Henry Higgs (1850 – 1916)

Eliza Jane Higgs (1853 – 1932)

Kate Louisa Higgs (1876 – 1878)

Reginald Augustus Higgs (1885 – 1887)

Henry Higgs was born on 5 February 1850 in Newbury. He was baptized on 31 March 1850 at St Nicolas in Newbury the son of William and Hannah, nee Smith, Higgs. William was a bacon factor. In the 1851 and 1861 censuses Henry was living with his parents and siblings in Bartholomew Street in Newbury. His father was a shopkeeper and bacon factor in 1851 and just a bacon factor in 1861.

By the time of the 1871 census Henry was living as a lodger at 76 South End in Croydon and his occupation was watchmaker.

Henry married Eliza Jane Walker on 5 October 1874 at St Nicolas in Newbury. He was a watchmaker at the time of the marriage. Eliza was born in 1853 in Newbury, the daughter of Joseph and Martha, nee Myhill, Walker. In the 1861 census Eliza was recorded in Old Road in Newbury with her parents and seven siblings. Ten years later in the 1871 census Eliza was living in Northbrook Street in Newbury with her parents and siblings, her father Joseph was a bootmaker while Eliza and her sister Elizabeth were assistants.

Henry and Eliza had six children Frederick Henry (born in 1875), Elizabeth Nellie (1876), Kate Louisa (1878), Ada Beatrice (1879), Ernest Vince (1881) and Reginald Augustus (1885). They were all born in Newbury.

Sadly, Kate Louisa died on 18 January 1878 aged only 19 months and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 January. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 24 January as below. The same announcement also appeared in the Reading Mercury of 26 January.

HIGGS – Jan.18, at 92 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Kate Louisa, the beloved child of Henry and Eliza Jane Higgs, aged 1 year and 7 months.

In the 1881 census Henry and Eliza along with children Frederick, Elizabeth and Ada were living at 92 Bartholomew

 Street in Newbury, Henry was a watchmaker.

Henry and Eliza’s son Reginald Augustus died in September 1887 aged 2 years and 10 months. He was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 1 October 1887 after a service at St Nicolas in Newbury. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 29 September as below.

HIGGS – Sept. 27, at Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Reginald Augustus, son of Mr. Henry Higgs, aged 2 years and 9 months.

Four years later in the 1891 census Henry and Eliza were recorded at 59 Bartholomew Street with children Frederick, Elizabeth, Ada and Ernest. Henry was a watch and clock maker while Frederick was a watchmaker’s assistant.

By the time of the 1901 census Henry and Eliza along with children Elizabeth and Ernest were living at 1 Park View Terrace, Boundary Road in Newbury. Henry was still a watch and clock maker while Ernest was a coachman. Elizabeth had no occupation recorded.

Henry and Eliza along with daughter Elizabeth and granddaughter Beatrice Nelly Higgs

were still living at 1 Park View Terrace in the 1911 census. Henry was a watch and clock repairer.

Henry died on 29 August 1916 aged 66 still living at 1 Park View Terrace and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 2 September.

Eliza along with daughter Ada Dagger and granddaughter Kathleen Dagger were still living at 1 Park View Terrace in the 1921 census. Eliza’s occupation was recorded as house duties.

Eliza died on 11 August 1932 aged 79 living at 115 Boundary Road in Newbury and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 15 August.

Henry’s father William Higgs was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 30 November 1868.

Sources: