Elliott Higgs (1836 – 1874)

Louisa Annie Eliza Higgs (1866 – 1869)

Frances Helena Higgs (1870 – 1870)

Elliott Higgs was born in 1836 in Newbury. He was baptized on 27 November 1836 at St Nicolas in Newbury the son of William and Hannah, nee Smith, Higgs. William was a coach maker. In the 1841 census Elliott was living with his parents and siblings in Bartholomew Street in Newbury, his father was a bacon factor.

In the 1851 and 1861 censuses Elliott was still 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. Elliott was a scholar in 1851 and a watchmaker in 1861.

Elliott married Eliza Jane Austin on 25 August 1863 at St John the Evangelist, Charlotte Street in Camden. Eliza was born in 1840 in Bedford.

Henry and Eliza had six children Frederick Elliott (born in 1864), Louisa Annie Eliza (1866), William Austin (1867), Frances Helena (1870), Emily Mary (1871) and Edward Jams Curtis (1873). They were all born in Newbury.

Sadly, Louisa Annie Eliza died on 15 November 1869 aged only 3 years and 9 months and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 19 November. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 18 November as below.

HIGGS – Nov. 15, at 26 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Louisa Annie Eliza, daughter of Mr. Elliott Higgs, aged 3 years and 9 months.

Just eight months later Frances Helena died on 20 July 1870 aged only 7 months and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 July. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 21 July as below.

HIGGS – July 20, at 26 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Frances Helena, daughter of Mr. Elliott Higgs, aged 7 months.

In the 1871 census Elliott and Eliza with sons Frederick and William along with Elliott’s sister Mary and Eliza’s sister Ann were all recorded at 23 Bartholomew Street in Newbury. Elliott was a watchmaker, Mary a barmaid and Ann a teacher of music.

Elliott was admitted to the Berkshire Asylum near Moulsford on 20 April 1874. He died in the Asylum on 25 October 1874. He was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 30 October. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 12 November as below.

HIGGS – Oct. 25, Mr. Elliott Higgs, watchmaker, Bartholomew Stret, Newbury, aged 38.

In the 1881 census Eliza Jane was living at East Hill in Greenham with her children Frederick, Emily and Edward. She was recorded as a watchmaker’s widow.

Eliza then moved away from Newbury. In 1891 she was a servant in Hillingdon and a parlourmaid. In 1901 she was recorded as a visitor in Reading with no occupation. Then in 1911 she was visiting a friend in Islington. Ten years later in 1921 she was recorded with her son Edward and his family in Gillingham in Kent.

Eliza died in March 1928 and was buried on 28 March at London Road Cemetery in Reading.

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