William Bigge facts for kids

William Bigge (1707–1758) was an English lawyer, landowner, and coal mine owner. He lived in the 18th century and was an important person in Northumberland, England. He managed large areas of land and was involved in the growing coal industry of his time.

Early Life and Career

William Bigge was born in 1707. His father was Thomas Bigge. William became a legal official, working as one of the Six Clerks in Chancery. This was a high-level job in the legal system of England.

In 1710, a special law called Bigg's Estate Act was passed. This law helped manage the land owned by his grandfather, also named William Bigge, who was a lawyer in Newcastle upon Tyne. Thanks to this law, the land eventually went to William's father.

Land and Coal Mines

William Bigge owned a large estate called the manor of Little Benton. In 1750 and 1751, he held an important position as the High Sheriff of Northumberland. This role meant he was the chief law enforcement officer in the county.

By the late 1730s, William Bigge also owned several coal mines, known as collieries. These mines were located in places like Little Benton, Heddon-on-the-Wall, and East and West Heddon. Owning coal mines was a very profitable business during this period, as coal was a key source of energy.

Major Projects and Later Life

In the early 1750s, William Bigge helped a young man named Charles Brandling manage his land. He bought land around Hunslet in Yorkshire, which was important for developing the Middleton Colliery, another large coal mine.

Bigge was also involved in building the Military Road. This road had its eastern end at Heddon-on-the-Wall. His brother, Edward Bigge, worked as a lawyer for the people in charge of building the road.

William Bigge made his home, Benton House, larger. He also bought more land in Witton and Coldcoats. He passed away at Benton House on June 30, 1758.

Family Life

On January 29, 1736, William Bigge married Mary Clarke. She was the daughter and only heir of Charles Clarke of Ovingham. Through this marriage, William Bigge gained a large fortune, reportedly £25,000. He also came to own land that had once belonged to a religious house called Hexham Priory, and he gained estates in Ovington and Stannington, Northumberland.

William and Mary Bigge had four sons:

• Thomas Charles Bigge, who was the oldest.
• William Edward Bigge, who never married. He inherited property from his uncle, Edward Bigge.
• Charles Clarke Bigge, who died when he was young.
• John Bigge (who died in 1797), who left his property to John Thomas Bigge, the son of Thomas Charles Bigge.

Besides his brother Edward, who never married, William Bigge had another brother named Thomas. Thomas married Elizabeth Rundell, whose brother Philip Rundell was a famous jeweler. William also had a sister named Grace, who married Sir Robert Carr. Two other sisters died without marrying.