Wigson, Samuel George (Samuel)
Corporal
No. 3339, 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Died of disease on Sunday 2 November 1919 (aged 21)
Buried:
Not yet confirmed
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
United Kingdom Book of Remembrance
Brother of Sapper Joseph Wigson (No. 24936)
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Wigston.
At civil birth registration only one forename was recorded: George
At civil death registration only one forename was recorded: Samuel
Samuel George Wigson was born on 17 December 1897 in Castle Square, Bangor and he was a son of Joseph and Martha Wigson (nee Elliott) who were married on 26 March 1888 in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church. Joseph Wigson from Ballymullan was a son of John Wigson, a labourer. Martha Elliott from Conlig was a daughter of Robert Elliott, a tradesman.
The Wigson family lived in Clandeboye Cottages, Bangor; in Church Street, Newtownards; at 15 Ferndale Street, Belfast; at 24 Moore’s Place, Belfast and in Napier Street, Belfast.
Joseph Wigson Senior worked as a general labourer and he and Martha had six children:
Jane Annabella (born 31 March 1889 in Crawfordsburn)
John (born 12 February 1891 in Church Street, Bangor; died of convulsions 5 October 1891 in Clandeboye Cottages)
Joseph (born 10 April 1893 in Clandeboye Cottages)
Robert James (born 27 April 1895 in Clandeboye Cottages)
Samuel George (born 17 December 1897 in Castle Square, Bangor)
Thomas Lorimer (born 27 June 1899 in Clandeboye Cottages; died of congenital debility 2 August 1899 in Clandeboye Cottages)
Jane Wigson was 17 when her son Charles was born on 19 January 1907 in Newtownards Workhouse.
Joseph and Martha’s five eldest children were baptised in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church and Thomas was baptised in Bangor Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Comgall’s).
Prior to the outbreak of the Great War, Samuel George Wigson worked as a house painter. He enlisted on 29 July 1914 as Samuel Wigson and declared that he was 17 years old (he was in fact 16). He was 5 feet 3 inches tall with blue eyes, and brown hair.
Corporal Samuel Wigson (No. 3339) served for a time overseas and was wounded on at least three occasions, including a gunshot wound to his arm, face, and shoulder in August 1916 (hospitalised in Wimereux Hospital), and a compound skull fracture in December 1917 (hospitalised in Rouen Hospital).
Samuel Wigson and Annie Canny were married on 23 October 1916 in St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Clonmany, Co Donegal. Samuel Wigson, a soldier stationed at Buncrana Military Camp was a son of Joseph Wigson, a labourer. Annie Canny from Rockstown was a daughter of Edward Canny, a farmer.
Corporal Samuel Wigson (No. 3339) was discharged from the Army on 8 October 1918 because of his wounds and was issued with a Silver War Badge (No. B22491)
Samuel and Annie Wigson (nee Canny) had one child, a daughter named Annie, who was born on 19 July 1919.
Samuel George Wigson died because of a cerebral hernia and convulsions on 2 November 1919 in Rockstown, Clonmany, Inishowen, Co Donegal.
His widow Annie remarried on 1 December 1928; she married Daniel Doherty, a farmer.