James Higgins (abt. 1785)

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland

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Biography

Identified from the baptism of his son Peter. ^[1] The record gives his residence as Monagarra. In the same townland was Thomas Higgins (abt.1800-) and his family of similar age. It is possible they were brothers. See below.

"Went over to Ireland with the Militia from Northumberland for '98 Rebellion" is what my great aunt LIzzie (Elizabeth (Higgins) Tindall (1889-1985)) told me in the 1960s. I don't recall she specifically said this was James - she didn't give me names - but her Higgins forebears in general.

There certainly were English soldiers sent to Ireland at the end of the 18th century and specifically to deal with the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Amongst these were two groups of soldiers which James Higgins, or his father, might have belonged to:

1) The Northumberland Fencibles, under Col Francis Blake.

2) The Durham Fencibles under Col Barrington Price.

The family legend, as stated above, says Northumberland. But the Northumberland Fencilbes were fighting in the Co Meath in the middle of Ireland, quite a long way from Arklow whereas, the Durham Fencibles were specifically at Arklow and fought in the Battle of Arklow of 9th June 1798. The Northumberland Fencibles were disbanded in May 1802 and the Durham Fencibles (raised in 1795) were disbanded between May 1801 and early 1802 at about the time that gold mining was resumed in the Arklow / Avoca area - a reason to stay? Gold had been discovered near Arklow a few years before and there had been something of a gold rush. Some steam works relating to gold prospecting were destroyed in the 1798 disturbances but mining operations were resumed in 1801. Unfortunately there are no militia muster rolls for either regiment and no way of showing that James Higgins was connected with either, nor to prove a connection with Northumberland or County Durham.

The Loyal Durham Regiment of Fencible Infantry was sent to Ireland in 1797. 315 soldiers, under Col John Skerrett, were sent to Arklow in 1798 arriving just before the Battle of Arklow. They were disbanded in 1802.

If this James was with either regiment when they were disbanded he might still have been in his very early twenties. It is possible that he married quite late and married a younger woman. The first child was born in 1818 when he would have been about 40 and the last in 1832 when he would have been about 54 - not impossible.

The townland of Monagarra or Mongawn (not to be confused with Monagarrow lower and upper which are near Bray) was home to several families of Higgins and also Farrels. Monagarra is given as their residence in the registers. It might be reasonable to suppose they were related but it is not clear how. There were:

1) This James.

2) Thomas Higgins (abt.1800-) of Monagarra and his wife Esther Dunn had six children (Patrick 1821, Joseph 1824, James 1827, Mary 1829, Thomas 1832 and Peter 1837).

3) Henry Higgins (abt.1820-) of Monagarra who married an Eliza Bulger and had a daughter Mary baptised in 1828.

4) Thomas Higgins (abt.1810-) also of Monagarra who married an Eliza Meyler and had children from 1835 to 1845.

5) The Arklow baptismal register also has the birth of an Alice Higgins daughter of Michael Higgins (abt.1780-) and Bridget Carrol in 1809, though this doesn't indicate townland of residence. ^[2]

Perhaps 1, 2, & 3 were brothers? Perhaps they all came with the militia, but this would make Thomas very old at the birth of his last child. It looks more likely that that they were born after 1798 and their father came over from Northumberland.

Thomas (4) cannot be a brother of James and Thomas but could possibly be a son of James (1). All very complicated.

Michael may have been yet another brother or perhaps even the father, or no relation at all.

There is a marriage register from 1812 but James Higgins and Margaret Farrell are not recorded. The marriage of Thomas Higgins and Esther Dunne is recorded. ^[3]

James' first child was born in 1818 and last in 1832 but no record of marriage. He could have been born 1799/1800 and married 1817/1818. Thomas we know was married in 1819, his first child born in 1821 and last in 1837, so he could have been born 1800 / 1801.

There is a marriage register from 1812 ^[4]

A further thought: is it possible that the Higgins forebears came from Northumberland, not with the militia but as miners but were in the local militia? However, Aunty Lizzie was quite distinct in saying they came over with the militia in 1798. However, there was also a local yeomanry at the Avoca mines: ^[5]

It is interesting to note that two of James' grandsons, James and William, both left Arklow and went to Northumberland in the 1880s where they became coal miners. Did they go there because of ancestral connections or just by chance?

Another consideration. James' wife Margaret Farrell was most likely from the Kilcarra Farrell's and it would seem they might have fought against the English in the uprising. Indeed, Margaret's father may be the Hugh Farrell who died, aged 25, in June 1878 at the height of fighting. How likely is it that local girls would have married young soldiers who had fought against their families?

Sources

1. ↑ https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record/browse?id=IRE/PRS/MICROFILM06475-01/0054
2. ↑ https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FMICROFILM06475-01%2F0003&parentid=IRE%2FPRS%2FBAP%2F2625042
3. ↑ https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000633313#page/1/mode/1up
4. ↑ https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000633313#page/1/mode/1up
5. ↑ https://mhti.org/uploads/2/3/6/6/23664026/the_camac_brothers_and_late_18th_century_mining_in_avoca._chatterton_dickson_w.__2006_.pdf