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LETTER TO BRYAN I'ANSON
My father, Mark Robert Cockburn Wightman was a son of John Wightman and
Hannah Cockburn. I never saw my grandfather, but from what my grandmother
used to tell us when children, I fancy my grandfather had at one time been
a man of property in a border county of Scotland. She was always speaking
of the importance of the family in the past, and said the Wightmans, the
Cockburns, and the Woods had intermarried for generations. It was a
favorite subject of hers, but I was (although the oldest) such a child,
I have not very distinct recollections of what she said. I believe that
at time I am speaking of (1851) she and her husband were in much reduced
circumstances. My father had taken a small house in Devonshire for us
3 boys (all rather delicate), and his mother had charge of it, and us,
for about 18 months, my father or mother coming from London occasionally
to see us. My father died in April 1852, and shortly after this my mother
returned to London with us children.
While at -------, my brother Enos and I went to Blundell's school. Later
on when in London I went to the City of London School, then in ---- -------,
but ill health compelled to give up school for some time and by doctor's
advice to ------- in the country. Later we all went to B. D.------- London
school. While in London I remember my grandmother sending us from Scotland
a ------- and we wrote to thank her for it, and then she wrote wanting my
mother to help her and her husband who was still alive, but I believe in
poor circumstances. My mother told us not to reply. I think --- was not
much cordiality between them, but in any case we were not in a position
to help them. I don't know how it was they had come down in the world.
My father had begun study for the medical profession earlier in life, but
health made him give it up. A brother of his the younger named George went
to Canada, and I believe was a shipowner of some importance at Charlotte
Town, Prince Edward Island, and I think has descendants of the same name,
but I have never enquired.
My father used to say so, my mother told us, that Sir William Wightman was
a cousin of his, but in Scotland all men are cousins. The only thing that
I know of which connects us with the judge, is that having occasion to see
Mr. William Liddell, a barrister who lived in the Timple, and who was also
an owner of steamships. The first time he saw me he said he knew I was a
relative of Sir William from the likeness between us. I think I had no
beard then. Whether this was so or not, I found him very friendly, and
though considered in the city a "close" man, he was liberal in his business
with us and said it was on that account that he liked men. I negotiated
the sale of the steamer "Souvenir" to Col. Thomson, who he was and was also
a close bargainer, and when it was decided, he called and asked me whether
Thomson had stipulated for us to give him (Thomson) any of the commission
which Liddell was to pay in -------. Thomson had said expressly he would
not ask for any of it. Liddell then said because "if he had asked for any,
I would have made it up to you." This was gratifying, and not the act of
a "close" man, and he led me to infer it was because of my likeness, but
none of this gives any information which would be of use. I wonder whether
Liddell knew anything of Judge Wightman. I expect he is no longer alive.
From "RECORDS of the WIGHTMAN FAMILY"
by Bryan I'Anson
Printed in London, 1917
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INTERNET Adaptation
by Sandra Shuler Bray
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