Mr. MONEY WIGRAM & his SHIPBUILDING YARDS
1790.
Born on the 14th March, at Walthamstow House.
He was educated at a good school at Holloway or Shacklwell, where the Master’s motto was boys must be “Well fed, well bred and well taught,” and learnt French from Mons. I’Abbe Bertin, a refugee of the Revolution.
1805.
February. - Messrs. Wells sold to Robert Wigram land including the Great Dockyard and other yards, docks and grounds, the Mansion, launches, warehouses, work shops, stables, etc., situate at Blackwall.
1806.
January. - At the age of 16 her commenced work at Blackwall Yard, living there all the week, but returning home on Sundays, until 1822.
Mr. Perry disposed of his Brunswick Dock to the East India Dock Company.
1810.
June. - The yard was under the name of ‘Wells, Wigram’s & Green.
1812.
March 3rd. - Sir Robert Wigram's son, John, was killed at Walthamstow by a fall from his gig.
March. - Money used John Wigram’s watch, which was given to him by Lady Wigram, after he had been robbed of his own watch by footpads at Blackheath.
12th August. - The whole of the Blackwall Yard estate became vested in Sir Robert Wigram, Mr. William Wells having retired; the holdings of the partners of Wigram, Wells & Green were Sir Robert 6/16, John Wells 4/16, George Green 4/16, John Wigram 2/16. John Wigram died the same year, when Money and Henry were brought into the business in place of their late brother. The year’s profits were reported to be in six figures.
1813.
Held a 1/8th share in ‘Wigram’s & Green.’
1814.
April 29th. - He made a journey to Russia, Vienna and Paris.
1819.
The yard was under the name of ‘ Wigram’s & Green.’
16th July. - Money was a Director of the East India Dock Co., now the Port of London Authority till 8th July 1822.
1819.
August 23rd. - Sir Robert Wigram retired and sold the whole of the Blackwall Yard estate to George Green, Money and Henry Loftus Wigram for £40,500, Green taking half and the two Wigram’s a quarter each.
1821.
March 31st. - The first steam vessel was constructed in the Yard was launched.
Held shares in French Funds.
1822.
April 19th. - Married Mary, daughter of Charles Hampden Turner of Rooks Nest, Godstone, Surrey; the Rev. John Bowdler performed the ceremony at Tandridge Church, Surrey. She was a minor.
They lived first at Wood House, Wanstead; and Devonshire Place, W.
1823.
Was elected a Director of the Bank of England till 1824.
July 14th. - Money was a Director of the East India Dock Co., now the Port of London Authority till 10th July 1826.
1824.
The ‘Sir Edward Paget’ was purchased by Mr. Green and became noteworthy as the first ship of Messrs. Green’s passenger line to India and Australia. She was a very smart ship and was commanded by Captain Geary, late of the Royal Navy, and carried a square white flag with a St. George’s red cross through the centre. On her arrival at Spithead, the admiral of the port sent his lieutenant to inquire what ship it was that was carrying an admiral’s flag, and on learning that she was a merchant vessel, ordered it to be at once hauled down. The story goes that a blue handkerchief was then sewn on to the centre of the flag and the lieutenant, having satisfied himself that the naval regulations were no longer being infringed, it was allowed to be re-hoisted and continued the distinguishing flag of all the Blackwall ships until the firm was some years afterwards divided; when it was adopted by Messrs. Money Wigram & Sons; Messrs. Green retaining the same flag but with the cross over the handkerchief.
1826.
Was elected a Director of the Bank of England till 1827.
1827.
July 9th. - Money was a Director of the East India Dock Co., now the Port of London Authority till 26th March 1830.
Over four acres of land belonging to the Yard were sold to the East and West India Dock Company.
August. - The yard was under the name of ‘Green, Wigram’s & Green.’
1829.
Was elected a Director of the Bank of England till 1830.
Richard Green became a partner in the firm which was renamed Green, Wigram and Green.
