgins) Huff and Benjamin Higgins

Died about 1795 [uncertain] at about age 67 in Bath, Lincoln, Massachusetts, United States

Higgins-3030 created 7 Nov 2014 | Last modified 16 Aug 2022

Biography

Philip was born about 1727. Philip Higgins ... He passed away about 1795.

Name: Phillip Higgins. Given Name: Phillip. Surname: Higgins. [1]

Born 28 Jan 1727-8. Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts. [2]

Died Bef 27 May 1796. West Bath, Sagadahoc, Maine. [3]

Buried West Bath, Sagadahoc, Maine (Bubier Cemetery). [4]

Marriage Philip Higgens mentioned in the record of Philip Higgens and Mary Wiley

Name:Philip Higgens
Spouse's Name: Mary Wiley
Event Date: 27 Jul 1748
Event Place: Eastham,Barnstable,Massachusetts[5][6][7]
Military Service Philip Higgins appears in Levi P. Lamont's list of "Bath men who took a prominent part in the Revolution."[8]

Notes

1) Moved from Eastham, MA to Georgetown, ME with his son, Reuben. That portion of Georgetown became Bath, ME. Later the town lines were redrawn; and, as a result, he became a resident of West Bath, Maine.

Name: Philip Higgins
Birth Date:28 Jan 1728
Father:Thomas Higgins
Mother:Abigail Paine
Household Members:
Thomas Higgins Self (Head)
Wife: Abigail Paine
Children: Philip Higgins, Thomas Higgins, Benjamin Higgins, Jonathan Higgins, Jesse Higgins, Thankful Higgins, Sarah Higgins, Solomon Higgins[9]
2) Per Higgins genealogy children were [note conflicting genealogies regarding son Benjamin]:

i. Mary Higgins b. about 1749 at Eastham
ii. Reuben Higgins b 20 nov 1750 at Eastham
iii. Ruth b. abt 1752 m. John Marriner
iv. Abigail b. 1754 m. John Williams
v. Simeon b abt 1757
vi. Philip b. 13 sep 1759 m. Mary Spaulding
vii. Sarah Higgins Holbrook b. 1761
viii. Benjamin m.1. Hannah Coombs and m.2. Mary Coombs. [See Research Note #4]
ix. Thankful Higgins Hough
3) Philip, subject of this profile, executed his Will in Bath, Lincoln County, Province of Maine on December 16, 1795. He appointed his son Reuben as executor of his estate and named the following as his heirs in the order by which they appear in his Will:

"Mary, my dearly and beloved wife"
"my Son Benjamin Higgins"
"my Son Reuben Higgins"
"my Daughter Ruth Marriner [sic]"
"my Daughter Abigail Williams"
"my Son Simeon Higgins"
"my Son Philip Higgins"
"my Daughter Mary Mathes"
"my Daughter Sarah Holbrook"
"my Daughter Thankful Huffe [sic]"
4) Research Notes concerning son Benjamin Higgins: Two individuals by the name "Benjamin Higgins," a younger (b. in April or May in 1764); m1. Hannah Coombs, m2 Mary "Mercy" Coombs), and an older (b. abt. 1749, m. Sarah Matthews), lived around the same time and resided at one time or another within the same area of Bath, Province [now State] of Maine. These two Benjamin/s have been conflated in family trees and conflicting in published genealogies, each of these Benjamin/s identified in one presentation or another as son of Philip and Mary (Wiley) Higgins. In some family trees, both Benjamin/s are presented as being children of these same parents; however, only one son named Benjamin is named in his father's Will.

