Wiggerham

Answer to a question raised by one of your members Mr Alan Fincher and Mr David Schweizer concerning the above. John Wiggerham of Napton on the Hill was my great, great, great, grandfather. He was born in 1772 and died in 1818. In 1799 he married Theresa Vintrignier a wealthy French lady who fled to England to escape the French revolution. Previously Mr Wiggerham had worked for the bishop of Durham as secretary or personal retainer. After his marriage to Theresa the bishop interested himself to obtain for my ancestor a lucrative position with the newly formed Oxford Canal Company. He was responsible for accounting for the monies for the tonnages for the boats that passed through the lock. He had to put up £300 of his own money as surety to obtain the job, a fair sum in those days. From 1799 they lived in the junction house at Napton on the Hill, and the house was soon filled with their eight children. Apparently some time earlier John had been up to London to study medicine and set himself up as amateur doctor for the area. He procured medicines and vaccines and operated on his own family before helping many for miles around. At the time of his death in 1818 he had vaccinated approx, 1000. This is probably the reason why the area was named after him (although unfortunately spelt incorrectly.) In 1818 his son Henry was sent home from school, feeling very ill. It soon became clear he was suffering from typhus fever which spread through the house like wildfire, killing Henry, his father, and two of his other children. John Wiggerham’s son (also named John) was born in 1801. He survived the epidemic and took over the duties for a short time as toll keeper at Napton lock. Not sure how long he actually worked there for. He is the one that is mentioned in your discussion forum, I believe someone found him in the 1851 census. The Wiggerhams that died from typhus are all buried in Napton Church (St Lawrence) in 1818. They were buried at night as the disease was so contagious! The junction house where they lived is still standing and the owner a Mr Kaye was writing a short book about the house and all the lock keepers / toll clerks that lived there. He may be able to help you with further information. John Wiggerham also had a surviving son named Thomas born 1803, my great, great grandfather. Incidentally although I know quite a lot about my toll clerk ancestor, I have no idea where he was born or where he came from. Quite annoying, as I have reached a dead end in try to trace my family tree back further. Hope this clears things up a little as I could see from all the forum replies that were tagging on, you were almost there but not quite. I would really love it if it could be named Wiggerham’s and not Wigram’ s which is wrong but obviously sounds the same. Best wishes Laurence Wiggerham aged 58, living in Welling, Kent.