The earliest Higginbotham in the line is Edward, born about 1660, who was the father of John (b.1686) in Wingerworth. John married Mary and together they had six sons and one daughter. The first born son, Edward (b. 1718) in Wingerworth married Esther Ashley, who was born in North Wingfield (about 1721). The Ashleys are traced back to about 1653 in North Wingfield.

Edward and Esther's eldest son, John, who was one of 3 children, was born in Wingerworth in 1761, married Elizabeth Bramley, who was also born in North Wingfield. Together they had 8 children, one of whom, Edward, born in 1789, was the father of Martha, mother of my great grandfather, John Higginbottom, who was to marry James Foulds.

The North Wingfield Parish register shows Edward's christening as 15 Mar 1793 Parents John Higginbotham and Elizabeth Bramley. He is described in the Baptismal Register for North Wingfield at the baptism of his daughter Elizabeth as' Ankerbold Miner'. Ankerbold is a small hamlet near Clay Cross. The colliery was situated near where Clay Cross station was situated. His Death Certificate shows: Occupation - coal miner Cause of death - Old age - No medical attendant Informant - X the mark of James Foulds - in attendance - Tupton Registry entry Sept 1860 Chesterfield 7b 267.

His age is given as 71, which gives a discrepancy of four years between birth and baptism. While this discrepancy is unwelcome these things sometimes happen. Perhaps James Foulds just got his age wrong.