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Higgins Notes

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Jediah Higgins Sr (1657-aft.1715)
Mary (Newbold) Higgins (1661-aft.1717)
Joseph Higgins (1702-1782)
GJ Appendix Select Higgins Sources


Contents

Jediah Higgins

JEDIAH^2 HIGGINS, born Eastham, Massachusetts, 05 Mar 1656‐7, son of Richard Higgins and his second wife, Mary (‐‐‐‐‐) Yates [1 (Anderson)]; died __________, __ ___ 1715 (shortly before 17 May 1715) [his will was dated 23 April 1715, proved 17 May 1715]; m. Burlington, NJ, 12 May 1684, Mary Newbold, born Eckington, County York, England, 23 May 1661, daughter of Michael and Anne (‐‐‐‐‐) Newbold of Eckington, later of Mansfield township, Burlington County, NJ. She died __________, __ ___ ____. The record of their marriage from Nelson’s Marriage Records, 1665‐1800:

“The Marriage between Jodia Higgins and Mary Newbold being first published according to Lawe, was Solempnized ye Twelveth day of ye Third Month called May 1684, before Elias ffarre Robert Stace Justices and Thomas Revell Registr, Joseph Wood Eliakim Higgins, Tho: Higgins, Margrett Newbold Mary Peirson Elizabeth Hull Sarah Higgins Elizabeth Revell, Elizabeth Stacy Hellen Stacy.”2

In 1669, when Jediah was about 12 years old, the family removed from Eastham, Massachusetts to Piscataway, New Jersey. His father, Richard Higgins, died _______ _______. His mother remarried after 1684 to Isaac Whitehead .... and while she lived on, the last known record of her is dated 1702.

According to Higgins, records of Piscataway give Jediah’s occupation as cordwainer, and the first land record in Piscataway Township bears his name:

Jan. 1, 1682. The first land record in Piscataway Township Book shows 2 acres of land granted to Jodiah Higgins. Registered June 25, 1682‐3. In 1683, or more probably 1685, he was Ensign of the Piscataway trainband.”3

Jediah and Mary removed from Piscataway, thought between 1700 and 1714, to an area near Kingston, NJ. One story is told that he bought 1,000 acres of land there “from the Lenni Lenape Indians for a sow and a littler of pigs.” 4 Jediah is credited as having built what is today called the “Rockingham” house. the original portion of the house was “built as a two‐room, two‐story saltbox style house.”5 It has been moved several times and now stands at 84 Laurel Ave. in present day Kingston. The structure is considered the second oldest house in the Millstone River valley. The property was purchased in the 1730’s by Supreme Court Justice John Berrien, whose heirs continued to hold the property until 1802. “In 1783, Rockingham became significant as General George Washington’s final military headquarters.6 From this location, near Kingston, about “four miles northeast of Princeton ... the descendants of Jediah Higgins spread into Hunterdon County and adjacent regions.”7 In 1998, Jeanette K. Muser wrote “Perhaps the oldest gravestones are in Kingston on the former Higgins family plot near Route 27 and Raymond Road. She remarks separately that Higgins’ gravestones are also found in the Kingston Cemetery.8 The Higgins Family Burying Ground was documented in 1975 by Janet T. Riemer for the South Brunswick Historical Society. She writes, “This old private cemetery is located on the south side of Route 27, 1 mile south of Raymond Road. The remains of his cemetery are in a small wooded are between a grassy area and a field. According to a family member, several slaves were buried in the area. Part of the cemetery was disturbed when a pipeline was laid nearby. Only two stones were found in 1975.9 Muser’s work, Rocky Hill, Kingston and Griggstown, includes a photograph of the burying grounds under which she remarks, “These neglected gravestones on the Jedediah Higgins property ... are perhaps the only genuine remains of an early settler of the village ...John Dalley of Kingston made a map in 1745 that confirms the general location of the Higgins property.”10

‐‐‐See Jedediah Higgins [Jr.’s] 1749 Notice of Sale, published Documents Relating to .... New Jersey, 1st Series, Vol. 12, pg 586‐7

Jediah’s will was dated 23 April 1715, proved 17 May 1715, abstracted as:

