Your Letters
Bill Latham's letter sent via email.
Wigan ancestors.
Brian,
I've just discovered your Wigan website. Thank you so much for taking the time to put it up. It's a wonderful site. It must have taken your quite a bit of time to create it. It is a wonderful resource. Thank you for taking the time.
I'm learning a lot about Wigan from your website. My ancestors left Wigan about 1883 and came to Madison Wisconsin and Chicago Illinois in the USA.
I'm descended from the surgeon, Dr. John Latham (1801-1879) he spent his whole life in Wigan and lived at 20 or 22? Millgate. I believe there is a town center or community center is there now. John married twice, first to Margaret Morris Marsden and second to Mary Anne Whaley. John and Mary are buried in Ince Cemetery and have a stone marking their graves.
John's father was Peter Latham who married Hannah Wallwork. Both Peter and Hannah are both buried in St. Paul's Congregational church yard in Wigan. Peter was a cabinetmaker in Wigan. I saw Peter and Hannah's tombstone when I visited the church about 25 years ago. I understand the church still stands, but is no longer a church. When I visited Wigan about 15 years ago, the church yard had been paved over and the gravestones were covered over, so his and Hannah's stone is no longer visible. Peter's father is William Latham who married Elizabeth Woodworth in Wigan, but I can't figure out which of the two William's I found born in Wigan about 1725 is my descendant. Also, I don't know William's profession.
I've only been to Wigan twice for a total time of two days - far too little to see everything. I hope to return again someday, but it doesn't look like it will be anytime soon.
Bill Latham
8401 Archer
Willow Springs, IL 60480 USA
Willow Springs is a suburb of Chicago about 17 miles SW of Chicago.