Potter: Unmarked.
Image courtesy: Paul de'Ath
Thomas Wigan was born in Bristol, baptised on 20 April 1755 at Bristol St. John the Baptist, son of Goldsmith, Silversmith, Watch and Clock Maker and Jeweller, Thomas Wig(g)an Sen., and his wife Sarah Purnel (married 25 March 1754 at St. Leonard's). Thomas's jewellers was at 22 Bridge Street at the time of his death. Thomas the elder had two sons, Thomas aforesaid, who followed his father's profession in Bristol, and Edward who was a goldsmith in London. Edward was baptised at St. Mary le Port on 14 September 1758.
Thomas Wigan the younger married Elizabeth Mary James by license at St. Philip and Jacob's, Bristol on 29 August 1780. They had a son Thomas William, born 1782, baptised 30 August 1782 at St. Nicholas; a daughter Elizabeth, born around July 1784, and son John Warren, born January 1786, both baptised at St. Nicholas on 31 January 1786; a daughter Jane born 8 January 1787, and a son Warren born January 1788, both baptised at St. Nicholas on 20 November 1788.There were four more children all baptised together at St. Nicholas on 24 September 1794: James, born 16 January 1789; Samuel, born 10 May 1791; Henry, born 23 June 1792, and John, born 30 September 1793.
From the London Gazette, 19 April 1785, Issue: 12640, Page:198: "THE Creditors who have proved their Debts under a Commission of Bankrupt awarded and issued against Thomas Wigan the Younger, of the City of Bristol, Banker, Goldsmith, Silversmith, Dealer and Chapman, are desired to meet the Assignees of the said Bankrupt's Estate and Effects, on Thursday the 28th Day of April instant, at Eleven in the Forenoon, at the White Lyon Inn, in Broad-street, in Bristol aforesaid, in order to assent to or dissent from the said Assignees commencing, prosecuting, or defending any Suit or Suits at Law or in Equity concerning the said Bankrupt's Estate and Effects; and also to their compounding, submitting to Arbitration, or otherwise agreeing any Matter or Thing relating thereto; and on other special Affairs."
From the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 29 April 1790 page 2: "Died...Mr. Thomas Wigan, sen. formerly a respectable goldsmith, of Bristol."
Both Thomas and Edward received £1500 each under their late father's will. Thomas the younger's bankruptcy is mentioned in his father's will.
From at least 1787 until October 1793 Thomas Wigan was in partnership with Warren Jane and Thomas Heaven as Jane, Wigan & Co., Wholesale Woollen Warehousemen, partnership dissolved 2 October 1793. In Feb. 1793 Thomas leased property in Orchard Street, Queen Elizabeth's Hospital Lands, from the Corporation of Bristol.
From London Metropolitan Archives Reference: MS 11936/351/538600, Records of Sun Fire Office: Insured: Warren Jane and Thomas Wigan junr, Bristol, woollen merchants. The property concerned was Woollen Hall, in King Street, Bristol. Date: 21 December 1787.
Thomas's mother Sarah died in November 1794.
Thomas Wigan was later in partnership with Edward Jones as Spirit Dealers and Vinegar Makers in Bristol, but this partnership was dissolved 1 January 1797. (London Gazette). Thomas carried on on his own account.
From Bristol Archives Reference: 5535/38/a-b : Transfer of Mortgage by Lease and Release to secure £800 - Wm. Trotman and Thomas Wigan, wine and brandy merchant, eldest son of Thomas Wigan, original mortgagee to Francis Sowerby of Bristol, brush maker - The Red Lodge, etc. dated 13-14 May 1808.
From the Bristol Mirror - Saturday 11 November 1809 page 3: "Thursday se’nnight died, after a short illness, at his father’s house, Puriton, in the county Somerset, Mr. Samuel Wigan, aged 19, third son of Mr. T. Wigan, late this city: a youth who, for his great abilities and amiable disposition, will long and deservedly regretted by his distressed relatives and friends."
Edward Wigan, Thomas's brother, and late lieutenant-colonel in the West London Militia, died at Highbury Terrace, Islington, London on Tues. 22 March 1814.
In Feb. 1815 Thomas Wigan was a merchant at 23 Pritchard Street.
Thomas quit his residence at 16 Duke Street in Bristol, where he had lived since at least 1819, in 1822, and the sale of the house contents, including a Slater's Patent Steam Kitchen, took place on 19 and 20 March 1822.
Thomas Wigan jnr. died in Portishead on 12 May 1841 in his 87th year. He was interred at St. Maryleport, Bristol on 18 May.
| 2 Gallon Brownware Flagon | |
| Impressed:
Wigan / Bristol Potter: Unmarked. Image courtesy: Paul de'Ath |
| 4 Gallon Brownware Flagon |  |
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| Impressed:
Wigan / Bristol Potter: Unknown. |
