Matthew Higgins

Owner of the Alliance estate in British Guiana, dying c. 1814, leaving a widow Janet Higgins and a son Matthew James Higgins (each of whom q.v.). He was almost certainly the Matthew Higgins who was the partner of Hugh McCalmont of Abbeylands (q.v.) until c. 1799.

1. Will of Matthew Higgins of 93 Gloucester Place Portman Square proved 26/04/1814. In his will he left his estate in trust, after arranging to settle a debt of £10,000 he owed to the London merchant Nathaniel Winter, for his wife for life and after her death to settle £10,000 on each of his three daughters Amelia, Alicia and Harriet, with the remainder to his son Matthew James. The will refers to his late brothers and to amounts of Irish currency Matthew Higgins held for the family. His trustees were Nathaniel Winter, Tully Higgins (then of Demerary) and Alexander Baillie of Harley Street (each of whom q.v.). All three of Matthew Higgins' daughters appear to have married into Italian families, and his wife was in Milan at the time of compensation.

2. The Petition to HM King George III for the establishment of Tain Royal Academy in 1807 lists Matthew Higgins of Bennown Ireland as being a subscriber of £50 and upwards towards "defraying the expense of erecting building and endowing an Academy". Tentatively identified as this Matthew Higgins due to the large number of slave-owners who were amongst the subscribers.

1. PROB 11/1555/324.

2. Petition to George III for the establishment of Tain Royal Academy in 1807, facsimile of the Petition in the possession of Councillor Derek Louden.

We are grateful to Derek Louden for his assistance with compiling this entry.