See also

Margaret HIGGIN (1913-2004)

1 Margaret Pearl HIGGIN (1913-2004) [5]. Born 30 Jul 1913, Toronto, Ont, Canada. Marr Harold Ransom WRIGHT 29 May 1935, Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church - Detroit, MI.1 Died 5 Nov 2004, Mercy Manor, Grayling, MI.2,3 Cause: Renal failure. Buried 8 Nov 2004, Elmwood Cemetery, Grayling, MI.2

Margaret Higgin was born at home, 90 Medland Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was born at 5 am on July 30, 1913. In attendance was Doctor Minerva Reid.

When Margaret was a baby, possibly two years old, she crawled out an upstairs window onto the roof. A neighbor, Mrs Dwyer, called her mother to tell her that her daughter was on the roof.

When Margaret was five years old, she remembers being outside with her friend Rita Dwyer listening to all the horns honking and bells ringing on November 11, 1918 when World War I was over.

Excerpt from an e-mail written by Ken Wright to David Gustner and Lynne Greening, 4/16/2000. "That brought to mind the wedding announcement of Mom and Dad that said they were going to live at 463 Algonquin after their marriage, so I just called Mom to ask about it. She said they never did live with Lester and Grace. They rented an upstairs apartment first, on a street that she can't remember. Then they rented a house on Eastlawn, then rented at 5039 Lakepointe, where they were when I was born (1938), then moved to another rented house on Lakewood. Then Dad built the house on 60 Hawthorn Blvd in 1941. She could not remember any of the street numbers, but I have a letter addressed to them at the 5039 Lakepointe address. I had no idea that they lived in so many places before Hawthorne, or that they were renting rather than buying. I had just assumed that they lived in a house built by Dad and Lester. Wrong! Another thing she mentioned that I didn't remember is that Lester and Grace moved to Grosse Pointe after Mom and Dad. She thought about a year, making their move from Algonquin to Hawthorn in 1942." We later learned the actual sequence and addresses of where Harold and Margaret Lived.

1935 - 1937, 1350 E. Grand Blvd. Apt 109, Detroit
1937 - 1940, 5039 Lakepointe av., Detroit
1940 - 1941, 708 Eastlawn av., Detroit
1941 - 1941, 4327 Lakewood av., Detroit
1941 - 1954, 60 Hawthorn Blvd., Detroit
1954 - 1974, 30030 West Gate, Farmington
1974 - 1989, 6738 Dogwood Court, Gaylord
1989 - 2000, 730 S. Saginaw, Apt. 215, Lapeer (Margaret only)
2000 - 2004, Mercy Manor, 1100 Michigan Ave, Grayling, MI

Lester and Grace Wright also proceeded Margaret and Harold to Grosse Pointe, actually moving to 76 Hawthorne Blvd. in 1940.

2 John Edwin HIGGIN4,5,6,7 (1888-1982) [6]. Born 19 Dec 1888, Preston, Lancashire, England.4,5,7 Christened 3 Mar 1889, Penworthham, Lancashire, England.7 Marr Pearl RIDDELL 30 Aug 1911, Toronto Canada.8 Died 6 Jun 1982, Toronto, Ont. Canada.4

4 Jonathan HIGGIN5,6,9,10,11,12,13,14 (c. 1861-1935) [1105]. Born c. 1861, Rochdale, Lancashire.5,10 Marr Catherine Jane SHARPLES 18 Feb 1886, Preston, Lancashire, England.10 Died 29 Jun 1935, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.14 Cause: Carcinoma of stomach.

Frederick worked on a small ferry that went from Toronto to Toronto Island. Perhaps he was the Captain. Margaret Wright reports that her grandfather Frederick lived into his 70's. He lived at 38 Elmer Ave., Toronto. Margaret remembers visiting their house often as a child, going down a long hall to the dining room where everyone always played some kind of board game. She recalls her Aunt Blanche was often there with her son Lennie. Also there was Cecil, husband of Marion, with their pet ferret.

His death certificate reports that he had been in Canada for 35 years and worked for the Royal Canadian Yacht Club for 30 years as a special messenger.

It appears from the England and Wales marriage record that Frederick was actually named Jonathan. It is not known if Frederick was a middle name or an assumed name.

