Born in Simsbury, Connecticut, younger brother of John Higley, Jr. The Simsbury area would be renamed Granby in 1786. Married Abigail Bemon September 19, 1719. They had a son and two daughters.

He may have attended Collegiate School, later named Yale College. He taught school for a few years and studied medicine. He became a doctor after his application for a license was approved although he had no official medical degree.

Higley could make more money (pun intended) as a blacksmith. He was the first person to produce steel in America. On July 29, 1728, he purchased 143 acres of land adjacent to property he had inherited. On this land he operated the Higley copper mine and struck coins from that copper. Relatively few of these pieces dated 1737 were produced.

Higley sailed for England with a load of copper ore in May 1737. The ship was lost at sea and Higley died at age 50. His date of birth and date of death are unknown.

bio: NUM 89 Sep 1976 pages 1955-1966