Edgar Smith Wigg was an Adelaide, South Australian bookseller and stationer, founder of the firm E. S. Wigg and Son.
Background
Their first child, Edward Neale Wigg was born in 1847 and shortly afterwards they migrated to Australia, perhaps seeking a healthier climate, leaving on the "William Hyde" on 29 January 1849 and arriving in Portuguese Adelaide in May 1849.
Career
Originally from Tunstall, Suffolk, he commenced work as a bank clerk and developed a book club for the benefit of his fellow workers. Sensing an opportunity, he opened a bookshop in Warwickshire. He rented a shop at 4 Rundle Street and started manufacturing account books
In August 1857 the business moved to larger premises at 12 (later renumbered to 14) Rundle Street and a decade later founded a purchasing office in London.
He opened a pharmacy at 34 King William Street. He maintained a close relationship with the North Adelaide Baptist Church and the Institution for the Blind.
With Fanny Neale Wigg (née Morewood) (ca1823 – 1 April 1853):
Edward Neale Wigg (1847 – 12 December 1927) bookseller and chairman of directors BHP 1890-1913 Edward Neale Wigg married Janet North. Davidson on 6 September 1871. Frank Morewood Wigg Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Edinburgh)( – 23 January 1901) died of pneumonia in Edinburgh.
Jessie Ann (22 April 1852 – 17 May 1853)
They had no children.
Alfred Edgar Wigg (2 February 1857 – 1 May 1914), a prominent medical practitioner. (Winifred) Olive Wigg ( –1964) married John Stanley Murray (1884–1971) on 8 June 1910
Henry Higham Wigg (18 July 1858 – 22 April 1950) also a medical practitioner, married Lillie Margaret Melrose ( – 10 March 1932), a daughter of George Melrose, on 29 April 1891. He was Health Officer for Unley Council and was one of four patrons, with brothers-in law West. L. Davidson and F. A. Joyner, and miner Charles Henry de Rose, who sponsored the 20-year-old Hans Heysen"s studies in Europe.
Mary Jane Wigg (6 April 1860 – ) married William Laidlaw Davidson (1853-1924) on 1 September 1885.
Davidson"s sister Janet had previously married Edward Neale Wigg. Ellen Deborah Wigg (9 January 1863 – 9 March 1954).
Florence Fanny Wigg (29 May 1864 – February 1940). Annie Adelaide Wigg (28 January 1867 – 14 August 1949) married Frederick Allen Joyner (ca1864 – 15 December 1945) on 28 September 1889.
Their home for many years was at Lefevre Terrace Medindie.
He bought the land in 1851 and had a cottage built there.