| Birth | Thomas William Higgins was born circa 1848 in Newton Longville, Buckinghamshire.3
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| Marriage | He married Elizabeth Story, daughter of Anthony Story and Mary Partridge, in 1876 in Pancras RD.1,2
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| 1881 Census | Thomas and Elizabeth Higgins appeared on the 1881 Census of Hornsey, Middlesex, at High Street. Thomas was 33, a Master Baker, and was born in Newton, Bucks. Elizabeth was 33 and born in Highgate Middlesex. Their children were Nelly (4), Annie (3), and Bartholomew (1). Also with them were two male Bakers Assistants.4 |
| 1891 Census | Thomas W and Elizabeth appeared on the 1891 Census of Hornsey, Middlesex, at 10 High Street. Thomas W was 43, a Baker and employer, and was born in Newton Longville, Bucks. Elizabeth was 43 and born in Highgate Middlesex. Their children were Nellie F (14), Annie A (13), Thomas B (11), George F (8), Ruby E M (6), Bertha J (4), Lily M (1), and Walter J (1 month). The eldest three were born in Camden Town, the remainder in Hornsey. Bertha (4) through Thomas (11) attended school. A Scottish Bakers Assistant was also with them.3 |
| Note. | Accompanying his Ontario marriage certificate was a copy of a birth certificate requsition for Thomas Bartholomew William Higgins (father Thomas William Higgins, mother Elizabeth Higgens, birthplace 2 Lomond St, Camden Square, St Pancras, on 11 July 1879) completed on 1 May 1894 and signed by his father, Thomas William Higgins, Baker, of 1 Sheperston Road, Hoxton. [Perhaps they needed proof of birth for schooling or an apprenticeship]5 |
| 1901 Census | Thomas W and Elizabeth appeared on the 1901 Census of Hornsey, Middlesex, at 10 High Street. Thomas W was 53, a Baker working on his own account, born in Newton Longville, Bucks. Elizabeth was 53 and born in Highgate, London. Their children were Bartholomew T W (21, solicitor's clerk), Ruby E M (16), Bertha J (14), Lilly N (11), and Walter J (10.)6 |
| (Witness) Marriage | Thomas Higgins witnessed the marriage of Andrew Ebersold and his daughter Lily Nora Higgins on 5 Sep 1909 in Old St Pancras, London.7 |
| 1911 Census | Thomas W Higgins appeared on the 1911 Census of St Pancras, London, at 164 Ossulston Street. He was 63, married, occupation Baker & Confectioner, employer, birthplace Newton Long Ville, Buckinghamshire. He had been married 36 years and had 8 children, all of whom were still living. [This question only applied to women but he helpfully filled in the information]. No other family members were recorded there on census night but there was one journeyman baker (72, married, birthplace Germany). The dwelling had one room.8 |
| Passenger List | Thomas and Eliz Higgins were listed on a manifest dated 14 Apr 1912 for the Corsican arriving in Halifax from Liverpool. The passenger list recorded that Thomas and Eliza were 60 and their daughter Ruby [looks like Ruth in the faint image] was 27 and single. They were all born in England, religion Church of England. Their intended destination via the CPR was Toronto to meet their son and where Thomas intended to continue as a baker.9 |
| Note. | He established a bakery at 1604 Gerrard Street East, Toronto.10 |
| (Widowed) Death | His wife Elizabeth died on 3 Jan 1919.11 |
| Death | Thomas died on 7 Apr 1921 in Toronto, York County, Ontario.
Details from the registration: Thomas William Higgins, white, widowed, age 75, birthplace England, Baker, in Canada 9 years, parents Bartholomew Higgins & Jane Vaux, both born in England. Street address of death unreadable. The informant was his son TBW Higgins of 288 Westlake Ave. Burial was to be Saturday Apr 9th 1921 in St Johns and the undertaker was NB Cobbledick of Toronto.12 |
| Burial | Thomas William and his wife Elizabeth were buried in the Church of St John Norway Cemetery in what is now East Toronto.10 |
| Research Note | 1604 Gerard Street East was occupied by John Barnes, a baker, and his family in the 1921 census.13
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