Morning journal and courier., 1890-08-22
HEHIGLEY REUNION.


THE HIGLEY REUNION.
a Notable Gathering In simsbury-
Over Two Hundred and Fifty Hig-
The Higleys In OOnnecticut History.
WINsrED, Aug a1.-sThe fourth annual
reunion of the descendants of John Higley
was held at Simsbury Congregational
church yesterday. Over two hundred and
fifty Higleys were present from Massachu-
sets, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylva-
mia, Ohio and Illinois Higley ran away
from England to America in 1866. He was
sold to pay his passage money on arrival
in New England, and afterward married
his purchasers daughter
The exercises Of Che day, which began at
II o'clock in the morning at the First
church, were opened by prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. Hill of the Methodist church.
After very cordial address Of welcome by
the Rev. Horace Winslow, pastor of the
First church, and some music, Judge War
rem Higley of New York city read letters
of regret from members of the family who
were unable to be present, and then intro
duced Mr.. William F. Holcombe of
.
titled "Our History, Our Record,
Duties to Ancestors, to Ourselves and
Our Defendants. In opening, DR.. Hol-
combe said that the circumstances and con-
ditions of settlers in new countries force
them into the closest business and social re-
lations with each other. He then briefly
dwelt on the early settlement of the Con-
necticut Valley, and the settlement of Sims
bury in 1714 by Captain John Higley, the
founder Of the family. He then spoke of
the education of women then and now, and
dwelt on the differences. "The mothers of
those days." he said, devoted their entire
lives to their sons and daughters. Help
mates indeed they were then and still are
too much, the toilers for their husbands,
and the hired help, whose work is usually
done when the sun goes down. Mans
work is from sun to sun, but woman s work
is never. DONE" Applause. After brief re-
view of the general life of the times and the
inter-marriage consequent upon the cir
stances of that period, the speaker dwelt
| at some length upon the custom OF keep
| ing the family record, but of losing the
woman's as soon as she married. How
| would the men like" he asked, "to see the
coming woman put on the husbands
| tombstone Our Consort' or Our Husband
or John, the husband Of Esther Higley,'
etcs" After speaking of the relationship
| between the Holcombes and the Higleys
l the speaker closed.
This paper being concluded, the meeting
sung ssAuld Lang Syne," and then adj
| iourned to the town hall where bountifu1
| and excellent collation. was served by the
citizens of Simsbury.
The afternoon exercises were opened by
music on the organ by Professor Edwin
| Hall Higley Of Worcester, Mass. A paper
| was then read by Mrs. Mary Coffin John
son, entitled 'tCaptain John Higley."
| John Higley was born, she said, on August
liz, 1899, and after giving short sketch of
| his life, Mrs. johnson made the following
statement concerning the hiding OF the
| Connecticut charter. She said Citing Mr..
| w. l. Fletcher as authority)
The tradition is that Captain Joseph
| Wadsworth was the chief actor in this cpl
| sode, the act has given his name a worthy
! place among those honored by Connecticut
as patriots. But that Captain Wadsworth
| had his helpers, who were at hand to as
sist in the shrewdly managed action, is
plain to be seen. Old MSS. in the hands
| of Higley descendants state positively
that the document was given to your hon
ored ancestor, Ensign John Higley, that he
| mounted his horse and ga1loped off with
| it to Higleytown, where he keptit secreted
| six weeks before it finally found its hiding
place in the hollow of the since famous
Charter Oak of Hartford. That there was
| duplicate of the charter is well known,
and whether this may have been the prize
| preserved by our worthy hero cannot be
stated, indeed it is not known how anthem
| tic is the story of this fast horseback ride
through the forests bearing the valuable
parchments to Higleytown. But John
| Higley was a man. of determination and
bravery. And I for one do not doubt the
story.
Mrs. Emma Higley of Vermont read q
genealogical paper on the Brewster branch
Of the family.
The next paper was on the Vermont Hig-
leys by George T. Higley, and was re-
ceived with great applause. Professor
Edward Hall Higley also read historical
Higley paper and then the closing paper Of
the day was read by Judge Warren Higley
entitled '"The Higley Reunion"
To-day the party went to drive to places
of interest in the surrounding country, in,
Guiding sNewgate prison and Tariffville
gorge, and have an old fashioned clambake
at Bartlett's tower. Among the prominent
members of the family and guests present
were Mr.. Arson Higley of Batavia, N
Y, Major M. A. Higley Of Cedar Rapids
Iowa, and Jeffrey O. Phelps, Ralph H
Ensign, and Messrs. Emo and Pettibone OF
Simsbury.