John Higdon (abt. 1657 - bef. 1723)

Born about 1657 in Yorkshire, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 11 Jun 1723 before about age 66 in Charles County, Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carl Alvey [send private message]

Biography

Whoever created the profile for John Higton/Higdon set up his DOB and claimed that he was born in Yorkshire, England, however that person did not include a source for that information. I have not seen a source to suggest that he was actually born in Yorkshire. If anyone has a source for this, please include it.

This profile is part of the Higdon Name Study.

The Province of Maryland was one of the original 13 English colonies of the New World. It was under the control of the Calvert family, the Barons Baltimore, who were appointed by King Charles I. Around the estimated time of John Higdon's birth, King Charles II would have been King of England. During John's lifetime, religious unrest between the Protestants and the Catholics brought forth the Protestant Revolution of 1689 within the Maryland colony. Maryland then became a Royal or Provincial Colony whose governor was appointed by the King of England. It was returned to proprietary control by King George I who reappointed the Calvert's as lord proprietors. Around the estimated death of John Higdon, Capt. Charles Calvert would have been Governor of the proprietary colony of Maryland.

John's Life:

John Higdon/Higton is presumed to have been born in England sometime around 1657. More research is needed to confirm or disavow this information. He married Millicent/Menesenia/Menesenca (Unknown) some time between 1658 and 1664, presumably in Maryland. Their known living children as listed in John's Will were: John [Jr.], Charles, Benjamin, Mary, Thomas, and William. John Higdon/Higton was a planter who appears to have resided first in St. Mary's County, Maryland prior to 1695/6 and afterwards in Charles County, Maryland. He died in 1723 in Charles County, Maryland.

