John Pickersgill

Partner until 1842 in George Wildes and Co.  

1. American merchant of 15 Leadenhall street, 31 Tavistock Square and Netheren near Merstham Surrey. Born 13/08/1785 at Ellingstring [near Ripon], Yorkshire, son of John Pickersgill. Married 1810 to Sophia Cunliffe (sister of Ellis Cunliffe Lister Kay 1774-1853 MP and millowner), left £160,000. 'In view of his relatives, it seems likely that he exported woollen goods to America.'

2. Living at Lawrence Lane for the baptisms of his children Mary Thompson (1815) and Sophia (1817) and at 24 Lawrence Lane for the baptism of a son John Cunliffe (1819). Subsequent children appear to have been baptised in Addingham, Yorkshire, until he appears at Tavistock Square for the baptisms of George Frampton (1832) and Harriette Eliza (1835).

3. Not found in the 1841 census when his wife Sophia, age 50, of independent means, was living at Tavistock Square with daughters Sophia and Harriett and son Thomas, three female servants and one male servant. In 1851, John Pickersgill was living at 31 Tavistock Square, age 64, "American merchant", born Ellingstring, Yorkshire, with wife Sophia age 60, born Addingham, Yorkshire, two female servants and one male servant. He was at the same address in 1861, John Pickersgill merchant aged 75 with his wife Sophia aged 70, two female servants and one male servant.

4. Will of John Pickersgill of Leadenhall Street and of Tavistock Square and of Netheren near Mertham who died at 31 Tavistock Square 11/11/1865 proved 24/11/1865 by William Cunliffe Pickersgill of Blendon Hall Bexley and John Cunliffe Pickersgill of 15 Leadenhall Street merchant the sons the executors, effects under £160,000.

5. Probably the John Pickersgill of 19 Coleman Street who invested heavily in the British Land Company in 1835.

1. William D. Rubinstein, Who were the rich? 1860- (Volumes 3 and 4, manuscripts in preparation), reference 1865/86 (which makes no mention of an earlier partnership with George Wildes); John Pickersgill's son William Cunliffe Pickersgill was ibid. reference 1891/112.

2. Ancestry.com, London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1917 [database online].

3. 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses online.

4. National Probate Calendar 1865.

5. List of the proprietors of the British American Land Company: incorporated and established by Charter and Act of Parliament, 1834 (London, n.d.) p. 5 (via Archive.org) pp. 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.