April 3, 1715. Jedidiah Higgins of the Co. of Somerset, province of East Jersey, Yeoman, being sick and weak of body, . . . I give to Mary my dearly beloved wife my now dwelling house and one third part of my moveable estate. To my well beloved son Jedediah 200 acres lying at Barnegat Bay, also other land. To my well beloved son James land that runs down to Daniel Cornelius’s land. To well beloved sons Miceall and Thomas all the rest of the land belonging to this plantation equally. To well beloved son Joseph 80 lbs when he comes to twenty one years of age. To daughter Mary when she is eighteen or the day of her marriage 50 lbs. My granddaughter Sarah Bloomfield to have 10 lbs. at the age of eighteen. Wife Mary, sons Jedediah and James executors.11 12

Jediah Higgins Children

i. ANN^3 HIGGINS, born at Piscataway?, NJ, 08 March 1684, died probably there, __ ___ 1702.

ii. ROSE^3 HIGGINS, born at Piscataway?, NJ, 06 Nov 1686; died at __________, __ ___ ____ (generally as before 23 April 1715 as only her dau. Sarah Bloomfield is mentioned in her father’s will; extracted Woodbridge Vital Records, however, report a son Richard Bloomfield b. to Rose in 171713); Rose married probably Woodbridge by Samuel Shepard (who himself was of Woodbridge), 03 April 1707 [or 23 April 170714] Timothy Bloomfield born Woodbridge, NJ, 11 Feb 168115 son of Ezekiel and Hope (FitzRandolph) Bloomfield.

See: William Nelson, Calendar of New Jersey Wills ... 1670‐1730, vol. 1 in Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, vol. 23 (1901), page 42, for the will of Ezekiel Blomfeild of Woodbridge dtd 1702 Jan 12, proved 26 Feb 1702/3; digital images Archive.org (http://www.archive.org : accessed 08 Dec 2008); Ezekiel’s wife and son Timothy were executors.
Timothy Bloomfield’s brother Joseph Bloomfield said grandfather of Joseph Bloomfield, one time Governor of New Jersey
William Nelson, ed., Marriage Records, 1665‐1800 in Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, vol. 22 (1900?); digital images, Archive.org (http://www.archive.org : 12 Dec 2008), pg. 27, 27
Bloomfield, Timothy, Jr., Woodbridge, and Sarah Foord, Woodbridge, 1749 May 22. Kent, David, Middlesex and Rachel Bloomfield, Middlesex, 1744 Aug 15
“Vital Records of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, NJ,” vital record extractions from Rev. Joseph W. Dally, _The Story of a New Jersey Town (1873), by Margie Glover Daniels, n.d., online manuscript, Glover Family (http://www.gloverfamily.com : accessed 9 Jan 2008)
These May Certify all Persons Concerned that Timothy BLOOMFIELD was married to Rose HIGENS, 2 Apr 1707, by Samuel SHEPARD
Timothy BLOOMFIELD, son of Ezekiel BLOOMFIELD & Hope, his wife, b. 11 Feb 1681
Rebecah BLOOMFIELD, daughter of Timothy BLOOMFIELD & Rose, his wife, b. 3 Jun 1709
Sarah BLOOMFIELD, daughter of Timothy BLOOMFIELD & Rose, his wife, b. 19 Aug 1710 ::Richard BLOOMFIELD, son of Timothy BLOOMFIELD & Rose, his wife, b. 4 Jan 1717
xxxxx______________________________________________________________________
  1. 261; David KENT and William KENT, both of Woodbridge in Mid'x* County, yeomen... [bound to]... Lewis MORRIS, Gov'r... 500 pounds... 15 Aug 1744. ... David KENT... obtained license of marriage for himself and for Rachel BLOOMFIELD of Woodbridge afs'd, spinster... [w] blank [consent] Mr BARTOW at Perth Amboy . . . These are to certify my free and voluntary consent . . . to grant a lisence . . . for David KENT and my daughter Rachel BLOOMFIELD . . . Woodbridge Aug 15 1744 [signed] Timothy BLOOMFIELD
