William Wigley

William Rodolph Wigley (c. 1826 – 6 May 1890) was a lawyer and politician in the British colony of South Australia.

W. R. Wigley was born in England to Henry Rodolph Wigley, who emigrated to South Australia with some of his family on the Schah, arriving in January 1837. His father, a lawyer, was appointed public prosecutor that same year, and later filled the posts of police magistrate, stipendiary magistrate, and Commissioner of Insolvency.

William left England some ten years after his father, arriving aboard the John Bartlett July 1847, trained for the legal profession, worked with J. H. Richman (c. 1789–1864) of Richman & Wigley,^[1] Clark's buildings, Hindley Street, and was articled in 1851 to Hardy & James, and on being admitted to the bar worked for Matthew Smith ^[2] then W. C. Belt^[3] and L. M. Cullen^[4] as Belt, Cullen & Wigley. Wigley also worked with H. B. T. Strangways. He took a year off to visit the Victorian diggings during the gold rush, and was fairly successful. Belt left the partnership, and in 1877 Cullen retired, and Wigley took into partnership the young S. H. Bleechmore.^[5] He was appointed Stipendiary Magistrate in 1889.

He was closely connected with the Glenelg Corporation from 1855, when he was appointed Town Clerk, to his last year, almost without a break. He served as councillor (1867–1872, 1875–1881, 1883–1884, 1886–1888), including two stints as mayor (1870, 1875–1878), and was noted for advocating public parks in the district. He was an enthusiast for public swimming facilities and chairman of the Glenelg Bathing Company until his death.

He was involved with the Volunteer Defence movement and appointed Captain of the Glenelg company for many years. He was for a time chairman of the Glenelg Institute, vice president of the Glenelg Literary Society, and a prominent Freemason. He was also a member of the Glenelg Yacht Club.

He was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Albert and sat from July 1875 to March 1878. He then stood for the seat of West Adelaide but was unsuccessful.

He died of pneumonia at his home after a few weeks' illness, though he had been suffering poor health for some years. ^[6]

Family

Henry Rodolph Wigley (c. 1794 – 19 October 1876), Esq., S.M. was married to Sarah Elizabeth Wigley (c. 1797 – 1 July 1872). Among their family were:

• William Rodolph Wigley (c. 1826 – 6 May 1890) married Mary Letitia L. Creagh^[7] on 3 June 1862 and lived at "St. Leonards", Glenelg. He was survived by three sons and five daughters:

• eldest son Henry Vandeleur Wigley ( – 30 October 1927) married Isabella Ellen Reid (29 February 1872 – ) on 6 October 1894; they divorced in 1900.^[8] He married again, to Marion Dove Dale on 2 June 1916.
• eldest daughter Mary Isabella Strangways Wigley ( – c. October 1910) married Tom Scott ( – ) on 24 November 1908
• second daughter Florence Margaret Wigley ( – ) married Edward Chisholm Field ( – ) on 25 November 1908
• youngest son Osborne Dawson "Jack" Wigley ( – ) married Priscilla Olive Rawlins ( – ) on 17 April 1907
• Harriet Alice Bessie Wigley (c. May 1873 – 28 February 1874)
• fourth daughter Sarah Georgina Wigley ( – ) married Charles Percy Cornish ( – 16 April 1947) on 4 September 1901
• youngest daughter Josephine Lucie Cordelia Wigley ( – ) married Dr. Bronte Smeaton (6 October 1873 – ) on 18 May 1904. Bronte was a son of banker Thomas D. Smeaton.

• A sister, Maria Cordelia Wigley, married H. B. T. Strangways;^[9]
• A brother James Francis Wigley (married to Robina) was a prominent businessman,^[10] and lived at Brougham Place, North Adelaide. He was a founder of the Adelaide Club.^[11]

• William Henry Wigley (? – 13 October 1924), married to Nellie Wigley, lived on Military Road, Largs, was publican and councillor for Largs ward (1890–1891, 1893–1895) in the Semaphore Council.
• T. F. Wigley (? – 14 January 1933) was a lawyer and horse racing enthusiast, prominent founder of South Australian Jockey Club.^[11]

• Another brother, Thomas Henry Wigley (1825–1895) was a New Zealand MLC and father of transport and tourism entrepreneur Rodolph Wigley (1881–1946).

References

1. The Wigley of this partnership may have been his father, or his uncle James F. Wigley
2. "The Late Mr. Matthew Smith". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 22 November 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
3. "The Late Mr. W. C. Belt". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 14 February 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
4. "Death of Mr. L. M. Cullen". The Narracoorte Herald (SA : 1875 - 1954) (SA: National Library of Australia). 30 November 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
5. "Death of Mr. S. H Bleechmore". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 15 February 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
6. "Death of Mr. Wigley, S.M.". The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 7 May 1890. p. 7 Edition: Second Edition. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
7. Mary was the third daughter of Colonel G(iles) Vandeleur Creagh (1800 – 24 July 1871) of H.M. 81st Regiment of Foot
8. "Western Australia". Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904) (SA: National Library of Australia). 29 September 1900. p. 11. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
9. "Family Notices". The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 11 January 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
10. "Death of Mr. W. R. Wigley, S.M.". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 7 May 1890. p. 6. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
11. "Death of Mr. T. F. Wigley". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 16 January 1933. p. 11. Retrieved 3 November 2015.