Benjamin Higgins (1681 - bef. 1761)

Born 15 Sep 1681 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Freeman) Higgins — married 22 May 1701 (to 1743) in Orleans, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay

Husband of Mercy (Freeman) Dyer — married 28 Jun 1749 in Eastham, Barnstable, Ma

Descendants

Died before 11 May 1761 before age 79 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mike Walton [send private message]

Biography

NOTE - References exist to a Benjamin Higgins born 1674 to same parents who died 15 Sep 1681.

This Benjamin shows a birthdate of 15 Sep 1681 so this is possible, if the first Benjamin died on the day of his brother's birth and was commemorated by name, but is as yet unverified.

Alternatively, one of the birthdates may be an error.

Birth

Benjamin Higgins in the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 Name: Benjamin Higgins Event Type: Birth Birth Date: 15 Sep 1681 Birth Place: Orleans, Barnstable, Massachusetts Father Name: Benjamin Higgins Mother Name: Lydia Higgins (Lydia Bangs) Source Information Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

First Marriage

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 Name Benjamin Higgins Event Type Marriage Marriage Date 22 May 1701^[1] Marriage Place Orleans, Massachusetts Spouse Name Sarah Freeman Household Members Name Age Sarah Freeman Benjamin Higgins

Second Marriage

Benjamin married Mercy Hopkins, widow, nee Freeman.

No children resulted from this marriage.

Children

Benjamin and Sarah (Freeman) Higgins had the following (14) children:^[2]

1. Priscilla, born 17 November 1702; married Jonathan Smith
2. Thomas, born 24 June 1704; married Abigail Paine
3. Sarah, born 13 July 1706; married Jesse Smith
4. Paul, born 25 June 1708; married Rebecca Mayo
5. Reliance, born 10 May 1710
6. Elizabeth, born 1 April 1712; married Henry Young
7. Experience, born 31 January 1713/4; married ____ Fohy
8. Benjamin, born 1 March 1715/6; married Hannah Higgins
9. Thankful, born 28 October 1717
10. Zaccheus, born 15b August 1719; married Rebecca Young
11. Solomon, born 8 September 1721
12. Lois, born 6 August 1723; married _____ Cirkum
13. Isaac, born 12 July 1725
14. Freeman, born 28 July 1727; married Martha Cole and Thankful (Hopkins) Paine

Death

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=148595957&ref=acom

Dates sourced from various internet sites including http://www.geni.com/people/Benjamin-Higgins/6000000000426740425 for the purpose of facilitating matching/merging.

Benjamin was the tithing man in 1714, a juryman in 1719/20, 1730, 1737 and 1738. He was elected constable on 16 Mar. 1725/6. He received a grant from the town to land on the Town Flat on 26 July 1703.

On 11 June 1752 "Benjamin Higgins yeoman of Eastham for ten shillings eight pence sold to Benjamin Higgins the third of Eastham one acre and a quarter of land near my dwelling house, where my orchard now is, bounded beginning at my dwelling house... and then runs one pole to the south part of my house..."^[3] This was evidently sold to his son Benjamin for a house-lot, and the deed serves to distinguish the three Benjamin Higginses who were living in Eastham at the same time, the third one being Benjamin, son of Isaac Higgins, who is called Benjamin, Jr.

The first day of July… 1760 I Benjamin Higgens of Eastham… make my last will and testament...

Imprim I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife mercy Higgens one hundred and sixty ounses of silver for har Right of dour to be paid out of my Real Estat as I shall here after Expres I also give unto my sd wife one feather bead with Convenant furniture there unto and also one Cow with a prevelege of pastering one Cow on my land and to Cut hay on my meadow to winter one Cow so long as she livees my widow I also give unto my sd wife convenant house roome in the Easterly part of my Dwelling house and fire wood for har to burn brought to hard ore as I shall heare after order solong as she shall live my widow and my sd wife shal have liberty to carry of all the personal Estate she brought with har when I married har

Ittm I give unto my son Thomus Higgens his note of hand that he gave me for fifteen pounds lawful mony and also Eight pounds lawful mony to be paid out of my Real Estate as I shall here after order

Ittm I give to my son Paul Higgens his note of hand that he gave me for mony I also give unto him my sd son paul Eightteen acors of land to be measured of to him of my land that lays by Ralphs pond and of that end that joins to said pond I also give unto him my sd son my two lots of meado on monnement plane and one right in the undivided sege ground in that propriete all which land and meadow I give unto him my sd son pawl and to his heirs and asings for Ever.

Ittm I give unto my son Benjamin Higgens that my lot of land whare his house now stands and also all my land at Robbens hill and also four acors of land at Ralphs pond next to my son paul his land and also my two lots of meadow at the old ship and also one Right in the undevided sege ground in that propriate all which lands and meadow I give unto him my sd son Benjamin and to his heairs and assings for ever.

