Talk:Gilbert Wakefield

George Wakefield, Manchester merchant
According to Jenny Graham's book (vol. I p. 260 note 42) the George Wakefield who gave evidence at Thomas Walker's trial was a "Manchester merchant, and partner of Thomas Walker's brother-in-law". This is of interest, given that Gilbert Wakefield's autobiography, 1st edition 1792, is dedicated to "Mr George Walker, Merchant of Manchester", his brother. But of course jumping to a conclusion here is not permissible.

There is a further "George Walker of Pendleton", Manchester merchant and bankrupt of this period (in 1794).

Charles Matthews (talk) 12:42, 18 December 2021 (UTC)

The bankrupt was associated with Thomas Grant of Withington, Edward Butler and John Andrew Krehmer, in Grant, Wakefield and Company of Manchester. Krehmer was at St Petersburg. Grant, Wakefield & Krehmer gets a mention in an academic paper. There was a cotton spinner Wakefield of Kendal., linked to Liverpool by Thomas Wakefield. There was a Mr. Wakefield associated with Mr. Roscoe in the draining of Trafford Moss. Charles Matthews (talk) 12:58, 18 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Now what that says is probably misleading. The first reference above, to the London Gazette, says "Edward Butler and Thomas Grant", but that may be a single person Edward Butler Thomas Grant. Because in another source "Edward Butler Thomas Grant of Withington" occurs with "George Walker of Pendleton". There is an Edward Butler Thomas Grant who arrives with family in Monmouth County, New Jersey in 1793, settling at Rumson Neck (maybe Rumson, New Jersey in that county), and marries a Miss Butler. So we could assume a first wife who might have been Thomas Walker's sister? Charles Matthews (talk) 15:51, 18 December 2021 (UTC)


 * Sale particulars of a warehouse belonging to Grant, Wakefield & Co. in 1793 do refer to Edward Grant and George Wakefield. Charles Matthews (talk) 15:56, 18 December 2021 (UTC)

"1785-1793 George Wakefield, probably ‘textile merchant, of Pendleton and Russia’ takes over the estate, renting Hart Hill which is assessed for tax of 13s 3 1/2d", from page about Hart Hill: "This was probably the house lived in by Thomas Percival, George Wakefield, the Simpson family and Thomas Trueman". The Simpsons arrive in 1794. There is a George Wakefield in the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, which early on meets in the house, owned by Thomas Percival to 1783. Charles Matthews (talk) 14:58, 18 December 2021 (UTC)

What we know about the George Wakefield who appeared for Thomas Walker is that he was president of the Manchester Constitutional Society, with Samuel Jackson as secretary. His evidence related to meetings of the Constitutional Society. Its origins were in the nonconformist repeal campaign against the Test and Corporation Acts. "The champions of dissenters' rights" including Jebb and Gilbert Wakefield, George Walker and Thomas Walker, "were founding or prominent members of Constitutional societies."

At the trial it came out that George Wakefield was a partner with Mr. Grant, who was brother in law to Thomas Walker. On the face of it, therefore, George Wakefield the witness may very well be George Wakefield of Grant, Wakefield & Co. Charles Matthews (talk) 15:33, 18 December 2021 (UTC)

Newspaper report, Leeds Intelligencer 7 November 1780: George Wakefield, fustian manufacturer at Manchester, married at Ruddington to Miss Markhall of Brant Broughton. Another report says Markall. "Mercall etc. of Brant Broughton" is a well-known gentry family. Charles Matthews (talk) 07:25, 19 December 2021 (UTC)

In 1781 a George Wakefield, gent., was a juror on the Manchester leet court (the local government of the time). A George Wakefield was a founder member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, in 1781. In 1784 Thomas Walker (merchant) was active against a fustian tax. says George Wakefield subscribed 5 guineas at a fustian manufacturers' meeting. Charles Matthews (talk) 07:46, 19 December 2021 (UTC)

For the record, this could be the George Wakefield (1756-1816) mentioned, son of an unconnected Rev. Thomas Wakefield of Strubby and East Stoke, a Cambridge graduate. Charles Matthews (talk) 08:24, 19 December 2021 (UTC)

William Drury-Lowe (1753-1827) letters
An archive of letters to William Drury-Lowe (1753-1827) of Locko Park turns out to give support to the idea that George Wakefield "of Pendleton" is in fact the elder brother of Gilbert Wakefield. There are letters from other Wakefields, and these appear to give a consistent picture. In any case this George Wakefield was in the US in 1793, and can be tracked before that date, and up to 1825 (when he was in Connecticut). Charles Matthews (talk) 12:52, 20 December 2021 (UTC)

Pretty decisive is this letter of 1820 referring to the death of his brother Frank, in other letters Francis Wakefield of Nottingham. Credibly this is Francis Wakefield (1758 - 1820) on WikiTree as Gilbert Wakefield's brother.

Also of interest is this letter of 1825, which "mentions visit of his nephew Gilbert Wakefield from Antigua". This could well be Gilbert Wakefield Jr., though there isn't enough yet to correlate that. Charles Matthews (talk) 15:43, 20 December 2021 (UTC)

Wife's background
Not identifiable from this. May be incomplete. Charles Matthews (talk) 12:58, 22 December 2021 (UTC)

Proposed merge of Hardy progeny of the North into Gilbert Wakefield
see Talk:Hardy progeny of the North (t &#183; c)  buidhe  21:57, 6 January 2022 (UTC)