JONATHAN HIGLEY

JONATHAN's father is <Unknown> and his mother is <Unknown>. He is an only child.

General Notes
- 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.

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