Stanford Rivers by H. M. Scott – The Wilson Family

The Wilson Family

This family had long been resident in Derbyshire.

In 1747 Thomas Wilson (I) was brought to London by his father. His mother, Mary, was the daughter of a prosperous manufacturer, of Ribbons and Gauzes in Coventry, John Remington. Thomas Wilson's father, John, had come to London to open the London branch and had prospered exceedingly.

John Wilson and the Family Business

John Wilson was closely connected with Highbury College which had superseded the Hoxton Academy (an important training centre for nonconformist clergy). This college was later - in 1846 - moved to a handsome building on the site of the present block of flats in Finchley Road, Swiss Cottage, now known as "Northways".

In 1777, Thomas Wilson II took the lease of No. 12 Highbury Place, which was occupied by members of the family until 1849. Thomas succeeded his father in the Remington business and in 1813 received a considerable fortune from his mother's brother, John.

He devoted his spare time and fortune to repairing and refounding dilapidated and closed Chapels throughout the whole country. He was a truly pious and philanthropic man; he did not, however, overlook the needs of his family and can be justly regarded as the Patron, and in a sense, the founder of the family.

His son, Thomas Wilson II, was born in Wood St., London, on November 11th, 1764. Most of his brothers and sisters died at an early age and in view of this, his father sent him with his nurse to the healthy district of Hampstead during the summer months.

Thomas Wilson and Religious Philanthropy

He later went to a boarding school at Newington Green - where he and Samuel Rogers (the future Poet) were considered the best boys at the school.

At the age of 14 (1778) he was bound apprentice in the family business and in 1785 admitted to the Partnership.

While diligent in business, he reserved a great deal of his time to the service of God and His cause. He became a man of great wealth and married at the Collegiate Church, Manchester, Elizabeth Clegg, in 1791. His services to religion not only spread all over England but he furthered Missionary work in all parts of the world.

He retired from business in 1798 and devoted the rest of his life to his other works.

He had acquired farmlands in Essex in 1796, but did not live there, feeling that the neighbourhood of Highbury College was the place pointed out by the Divine Providence for his residence and that it would enable him to devote more time to his office as Treasurer. He therefore purchased (1797) the lease of No. 16 Artillery Place, near Finsbury Square, overlooking the grounds of the London Artillery Company.

The Stanford Rivers Chapel

In a letter to the Rev. John Blackburn of Finchingfield dated 17/3/1819, Thomas Wilson wrote :

"I am glad that the Essex Union are desirous of extending their efforts. There is much land, I believe, still to be possessed, even in Essex. The village of Stanford Rivers has frequently occupied my thoughts. I pay £190 a year tithe to a clergyman who only reads a sermon on a Sabbath morning. The village, which is three miles from Ongar, contains no Sunday School, as few children will go so far as that place. The labouring people are very ignorant and have very little means of instruction. I conversed with the Minister at Ongar (the late excellent Rev. Isaac Taylor) and learned that there are districts near Stanford Rivers that much need the Gospel. I have a cottage near the Turnpike road (sic) which would be very suitable and I wish to have it occupied as a Sunday School in the afternoon and for preaching in the evening". He later wrote-"My father would have sent students from Hoxton to preach at this place at an earlier period, but could not, for some time, obtain the consent of any person to receive them in his house. This obstacle, however, being removed, the cottage was fitted up and opened as a place of worship on October 20th 1819. A student came weekly to preach and the attendance was very encouraging, so that, in a few months it was proposed to enlarge the cottage; a gentleman in the neighbourhood offered to give £100 if a small chapel was built, and the tenant offering the same amount, my father engaged to make up the deficiency and such a building was erected, which was opened June 27th 1820".

The Chapel in Later Years

In the year 1832 the Chapel was raised several feet and otherwise much improved, but being for some years destitute of a Pastor and losing by death and removal, its most valuable members, was broken up. An attempt has lately been made "to strengthen things which were ready to die" and already a considerable Sunday School has been collected by the exertions of the Minister now settled there-the Rev. H. Cock. The soil is unpromising, but by diligent cultivation under the hand of a faithful labourer, it will I trust not prove ultimately unproductive.

"It may be worthy of record that the Clergyman of this parish (The Rev. Dr. Dowdeswell, one of the Canons of Christ Church, Oxford) always treated my father, and was treated by him, with gentlemanly courtesy. The Nonconformist landowner purchased a pew in the parish church for the use of his tenants and their families, and the Rector-instead of angrily resenting the erection of a nonconformist chapelmanifested a disposition rather to vindicate and defend than to resist and oppose the attempt this made to promote education, morality and Christian instruction in the parish.I mention this circumstance to show that, even in villages and rural districts, the nonconformist worship and preaching may be peacefully carried on by persons who act with a determination to give no just cause of offence. It must, however, I fear, be acknowledged that there are too many clergymen who exhibit a very different spirit from the Rector of Stanford Rivers".