• The following portion of John's Biography is transcribed from various sources including but not limited to Court Records from Maryland and obtained from various websites, collected and arranged by Nancy Hall Anderson (Hall-34851) and slightly altered and distributed by myself, Laurie Higdon Segers (Higdon-536).
• In 1682: John Higdon gives a deposition in which he says he is age 25. Source: Peden, Henry C., Jr., "Maryland Deponents, 1634-1799," p. 91, citing Archives of Maryland, Vol. 7, p. 415.
• In 1683: John Higdon was paid as Young's "keeper" during the impeachment of Jacob Young for his conduct in a matter involving the Indians. John Higdon gave evidence against him. Source: Archives of Maryland, Vol. 7, pp. 457, 472, 476, 518, 538 and 560.
• In January 1686/7: John Higton is debtor to the estate of Thomas Gerrard in St. Mary's Co., Md. Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1685-1701," p. 44. Comment: The list of debts is undated but Gerrard's inventory date is Jan. 1686/7
• In April 17, 1693: Charles County Circuit Court Liber S, Page 187 - Indenture from William Dent, planter, to John Higdon of St. Mary's County, planter; for 2,000# tobacco; a parcel of land called Hailyfax; located on the north side of Oxon Runn; containing 90 acres; William Dent (mark); wit. Ralph Shaw, Clebome Lomax
• In February 1,1694/5: Benjamin Hall, gentleman, St. Mary's Co., exhibited bond of Mr. Richard Hubbard administrator of Alexander Currey, St. Mary's Co. Securities: John Higdon, Alexander Willson. Source: Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 15C, p. 168.
• In 1695: John Higton is debtor to the estate of William Rosewell in St. Mary's Co., Md. Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1688-1698," p. 77.
• In 1696: John Higton and Benjamin Hall appraised the inventory of Elizabeth Young in St. Mary's Co., Md. Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1688-1698," p. 45. Comment: Elizabeth's inventory is undated but surrounding inventories are 1696. Elizabeth Young's will was probated Jan. 1695/6 in Charles Co., and her May 1697 administration account was also filed in Charles Co. Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 16, p. 124, shows Hall & Higdon appointed appraisers Jan. 21, 1695/6, and Liber 16, p. 204 shows inventory date as Dec. 4, 1696.
• In 1698: William Boarman and John Higton approved the inventory of Richard Hobart in Charles Co., Md. Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1697-1700," p. 18. Comment: No date given but surrounding dates are 1698. No county given but other records show Hobart in St. Mary's Co. prior to 1696 and in Charles Co. thereafter.
• In November 1699: Robert Mason vs. William Wells of Charles Co. The case sets forth Wells' account with Mason which shows that in 1696 Mason paid John Higdon 398 lbs. of tobacco for Wells. Source: Charles Co., Md. Circuit Court, Liber X, pp. 215-7.
• December 22, 1705: Anthony Semmes and John Higton appraised the inventory of John Smith in Charles Co., Md. Note: not recorded. Source: Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 19C, p. 36.
• September 1706: Daniel Gerrard's estate made a payment to John Higton in Charles Co., Md. Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1699-1708," p. 33.
• November 1706: John Higton is owed debt by the estate of Thomas Smoot in Smoot's, Charles Co., Md. administration account. Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1699-1708," p. 35.
• August 1708: John Higton witnesses the Charles Co., Md. will of Anthony Semmes. Source: Maryland Calendar of Wills, Vol. 3, p. 119.
• In 1717: Richard Edelen and John Higton appraise the Charles Co., Md. inventory of Marmaduke Semms. John Semms and Marmaduke Semms approve the inventory. Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1715-1718," p. 51. Comment: No date or county is given but other records show them to be 1717 and Charles Co.
• November 1717: The Court allows John Hidgon [sic] 116 lbs. of tobacco for 29 squirrel heads (4 lbs. each.) Source: Charles Co., Md. Circuit Court, Liber I No. 2, p. 34.
• August 1719: There is a record of John Higton at Charles Co., Md. Circuit Court, Liber I No. 2, p. 255.
• March 25, 1720: John Higdon and Benedict Boarman witness the Charles Co., Md. will of Henry Miles. Source: Maryland Calendar of Wills, Vol. 5, p. 8.
• May 2, 1720: The Charles Co., Md. administration bond of Mary Miles, executrix of Henry Miles. Sureties: Thomas Hagan, John Higdon, Sr. Source: Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 24, p. 175
• August 1722: John Higton witnesses the Charles Co., Md. will of Randolph Garland. Source: Maryland Calendar of Wills, Vol. 5, p. 115
• December 1722: John Higton and John Semmes were sureties for the administration of the Charles Co., Md. estate of Abraham Lemaster by John Lemaster, executor. Source: Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 26, p. 97.
• March 1722/3: John Higton and John Boarman appraise the Charles Co., Md. inventory of Abraham Lemaster. Source: Charles Co., Md. Inventories, 1717-1735, p. 106.
• In April of 1723, John Higton drew up his own will which was witnessed by George Dent, John Semmes (Simes), and Elizabeth Duckworth.

John's Will:

John's Will was probated on 11 June 1723 in Charles County, Maryland, so it can be presumed that he died between April 29, 1723 when he drew up his Will and the date that it was probated.

