Isaac Higgintoot is the ghost of a gay Revolutionary War veteran and former member of the American Continental Congress who died of dysentery. He appears in the American sitcom Ghosts.
Biography[]
History[]
In the episode Hello!, a website that outlines his life just says that he went to Dartmouth University and how he died. He was mentioned in one academic journal in a footnote. When he narrates to Sam about his life, he says that his wife Beatrice was a "handsome woman." Then goes on to say they slept in separate bedrooms to "keep their flame alive." His wife's nickname for him was "Cricket".[3]
Despite the fact that Hetty says "they were all parents" when they talk to Sam and Jay about the vandals needing a punishment in the episode Halloween, with only Sasappis vocalizing that he didn't have kids, Isaac didn't have any kids.
He lies about saying that he was at the Boston Tea Party when in fact he was at his aunt Geraldine's house in Flower's Article. However, he was outside the door when they signed the Declaration of Independence, he claims he would have been in there if they hadn't started early as mentioned in Viking Funeral. In the episode The Baby Bjorn he said he once had dinner with Benedict Arnold.
Three of his five nephews survived the winter as he said in the episode The Liquor License. He has at least one sibling or an in-law that has children. All of his sisters died before the age of two.[4]
Isaac also mentions that he wanted to join the Freemasons but was denied access. He did do a delivery for Benjamin Franklin.[5] He mentions that he was talked into getting a big carriage.
He did reach the rank of Captain and developed a certain enmity for Alexander Hamilton and a propensity for mocking his contemporaries, like Benjamin Franklin and General William Howe.
He also tried to develop the "Eyesaac," a re-1800s rifle with a telescope to shoot at the British. The fact it wasn't developed might be because he accidentally shot British Lieutenant colonel Nigel Chessum. After negotiating the unconditional surrender with the British at Fort Ticonderoga, he retreated with the Continental Forces for New York City, eventually contracting dysentery. Ironically, he had mocked his soldiers' efforts to stave off the disease. Two weeks after departing the fort, he died and was buried in the vicinity of Woodstone Mansion.
He became interested in the revolution around the time of the stamp act. He said that the tax was unjust to the colonies, because they were paying for the war England had with France.
Isaac negotiated the surrender of Fort Ticonderoga, allowing them to keep their horses which was later used for food as said in Isaac's Book.
In the episode Jay's Friends he says he was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress and partook in difficult negotiations.
He claims "It was my letters that inspired the public to demand a second watering trough outside the statehouse" in the episode The Tree.
Death[]
Two weeks after his involvement in the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, he died of dysentery. Sasappis revealed that in Isaac's dying moments, he witnessed a woman bring him his uniform while calling him "cricket". Sasappis had thought the woman was a nurse but Isaac realized it was his wife Beatrice who was there for him in his final moments of life.
Afterlife[]
In 1883 when Woodstone was just being wired for electricity, a workman electrified himself and Isaac possessed him. Isaac didn't leave the ghost boundary as Hetty clearly remembers the exorcism performed on the worker which expelled Isaac from the man as mentioned in Possession. While he was possessing the man he could feel and taste everything the man did.
He first tells Hetty that he likes Nigel and is gay in Thorapy. Isaac invites Nigel to the party in Halloween 2: The Ghost of Hetty's Past which is the first time they go together as a couple. He also learns about Isaac's ghost power. They get engaged in The Heir.
Hetty and Isaac have an afternoon ponder together as mentioned in A Date To Remember. They have been friends for about 130 years as mentioned in Thorapy.
Sam wrote his life story and gets it published in Isaac's Book.
Appearance[]
Isaac has long brown hair that he has pulled back into a ponytail. It's tied back with a navy blue ribbon. In the episode, The Work Retreat, he styles it differently and wears it down. He wears a navy-colored jacket with gold shoulder epaulets. The jackets sleeves have tan cuffs and lace. The jacket is worn on top of a tan-colored vest and breeches. Gold buttons outline his jacket, sleeves, vest, and breeches. He wears a fluffy, white cravat around his neck and underneath his vest. He wears black boots.