Ittm I give unto my three sons namely Zaccheus higgens Isaac higgens and freeman higgens all my lands and meadows in Eastham and in the town of Harwich not yet disposed of in this my Will they paying to my wife the silver I have given har and also procure har fire wood and alow har the prvelege of keeping har cow as is with in mentioned and that they also pay to my son Thomus the Eight pounds I have given him viz one thurd part of the above said lands and meadows I give to my son Zaccheus higgens and to his heairs and assings for Ever, and one thurd part of sd lands and meadows I give unto my son Isaac higgens and to his heairs and assings for Ever and one thurd part of the above sd lands and meadows I give unto my son freeman higgens and to his heairs and assings for Ever.

Ittm I give unto my son freeman higgens and to his heairs and assigns the westerly halfe part of my dweling house

Itm I give unto my two sons Zaccheus higgens and Isaac higgens and Easterly halfe part of my dweling howse they allowing my wife Convenant fire rome solong as she lives my widow.

Ittm I give to my three sons Zaccheus higgens Isaac higgens and freeman higgens my barn in Equil propoertion alike

Ittm I give to my son freeman higgens my Cart and wheales and Scow and all my farming tackling

Ittm I give all my personal Estate not yet disposed of in this my Will to my daughters and grand children and theire heairs and assings namely to my daughter Presiller smith one fifth part and to my daughter Sarah smith one fifth part and to my daughter Experens Toby one fifth part and to my daughter Lois Cirkum [Kirkham] one fifth part and to my Grand Children namely Solomon young anne young Eunis young sarah young Elesebeth young and hennery young one fifth part or to somany of them as shall survive at my decease.

Lastly I Constitute and ordaine my son Zaccheus Higgens of Eastham to be the Exacutor…

Benjmin Higgens

In presens of us
Richard Sparrow
Moses Higgens
Elnarthan Higgens

Proved 11 May 1761.^[4]

From the Eastham vital records:

"Benjamin Higens and sarah ffreeman ware Married the two and twentieth day of may 1701

Priscilla Higgins the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham the seventeenth day of November 1702

Thomas Higgins the son of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham June the 24th 1704

Sarah Higgins the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham July ye 13th 1706

Paul Higgins the son of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham the 25th day of June Anno Dom 1708

Reliance Higgins the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born the thirteenth day of may anno dom 1710

Elisabeth Higgins the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham the first day of aprill 1712

Experience Higgins the Daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham the 31st day of January anno dom : 1713/14

Benjamin Higgins the son of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham on the first day of march anno Domini : 1715/16

Thankfull Higgins the Daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham on ye 28th day of October anno domini: 1717

Look in the new Book for ye rest…

Zacheus Higgins the Son of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham on the fifteenth day of august annodomini : 1719

Solomon Higgins the Son of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham the eighth day of September annodomini: 1721

Lois Higgins the Daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham the Sixth Day of august annodom: 1723

Isaac Higgins the son of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham on the twelf day of July annodomini 1725

Freeman Higgins the Son of Benjamin and Sarah Higgins was Born at Eastham on ye twenty eighth day of July annodomini 1727" Eastham Vital Records- The Mayflower Descendant- Vol. VII, p. 15; XV, 143

Sources

1. ↑ Births, marriages, deaths, 1649-ca.1840; intentions of marriage, 1700-ca.1905, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L979-9XW7  : 28 September 2022), FHL microfilm 007009735, image 130, Eastham, Massachusetts, Volume 2, Births, & Deaths, 1654-1797, Page 65a.
2. ↑ Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Descendants of the Pilgrims Who Landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in December 1620, Volume Twenty-Four, Part 3, The Descendants of Elder William Brewster Through His Children Patience, Fear, and Love, Generations 5 and 6, by Barbara Lambert Merrick, edited by John Bradley Arthaud, previewed by Peggy M. Baker, published in 2019 by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 4 Winslow Street, Plymouth, MA 02360, page 43
3. ↑ Richard Higgins And His Descendants- Katherine Chapin Higgins, Worcester, 1918, p.86- quoting Unrecorded Barnstable County Deeds- The Mayflower Descendant- Vol. XVI, p. 1
4. ↑ Barnstable County Probate Records- Vol. XII, p. 153; The Will of Benjamin Higgins- The Mayflower Descendant- Vol. XVIII, pp. 189-91

See also:

• Genealogy & Family History - Maine Title: George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D., Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York 1909) Subsequent Source Citation Format: George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D., Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine BIBL George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D. Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York 1909. Text: "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine", George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D., Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York 1909
• First Settlers of Eastham, Massachusetts Title: First Settlers of Eastham, Massachusetts Subsequent Source Citation Format: First Settlers of Eastham, Massachusetts BIBL First Settlers of Eastham, Massachusetts.
• "Richard Higgins & His Desc.," Katherine Chapin Hi Title: Katherine Chapin Higgins, 1918' pp.53,54 [1], pp. 86-89 [2]
• Gen. Dictionary of the First Settlers of NE Title: James Savage 1860-1862, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England
• American Genealogical-Biographical Index Godfrey Memorial Library, comp.
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• The Will of Benjamin Higgins, with notes by the editor, The Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010) Volume 18 (1916), p. 189.