Sarah Higgs (1814 – 1887)

Sarah Bowden was born on 23 January 1814 in Newbury, the daughter of Daniel and Mary Bowden. She was baptized on 1 March 1814 at the Independent Chapel in Newbury.

In the 1841 census Sarah was recorded with her father Daniel in Northbrook Street in Newbury, Daniel was a stationer. Also recorded in the house was Brittania Bowden aged 45, Daniel’s wife. No record of a second marriage for Daniel can be found and neither can a burial record for Mary, so Sarah’s mother may be Britannia, and not Mary.

Britannia was buried on 21 January 1842 at the Lower Meeting House (Independent) in Newbury aged 51. She was recorded as wife of Daniel Bowden, a stationer. Daniel died in June 1846 and was buried on 13 June 1846 at the Lower Meeting House aged 58 and a stationer.

Sarah married Jeremiah Higgs on 12 July 1845 at St John in Winchester. Jeremiah was recorded as a bachelor of full age (over 21) living in St John and his occupation was captain of a vessel. His father was James Higgs who was also a captain of a vessel.

In the 1851 census Sarah was recorded at 7 Oxford Terrace in Southampton, the daughter of a stationer. No trace of Jeremiah in the census, he was probably at sea and thus not recorded.

Jermiah and Sarah had a daughter Sarah Emily born in 1851 in Southampton and baptized on 1 August 1851 in Winchester,

Sarah was recorded living as a servant in a grocer’s shop in Compton in the 1861 census and her occupation was housekeeper. Ten years later in the 1871 census Sarah was living in Bright Waltham in Berkshire and still working as a housekeeper.

In the 1881 census Sarah was living with her daughter, recorded as Emily, in St Andrews Road in Southampton. Sarah was recorded as “fundholder house with interest”. Emily did not have any occupation recorded.

Sarah died on 17 December 1887 in Newbury and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 December. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 23 December as below.

HIGGS – Dec. 17, at 9 Madeira Place, Sarah Higgs, daughter of the late D Bowden, bookseller, Newbury.

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