1830.
The year of the great shipwright’s strike, which lasted so long that the grass is said to have grown up in the building slips.
Went abroad.
1831.
March 14th. - Money was a Director of the East India Dock Co., now the Port of London Authority till 21st March 1834.
March 30th. - Henry Green became a partner at the age of 23 when the shares of the firm were held as follows, George Green 2/12, Money Wigram 3/12, Henry Wigram 3/12, Richard Green 2/12, and Henry Green 2/12.
1832.
Was elected a Director of the Bank of England till 1833.
1833.
July. - The yard was under the name of ‘Money & Henry L. Wigram.’
1834.
Was presented with a medal, as a “Tribute of Respect,” from the British Architects.
1835.
Was elected a Director of the Bank of England till 1836.
1837.
Was elected a ex-Director of the Bank of England till 1838.
1843.
The term of partnership expired when the Yard and ships were divided; the cause may be traced to the distinct and even differing interests created by each family owning separate vessels. The western portion of the Yard, with the house and entrance was made over to the newly created firm of Money Wigram & Sons, and the eastern portion with a sum of money and another entrance to Messrs. Richard & Henry Green.
The directors of the new firm were Money and Henry Loftus Wigram.
1844.
February 7th – ‘The Times’.
Thames Police. – Yesterday George Cortoy, a shipwright working at Messrs. Green and Wigram’s Blackwall, and who has but lately returned from South Australia, was brought up in custody of police-constable Wykes, 259 K, charged with having committed a rape on a child named Elizabeth Jones, not more than 10 years and two months old.
The prisoner, who merely professed himself innocent and said he would leave his defence to Mr. Pelham, was committed to take his trial for the felony.
October 31st - ‘The Times’
The report of Inspector White (of the Thames-police) was, that after sunset he saw a cart and horse come out of Wigram’s ship-yard, at Blackwall, the defendant Gray being in his company. White asked Gray where he was going to convey the contents of the cart, and he replied “To the captain’s house,” and that he had just left the ‘Isabella Watson’ in the dock. As White had received certain information there was a good deal of contraband property in the cart, he seized the whole of the goods, which consisted of the cigars and brandy mentioned in the information; a box of jewellery, worth £200, a portion of which is of foreign manufacture and liable to duty; a dozen of champagne, 12 bottles of eau de Cologne, sugar, tea, and other articles liable to duty, and a quantity of furniture, the whole of which was seized by the inspector and conveyed to the Queen’s warehouse, where the confiscation of the whole or part of the property awaits the decision of the Commissioners of Customs. When the inspector stopped the cart, Gray said the captain was close behind, and White looked for him, but could not find him. He afterwards saw Captain Macdonald in his own house, and informed him of the seizure. The captain said it was a bad job, and asked White if it could be settled without an exposure. White said it could not, and arrested him on the part of the Crown. The value of all the goods seized is about £350.
1845.
Charles and Clifford Wigram made partners in the firm.
18th August - ‘Patriot’
SINGULAR ACCIDENT BY MACHINERY AT MESSRS. WIGRAM & Co’s, BLACKWALL.
On Friday forenoon a singular accident occurred at the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Wigram and Co., Blackwall, to a man named Charles Langley, aged twenty-eight years, an engineer in their employ. It appears that Langley was at work at a vice, about five or six yards from the steam-engine which drives the machinery used for punching the rivet holes in the sheet iron with which iron steam-boats are built. The fires are kept alive by what is called a “blowing machine,” or circular fan, which is constantly revolving in front of the furnaces, and whilst the machine was in motion a large piece of iron weighing upwards of 2lb. by some means rolled into the pit, from which it was instantly ejected by the fan with the velocity of a ball from a gun, first striking Langley a violent blow on the right arm which felled him to the ground, and afterwards an iron vice some distance off, (at which two other men were at work,) in which it made an indentation deep enough to lay the finger. The two men fortunately escape d without injury. Dr. Bains, a surgeon, was sent for, who ascertained that Langley’s arm had been severely fractured. He was subsequently removed to Guy’s Hospital.