Excerpt from The Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser (Preston, Lancashire, england).

21 August 1880 - "Jonathan Higgin and Thomas Harrison were summoned for riding bicycles on the footway, on the Preston and Wiggon road, in Walton, on the 3rd and 5th inst. respectively - Each was ordered to pay costs. - Thomas Dewhurst and Wm. Sharples, of Preston, were summoned for trespassing in pursuit of conies on land in Walton, in the occupation of John Margison - Abraham Harper proved seeing the defendants on the land with nets in their possession - Dewhurst was fined 10s and costs and Sharples 5s and costs.".

8 Edwin HIGGIN10,15,16,17 (c. 1838-1868) [2301]. Born c. 1838, Chesterton, Lancashire.15 Marr Sarah Jane NAYLOR 15 Aug 1858, St. John's Preston, Lancashire, England.18,19 Died 26 Jun 1868, Preston, Lancashire.20,21 Cause: Drowning.

9 Sarah Jane NAYLOR9,12,13,15,17,19,22 (1837- ) [1107]. Born 5 Jun 1837, Preston, Lancashire, England.15,17,23 Marr Robert WALTON aft 1868.18

5 Catherine Jane SHARPLES5,6,8,9,10,11,24 (1865-1926) [1106]. Born 29 Jan 1865, Penwortham, Lancashire, England.4,5,10,11 Died 21 Mar 1926, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.11 Buried St. John's cemetery.11

Margaret Wright reports that she was a very young girl, possibly 9 or 10 (she was actually 13), when her grandmother Catherine died. Margaret said her grandmother was the first dead person she ever saw. The body laid in state at their home on 38 Elmer Avenue, Toronto.

10 John Bamber SHARPLES10,24 (c. 1792-1875) [12672]. Born c. 1792, England.11,24,25 Died May 1875.25,26 Buried 13 May 1875, St. Mary, Penwortham, Lancashire.26

11 Catherine SMITH11 (c. 1826-1880) [12673]. Born c. 1826, England.11,24,26 Died 1880.26 Buried 28 Sep 1880, St. Mary, Penwortham, Lancashire.26

The Lancashire Online Parish Clerk Project shows Catherine at being 54 at the time of her burial, giving a birth year of 1826 rather than the 1821 of the 1871 census. We give more credence to this burial record.

3 Pearl RIDDELL27 (1890-1983) [7]. Born 24 Jan 1890, Singhampton, Ont, Canada.27,28 Died 7 Jan 1983, Toronto, Ont. Canada.4 Buried Highlane Memory Gardens, Toronto, Ont. Canada.

Pearl Riddell who was living and working in Toronto 1908-11, married John Edwin Higgin of Toronto August 30, 1911.

According to conversations with Dorothy Roe, Pearl, who was a sister to Frank Ridell, met John Edwin Higgin when she was Frank who was working as a waiter at the Walter J. Corby restaurant on King Street East in Toronto. Dorothy Roe was the daughter of Frank Riddell.

Pearl's mother, Catharine Riddell, died in her home on Scott Street on October 3, 1927. Catharine's Death Registration indicates that Pearl was caring for her for four months which would be from about September to December of 1927.

6 George Francis RIDDELL8,29 (1843-1921) [16]. Born 23 Jun 1843, Markham Twp Canada West (Ontario).8 Marr Mary Jane MARTIN 25 Apr 1866, Grey County, Ontario. Marr Catherine BELL 16 Aug 1882, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.8,29,30,31 Died 3 Oct 1921, Singhampton, Ontario.8 Cause: Ciptitis. Buried 6 Oct 1921, Union Cemetery, Singhampton, Ontario, Canada.8

From the Collingwood Bulletin, dates as listed.

March 30, 1900 - "G.F. Riddell has gone to the Soo, where he will saw and hammer this summer. - - Contractor N. McLean is also going west. - - Why don't some of the loafers go?". (Most likely George was joining his son, Augustine, who at this time was working and living in the Soo with his wife Mary J. Hanna.)

