Thomas Higgins was born circa 1740 in Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom and died 1829 Field of Mars, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia of unspecified causes. He married Eleanor McDonald (c1754-1835) 31 January 1799 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Thomas Higgins - convict on the Surprize in 1790 (2nd Fleet)
Thomas was convicted at the Derby Assizes on 17 March 1788 of stealing a black mare, a capital offence. He was sentenced to death, but this was later commuted to 7 years transportation.
On 31 January 1799 he married Eleanor McDonald (she had arrived on "Lady Juliana" in 1790). She was the widow of David Kilpack (c1757-1797), and Thomas became step-father to her daughters. Thomas and Eleanor had one son, Thomas Edward Higgins Jnr.
In the 1806 muster Thomas is shown as a "Landholder" with 30 acres (12ha) "Love purchase". Eleanor is shown as "Eleanor McDonald" employed at "Kilnack"(sic), the name of their farm.
On 4 July 1809 a 100 (40ha) acre grant at the Field of Mars was transferred to Thomas Edward Higgins from James Meehan. (It is from this document that we learn that his middle name was Edward.)
On 12 September 1812 Thomas appears on a list of people permitted to receive cattle from government stores on credit.
His wife Eleanor, as "Eleanor Kilpack" received an additional grant of 60 acres (24ha) of land in 1816. On the list of persons to receive grants of land dated 16 January 1816 her address was listed as "On Farm" and the person who recommended her for the grant was "Mrs McArthur". Her 1st husband David Kilpack had sold his land grants to John Macarthur and then stayed on to work for him as an overseer (manager).
On 14 April 1825 Thomas Edward Higgins received a grant of 100 acres (40ha) of land.
In the 1828 census he is shown farming 350 acres (141ha) of land at Field of Mars with his wife and son Thomas Edward Higgins Jnr. This included the 30 acre (12ha) "love purchse" owned before 1806, the 100 acre (40ha) grant transferred to Thomas Edward Higgins in 1809, the additional grant of 60 acres (24ha) his wife received in 1816, the 100 acres (40ha) granted to Thomas Edward Higgins in 1825, and a final 60 acres (24ha) purchased along the way. Of the total landholding 20 acres (8ha) was cleared and cultivated. They owned 5 horned cattle.
Thomas Edward Higgins died in 1829.
Siblings
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Thomas Edward Higgins (1800-1855) | |||
Residences
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
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