• Higton, John, planter, Charles Co., 29th April, 1723 ; 11th June, 1723. To sons John, Charles and Benjamin and dau. Mary Sims, personalty. wife Menesenca, extx., residue of estate during life; at her decease, to sons Thomas and William equally. Test: George Dent, John Semmes (Simes), Elizabeth Duck worth. 18, 108. From The Maryland Calendar of Wills: Wills from 1720 to 1726 by Jane Baldwin Cotton and Roberta Bolling Henry
• John Hidgton 9.289 CH £23.11.9 Dec 12 1723/ Appraisers: Richard Edelin, Benjamin Boarman. Creditors: Gustavus Brown, Anthony Simmes. Next of kin: John Higton, Benjamin Higton
• John Higton 6.40 A CH £23.11.9 Jun 13 1724/ Payments to: Dr. Brown, Richard Smith, Charles Yates, Henry Neale, William Murphey, Samuel Hanson. Executrix: Millesent Higton.
• Charles County Maryland Inventories p. 145-145: John Higdton dec'd 12 Dec 1723; John Higton exr.; kin Brian Higton.
• December 12, 1723: The Charles Co., Md. Inventory of John Higton. Appraisers: Richard Edelin and Benjamin Boarman (value 23/11/9.) Creditors: Gustavus Brown and Anthony Simmes. Next-of-kin: John Higton and Benjamin Higton. Executrix: _________ [name left blank] Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Inventories of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1720-1724," p. 48.
• June 13, 1724: The Charles Co., Md. administration account of John Higton. Payments made to 6 persons. Executrix: Millesent Higton. Source: Skinner, V. L., Jr., "Abstracts of the Administration Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1724-1731," p. 4. Comment: The only monetary amount shown is that of the inventory.

Notes

There is no documentary evidence to support that this John Higdon was a brother of the Richard Higdon of Westmoreland County, who married bef June 1662 to Jane Brookes, daughter of Henry, and who died about 1718.

The possibility exists that John Higdon/Higton was not born in England, but in Maryland as a 1st generation of Higdon's in the Americas. The Ark and the Dove[1][2][3][4] were two ships that set sail from Cowes[5] on the Isle of Wight[6] in England on November 22, 1633 with 128 passengers from Gravesend[7] in Kent[8], England (where years earlier in 1617, the Native American wife, Pocahontas, of John Rolfe became ill and died) and with over 200 passengers from the Isle of Wight, that arrived at St. Clement's Island[9] of what became known as St. Mary's County, Maryland on March 25, 1634, establishing the first colony in Maryland. The two ships made several stops on their journey and, after their initial landing at St. Clement's Island, continued to be used thereafter. It is possible that John or his parents were passengers from another colony or from subsequent voyages from England on the "Ark" or "Dove", or another vessel entirely.

St. Mary's County[10], Maryland, was established in 1637. St Mary's City[11] in St. Mary's County was chosen as the first capital of the Maryland Colony[12] and in 1695, the capital was moved to Annapolis, Maryland. The capital was moved as a result of the new Protestant governor of Maryland after the Protestant Revolution took place. That is also about the time that John Higdon/Higton moved from St. Mary's County to Charles County[13][14], Maryland.

The early Higdon's were known to be Catholics[15] and, as such, there is reason to believe that they faced discrimination after the Protestant Revolution[16] of 1689. Catholics were forbidden from worshipping and were, subsequently, forced to do so secretly in their own homes. In 1692, Maryland Catholics were barred from voting, serving in the militia, and also double-taxed. Laws were passed that limited Roman Catholic immigration to the colony. In 1695, St. Mary's statehouse was turned into a Protestant church. Again, this is about the time that John Higdon/Higton moved from St. Mary's County to Charles County, Maryland. Possibly he moved due to religious persecution by Protestants.

The impeachment trial of Jacob Young in Maryland[17][18][19][20]

In 1686, John is indebted to the estate of Thomas Gerrard[21] (c.1636 - 1686) of St. Mary's, Maryland. This is likely the estate of the son of Dr. Thomas Gerard[22][23][24] (1608-1673) of St. Clement's Manor in St. Mary's County, Maryland.

Oxon (Oxen) Run: A tributary stream of Oxon Creek along the Potomac River.[25][26][27]

DNA Research

Prior to William the Conqueror taking control of England in 1066 and initiating a survey referred to as the Domesday Book in 1086, the people there did not use surnames. The practice of hereditary surnames were adopted by most English families by around 1400 for ease of identification. As a result, some groups of Higdon's may not be related to other groups of Higdon's. Different family groups may have adopted the same surname OR there were persons that were adopted into families and given that surname and so will have a different DNA bloodline. There are also many variations of the Higdon surname, which may or may not be related.

