View in Family Tree - See where he lived
William was my paternal grandfather. He first married Fanny Leach in 1889 and had three children, Elizabeth Fanny, Frides Adelaide Annie(known as Nan) and Big Harry. Fanny died 13 years later in 1902.
In 1903 Willie then married Emma Rosson. The Wedding certificate shows his occupation as a scaffolder and Emma is shown as a Domestic servant. They had six children; Lizzie, Richard, Frederick, Rosina, William, and finally Harry (my father). With two Harry's the first was called Big Harry. Emma died in 1931.
ARETHUSA Just after his father Edward Higgs died, Willie spent time on Training Ship ARETHUSA - see below
In the Census details from 1911 w e see Willie at 45 years old with his second wife Emma. The far right column shows she was blind later in life. Harry (my father) does not appear because he was born four years after this Census in 1915. There is a young Frederick Higgs, aged 3 and half years. I do not remember anyone mentioning an Uncle Fred, so what happened to him I wonder?
Willie died 10th March 1936 aged 71. His death certificate shows his daughter, Elizabeth, was present at the time.
John Hood's comments on rootschat.com and his first letter to me with good Higgs information
John Hood has also produced this one-page list of the Higgs children from each marriage
...I have found out willy higgs first wife fanny leach live betterton street st.giles and the Rosson fmily lived at 9 betterton street which was probably how Emma the 2nd wife knew the family ...when we went to London to see a show a few years ago we found the street and took some photos of no 9 it was actually opposite the old work house where some of Emmas sisters ended up and it is just off drury lane ... they were 3 floors high but really narrow ... just another bit of useless info for you but you can see now how the familys knew each other ... - Sandra
This may be Willie, Beatrice and Edward as children in the Workhouse. Willie is shown as two years old so likely this is 1867