1. Home
  2. Pedigree Charts
  3. Bio List
  4. Name Index

James HIGGINS (b c1852)

James Higgins is my paternal great-grandfather.

Sources and Notes:

James Higgins' parents: The registration of James' marriage in 1876 identifies his parents as father: Patrick Higgins, Laborer; mother: Bridget Higgins m.s. Higgins (deceased).

James Higgins' birth: 1852 or 1853 can serve as the year of James' birth. I have chosen to report it as c1882. The 1881 Scotland Census reported his age as 28, the 1891 Scotland Census gave his age as 38 and the 1901 Scotland Census gave his age as 48. There is less evidence of the location of his birth, though it was almost certainly Ireland. A descendant provided direct but not primary evidence that James was born in County Mayo.

James Higgins' marriage to Mary Malone: The National Records of Scotland, 1876/Marriages/644/4/57. The record was filed in the district of Calton, burgh of Glasgow. The marriage was performed at St Alphonsus' Chapel in Glasgow on 03 Jan 1876. James was described as age 23, an engine work stoker, a bachelor, and resident at 100 High Street. Mary was age 17, a warehouse worker, a spinster, and resident at 100 High Street. His parents were Patrick Higgins, laborer, and Bridget Higgins m.s. Higgins (deceased). Her parents were Thomas Malone, laborer and Ann Malone m.s. Hinnigham. Witnesses to the ceremony were Marlin Phillin and Maria Owents. The record was recorded on 15 Jan 1876 at Glasgow. Mary signed the register with her mark.

The 1881 Scotland Census, household of James Higgins (03 Apr 1881): The National Records of Scotland, 1881/Census/644/11/7. The street address for the household was 178 Rutherglen Loan in Hutchesontown, Glasgow. James was age 28, married, an engine stoker, born in Ireland. Mary, his wife, was 22 and born in Ireland. Three children were in the household, daughter Bridget (age 4), son Charles (age 2), and daughter Anne (age 2 months), all born in Glasgow. Michael Higgins (age 26, unmarried, an ?aug lab?, born in Ireland) and Bridget Higgins (age 24, a domestic servant, born in Ireland) were both classified as visitors to the household.

The 1891 Scotland Census, household of James Higgins (05 Apr 1891): The National Records of Scotland, 1891/Census/644/11/1. The street address for the household was 21 Crown Street in Hutchesontown, Glasgow. James was described as age 38, married, a locomotive fireman, born in Ireland. Mary, his wife, was age 32. There are six children in the household on this day, daughter Bridget, age 14, daughter Ann, age 10, daughter Mary, age 8, son James, age 5, daughter Catherine, age 3, and son Michael, age 1. The three oldest children were in school. All were reported to be born in Glasgow. Mary's parents lived at the same address. Son Charles was away at Parkhead Reformatory for Roman Catholic Boys in Shettleston, Lanarkshire.

The 1901 Scotland Census, household of James Higgins (31 Mar 1901): The National Records of Scotland, 1901/Census/644/11/6. The street address for the household was 184 Rose Street in Hutchesontown, Glasgow. James was now age 48, head of household, married, a loco[motive] works fireman, born in Ireland. Mary, his wife, was 42. There were seven children in the household, all single, all born in Glasgow. The children were daughter Bridget, age 24 and a tobacco packer, son Charles, age 22 and an ?Iron Borer?, daughter Mary, age 18 and a domestic servant, son James, age 15 and an apprentice iron turner, daughter Catherine, age 13 and a scholar, daughter Margaret, age 2, and daughter Agnes, age 8 months.

James Higgins' occupation: The Scotland censuses show that for the better part of his career he was a locomotive fireman.

James Higgin's death: The National Records of Scotland, 1906/Deaths/644/11/80. The record states that James Higgins, engineer's stoker, married to Mary Malone, died on 16 Jan 1906 at 87 Commercial Road. He had been married 54 years. His father was Patrick Higgins (deceased). His mother was Mary Higgins m.s. Higgins (deceased). The cause of death was acute pneumonia (7 days). Son Charles was the informant who signed the entry on 27 Jan 1906.

James Higgins' burial: James was buried in St Kentigern's Cemetery, Lair 1305, Section 5 on 28 Jan 1906. Daughters Catherine (10 Jan 1906), Ann (10 Dec 1907), Margaret (26 May 1914) and Mary (08 May 1920) were buried in the same Lair. The dates in parentheses are the dates of their interments. This information was provided in a 25 Sep 2003 email from an official in the Glasgow City Council archives.

For sources of James' and Mary Malone's children, see the entry for James's wife, Mary Ann Malone.