CPT. JOHN HIGLEY

• Death Notes
  • Capt. John Higley (M)
    b. 22 July 1649, d. 25 August 1714
    

• General Notes
  •      Capt. John Higley was born on 22 July 1649 at Frimley, Surrey, England.1 He married Hannah Drake, daughter of John Drake and Hannah Moore, on 9 November 1671 at Windsor, Hartford Co., CT.1,2 Capt. John Higley married Sarah Strong, daughter of Return Strong and Sarah Warham, in 1696 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.3 Capt. John Higley died on 25 August 1714 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT, at age 65.1 He was buried at Simsbury Cemetery, Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.4
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    John Higley, son of Jonathan and Katherine Brewster Higley, was born 22 July 1649 in Frimley, Surrey, England and worked as a glove maker's apprentice. He emigrated to America in 1665 and settled in Windsor where he was indentured to John Drake, a prosperous merchant, and later his father-in-law. Higley became successful in own right importing rum from the West Indies and later, manufacturing tar, pitch and turpentine. In 1684, Higley bought the Wolcott Homestead north of present day Tariffville and moved his family there. He soon added huge adjoining tracts of land. The area was known as Higley town for over 150 years because of the numerous Higley descendants living there.By 1705, John Higley was the richest landowner in Simsbury with holdings of approximately 500 acres. He held many town offices, was the first Captain of the Traineband, and active in the start up of the copper mines in Turkey Hills, now East Granby. John married Hannnah Drake born 8 Aug 1653, daughter of his former master, John Drake and Hannah Moore Drake on 9 Nov 1671. Hannah Drake Higley died 4 August 1694. John Higley then married the widow, Sarah Strong Bissell. Sarah was the daughter of Return and Sarah Strong of Windsor. She was born 14 Mar 1665 and first married Joseph Bissell in Windsor 7 Jul 1687 and they had Joseph (21 Mar 1688) and Benoni (7 Dec 1689) Capt. Higley died at Simsbury 25 August 1714 and is buried in Hopmeadow Cemetery. His widow, Sarah Higley died in Windsor 27 May 1739. John Higley left land and books to each of his surviving children.
    ********************************************John HIGLEY - b. Jul. 22, 1649, Frimley, Surrey, England; d. Aug. 25, 1714, Simsbury, CT. An importer, land holder, public office holder, and Captain of the train band (1698), his will was dated May 6, 1714, naming wife Sarah and all 15 of his surviving children. Son of Jonathan HIGLEY and Katherine BREWSTER, who were married Jan. 3, 1647/8. Katherine was the daughter of Rev. John BREWSTER (d. Aug. 14, 1656), and reportedly a relative of Elder William BREWSTER of the 'Mayflower' fame. John HIGLEY may have been a run away apprentice at the time he left England, and evidence suggests that upon his arrival at Windsor, CT about 1666 he entered the service of John DRAKE, Jr. He married first Nov. 9, 1671, Windsor, CT Hannah DRAKE (b. Aug. 8, 1653, Windsor, CT; d. Aug. 4, 1694, Simsbury, CT), daughter of John DRAKE, Jr. and Hannah MOORE. Though currently in question, in the past John DRAKE, Jr. has been connected with the DRAKE family in England, which included the noted Sir Francis DRAKE (John DRAKE, Sr. being the great grandson of John, brother of Sir Francis' father, Edmund), and Sir Walter RALEIGH (he being the husband of Joan DRAKE, sister of John and Edmund, and aunt of Sir Francis). John HIGLEY obtained land at Windsor, CT from his father in law, and operated a business importing rum and other commodities from Barbados. He purchased additional land in Windsor, and in 1684 moved to Simsbury, CT where he became active in public life, excepting that of the church. He married second about 1696 Simsbury, CT.
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    SECOND MARRIAGE CHILDREN
    Then with his second wife, Sarah Strong Bissell, he had the following children:
    
    11. Sarah b. 1697 m. Jonathan Loomis
    12. Nathaniel b. 12 Nov 1699 d. Sept 1773 m. Abigail Filer (Fyler)
    13. Joshua (twin) b. 8 Sept 1701 d. 2 Apr 1702
    14. Josiah (twin) b. 8 Sept 1701 d. 31 May 1751 m. Dinah Gillett
    15. Abigail b. 4 Nov 1703 d. July 1742 m. Peter Thorpe
    16. Susannah b. 1705 m. Elisha Blackman
    17. Isaac b. 20 July 1707 m. 1st Sarah Porter; 2nd Sarah Loomis
    
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    Children of John and Sarah Higley
    Sarah - b. 1697, Simsbury, CT; d. about 1739. Married Dec. 24, 1723 Jonathan LOOMIS, Jr. (b. Feb. 1, 1694), grandson of Nathaniel LOOMIS of Windsor, CT. Daughter Margaret became grandmother of merchant, banker, philanthropist and library founder Walter NEWBERRY (1805-1868). Children: Sarah died young; Jonathan died young; George married; Keziah married Joseph LOOMIS; Margaret married John WARNER; Wait died young; and Jonathan died young.
    Nathaniel - b. Nov. 12, 1699, Simsbury, CT; d. Sep. 1773, Simsbury, CT.
    Joshua - b. Sep. 8, 1701, Simsbury, CT; d. Apr. 2, 1702, Simsbury, CT.
    Josiah - b. Sep. 8, 1701, Simsbury, CT; d. May 31, 1751, Simsbury, CT; bur. Turkey Hills, CT. Sgt. in CT militia. Married Dec. 31, 1724, Simsbury, CT Dinah GILLETT, daughter of Nathan GILLETT and Rebecca OWEN. Children: Josiah married; Rebecca; Susannah; Dinah; Nathan married Anna BARRETT; and Elijah married Anna HALLIDAY.
    Abigail - b. Nov. 4, 1703, Simsbury, CT; d. Jul. 1742, Goshen, CT. Lived at Lebanon, CT in parish known as Goshen. Joined Goshen Congregational Church in 1730. Married by 1724 Peter THORPE (d. Sep. 1, 1734). Children: James; Ruth; Sarah; Peter; Aaron; Abigail married Joseph GAY; and Hannah married John FOSTER.
    Susannah - b. 1705, Simsbury, CT; d. after 1748. Married Jan. 2, 1724 Elisha BLACKMAN. Settled at Lebanon, CT. Children: Joseph married; Elisha married Lucy SMITH; Jonathan married Sarah COMSTOCK; and Susannah.
    Isaac - b. Jul. 20, 1707, Simsbury, CT; d. about 1758, Torrington, CT. Moved to Torrington, CT in 1739, serving in public office and as a founder of the church there. Married first Feb. 13, 1735 Sarah PORTER (d. Jul. 19, 1753, Torrington, CT), daughter of Daniel PORTER and Mindwell ALEXANDER; and second Feb. 24, 1757 Sarah LOOMIS (living in 1800). Children of first marriage: Sarah did not marry; and Susannah.