Thomas Higdon (23 Jan 1800 - bef. 1840); m. Susan Osborne
Mary Higdon (21 Feb 1802 - )
John Higdon (25 Oct 1805 - bef 1840); m. Ann Nancy French
Mary Helen Higdon (1807 - )
Eliza Higdon (28 Jan 1809)
Augustine Valentine Higdon (14 Feb 1811 - 28 Apr 1835)
Susan Julia Higdon (20 Mar 1813 - )
Catharine Higdon (30 Sep 1817 - )

Discussion

From 1800 (age 26-44 = birthdate 1756-1774) and 1820 (age > 45 = birthdate before 1775) censuses, John B. Higdon was born 1756-1774. If he is the same John as in 1790 Montgomery Co., then he is associated with Benjamin and Thomas. Based on Trinity Church records, wife Rachel Young Higdon was born 1769 and died in 1829. He died after 1835, based on the obituary for son Augustus where Rachel is referred to as late but he is not. He likely died before the 1840 census. Son Thomas likely died before the 1840 census also, since Thomas' wife Susan appeas but he does not. Son John B. also disappears about the same time.

For the earlier censuses. there are a plethora of Johns, but John Baptist Higdon in East Hundred, Newport, Charles Co. seems most likely and would require his birth to be before about 1760. John Higdon Jr. in Lower Potomack Hundred, Frederick Co. is in the right place and age, born about 1756. John born 1773 s/o Thomas in North West Hundred, Frederick, is unlikely due to greater distance from Georgetown.

Supporting Information

Census

1776 Maryland Frederick Co., Lower Potomack Hundred - Higdon, John.   Age 60 - Higdon, John Jr.   20 - Higdon, Joseph   17 - Higdon, Peter   11 - Higdon, Mary   50 - Higdon, Susanna   23 - Higdon, Mary   14 - Higdon, Katharine   8 Frederick Co., North West Hundred - Higdon, Thomas   23 - Higdon, Rachel   30 - Higdon, John   3 - Higdon, Margaret   1

1778 Maryland Charles County East Hundred, Newport   John Baptist Higdon   Francis Higdon Montgomery County   Benjamin Higdon   John Higdon   Joseph Higdon   Thomas Higdon, Jr.

• 1790 MD, Montgomery Co

  Name	County	M >= 16	M < 16	F	Others	Slaves	Page; notes
  Higdon, John B	Charles	1	2	2	0	0	p567 with William Hegdon, Leonard B. Higdon & Richard Higdon Jr.
  Higdon, John	Prince Georges	1	1	2	1	-	p292 with Benjamin Hegdon Jr.
  Higdon, John	Montgomery	1	1	3	-	1	p58
  Higden, John	Montgomery	1	-	2	-	-	p44 Just above Thomas Higden and Benjamin Higden

• 1800 District of Columbia
  Higdon, John pg 858 10010-21100-00 1M<10; 1M 26-44/2F<10; 1F 10-15; 1F 16-25
• 1820 District of Columbia

  Name	Location	Page	Tally
  Higdon, John	Georgetown	022	100111-21001-0002	1M<10; 1M 16-26; 1M 26-45; 1M>45/2F<10; 1F 10-16; 1F>45/2 in manufacturing

• 1840 District of Columbia

  Name	Location	Page	Tally
  Higdon, Elizabeth	Washington	117	0011100000000/0101001000100/00000	2 in manufacturing	1M 10-15; 1M 15-20; 1M 20-30; 1F 0-5; 1F 15-20; 1F 40-50; 1F 80-90
  Higdon, Susan	Washington	132	1200100000000/1110010010000/00000		1M 0-5; 2M 5-10; 1M 20-30/1F 0-5; 1F 5-10; 1F 10-15; 1F 30-40; 1F 60-70
  Higdon, John B.	Washington	157	1000010000000/0002100000000/00000		1M 0-5; 1M 30-40/2F 15-20; 1F 20-30

  Entry is close after Wm. Simms and before Catharine Simms, John Howard

Church Records

• 26 Dec 1797 - Baptized Elizabeth Young, Natural son [sic] of Racheal Young born Nov 17, 1797; God Mother Elizabeth Young
• 24 Aug 1799 - By publications on the 4 August & the three ensuing Sundays were married on ths day day [sic] John Baptist Higdon to Rachel Young, both of George Town - before the witnesses: Robert Young, Frater; Elizabeth Young, Soror
• 03 Mar 1800 - Baptized Thomas Higdon, born January 23, 1800, of John & Rachel Higden living in George Town; God Mother Elizabeth Young
• 10 Apr 1803 - Baptized Mary, born February 21, 1802, of John & Rachel Higdon living in George Town; God Mother Teresa Kaderbach(?)
• Same - Baptized Anne, born January 25, 1802, natural daughter of Elizabeth Young, living in George Town; God Mother Elizabeth Young