“Climbing the family tree,” Johnson Junction, Vol. 3, no. 2 (Summer 2001); online newsletter, Bob and Ann Johnson’s Web Site (http://home1.gte.net/ljonson/news/jj3‐2.pdf : 9 Jan 2009)
Timothy Bloomfield, Jr. the son of Timothy, Sr. and grandson of Ezekiel and Hope Bloomfield along with his own son, Smith Bloomfield served in the Continental Army in the Rev. War. While Timothy and Smith, his son, were away with the Continental Army, the old Bloomfield homestead was subject to raids by the enemy. Among other things stolen were the old Bloomfield family bible and a brindle cow. The precious book could not be readily given up; bibles were few and costly. Eunice, the 13 year‐old daughter of Timothy Bloomfield, concluded at length to appeal to the British commander for the restoration of the priceless volume. Eunice and another girl started from home walking to the river. It was a brave deed for lawless bands were about, reaching the shore they were nonplussed...how could they reach the other side. Not far off, they espied an old scow. Pushing it into the water, they paddled across. A guard at the other side helped them debark and conducted them to the officer in command, who listened to their complaint and not only restored the Bible but also, the cow. A guard of British soldiers escorted the girls home. Another testament to the Bloomfield bravery and courage in those early days of the Revolutionary War.
Patty B. Myers, “[NJMID] Woodbridge 1st Preby. Church inscriptions,” 23 April 2001, NJMiddle listserve message; database online, Rootsweb (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NJMIDDLE/2001‐04/0988058084 : 8 Jan 2009.
494 (back of 492) In memory of/ TIMOTHY BLOOMFIELD/ son of TIMOTHY &/ SUSANNAH BLOOMFIELD/ who was lost at sea by/ falling overboard from/ Ship America on a passage/ from New York to Baiavia [sic]/ in the Pacific Ocean on the/ 21st day of July 1819, / aged 18 years 1 month/ & 4 days./ NOTE: Timothy (husband of Susannah) was s/o Timothy5 Bloomfield (Timothy,4 Ezekiel,3 Thomas2,1) and Sarah Ford, d/o Charles. Susannah was Susannah Alston.
William Nelson, New Jersey Biographical and Genealogical Notes from the volumes of the New Jersey Archives (1916) in Collections of the New Jersey Historical Society, vol. 9 (1915); digital images, Google Book Search (2009), p. 32‐40 provides sketch of the Bloomfield family, provides and entry for Ezekiel and Hope (Fitzrandolph) Bloomfield, names all of their children but follow only the line of their son Joseph Bloomfield.
Joan S. Keough (Boise, Idaho), “Bloomfield, Higgins, Jacues, Johnson,” member query no. 2758 in The Genealogical Society of New Jersey Newsletter, Spring 2001; digital images, the Society (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njgsnj/pdf/NEWSQ_20012002.pdf : accessed 9 Jan 2008); inquiring as follows: “Seek 2nd w/o Timothy Bloomfield. 1st w. Rose Higgins (d. ca1714 per f’s will). Dorothy, dau/o 2nd w., m 5 Dec 1751, John Jaques. Who were their dhil? Dorothy m2nd 23 Dec 1760 John Johnson. Who were their chil?”

