3rd Generation

William Charles Higby  ( 1838 - 1926 )

5.     WILLIAM CHARLES HIGBY was born 1838 in Eastwood, Essex, England.

From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Birth entry from the Indexes:

Name:      William Charles Higby
Year:        1838
Quarter:   Oct-Nov-Dec  (4th Quarter)
District:    Rochford
County:    Essex
Volume:   12      Page:  163

Father:       William  Higby     (No. 3)

Mother:      Jane  Crooks

In 1841, William Higby, age 2, was living with his parents in Hockley, Essex.

From the 1841 Census of Hockley, Essex, we find the following:

Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?

Wm Higby     40 M     Farmer             y
Jane   Do       40 F                            y
Wm     Do      2 M                             y

In 1851, William Higby, age 12, was living with his parents in Hockley, Essex.  He was employed on his father’s farm.

From the 1851 Census of Hockley, Essex, we find the following:

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

William Higby     Head  M    52 M    Farmer of 24 Acres             Suffolk,   Birch
Jane      do         Wife   M    47 F                                            Essex,    Chelmsford
William  do         Son    U    12 M     employed on Farm              do        Hadleigh
Charles do          Son            6 M                                              do        Hockley

In 1861, William Higby was a Groom Servant for Samuel Baker in Hawkwell, Essex.

From the 1861 Census of Hawkwell, Essex, we find the following:

Hawkwell Hall

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

Samuel Baker      Head     Mar  78  M    Farmer of 317 acres  Employing 20 Labourers   Devon,  Tiverton
Jane       Do.        Wife      Mar  80  F     Farmer’s Wife                                                Essex   Rayleigh
Sarah Summers  Servant  Un  19   F     House Servant                                                   Do.    Canewdon
Maria Shea          Servant  Un  36  F      House Servant                                                   Do.    Orsett
William Higby      Servant   Un  23   M     Groom                                                           Essex  Eastwood

In the above you will notice that Sarah Summers is a House Servant while William Higby is a Groom, both employed by Samuel Baker.   This is one of the few times you see in a census where you see how two people met and then got married.

William Higby married SARAH ANN SUMMERS in 1861

From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Marriage entry from the Indexes:

Name:      William Higby / Sarah Summers
Year:        1861
Quarter:   Jul-Aug-Sep  (3rd Quarter)
District:    Rochford
County:    Essex
Volume:   4a      Page:  209

Somewhere between 1861 and 1863, William and Sarah Higby moved from Hawkwell to Canewdon, Essex.

In 1871, William and Sarah Ann Higby were living in Canewdon, Essex.  William was a gardener and servant.

From the 1871 Census of Canewdon, Essex, we find the following:

The Street

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

William Higby     Head  Mar  32   M    Gardener & Serv         Essex   Eastwood
Sarah Ann  do    Wife   Mar  28  F                                      Essex   Canewdon
William [ T ] do   Son             8  M    Scholar                      Essex   Canewdon
Walter        do    Son             5  M    Scholar                      Essex  Canewdon
George E.  do     Son             3  M    Scholar                      Essex   Canewdon
Alfred C     do    Son              2  M                                     Essex  Canewdon

In 1881, William C. and Sarah A. Higby were living in Canewdon, Essex.  William was a Servant.

From the 1881 Census of Canewdon, Essex, we find the following:

Cottage

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

William C Higby    Head  Mar  41 M   Servant                     Eastwood     Essex
Sarah A  Higby     Wife    Mar  38 F                                    Canewdon       Do
Walter Higby        Son            15 M   Laborer                         Do              Do
George E Higby    Son           14 M    Laborer                         Do              Do
Alfred C Higby      Son            12 M   Scholar                         Do              Do

On the same page is George Pickingale’s household

On the previous page is The Vicarage with Thomas Anthony Maning, age 65, Vicar of Canewdon.

In 1891, William and Sarah Higby were living in Canewdon, Essex.  William was a Coach man.

From the 1891 Census of Canewdon, Essex, we find the following:

Old School House

4 - Number of rooms occupied if less than five

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

William Charls Higby   Head  M     52 M   Coach Man  Domestic Servant   Employed        Essex  Eastwood
Sarah Ann Higby         Wife    M     48 F                                                                         Essex   Canewdon
George Ernest Higby  Son Single  24 M   Agricultural labourer                   Employed        Essex   Canewdon

On the same page is the Vicarage with Thomas A Manning, age 75, Clerk of Holy Orders Vicar.

In 1901, William and Sarah Higby were living in Canewdon, Essex.  William was a gardener.

From the 1901 Census of Canewdon, Essex, we find the following:

1 High St

4 - Number of Rooms occupied if less than five

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

William C Higby   Head M 62 M   Gardener   (not domestic)  Worker       Essex  Eastwood
Sarah A    do        Wife  M 58 F                                                                do    Canewdon

On the same page was the Canewdon Vicarage with Charles R W Hardy age 55 clergyman Ch. Of Engl.

George Pickingill was at 3 High Street on the next page.

I guess by now you are wondering why I mentioned about the Vicar’s home in the above censuses?

In 1871, William Higby was a “Gardener & Servant”; in 1881, he was a “Servant”; in 1891, he was a “Coach Man Domestic Servant”; and then in 1901, he was a “Gardener (not domestic)”.

The question is who was William Higby a servant, coach man, gardener to?  It was most likely he was employed by the Vicar.  Since he lived nearby, he can walk to his job and therefore didn’t have to live at the place of employment.

In 1911, William Charles and Sarah Ann Higby were living in Canewdon, Essex.  William is now an Old Age Pensioner.  Their granddaughter, Lilian Higby, is living with them.

From the 1911 Census of Canewdon, Essex, we find the following:

Postal Address - Canewdon - Rochford - Essex
Number of Rooms in this Dwelling - 4
Signature - Mr Higby

Name - Relationship - Age - Sex - Married or Single - Years Married - Children born alive - Children living - Children died - Profession – Birthplace

William Charles Higby   Head               72 M  Married                        Old Age Pensioner   Essex  Eastwood
Sarah Ann Higby           Wife                68 F   Married    49  5  4  1                                    Essex  Canewdon
Lilian Higby                   grandaughter  20 F    Single                                                        India - Barrapour

More information about Lilian Higby - Resident Brit Sub by parentage

William Higby was one of those present at the marriage of her granddaughter, Lilian Higby with Joseph Henry Garner, on February 10, 1914 at the Register Office in Rochford Essex.  William left his mark “X” when he signed the marriage certificate.

Also the place of residence for Lilian was the Vicarage Cottage in Canewdon.  It may very well be the place where William and Sarah Higby were living in.

William C. Higby died on July 17, 1926 at the age of 87 in Canewdon, Essex and was buried on Wednesday the 21st.

From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Death entry from the Indexes:

Name:      William C Higby
Year:        1926
Quarter:   Jul-Aug-Sep  (3rd Quarter)
Age:         87
District:    Rochford
County:    Essex
Volume:   4a      Page: 513

From the diary of James Benson Outten, we find the following entry:

“Mr.. W Higby died on July 17 1926 buried on a wednesday th 21 aged 89 ye”.

Sarah A. Higby died on June 1, 1930 at the age of 88 in Canewdon, Essex and was buried on the 5th at Canewdon.

From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Death entry from the Indexes:

Name:      Sarah A. Higby
Year:        1930
Quarter:   Apr-May-Jun  (2nd Quarter)
Age:         88
District:    Rochford
County:    Essex
Volume:   4a      Page: 640

From the diary of James Benson Outten, we find the following entry:

“1 of June very Early old Mrs Higby died was 88 years old & was buried at Canewdon on the 5”.

As mentioned above, William and Sarah Higby are buried in the churchyard of Canewdon, Essex.

From the information on the stone in the Higby burial plot in the churchyard says:

In Ever Loving Memory
of
 WILLIAM CHARLES HIGBY,
WHO PASSED AWAY JULY 17^TH 1926
AGED 88 YEARS.
“JUST AS I AM O LAMB GOD I COME.”

ALSO OF HIS BE(LOV)ED (WIFE),
SARAH ANN
WHO PASSED AWA(Y) (JU)NE (1)^ST 193(0) (AG)ED 8(8) YEARS

The above pictures were taken by Paul Cooper in 2009 on his first return to Canewdon since the funeral of Lillian Garner in November of 1982.

These are of the Higby Family Plot.  As you go through the main gates of the church in Canewdon, its to the left between the church main entance and the bell tower.  The Higby plot is the rectangular plot with a headstone that is to the right of the bench in the top picture.  The headstone in the second picture contains the information on William Charles Higby and his wife Sarah Ann Higby.  The third picture shows the design of the rectangular section.

The information on William Charles and Sarah Ann Higby are written above the top picture.

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM CHARLES AND SARAH ANN (SUMMERS) HIGBY:

11.  +       WILLIAM SUMMERS HIGBY  was born in 1863 in Canewdon, Essex.

William married  Eliza Graves.

12.  +       WALTER HIGBY   was born in 1865 in Canewdon, Essex.

Walter married 1st. Lucy Scerri  and 2nd.  Susan A. Upham.

13.  +       GEORGE ERNEST HIGBY  was born in 1867 in Canewdon, Essex.

George married Sarah Jane Stubbs.

14.  +      ALFRED CHARLES HIGBY   was born in 1869 in Canewdon, Essex.

Alfred married Annie  ---?--- .

Sources:

1.    Civil Registration Index, Birth of William Charles Higby, 4th Quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec), Year 1838, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 12, Page 163.  Searched July 19, 2009 Sunday 8:12 PM.

2.     1841 Census of England, Essex, Hockley, District 5, Image No.5, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: HO 107 / 337 / 11, Original Page No. 10, Stamped Page No. 29, Household of Wm Higby.   December 18,2008 Thursday 3:46 PM.

3.     1851 Census of England, Essex, Hockley, District 2c, Image No. 3, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: H.O. 107 / 1777, Original Page No. 3, No. of Householder’s Schedule 12, Household of William Higby.   December 18, 2008 Thursday 3:52 PM.

4.     1861 Census of England, Essex, Hawkwell, District 4, Image No. 12, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: R.G. 9 1085, Original Page Nos. 12 & 13, Stamped Page No. 66, No. of Schedule 64, William Higby and Sarah Summers in the household of Samuel Baker.    December 18, 2008 Thursday 3:59 PM.

5.    Civil Registration Index, Marriage of William Higby and Sarah Summers, 3rd Quarter (Jul-Aug-Sep), Year 1861, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 209.   Searched December 16, 2008 Tuesday 7:30 PM.

6.     1871 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, District 6, Image No. 23, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: R.G. 10 16[6]9, Original Page No. 23, Stamped Page No. 87, No. of Schedule 113, Household of William Higby.   December 17, 2008 Wednesday 2:34 PM.

7.     1881 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, District 6, Image No. 2, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: RG 11 / 1771, Original Page No. 2, No. of Schedule 4, Household of William C. Higby.   December 17, 2008 Wednesday 2:51 PM.

8.     1891 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, District 6, Image No. 1, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: RG 12 / 1393, Original Page No. 1, Stamped Page No. 65, No. of Schedule 3, Household of William Charls Higby.   December 16, 2008 Tuesday 7:20 PM.

9.     1901 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, District 5, Image No. 3, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: RG 13 / 1684, Original Page No. 3, Stamped Page No. 62, No. of Schedule 16, Household of William C. Higby.   December 17, 2008 Wednsday 3:17 PM.

10.     1911 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, No. of Schedule 85, Household of William Charles Higby.  http://www.1911census.co.uk .  January 17, 2009 Saturday 2:55 PM.

11.    1914 Marriage Certificate of Lilian May Higby and Joseph Henry Garner.  From the General Register Office, Southport, Merseyside, England.   Received December 1, 2009 Tuesday 10:00 AM.

12.    Civil Registration Index, Death of William C. Higby, age 87, 3rd Quarter (Jul-Aug-Sep), Year 1926, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 513.  www.findmypast.com.  Searched June 6, 2009 Saturday 6:53 PM.

13.    Civil Registration Index, Death of Sarah A. Higby, age 88, 2nd Quarter (Apr-May-Jun), Year 1930, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 640.   www.freebmd.org.uk.  Searched June 6, 2009 Saturday 7:09 PM.

14.     Diary of James Benson Outten of Canewdon, Essex, 1860’s to early 1930’s. Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, Essex, UK.  Deaths 1926 of William Higby and 1929 or 1930 Sarah Ann Higby.   Received June 5, 2009 Friday morning.

15.     Photographs of the Higby Family Plot in the churchyard of Canewdon, Essex.  From Paul Cooper’s collection of family photographs.  William Charles and Sarah Ann Higby.  Digital Photographs attached to email dated Sunday, December 6, 2009, 1:18 PM.

Last updated December 9, 2009  Wednesday 1:38 PM

Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth

With contributions from:

1.    Paul Cooper of England - Thank you for the pictures of the Higby Burial plot from churchyard of Canewdon.  December 6, 2009.

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