John Higginson

Liverpool and Barbados merchant and slave-owner. The executor of John Higginson, Richard Deane (q.v.) was awarded the compensation under 12 awards in Barbados as executor.

1. John Higginson and his family were almost certainly in Barbados until the baptism of his sixth child in 1816; his three youngest children were baptised in Liverpool (1819 to 1829). John and Sarah Ann Higginson had nine children: Jonathan (1807-1859) (q.v.), Haynes Barrow (1809-1862: Merchant trading to India who left about £3000 upon his death), John Montague (1811-1895: Reverend in Thormanby, North Yorkshire), Ann Campbell (1813-1900: never married, and left £8780 when she died aged 87), Sarah (1814-, probably died young), George Irlam (1816-1893: lived near Harrowgate and left £946 when he died), Elizabeth (1819-1897: married married Owen Tudor in 1845, who became Secretary Stock Exchange, Liverpool), James Pickford (1823-1876: coal merchant in Liverpool who left £40,000 when he died), and Frederick Weekes (1829-1852: died in Australia). In 1841, John Higginson's widow, Sarah Ann, was living in Liverpool with four of their children, aged 15 to 30, and six servants; she died in 1859.

2. Partner in Barton, Irlam and Higginson. Died 21/12/1834 at Liverpool. Buried St George Everton 26/12/1834 aged 58.

3. The will of John Higginson [at present] of St Michael Barbados made in 1833 was not proved until 14/12/1840 in London. Under the will he left an annuity of £600 p.a. to his wife Sarah Ann, to be reduced to £100 p.a. if she intermarried, together with his house on Everton Terrace. He instructed his trustees to provide £150 p.a. for the support of each of his children until 15, and then amounts at their discretion up to £250 p.a. for each child until 21, when each was to receive £5000. His son Jonathan inherited his estates at 'Over Peevor' in the County of Chester. He made his sons his co-residuary legatees, failing whom his sisters.

We are grateful to David Barker for his assistance in compiling this entry.

T71/898 Barbados claim no. 3999 (Joes River).

1. Census online; Death Index, Cheshire, 1861, Q1; Probate 1862. Census online; Death Index, Yorkshire North Riding, 1895, Q2. Census online 1871; Death Index, Lancashire, West Derby, 1900 Q2; Probate 1900. Census online; Death Index, Warwickshire, 1897, Q1. Census online, Death Index, Lancashire, West Derby, 1876, Q1; Probate 1876. Census online; Civil Registration Death Index, Lancashire 1859, Q2.

2. Ancestry.com, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Burials, 1813-1974 [database online].

3. PROB 11/1937/326.