Currently, the strongest and closest YDNA match (DNA passed mostly unchanged from father to son) to that of the Maryland Higdon descendants appear to be descendants of the Cooley surname in the USA. They share a common paternal ancestor, probably some time ago in England. The YDNA Haplogroup for John Higdon, the presumed progenitor of the Maryland Higdon's is R-M198 (also referred to as R1a1a), Subgroup R-YP4491. Current research indicates that the R-M198 Haplogroup possibly arrived in Europe as part of the Indo-European Corded Ware Culture during the Neolithic Age. Its origins are speculated to include: Central Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Eastern and Northern Europe. The most prevalent Haplogroup currently in England today is R-M269. There are DNA studies underway in Great Britain and Ireland that suggest that the R-M198 Haplogroup possibly arrived there with one or more of the many waves over time of Viking invaders or settlers to the British Isles. The highest occurrence of M-198 in Europe appear to be in people of Scandinavian descent with 20-30% of men tested to carry the DNA mutation. The highest occurrence of M-198 in South Asia appear to be in people of Indian descent at 72% in the West Bengal Brahmins group; and in Central Asia in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan at 64% and 63%, respectively. [This information is subject to change as more data is collected.]

Autosomal DNA is the combined DNA from both parents' lines. So, an autosomal DNA (aDNA) match with a direct male descendant does not mean that the DNA connection is necessarily through the direct paternal (YDNA) line. An example of this is the match between John Higdon whose GEDMatch is Z630793 and Fritz Maher whose GEDMatch is M181676. They share matching aDNA, but the relationship may not be exclusively from the Higdon line which they definitely both share, but could also be through the Wright line as they also share that ancestral surname and possibly DNA. Careful examination of ancestral surnames is necessary when comparing matches between persons using aDNA. Individuals may share multiple possible relationships.

DNA Notes:

John Higton/Higdon, planter and progenitor of the Maryland Higdon line, had his will witnessed by an Elizabeth Duckworth. There are some Duckworth's that appear to share aDNA with the Maryland Higdon's. More research is required.

The aDNA of the Maryland Higdon's seems to match some Higdon's that emigrated to New Zealand from Somerset, England in 1879. It is more likely that these two groups of Higdon's are connected primarily through their paternal lines which indicates that Somerset, England probably contained other Higdon connections to the Maryland group. More research is needed.

THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE FOR THIS PROFILE. MORE RESEARCH IS REQUIRED:

Residence:

Residence Place: Maryland, USA ^[1]

Event:

Type: Arrival

Date: 1658

Place: Virginia^[2]

Marriage:

THE FOLLOWING DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE JOHN HIGDON THAT BELONGS TO THIS PROFILE: Husband: Richard Higdon Wife: Jane Brooks Child: John Higdon Relationship to Father: Natural Relationship to Mother: Natural Marriage: Date: 1662 Place: Westmoreland, Virginia, United States^[3]

