PHILLIP HIGGIN from JOHN MURRAY

Purchase - 1713 (Douglas)

Know all men by these presents that I John Murray of Douglas, merchant, with the consent of Susanna Murray als Sedden, wife, for and in consideration of the sum of twelve pounds ten shillings current money of this island to us paid and secured to be paid before the signing and delivery hereof

Have given, granted, bargained and sold and do by these presents give, grant, bargain and absolutely sell unto Phillip Higgin of Douglas a certain dwelling house, small backside, and shade called William Corlett's house situate, lying and being at the back of .... house in the town of Douglas aforesaid of the annual rent of twelve pence

To have and to hold the said dwelling house, backside and shades with all and every of their appertenances unto him, the said Phillip Higgin, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever, he the said Phillip Higgin, his executors and assigns yielding and paying unto the right honourable the Lord of this Isle and his heirs the annual rent of twelve pence aforesaid with all other dues, duties and services due and payable out of the premises provided always and it is hereby covenanted and agreed upon, by and between the said parties, that the said Phillip Higgin, his heirs, executors, administrators and assignsn or any of them shall at any time thereafter build the said shade or any other building ... back of his the said John Murray's dwelling house so high as may any way ... his the said John Murray's windows or lights nor let in any watercourse or other thing to prejudice or annoy his backside, garden or any other his ... buildings otherwise than what shall be consented and agreed upon by the said John Murray, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns

And I the said John Murray and Susanna my wife do hereby covenant and agree with the said Phillip Higgin to secure and awarrant the same in the peaceable possession of the premises and to procure the Court's confirmation of this Bill of Sale and to do and .. all things necessary to be done for his security by the laws and customs of this Isle for performance whereof and every clause herein mentioned both pairs do bind themselves, each to the other in the penalty of thirty pounds in all such forfeitures within this Isle

In witness whereof .... .... hereunto put their hands and seals this 10th day of October

John Murray, Susanna Murray, Phillip Higgin

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of

the consideration money being 12 pounds 10 shillings

William Sedden, Samuel Gorrell his mark X

10th .... 1713 Mr John Murray, Susanna his wife and Phillip Higgin acknowledged all the above Bill of Sale to be their voluntary act and deed. Before me Dan Mcylrea

At a Chancery Court held at Castle Rushen the 3rd December 1713 The within Bill of Sale being acknowledged before the Deemster and now published in open court and no objection made against it the same is allowed of and confirmed according to law by us J. Rowe, William Seddon, Dan Mcylrea

[Ref: OD ONC 2/36]

NOTES

  1. This contract is for cottage allotment #52, described as "dwelling house, backside and small garden and an outhouse formerly William Corlett's and a sand garden at the lower end of the town" with a total rent of 20½d, of which Phillip had the major share of 12d rent, while John Murray and William Murray were tenants for the remainder of the rent
  2. Phil Higgin was the husband of Jane Mc ylroy. They married in 1703 in Douglas, so Jane would have been born 1675-80
  3. Jane was the daughter of Hen McYlroy & Amy McYlroy als Joyner als Watson. She was under age when her mother died in 1689; her father died later in the same year
  4. She had two Joyner step-siblings: Robert & Alice
  5. Jane inherited a cottage allotment in Douglas from her father (#110, 4d rent) - in LA 1700, allotment #91 with a 4d rent was jointly tenanted by Hen & John Mcylvorrey, presumably the same (renumbered) cottage allotment, Hen being her father
  6. Higgin was a mariner who also inherited a small cottage allotment & garden in Douglas (Gellings Court (#111, rent 3d) from his father Thomas who died in 1700
  7. Jane and Phil had children Margaret (1704), William (1706), Jane (1708), Philip (1711) of whom two survived to adulthood
  8. In 1730 Douglas Household Survey: Philip & Jane Higgins, 1 child & 1 servant; Robert Joyner (widowed) alone; Alice Graham (widowed) 1 child
  9. Jane Higgin als Mcylroy was buried 17th September 1736, Braddan
  10. The Edward Fletcher mentioned in Jane's will probate was the husband of daughter Jane (married 1733)
  11. Two burials of a Philip Higgin are recorded in the Braddan parish register, 1741 & 1769, Jane's husband and son
  12. Philip snr was a mariner and Philip jnr was a hairdresser and wigmaker
  13. Phil Higgin snr did not leave a will but the LV 1743 records the fact that he made a gift of two cottages in 1736 to his son, Phil jnr, soon after Jane died. Their total rent was respectively 2s 7½d, and 20½d, for cottage allotments #48 (Higgin share = 12d rent) & #52 (Higgin share = 3d rent) (TBF might be NSS May 1743 #43)
  14. Phi jnr was also lucky enough to be also left cottages by Mariot Smith and Margaret Kelly in the 1750s
  15. Philip jnr married Elizabeth Peel 1741 (d1750), Mary Halt 1751 (d1761) then widow Sarah Merydew als Scott 1761 (d1795) - brother in law Edward Fletcher was witness to this third wedding
  16. Philip jnr had four children Mary 26th January 1742/3, Philip 4th March 1743/4, Jane 25th February 1746/7, Jane 25th June 1752 of whom only Jane survived her father so in less than a century, Jané's little family was ""daughtered-out"
  17. NOTE: Be aware that cottage allotment numbers changed over time as Douglas expanded. Rent and neighbours become key elements in confirming whether the tenants (ie Phil Higgin) have changed properties or whether they have remained stable while the allotment number from one LA to the next changed

Associated Documents

From Summary of Wills, A Manx Notebook

1700-2 E 466 w HUGGIN Thomas d 15 Jul 1700;Douglas; ch Philip (a toultan + garden called Chuves? toultan[tholtan] + garden at upper end of town), Wm (his dwelling house, outhouses + garden), Thomas (sworn exor as others in England); Witt Margrett Hutchin als Gharrett, Catherin Smith als Huggin - father

1717-1 E d HIGGIN John d onboard hm shi the chester abt 1699; sibs Wm, Thomas (in Ireland) + philip - brother?

1785 A 5 FLETCHER Edward dated 11 nov 1784; Ballafletcher; gtgdau Carolina Lee; names Capt John Lee,John EdwardLlee,Wm + Edwd Callister; sister Mary Callister; names Sarah Quirk als Callister,Wm+Robt Kelly,Edwrd Callister;dr Patk Scott claims - son in law

1785 A 6 ds FLETCHER Jane dated 14 mar 1785; widow capt Ed Fletcher; gtgch John Edward + Caroline Lane Lee - daughter

 

Last updated: Dec 2020