Joseph Higginson
SGT Joseph Higginson was a British Royal Marine and veteran of the Napoleonic Wars. He served as a sergeant aboard HMS President during the Invasion of Java, when British forces captured the Dutch East Indies from Franco–Dutch control. For his service he later received the Naval General Service Medal with the "Java" clasp.
After leaving the service following an injury, Higginson returned to his native Tyldesley in Lancashire, where he worked as a cotton weaver in a cotton mill before marrying his cousin, Martha Dickenson, in 1830. Living to the age of 88, he was one of the last surviving veterans of the Java campaign and was commemorated in local newspapers upon his death.
Early life
Birth
Joseph Higginson was born on 11 October 1792 to James and Mary in his childhood home on Well Street, Tyldesley, Lancashire. He was baptised on 24 October the same year at St Mary's, Leigh, in the Kingdom of Great Britain. The 1881 census lists him as Joseph Wright Higginson, possibly due to a clerical error rather than a true middle name.Ancestry
His father James Higginson was born on 21 June 1767 in Shakerley to Thomas and Jane Higginson, both natives of Shakerley, and was baptised the following day at Chowbent Chapel in Atherton. On 4 November 1783, James married Mary Johnson in St Mary's, Leigh. James's occupation was listed as a Weaver and they were both of Leigh Parish. James died on 17 October 1842 of Paralysis in his home on Well Street, Tyldesley; he was buried in St George's Church, Tyldesley on 21 Oct 1842.Military service
Recruitment
At the age of 18 in 1810, Higginson enlisted in Manchester as a private in the Royal Marines, having been persuaded to join by a recruitment agent. He was later promoted to sergeant. On 31 December 1810, under the control of Captain Samuel Warren, he embarked aboard HMS President, heading for the Cape of Good Hope. After a short stop at the Cape, they sailed along the frigates and, part of the fleet sent to support the British invasion of Java. The campaign aimed to seize the Dutch East Indies, then under the Kingdom of Holland allied to Napoleon Bonaparte.Invasion of Java
On the 31 August 1811, a royal marine expedition was sent out to the Fort of Cheribon, HMS Nisus, President, Phoebe and Hesper landed with a total force of 180 men under the control of Captain Welchman to intercept a retreat from the Dutch General Jan Willem Janssens. Cheribon surrendered and became occupied by Captain Welchman and his forces, however an impending attack caused the troops to leave and be replaced by Seamen. It is unknown if at this point he was aboard HMS President.The Anglo–Indian force captured Batavia in August 1811 and defeated Franco–Dutch troops at the Battle of Fort Cornelis, securing the island. Muster rolls for HMS President confirm the ship’s presence in the Java operations during this period. The victory removed the last major French foothold in the East Indies and secured British trade routes to India and China.
According to his obituary, Higginson was wounded during the campaign in August 1826 in which he was shot in the ankle and received a 'Light' saber scar. He was consequently returned home without completing the 18 years of required service needed for a pension.
He later regretted not rejoining the service after he recovered.
Naval General Service Medal
In 1847, the Admiralty authorised the award of the Naval General Service Medal to surviving veterans of actions between 1793 and 1840. The award was not automatic; veterans had to apply for it more than three decades after the events.He received his medal in 1848 with the "Java" clasp. His name is also listed in the alphabetical roll of recipients compiled by John Hayward and Colin Message, which records surviving holders of the medal.
Research has highlighted the rarity of this clasp—only 665 were issued and approximately 278 known to survive—his surviving medal and portrait photographs are of interest to naval and local historians.
His name also appears in later compilations of medal recipients, including the Greenwich Medal Roll published by the Guild of One-Name Studies, which documents surviving holders of the Naval General Service Medal.
Joseph Higginson was not a recipient of the Java Medal, as he was not a soldier in an army of the East India Company.
Married Life
On 19 December 1830, Higginson married his cousin, Martha Dickenson, at St Mary the Virgin's Church, Leigh.Martha was born on 12 June 1786 in Winsford, Cheshire to Thomas and Sarah Dickenson but was baptised on the 19 July 1786 at St Mary's Church, Stockport; she worked in the cotton industry as a Cotton Winder whereas Joseph was a Cotton Weaver, a position he held until retirement only after Martha died on 28 October 1869.
Census returns listed their residence as Well Street, and it is known that they were tenants as the house changed ownership in 1866. Together, they lived with Joseph's father James until his death in 1842, at which Joseph was present for and due to Martha's age, the couple never had any children.
Later life
reported that Higginson regretted not returning to fight after recovering from his wounds and that he was remembered for hoisting the Union Jack in commemoration of his service.After his wife’s death in 1869 following a 14-day illness of bronchitis, Higginson retired from being a cotton weaver and went to live with his cousin Joseph Higginson, his wife, Margaret, and their eight children.
In 1871, the family resided 8 Higham's Square, a court of 10 terraced houses and one outdoor building that held two toilets and a communal tap, it was later demolished in the 1940s to make way for the houses on Maesbrook drive. It is known that the family kept chicken in the cellar which was deemed unsanitary and as a result shifted location.
Then in 1881, the family were listed as residing at 5 Patchett Street in Tyldesley, where he remained until his death. In 1873, he became almost blind, and in 1877, he was photographed with his relative Martha Higginson.
Illness and death
By 1881 his health was declining rapidly. Beginning in January, Higginson was confined to bed for a 35-week illness, suffering from mortification of both legs, most likely due to a lack of blood flow to the extremities caused by age based deterioration. On 18 September 1881, aged 88, Higginson died without issue, at his home at 5 Patchett Street, just three weeks from his 89th birthday.His death was registered on 19 September by the daughter of his cousin Joseph, Margaret Higginson, who was present at his death with the cause of death being recorded as senile debility.
Coincidentally, Higginson died on the 70th anniversary of the Dutch surrender of Java, which was also on the 18th September 1811.
He was buried at St George's Church, Tyldesley, on 21 September, alongside his wife. The cemetery lies about 100 m from his last address, and his gravestone does not survive; in addition to that, Higginson has no known will or probate record. His obituary appeared in both the The Bolton Evening News and the The Leigh Journal.