Author: Jeffrey Mark LaRochelle
Ancestor Name:Philip HigginsBorn: On 28Jan1729 at Eastham, MADied: On 27May1796 at West Bath, MEFather:Thomas Higgins born about 1704 and died about 1789Mother:Abigail Paine born about 1717 and died after 1743Marriage:Mary Wiley on 27Jul1748 at Eastman, MAChildren: 1. Benjamin
2. Rueben
3. Ruth
4. Abigail
5. Simeon
6. Philip
7. Mary
8. Sarah
9. ThankfulOccupation: FarmerKnown For: Committee of Safety, Inspection, and Correspondence for Bath, Lincoln, MAAncestral Significance: Patriot Ancestor certified by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
Family Background
Philip Higgins was born at Eastham, MA, on 28Jan1729. He was the son of Thomas Higgins (born 1704 and died about 1789) and Abigail Paine (born 1717 and died after 1743). He was a sixth generation descendant of Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster. Thomas Prence was one of the earliest governors of Plymouth Colony. Patience Brewster was the daughter of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower. Philip married Mary Wiley at Eastham, MA, on 27Jul1748. Mary Wiley was born at Eastham, MA, about 1729 and was the daughter of Moses Wiley (died after 1742) and Thankful Young (born on 1700 and died after 1742). Philip died at West Bath, ME, on 27May1796. Mary died at Bath, ME, also in 1796.

Philip Higgins moved from Eastham, MA, to Georgetown, ME, where he was a merchant. He appraised an estate there on 30May1760. Later changes in town lines made him a resident of West Bath where he died.

Children
Philip and Mary had the following children:
1. Benjamin Higgins, born about 1749 at Eastham, MA; married Sarah Mathews on 27Sep1770; died 09Oct1823 at Camden, ME.
2. Rueben Higgins, born on 20Nov1750, at Eastham, MA, and died 03Sep1829 at Bath, ME. Rueben married (1) Mercy Hopkins on 17May1776 at Harpswell, ME. Mercy was born on 06Aug1756 at Truro, MA, and died on 04Aug1818 at Bath, ME. Mercy was the daughter of Simeon Hopkins and Betty Cobb of Truro, MA, and Harpswell, ME. Rueben and Mercy had eleven (11) children. Rueben married (2) Susannah Philbrook on 18Nov1821. Susannah was born 11Sep1759 and died on 03Dec1847. She was the daughter of Joshua Philbrook of Bath, ME. Reuben was a farmer and a deacon of the church. Reuben lived and died in the house built by father-in-law Joshua Philbrook that may still standing in the city of Bath.
i. Simeon Higgins, born 20Mar1777 at Bath, ME, married Margaret Hogan.
ii. Mary Higgins, born 10Nov1778 at Bath, ME, and died in Dec1859 at Bath, ME, married to Thomas Cobb Jr. at Cumberland County, ME, on 25Nov1799. Thomas was born on 22Oct1771 at Freeport, ME, died on Dec1818 at Freeport, ME.
iii. James Higgins, born 28Nov1780 at Bath, ME and died August 1810.
iv. Hannah Higgins, born 28Feb1783 at Bath, ME and died 27Dec1786.
v. Rueben Higgins, born 03Apr1785 at Bath, ME married Rachel Carey.
vi. Betsey Higgins, born 10Jun1787 at Bath, ME and died 26Feb1863.
vii. Thomas Higgins, born 27Aug1780 at Bath, ME and died 26Feb1864.
viii. Hannah Higgins, born 10Feb1792 at Bath, ME and died 06Apr1863, married to James Littlefield in 1814 at Bath, ME.
ix. Mercy Higgins, born 19Jan1796 at Bath, ME.
x. Sarah Higgins, born 20Jun1797 at Bath, ME.
xi. Elisha Higgins, born 08Dec1801 at Bath, ME, married Sarah Storey.
3. Ruth Higgins, born 20Nov1750 at Eastham, MA; married John Mariner; died 11Jan1824 at Lincolnville, ME.
4. Abigail Higgins, born 21Nov1755 at Eastham, MA; married 05Jun1774 to John Williams of Georgetown, ME; and died 29Feb1824. John was a farmer at Foster’s Point, West Bath, ME.
5. Simeon Higgins, born about 1756 at Eastham, MA; married Elizabeth McIntyre on 13Feb1781 at Georgetown, ME; died 04Apr1830 at West Bath, ME. Simeon and Elizabeth had ten children.
6. Philip Higgins, born 13Sep1758 at Eastham, MA; married Mary Spaulding; Philip and Mary had three children. Mary was born in 1754 and died 04Jun1837.
7. Mary Higgins, born 12Apr1761 at Eastham, MA; married Charles Matthews about 1756; died on 27Jun1829 at Lincolnville, ME.
8. Sarah Higgins, born about 1762 at Eastham, MA; married John Holbrook on 30Sep1787 at Bath, ME. John was born 14Jun1762.
9. Thankful Higgins, born about 1764 at Eastham, MA; married Moses Huffe of Bowdoin, ME, on 07Aug1788 at Bath, ME.

Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Records
The proof of Philip Higgins involvement as a patriot in serving on a Committee of Safety has been submitted and approved by the DAR seven (7) times. Details of these submissions for membership are found below:
1. Application #336726 submitted to Daughters of the American Revolution on 19Nov1942 and approved by Registrar General on 30Nov1942.
2. Application #339984 submitted to Daughters of the American Revolution on 24Sep1943 and approved by Registrar General on 25Sep1943.
3. Application #340532 submitted to Daughters of the American Revolution on 16Jun1943 and approved by Registrar General on 18Jun1943.
4. Application #349705 submitted to Daughters of the American Revolution on 24Jan1945 and approved by Registrar General on 31Jan1945.
5. Application #366326 submitted to Daughters of the American Revolution on 31Mar1947 and approved by Registrar General on 17Apr1947.
6. Application #512523 submitted to Daughters of the American Revolution on 24Sep1965 and approved by Registrar General on 27Oct1965.
7. Application #684165 submitted to Daughters of the American Revolution on 11Apr1984 and approved by Registrar General on 01Jun1984.

From Application #512523:
Service: Massachusetts
Rank: Civil Service, Patriotic Service
Service Description: Selectman; member of Committee of Safety, Inspection, Correspondence, to carry out resolve of Continental Congress

March 1775 – on committee to see that resolves of Continental Congress were complied with – act of forbidding the use and importation of English Goods.
08Jul1776 – appointed on Committee of Safety, Inspection, and Correspondence.

References:
1. History of Bath, Maine (Owen) page 118
2. History of Bath, Maine (Reed, 1894) pages 46-50

Philip Higgins is noted in the Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots:
· HIGGINS, Philip Bath ME 54 Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vol.2, p. —Serial: 11831; Volume: 4