iii. MARY^3 HIGGINS, born Piscataway?, NJ, 25 October 1688; died at __________, before 1699.

iv. THOMAS^3 HIGGINS, born Piscataway?, NJ, __ ___ 1699; died ____________, ___ ____ [after 23 April 1715 based on the will of his maternal grandfather, Michael Newbold]. Nothing more is known about this Thomas.

v. JEDIAH^3 HIGGINS, b. Piscataway?, NJ, 11 April 1691; died at__________, 19 Jan 1772, ae 92; married __________, __ ___ ____ [ca 1715, their first child was born in 1716] to Hannah Stout, born Middleton, NJ 29 March 1694, dau. Jonathan and Hannah (Bollen) Stout. He and his wife are buried “Higgins burying ground,” on the farm he once owned located near present day Kingston, NJ. Had issue, eight known children:‐‐‐Joseph (m1 Mary Phillips; m2 Elizabeth ‐‐‐‐‐‐); Anne (m Robert Davison of Monmouth); Jonathan (m. Ann Britton); Joshua (m. Mary Quick); James (m. Sarah Stout?); Mary (m. Benjamin Stout); Rachel (m. James Stout); Hannah (m. Henry Gulick)

Much published and otherwise available about this Jediah [Jr.] See Jim, “HIGGINS, STOUT & VANHOOK ANCESTORS moved to NJ, NC.,VA., & KY,” 2 Jun 1999, Bonx(NY) Message Board, Rootsweb:
Dear Vanhook, Higgins and Stout Cousins of Rockcastle & Pulaski Counties:
Today, I took a look at my posting on ancestors Higgins & Stout Families linked to our Vanhooks, and found that it was incomplete. I thought all of the below had been posted. I'm sorry. Thanks. Jim
The following is our Higgins & Stout links to our Vanhook ancestors:
Benjamin Vanhook m. 1st Francis Higgins b. 1774 who was daughter of Jonathan Stout Higgins & Anne Britton. Benjamin m. 2nd Susannah Higgins, daughter of James Higgins & susie Lewis. Benjamin's father, Samuel Vanhook b. 15 Nov 1733, N.J., d. ? 1786 m. Hannah Higgins, d. before 1784, daughter of Jediah Higgins, Jr. & Hannah Stout. Jediah Higgins, Jr., was the son of Jediah Higgins, Sr & Mary Newbold. Hannah nee Stout Higgins was the daughter of Jonathan Stout & Anne Trockmorton Bollen. Jediah Higgins, Sr. was the son of Richard Higgins & Mary (Yates?). Mary nee Newbold Higgins, was the daughter of
Michael Newbold & Anne (?). Richard Higgins was the son of Edward Higgins & Julia Meals. (Julia Meals' parents are unknown to me). EdwardHiggins was the son of John Higgins & Elizabeth Clynton/Clayton. ( I believe that Hannah Stout wife of Jediah Higgins was the sister of both Jonathan & James?, that she is Benjamin Vanhook's maternal grandmother m. Jediah Higgins.) I have Hannah Higgins, daughter of Jonathan Stout & Anne Trockmorton nee Bollen Stout paternal grandfather being Richard Stout & wife unknown son of John & Elizabeth nee Bee Stout?

vi. JAMES^3 HIGGINS, born Piscataway?, NJ, 07 Aug 1692; died __________, before 10 May 1718, the date an inventory of his personal estate was made by Thomas Yates and Daniel Fitch; £75.6.‐‐. On 22 May 1718, administration of his estate was granted to Jediah Higgins, yeoman, his brother [Calendar of New Jersey Wills, v. 1 (1670‐1730), page 227, citing A (East Jersey Wills):96]; unmarried. At the time of his death, James (with his mother and brother Jediah) was co‐executor of his father’s estate.

vii. JOSHUA^3 HIGGINS, born Piscataway?, NJ, 01 Oct 1694; died __________,__ ___ ____ [before 23 April 1715].

viii. PHOEBE^3 HIGGINS, born Piscataway?, NJ, 11 Oct 1696; died __________, __ ___ ____ [before 23 April 1715].

ix. MICHAEL^3 HIGGINS, born Piscataway?, NJ, 23 July 1698; died at __________, __ ___ ____; married ___________, 28 Nov 1727,16 Anne Bryant, born __________, __ ___ ____, dau. ___________ and __________. Michael and Anne (Bryant) Higgins were of Somerset County at the time of their marriage, but later removed to Newton on Cape Fear River, NC.

See Sam LaBelle, “Anne Bryant and Michael Higgins...The Bryant of my direct ancestor lines,” 11 Jan 2006, GenForum/Bryant Family Genealogy Forum (http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi‐ bin/pageload.cgi?Michael,Higgins::bryant::9099.html : accessed 9 Jan 2009); reports Michael obtain marriage license 8 Nov 1727; died at Craven Co., NC, 08 April 1753; reports children: John, b. c1730; Sarah; Hannah; Mary; Michael (b. 1739, d. after Nov 1821 in Laurens, SC); William (born 1740, d. after Nov 1821 in Laurens, SC
Who’s this. Google Snippet:
Our Brokaw‐Bragaw Heritage ‐ Page 19
by Elsie E. Foster ‐ 1967 ‐ 829 pages
... of Amwell, at which time they were residing in Amwell Township, ... through their son :Abraham's daughter, Anna, who married Michael Higgins. ...