4a) K. Elizabeth Chapin Higgins in her Higgins Genealogy pub. 1918 first presented the elder Benjamin, who married Sarah Matthews, as son of Philip and Mary (Wiley) Higgins (p. 286). Then, in her subsequent work published in 1924, K. Higgins retracted her earlier presentation of 1918 and presented instead the younger Benjamin as the son of Philip and Mary (Wiley) Higgins (pp. 29-30 & pp. 59-63). See sources below with links to these two works and referenced pages. As in her Supplement of 1924, K. Higgins stated that her revision was based on an apparent "letter" she received from Mrs. Edward C. Stiness, granddaughter of Jeremiah F. Higgins, son of the younger Benjamin. This communication provided the basis for K. Higgins's switch of Benjamin/s, the elder for the younger. Accordingly, K. Higgins then concluded that Philip Higgins had not named his children in his Will (1795) in order of births, not only because of an alleged younger Benjamin named 1st, but also because of an approximate birth date of an apparent 1st born child named Mary who was born about 1749 and who married Unknown Mathis or Matthews and who was named 7th in his Will as "Mary Mathes." Quoting K. Higgins, she states "It is certain that Benjamin, who is named first in the [Philip's] will, was not the eldest son." A family Bible of the younger Benjamin Higgins b. about April or May 1764, is referenced by K. Higgins to exist, this primary source as she stated in 1924 being in possession of a grandson. According to K. Higgins, this family Bible from which she quotes provides vital data concerning the younger Benjamin's children but not his ancestry or parentage. Again, the parentage of Benjamin Higgins (b. 1764) appears to be anecdotal passed down through 5 generations versus the result of primary source/s. Mrs. Edward C. Stiness, who wrote the pivotal letter by which K. Higgins made her genealogical change/s, was born in Providence, R.I. on July 27, 1872 as Lucy Frances Higgins, daughter of John Cheever Higgins, who in turn was b. in Charleston, MA on September 14, 1845. He was son of Jeremiah F. and Lucy (Doble) Higgins, Jeremiah F. being son of the aforementioned younger Benjamin.

4b) Pending further research, the question remains open concerning the children of Philip and Mary (Wiley) Higgins including their son Benjamin and whether or not Philip named his children in chronological order of their births in his will executed in 1795. To date, no primary source is known to exist, per family Bible or otherwise, that provides evidence as to which Benjamin was the son of Philip and Mary (Wiley) Higgins, the older or the younger, as well as the birth date of their daughter Mary, whom K. Higgins switched from 7th in 1918 to 1st born child in 1924.

4c) K. Higgins in her Supplement (1924), pp. 62-63, provides possibilities as to whose son the elder Benjamin Higgins might be, who was of Georgetown, then Bath, and who filed his marriage intention in Harpswell on August 20, 1770 with Sarah Matthews, who was of that town.

4d) In the 1790 Fed. Census for Bath and in checking surrounding towns for same Census year including Georgetown, Harpswell, Woolwich, Edgecomb, and Brunswick, only one Benjamin Higgins is found. This Benjamin Higgins's household in Bath included 13 members several males of whom were under age 16. This household is certainly that of the elder Benjamin.

4e) In a vital record for Polly Mary Higgins, it is recorded and certified by town clerk that she was born on June 24, 1775 in Bath, Province of Maine to named parents Benjamin and Sarah Higgins. This record is included in Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900. (source below). This data were recorded in original (hand-scribed, certified by town clerk) records of Lincolnville, near Camden to where Benjamin and Sarah removed (from Bath) with their children by 1793. Also of note, Benjamin's son Charles Matthews Higgins, with middle name of his mother's maiden name, was recorded as born in Bath on February 2, 1780 as it appears and certified in hand-scribed town records for Orland, Province of Maine. This data provide evidence that the Benjamin Higgins who resided as head of household per Bath's 1790 Fed. Census is the Benjamin Higgins of Georgetown, who married Sarah Mathews "of Harpswell."

4f) Benjamin's (older, b. abt. 1749) wife's, Sarah (Mathews) Higgins's, obituary pub. in the Hancock Gazette & Penobscot Patriot (October 2, 1822, Belfast, Maine), "Mrs. Sarah Higgins" was described as "wife of Benjamin Higgins, formerly of Bath" prior to her residence in Camden. This is commensurate with the 1790 Fed. Census and consistent with dates included in vital records. Their children are named in Camden's town records.

