(Anything in this particular type of [ ] is my opinion.)
On January 8, 1894, Elizabeth Theresa Higgins and James Alfred Taylor are married by Father Mickle in Northampton County, Virginia.
The county records read:
Lillie Higgins is 17 years old, single, and was born in Delaware.
There is no mention of parents. She has consent of her guardian; no name is given.
James A. Taylor is a 36 year old widower.
He was born in Delaware, and his parents are Charles and Huldah A. Taylor.
Elizabeth Higgins's early life is sketchy. Her family knows only a few details as follows:
She was born in Wilmington, Delaware.
She had a brother named Ned [a nickname for Edward].
She was raised by an aunt until the age of 4.
She was placed in St. Peter's Orphanage in Wilmington, Delaware.
About the age of 10, she lived with a family, possibly named Myers, in Cape Charles, Virginia.
There is an Elizabeth Ann Myers called Lillie Higgins in the records of St. Peter's Orphanage:
From old orphanage records:
Born in Wilmington--came to orphanage on 2/26/84 at the age of nine years.
Mother--Catherine Myers, placed in orphanage by cousin--just called "Higgins"
Baptised St Peter's Cathedral ---4/1/75
From the baptismal register---
Elizabeth Ann Myers -- Born 3/7/75
Baptised 4/1/75 -- Mother, Catherine Myers, Philadelphia ---- no father listed
Godparent: Charlotte M. Higgins
Rev. M.A. McGraw
From the confirmation register:
5/20/88 Elizabeth--(Theresa) by Rt. Rev. Curtis, DD
I have chosen as a possible relation, Charles Higgins, as best fitting this information because:
The 1880 census shown below lists both Edward and Elizabeth Higgins.
His wife's maiden name was Charlotte Myers.
Charlotte Higgins died of consumption (tuberculosis) on November 2_, 1883 in Wilmington, Delaware when the Elizabeth Higgins in the census would have been nearly 4 years old.
1910 Federal Census
709 Washington Street, 52nd? District, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, S.D. Delaware, E.D. 91, p. 175, 709-203-203, April 22, 1910
57? year old widowed white male born in Delaware and is head of family
His father and mother were born in Delaware.
He is a wage earner, a salesman in hardware.
He rents his home.
He can read and write, and he speaks English.
Shallotte Higgins
38 year old single white female born in Delaware and is Walter's nurse
Her father and mother were born in Delaware.
She is a wage earner who works as a house keeper.
She can read and write, and she speaks English
Charles J. Higgins dies April 25, 1906 at the Southern Branch, National Home for D.V.S., Hampton, Virginia.
1900 Federal Census
510 Travel, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, S.D. 27,
E.D. 12, 510-38-45, June 4, 1900
709 Washington Street, 5th Ward, Wilmington, Wilmington Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, 709-63-69, June 2, 1900
45 year old married white male born October 1854 in Delaware
His father and mother were born in Delaware.
He has been married 21 years and is head of family.
He is a salesman in hardware and has been unemployed 0 months.
He rents his home.
He can read and write, and he speaks English.
Cordelia Simmons
47 year old married white female born August 1852 in Pennsylvania and is Walter's wife
Her father and mother were born in Pennsylvania.
She has been married 21 years and has had 1 child who is still living.
She can read and write, and she speaks English
Robert W. Simmons
20 year old single white male born November 1879 and is Walter's son
His father was born in Delaware; his mother was born in Pennsylvania.
He is a steel tool maker who has been unemployed 0 months.
He can read and write, and he speaks English.
Charlotte Higgins
30 year old single white female born in Delaware and is Walter's niece [Cordelia's sister and Charlotte's daughter]
Her father was born in Delaware; her mother was born in Pennsylvania.
She can read and write, and she speaks English
Wilmington City Directory 1889, p. 430
David R. Myers, shoemaker, h 12 Maryland av
David S. Myers, shoemaker G. K. & F., bds 12 Maryland av
1880 Federal Census
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, S.D. 16, E.D. 71, page 3, _-29-30, June 1, 1880
35 year old married white male born in Delaware
His father and mother were born in Ireland.
He is a painter.
Relationship to the head of family is blank.
Charlotte M Higgins
33 year old married white female born in Pennsylvania.
Her father and mother were born in Pennsylvania.
She is Charles's wife and keeps house.
Charles R. Higgins
14 year old single white male born in Delaware and is Charles's son
His father was born in Delaware; his mother was born in Pennsylvania.
His occupation is At School; he attended school within the year.
Charlotte T Higgins
12 year old single white female born in Delaware and is Charles's daughter
Her father was born in Delaware; her mother was born in Pennsylvania.
Her occupation is At School; she attended school within the year.
John W Higgins
7 year old single white male born in Delaware and is Charles's son
His father was born in Delaware; his mother was born in Pennsylvania.
His occupation is At School; he attended school within the year.
Edward T Higgins
5 year old single white male born in Delaware and is Charles's son
His father was born in Delaware; his mother was born in Pennsylvania.
Occupation is blank.
Joseph Higgins
2 year old single white male born in Delaware and is Charles's son
His father was born in Delaware; his mother was born in Pennsylvania.
