Author: Russell Martin Buhr
The following is quoted from “The Higleys and Their Ancestry”, 1898, Johnson, Mary Coffin, D. Appleton and Co.

SETH HIGLEY, the son of Brewster Higley, 2d, and Esther
Holcombe was born in Higley-town, October 29, 1746, in the house built for his father near the northern line of the present town of Simsbury.
A fine illustration of this old colonial homestead, which stood for full 150 years, is given, page 161.
This was the home of Seth Higley during the greater part of his Life. The property came into the possession of Brewster Higley, 3d, his eldest brother, soon after Brewster, 2d, went to reside with his aged mother in the old Captain John Higley homestead. Finally it fell into the hands of Seth Higley, who held it as long as he lived, and then it was held by his descendants for two generations.
Seth Higley was the fifth child and third son of his parents. His marriage to the daughter of Nathaniel Higley, who was his grandfather's half-brother, 1 is thus placed upon records.
"Seth Higley and Mindwell Higley, both of Simsbury, were Joined in Marriage the .3d day of March A. D. 1768.11 1

Mindwell Higley appears to have been a few years her husband's
senior.
We find the newly married pair, in December of the same year of their marriage, seated in the church, pew 12, in close proximity to others of their numerous kindred.
But the following year they appear to have removed for a brief period to North Granby, probably in the close vicinity of Mind­ well's father, Nathaniel Higley. Here in the North Granby church they “owned ye covenant “on the 9th of July, 1769.
1There was but ten years difference between the ages of Nathaniel, the father of Mindwell Higley, and Brewster, 2d, the father of Seth Higley.
'"Simsbury Records," book iv. p. 18o.

186 THE HIGLEYS AND THEIR ANCESTR Y.
Tradition tells us that Seth Higley was intensely puritanic in his religious belief and practices, clinging rigidly throughout his life to the law of his father's faith and the old influences of Brewster, 2d's, hearthstone.
Early in 1776 he is again found established in the old Simsbury church, where he was "chosen collector to collect ye said Society’s Rates for the year.''
A few months later he enlisted for the War of the Revolution, entering the 18th Regiment Militia, Lieutenant Job Case's
company, and arrived in New York August 24, 1776. It is not known how long he served. When he left the army, he had reached the office of corporal. After his return to his home the records show that he filled appointments in matters concerning the society.
He evidently lived in comfortable circumstances. Besides the farm which he managed, he owned a joint interest, with his brother-in-law, Elijah Higley, in a saw-mill, and about this time he opened
his house as a tavern. In the latter business, he was no doubt faithfully aided by his ready-handed wife. The old cupboard from which was served out the liquors at the bar is still preserved, now a relic of just one hundred years, and the cider-mill account-book reveals the fact that Seth was a faithful patron of its yield.
The cellar in which was stored barrels of choice rum, apple­ jack, and "bull's-blood," 2 is in perfect condition, while not far from the door the ancient well, with its oldtime wellsweep and pure water, also a lively bubbling spring close by, still speak with exhilarating freshness of the ''good old times " when the ancient host of the inn, as was the custom in his day, received his traveling guests and their tired horses with the same social attentions that he would have bestowed had they been his
personal friends.
From what is known of Seth Higley, we may draw the conclu­ sion that his life was a silent example of a steady, honest, and
unobtrusive daily walk, and while he did not fail in his task in life, there is no indication that he possessed a masterful quality of mind, or that he made a strong mark upon the community.
He was afflicted, the latter part of his life, with a scrofulous
disease known in those days as "king's evil," his health failing him, from this cause, some time before the disease terminated his life.
1 "Record of Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution." t Boiled cider.

DESCENDANTS OF BREWSTER HIGLEY, 2D. 187
Seth Higley died in the full tide of middle life, the latter part of February, 1794, at the age of forty-eight. His death occurred only two weeks previous to the decease of his father, Brewster Higley, 2d. It is supposed that he was interred in the ancient burial-ground at Simsbury: There is no trace of his grave. His will, which was written February 8, 1794, just before his death, and received at the Court of Probate March 15, 1794, declares as follows:
"Being sick and in a weak and infirm state of body, but of sound and disposing mind • . • I give to my well-beloved wife, Mindwell, the use of one-third part of my real estate during her natural life, and one-third part of my personal estate to be her own property.
" I give to my sons and daughters, Philer, Levi, Warren, Oliver, Roxanna, Amelia, Polly, Rhoda, and Sally, all my Estate, both real and personal, in the proportion following :
"That the said sons have two shares or portions to the said daughters, and to them and their heirs forever: and it is my will that my said wife have the care and direction of what part of my Estate that shall descend to my said sons and daugh­ ters that are under age until they arrive, the sons to twenty-one years of age, and the daughters to eighteen years old.
"I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife, Mindwe1l, to be my Executrix on this my last Will and Testament, in witness, whereof, I have here unto set my hand and seal this 5th day of February 1794.
(Signed], "SETH HIGLEY. 0
[Witnesses.] .
The inventory of the Personal effects amounted to £87 7s. 2d.
Among the articles mentioned in the inventory ·are a " Brown coat ; a Great light colored coat, pair of black Breeches, one vest, one white one, one old one, linen shirts, three wool en ones, silver stock buckle, and silver shoe buck les, one half of a saw­ mill, and a saw-mill saw," together with a full list of the usual household articles and farm belongings, hogs, cattle, sheep, etc.
By his father's will, which was executed June 21, 1793, and not presented .at court till sixteen days after his son Seth's, it is shown that he gave Seth a full title to the farm on which he had lived, including the house (see illustration), together with other small lots of land, besides "moveable estate." The location of his home farm is thus described: "To my son Seth Higley my
/ meadow land called Ram Dover which is surrounded by a Ditch and contains about ten acres, and also one quarter part of said plains lot by the old fort ; And also the lot of land he now lives on which I bought of Widow Miller lying in the long lots so called."


188 THE HIGLEYS AND THEIR ANCESTRY.
Sometime after the death of her husband, his widow, Mindwell Higley, married
---------Latimer, and resided in Bloomfield until she was in advanced years. The date
of her death is not known. The children of Seth and Mindwell Higley were: Seth Filer
(sometimes found on record incorrectly spelled "Philer ") ; Levi ; a son who died
in childhood, May 2, 1778 ; Warren, Roxanna, Amelia, Polly, Rhoda, Sallie, Oliver.