DNA

Paternal relationship is confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between Colin Foss and his 6th cousin Raymond Wing. Their most-recent common ancestors are their 5th great grandparents, Philip Higgins and Mary Wiley. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 6th Cousins, based on sharing 9 cM across 1 segments. Colin Foss descends from the children of Philip and Mary, Benjamin Higgins. Raymond Wing descends from Thankful Higgins.
Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by a GEDmatch test match between Colin Foss GEDmatch A514657 and his 6th cousin Raymond Wing GEDmatch M032736. Their most-recent common ancestors are their parents Philip Higgins and Mary Wiley. Estimated number of generations to MRCA = 5.2, based on sharing 11.2 cM across 1 half-match segments.
Philip was born in 1727. He passed away in 1796. [10]

This is my ancestor that made the move from Massachusetts into Maine. A very big deal in that branch of the family.

Maine Families 1790, Vol 4., Pgs 127-129, Maine Genealogical Society, Special Publication, No. 18., Picton Press, Camden, ME., 1994 Notes Children, first 6 perhaps b Eastham MA, last 3 perhaps b Georgetown

I.Benjamin, b c1749: d Camden 9 Oct 1823 (Josephine Watts and Isabel Maresh, Camden-Rockport B-D-M [1985), p. 44): of Georgetown when he m Harpswell 27 Sep 1770 Sarah Mathews of Harpswell (VR) who d 21 Sep 1822 (Watts & Maresh, op. cit.). Benjamin moved to Camden in 1793 (Reuel Robinson, History of Camden and Rockport, Maine [1907), p. 97)
ii Reuben, b cl 750: d Bath 3 Sep 1829 ae 79y (g.s., Higgins cem, Foster's Pt., W. Bath, Nathan Hale, Compiler, Surname Index Project [MSL), hereafter SIP): m (1) Harpswell 16 May 1776 Marcy/Mercy Hopkins ("Harpswell VR Recorded by Rev. Elisha Eaton, 1754-64, and by his son Samuel Eaton, V.D.M. 1765-1843" [TS, MHS), p. 28), b Truro MA 6 Aug 1756 dau of Simeon & Betty (Cobb) Hopkins of Truro and Harpswell (Katharine S. Higgins, Richard Higgins and His Descendants [1918), p. 286), d Bath 4 Aug 1817 ae 62y (g.s., Higgins cem): m (2) Bath 18 Nov
1821 Susanna Philbrook (Richard Higgins, op. cit., p. 286), b 11 Sep 1759 dau of Joshua Philbrook of Bath (ibid.), d 3 Dec 1847 ae 85y [sic] (g.s. Maple Grove cem, Bath, SIP, op. cit., which names her father as Dea. Joshua Philbrook). From his father's will, Reuben received "the Farm on which he now lives containing about eighty five Acres situate in said Bath"

iii Ruth, b c1752, m John Marriner of Brunswick (Richard Higgins, op. cit.,
p. 188), b Falmouth [no date] son of John & Sarah (Roberts) Marriner (Lora Alline Woodbury Underhill, Descendants of Edward Small of New England... [1934), 3:1237)

iv Abigail, b cl 754: m int Georgetown 22 May 1774 John Williams of
Georgetown (VR)

v Simeon, b cl 756: d Bath 4 Apr 1830 ae 74y (g.s., 1st Parish cem, W. Bath): mint Georgetown 27 Jan 1781 Elizabeth Macantior [McIntire?) of Georgetown (VR) who d 28 Mar 1837 ae 80y (g.s., 1st Parish cem). From his father's will, Simeon received 80 acres of land on the road leading to Foster's Point
Sources

