Rev. John Higginson was a Puritan Minister and one of the leading persecutors in the Salem Witch Trials. He conducted examinations of the accused, witnessed confessions, warrants for arrest, and officiated at excommunications and executions.

His daughter, Ann Dolliver was accused of and arrested for witchcraft.

Salem Deaths: Higginson, Francis, s. John, 3d and Hannah (Gardner), Nov. 29, 1705 29

Salem Deaths: Higginson, Henry, s. John, 3d and Hannah (Gardner), Dec 1, 1708 [Dec. 1, 1709, a. 14 m. 7 d. g.r.1] 29

Salem Deaths: Higginson, Sarah, w. Rev. John, July 8, 1675, a. 55 y. g.r.1 29

A genealogical link for Rev. John Higginson and Sarah Whitfield.

A short biography on John Higginson.

Court held at Salem, Nov. 1683: There being a complaint made against William Daliver (Dolliver) that he had lived in a course of idleness, neglecting his family and taking no care to provide for them, but bringing them to suffering and having now gone out of this colony, leaving them in distress, court ordered that Mr. John Higgenson, sr., his father-in-law, together with his wife, take into their posession what remains of said Daliver's estate that it might be preserved for the support of his family until the court take further order, or until his return and good behavior.
  Petition of John Higginson to this court: "Whereas William Doliver marrying my daughter Anne Higginson Octob. 4 last was twelve-moneth, he hath the most part of his time ever since lived in such an Idle course as to do nothing towards a livelyhood for himselfe & Family but hath spent much of his Wines portion; & when he began to be in some employment, he hath so carried himselfe as to cut himselfe from it: nor will he hearken to ye Counsell of any of his friends, but is gone we know not whither, seeming to desert his wife & child, taking no care of them nor shewing any way how they shall be provided for. By wch means it is come to pass yt his wife & child will either be in a perishing way, or be a charge to ye towne or have their totall (& for ought I see perpetuall) dependence upon me for their maintenance, wch I am not able to bear.35

In 1675 and 1676 John Higgenson's license was renewed for "retailing strong waters" 36