1846.
January. - The yard was under the name of ‘Money Wigram & Son’s’.
September 19th. – ‘The Times’
Yesterday a well-dressed venerable looking man, named Aaron Bray, a horse-dealer, was brought before Mr. Ballantine, charged under very noval circumstances with stealing £66, the monies of Mr. William Pearshouse, a cowkeeper and job-master.
Mr. Pelham appeared for the prosecution, and said his client was a cowkeeper and farmer at Woolwich, and who maintained an establishment at Greenwich, and rented stables in Southwark. On January last the prisoner, who was then in very indigent circumstances, became acquainted with the prosecutor, who suffered him to hang about his place, and occasionally employed him to bid for horses, and execute various commissions for him. This continued up to the end of August, when Mr. Pearshouse having reason to doubt the prisoner’s integrity, and finding that he had been engaged in various disreputable transactions, refused to employ him any longer, and told him that he had no further occasion for his services. Mr. Pearshouse saw no more of the prisoner until the 4th of September, when the prisoner called upon him at his stables in Southwark, and said he could introduce him to a purchaser for three horses, and requested him to let him sell them. Mr. Pearshouse intimated to Bray that he had been deceived by him so often that he could not entrust him with the sale of any horses; but he had no objection to his (the prosecutor’s) son accompanying him to the intended purchaser. The prisoner said he had no wish to interfere in the transaction at all, except to introduce the purchaser, and it was then arranged that Mr. Pearshouse, jun., should proceed to Blackwall next day with three horses, and meet the prisoner at the premises of Mr. Money Wigram, a ship-builder and merchant, the intended purchaser. It was also most clearly arranged that Mr. Pearhouse, jun., should receive the money for the horses, if sold. On the following morning Mr. Pearhouse, jun., met the prisoner with three fine horses at Blackwall, and, at the request of Bray, they were put into Mr. Wigram’s stables until that gentleman appeared, when the horses were exhibited, and trotted up and down the stable-yard. Bray was very attentive to Mr. Wigram, who, of course, from his high character, believed that the transaction was a fair and honest one. Mr. Pearshouse, jun., was kept in the background, and had no opportunities of conversing with Mr. Wigram, who ultimately agreed to purchase two of the horses, one for £34., and the other for £32. Bray then came to Mr. Pearshouse, jun., and announced that Mr. Wigram had chosen two horses, and mentioned the price. Mr. Pearshouse, jun., heard the bargain struck, and was satisfied on seeing the horses put into Mr. Wigram’s stables. After Bray had been into Mr. Wigram’s counting-house, he returned to Mr. Pearshouse, jun., and said Mr. Wigram had no time to write out a check for payment of the horses then, but would do so on the following Thursday, at 10 o’clock. Young Pearshouse then returned to town with the horse that was unsold; and, on the day and hour appointed, he again presented himself at Blackwall to receive the money, not doubting that the horses had been fairly parted with on his father’s account. He found the prisoner waiting outside Mr. Wigram’s house, and he stated that Mr. Wigram was very busy and had gone away in a hurry, and that he would send the check for £66 to Mr. Pearshouse, sen., on that or the following day. The young man was ultimately persuaded by the prisoner to return to town without the money; and the prosecutor, having waited for two days without receiving any communication from Mr. Wigram, waited on that gentleman, and ascertained that the prisoner had received the check on the Thursday morning previous to Mr. Pearshouse, jun., arriving at Blackwall, and that he had been paid the amount at the banker’s. Mr. Pearshouse, sen., had thus been deprived of his horses and his money too. It did occur to him (Mr. Pelham) that there was a constructive stealing of the horses, or that Mr. Pearshouse had been defrauded of £66 by means of a sale fairly brought about in the first instance. Mr. Pearshouse was not very anxious to sell the horses, but, thinking there were some remains of honesty in the prisoner. Mr. Wigram thought he was dealing entirely with Bray.
