Wright Coldham and Others

The main narrative concerns the history of the Williams family at Gosport, Nottingham and Southwell. The Nottingham period has some special significance however in defining the dissenting convictions of Thomas Williams in particular, which illuminate his role in the politics of Nottingham. When John Marsh visited the family in 1796 he describes an occasion when 'the Williams's had a large party to drink tea, play at Cards & stay Supper, consisting of Mr Walker, a Dissenting Minister, & his Wife, Mr & Mrs Attenburrow, the Coldhams & several others, .... '

George Walker was the Minister of the High Pavement Presbytarian Chapel and the Coldhams and Mr Attenburrow were subscribing members of the Society of Protestant Dissenters of the High Pavement Chapel. The minute book of the Chapel records that on 1st January 1793, 'Mr Coldham is appointed Churchwarden in the room of Mr J.M. Lowe who goes out of office.' Mr Coldham appears as a signatory of subsequent minutes and on 22nd January 1794 is specifically referred to as Mr Geo. Coldham.

On 13th January 1797, the minute book refers to T. Smith as 'the Senior Churchwarden for the year ensuing, he continuing in office for that time with Mr Wright Coldham who is hereby appointed Junior Churchwarden with him for the following year.' By 22nd December Wright Coldham had become 'the Senior Chapelwarden for the ensuing year'.

All the names mentioned above appear at some time or another amongst Thomas Williams's circle of acquaintances.

Wright Coldham is supposed to have originated in Yorkshire but it has not been possible to confirm this. As noted in the main account of the family, he was made a Burgess, Gratis, in 1796, when he was described as a hosier. This is confirmed in an Indenture held in the Nottingham Archives Office, dated 1st July 1796 between:

1) Francis Hart the younger of Nottingham, hosier
2) Wright Coldham of Nottingham, hosier
(1) and (2) to be co-partners as hosiers for 6 years from 1st July 1796, with extension if wished. Within one month they will put up £2,800 in equal proportions.

The business to be carried on at warehouse of (1) in Pepper Street, Nottingham, under the firm of Hart and Coldham-

Further details of the agreement are set out in the document.

George Coldham, Wright's elder brother died in an accident in Brighton in 1815, intestate, (he was a solicitor!), and his brother, Wright was appointed administrator of George's affairs. Wright Coldham died on 26th September 1816 and the uncompleted administration was then passed to his daughter, Marianne. Eventually a Deed of Assignment, dated 11th July 1825 was enacted:-

An extract from Wright Coldham's Will dated 11th March 1816 recounts that:-

Mr George Coldham died a Bachelor & intestate in ye month of September 1815 leaving Mr Wright Coldham his only Brother & Heir at Law

Mr Wright Coldham died in Sep. 1816

Both of the latter two documents are deposited in the Nottingham Archives Office.

Thomas Williams's association with the Coldhams and the other members of the High Pavement Society of Protestant Dissenters emphasises his involvement with the non-conformist cabal controlling the politics of Nottingham at that time.

In this address the Junior Council disclaim the smallest Animosity to the Mayor. They take up this Affair upon Public Ground - In Defence of the Laws and Constitution of their Country.

This provoked a furious response from Gilbert Wakefield. In his address, published as a pamphlet, he remarks:-

He then waxes forth for another 15 pages, expostulating against the iniquitous idea that "the Magistrate, or ruling Power of a Nation, has a Right to enquire into the Religious Opinions of his Subjects, to prescribe Rules for the Regulation of these Opinions, and to demand a Declaration of them."

He goes on to point out that "what is Non-Conformity in England is in Scotland the established Church; and we of the Church of England, as soon as we pass the Tweed, become Dissenters."

In his conclusion he asserts "that there are Duties, owed by us to God and to ourselves, antecedent and superior to all civil Power upon Earth; and that those injunctions of civil Magistrates, which contradict any explicit Doctrine of Morality, are from the first, to all Purposes and in every Sense, NULL and VOID. I don't think that the Junior Council won this one!