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Illustration Christine Fuller
The Downham Market Gazette of Saturday 23 April, 1910, reported the following:
GREAT ELLINGHAM
The wedding took place at the Baptist Chapel on Saturday last, of Mr C Higgins and Miss A Burrows
The bridegroom's father (the Rev. W Higgins) conducted the service. The bride was attended by Gwendoline Higgins as bridesmaid and Master Jack Lingwood as page (niece and nephew of the bridegroom). Mr H J Neave acted as best man.
The flowers, which were very beautiful, were the gift of Mr R J Smale, of Falwell Nursery, Twickenham. Miss F Hales presided at the organ.
Amid showers of confetti, and upon a path of flowers, the bride and bridegroom walked into The Manse, where the reception was held.
Pastor William Higgins
The Reverend William Higgins was the Pastor of Great Ellingham Baptist Church. He and his wife, Emmeline, came to Great Ellingham in 1906. Sadly, just two years later, Emmeline Higgins died.
The 1891 census captures William and Emmeline Higgins with 9 of their 11 children in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire. Baptist Minister, 43 year old William Higgins, was born in Poole, Dorset. His wife was born in Lewisham and, apart from their daughter Emmeline C, the children were born in Melbourn. This included 9 year old Charles (Ebenezer Charles).
By 1901, William and Emmeline Higgins were in Town Green, Wymondham. With them are five of their children.
Charles & Agnes
However, at 19, Charles is living and working in Worthing, Sussex. His wife to be, 15 year old Agnes Burrows, is with her parents William and Mary Ann Burrows, and two brothers, in Stradbroke, Suffolk. 52 year old William Burrows is working as a Farm Steward.
We can but wonder how Charles and Agnes met – particularly that in 1901 they are living some 160 miles apart!
Marriage
Nevertheless, they were married in the Baptist Chapel in Great Ellingham on the 16th April, 1910, by Charles’s father, the Reverend William Higgins.
The best man, ‘Mr H J Neave’ was Charles’s soon-to-be brother in law.
Herbert Joseph (Joe) Neave married Charles’s sister, Mary Ann, later in 1910. Joe Neave ran the Supply Stores in Church Street. Nevertheless, the Charles and Agnes did not make their home in Great Ellingham.
1911
A year later, the 1911 census captures 29 year old Ebenezer Charles Higgins with his 25 year old wife Agnes lodging with their friend, 31 year old Ronald Jules Smale.
Ronald Smale had generously provided the flowers for the couple’s wedding. Charles is working as a nurseryman for Ronald.
1921
Nevertheless 10 years later, the 1921 census finds Charles and Agnes living in Hampstead, London. There were no children with the couple. Indeed, I do not believe Charles and Agnes had children.
1939
By 1939, the couple are living in Willesden, Middlesex. At 58, Charles is working as a bedding manufacturer’s representative.
Death of Charles Higgins
Ebenezer Charles Higgins of 8 Cedar Road, Cricklewood died in 1957. Two years later, his widow Agnes married Percival H Evans.
Sources:
23 April 1910. Downham Market Gazette. Viewed via The British Newspaper Archive
1891 census RG12/1104/25
1901 census RG13/960/9, RG13/1766/132, RG13/1851/11
1911 census RG14/6841/89, RG14/11473/86
1921 census. RG15. Online index only searched via www.findmypast.co.uk
1939 England & Wales Register. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: Rg 101/983c. Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
Marriage. Percival H EVANS & Agnes HIGGINS. MQ 1959. Willesden. FreeBMD website. https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=fQBUtDDm3wbUUWya%2FlH5XQ&scan=1
Ebenezer Charles Higgins. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administration) 1858-1995. 22 Jul 1957. London, England. Probate 17 Oct 1957. Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.