Personality[]
Isaac has a very outgoing and extroverted personality. He likes being in the center of attention, which is also why he sees himself as a leader, however he can be very shy, especially when it comes to relationships, as evidenced by the early stages of his relationship with Nigel. He can be very selfish and irrational, for example, when he refused to share his money with Sam and Jay, although they were struggling financially. Despite this, he can be a very good friend and person, for example, in Holes Are Bad, he is the only ghost that showed concern about Hetty and wanted to comfort her after she saved Flower from the well.
He has difficulty reading others' emotions and social cues. He isn't great at communicating and sometimes even tries to avoid it, as shown in Spies, when he doesn't want to ask Nigel if he has a problem with the mansion.
He had a difficult time accepting that he is gay, even trying to prove to himself that he isn't by seducing Hetty in Thorapy, because he was afraid of how others would perceive him. He also felt guilty about being in a relationship with Nigel, because Isaac thought his wife Beatrice hated him for ruining her life by trapping her in a sham marriage.
Isaac is afraid of change and doesn't like it when things move forward too quickly, as shown by his relationship with Nigel, which, according to Nigel and even the other ghosts, seemed like it wasn't moving forward at all sometimes.
He sees himself as an important person and historical figure, despite nobody outside of the ghosts really knowing who he is, and he always wants to be the best at everything.
He likes starting drama and doing things that he knows aren't right on purpose, just because he wants to make his afterlife more entertaining.
Isaac does not appear to be thrilled that others know his cause of death. Before dating Nigel, he is embarrassed by his abilities and lies. Eventually, he seems to be more accepting of his abilities.
Quotes[]
"Ooh, she's about to surrender; Nigel, this must take you back"
— The Heir
"I'll ask Samantha if we can just use one of the extra guest rooms. If she says "no" I'll just tell her she's being homophobic — it gets stuff done"
— The Heir
"Well, back to the closet."
— D&D
Trivia[]
- Opening intro objects:
- Spyglass (D&D)
- Miniature horse and carriage (The Liquor License)
- T-Rex plush toy (Hello, Brother)
- Vampire fangs (The Primary Source)
- He is the American version of the Captain.
- He is the third-oldest ghost (after Thorfinn and Sasappis).
- He is appalled that curse words are sometimes used as positive terms, e.g. 'bitches' and 'bastard'. He's also surprised about 'horsey' sauce from Arby's.[6]
- His best mate when he was alive was named Edward. He also mentions that he wouldn't blame his wife if she remarried to him after he died.[7]
- He can recite the Magna Carta.
- He considers Massachusetts a lesser colony.[8]
- Isaac understands contracts and how they work.
- He doesn't like to hear Pete's camping stories.[9]
- He's celebrated 280 Christmases as of 2022.[10]
- Isaac found Alberta's boyfriend Earl Boudreaux attractive.[11]
- He mentions having known James Madison.[12]
- His parents changed their last name to get out of some outstanding debts.
- Isaac held jobs as an officer, attorney, squirrel taxidermist, and barber in his lifetime.[13]
- He develops a fascination with dinosaurs after learning that they were real.[14]
- He always suspected that Hetty's son Thomas was gay and felt validated when he learned it was true, but acknowledged it was not the time to celebrate as Hetty had just revealed her son killed Alberta.
- He liked and trusted Benedict Arnold when he was alive as mentioned in Sam's Dad.
- He gave himself the nickname Iceman then Ice, to the annoyance of the other ghosts.
- Chris is the only person to call him by the nickname Ice.
- According to Brandon Scott Jones, Isaac never had children.[15]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Halloween 4: The Witch
- ↑ The Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, which Sasappis witnessed and Isaac was involved in, occurred between 2 July and 6 July 1777. This range of dates of death assumes Isaac died exactly two weeks later.
- ↑ The Christmas Spirit, Part Two
- ↑ Jay's Sister
- ↑ The Liquor License
- ↑ The Perfect Assistant
- ↑ Pete's Wife
- ↑ Ghostwriter
- ↑ Weekend From Hell
- ↑ The Christmas Spirit
- ↑ Whodunnit
- ↑ Man of Your Dreams
- ↑ The Silent Partner
- ↑ Hello, Brother
- ↑ Interview with the Ghosts cast for Los Angeles Times