October 13, 1921 - "On Tuesday, Oct 4th, this village and section lost one of its oldest residents, in the person of Mr. George Riddel, (Riddell) who died at his home in the village. Mr. Riddel had not been well for some time, still had been confined to his home but a week prior to his death. He had lived in this vicinity for many years and had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Deceased is survived by his wife, four daughters and two sons. One son, William was killed overseas. The funeral tool pace (place) Thursday to the Union Cemetery, the services being conducted by Rev. A. Lang, pastor of the Presbyterian church." (The two sons would have been Frank and Oscar and the daughters would have been Georgina, Catherine, Elizabeth and Pearl. None of George's children from his first marriage are included. Note: The death date of October 4th conflicts with the Death Certificate date of October 3rd.)

From the Collingwood Enterprise, dates as listed.

Thursday, July 16, 1925 - "Mrs. Riddell has visitors from Toronto."

Thursday, Aug. 6, 1925 - "Mrs. Riddell has three of her daughters visiting with her." (The three daughters would be Mrs. Georgina Leonard, Mrs. Pearl Higgin and Mrs. Elizabeth Laginess.).

12 William RIDDELL32 (1804-1873) [997]. Born 1804, County of Mayo, Ireland.8 Marr Margaret LAVIN 1831, St. Paul's church, muddy little York (Toronto).32 Died 12 Dec 1873, County of Grey, Ontario, Canada.8 Buried Catholic Church Cemetery, Nottawasaga Twp, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.8

13 Margaret LAVIN32 (c. 1801- ) [998]. Born c. 1801, County of Mayo, Ireland.8

7 Catherine BELL27,29,33,34 (1854-1927) [17]. Born 3 Sep 1854, Singhampton, Ontario, Canada.27,30 Marr John TAYLOR 23 Feb 1870, At John's home in Osprey Township.30 Died 21 Dec 1927, Islington, Ontario at the home of her daughter, Pearl Higgin.4,30 Cause: Carcinoma of Kidney. Buried 24 Dec 1927, Union Cemetery, Singhampton, Ontario, Canada.8

From the Collingwood Enterprise, Thursday, Jan. 27, 1927.

"Mrs. Riddell left last week to spend the rest of the winter in Toronto and Niagara." (In Niagara Falls, New York, Catharine would have been visiting her son Frank and daughter-in-law Molly Riddell, granddaughters Elizabeth and Dorothy and great grandson Jack Strachan (Elizabeth's son, born October 9, 1926). There were a number of family photographs taken probably in the early part of her visit probably in the February-April time frame. Jack Strachan, who is in the photographs, appears to be about six months old.)

From The Advertiser, (newspaper) December 29, 1927.

"Obituary - Mrs. Catharine Bell. On December 21st, 1927, after a lingering illness at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J.S. Higgins, Scott St., Islington, Catharine Riddell in her 74th year. The funeral service was held at the above address on Thursday at 8 p.m.. Interment was made at Singhampton on Saturday. (Mrs. J.S. Higgins was in fact Mrs. J.E. Higgin, which would be Catharine's daughter, Pearl, from her marriage to George F. Riddell.).

14 Angus BELL34,35,36 (c. 1818-1897) [24]. Born c. 1818, Islay, Argyll, Scotland.8,30,34 Marr Jane MCDOWELL c. 1841. Died 18 Sep 1897, Singhampton, Nottawasaga Township, Ontario.8,37 Cause: Kidney and heart disease. Buried 20 Sep 1897, Union Cemetery, Singhampton, Ontario, Canada.8

Angus was born circa 1818 in Islay, most probably in the area of Conisby, Kilchoman which was the known residence of his Father Ronald and youngest Brother CCAB in 1823.”

Angus Bell is shown as being a "conveyancer, issuer of marriage licenses and Township Clerk of Nottawasaga, Twp., coroner." He was the Township Clerk from 1850 until his death in 1897.

From the Creeemore Star (newspaper), Village of Singhampton in 1889, written by J.B. Spurr, Editor:

"In 1846 he (Angus) settled on the lot which has seen the rise and progress of the village of Singhampton."

From an Ancestry.com tree:

Last Will and Testament.
The subject will was probated on January 25, 1898.
All the rest of my children, namely: Ronald, Margaret, Sarah Jane, Catherine, Mary Ann, Thomas Wildridge, and Janet have had all their portion during my lifetime I therefore leave them nothing.