↑ Source: #S1750 27 Oct 2015 Higgins, Philip (sic Phillip) 197 Vol.16 Eastham-Orleans V1 Certainty: 3
↑ Source: #S1750 27 Oct 2015 Philip higgins Son of Thomas higgins junr & abigel higgins was born the 28th of January 1727/8 197 Vol.16 Eastham-Orleans V1 Certainty: 3
↑ Source: #S1789 27 Oct 2015 Higgins, Phillip, will made 16 Dec 1795 went to Probate 27 May 1796, Lincoln County Wills. Lincoln County Wills
↑ Source: #S1789 27 Oct 2015 Philip Higgins Cemetery: Bubier Field Location: Fosters Point Dist, West Bath ME 25 Abstracts of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots Certainty: 3
↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC4F-85Q : 4 December 2014), Philip Higgens and Mary Wiley, 27 Jul 1748; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 905,406.
↑ Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Marriages Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 New England Historic Genealogical Society Publication: New England Historic Genealogical Society
↑ Source: #S1750 27 Oct 2015 philip higgens and mary wiley boath of Eastham ware marryed by Mr Isaiah Lues minestar in July 27 : 1748 Entred pr Thomas Knowles Town Clark 87 Vol.24 Eastham-Orleans V1 Certainty: 3
↑ Owen, Henry Wilson. The Edward Clarence Plummer History of Bath, Maine. Bath, Me.: Times Co., 1936, p. 118.
↑ Roser, Susan E. Mayflower Births and Deaths: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Volumes 1 & 2. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1992.
↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Bonita Flanders.
Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Town and Vital Records; Film # 007009735, Image215/ 216 of 716 [or Image 49/50 of 126]; Family Search (handwritten registry of birth, parents, siblings): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G979-9X5T?i=215&cc...
Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Town and Vital Records; Births, Marriages, and Deaths (handwritten registry, p. 201), Image 110 of 126; marriage intention filed: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-96RT?i=109&cc...
Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Town and Vital Records; Film # 007009735, Image 81 of 126; Family Search (handwritten registry of marriage, p. 79): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8979-96PF?i=80&cc=...
Roser, Susan E. Mayflower Births and Deaths: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Volumes 1 & 2. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1992.(list of parents and siblings)
Higgins, K. Elizabeth Chapin. Richard Higgins : a resident and pioneer settler at Plymouth and Eastham, Massachusetts, and at Piscataway, New Jersey, and his descendants, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1918, pp. 186-8: https://archive.org/details/richardhigginsre00higg/page/186/mode/2up AND p. 286: https://archive.org/details/richardhigginsre00higg/page/286/mode/2up
Higgins, K. Elizabeth Chapin. (1924). Supplement to Richard Higgins and his descendants. Worcester, Mass.: K. Higgins. pp. 29-30: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89063106876&view=1up&seq=33 AND pp. 59-63: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89063106876&view=1up&seq=63
William D. Patterson, comp. The Probate Records of Lincoln County, Maine, 1760 to 1800. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1999. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records, 1760-1800 (database on-line, frame #s 299-301). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.] (Philip Higgins's Will witnessed, signed and sealed)
"Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWB4-X13 : 14 January 2020), Polly Higgins, 1775. [original hand-scribed records, signed and certified by Town Clerk]
Reed, Parker McCobb,. History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine, 1607-1894. Portland, Me.: Lakeside Press, printers, 1894, pp. 46, 50, and 66 (557 pp.)
Mayflower Births and Deaths, Vol. 1 and 2
Maine, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1800-1890
Lincoln County, Maine, Probate Records, 1760-1800
An Alphabetical Index of Revolutionary Pensioners Living in Maine
American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)
Higgins, M. Katharine Elizabeth Chapin. (1918). Richard Higgins: a resident and pioneer settler at Plymouth and Eastham, Massachusetts, and at Piscataway, New Jersey, and his descendants. Worcester, Mass..