The Life of James Henry Higson

James Henry Higson was born on 14 May 1861 and baptized on 9 June 1861 at the New Jerusalem Church in Heywood, Lancashire, England.

He apparently travelled around quite a bit as he is not listed in the 1881 British Census and did not arrive in Australia with the rest of his family in 1885 - but was in Australia by 1889.

In fact, the only reference to James so far found in Australia is that he was a witness to the marriage of his younger brother Thomas on 18 December 1889.

Records show that he travelled from Liverpool, England to Ellis Island, New York aboard the Ship Lucania, arriving on 27 September 1894.

He later travelled from Liverpool to New York on ship Celtic, arriving at Ellis Island on 13 October 1924, when his place of residence was listed as Los Angeles, California, and by which time he had become a U.S. Citizen.

He never married and owned many properties in Long Beach, California when he died. His siblings were to inherit, but correspondence was still going back and forth to American solicitors up until the 1960's. It was said that most of the properties were sold for back taxes and very little money was ever received in Australia.

James Henry Higson was interred in the Sunnyside Mausoleum, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Long Beach, California, U.S.A. - #335, Row B, in October 1926.

NOTE:
1:	All of the above information was kindly provided by Joy Seamons.