Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Higson, John
HIGSON, JOHN (1825–1871), local antiquary and topographer, of Lees, near Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, was born in 1825 at Whitely Farm, Gorton, Lancashire. He resided for many years at Droylsden, where he was employed as cashier of the Springhead Cotton-spinning Company, was a zealous supporter of the Droylsden Mechanics' Institute, and an active church worker for years at Leesfield. He died at Lees, 13 Dec. 1871, leaving a widow and seven children. Although to a great extent self-taught, Higson early became an industrious collector of facts of local history and antiquities, some of which relating to his native place he published under the title of ‘Gorton Historical Recorder, … a History of the Chapelry, illustrating the Rise of the Mesne Manor,’ with illustrations, Droylsden, 1852, 12mo. He also published a local history of Droylsden. With some friends he started a Droylsden paper on liberal-conservative lines, which proved a failure. He was a contributor to the ‘Ashton Reporter’ from its commencement in 1855, under the signature ‘H.’ At the time of his death he was engaged on a ‘Glossary of Lancashire Idioms.’
[Ashton Reporter, 16 Dec. 1871, and information from private sources.]