pg 238665
Benjamin resided in Eastham, probably on land a which had belonged to his afther at Pochet, now in east Orleans. On 02 Mar 1668-69, he was sued at law by peregrine White for damages of 16 pounds for not paying a debt to him, the said White. However, the parties came to an agreement and the suit was withdrawn. Benjamin was a Freeman of the Colony probably as early as 1675 and very probably a soldier in King Philip's War. On 07 Jan 1676, he was one of the Grand Inquest, on 05 May 1685 he was chosen Constable of the town, and on 02 Jun 1685, he was confirmed by the General Court at Plymouth. On 06 Sep 1686, he was chosen juryman for actions at the County Court at Barnstable and on 04 Jun 1688, he was chosen one of the Selectmen at Eastham and again on 03 Jun 1690. "...August 26, 1689, the Town have chosen Thomas Paine Sr, Daniel Doane and benjamin Higgins, for grandjurie men for the remainder of the present year... he was one of the witnesses of the will of John Young of Eastham in 1688 and one of the appraisers of the estate.. An inventory of the estate of Benjamin, amounting to 85 pounds in real estate and 206 pounds in personal estate was rendered 19 jun 1691, and sworn to by Mrs Lydia Higgins, administrix, five days later. "...Memorandum that Ichabod Higgins (the eldest son) hath already had 10 pounds and a piece of land on which his house stood, appraised at 9 pounds..." An agreement was made that Ichabod should have in cattle , bedding, wearing clothes, powder and bullets , saddle and cloth, cattle, sheep and cash 20 pounds; Lydia should have cattle, sheep, an iron pot, books, cloth and cash 20 pounds; Isaac a gun, ammunition, a cutlass, cartridgebox, bedding, clothing, cattle, sheep and cash 20 pounds; benjamin was to have two-thirds of the housing and one-third of the lands and meadows; the widow to have her legal third part... "8th-great-grandfather, Benjamin Higgins, was 50 when he died in 1691..