Herbert Higgs (1861 – 1915)

Herbert Higgs was born in Newbury in 1861 the son of Thomas and Mary, nee Garlick, Higgs. In the 1871 census Herbert was living with his parents and seven siblings at 3 Cheap Street in Newbury. Thomas was a stationer.

Subsequently in the 1881 census Herbert was living in a grocer’s shop in Hungerford High Street, he was the head of the household and a grocer. There was also another grocer and a grocer’s assistant living in the house.

Ten years later in the 1891 census Herbert was recorded as head of the house with his brother Brice and sister Elizabth in High Street, Hungerford. Brice and Herbert were both working as grocers.

Herbert married Louisa Gibson on 14 October 1894 at St Ann, Stamford Hill in Haringey.

Herbert was a grocer and they were both living at 5 Suffeld Road. Louisa was born in 1867 in Shoreditch, the daughter of Adolphus and Louisa, nee Ferguson, Gibson. Louisa was recorded living with her parents and two siblings in the 1871 census in Hoxton Street in Shoreditch, her father Adolphus was a beer house innkeeper. Ten years later in the 1881 census Louisa was living with her parents and brother Adolphus aged 10 in London Road in Enfield. Adolphus senior was a boot maker.

In the 1901 census Herbert and Louisa were living in London Road Street in Mitcham in Surrey with Herbert a boot dealer.

Ten years later in the 1911 census Herbert was living with his brother Brice and his wife Annie along with their sons Edward Lionel aged 4 and Arthur Douglas Bertram aged 2 at 96 Gloucester Road in Newbury. Herbert was a boot shop salesman while Brice was a hardware shop assistant.

Also in the 1911 census Louisa, Herbert’s wife, was living as a servant at 89 Undine Street in Tooting, the head of the house was Lewis St John Radley, a surgeon. Louisa’s occupation was housekeeper, domestic.

Herbert died in January 1915 aged 53 still living at 96 Gloucester Road and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 8 January.

It has so far not been possible to trace Louisa after 1913, she cannot be found in the 1921 census.

Herbert’s parents Thomas and Mary Higgs were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 June 1887 and 7 December 1887 respectively. In addition, eight of his siblings were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, Frederick, John, Walter, Brice Edward, William Henry, Thomas Farr, Arthur and Elizabeth Ann who were buried on 10 January 1893, 23 December 1902, 29 November 1904, 15 April 1913, 25 June 1913, 10 July 1919, 1 April 1924 and 1 February 1936 respectively.

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