4th Generation

Walter Higby  ( 1865 - 1948 ) 

12.          WALTER HIGBY was born in 1865 in Canewdon, Essex.

From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Birth entry from the Indexes:

Name:      Walter Higby
Year:        1865
Quarter:   Apr-May-Jun  (2nd Quarter)
District:    Rochford
County:    Essex
Volume:   4a      Page:  198

Father:       William Charles Higby     (No. 5)

Mother:      Sarah Ann Summers

In 1871, Walter Higby, age 5, a scholar, was living with his parents in Canewdon, Essex.

From the 1871 Census of Canewdon, Essex, we find the following:

The Street

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

William Higby     Head  Mar  32 M  Gardener & Serv         Essex   Eastwood
Sarah Ann  do    Wife   Mar  28 F                                    Essex   Canewdon
William [ T ] do   Son             8 M    Scholar                    Essex   Canewdon
Walter        do    Son             5 M    Scholar                    Essex  Canewdon
George E.  do     Son            3 M    Scholar                    Essex  Canewdon
Alfred C     do    Son             2 M                                   Essex  Canewdon

In 1881, Walter Higby, age 15, a laborer, was living with his parents in Canewdon, Essex.

From the 1881 Census of Canewdon, Essex, we find the following:

Cottage

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

William C Higby    Head  Mar  41 M   Servant                     Eastwood     Essex
Sarah A  Higby     Wife   Mar  38 F                                     Canewdon       Do
Walter Higby        Son           15 M   Laborer                          Do              Do
George E Higby    Son           14 M    Laborer                          Do              Do
Alfred C Higby      Son           12 M   Scholar                          Do              Do

In the 1880’s, Walter Higby joined the military and was in the Royal Artillery Unit.

In 1888, we find that Walter Higby was stationed in the island of Malta.  Walter was a Corporal while on the Island.

Walter Higby married LUCY SCERRI  in January 16 and 21, 1888 in Malta.  It is possible that Lucy was a native to the island of Malta.  Scerri is not an English name in origin.

They were first married by a Methodist clergy and then by an Army Chaplain.  She was Lucy Tyler a widow, and this was her second marriage.

From Marriages recorded by Army Chaplains in Malta 1824-1900 on the Malta Family History Website:

“Higby, Walter, 22 Years, bachelor, Corporal, Royal Artillery, from Canewdon, Essex, Married 21st January 1888 to Tyler, Lucy, 22 years, widow”

From another entry about the marriage on the Malta Family History Website:

“Walter Higby, 21+, to Lucy Tyler, 21+, widow, nee SCERRI, 16th January 1888, celebrated by Methodist Clergy”.

Lucy Scerri was born in 1866.

Lucy Scerri ca. late 1880's, 1st. wife of Walter Higby

Photograph from Paul Cooper of England

From a transcription of The Malta Directory - 1888 on a website, we find the following:

Mrs Lucy and Corporal Walter Higby, Royal Artillery

Soon after 1889, Walter and Lucy Higby were transferred to Barrackpore in India.

After the births of their daughters in Barrackpore, India they were later stationed in Calcutta, India by 1891.

Lucy Higby died at the age of 25 in 1891 in Calcutta, India.

From the GRO Army Death Indices, we find:

On page 16 Army Returns. - Deaths. - 1891 to 1895

Surname. - Name and Age. - Station. - Year. - Page.

Higby ……Lucy.  25 …….Calcutta ……….1891 ……279

Between 1891 and 1895, Walter Higby and his daughter Lilian came back to England.

Walter Higby married second to SUSAN ANN UPHAM in 1895.

From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Marriage entry from the Indexes:

Name:      Walter Higby / Susan Ann Upham
Year:        1895
Quarter:   Jul-Aug-Sep  (3rd Quarter)
District:    Rochford
County:    Essex
Volume:   4a      Page:  731

They were in Portsmouth, Hants. in 1898 where their son Walter was born.

In 1901, Walter and Susan Higby we living in Guston, Kent.   Walter Higby is now a Sergeant Major.

From the 1901 Census of Guston, Kent, we find the following:

Broadlees [  ] No. 3 B

4 - Number of Rooms occupied if less than five

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

Walter Higby           Head  M 35 M  Coy Sergt Major R. G. A.             S.X.        Canewdon
Susan A  do            Wife   M 33 F                                                    Sussex  Blatchendon
Lilian M   do           daur.  S 10 F      school                                     India      Barrackpore
Walter H. V. S. do  son    S  3 M        do                                         Hants.   Portsmouth

Note:  “Coy” could be Company abbreviated.

Walter Higby eventually became a Captain.

Walter Higby died on May 31, 1948 and is buried in the churchyard of Canewdon, Essex.

From the information on the stone on the Higby burial plot in the churchyard says:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF CAPT. W HIGBY DIED 31ST MAY 1948

Susan Higby died at age 85 on July 26, 1951 and is buried in the churchyard of Canewdon, Essex.

From the information on the stone on the Higby burial plot in the churchyard says:

ALSO SUSAN HIGBY DIED 26TH JULY 1951 AGED 85

The above pictures were taken by Paul Cooper in 2009 on his first return to Canewdon since the funeral of Lillian Garner in November of 1982.

These are of the Higby Family Plot.  As you go through the main gates of the church in Canewdon, its to the left between the church main entance and the bell tower.  The Higby plot is the rectangular plot with a headstone that is to the right of the bench in the top picture.  The information on Walter Higby is on one of the long sides of the stone rectangular borders.  And the information for Susan Higby is on the other long side, can be partly seen on the second picture.

The information on Walter and Susan on the stones are written above the top picture.