• THE JOHN HIGDON IN THE WILL OF JANE CAMPBELL DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE SAME PERSON. Will of JANE CAMPBELL (Brooke-Higdon-Brown): !25 Jan 1702: JANE CAMPBELL (Brooke-Higdon-Brown) DEEDS. JOHN HIGDON I. HER HOME PLACE OF 150 ACRES. To all christian people to whom this present writing shall come Jane Campbell of Westmoreland County in Washington Parish in Virginia send Greeting in our Lord God everlasting this 25th day of January 1702, Now know ye that I, the said Jane Campbell for divers good causes and considerations me thereto moving, but more especially in consideration of the natural love and affection I bear to my loving son John Higdon and his children have given and granted and do by these presents............give and grant and make over to my loving son John Higdon all that piece or parcel of land he is now seated on, situate, lying and being in the said county and parish being formerly surveyed and laid out for one hundred and_fifty acres with all houses, outhouses, orchards, fences and timber, timber trees, woods,water and water courses, mines minerals and apurtenances whatsoever, Beginning for the said land at a white oak standing on the South side of a swamp called Diggwood Swamp which tree divideth this land.. and the land formerly sold by my former husband James Campbell decd.,and.myself to my son in law Nathaniel Pope as will appear from a deed of sale recorded in the County Court records of Westmoreland County and running up the said swamp joyning to the said Nathaniel Pope's land to a line of marked trees that divides (bounding?) this land and the land formerly belonging to Laurence Abingdon and binding upon a line of marked trees that divides this land from the land formerly in possession of David Whickliffe now in the tenure & possession of my aforesaid son in law Nathl. Pope.- To have and to hold the aforesaid land, with the appurtenances aforementioned and granted to my said son John Higdon for and during his natural life the remainder to his two eldest sons Original Higdon and John Higdon and their heirs forever, not to be held in joynt tenancy but to be equally divided and to hold the same as tennants in common. n witness my hand and seal affixed the day and year aforesaid. JANE CAMPBELL (SEAL) Signed Sealed & delivered in presence of Nathaniel Pope, Jane Pope Westmoreland: S.S. At a Court held for the said County the 24th day of February 1702. Mr. Nathaniel Pope by virtue of a power from Mrs. Jane Campbell acknowledged the within deed of gift to John Higdon to be the proper act and deed of the said Jane Campbell and the lands and premises therein the mentioned to be conveyed to the said Higdon to be Just and right inheritance of him and his two sons Original and Daniel Higdon and their heirs forever according to the interest and purport of the within mentioned deed. Westmoreland Co. VA, Bk. 3, p.123.

• "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900" Author: Yates Publishing Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived Note: APID: 1,7836::0 Source: S-2074882645 Repository: #R-2141384234

• Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s: Author: Gale Research Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data - Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010. Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger Note: APID: 1,7486::0 Source: S-2074882983 Repository: #R-2141384234

• "Catholic Families of Southern Maryland" Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - O'Rourke, Timothy J. Catholic Families of Southern Maryland: "Records of Catholic Residents of St. Mary's County in the Eighteenth Century". Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogy Note: APID: 1,49101::0 Source: S-2084608187 Repository: #R-2141384234

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S-2084608187 APID: 1,49101::18133 Note: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=flhg-cathfamsouthmaryland&h=18133&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
2. ↑ Source: #S-2074882983 Note: Arrival date: 1658 Arrival place: Virginia
3. ↑ Source: #S-2074882645 Page: Source number: 235.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: GEM. Note: Note: Data: Text: Birth date: 1650 Birth place: CO Marriage date: 1670 Marriage place: VA APID: 1,7836::571686

• Maryland Archives
• Maryland Deponents, 1634-1799, by Henry C. Peden, Jr.
• Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, 1685-1731 by V. L. Skinner, Jr.
• Maryland Calendar of Wills, Vol. 3 and Vol. 5
• Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 15C, 19C, 24, and 26
• Charles County, Maryland Circuit Court, Liber I No. 2, Liber S, and Liber X
• Charles County, Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 16
• Charles County, Maryland Inventories, 1717-1735
• The Maryland Calendar of Wills: Wills from 1720 to 1726 by Jane Baldwin Cotton and Roberta Bolling Henry[28]
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org modified 21 June 2016, 17:43), entry for John Higdon 2nd(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LHQ9-DY5); contributed by various users.
• Colonial Higdons and Some of Their Descendants by Lucille B. Coone. A copy of this book is on Reserve at Western Carolina University. According to Mrs. Coone, three Higdons, John, Richard, and Daniel appeared on the records of Virginia and Maryland in the middle of the seventeenth century. This 167-page spiral bound book provides the descendants of Richard, John, and Daniel Higdon a boost towards finding their ancestors and gives the reader a wonderful glimpse of life in colonial America

Links

• FamilySearch John Higdon