x. MARY^3 HIGGINS, born Piscataway?, NJ, 24 Jan 1699/1700; died __________, __ ___ ____; m. Freegift Stout, born ___________, __ ___ 1693, son of David and Rebecca (Ashton) Stout of Middletown, NJ. Resided Clover Hill, Hunterdon County, NJ. He left will, of Amwell, Hunterdon County, NJ dated 9 Jun 1763 (witnessed by a Joseph Higgins), with codicils dated 18 May 1766 (witnessed by a Joseph Higgins) and 10 July 1768 (witnessed by Joseph Higgins), was proved 2 Aug 1769 at Amwell and settled 22 Jan 1772. He died of Amwell Had issue: Jediah (m. Philena Chamberlain); Freegift, Jr. (m. Elizabeth Stout); James (m1 dau. of Jacob Mattison; m2 Rachel Higgins); Joshua (m. Miss Haines); Obadiah (m. Mary McBride); Isaac (m. Mary Quimby); Sarah (m. Ephraim Oliphant); Mary (m. Richard Chamberlain); Rebecca (m. Edward Taylor); Rachel (m. Richard Rounswell.) Note: Much seems written/available about Freegift Stout.

xi. JOSEPH^3 HIGGINS, b. ___________, __ ___ ____ [generally given as ca 1702]; married ‐‐‐‐‐.

Jediah Higgins Sources

1 Citing Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., 12 volumes in 10 (Boston 1855‐1861), Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England 8:27, and The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 46:394 ("citing unknown source"), Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620‐1633, Volumes I-III 3 vols. (1995), 928-932 (Richard Higgins), at 930; digital images, AmericanAncestors, for son “Jadiah” born March 1656/7 at Eastham; married at unknown location, 12 May 1684 to Mary Newbold.

2 William Nelson, ed., Marriage Records, 1665‐1800 in Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, 22 (1900):181 (Higgins), lxxxvii (Some Burlington Marriages, 1684 [Records in the office of the Secretary of State, at Trenton]); digital images, FamilySearch, FHL film 874375 (item 1), Digital Collection (DGS) 7831021, image 61 and 187 of 594.

3 Citing “New Jersey Archives, vol. [8], p. 16; Journal of the Governor and Clerk of East Jersey, p. 9,” Katharine Chapin Higgins, Richard Higgins ... (1918), pg. 58; digital images, InternetArchive.

4 Jeanette K. Muser, Rocky Hill, Kingston and Griggstown (1998), pg. 92 as “Jedediah Higgins”; Google Books snippet (2009); “Jedediah Higgins arrived in Kingston in 1709 as a squatter without gaining title to his land from the East Jersey Proprietors. The story is, however, that he purchased 1,000 acres from the Lenni Lenape Indians for a sow and a littler of pigs. ..., remarking “Courtesy of Rick Goeke.”

5 Rockingham, Kingston. Wikipedia. 9 Jan 2009. [But see Patrick Lombardi, "Jersey Through History: Rockingham Historic Site," September 14, 2018; web content, BestofNewJersey.]

6 New Jersey State Park Service, Department of Environmental Protection, “Rockingham Historic Site Overview; web content New Jersey State Park Service. See also, www.rockingham.net , a site dedicated to the property

7 Katharine Chapin Higgins, Richard Higgins ... (1918), 58-62 (Jediah Higgins), at 60; digital images, InternetArchive.

8 Jeanette K. Muser, Rocky Hill, Kingston and Griggstown (1998), pg. 92 as “Jedediah Higgins”; Google Book Search snippet (2009), pg. 99.

9 Janet T. Riemer and the South Brunswick Historical Society, “Higgins (Higgens) Family Burying Ground” in “Cemeteries of South Brunswick”; web content, South Brunswick Public Library (9 Jan 2009). See attached appendix.

10 Jeanette K. Muser, Rocky Hill, Kingston and Griggstown (1998), pg. 92 as “Jedediah Higgins”; Google Book Search snippet (2009), pg 109, remarking “Courtesy of Clem Fiori.”

11 Citing "Lib. 2, p. 16," William Nelson, Calendar of New Jersey Wills ... 1670‐1730, vol. 1 in Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey 23 (1901):227; digital images, FamilySearch, FHL film 844843, Digital Collection (DGS) 7809473, image 649 of 808, for "1715 April 23 Higgins, Jedidiah." Note: Provides a slightly different transcription; see attached appendix.

12 Citing "Book 2, p. 16, Wills at Trenton, NJ," Katharine Chapin Higgins, Richard Higgins ... (1918), 58-62 (Jediah Higgins), at 60; digital images, InternetArchive. Note: Her transcription reports the will is dated 3 April, and her introductory paragraph states Jediah died between 23 April ....

