John Higgins

Disputed wife

Evidence needed to support John Higgins as husband of Penelope Rankin (daughter of Augustine Hull)

Biography

Last updated 29 January 2025

Retrieved from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Higgins-6120 and then edited

John Higgins was born in circa 1658. Some sources say he was born in Maryland, some say Westmoreland, Virginia.[1] The bulk of his life and the records he left behind are mostly found in Westmoreland, VA.

The names of John Higgins' wives can't be proved with certainty, but it is generally believed he married first to Penelope Hull [sic: unknown] then to Eleanor (a widow whose married name was Minor, but maiden name unknown) [aka Spencer, widow of John Minor] and his last wife--Elizabeth--survived him.

29 Aug. 1700 Judgment is granted John Higgins as marrying Ellenor the relict and executrix of John Minor and Nicholas Minor the other executor against Wm. Horton Gent. for 604 pounds of tobacco due to Minor in his lifetyme by bill. [2]

John Higgins left property when he died but no will, and this caused his only son, Augustine, a great deal of headache.

https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I7036...

Westmoreland County Court 28th of June 1711:

• Augustine Higgins came into Court and made Oath that John Higgins, his deceased Father, departed this life without makeing any Will soe farr as he knows or believes and on his Petition, George Eskridge and Joseph Bayley, Gent., and Mr. Robert Vaulx assumeing in Court to be security for Augustine Higgins for his due administration, Certifycate is granted him for obtaining Letters of Administration in due form and it is ordered he return an Inventory ofthe Estate to the next Court upon Oath.
• It is alsoe ordered Mr. Nathaniel Pope, Mr. John Here, Mr. Humphrey Pope, Mr. Lawrence Pope and Mr. Robert Vaulx or any four of them being first sworn before one o fher Majties Justices of the Peace of this County, doe some tyme before the next Court value and apparaise the Estate and make report of the same to the next Court; [3]

For more of the legal struggles surrounding the estate of John Higgins, read here.

References

1. WikiTree contributors, "John Higgins (abt.1658-1712)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Higgins-6120 : accessed 29 January 2025).
2. https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I7458... shows Penelope Hull, daughter of Augustine Hull & his wife, as married 1) John Overton bef 1687 2) John Rankin bef 1692, not to John Higgins (d. 1711)
3. https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I7036... shows John Higgins as married 1) unknown 2) Eleanor Spencer (widow of John Minor) 3) Elizabeth (unknown)
4. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hull-931 (no sources)
5. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Higgins-6120 (biographical data)