Charles Alfred HIGGINS

Charles was the first son of Alfred and Elizabeth Lavina HIGGINS and was born 29 November 1873. They lived in a block of four back-to-back three storey houses at 30a Carters Yard, George Street, St Clements, Oxford. The cottage was owned by Christ Church for whom Alfred worked.

Charles was one of six children. His sister, Ann Jane, born 19 April 1880, died a month later, 19 May 1880, but all the others survived.

By the age 16 Charles was an apprentice blacksmith, and had an accident while he was working. A piece of hot metal flew in the air and landed on his back. This left him disabled and unable to continue with his apprenticeship.

Charles then worked for Oswel Brothers Furniture Factor of St Clements. For a short time he was working in Kent, but returned home to begin gardening and working with horses in the stables behind his house. His sisters were in service, and so he was often called on to run errands for the houses where they worked. He became a member of The Blue Cross on the 5 June 1915.

Charles never married, but later in his life he lodged (possibly after the death of his parents) with Mrs BURDEN, who lived in the same block of houses. It may be Mrs BURDEN in the second photo.

He died Friday 19 September 1941 age 66 and is buried in grave G1-247, with his brother-in-law Joseph James WILSON (died aged 69, buried 8 April 1949) and younger sister Annie Sarah WILSON (died aged 87, buried 2 Sept 1976). There is no memorial on the grave. At the time of Charles’s death, the grave was purchased by Elizabeth Mary BURNETT, née HIGGINS, his elder sister.

Charles Alfred HIGGINS

Charles in later life