Brothers- Joseph and George Biggs

[dariusnoel99]

Hello! My name is Darius Noel from the United States. My ggg grandfather was John Biggs born 7 June 1831 in Kimpton, Hertfordshire, England. He married his first wife Ellen Ann Whitemore (1826-1909) 26 March 1853 in Offley, Hertfordshire, England. They had two children Joseph Biggs (1853-1932) and George Biggs (1855-1944) both born in Hertfordshire. I'm looking for any information on these two brothers and their families, Especially George. I know he married a woman named Charlotte Folds in 1876 and they had 7 children. Their father John Biggs immigrated to the United States in 1861 leaving his family behind in England. John Biggs married 3 times in America, I descend through his 3rd wife. In the late 80's or early 90's some of our family had contact a granddaughter of Joseph Biggs (1853-1932) named Edna May Ivory who I believe has since passed. Her husband's name was Thomas G. Jones. Edna was the daughter of Florence Biggs (1891-1981) who married Stanley Henry Ivory. Florence was the daughter of Joseph and his wife Alice Chapman. This Biggs family, from my research, lived in the Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire areas. I would love to get in contact with anyone who may be searching or have any information on this line. Thank you!

[Lesley Robertson]

Welcome to the British Genealogy Forum, Darius.
Have a wander round and see what we have where - most forums have General messages “stuck” to the top, and giving info about where to find information on that particular subject.
Note that You’re getting close to our rule that data on (possibly) living people cannot be published on line!

Have you checked the census (every 10 years from 1841-1911)? Where else have you looked?

[christanel]

Welcome from me also

just as a start on researching George
1861 census RG9 Piece 821 Folio 46 Page 20
Cottage, Offley hertfordshire
John Bigg 29, Ag lab
Ann Bigg 34 Plaiter
Joseph Bigg 8
George Bigg 6
Thomas Whittimore 73 Widower, Visitor Ag lab
Hannah Whittimore 31 Unmarried, visitor, plaiter
All born Offley

There is a tree on ancestry that has death and probate for George in 1939 but I haven't followed him through the censuses yet to determine if he is your George. His death in February was too early for him to be entered on the 1939 register so isn't any help with possible relatives although the probate record says it was granted to a William Bigg - decorator.
Christina

[Megan Roberts]

The 1853 marriage is registered under the name of BIGG, and Ellen Ann was recorded as simply ANN.
In the 1861 Census they are again recorded under the name BIGG in Offley - Class: RG 9; Piece: 821; Folio: 46; Page: 20. He was 29 and an agricultural labourer and she 34 and a “plaiter”. I am guessing that it was her father and sister who were visiting them. There her maiden name is shown as WHITTIMORE.

Ann appears to have vanished from the censuses until 1901 when aged 74 she is in Kings Walden, Hertfordshire with her son Joseph and his family. Class: RG13; Piece: 1300; Folio: 102; Page: 21 all recorded as BEGGS
Joseph Beggs 48
Alice Beggs 44
Ellen Beggs 24
John W Beggs 20
Eliza Beggs 18
Kate J Beggs 15
Jane Beggs 12
Florice Beggs 9
Ann Beggs 74

Using Joseph as a reference I have now found Ann living in Kings Walden in 1871 – Piece 1369, Folio 126 Page 4 under the name BIGG. Interestingly on the enumerator’s form she was originally recorded as “married” and then that was crossed out and substituted with “wife husband away”. I don’t think that I have seen that before.

By the 1881 Census she was again in Kings Walden with Joseph and his family. George is not there, and they are recorded under BIGG. Class: RG11; Piece: 1420; Folio: 116; Page: 15.

George in fact is married to Lucy with his own family and living in Cockolds Cross, Hertfordshire. Also there are his mother in law and brother in law with the surname HAWKS. George and his family are recorded under BIGG. He and Lucy married in 1876 in Kimpton.

In the 1911 Census they are living at High Street, Kimpton, Welwyn, Hertfordshire under BIGG, and he is described as a jobbing gardener. They have had 11 children, 3 of whom have died. I have found 10 of the births all of which were registered in Hitchin under BIGG:

Bigg William 1879
Bigg Frank 1881
Bigg Alfred 1883
Bigg Ellen 1885
Bigg Kate 1887
Bigg Ethel 1889
Bigg Ella 1890
Bigg Hubert 1892
Bigg Mabel 1894

George (I think ) died 1 Feb 1839 in Harpenden as there is a probate entry for him on 27 Feb 1939. Again the entry is as BIGG. Probate was given to William Bigg.

