PHILIP HIGGIN to PHILIP HIGGIN jnr

Settlement - 1736 (Douglas)

To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come to be seen, heard or understood

Know ye that I Philip Higgin of Douglas within the Isle of Man, mariner, out of the love, favour and good will which I have and do bear unto my son Philip Higgin, and I Edward Fletcher and Jane my wife of the parish of KK Braddan within the said Isle out of the love, favour and good will which we have and do bear unto the said Philip Higgin Junior, our brother, are contented, satisfied and agreed among ourselves that the said Philip Higgins jnr is to have, hold and enjoy forever by lawful conveyance assurance or deed of gift, all the right, interest and title that we now have or hereafter may have in and unto a certain dwelling house, cellar, brew house and back side situate, lying and being in the town of Douglas aforesaid, the said dwelling house next and adjoining to the rent of Patrick Corlett on the north, to Mr John Murray's rent on the west, and to the rent of John Christian on the south the whole being of the yearly Lord's rent of fifteen pence, as also all our right, interest and title that we have in and unto a certain parcel of sandy ground which was purchased from Thomas Kelly, situate at the west side of Douglas adjoining to the south of Mary Cain on the east, to the said Thomas Kelly's rent on the north and to the land formerly mortgaged from the Nunnery on the south, being of one half penny Lord's rent, and also all our right, interest and title to all the household goods belonging unto us in the forementioned dwelling house etc In order thereunto and to end and determine all disputes and differences that might otherwise ensue, do declare ourselves in manner following, that is to say, I the said Philip Higgin, mariner, and we the said Edward Fletcher and Jane my wife do give, grant, assign, settle and by these presents do give, grant assign, settle and gift freely for ever unto the said Philip Higgin jnr and assigns, the said dwelling house, cellar, brew house, back side, parcel of ground and household belonging unto us to be prossessed and enjoyed by him the said Philip Higgin jnr forever, without any claim, challenge or demand to be made by any person or persons pretending title by for or under us, provided nevertheless and it is hereby provided that I the said Phiip Higgin, mariner, am to have my lodging in the said house during my natural life and that the said Philip HIggin jnr my son shall pay all domestic debts that I owe at this present

And for the punctual performance of all and singular the covenants and agreements before mentioned, I the said Philip Higgin, mariner, and we the said Edward Fletcher and Jane my wife do hereby bind ond oblige ourselves, executors, administrators and assigns in penalty and forfeiture of one hundred and twenty pounds sterling, to be levied according to the Laws of this island

Witness our hands and seals this 13th day of October 1736. Philip Higgin, Edward Fletcher, Jane Fletcher

Signed and delivered in presence of us Thomas Callister, John Kissag

[Ref N/SSS May 1743 #43]

NOTES

  1. Philip jnr, the surviving son of Philip Higgin and Jane Mylrea, is being annointed as sole heir in this contract. It took place about a month after Jane, his mother, died
  2. Philip and Jane were 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. Jane and Phil had children Margaret (1704), William (1706), Jane (1708), Philip (1711), Emma (1719) of whom two survived to adulthood
  5. Jane Higgin als Mcylroy was buried 17th September 1736, Braddan
  6. The Edward Fletcher mentioned in Jane's will probate was the husband of her daughter Jane (married 1733)
  7. Philip snr was a mariner; Philip jnr was a hairdresser and wigmaker
  8. In 1730 Douglas Household Survey: Philip & Jane Higgins, 1 child & 1 servant; Robert Joyner (widowed) alone; Robert's sister Alice Graham (widowed) 1 child
  9. Two burials of a Philip Higgin are recorded in the Braddan parish register, 1741 & 1769, Jane's husband and son
  10. Jane inheriteda 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 presumed to be her father
  11. This gift of two cottages in 1736 to Phil jnr, with total rent respectively 2s 7½d, and 20½d, was for cottage allotments #48 (Higgin share = 12d rent) & #52 (Higgin share = 3d rent)
  12. Phil jnr was lucky enough to be also left cottages by Mariot Smith and Margaret Kelly in the 1750s
  13. 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
  14. 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"
  15. Two years previously, Phil had purchased cottage allotments #48 & #52, so the family was on the move
  16. NOTE: Be aware that cottage allotment numbers changed over time as Douglas expanded. Rent and neighbours are 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 has changed

Associated Documents

From Summary of Wills, A Manx Notebook

1785 A 5 FLETCHER Edward dated 11 nov 1784; Ballafletcher; gtgdau Carolina Lee; names Capt John Lee,John Edward Lee,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: Mar 2025