Introduction

George Higgins served as a gunner with the Royal Horse Artillery. After leaving the regiment, he moved to Gloucester, where he married and had two sons. Unfortunately, George was a pauper in the Gloucester workhouse by his mid-fifties, and it is unclear what happened to him later.

Childhood

George Higgins was born at Hardington Marsh in about 1847. He was the youngest of nine children born to William Bishop Higgins, a farm labourer, and his wife, Hannah (nee Genge).

His father died when George was about ten years old, and by the age of 14, George was working as a farm labourer.

Military career

By April 1871, George was a gunner with the Royal Horse Artillery at Aldershot.

Married life

After leaving the army, George moved to Gloucester.

On 3 August 1885, he married Mary Jane Leaver at the parish church of St Mark in Gloucester. At that time, George was a hostler and lived at 6 Sherborne Street, Gloucester, while Mary lived at 33 Sherborne Street. Mary was the daughter of a gardener.

The couple had two sons: George, born in 1886, and William, born in 1888.

By April 1891, the family lived in a four-room house at 60 Suffolk Street, Gloucester. At that time, George was a general labourer.

Poverty

In March 1901, George was in the Gloucester workhouse.

He has not been traced after this date.