Mr. Wigram wanted to purchase three more horses on the following Thursday, but no sale was then effected.
Mr. Ballantine inquired what had become of the two horses in question, and was informed they were shipped in one of Mr. Wigram’s vessels, bound to Calcutta.
After a long discussion between the magistrate and the solicitor respecting the way in which the charge could be shaped.
After a long discussion the case the prisoner then made a low bow, wished the magistrate a good evening, and was removed in the van to the prison.
1848
20th May – ‘Nautical Standard’.
Mr. Wigram, ship-builder, and several scientific persons, visited the saw-mills, in Woolwich Dockyard, on the 13th instant, to witness Mr. Cochran’s inventions for cutting ship timbers in a beveled form, and crooked logs of wood in a line with the grain, and the inventions, from their simplicity and the perfect work they produced, gave great satisfaction.
1849.
April 14th. - ‘The Nautical Standard’
QUOTATIONS FROM ‘PUNCH’
Gross Libel
“Messrs. Wigram and Green, the eminent shipbuilders, have been shamefully accused of taking the lines of a Government ship as a model for all their ships. Now this accusation, like many of the Dockyard vessels, would not hold water for a minute, and a contradiction was publically given to it immediately by Mr. S. Herbert. But it is really too bad to libel a respectable firm in this scandalous way; and we candidly think if Messrs. Wigram and Green were to bring an action for defamation of character against Ministers, they would recover the largest damages; for it is very evident that no passenger would think of trusting his life or his baggage in one of their ships, if he thought it was no better than a Government vessel. We hope the report has done them no injury in the commercial world, or been the cause of Lloyd’s striking their ships off the list of A1, and refusing to insure them at any rate.” – Punch.
December 2nd. - ‘Bells Life in London & Sporting Chronicle’
IMPROVEMENT IN SHIP BUILDING.
It is stated that a new machine has been invented for sawing ships’ timbers, calculated to have an influence in cheapening construction, which will be of some importance in connection with the repeal of the Navigation-laws. It has been introduced into the ship-building establishment of Mr. Wigram (where four of them are now being put up), and is alleged to have been found upon trial to produce not only a considerable saving in wages, but also in materials. Its construction is simple, and it cuts the floors, the futtocks, and nearly every other part of the timbers required in a ship, so as to render them capable of being at once placed in their position without any operation of hand labour.
1850 to 1860. The Northam Yard.
The reason why Money Wigram opened a new yard at Northam is that the Blackwall Yard was used mainly to build iron ships. Money Wigram and Richard Green split up the Blackwall Yard in 1843 over what to build the ships with. Money wonted to build his ships out of iron, while Richard Green still believed in building wooden ships, which he continued to do well up until 1866. But Money knew that the Admiralty still preferred their larger ships to be built out of wood. But hoping that one day they would change to iron, which they did in 1852. Being a shortage of wood in and around London at this time also made it sense to move down to the New Forest where wood was still in plentiful supply. So he had his main shipyard at Blackwall building ships out of iron and his Northam Yard building out of wood. When the Northam Yard could not cope, in 1855/6, the Blackwall Yard built some ships out of wood to.
1851.
According to the 1851 census, Money Wigram, whose age was given as 61, and his occupation that of Master Shipbuilder, resided at Wood House, Wanstead Flats, with his wife Mary, 49, together with their sons Money jnr, 28 (Brewer); Clifford, 22 (Shipbuilder and Owner); Reynold, 9, and daughters Harriet, 21 and Eliza, 12. Living with the family was a governess, butler, footman and six house servants.
1852.
Money Wigram retired from the firm.
8th September.
In the morning property to a considerable amount in the Money Wigram Blackwall Yard was destroyed by an extensive fire which was not insured.
1856.
12th October. – ‘Bells Life In London And Sporting Chronicle.’