A Contemporary Tribute

A friend of Thomas Wilson wrote: "In his mode of doing business, there was much to admire. He dwelt not in seclusion. He was ever accessible, and invited rather than repelled application-both for money and advice." "The man that wants me is the man I want" seemed to be his rule of action. What multitudes have met around his table and his domestic altar! His house was as open as his purse".

The Chapel Lease of 1827

The Essex Incorp. Congregational Union preserves a deed of lease dated 19/6/1827 which reads-"Thomas Wilson of the first part and the following of the second partJoshua Wilson, John Remmington Mills, James Smitherman, Wm. Eve, Daniel Dewdney, etc." The consideration was 5/- and the property "Chapel, Vestry, Stable and outhouse and land." The newly formed church had for several years, the Rev. Wm. Temple as its Pastor.

Later Generations of the Wilson Family

Thomas Wilson II died in 1843-His son Joshua (born 1795) formed a fine collection of Puritan Divinity and Biography which is kept in the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London.

Joshua Wilson (died 1874) had two sons, the elder-Thomas Wilson III was born in 1841 and on his marriage to Jessie Taylora daughter of the famous Isaac Taylor of -grandson of the late Isaac Taylor. Stanford Rivers-was given the estate and residence of Stanford Hall (See "Stanford Hall"). They had six children-Emily, Geoffrey Remington (born 1875), Anna, Rhoda (born 1879 and still (1971) alive), Denis Medland and Harold Remington.

Dr Geoffrey Remington Wilson

A newspaper extract dated 3/9/1904. reads "The marriage took place of Miss Gratton of Ongar House at Chipping Ongar Church to Geoffrey Remington Wilson, M.B. Dr Wilson's father, Mr. Thomas Wilson holds considerable land in Stanford Rivers".

Dr. Geoffrey Wilson carried on an active and widespread practice in Ongar and Stanford Rivers and was Medical Officer of the old Ongar Union. He also served as Magistrate on the Ongar Bench. He died in 1943 in his beloved Cottage Hospital which he was instrumental in founding as a War Memorial to the local dead of Ongar and district in World War I.

Two Contemporary Limericks

A Scrap Book compiled by Sir Drummond Spencer Smith (4th Bart.) (a former Lord of the Manor of Stanford Rivers) contains the following limericks

A Baronet sportsman named Drummy
Got a terrible pain in the tummy
The Doctor said “Sir”
You have swallowed a Burr
And that’s why you’re feeling so rummy.

A Baronet landlord named Drummy
Got a terrible pain in the tummy
Dr. Wilson declares
’Twas the paint on the stairs
That was making him feel so rummy.

Dr Peter Remington Wilson

Dr. Geoffrey's son-Peter Remington Wilson (born 1911), M.A., B.A., M.R.C.S., M.R.C.G.P., late House Surgeon Aural Dept. London Hospital. T. Major, R.A.M.C., Specialist Physical Medicine, Asst. Med. Officer Felstead School-now Asst. Secretary of the British Medical Association is now resident in London.

It is largely due to Dr. Wilson's assistance, his patience and kind hospitality -that I have been able to compile these brief notes on the story of his illustrious forebears.

Other Members of the Wilson Family

Other well-known members of the family includeDaniel Wilson (1778-1858) Brother of Thomas Wilson I. After leaving the family business in 1797, he was called to the Ministry and later became Bishop of Calcutta.

James Wilson (1795-1856) Son of John Wilson became an eminent zoologist.

Samuel Wilson-Cousin and partner of Thomas Wilson II. Alderman of Castle Baynard Ward in the City of London. Lord Mayor of London 1839. At a special dinner in the Egyptian Hall at the Mansion House on April 5th 1839-Mr. Thomas Wilson (the senior member of the family) gave an account of its various branches, tracing their descent from John Wilson of Stenson, Derbyshire.

Andrew Wilson-1831-1881. Traveller and author.

Henry Maitland Wilson-1881-1964. Great nephew of Thomas Wilson II-became G.O.C. in Chief 1939-1941 and Military Governor of Cyrenaica and Greece. He was appointed to Supreme Allied Command in 1944 and created 1st Baron Wilson. Awarded G.C.B., G.B.E. and D.S.O. and rank of Field Marshal. Constable of Tower of London 1955-60.