13 “Vital Records of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, NJ,” vital record extractions from Rev. Joseph W. Dally, _The Story of a New Jersey Town (1873), by Margie Glover Daniels, n.d., online manuscript, Glover Family (at http ... www.gloverfamily.com : accessed 9 Jan 2008), for the children reported of “Timothy Bloomfield and Rose, his wife,” viz.: 1) Rebecca b. 3 Jun 1709; Sarah, b. 19 Aug 1710; Richard, b. 4 Jan 1717. [Website no longer returns, 2022.]

14 “Vital Records of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, NJ,” vital record extractions from Rev. Joseph W. Dally, _The Story of a New Jersey Town (1873), by Margie Glover Daniels, n.d., online manuscript, Glover Family (http ... www.gloverfamily.com : accessed 9 Jan 2009); reports, “These May Certify all Persons Concerned that Timothy BLOOMFIELD was married to Rose HIGENS, 2 Apr 1707, by Samuel SHEPARD”; Monnette and Higgins report the date as 23 April 1707. [Website no longer returns, 2022.]

15 “Vital Records of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, NJ,” vital record extractions from Rev. Joseph W. Dally, _The Story of a New Jersey Town (1873), by Margie Glover Daniels, n.d., online manuscript, Glover Family (http ... www.gloverfamily.com : accessed 9 Jan 2009). [Wesite no longer returns, 2022.]

16 William Nelson, ed., Marriage Records, 1665‐1800 in Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, 22 (1900):181 (Higgins); digital images, FamilySearch, FHL film 874375 (item 1), Digital Collection (DGS) 7831021, image 187 of 594; reporting both are of Somerset.

See also--

Katharine Chapin Higgins, Supplement to Richard Higgins and his descendants (Worcester, Mass. : K. Higgins, 1924); digital images, Hathi Trust Catalog entry.

Joseph Higgins

The will of Joseph^3 Higgins, as abstracted by Katharine Chapin Higgins (emphasis added), from the 1918 work, pg 92,

Joseph Higgins of the township of Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in the western division of the State of New Jersey, weak in body, etc. Unto my two sons Joshua and Azariah all my homestead plantation,‐‐190 acres, to be equally divided between them, with my son Joshua having the house, barn and orchard where Joshua now dwells, and further my will is and I do order that my son Azariah can build a Barn and plant an orchard on his share of land. I order that my executors sell all my personal estate and after paying my debts pay unto my eldest son Jediah 25 lbs, and all the remainder to be divided between my three daughters now living,‐‐namely Ruth Carle, Hannah Rittenhouse, and Elizabeth Holliday, share and share alike. Son Joshua and son‐ in‐law Lott Rittenhouse executors. Witnesses: James Stout, John Young, Jacob Mattison.

By the time of her 1918 work Ms. Chapin Higgins had found certain wills that seem to provide other clues, but she opted not to follow those leads. For whatever reason, she interpreted the clues from other wills to suggest Azariah Higgins had had a wife earlier than Sarah Stout. See the 1918 write up about Azariah Higgins, pg 135‐6, pertinent part below:

In the will of Benjamin Runyan of Amwell dated Jan. 29, 1776 (File 994 J), he calls Azariah Higgins his brother in law. Joseph Hill, Jr. of Amwell in will dated April 7, 1773, calls Azariah Higgins his brother in law. Both of these wills are dated before the marriage of Azariah Higgins to Sarah Stout. Hence, he must have had a wife before Sarah Stout, or there were two Azariahs.

What may be contrary to the 1918 interpretation, these men, Joseph Hill, Jr. and Benjamin Runyan, both seem to have married unnoticed daughters of Joseph Higgins--Rachel and Nanne/Anna/Anne:

Rachel (Higgins) Hill

Her will leaves no doubt that Rachel was the daughter of Joseph^3 Higgins, thus sister of our Ruth (Higgins) Carle. The will suggests Rachel left no children, and calls out her surviving siblings, as below. See A. Van Doren Honeyman, editor, Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. 5 1771‐1780; New Jersey, Documents relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, first series, vol. 34 (1931); digital images, Archive.org (http://www.archive.org : accessed 9 Jan 2009), pp. 245, entry for Rachel Hill of Hopewell Township, Hunterdon Co.; proven May 17, 1777; cites Lib. 19, p. 12

1777, Feb. 6. Hill, Rachel, of Hopewell, Hunterdon Co.; will of. To the Rev. Benjamin Cole, of Hopewell, a cow. To my girl, Susannah Stout, a cloak. To Samuel Hill, son of Joseph Hill, my husband's coat. To each of my brothers, Jediah, Joshua and Azariah, each £5. Sisters. Nanne, Ruth, Hannah and Elizabeth, and my cousin, Sarah Stout, daughter of David Stout, rest of estate. Executor — brother, Azariah Higgins. Witnesses — Abraham Stout, Benjamin Prall, Elizabeth Roberts. Proved May 17, 1777. Lib. 19, p. 112.