A rowing match will take place at Blackwall, for £10 a side, on Saturday, Oct 18, between three smiths working in Wigram’s Yard against three smiths working in Green’s Yard. To row from the Barge House, North Woolwich, to a boat moored off Blackwall Stairs. £5 a side has, we understand, been deposited, and the remaining £5 a side is to be made good at Mr. Jones’s, The Mechanics’ Arms, Brunswick Street, Blackwall, on Friday evening, Oct 17.
1857
Had a long illness commencing with inflammation of the eyes.
1860.
Bought Moor Place, Much Hadham, Herts, which was erected by Robert Adams between 1775-1779. It was a plain square red-brick house with a stone balustrade round the roof which was covered with copper. The south wing was built in 1861. On Mrs. Wigram’s death in 1886, the estate was purchased by F. H. Norman, who in 1887 added the north wing.
1861.
27th July – ‘Hartford Mercury & Reformer’
Much Hadham, this picturesque village is already beginning to derive some benefits from the projected railway, and various improvements are taking place in several quarters. For several years many of the residences in the neighbourhood have been unoccupied, but since the railway has been talked about, some have been occupied, and others are let and are undergoing repairs and alterations. Moor Place, which stood empty for some years, has been purchased by Money Wigram, Esq., the well-known ship-owner, and that gentleman, having greatly enlarged the mansion by the erection of a new wing with suitable buildings, is now a resident there.
17th August - ‘The Illustrated Times’
MORE IRON-CASED SHIPS.
Notices have been sent round from the Admiralty to the Thames Iron Works, Messrs. Samuda, Mr. Mare, Mr. Wigram, Mr. Laird, Messrs. Palmer, Nr. Napier, and Messrs. Westwood and Bailie, asking tenders for building three more iron frigates. These vessels are to be 20 ft. longer and 15½ in. broader than the ‘Warrior’ class – viz., 400 ft long by 59 ft. 3½ in. beam. Their depth is to be the same as the ‘Warrior’s; their tonnage 6620, with engines of 1250-horse power, nominal. They are to have a flatter floor though with the same draught of water, 25½ ft. Each is to be entirely coated from stem to stern with armour-plates of 5½ instead of 4½ in. thick. Behind this, as at present arranged, is to be a backing of nine inches of solid teak. The Admiralty, however, reserve to themselves the right of altering this portion of contract within the next three months, and either increasing the thickness of the iron to 6¼ inches and doing away with the teak altogether, or leaving the proportions as we have mentio ned. In fact, the Admiralty are waiting to see other results from experiments on Mr. Fairbairn’s plan of iron only for ship’s sides, and also to see how the target which is being built on the same plan as the ‘Warrior’s side will stand the pounding it will shortly receive at Shoeburyness. At all events, the armour of these new vessels, whether of wood and iron, or iron only, is to weigh 2100 tons - the armour alone of the ‘Warrior’ being very little over 900 tons. The spar-deck is to be of half-inch iron, instead of, as with our present ships, only quarter inch; and all the lower decks are to be of wood, laid on iron beams, and strengthened across with diagonal stringers and braces of iron, in the usual manner. Tenders are required at the Admiralty from the firms we have mentioned for three such vessels to be begun at once, and tenders for three more will be asked for, it is said, in the course of another month or so.
21st December 1861 - ‘Westmorland Gazette’
Arming of Merchant Vessels.
In consequence of the uncertainty which exists as to a war with America, the merchant vessels belonging to Messrs. Wigram, Green, Somes, and other large firms, are about to be armed with guns on the upper deck, and in some cases rifled ordnance will be used in order to be prepared for privateers, should a war take place during the voyage.
1862.
Robert Wigram was made a partner of the firm.
Money Wigram retires and the business is carried on by Charles Hampden, Clifford and Robert Wigram.
