"100. Cornelius5 Higgins (Ebenezer4, Ichabod3, Benjamin2, Richard1), born July 21, 1722, at Eastham, Mass.; died Oct. 14, 1803, at Haddam, Conn.; … Cornelius Higgins removed from Eastham to Haddam, Conn., about 1744. He left a will dated Jan. 16, 1800, probated Oct. 31, 1803, which names wife Mary and all his children. His services in the Revolutionary War were important. From the records it is impracticable to distinguish his services from those of his son Cornelius, and probably some records are included here which belong to the latter. He was also a Justice of the Peace, or local magistrate. He had been an officer in the Haddam militia company, and served from June, 1776, to Dec. 25, 1776, as captain of the 8th co. of Col. William Douglas s Fifth Battalion of Wadsworth's Brigade; raised to reinforce Washington at New York; served in the City and on the Brooklyn front, being at the right of the line of works at the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776. Engaged in retreat to New York, Aug. 28-30; stationed with militia brigade under Colonel Douglas at Kip's Bay, 34th st., on East River at time of the enemy's attack on New York, Sept. 15, and forced to retreat hurriedly. At Battle of White Plains, Oct. 28. Term expired Dec. 25, 1776."
