PHIL HIGGIN to JOHN CORLETT

Sale - 1715 (Douglas)

Know all men by these presents that I Phillip Higgin of the town of Douglas in the Isle of Man, mariner, with the consent of my wife Jane Higgin als Mcylroy many good causes and considerations us hereunto moving but more especially for and in consideration of the just and entire sum of five pounds .... one shilling of lawful moneys of England passable now in this Isle, to be paid as followeth that is to say the one half of the said sum to be paid at the signing, sealing and delivery of these presents and the other half to be paid at the honourable Court's confirmation at May Courts next ensuing, the date hereof and from the hands of John Corlett of the above said town, labourer

Have given, granted, bargained, passed over and sold and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, pass over and absolutely sell forever all our interest, right and title in and to one small garden at the upper end of the above said town of four pence yearly rent to the Lord, the said garden joining at the north side to Robert Lewn's rent and at the south end to Richard Killey's rent and to the Common Street at the east end unto the above said John Corlett, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns

To have, hold, occupy, possess and peaceably to enjoy the same forever, together with the liberty of all waters, watercourses, easements, profits, or commodities thereto belonging without the lett, hindrance or molestation of us or either of us, the above said Phillip Higgin or Jane my wife, our heirs, executors, administrators or assigns

And further we the foresaid Phil Higgin and Jane my wife do hereby bind and oblige ourselves, our executors, administrators or assigns to uphold, awarrant and defend him, the above John Corlett, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns in the full interest of the premises against the pretence of any person or persons whoever should hereafter make claim thereto, the right honourable the Lord of the Isle or his heirs only excepted and to do, perform and execute all and every such lawful act and acts, thing or things as the laws require to be done for the better assurance of him the above John Corlett, his executors, administrators or assigns

And this in the penalty or forfeiture of twenty pounds sterling in the nature of all fines within this Isle

As witness our hands and seals this thirtieth of December one thousand, seven hundred and fifteen sixteen. Phillip Higgin (seal), Jane Higgin als Mcylroy J (seal)

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of William Cannell my mark W, William Flaxney

17th May 1716 Phill Higgin and Jane his wife have acknowledged the within Bill of Sale to be their voluntary act and deed. Before me Dan Mylrea

At a Sheading Court holden at Douglas the 17th May 1716 The within Bill of Sale being acknowledged before the Deemster and now published in open court and no objection against it the same is allowed of and confirmed according to law Alex Horner, J. Rowe, Dan Mcylrea, William Sedden

[Ref: OD ONC 2/54]

NOTES

  1. This contract is for cottage allotment #108, described as "a house and garden" of 4d rent which Jane, Phil's wife, inherited on the death of her parents Henry Mc ylrey & Amy Mcylroy als Joyner als Watson in 1689
  2. Phil Higgin was the husband of Jane Mc ylroy. They married in 1703 in Douglas, so Jane would have been born 1675-80
  3. Jane was under age when her mother died in 1689; her father died later in the same year
  4. She had two Joyner step-siblings: Robert & Alice
  5. Jane inherited a cottage allotment in Douglas from her father (#110, 4d rent) - in LA 1700, allotment #91 with a 4d rent was jointly tenanted by Hen & John Mcylvorrey, presumably the same (renumbered) cottage allotment, and Hen her father
  6. In 1710, Philip had sold the tholtan he inherited from his father (Gellings Court #111, rent 3d) and in 1713 Phil purchased cottage allotments #48 & #52, so the family was on the move
  7. So over the years, Philip & Jane sold their legacies but purchased other properties in Douglas
  8. Jane and Phil had children Margaret (1704), William (1706), Jane (1708), Philip (1711), Emma (1719) of whom two survived to adulthood
  9. In 1730 Douglas Household Survey: Philip & Jane Higgins, 1 child & 1 servant; Robert Joyner (widowed) alone; Alice Graham (widowed) 1 child
  10. Jane Higgin als Mcylroy was buried 17th September 1736, Braddan
  11. The Edward Fletcher mentioned in Jane's will probate was the husband of daughter Jane (married 1733)
  12. Two burials of a Philip Higgin are recorded in the Braddan parish register, 1741 & 1769, Jane's husband and son
  13. Phil Higgin snr did not leave a will but the LV 1743 records the fact that he made a gift of two cottages in 1736 to his son, Phil jnr, soon after Jane died. Their total rent was respectively 2s 7½d, and 20½d, for cottage allotments #48 (Higgin share = 12d rent) & #52 (Higgin share = 3d rent) (TBF might be NSS May 1743 #43)
  14. Philip jnr was a hairdresser and wigmaker
  15. He was also lucky enough to be also left cottages by Mariot Smith and Margaret Kelly in the 1750s
  16. Philip jnr married Elizabeth Peel 1741 (d1750), Mary Halt 1751 (d1761) then widow Sarah Merydew als Scott 1761 (d1795) - brother in law Edward Fletcher was witness to this third wedding
  17. Philip jnr had four children Mary 26th January 1742/3, Philip 4th March 1743/4, Jane 25th February 1746/7, Jane 25th June 1752, of whom only Jane survived her father so in less than a century, Jané's little family was "daughtered-out"
  18. NOTE: Be aware that cottage allotment numbers changed over time as Douglas expanded. Rent and neighbours are key elements in confirming whether the tenants (ie Phil Higgin) have changed properties or whether they have remained stable while the allotment number from one LA to the next has changed

Associated Documents

From Summary of Wills, A Manx Notebook

1785 A 5 FLETCHER Edward dated 11 nov 1784; Ballafletcher; gtgdau Carolina Lee; names Capt John Lee,John EdwardLlee,Wm + Edwd Callister; sister Mary Callister; names Sarah Quirk als Callister,Wm+Robt Kelly,Edwrd Callister;dr Patk Scott claims - son in law

1785 A 6 ds FLETCHER Jane dated 14 mar 1785; widow capt Ed Fletcher; gtgch John Edward + Caroline Lane Lee - daughter

 

Last updated: May 2024