Esther (Davis) Higley (abt. 1771 - abt. 1843)

Born about May 1771 in Becket, Berkshire, Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

Wife of Dudley Higley — married about 1792 in Quemons, Albany County, New York

Descendants

Died about 16 Apr 1843 at about age 71 in Chesterfield, Essex County, New York, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Esther was born in 1771 or 1777 (see Research Notes) possibly in either in Becket or Holden, Massachusetts.

She married Dudley Higley in Quemons, New York

She passed away in Chesterfield, Essex County, New York in April 1843.^[1]

Research Notes

• The FindAGrave memorial includes a picture of her headstone which gives her age at death as 71 years 11 months. This supports the birth date of May 1771. The book The Higleys and Their Ancestry reports a birth year of 1777, and her age at death as 66 years.^[2]

• She is reported to be a native of Becket, Massachusetts in the book “The Hogleys and Their Ancestry”.^[2] The memorial on FindAGrave references Vital Records of Holden, Massachusetts for her birth records.^[1]

• There are two daughters of Israel, Jr. and Rebecka Davis, born in Holden, Worcester County, Massachusetts with birthdates of 20 July 1778 and 29 April 1788. This would seem to indicate Esther, born in 1778 died before she reached the age of 10.^[3]

• There was an Esther Davis who died on 5 February 1782 in Holden, Worcester County, Massachusetts.^[4] Presumably, this is the Esther born in 1778. The death record found on Ancestry is an indexed record. Additional research needs to be done to confirm.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/24810278/esther-higley: accessed 28 April 2018 and 13 September 2023), memorial page for Esther Davis Higley (20 Jul 1778–16 Apr 1843), Find A Grave: Memorial #24810278, citing Port Kent Cemetery, Port Kent, Essex County, New York, USA; Maintained by Leroy Higley (contributor 46974473).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "The Higleys and Their Ancestry", by Mary Coffin Johnson, published 1896, page 626
3. ↑ Birth: "Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988"
   Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook)
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2495 #82099185 (accessed 13 September 2023)
   Esther Davis born on 20 Jul 1778, child of Israel Davis & Rebekca Davis, in Holden, Massachusetts, USA.
4. ↑ Death: "Massachusetts, U.S., Town Death Records, 1620-1850"
   Ancestry Record 4080 #31261 (accessed 13 September 2023)
   Esther Davis death 5 Feb 1782.