Joseph Higgs

1838-1864

Joseph was born in St George Hanover Square London the son of Joshua and Mary Ann Higgs (nee Corderoy) who were married on the 23^rd December 1815 at St Mary Newington Southwark Surrey. (Joshua was from Lambeth at the time of the marriage).

Joshua and Mary Ann also had the following children:

Mary Ann 1817 (died aged 1 in 1818)

Ann c1817 (died aged 1 1818)

Joshua c1820

Mary Corderoy 1824 (died aged 16 in 1841)

Maria c1828

Ellen c1830

George Corderoy 1831 (died aged 15months in 1832)

Matilda c1834

Esther c1836

Sarah 1839

Joseph’s father was a Carpenter in his earlier working life becoming a Builder and Undertaker later in life.

The 1841 census records Joseph’s father Joshua (45), as a Builder living in Davies Street St George Hanover Square London with his mother  Mary (40), his brother Joshua (20), a Builder, his sisters  Mary (15), Maria (13),  Matilda (8) and a  William Higgs (15), a Carpenter’s Apprentice. Joseph (3) and his sisters Esther (5) and Sarah (1) were recorded living in Cold Ash Thatcham. (Joseph’s father owned a freehold house, land and cottages in Cold Ash)

In 1851 his parents and his sisters, Maria and Matilda were living at 59A Davies Street Berkeley Square His father was recorded in the census for this yea, as a Builder employing 40 men. Joseph was recorded as a pupil at a school in Russell Terrace St Mary Reading Berkshire.

Joseph’s mother died aged 63 on Christmas day 1860 in Cold Ash she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd January 1861.

The 1861 census records Joseph (22) as a Builder’s Clerk living at 59A Davies Street  Berkeley Square with his father Joshua (68), a Master Builder employing 16 men and 3 boys, his sisters,  Esther (24), Sarah (21) and two servants.

By 1864 Joseph had moved to Abbotsbury Dorset.  He married a widow, Rosalie Harriett Pinney (nee Roberts) on the 21^st June 1864 at the Parish Church Bridport Dorset. Rosalie became a widow for the 2^nd time less than four months later.

Joseph died aged 26 on the 6^th October in Newbury he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 12^th October 1864 alongside his mother Mary Ann.

Joseph’s father died aged 73 on the 10^th August 1866 in Cold Ash he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery, alongside Joseph and Mary Ann on the 15^th August.

Joseph’s widow Rosalie was recorded in the 1881 census as a Steward’s Widow living with her parents in Beaufort Street Toxteth Park Lancashire. The 1911 census records Rosalie living on Private Means with her sister-in-law at 17 William Street Cheetham Hill Broughton Lancashire. She died aged 79 in 1912 (death registered in Chorlton)

Sources:as above