PHILIP HIGGIN jnr

Will - 1769 (Douglas)

In the name of God amen

I Philip Higgin of the town of Douglas being in perfect health and of sound mind and memory at the making hereof (praised be God) do make this my last will and testament in manner following:

First I commend my soul to God hoping through merit and prediation of my blessed Lord and saviour Jesus Christ to find and receive full pardon for and remission of all my sins, and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried

Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Mary Higgin the dwelling house wherein Patrick Tobin now lives, with all the appertenances to the same belonging, together with the brick stable near the house I live in

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jane the dwelling house I now live in, together with the gable and cow house and all the appertenances to them belonging, hereby reserving the said premises with their appertenances and also the furniture in the said dwelling house and for the use of my wife Sarah Higgin during her natural life provided she survives me

Lastely I nominate and appoint my said two daughters Mary and Jane Higgin joint executrices of all my other effects of what kind or nature soever

In testimony whereof I have [hereunto?] subscribed my name this 5th day of ...

Witnesses present ................

At a Court of Correction holden at Douglas Feb 13th 1770

Thomas Stowell of the town of Douglas has deposed on the holy Evangelist that Philip Higgin the testator being of sound and disposing mind and memory and understanding signed and declared the within paper writing as and for his last will and testament in his presence, as also in presence of Robert Brown the other witness thereto, and saith that the said Robert Brown (lately deceased) and this deponent subscribed their names as witnesses thereby, and that the name Robert Brown thereto subscribed is the proper handwriting of the said Robert Brown (lately deceased) as also that the Thomas Stowell thereto subscribed is the proper handwriting of this deponent, they the said witnesses having severally subscribed their names to said will in presence of the testator as also of one another

Thomas [Stowell?]

We the underwritten viz Hugh Cosnahan and Thomas W. J. Woods being well acquainted with the handwriting of the within witness Robert Brown as having seen him write at several times do say and veryily believe that the within subscription Robert Brown was his real and proper writing

Hugh Cosnahan, Thomas W. J. Woods

Before me James Wilks, John Moore

.... Higgins one of the executrices having died before .... the other executrix and only surviving .............. so decreed in Court in form of law namely ..............

13th February 1770 Thomas Mc Naughton enters a claim against the executrix of Philip Higgin for the sum of £3-0-0

1st November 1770 Nicholas Cowley enters a claim against the administrator for £3-5-0 British

NOTES

  1. Philip Higgin was the son of Philip Higgin snr and Jane Mc ylroy
  2. He was born in 1711, and buried 30th October 1769 in Braddan
  3. Philip married three times: Elizabeth Peel 1741 (d1751), Mary Hault 1751 (d1761), widow Sarah Merydew als Scott 1761 (d 1795)
  4. He 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
  5. Philip Higgin snr made a gift of two cottages in 1737 to his son, Phil jnr, soon after Jane, the mother of Philip jnr, died. Their rent was respectively 2s 7d, and 20½d, for cottage allotments #48 & #52. (TBF might be NSS May 1743 #43)
  6. He was also lucky enough to be left cottages by Mariot Smith and Margaret Kelly in the 1750s
  7. Philip jnr was a hairdresser and wig maker
  8. Sole surviving child Jane married Charles Moore
  9. Jane sold a house, bequeathed by her father, to a Norris Moore who was obliged to sue for ownership against an individual who must have been squatting on the property
  10. 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

1743-1 A 6 KNEAL Mary als Callow als HIGGIN Douglas; son John Callow; houses + house of her fa Wm Higgin decd; present husb Philip Kneale + 3 ch youngest Philip; son Wm Kneale; her step dau Elinor Kneale; houses adj Philip Lace;1759 Cath Kneale dau acks from half brother John Callow; Philip youngest dead - connected?

1747-2 E w HIGGINS Margaret CREER d 6 Oct 1747; Douglas; son John (if he come),Thos exec; gson John Callow; gdau Cath Kneal; names Margt Smith; gch Wm,Philip + Cath Kneal - connected? mother of Mary above

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

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

Last updated: May 2024