From the Enterprise-Messenger (Collingwood, Ontario newspaper).

Sept 23, 1897 - "Deceased had a large family. His wife died some years ago. The best known of the survivors are his sons, Angus of Singhampton, and Thomas of Dakota. Of the daughters, Mrs Greenaway (Agnes) and Mrs. Riddell (Catherine formerly Taylor nee Bell) live at Singhampton, and another daughter Lizzie (Elizabeth Bell) lives on the homestead. One daughter (Mary Ann Stevenson) lives in Toronto, and another (Margaret Crawford formerly Lang nee Bell) in Collingwood Township (most likely) Osprey Township)"

Obituary of Donald Bell in " The Orillia Packet" 18 March 1881, says "He leaves one brother in Canada, Mr. A. Bell, of Singhampton, Clerk of the township [of Nottawasaga]"

From Elaine Bell, "At the time of the 1861 Census, Donald, John and Angus were living in Enumeration District #2 in the Township of Nottawasaga in Simcoe County, and Mary and CCA in Enumeration District #4 in the Township of Osprey in Grey County. Both Enumeration Districts include parts of the village of Singhampton.".

15 Jane MCDOWELL30 (1823-1878) [25]. Born 1823, Ireland.8,38 Died 25 Aug 1878, Singhampton, Nottawasaga Township, Ontario.8 Buried Union Cemetery, Singhampton, Ontario, Canada.

Jane was born in Ireland and was probably living in the Township of Innisfil or West Gwillimbury where she met Angus. They were married in approximately 1841.

The inscription on the Bell family monument in Union Cemetery incorrectly lists Jane's death as 1897. The actual year of her death was 1878.

Sources

1"Certificate of Marriage signed by Wayland Zwayer, Hilda Clinton and Sylvia McGuire.".
2"Information provided by Kenneth D. Wright".
3"Death certificate of Margaret P. Wright".
4"Memories of Margaret Wright".
5"1891 Lancashire, Oswaldtwistle census".
6"1911, Ontario, Toronto census".
7"England and Wales Christening record for John Edwin Higgin".
8"Information provided by Greg Mander".
9"Family tree in book written by Jean Higgin Thompson, provided by Patti Thompson Mayes".
10"England and Wales Marriages (1538-1940), record of Jonathan Higgin and Catherine Jane Sharples.".
11"Ontario Death record of Catherine Jane Higgin".
12"1871 Lancashire, Preston, District 68 census".
13"1881 Lancashire, Preston, St. John census".
14"Ontario Canada Death record for Johathan Higgin".
15"1861 Lancashire, Castleton, Castleton Within census".
16"1851 England, Lancashire, Preston census".
17"1861 England, Lancashire, Castleton census".
18"Estimated based on related dates and information".
19"England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 for Sarah Jane Naylor and Edwin Higgin (shown as Edward Higgins)".
20"England and Wales Death Index for April, May and June 1868".
21"Reports on the drowning deaths of Edwin and Henry Higgin in the Lancashire Advertiser (Preston), of June 27, 1868 and again on August 29, 1868, The Weekly Standard and Express (Blackburn) of July 1, 1868".
22"Information provided by David Gustner".
23"England and Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers".
24"1871 Lancashire, Penwortham census".
25"England and Wales Death Index for April, May and June 1875".
26"Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project".
27Recorded by Robert Royal, April 26, 1901, "1901 Canadian Census".
28"Pearl's handwriting on photo stating place of birth".
29"Ontario Marriage Registration of George Francis Riddell and Kate Taylor".
30"Information provided by Nancy Hallam Sneddon".
31"Biography of Augustine Riddell".
32"A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography edited by George Maclean Rose, 1886".
33"Information provided by Beverly Gutenberg".
34"Cliff Rusk website, http://members.home.net/c.rusk/AngusBell&JaneMcDowell.html".
35"Nancy Hallam Sneddon".
36"Online family tree of Livers/Bell & Mahnke/Foster Families by shansloat1".
37"Ontario Canada Deaths".
38"Information provided by Cynthia Segorski".