11th April – ‘The British Standard’
A severe struggle is now going on at the ship-building yard of the Messrs. Wigram, at Blackwall, under the following circumstances:- A few weeks since Messrs. Wigram undertook to contract for building an iron vessel for the coasting service of the Trinity House. Having several of their wooden-ship building hands or shipwrights unemployed, they placed those men on the work of the new iron ship. The iron-ship building workmen in the yard protested against the employment of the shipwrights as an infringement on the privilege of their trade, and laid the case before their Executive Council at Manchester. Application was also made to the Shipwright Society to ascertain if they sanctioned their members thus taking the place of their fellow-workers in iron, and the reply was that they did not, but, under all circumstances, declined to order the men to leave the work, although they recommended them to do so. Messrs. Wigram having declined to withdraw the shipwrights from the vessel, the whole of the iron-shi p builders in their employ struck.
1864.
Was on the list for High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.
1873.
7th March – ‘The Sub and Central Press’.
The death is announced of Mr. Money Wigram, at the age of 84, the head of Money Wigram & Sons, the well-known shipowners.
24th March - Buried in Hadham Churchyard. He was a Freemason.
30th May. – ‘The Times’.
Wills and Bequests.
The will and codicil of Mr. Money Wigram, late of Moor Place, Much Hadham, Herts, were proved on the 15th inst. By Money Wigram, Charles Hampden Wigram, and Clifford Wigram, the sons, and Robert James Wigram, the nephew, the executors, the personal estate being sworn under £90,000. The testator leaves to his widow an immediate legacy of £2,000 and all his plate, household furniture, and effects; he also leaves her £2,000 per annum and his residence, Moor Place, for life; on her dying, or ceasing to reside at Moor Place, it is to be sold, but testator’s son Money is to have the first option of purchasing it. Subject to legacies to his executor Mr. R. J. Wigram and to his domestic servants, the residue of testator’s property is divided among his children.
Before 1879.
The yard have been absorbed by the Midland Railway as a goods terminus and a place of embarkation.
1879.
20th September. – ‘Australian & New Zealand Gazette’.
Australian Navigation. – Some excitement has recently prevailed in shipping circles on this subject, and it may not, therefore, be inopportune to refer to the history of steam communication with the Australian colonies, dating from about 25 years ago, soon after the discovery of the gold-fields in the vicinity of Melbourne. At that period the ‘Great Britain’, one of the largest steamers then afloat, was laid down for the voyage to Melbourne, which she completed in from sixty to sixty-five days, ordinary clippers at that date occupying from eighty to one hundred days. The ‘Great Britain’ made several voyages, but as her owners did not follow up the trade she does not appear to have proved a commercial success. Ten years later, the improvement in marine engines leading to great economy in coal, Messrs. Money Wigram & Sons, of Blackwall, at that date owners of a line of Australian passenger clipper ships, were led to consider whether, by the construction of a ship specially adapted for the service, and fi tted with a rising or lifting screw propeller, to be used only during calms and light winds, the passage to Melbourne might not be reduced with certainty to under sixty days, and the result was that in 1867 that firm constructed in their own yard at Blackwall the ‘Somersetshire’, 2,342 tons and 300-horse power, which vessel, by using steam from 25 to 30 days during the voyage, fully answered the above requirements. Although, at the period referred to, rather too large for the exigencies of the trade, the ‘Somersetshire’ in all other respects proved a success, and her owners were induced to follow her with three nearly sister ships, viz.- the ‘Northumberland’, 2,187 tons and 300-horse power, in 1871; the ‘Durham’, 2,284 tons and 300-horse power, in 1874; and the ‘Kent’, 2,304 tons and 300-horse power, in 1876. These ships have made a couple of voyages out and home every year since they began running, and have invariably accomplished the passage in from 55 to 58 days, using steam for about half that time. Messrs. Money Wigram & Sons, desiring not to be behind the times, have just added to their fleet a magnificent new steamship, the ‘Norfolk’, of 2,500 tons and 500-horse power, which is intended to steam the whole distance from land to land, and by which it is confidently expected the run to Melbourne will be made in from 44 to 47 days.