• ~ 1807 - Mary Helen Higdon (index entry only)
• 02 Mar 1809 - baptized Eliza Higdon born 28th Jan & daughter of John & Rachel Higdon living in Geo Town. Godmother Eleanor Higdon
• 14 Apr 1811 - same day christened Augustinus Valentine born 14 February 1811 of John & Rachel Higdon living in Georgetown. Godmother Tabitha Higdon. soror infantis
• 25 Apr 1813 - batisa Susannam Julian john & rachel higden nata 20 martis matrina Susanna Calenburg hujas appd
• 28 Sep 1817 - Baptized Catharine born 30 Sep 1817 [sic] of John Baptist Higdon and Rachel Higdon. Elizabeth Higdon Young(?). Rev. B. Fenwick

• 17 May 1820 - Higdon, Ann who died the 16th inst
• 08 Jan 1821 - Young, Robert; Buried Robert Young, who died the 6 inst
• 27 Dec 1826 - Young, Catherine who died yesterday aged 66 years
• 08 Aug 1829 - Higdon, Rachel aged 60
• 13 Jun 1830 - Higdon, Joseph aged 40
• 28 Apr 1835 - Augustus Higdon, son of John Higdon & of late Rachel Young, was buried in the peerage for the White people in T.C. Upper Grave Yard. Age 27

City Directories

• 1827
  • Higdon, John e side 12 w near Pen ave
• 1834
  • Higden, John B shoemaker s e corner 10 w and F n
  • Higdon, Thomas laborer n side Penn av btw 6 &7 e

Secondary References

From District of Columbia Marriage Licenses 1811-58 by W. E. Pippenger

• 19 Oct 1826 - Higden, Thomas to Higden, Louisa
• 13 Aug 1828 - Higdon, Thomas to Osbourn, Susan

From DC Marriages 1811-1858 abstracted from DC Court Records; notebooks at main DC Library

• 02 Jul 1844 - Higdon, Susan to Howard, James
• 06 Mar 1854 - Higdon, Mary E to Simmes, John H.

From the series National Intelligencer Abstracts by J. M. Dixon

• 09 Feb 1826 - Augustus Higdon age 16 &John Tucker, apprentice boys to tobaconnist trade run away $5 for both if taken in Washington, DC; Wm. Good
• 09 Nov 1826 - John Higdon m. to Ann French, both of Washington, last Sunday (5 Nov) by Rev. Matthews [Rev. Matthews was pastor of St. Patrick's from 1804 to 1854.]
• 15 Aug 1828 (Fri) - Mrd on Thu, in Wash. City, by Rev Mr. Lucas, Mr. Thos. Higdon to Miss Susan Osborne. [Rev. Lucas is likely James Lucas, first pastor of St. Peter's.]
• 25 Jun 1829 (Thu) - $50 reward for 3 apprentices to the Tobacconist Business who ran away: Geo Wilson left in spring of 1828, age about 14; Augustus Higdon 19 yrs and 6 mos left about 10 days ago; Jas Wood, about 16, left act last. - Wm. Good, Gtwn, DC
• 29 Mar 1833 (Fri) - Thos. E. Higdon - Dist. of Columbia insolvent debtors have applied to be discharged from imprisonment
• 17 Sep 1842 (Sat) - Collector's Office, City Hall, September 15, 1842, on December 10 next, the annexed list of property will be sold at public auction ...to whom assessed: Higdon, Andrew &others 1838 through 1841 $3.88.
• 15 Sep 1849 - Higdon, Andrew F. 1846-48, $6.21, Annexed list of property will be sold by public auction
• 15 Jan 1853 - Higdon, Andrew, Francis &C. F. 1851-52, Collector's Office City Hall, Washington, DC, property to be sold by public auction unless taxes paid.
• 27 Jan 1854 - Higdon, Andrew F., Washington City property to be sold for taxes

From District of Columbia Indentures of Apprenticeship 1801 - 1893 by D. S. Provine

No. 663 (Vol II, 157-158) 17 Apr 1816
Thomas Higden/Higdon to Alexander Carmichael
John B. Higdon of Georgetown apprentices his son, Thomas Higdon, who was 16 last 23 Jan, until age 21, to Alexander Carmichael of Georgetown, to "learn his art, trade or mystery."

No. 957 (Vol II, 363-364) 12 Oct 1818
John Higden/Higdon to Ignatius French
John [B.] Higden of Georgetown appentices his son, John Higden, who on 29 Oct. instant will be 13 years old, until 29 Oct 1826, to learn the trade of lady shoemaking. Includes Joseph Higdon signature.

No. 1313 (Vol III, 352-354) 5 Feb 1826
Augustus Higden/Higdon to William Good
Augustus Higdon, with the consent of his parents, apprentices himself for 6 years, with William Good, to learn the trade of a tobacconist and "segar maker." John B. X Higdon; August X Higdon; William Good; confirmed by 2 justices of the peace for Georgetown on 28 Feb 1826.