[Megan Roberts]

In the 1911 Census Joseph is listed under BIGGS and was said to have had 9 children, 3 of whom had died. Living with him and Alice were two adult daughters unmarried: Ellen Ann aged 34 and Eliza aged 29. There was also a 9 year old granddaughter Gertrude Maude Biggs. Her birth registration does not show a mother’s maiden name implying that she was illegitimate.

[Megan Roberts]

I have now traced the 3 eldest of George's children, two of whom don't appear on the list above:

Walter 1878
1881 Census Piece: 1420; Folio: 83; Page: 3
1891 Census Piece: 1108; Folio: 94; Page: 3
1911 Census : Rockland, 27 Reginald Street, Luton, Beds: married to Amy Ethel Eastaff (1908) – No children
1939 Register - Luton, Bedfordshire living with Amy
Died 13 May 1954 Luton – probate to his wife.
Does not appear to have had children.

Bigg William 1879
1881 Census Piece: 1420; Folio: 83; Page: 3
1891 Census Piece: 1108; Folio: 94; Page: 3
1902 married Ellen Gunnell at St. Albans, Hertfordshire
1911 Census : High Street, Harpenden, Herts: married 8 years with 1 child Maurice William Charles (b. 1907)
Died 22 Oct 1950 Hertfordshire – Probate to widow Ellen Bigg and Maurice William Charles Bigg
1931 Maurice married St. Albans Lillian C.P.
1939 Register – 1 child Warwick F.C. aged 4 – as that record is available to be seen, Warwick must have died, as there is a 100 year rule on these records, unless the person has died.
Maurice died Sept 1993 Truro, Cornwall – born 29 Oct 1906

Edith 1880
1881 Census Piece: 1420; Folio: 83; Page: 3
1891 Census Piece: 1108; Folio: 94; Page: 3
1901 Census Piece: 1309; Folio: 34; Page: 17
1910 Married Charles W Odell St Albans
1911 Census: Bury Green, Wheathampstead, Herts : married 1 child Helena
1939 Register : St Albans, Hertfordshire widow with 6 or 7 children
7 Oct 1942 son Philip Lionel died – see Commonwealth War Graves records
19 Dec 1853 Died – see Find a Grave

[Megan Roberts]

Here is what I have found out about the rest of George's children:

Bigg Frank 1881
1891 Census Piece: 1108; Folio: 94; Page: 3
25 Feb 1902 Died Gzetshiuct – South Africa Boer War – Private 4th Bedford regiment

Bigg Alfred 1883
1891 Census Piece: 1108; Folio: 94; Page: 3
1901 Census RG13; Piece: 1300; Folio: 63
1911 Census High Street, Kimpton, Welwyn, Herts
1913 married Katherine S Ayers at Hitchin Hertfordshire
1939 Register Hitchin, Hertfordshire
12 May 1958 died Kimpton
I have not identified any children

Bigg Ellen 1885
1891 Died Hitchin – this is why she does not appear on any Census

Bigg Kate 1887
1891 Census Piece: 1108; Folio: 94; Page: 3
1901 Census Piece: 1300; Folio: 63; Page: 13
1911 Census High Street, Kimpton, Welwyn, Herts
1939 Register Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England – unmarried and living with her unmarried sister Ella
25 Apr 1970 died 19 High Street, Kimpton Hertfordshire

Bigg Ethel 1889
1891 Census Piece: 1108; Folio: 94; Page: 3
1901 and 1911 censuses with her parents
1965 died Hitchin

Bigg Ella 1890
1891 Census Piece: 1108; Folio: 94; Page: 3
1939 Register Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England – unmarried and living with her unmarried sister Kate
7 Jan 1970 died 19 High Street, Kimpton Hertfordshire

Bigg Hubert 1892
1892 died Hitchin

Bigg Mabel 1894
1928 Married Henry W Burbridge at Hitchin
27 Jan 1985 died Chichester
Probably had 1 son; Cecil H born 1928 at Westhampnett, Sussex

[tracy23]

Hi there I have sent you a private message I am also related to the same John biggs.