John Higgins the Roofer: Possible Baptism

In my last post, I wrote that the death record of John Higgins the roofer, born in Ireland, listed his parents as James Higgins and Mary Hagerty [1]

Having failed to find any of John’s naturalization records that might list his county of birth in Ireland, I decided to search for a baptism in County Waterford anyway, using the parental information from his death record, and because I knew James Higgins the roofer, a possible brother, was born in County Waterford [2]. 

The search for John’s baptism resulted in only one match. This baptism took place in the Roman Catholic parish of Lismore, which is the same parish mentioned in previous posts [3].  

So I decided to search County Waterford for a baptismal record for James, the possible brother of John, using the same parental information, even though I did not know and still do not know the maiden name of James' mother. Only one match popped up [4].

       

Notes:

[1] “Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915,” Boston, 25 January 1914, entry for John Higgins; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 March 2014), citing Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.    

[2] “New England Petitions for Naturalization, 1787-1931,” Massachusetts, U. S. Circuit Court, 1877, December, Vol. 111, p. 169, entry for James Higgins; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 21 March 2014). 

[3] For the baptismal record, see Irish Family History Foundation (http://www.rootsireland.ie/ : accessed 21 March 2014). This site requires payment.  The Roman Catholic parish of Lismore is where my gg grandfather Edward Higgins and his brother John, the man who adopted Annie Carrigan, were possibly baptized.  It is also the same parish where Annie Carrigan's father Laurence was possibly baptized.  

[4] Ibid.  I have not looked at this record yet, but plan to purchase it soon.

Putting It All Together (or part of it)

Edward Barry and wife Bridget at 81 Dove St. in South Boston (nee Higgins, who was likely the sister of my gg grandfather Edward and his brother John, who adopted Annie Carrigan)  ~ led to me Cornelius Scanlon also at 81 Dove ~ who led me to James Scanlan at 92 Dove and earlier 2 Dove St. ~ who bought property from Michael Cunningham of 2 Dove ~ whose tax records led me to John Higgins at 1 Dove and John Higgins the roofer at Farrell Place in 1859-1862.  

And John the roofer may have had a brother named James Higgins, another roofer. 

A 25-year old James Higgins is listed on John’s 1860 census in Ward 12 of Boston.  He is listed simply as a laborer born in Ireland [1].  At this point we don’t know if they were brothers, and so far, James is not listed on any further records pertaining to John.

But I traced a roofer named James Higgins a few years ago, so I pulled out my notes from that time, which included his marriage record from 1863.  

James is listed on this record as a 25-year old laborer whose parents were James Higgins and Mary [2].  I don’t have any documents that list Mary’s maiden name, at least not yet, but will keep looking. 

Now the death return for John Higgins the roofer listed his parents: James Higgins and Mary Hagerty [3].

I believe there is a connection.

So this morning I resumed my search of James Higgins the roofer and found his naturalization records from 1877:  He was born in County Waterford, Ireland, and arrived in New York on or about 15 October 1853 [4]. 

IF there is a connection between these roofers and my gg grandfather Edward Higgins (also a roofer), and his brother John (a teamster), the man who adopted Annie Carrigan ~ and if there is a connection between Annie, and the Carrigans from Lismore, County Waterford, investigating the occupation of roofing may (or may not) bring me one step closer to where I need to go. 

Notes:

[1] 1860 U. S. census, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Boston, population schedule, Ward 12, p. 115, dwelling 763, family 889, line 8, John Higgins household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 March 2014), citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 525.

[2] “Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915,” Boston, 22 November 1863, James Higgins to Hannah Walsh, no. 2070; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed again 21 March 2014), citing “Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911-1915,” New England Historic Genealogical Society.

[3] “Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915,” Boston, 25 January 1914, entry for John Higgins; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 March 2014), citing Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.    

[4] “New England Petitions for Naturalization, 1787-1931,” Massachusetts, U. S. Circuit Court, 1877, December, Vol. 111, p. 169, entry for James Higgins; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 21 March 2014).