John Wing (1756 - 1826)

Born 22 Jun 1756 in North Luffenham, Rutland, England

Ancestors

Died 2 Dec 1826 at age 70 in Bedford

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Biography

John was born in 1756. He was the son of John Wing. John moved from Leicester to Bedford in the 1780s, and his name appears in the Bedford Directory of 1785 as a stone and marble mason. [Bedfordshire Times, 25 Oct 1940] “John Wing built many notable buildings in Bedford, including the bridge, a poetical essay in stone, immortalized in paintings by Turner and Constable, ranks with John Rennie, and was thrice elected mayor of that town, in 1793, 1808 and 1817.” [Bedfordshire Times, 6 June 1930 and 18 Dec 1936][Country Life, 31 March 1983] Bedford prison 1800, Bedford town bridge 1813, Girton Bridge, Kempston Manor, Swan Hotel, and almshouses in Dame Alice street, Bedford. [Biggleswade Chronicle, 8 Aug 1975] John Wing gent was elected Mayor of Bedford in Sept 1793. [Northampton Mercury, 7 Sept 1793] Married Elizabeth Tacy on 13 Oct 1799 at St Mary, Bedford.

John died 2 December 1826 at St Mary, Bedford. Will of John Wing builder of St Mary, Bedford, to wife Elizabeth 500 and a tenement in St Peter Martin, to sister Elizabeth 40, to wife’s uncle Henry Halford of Honinghold, Leics grazier and brother Vincent Wing of Melton Mowbray grocer a messuage in Potter street, St Mary, and several messuages in St John street, St Mary, and all the rest after death of wife on trust for sons John Wing, William Henry Wing, James Tarby Wing, Vincent Wing, Samuel Wing, and Charles Wing, and daughters Eliza Wing, Emma Wing and Jane Wing, when 21.

Sources

• Bedfordshire Times, 6 June 1930 and 18 Dec 1936. Country Life, 31 March 1983. PCC Will 1826.