James HIGGINS was born in Belfast, Ireland around 1783. His father was a succesful linen draper in the city of Belfast, where he spent the last years of his life.
James HIGGINS was raised in Belfast and received his early education in the public schools. He was the fourth son in the order of birth, as the older son would inherit the property, James HIGGINS knew he would have to depend on his own resources to make a living. In 1801 he decided his prospects for a succussful life were limited in Ireland, he emigrated to America.
He must have possessed some means, because after his arrival in America, he did not engage in any particular calling. Eventually he arrived in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and there he met and married Miss Mary McCLELLAND. Mary McCLELLAND was a native of Westmoreland County and was said to have had German ancestry. Mary McCLELLAND was born between 1780 and 1790. Shortly after their marriage, James HIGGINS and Mary McCLELLAND moved to Licking County, Ohio and rented a farm from its owner, Dr. TAYLOR. In 1825 the family moved to Clayton Township, in Perry County, Ohio. By this time their ninth of ten children, Robert HIGGINS, had been born.
By 1840, the family consisted of the parents James HIGGINS and Mary McCLELLAND, one son born between 1810 and 1820, one son born between 1820 and 1825, and a son and daughter born between 1825 and 1830. Since we know that Robert HIGGINS was the ninth of ten children and he was born in 1824, there may be something slightly wrong with either the census of 1840, or Robert HIGGINS recollection of events in 1887. So by this time most of the children of James and Mary had moved on.
The 1840 Census of Clayton Township has the following information:
There is a James HIGGINS household with the following: one male and one female
born between 1780 and 1790, one male born between 1810 and 1820, one male
born between 1820 and 1825, one male and one female born between 1825 and
1830.
Nearby is the John Clayton household with the following: one male and one
female born between 1770 and 1780, one female born between 1800 and 1810,
one male born between 1810 and 1820, one female born between 1825 and 1830.
The 1850 census of Clayton Township, Perry County, Ohio has the following
information:
There is the James HIGGINS household, with James HIGGINS, aged 66 & born
in Ireland, Mary CLAYTON, aged 60 or 40 & born in Pa?, J. ?earsey
a male aged 16 & born in Ohio, Julia CLAYTON, aged 12 and born in Ohio,
and Isaac CLAYTON, aged 10 & born in Ohio.
Next door is the Robert HIGGINS household with the following: Robert HIGGINS,
aged 25 & born in Ohio, his wife Janie aged 19, and Asbury F.(male) aged
6 months. (Asbury F. HIGGINS, is surely Franklin HIGGINS)