The earlier will of Rachel’s husband reads, as abstracted below. See A. Van Doren Honeyman, editor, Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. 5 1771‐1780; New Jersey, Documents relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, first series, vol. 34 (1931); digital images, Archive.org (http://www.archive.org : accessed 9 Jan 2009), pp. 244, entry for Joseph Hill of Hopewell Township, Hunterdon Co., cites Lib. 16, p. 521 and Lib 19, p. 66.

1773, April 7. Hill, Joseph, of Hopewell Township, Hunterdon Co.; will of. Eldest brother, Samuel Hill, 5 shillings, he being heir‐at‐ law. Wife, Rachel, rest of real and personal. Executors—wife, Rachel, and my brother‐in‐law, Azariah Higgins. Witnesses—Philip Snook, Lambard Reed, Samuel Corwine. Proved March 7, 1777. 1777. March 6, Inventory, £152.3.9, made by Philip Snook and Ben‐ jamin Prall. 1778, Sept 29. Account by Azariah Higgins. Lib. 16, p. 521; Lib 19, p. 66

[‐‐?‐‐] [Anna/Anne/Nanne] (Higgins) Runyan

From the will of Rachel (Higgins) Runyan (1777), she had one sister she called, Nanne. This sister is certainly the woman Anna/Anne Runyan, wife, then widow, of Benjamin Runyan. Anne Runyan’s will dated 23 Feb 1779, proved 15 Feb 1780; inventory just earlier, 14 Feb 1780—thus she survived her sister, Rachel, but predeceased her father. The will calls out her relationship to Azariah Higgins, as below. See A. Van Doren Honeyman, editor, Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. 5 1771‐1780; New Jersey, Documents relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New Jersey, first series, vol. 34 (1931), pp. 438; CD‐Rom reprint, Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey (Coram, NY : GenealogyCd’s, 2007), will of Anne Runyan.

1779, Feb 23. Runyan, Anne, of Amwell Township, Hunterdon Co., widow; will of. Three youngest daughters, Mary, Anne, and Piety, some household goods and clothing. Daughter, Elizabeth, a cow. Son, Joseph, a horse. Son, Ruben, a colt. Sons to be sent to school. Daughters Sarah Roberson, Elizabeth Mathis, Mary Runyan, Anne Runyan and Piety Runyan, the rest. Executor—my brother, Azariah Higgins. Witnesses—Nathan Stout, Joshua Higgins. Proved Feb. 15, 1780. 1780, Feb 14. Inventory. £5,677.8.9, made by Nathan Stout and Philip Servis. Lib. 22, p. 6.

The earlier will of her husband, Benjamin Runyan,

1776, Jan 29. Runyan, Benjamin, of Amwell, Hunterdon Co.; will of. Eldest son, John, a colt. Wife, Anna Runyan, all the goods she brought to me, and the profits of my plantation, to bring up those of my children that are under age, and, after her death, the land to be divided between my 3 sons, John, Joseph, and Reuben. Daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna and Piety, £5 each. Executors ‐ wife Anna, and my brother‐in‐law, Azariah Higgins. Witnesses ‐ John Manners, Joseph Stout, Samuel Corwine. Proved Feb. 12, 1776. 1776, Feb 7. Inventory £185.0.4, made by John Manners and Sam‐ uel Corwine 1781, March 10. Account by Azariah Higgins, surviving Executor. Lib. 17, p. 375; Lib 23, p. 218.

Ira A. Runyan, a Runyan researcher, reports Benjamin’s widow died 23 Feb 1780; he calls her Anna. See Ira A. Runyan, “Re: Benjamin Runyan X2,” Runyan‐L, 27 Jan 2000; in part [emphasis added] http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/RUNYON/2000‐01/0949169733 .