1880.
14th July – ‘The Inquirer & Commercial News’.
The Effects of Competition.
The Melbourne ‘Age’ states that “the great increase of competition in the shipping trade between England and Australia, and the change introduced by the placing on this route of large steamers, such as those of the Orient and P. & O. Companies, has induced Messrs. Money Wigram and Sons to withdraw from this line. For many years this firm have been among the leading shipowners engaged in the Australian trade, and till within a recent period their fleet was in high favour with merchants and passengers. Their withdrawal will be received with regret, though the step has doubtless been necessitated by the establishment of lines of powerful steamers against which the older and less speedy vessels could not compete. Messrs. Money Wigram and Sons have sold the steamship ‘Kent’ to the Spanish Government for the sum of £42,000. Another steamer, we believe, is under offer for the purpose of the frozen meat trade, and the rest of the steamers will be taken off the Australian line. The whole of their sailing s hips are announced for sale.”
1881.
4th July – ‘The South Australian Register’
The prospectus has been issued of a Limited Liability Company, to be formed with a view to purchasing and carrying on the business of Messrs. Money Wigram and Sons, shipbuilders and shipowners, of 7, Leadenhall Street, and 35, Brunswick Street, Blackwall, which for many years has been associated with the Australian trade. The proposed capital of the Company is £1,000,000, to be subscribed for in shares of £10 each, and the business will be conducted probably under the style of Money Wigram & Sons, Limited.
Began to dispose of the old fleet in favour of full powered steamers.
1882.
1st July - Firm renamed Money Wigram & Son’s Ltd.
1884.
3rd September - ‘ South Australian Register’
15th October.
MONEY WIGRAM & CO.
In connection with the recent call for capital for the extension of the shipping business of Money Wigram & Co., the sum of £440,000 has been returned, the money requisite for converting the business into a limited Company not having been subscribed.
17th October - ‘Colonies and India’.
The annual meeting of Money Wigram & Sons was held at the City Terminus Hotel on Oct. 16. The report stated that the net earnings of the company on voyages completed between June 30, 1883, and Aug. 31, 1884, amounted to £4,987., of which the directors had appropriated to the depreciation account, being at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum to date of commencement of current voyage, £4,864., leaving a balance of £123. The directors regretted that they were not able to present a more flourishing report to the shareholders of the operations of the company. They had done the best they could, but the times had been against them: that was the only reason they were not in quite so happy a position as they could have wished. The directors had made some reductions in the expenses, and they hoped to make some few mote. They had hoped to have obtained a large contract for the conveyance of meat from Australia, but the terms offered were not such as to justify the directors incurring the expense of fitting up the ships with the necessary appliances, and the matter fell through. The report was adopted.
1885.
30th October - ‘Colonies and India’.
The ordinary general meeting of the shareholders of Money Wigram & Sons (Limited) was held on October 29, at the City Terminus Hotel. Mr. Charles H. Wigram presided, and, in moving the adoption of the report, expressed the regret of the directors that it was not more favourable – a circumstance which he believed was entirely owing to the general depression of trade. The accounts were presented in a different form to that of the previous year, and in accordance with the wishes of the shareholders, more details had now been given. Owing to the long voyages of the vessels, they could not include the results of more than three completed ones in the present accounts; and they expected that similar delay would occur in the future. Mr. Walter Savill seconded the motion, which was carried.
1886.
13th November - ‘Capital and Interest’
The annual general meeting of the shareholders was held on the 28th ult., at the City Terminus Hotel, Mr. Charles H. Wigram in the chair.
The report of the directors stated that the receipts for freight, etc., on voyages closed during the year ended August 31st last, had been £105,656, and the expenditure £99,607. The balance of £6048 had been transferred to reserve for depreciation, raising that account to £15,201.
