Thomas Higginson, of Solihull

Biography

Thomas Higginson, born 24 January 1570-73, was the son of Robert Higginson, of Solihull, Gent. and his 1st wife of Robert Higginson.

He married Ann.

Their children included:

• Thomas Higginson
• 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.

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Source: Clifford L. Stott, "The Higginson Family of Berkeswell, Warwickshire, and Its American Descendants (part 2)," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 171 (Fall 2017): 320-24

Thomas Higginson (Robert, Thomas, John) was baptized in Solihull 29 October 1564. He was dead by 1 August 1650, when he was referred to as deceased by his son Thomas in a Chancery Court deposition. He married Ann _____, who was also referred to as deceased in 1650. They moved from Solihull after 1612, and, according to the marriage settlement of their son Robert, they were living in Coventry by 1624. Thomas Higginson, “sonne of my cosen Robte Higginson of Solihull,” received 40 shillings in the 1595 will of Marie Hill.

Children of Thomas and Ann (_____) Higginson, all baptized in Solihull:

1. Anne Higginson, bp. 29 April 1593.
2. Thomas Higginson, bp. 5 Oct. 1595. He was living in Berkeswell in 1650, when he testified in chancery regarding the estate of his brother Robert, who died in Virginia.
3. John Higginson, bp. 25 Oct. 1597; bur. Solihull 12 Sept. 1625.
4. Catherine Higginson, bp. 15 Feb. 1598/9.
5. Robert1 Higginson, bp. 2 April 1601; m. Joanna Torksey and settled in Virginia.
6. Dorothy Higginson, bp. 11 April 1603.
7. Christopher1 Higginson, bp. 29 April 1604; d. probably on his plantation “Harrop” in James City Co., Va., before 28 May 1673, when the General Court ordered the appraisal of his estate. A Mrs. Elizabeth Higginson, probably the widow of his brother Humphrey and once owner of Harrop, owed money to the estate. Christopher was probably in Virginia before 24 April 1640, when Richard Kemp, Secretary of Virginia Colony, wrote to Sir Francis Windebanke, Secretary of State under Charles I, regarding Kemp’s entanglement in a bitter struggle between the royal governor Sir John Harvey and the governor’s Council. The letter and accompanying documents were presented in England “by the hands of one Mr. Christopher Higgison a neare kinsman to the Lord Bishop of Ely.” How Higginson was related to Matthew Wren, Bishop of Ely, is unclear, but Kemp was evidently hoping for Wren’s assistance, which is apparent in another letter of the same date to Robert Reade, a brother-in-law of Secretary Windebank. Christopher was clearly in Virginia by 17 Jan. 1642[/3?] when Hugh Gwyn, Gent. received a grant of 1,900 acres for transporting 37 persons into the colony, among them Christopher Higginson, “[transported] twice,” and Elizabeth Higginson, possibly his wife. The 1666 will of his brother Humphrey, who had returned to England, mentioned “my brother Christopher Higginson now resident upon my plantation called Harrop in Virginia be maintayned upon and out of the same during his natural life.” Christopher is said to have a large posterity, a statement apparently based on the proliferation of the Higginson family in the area of Harrop in James City County, although reliable evidence of relationships has not been found. A Robert Higginson who died in Bruton Parish 1693–1694, is said to be “doubtless” his son — and this seems likely.
8. Humphrey1 Higginson, bp. 24 May 1607; m. (1) _____; (2) Elizabeth _____; (3) Elizabeth _____. He emigrated to Virginia in 1635.
9. Anna Higginson, bp. 27 Dec. 1608. An Anna Higginson emigrated to Virginia with Humphrey Higginson (she was presumably either his sister or his unknown first wife) on the George in 1635.[59] No further record.
10. Isabel Higginson, bp. 3 June 1610.
11. Denham Higginson, bp. 26 April 1612.

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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 [SIC: Overton] 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

References

1. Source: Clifford L. Stott, "The Higginson Family of Berkeswell, Warwickshire, and Its American Descendants (part 2)," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 171 (Fall 2017): 320-24
2. Happy Valley, History and Genealogy, Thomas Felix Hickerson The author, 1940 - Yadkin River Valley (N.C.) - 244 pages. (document attached) (1st 50 pages.) “Joan Tokesay” appears on book page 22, pdf page 56.
3. http://www.glenncourt.com/genealogy/fam_higginson.php (dead link)
   1. Sources: Torrence, Winston of Virginia and Allied Families, pp. 24-5, 121-22; Putnam, Higginsons in England and America, p. 23