1. BENJAMIN3 RUNYAN [...] was born Bet. 1725 ‐ 1738 in Piscataway, Middlesex County, NJ, and died Abt. February 1776 in Somerset County, New Jersey. He married ANNA HIGGINS. She died February 23, 1779.

About the cousin, Sarah Stout?

In Rachel (Higgins) Hill’s will, she calls out her, “cousin Sarah Stout [1], daughter of David Stout ....” Vertigo kicks in just thinking of about a/another Stout reference.

Under the strict interpretation, in order for Sarah Stout to be a “first” cousin, Sarah’s father, David, would have to be an uncle to Rachel (Higgins) Hill—and there is no indication that any of Jediah Higgin’s daughters married a David Stout—but there is no lack of Stout connections among Jediah’s family (our Joseph’s brother Jediah married Hannah Stout, and the sister, Mary, married Freegift Stout).

If we could determine the identity of this Sarah and her father David, we might investigate the possibility that he was related by blood as a maternal uncle—then of course we’d know that Joseph’s wife was a Stout.

While no more than a working theory, located the will of a David Stout of Amwell dated 1787 (so, after the date of Rachel’s will); proved 20 April 1787 who had wife Sarah, two daughters not named and one child not yet born. A notation in the accounting for the estate dated 1791 indicates that David Stout’s widow re‐married to a Joshua Higgins. See A. Van Doren Honeyman, editor, Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. 7 1786‐1790; New Jersey, Documents relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post‐Revolutionay History of State of New Jersey, first series, vol. 36 (1941), pg. 216; digital images, Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey (Coram, NY : Genealogy CDs, 2007), entry for will of David Stout of Amwell, Hunterdon County dated 26 Feb 1787.

1787, Feb 26. Stout, David, of Amwell, Hunterdon Co.; will of. Wife, Sarah, £60, and a silver watch, and to have money as needed to bring up our children. What estate is left I give to my 2 daughters, and the child yet to be born. Executors‐‐Joseph Ott and Abraham Runkle. Witnesses‐‐Nathan Stout, Moses Stout, Philip Servis. Proved April 20, 1787. 1787, April 19. Inventory, £658.16.11, made by Nathan Stoute and Philip Servis. 1791, Nov. 26. Account by executors. A silver watch was delivered to Joshua Higgins, in right of his wife, agreeable to the will. Lib. 29, p. 288

There are some third party entries for this David at Rootsweb, generally reporting his wife as Sarah Acker. One assumes there are more sources of information about this David.

Note: Azariah Higgins later married a Sarah Stout, but she was not a daughter of David.

2022 Notes on Joseph Higgins' Child List

As to Katharine Chapin Higgins' collective notice of Joseph’s children, it seems limited to the information called out in Joseph’s will, 17 May 1782 (probated 13 Jun 1782). As abstracted by Katharine Chapin Higgins (emphasis added), from the 1918 work, pg 92:

Joseph Higgins of the township of Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in the western division of the State of New Jersey, weak in body, etc. Unto my two sons Joshua and Azariah all my homestead plantation,‐‐190 acres, to be equally divided between them, with my son Joshua having the house, barn and orchard where Joshua now dwells, and further my will is and I do order that my son Azariah can build a Barn and plant an orchard on his share of land. I order that my executors sell all my personal estate and after paying my debts pay unto my eldest son Jediah 25 lbs, and all the remainder to be divided between my three daughters now living,‐‐namely Ruth Carle, Hannah Rittenhouse, and Elizabeth Holliday share and share alike. Son Joshua and son‐ in‐law Lott Rittenhouse executors. Witnesses: James Stout, John Young, Jacob Mattison."

  1. Jediah Higgins, born _____. Joseph's will reads, "my eldest son Jediah ..."
  2. Ruth Higgins, born say 1732. Her eldest believed Joseph Carle, born say about 1750.
  3. Joshua Higgins, born _____.
  4. Anne "Nanne" Higgins, born ____. She married Benjamin Runyon/Runyan.
  5. Hannah Higgins, born _____. She married Lott Rittenhouse.
  6. Rachel Higgins, born _____. She married Joseph Hill.
  7. Azariah Higgins, born _____.
  8. Elizabeth Higgins, born _____. She married _____ Holliday.



See child list on David Stout (1719-bef.1781)





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