James Himes (1663 - 1745)

Born 14 Aug 1663 in Milton, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 13 Mar 1745 at age 81 in North Kingstown, Kings, Rhode Island

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Biography

James Highams (surname also spelled Hyams, Hiams or Himes) is cited on Gov. Andros' 6 September 1687 tax roll for Rochester (renamed later to Kingstown), Rhode Island owing a “pole” (poll) tax of 1s, and a property tax of 0s 8d, which places him as an adult, male resident and property landholder in Kingstown, RI on this date. ^[1] This tax roll identifies a sum total of 138 individual taxpayers representing 85 family groups living in the roughly 22.5 square mile area associated with Kingstown, RI on this date in 1687; one consequence of this sparse population is that he would have been well acquainted with many, if not all, of the individuals identified on this list. Therefore, this tax list is a defacto definition of the people who were available to be his friends, neighbors, and allies; it would be essential to cultivate strong working relationships with these neighbors in order to survive on this frontier landscape. This cross reference tool provides hot links to peruse most of the 136 Wikitree families identified in this tax roll; families who were very frequently interconnected, or became interconnected, by marriage, over the course of their lives and throughout the ensuing generations, further binding a network of neighbors into extended families. ^[2]

This 1s poll tax assessment establishes that James was at least 21 years of age on the 1687 date, but the 0s 8d property tax assessment also implies that he was of a sufficient age to have accumulated a minor parcel of real estate; this then suggests that he may have been in his mid to late 20s in 1687. Hence it seems probable that he would have been born sometime between 1657 and 1666.

An open search of the FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, and AmericanAncestors databases for a James Highams, Hyams, Hiams, or Himes born in this date range (search performed in April of 2024); yields a solitary constraint-compatible document for a North-American born James Himes born within this date range. Both Ancestry.com and American Ancestors have a record of the birth of a James Himes, son of David Himes, born on 14 August 1663 at Milton, Massachusetts. ^{[3] [4]} Unfortunately, there is presently (April 2024) no direct evidence to prove that the James Himes born in 1663 at Massachusetts is one and the same person as the James Highams taxed in Kingstown, Rhode Island in Sept of 1687; however, the circumstantial case that they are the same person is highly probable, and sufficient to connect the two identities as one and the same--to the point that disassociation would require production of direct evidence to affirm they are not the same person. The circumstantial case to associate these records to be for the same person is as follows:

• The tax record for James Highams of Kingstown, RI, requires that he be born about the time James Himes of Milton, Mass. was born.
• The surnames Highams and Himes (as well as Hyams and Hiams) are phonetically compatible
• No other date and place compatible James Highams, Himes, Hyams, or Hiams is to be found in the indexed genealogical records.
• Numerous individuals from the Boston, Mass area were instrumental in executing the Kingstown land deal with sachem Coginaquant Narragansett (abt.1625-bef.1675), and it would be reasonable to assert that James would have been cognizant of the deal as a Mass. resident.
• James Highams, Himes, Hyams, or Hiams does NOT appear in the Milton, Mass records as an adult. (Thus providing indirect evidence that lived somewhere else as an adult (or was deceased).

James Highams also appears in a couple of land deals at Kingstown, Rhode Island subsequent to the 1687 tax. On Jun 3, 1709 he is noted to have been part of a investor group that transacted Bly's purchase of Swamptown from the Committee for the Vacant Lands. He is also cited in another record in which he purchases a 105 acre tract of land from James and Mary Austin near Wickford, Rhode Island on 21 Nov 1716; providing evidence that James Highams remained as a resident of Kingstown, RI from 1687 through 1716.

Judge Elisha Potter's 1709/10 plat map places the John Highams (a probable son of James) farm west of Wickford, RI and adjacent to that of the Widow Phenix. Note that this land ownership for John Highams establishes that he was an adult at least age 21 in 1709 and therefore born prior to 1688. James Highams would have been age 25 on this date and thus a probable father of John.

The following portion of the biography has been derived from a GED import and contains numerous unsourced assertions regarding family connections:

James Himes {Hiames, Hyams, Highams...}, was born 14 Aug 1663 at Milton, Suffolk Co., Mass, and he passed away 13 Mar 1744/45 at Kingstown, Rhode Island. ^[5]

Family

Children of James Hyams and Sarah Spink

1. Benjamin Himes (abt.1702-1771)
2. Mercy (Himes) Hymes (1704-)
3. Sarah (Himes) Wilcox (abt.1706-1759)
4. Anne (Himes) Wilcox (1708-)
5. Mary (Hiames) Whitford (abt.1705-abt.1765)
6. Deborah (Himes) Wilcox (1712-)
7. Elizabeth (Himes) Hymes (1714-)

Children of James Hyams and Abigail Mowrey:

1. James (Himes) Hymes (1699-1795)
2. George (Himes) Hymes
3. Sylvestor (Himes) Hymes
4. Mary (Himes) Hymes
5. Dorcas (Himes) Hymes
6. Freelove (Himes) Hymes

End of Biography.

Genealogical Records

The following section of this profile provides detailed information found in the collected information sources. The purpose of this section is to provide the reader access to the information contained within the cited sources; to examine the genealogical record for areas of data corroboration and conflict, and to establish a hierarchy of reliability for the cited information. In addition, this section provides a platform to analyze, cross-correlate, and comment on important aspects of the cited historical data record.

