Last revised: 28 Nov 2012
Robert
Higgins
(08 Dec
1746 - 30 May 1825)
Robert was presented by his parents Robert and Hannah
Higgins to be baptized on 08 Dec 1746 at the Smithfield
Reformed Dutch Church in Pennsylvania . About ten years
later Isaac Vanmeter, a neighbor, tells about young Robert
Higgins who was about 12 years of age: "In 1756, while the
Indians were lurking about Fort Pleasant, and constantly on
the watch to cut off all communications therewith, a lad
named Higgins, aged about 12 years, was directed by his
mother to go to the spring about a quarter of a mile with
the fort, and bring a bucket of water. He complied with
much trepidation, and persuaded a companion of his, about
the same age, to accompany him. They repaired to the spring
as cautiously as possible, and halfway to the fort, and
Higgins had got about thirty yards before his companion, he
heard a scream from the latter, which caused him to
increase his speed to the utmost. He reached the fort in
safety, while his companion was captured by the Indians,
and taken to their settlements, where he remained until the
peace and was then restored. The young Higgins subsequently
became the active Captain Robert Higgins in our
Revolutionary Army, and after raising a numerous family in
Virginia removed with them to the West."
Robert married Miss. Wright about 1766 or 1767 because his
first child, Gideon W. Higgins, was born on 28 Oct 1767.
Robert Higgins and his wife had eight children. Elinor was
born 07 Feb 1770 and their first set of twins, Sarah and
Amelia were born 17 Jul 1772. Nimrod was born 27 Jan 1775.
Higgins was the owner of a plantation on the South Branch
of the Potomac River and was a dealer in cattle, driving
them to the different Eastern markets. An incident is
related of him: While participating in his periodic drives,
he chanced to stop at a hotel where he found a Guinea
negro, strangely tattooed, chained to a pillar of the front
porch. The owner wanted to sell the negro, ant the price
asked was $40. Higgins examined the negro, found him
perfect, in regard to physical condition, and asked the
negro if he would like to become a laborer on his
plantation. After surveying the Higgins from head to foot,
the negro replied that, believing from his appearance,
Higgins was a humane and just master, he would be willing
to enter his service. Higgins immediately purchased the
negro, who was of immense proportions, rather inclined to
be vicious, and told him to assist in the drive. The negro
did as request and after Higgins had removed his chains
accompanied him home. He became a faithful servant. About
this time the Revolutionary War commenced and Robert
Higgins and his brother were among the first to raise
companies in the Valley to join the army. Upon leaving home
Robert Higgins put the plantation and its inhabitants in
the care of "Old Jack," his new purchase and started for
the war.
Robert was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in the 8th Virginia
Regiment on 12 Mar 1776. A little over a year later, 01 Mar
1777 Lt. Robert Higgins was promoted to Captain in the 8th
Virginia Regiment. Capt. Higgins fought and during the
Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania,
on 04 Oct 1777, he was captured by the British and
confined in a Philadelphia jail. While being held there
he documented the death of one of his men. Also during
his imprisonment there his second set of twins, Nancy
and William were born on 02 Feb 1778. By the summer of
1778 Capt. Higgins, along with many other prisoners, was
moved to New York Harbor and subsequently Long Island
when the British were forced to evacuate Philadelphia.
He was confined by the British for a total of three
years and nine month before he was paroled. He returned
to his home on the Potomac in Virginia about 12 Feb 1781
and was transferred to the 2nd Virginia and served till
[the end of the war 19 Oct 1781 when Lord Cornwallis
surrendered at Yorktown]. When he returned home he found
that "Old Jack" had been an excellent manager and
overseer. The plantation and buildings were in good
shape, the crops large and well house, and the servants
in good condition. During his absence, his wife had died
and "Old Jack" was caring for the motherless children as
only a beloved servant could.
On the 10th day of April 1787 Capt. Higgins purchased Lot #33 in Moorefield,
Virginia [now West Virginia] and there constructed a log
cabin with stone chimney as required by the city trustees.
Capt. Higgins's cabin is still standing in Moorefield,
Hardy Co., WV as of this writing, 16 Dec 2009, and is now
part of the Moorefield Historic District. Also on 30 Aug
1783 Capt. Higgins was rewarded with Warrant No.1693 for
4,000 acres by the State of Virginia for his service as a
Captain of the Continental Line for three years service.
On 07 Mar 1797 Captain Higgins was married Mary Jolliffe.
by Rev. Alexander Balmain, an Episcopal minister. In 1798
Capt. Robert Higgins and his second wife Mary Jolliffe
removed to Kentucky. While there their first child, Maria
Guillalima Higgins was born in Augusta, Bracken Co.,
Kentucky. They lived opposite his survey in Lewis Township
for one year before moving in the Spring of 1799 across the
river to occupy a rude cabin on the site of Higginsport.
Here in the year 1800 were born twins a daughter Eliza
Higgins and a son John Jolliffe Higgins. Lydia Bruce
Higgins was born 17 Dec 1801 and Robert Van Zandt Higgins
was born on 07 Feb 1804.
