Walter Higgs (1853 – 1904)
Lydia Eldridge Higgs (1850 – 1884)
Walter Montague Collis Higgs (1882 – 1883)
Margaret Alice Scott Higgs (1863 – 1963)
Lilian Margaret Berry Higgs (1890 – 1913)
Mary Agnes Higgs (1892 – 1892)

Walter Higgs was born in 1853 in Newbury the son of Thomas and Mary, nee Garlick, Higgs. 
In the 1861 census Walter was recorded with his parents and six siblings in Cheap Street in Newbury, his father Thomas was a general dealer. 

Ten years later in the 1871 census Walter was living with his uncle William Garlick in New Street in Newbury. William was a draper’s assistant and Walter a grocer’s assistant.

In the 1881 census Walter was recorded with his business partner Robert Pascoe at 152 Bartholomew Street in Newbury. Walter and Robert were both grocers.

Later in the year Walter married Lydia Eldridge Collis on 25 October 1881 at St John in Burford. Lydia was born in 1860 in Burford, the daughter of Joseph Collis and Mary Eldridge. In 1861 Lydia was living in Burford with her parents and four sisters, Joseph was a miller and baker. Then in 1871 Lydia was recorded with her widowed mother in Burford. Ten years later in the 1881 census Lydia was living with her brother-in-law George Litcombe in Paddington and she was a draper’s assistant.

Walter and Lydia had a son Walter Montague Collis on 4 October 1882 who sadly died aged only 8 months on 22 June 1883. He was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 June. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 28 June as below.

HIGGS – June 22, at 151 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Walter Montague Collis, the dearly loved son of Walter and Lydia Higgs, aged eight months.

Lydia died on 7 October 1884 aged 24 still living at 151 Bartholomew Street and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 October. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 16 October as below.

HIGGS – Oct. 7, at 151 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, after a lingering illness, Lydia Eldridge, the beloved wife of Walter Higgs, aged 24 years.

Walter remarried on 8 June 1887 at St Anthony in Nunhead, Southwark to Margaret Alice Scott Mitchell. Margaret was born in 1863 in Dundee in Scotland, the daughter of Charles Dundas and Annie, nee Bowman, Mitchell. She was recorded with her parents in Dundee in both the 1871 and 1881 censuses.

On 7 August 1889 an unnamed stillborn child of Margaret Higgs was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery. At that time stillborn births were not recorded so the exact details of her parents are not known for certain. However, Margaret Alice Scott Higgs is the only known Margaret Higgs of child bearing age living in Newbury in 1889. 

In the 1891 census Walter and Margaret with their daughter Lilian aged 10 months and his brothers John and Arthur and two boarders were recorded at 151 Bartholomew Street in Newbury. Walter was a grocer, Arthur a grocer’s assistant and John a hardware dealer.

Walter and Margart had a daughter Mary Agnes in March 1892 in Newbury who sadly died aged only 3 months on 16 June 1892. She was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 18 June. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 23 June as below.

HIGGS – June 16, at 151 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, suddenly, Agnes Mary, daughter of Walter and Margaret Higgs, aged three months.

Nine years later in the 1901 census Walter and Margaret with six daughters, Lilian (aged 10), Evelyn (7), Cicely (6), Irene (4), Gladys (2) and Ivy (8 months) were recorded at Rose Cottage, 93 Wellesley Road in Croydon. Walter was a brewer’s agent.

A daughter Dorothy Muriel A was born in January 1902 in Croydon. She died aged only 3 months and was buried at St Michael, Mitcham Road in Croydon on 17 April 1902. 

Walter died on 25 November 1904 aged 56 at High Street in Hungerford while living at Woodcote, Donnington Road in Newbury. He was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 29 November. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 1 December as below.

HIGGS – Nov. 25 suddenly at High Street, Hungerford, Walter Higgs, of Woodcote, Donnington Road, Newbury, fourth son of the late Thomas Higgs, Newbury, aged 51 years.

In the 1911 census Margaret with daughters, Lilian (aged 20), Irene (14) and Ivy (10) along with three boarders was living at 1 Ashley Villas, Wash Common. Margaret was a boarding house keeper and Lilian a draper’s cashier while Ivy was still at school. 

Lilian Margaret Berry, eldest daughter of Walter and Margart died on 8 June 1913 at Newbury District Hospital from meningitis. She was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 12 June. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 12 June as below.

HIGGS – June 8 at the Newbury District Hospital, of meningitis, eldest daughter of the late Walter and Mrs Higgs, Ashleigh, Wash Common, aged 23 years. Deeply loved and deeply mourned. 

Margaret was still living at 1 Ashley Villas, Wash Common when the 1921 census was taken along with her daughter Ivy, a boarder and four visitors. Margaret was still a boarding house keeper and Ivy a sick nurse. 

When the 1939 register was compiled in September 1939 Margaret was living at 49 Ramillies Road in Ealing with daughters Evelyn, Irene and Ivy. Margaret was carrying out unpaid domestic duties, Evelyn was a children’s nurse while Irene and Ivy were both civil servants carrying out clerical work.

Margaret died on 24 August 1963 in her 100th year still living at 49 Ramillies Road. Her cremated remains were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 2 September 1963. 

Margaret left a will and probate was granted on 29 November 1963 to her daughter Irene Agnes Ellen Higgs in London. The value of the estate was £2,759 4s. 

Walter’s parents Thomas and Mary Higgs were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 June 1887 and 7 December 1887 respectively. Also, his brothers John, Frederick, Brice Edward Higgs, William Henry, Herbert, Thomas Farr and Arthur as well as sister Elizabeth Ann were all buried at Newtown Road Cemetery. 

The cremated ashes of Walter and Margaret’s daughter Ivy Aldela Frances Higgs were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 10 November 1956. 

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