CHILDREN OF WALTER AND LUCY (SCERRI) HIGBY

28.          WALTER WILLIAM S. HIGBY  was born  1889 in the island of Malta.

From the Army Chaplains Register of Births / Baptisms for 1800 - 1900 on the Malta Family History Website:

“Higby, Walter W.  1889   Royal Artillery”

Also from the GRO Army Birth Indices, we find:

On page 15 Army Returns. - Births. - 1886 to 1890

Surname. - Name. - Station. - Year. - Page.

Higby ……Walter William S …….Malta ……….1889 ……63

Walter William S. Higby died the same year of his birth, 1889, in the island of Malta.

From Deaths recorded by Army Chaplains in Malta 1800-1900 on the Malta Family History Website:

Higby, Walter William S., 0 years 1889

29.          DAISY ETHEL A. HIGBY   was born ca. 1890 in Barrackpore, India.

From the GRO Army Birth Indices, we find:

On page 15 Army Returns. - Births. - 1886 to 1890

Surname. - Name. - Station. - Year. - Page.

Higby ……Dasie Ethel A …….Barrackpore ……….1890 ……292

Daisy Ethel A. Higby died at the age of 1 in 1891 in Calcutta, India.

From the GRO Army Death Indices, we find:

On page 16 Army Returns. - Deaths. - 1891 to 1895

Surname. - Name and Age. - Station. - Year. - Page.

Higby ……Daisy Ethel A.  1 …….Calcutta ……….1891 ……279

30.  +       LILIAN MAY HIGBY  was born December 18, 1890 in Barrackpore, India.

Lilian married Joseph Henry Garner.

CHILDREN OF WALTER AND SUSAN ANN (UPHAM) HIGBY:

31.          WALTER HAROLD V. S. HIGBY  was born in 1897 in Portsmouth, Hants.

From the England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, we find the following Birth entry from the Indexes:

Name:      Walter Harold V. S. Higby
Year:        1897
Quarter:   Oct-Nov-Dec  (4th Quarter)
District:    Portsea Island
County:    Hampshire
Volume:   2b      Page:  478

In 1901, Walter H. V. S. Higby, age 3, in school, was living with his parents in Guston, Kent.  (see above under the parents for census details).

Sources:

1.    Civil Registration Index, Birth of Walter Higby, 2nd Quarter (Apr-May-Jun), Year 1865, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 198.  Searched October 3, 2009 Saturday 8:05 PM.

2.     1871 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, District 6, Image No. 23, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: R.G. 10 16[6]9, Original Page No. 23, Stamped Page No. 87, No. of Schedule 113, Household of William Higby.   December 17, 2008 Wednesday 2:34 PM.

3.     1881 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, District 6, Image No. 2, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: RG 11 / 1771, Original Page No. 2, No. of Schedule 4, Household of William C. Higby.   December 17, 2008 Wednesday 2:51 PM.

4.     Malta Family History Website http://website.lineone.net/~stephaniebidmead/other%20sites.htm.  Army Chaplains Register of Births/Baptisms 1800-1900:  1889 Walter W. Higby.  Marriages recorded by Military Chaplains in Malta 1824-1900: 1888 Walter Higby and widow Lucy Tyler.  Another Marriage entry, Methodist clergy:  1888 Walter Higby and widow Lucy Tyler nee Scerri.  Deaths recorded by Army Chaplains in Malta 1800-1900:  1889 Walter William S. Higby .  Searched and extracted December 16, 2008  Tuesday 8:52 PM.

5.     The Malta Directory - 1888, Lucy and Walter Higby listed.  Online  http://website.lineone.net/~remosliema/malta-1888.htm.  June 4, 2009 Thursday 8:00 PM.

6.     Births, GRO Army Birth Indices (1881 to 1965) 1886-1890, http://www.findmy past.com.   Page 15 1889 Walter William S. Higby, 1890 Dasie Ethel A. Higby, and 1890 Lillian May Higby.  December 25, 2008 Thursday 7:12 PM.

7.     Deaths, GRO Army Death Indices (1881 to 1955) 1891-1895, http://www.findmy past.com.   Page 16 1891 Daisy Ethel A. Higby and 1891 Lucy Higby.  December 25, 2008 Thursday 6:45 PM.

8.     The Malta Directory - 1888, transcribed and on the website http://website.lineone.net/~remosliema/malta_1888.htm.  Mrs Lucy and Corporal Walter Higby listed.  June 4, 2009 Thursday 8:00 PM.

9.    Civil Registration Index, Marriage of Walter Higby and Susan Ann Upham, 3rd Quarter (Jul-Aug-Sep), Year 1895, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 731.  Searched June 3, 2009 Wednesday 8:33 PM.

10.    Civil Registration Index, Birth of Walter Harold V. S. Higby, 4th Quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec), Year 1897, District Portsea Island, County Hampshire, Volume 2b, Page 478.  Searched November 16, 2009 Monday 8:19 PM.

11.     1901 Census of England, Kent, Guston, District 17, Image No. 3, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference: RG 13 / 840, Original Page No. 3, Stamped Page No. 74, No. of Schedule 12, Household of Walter Higby.   December 16, 2008 Tuesday 2:56 PM.

12.     Photograph of Lucy Scerri.  From Paul Cooper’s collection of family photographs.  Digital Photograph attached to email dated Friday, December 4, 2009 9:50 AM.

13.     Photographs of the Higby Family Plot in the churchyard of Canewdon, Essex.  Death dates of Walter Higby 1948 and Susan Higby 1951 came from these stones.  Digital Photographs attached to emails, both dated Sunday, December 6, 2009, 1:18 PM and 4:02 PM.

Last updated December 8, 2009 Tuesday 9:21 PM

Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth

With contributions from:

1.    Paul Cooper of England - Thank you for the pictures of Lucy Scerri and the Higby Burial plot from churchyard of Canewdon.   December 6, 2009.

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