Mary Jolliffe Higgins passed away in 1806 and Capt. Higgins
expired on 30 May 1825 in Brown Co., Ohio. Capt. Higgins
Will was written and signed on 15 Sep 1823. His Will was
proven in and is now on file in Brown Co., Ohio Will Book
1, Page 50. One of the witnesses to Captain Higgins's Will
was Jesse R. Grant, President Ulysses S. Grant's father.
The following is a transcription of his Last Will and
Testament:
"I, ROBERT HIGGINS, of Brown County and State of Ohio,
revoking all other and former wills by me made at any time
heretofore do make and ordain this my Last Will and
Testament in manner and form following, to wit: First,
after all my just debts and funeral charges are paid, I
give and bequeath to my son JOHN JOLLIFFE HIGGINS all my
right, title and interest in a certain tract of land in
Frederick County, Virginia, bequeathed to my children by
AMOS JOLLIFFE and which descended to me on the death of two
of my children to who the same was bequeathed, to him the
said JOHN, his heirs and assigns forever. I further give
and bequeath unto my aforesaid son JOHN in lots in the town
of Higginsport Nos. six and seven together with the
fractional lot lying east of White Oak Street in the said
town on which my warehouse stands, with the buildings and
other improvements on the said three lots to him, his heirs
and assigns forever. I further give and devise unto the
said JOHN all that part of my tract of land of 1,000 acres
lying at the mouth of White Oak Creek bounded and described
as follows, to wit: Beginning at the mouth of White Oak
Creek, running thence up the river Ohio with its meanders
to the line of THOMAS L. HAMER's land at a place called the
low gap, thence with his line to a marked beech on the east
side of the creek and north side of a gully called for in
the said HAMER's Deed, thence down the creek to the place
of beginning, to include all the land between the river and
the creek west of the said THOMAS L. HAMER's line; to him
the said JOHN, his heirs and assigns forever. Second, I
give, bequeath and devise unto my son ROBERT VANZANT
HIGGINS all the balance of my aforesaid tract of land of
one thousand acres, his share to be bounded on the east
side by White Oak Creek with its meanders from my north
line to the mouth, and on the south, west and north sides
by the original lines of the survey; I further give and
bequest to my said son ROBERT all the lots in the town of
Higginsport not heretofore, or by this will, or otherwise
disposed of at the time of my death, the said tract of land
and the said lots to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Third, I give and bequeath to my son GIDEON HIGGINS the two
obligations on JEREMIAH CLAYPOOL left in his hands for
collection. Fourth, I give and bequeath to Nancy Norris
(woman of color) one in lot in the town of Higginsport
number twenty-one to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
Fifth, I give and bequeath all my personal property and
credits at the time of my decease, and to my executors to
be appropriated to the payments of my just debts. It is my
will and desire that the balance of my tract of land in
Highland County on White Oakd Creek known by the name of
ROBERT HIGGINS SURVEY No. not sold or disposed of at the
time of my decease shall be sold by my executors or the
survivor of them to the best advantage accordint to their
judgement, and they are hereby expressly and fully vested
with authority to seal and convey the same. It is my will
and desire further that the proceeds of said land together
with my personal property shall form a fund out of which
all just and legal debts against me or my estate shall be
discharged by my executors; and if after the same are
discharged there should be a balance remaining, the same to
be divided among my children in the following manner, to
wit; One third thereof to SALLY ROBINSON and the remaining
two thirds to be equally divided amongst JOHN JOLLIFFE
HIGGINS, THOMAS L. HAMER and ROBERT VANZANT HIGGINS. I
further hereby vest my executors or the survivor of them
with full, ample and absolute authority to make and execute
deeds of conveyance for all the lots I have sold and which
may be sold and remain unconveyed by deed at the time of my
decease. I hereby lastly nominate constitute and appoint
JOHN J. HIGGINS and THOMAS L. HAMER or the survivor of them
executors of this, my last will and testament, enjoining
that the same may be executed according to the true intent
and meaning thereof in every part.
In testimony whereof, I, ROBERT HIGGINS, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this 15th day of September in the year of
our lord 1823.
(Signed) ROBT. HIGGINS (Seal)
In the presence of us who subscribed our
names in presence ot the testator:
JESSE R. GRANT (Signature unclear)
( ? ) WOODS (Signature unclear)"
[Transcribed by Clarence A. Higgins in January
1973]
[Note: JESSE R. GRANT was the father of President ULYSSES
S. GRANT - Clarence A. Higgins - Sept. 1974.]
=====================
[Note by Preston T. Higgins, II on 29 Sep 2005: In Patricia
N. Donaldson's Abstracting of Robert Higgins's Will in her
book Brown County, Ohio Court Records 1818-1830 she has
introduced some errors. When she named the sons she
incorrectly made it look like John and Jollif were two
different sons when in fact John's middle name is Jolliffe.
Photocopy of Robert Higgins's Will clearly indicates that
it was copied from Will Book 1, Page 50 and not Page 65 as
indicated in her book on page 7.]
=====================
[Note by Preston T. Higgins, II on 29 Sep 2005: page 10 of
Index to Wills (1818-1910) incorrectly shows Robert
Higgins's Will to be listed in Book No. 1, Page 52 when it is
currently in Book 1, Page 50.]