Elizabeth Ann Higgs (1856 – 1936)

Elizabeth Ann Higgs was born in Newbury in 1856 the daughter of Thomas and Mary, nee Garlick, Higgs. In the 1861 census she was living with her parents and six siblings in Cheap Street in Newbury. Thomas was a general dealer. Subsequently in the 1871 census Elizabeth was still living with her parents and now seven siblings at 3 Cheap Street. Thomas was a stationer, sons Thomas (recorded as William James in error), John and William Henry were all shopman to stationers, and Elizabeth was a dressmaker.

In the 1881 census Elizabeth was living with her parents Thomas and Mary at 33/34 Cheap Street with four brothers John, William Henry, Arthur and Brice Edward. Thomas senior was a stationer and general dealer, John and William were assistants to the general dealer, Elizabeth Ann an assistant to the stationer, while Arthur was a draper’s assistant. Brice was still at school and a scholar.

Ten years later in the 1891 census Elizabeth was recorded with her brothers Herbert, head of the house, and Brice in High Street, Hungerford. Brice and Herbert were both working as grocers, while Elizabeth was living on her own means.

In the 1901 and 1911 censuses Elizabeth was recorded in High Street in Hungerford with her brother Arthur, head of the house, and brother-in-law Sidney Thomas Pascoe. In 1901 Arthur was a grocer, Elizabeth Ann a house keeper and Sidney a grocer’s assistant. Then in the 1911 census Arthur and Sidney were both grocers while Elizabeth Ann was still a housekeeper.

Ten years later in the 1921 census Elizabeth Ann was recorded still living in High Street in Hungerford but now just with her brother Arthur. Arthur was a grocer and shopkeeper while Elizabeth Ann a house keeper.

Elizabeth died on 28 January 1936 aged 79 living at 14 Russell Road in Newbury and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 1 February.

Elizabeth’s parents Thomas and Mary Higgs were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 June 1887 and 7 December 1887 respectively. In addition, her brothers Frederick, John, Walter, Brice Edward, William Henry, Herbert, Thomas Farr and Arthur were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 10 January 1893, 23 December 1902, 29 November 1904, 15 April 1913, 25 June 1913, 8 January 1915, 10 July 1919 and 1 April 1924 respectively.

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