Occupation is blank.
Elizabeth A Higgins
6 month old single white female born in December in Delaware and is listed as Charles's daughter
Her father was born in Delaware; her mother was born in Pennsylvania.
Ring Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, S.D. 16, E.D. 14, ?-280-366, June 9, 1880
28? year old white married male born in Delaware and is a boarder
His father and mother were born in Delaware.
He is a clerk in a hardware store.
Delia Simmons
20 year old white married female born in Pennsylvania and is Walter's wife
Her father and mother were born in Pennsylvania.
Robert Simmons
7? month old white male born in Delaware in September? and is Walter's son
His father was born in Delaware; his mother was born in Pennsylvania.
1870 Federal Census
Wilmington, Section Division 25, New Castle County, Delaware, 1579-1612, June 22, 1870
26 year old white male born in Pennsylvania
He works in shoe factory and has $200 in personal estate.
He is a male citizen of the U.S. of 21 years and upwards.
Sarah Myers
23 year old white female born in Delaware
She keeps house.
David S Myers
2 year old white male born in Delaware
He is At Home.
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, page 220, 383-1616, Post Office Wilmington, Delaware, June 22, 1870
26 year old white male born in Delaware
He is a painter who has no real estate and $200 in personal estate.
Charlotte M Higgins
23 year old white female born in Pennsylvania
She keeps house.
Charles R. Higgins
4 year old white male born in Delaware
Occupation - At Home
Charlotte T Higgins
2 year old single white female born in Delaware
Occupation - At Home
Carnella [Cordelia] Myers
17 year old white female born in Pennsylvania.
Occupation - At Home
Charles J. Higgins enlists March 13, 1865 in Wilmington, Delaware and serves in the Eighth Regiment of the Delaware Infantry.
He receives an honorable discharge July 12, 1865 at Mummins? Hill, Virginia.
Charles Higgins and Charlotte Myers marry October 9, 1864 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1860 Federal Census
Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, p. 97, 719-713, June 29, 1860
38 year old male born in Massachusetts?
He is a shoe maker who has $3,000 in real estate and $200 in personal estate.
David Myers
17 year old male born in Pennsylvania
He is an App[rentice] to shoe maker
Charlotte Myers
13 year old female born in Pennsylvania
She attended school within the year.
Cordelia Myers
7 year old female born in Pennsylvania
She attended school within the year.
Catherine Myers
5 year old female born in Pennsylvania
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, page 7, 344-360, June 7, 1860
Luke Higgins
Male born in Delaware
He is a painter with no real estate and $500 in personal estate.
Catherine Higgins
25 year old female born in Delaware
Elizabeth Higgins
6 year old female born in Delaware
Mary E. Higgins
10/12 year old female born in Delaware
Louiza Higgins
54 year old female born in Ireland
Occupation - No
She has $2,500 in real estate and $200 in personal estate.
In the same dwelling but given as a different family (361):
Willim (sic) Thomas
35 year old male born in Wales
He is a blacksmith with no real estate and $100 in personal estate.
May ant (sic) Thomas
44 year old female born in Wales
Sarah Ann (sic)
13 year old female born in Wales
James Higgins
20 year old male born in Delaware
He is a painter with no real estate or personal estate.
Charles Higgins
15 year old male born in Delaware
He is a Ap Mch [apprentice mechanic] with no real estate or personal estate.
Catharine Higgins
10 year old female born in Delaware
John McCormack
35 year old male born in Ireland
He is a laborer with no real estate or personal estate.
George Clark
21 year old male born in Ireland
He is a laborer with no real estate or personal estate.
Race is not marked.
1850 Federal Census
South Ward Kensington, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, p. 430, 382-463, August 1, 1850
27 year old male born in Pennsylvania?
He is a cordwiner who can not read or write.
Henryetta Myers
20 year old female born in Maryland
She can not read or write.
David Myers
6 year old male born in Pennsylvania
He attended school within the year.
Charlote Myers
2 year old female born in Pennsylvania
Pheobey A. Myers
9 month old female born in Pennsylvania
Joseph Walls
24 year old male born in Ireland
He is a cordwine (sic).
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, page 6, 75-81, July 9, 1850
45 year old male born in Ireland
He is a Lab [laborer] with $1,300 of real estate.
Catherine M Higgins
42 year old female born in Ireland
James Higgins
10 year old male born in Delaware
Mary Higgins
13 year old female born in Delaware
Charles Higgins
5 year old male born in Delaware
Catherine E Higgins
9 month old female born in Delaware
Race was not marked.
1840 Federal Census
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware (Number of males by ages)
1 male under 5 [James], 1 male 5 - 10, 1 male 30 - 40 [James]
Females (Number of females by ages)
1 female under 5 [Mary], 1 female 30 - 40 [Catherine]
Other Sources:
Certified transcription of marriage certificate for Charlotte Myers and Charles Higgins No. 128 / 13483, City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Physicians' Certificate of a Death for Charlotte Higgins, 1883 Death Record Vol. F Page#9, Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Department of State, Hall of Records, Dover, Delaware
Military and pension records of Charles Higgins