Vital Records

• Primary Source, Arnold, Vital Records of Rhode Island. 1636-1850, Volume 5. Washington County ^[6] Volume 5, Early Vital records from North Kingston, Washington County, Rhode Island:

1. ) North Kingston Records-Himes Marriages; Page 28, (73 of 920): Marriages of the Probable children of James Himes:
   1. ) Benjamin, of N. Kingsto-wn, and Mary James, of Westerly ; m. by Benjamin Nichols, Justice of Peace, June — , 1723.
   2. ) Ann, and , . — , 1727.
   3. ) Sarah, and Jeffrey Wilcox, April 24, 1726.
   4. ) John, and Hannah Hlmes; m. by George Thomas, Justice of Peace,, Dec. — , 1734.
   5. ) Hannah, and John Hlmes, Dec. — , 1734. " Mary, and Jonathan Bates, March 26, 1747
2. ) North Kingston Records-Hiames Children; Page 81, (130 of 920): Birth records for Himes; note surname is spelled Hiames in this section of the town records.

Published Genealogical Information

• Secondary Source, Elisha Reynolds Potter; Several purchases of the lands west of Wickford; ^[7] Data summary;

1. ) Wickford Purchases, page 8. 3 Jun 1709: Bly's purchase, a 1618 acre tract of land identified on Potter's map as Swamptown; purchased by Daniel Bly, Joseph Northup, John Austin, James Highams, John Highams, John Wells, John Morey, Stephen Arnold, William Burge, William West, Martha Card, and John Nichols.
2. ) Wickford Purchases, page 8. 3 Jun 1709 Mrs. Abigail (Sewall) Phenix (1649-aft.1718) (widow) and John Hyams purchased 163 acres, where (by the transaction date, his close proximity in Kingtown community, and the rarity if the Hyams surname) this John Hyams is likely to be the son of James Highams of this profile.
3. )Judge Potter's Plat map west of Wickford; page 2. This map identifies the location of "Swamptown" and the location of John HIgham's farm.

Research Notes

1. ) 2024-05-06: If the 14 August 1663, Milton, Mass. birth date assertion is correct, then the present asserted connection to parents John Hyams Himes (1645-) and Susannah (Unknown) Himes (1650-) is incorrect and this present association should be disconnected and reconnected to David Holmes (Himess) (abt.1635-1666) as his father. This also implies a merge with the profile of James Holmes (1663-1743), but there is presently insufficient evidence to support James Holmes and James Himes, Hyams, Highams, or Hiames (of this profile) as the same person. That is to say, it looks like this may be the same person, but more research and hard data is needed before a merge should be considered. Note that the surnames Himes, Hyams, Highams, and Hiames are all phonetically equivalent, whereas the surname Holmes is similar, but is pronounced differently, and thus is not a phonetic equivalent. This, of course, suggests James Himes, Hyams, Highams, or Hiames (of this profile) is not the same person as James Holmes (1663-1743).
2. ) Everything for his presently asserted father, John Hyams is exceedingly doubtful. Specifics still need to be verified, since there are several contradictions.

Sources

1. ↑ Roberts, Gary Boyd; Genealogies of Rhode Island Families, Vol. II, Niles - Wilson; Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore 1989. RI Taxes under Gov. Andros pages 592- 594.
2. ↑ Randolph Beebe; Cross Reference: Gov. Andros 1687 Rochester RI Tax Register to Wikitree profile; Wikitree Free Space Profiles, 2024.
3. ↑ Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988; (Ancestry.com database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
4. ↑ Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850; (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016).
5. ↑ unsourced
6. ↑ Arnold, James N., Editor of the Narragansett Historical Register, Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, Providence, RI., Narragansett HIstorical Publishing Co., 1894. Twenty one Volume set of Early Rhode Island Vital records compiled by from James Arnold. Available at:

   1. ) Archive.org--free: Vital Record of Rhode Island. 1636-1850, Volume 5. Washington County--Title page Archive.org
   2. ) Ancestry.com--fee required Title page at Ancestry

7. ↑ Potter, Elisha Reynolds; Several purchases of the lands west of Wickford; E.l. Freeman Co.; Providence, RI.; 1936.

The following bibliography provides a listing of the source material cited in the narrative text of this profile:

Other Sources

The following section provides a listing of source material that is pertinent to the profile subject, but not presently cited in the narrative text of the profile.

• Genealogical record of Robert Austin and his lineal descendents. page 12; &
• A genealogy of the descendants of Robert Austin of Kingstown, Rhode Island; page 436: John Austin sold 105 acres to James Hyams 21 Nov 1716.

• Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of RI; https://archive.org/details/genealogicaldict00aust/page/248/mode/1up?q=Hyams page 248 James and Mary Austin sell a 105 acre tract of land to James Hyams.

• Several purchases of the lands west of Wickford;

• Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850, page 32. (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016).

• https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/467116:2129 Ancestry.com. The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society.
  • Benjamin Himes, son of James and Sarah Himes, was married June 1723. {Evidence of marriage of James Himes and Sarah (possibly Spink).}

• Chicoine,himes Family Tree, posted on Ancestry.com by Neal B. Chicoine, Titusville, FL: 2010