The Chairman said that they were all aware that the year had not been favourable to shipping, but he thought they could see some evidence of improvement, particularly in Australia. They had one ship there now, and another on the way, and they trusted that those voyages would have the full benefit of the improvements in freights. They had another ship in China, and he thought they had reason to hope that she would experience a better rate of freight than the ship they had there, last year. It was difficult to say exactly what the rates would be, but their most recent advices were more encouraging than for some time. Possibly they had all seen many letters in the papers as regarded shipowning, and as to purchases of managing owners. He might say as to the Company’s stores that they obtained their coal from the very best markets. He did not mean that they always took the cheapest coal, but they obtained that which they found from experience was most for the benefit of the Company, and the shareholde rs always received the benefit of any discount or allowance that might be given. Their auditors, in going over the accounts looked very carefully into all these things. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report.
Mr. James Duke Hill seconded the motion.
Mr. Hemsley said he considered the balance-sheet a very fair one, considering the circumstances of the times, and he regarded the amount received from freight, £88,000, as very large.
The report was adopted, and the retiring director and auditors were afterwards re-elected.
The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.
1892.
2nd December - ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.
(October.)
MONEY WIGRAM’S LINE.
The report and balance-sheet of Messrs. Money Wigram and Sons, Limited, to 31st August last, reflects the tumor of many other shipping companies at the present time. The accounts show that the receipts for freight, etc., on voyages closed during the year amounted to £89,454 against an expenditure of £82,442, leaving a balance in favour of the company of £7,011. After providing for interest on the debentures (£60,000), working charges, etc., a balance remains of “1,001, which is carried forward. In order to complete the purchase of the ‘Lincolnshire’, £15,000 additional debeatures have been issued, of which, at the date of the report, namely, 17th October, £10,000 had been received.
1893. The affairs of Money Wigram and Company Limited.
28th April – ‘Manchester Courier & Lancashire General Advertiser’
We are informed that the directors of Money Wigram and Co. Limited have issued a circular to their shareholders, announcing that the company will liquidate. It is understood that all creditors will be paid in full. The company was formed in 1881, and has a paid-up share capital of £123,728, and a liability on debentures of £65,000.
The end of the company.
31st May - ‘Commercial Gazette’
Wigram (Money) & Sons Limited, 7 Leadenhall Street. Resolution passed Apr 28 confirmed May 19:- That the company be wound up, - and that C. H. Wigram, Esq, and Robert Wigram, Esq, be liquidators.
10th August - 'Huddersfield Chronicle'
About 30 years ago the late Mr. Money Wigram paid £49,000 for the Esher Place demesne in Surry, and he subsequently spent £14,000 in improving the property. The other day Esher Place was offered for sale at the reserve of £29,000, but there was not a single bid. It is close to Claremont, and is one of the most attractive residences in Surrey.
1894.
The assets of Money Wigram & Son's Ltd (mainly the name, flag and goodwill) were purchased (for 10/-) from the liquidators by Allan Hughes for Meteor (later to become the Federal Steam Navigation Company Ltd.
The Children of Money and Mary Wigram.
1. - Money Wigram. b.25th Jan 1823 d.25th Feb 1881.
2. - Heathcote Wigram. b.29th Aug 1824 d.1st Sept 1838.
3. - Sir Charles Hampden Wigram. b.12th April 1826 d.15th April 1904.
4. - Clifford Wigram. b.9th April 1828 d.23rd June 1894.
5. - Harriet Wigram. b.27th Dec 1829 d.30th March 1908.
6. - Rev. Woolmore Wigram. b.29th Oct 1831 d.19th Jan 1907.
7. - Robert Wigram. b.23rd Aug 1833 d.5th Nov 1918.
8. - Percy Wigram. b.2nd Jan 1836 d.13th Sept 1910.
9. - Eliza Wigram. b.11th April 1838 d.17th April 1899.
10. - Eleanor Wigram. b.10th Jan 1841 d.7th Aug 1841.
11. - Reginald Wigram. b.15th Jan 1843 d. ?
