Joseph Higgs (1843 – 1931)

Annie Higgs (1844 – 1920)

Annie Florence Lilian Higgs (1873 – 1947)

Joseph Higgs was born in Newbury in 1843 the son of William and Annie, nee Purton, Higgs. He was baptized on 24 September 1843 at St Nicolas in Newbury, his father was recorded as a bacon factor. In the 1851 census Joseph was living with his parents and five siblings in Bartholomew Street in Newbury. William was a shop keeper and bacon killer. Joseph was still living with his parents in Bartholomew Street in the 1861 census along with seven siblings. William was a bacon factor and Joseph a grocer’s assistant.

Joseph married Annie Purton on 12 July 1869 at St Nicolas in Guildford. Annie was born circa 1844 in Reading according to future censuses but no trace of her in the 1851 or 1861 censuses. According to the marriage record her father was Thomas Purton, a farmer.

A son Joseph William Cecil, but known as Cecil, was born on 25 April 1870. He was baptized on 4 June 1870 at St Nicolas in Newbury. Three years later a daughter Annie Florence Lilian, known as Lilian, was born on 24 October 1873. She was baptized at St Nicolas on 2 February 1874.

In the 1871 census Joseph and Annie were recorded living at 22 Bartholomew Street in Newbury with son Cecil and Joseph was a grocer. Joseph, Annie, Cecil and Lilian were still living in Bartholomew Street when the 1881 census was taken with Joseph a pork butcher.

Joseph, Annie, Cecil and Lilian were recorded living at 25 Bartholomew Street in the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses. Joseph was a pork butcher in 1891, a pork butcher and shopkeeper in 1901 and a bacon curer in 1911. Cecil was a draper’s assistant in 1891, a pork butcher and shop assistant in 1901 and a bacon curer in 1911. Annie and Lilian had no occupations recorded.

Annie died in April 1920 at 99 Newtown Road in Newbury aged 76 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 7 April.

In the 1921 census Joseph, Cecil and Lilian were recorded still living at 25 Bartholomew Street. Joseph and Cecil were working as home cured bacon and ham factor while Lilian’s occupation was home duties.

Josph died in December 1931 aged 88 at 204 Newtown Road in Newbury and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 December.

In the National Register taken in September 1939 Cecil and Lilian were recorded at 25 Bartholomew Street. In Newbury. Cecil was a shop keeper, home cured bacon and ham, while Lilian was carrying out unpaid domestic duties.

Lilian died in March 1947 in the emergency hospital and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 12 March 1947.

Cecil died 16 March 1954 at Sandleford Hospital in Newbury while living at 15 Waterloo Place in Newbury. He was buried on 20 March at Shaw Cemetery.

Sources: