Margaret Higgin (née Syms)

???? - 1871

Claimant or beneficiary

Biography

Executrix and widow of Isaac Higgin (c. 1789-1832, partner in Higgin, Whiteley and Higgin and of Jamaica, and son of Mary Higgin (q.v.) and John Higgin), in which capacity Margaret Higgin was awarded the compensation for several estates in St Ann, Jamaica. Daughter of Jane Syms and James Syms (each of whom q.v.). Although she is known to have been in London between 1827 and 1832, no census record has yet been traced for her in England. It appears that she moved to Le Havre, where the German scholar Johann Friedrich Minssen reportedly worked 1847-1848 as tutor to 'the family of the former plantation owner, Isaac Higgin of Jamaica, and his wife Margaret', and married their second daughter Margaret.

  1. Baptism 02/05/1789 at St Andrew Holborn of Isaac Higgin son of John and Mary Higgin.

  2. Isaac Higgin AJ and magistrate and vestryman St Anns 1824.

  3. Will of Isaac Higgin Merchant of Grove Cottage near Tooting Surrey 15/05/1832.

  4. Baptisms of Margaret Syms Higgin to Isaac and Margaret Higgin at Lewisham St Mary 01/10/1827; Mary Ann to Isaac (merchant) and Mary [sic] of Mount Pleasant Lewisham at Lewisham St Mary 1827; Sarah Emily to Isaac (Gent.) and Margaret Higgin of Upper Tooting late of Jamaica at Streatham St Leonard 08/08/1832.

  5. Death of Isaac Higgin, son of late Isaac Higgin of No. 18 London St. and of the Island of Jamaica May 1854.

  6. Death of Margaret Higgin widow of Isaac Higgin 11/05/1871 aged 79 in Co. Monaghan


Sources

T71/857 St Ann Nos. 11, 12, 724, 725, 727 and 728. The supposition that she was née Syms, given (1) the name of her first daughter (2) that James Syms owned Felix Arabia in St Mary and St Ann 1817 Jamaica Almanac, is confirmed in her husband's will, which names his wife's mother as Mrs Syms and her father as James Syms; Patrick V. Styles, 'Johann Friedrich Minssen: Frisian scholar, neighbour of Bismarck, and host of the young Churchill', [accessed 23/09/2015].

  1. Ancestry.com, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1538-1812 [database online].

  2. Jamaica Almanac (1824).

  3. PROB 11/1800.

  4. Ancestry.com, London, England, Births and Baptisms 1813-1906 [database online].

  5. Times 16/05/1854 p. 1.

  6. Belfast Newsletter No. 55023 18/05/1871.


Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Maiden Name
Syms
Spouse
Isaac Higgin
Children
Isaac, Thomas, Margaret Syms (1827-), Mary, Sarah Emily (1832-)

Associated Claims (6)

£4,421 12s 2d
Awardee (Executor or executrix)
£1,224 12s 3d
Awardee (Executor or executrix)
£5,227 11s 8d
Awardee (Executor or executrix)
£2,571 12s 4d
Awardee (Executor or executrix)
£1,797 13s 0d
Awardee (Executor or executrix)
£1,051 15s 7d
Awardee (Executor or executrix)

Associated Estates (6)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
1834 [EA] - → Executor
1823 [EA] - 1829 [LA] → Joint owner
1834 [EA] - → Executrix
1834 [EA] - → Executrix
1834 [EA] - → Executrix
1834 [EA] - → Executrix

Relationships (5)

Daughter-in-law → Mother-in-law
Widow → Deceased Husband
Daughter-in-law → Father-in-law
Daughter → Father
Daughter → Mother

Addresses (1)

Grove Cottage, Tooting, Surrey, London, England