James Kirkby Riggall (1828-1898), grocer, of Grimsby; a portrait by E. T. Jenkins 1887 (YMCA interest).
An original, ‘cabinet card’, studio portrait taken in 1887 by the photographer E. T. Jenkins, 316 Victoria street. (The photo was possibly printed c1898.) The name of the gentleman in the photo, James K. Riggall (1828-1898), and the date the photo was taken are written on the back.
James Kirkby Riggall’s grocer’s shop is shown in a huge number of pictures and old photographs of the Old Market Place, Grimsby. “Riggall & Son”. The shop was there from before 1871 until at least 1918. The shop moved to 53 Victoria Street by 1921 and was still there in 1933.
James Kirkby Riggall, a Wesleyan, is credited as the man who set up the modest beginnings of the YMCA in Grimsby. The first ever official YMCA Grimsby was later established by Mr Fred Bacon, a fish merchant.
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The photographer, Edward Thomas Jenkins was born in Kensington, London in 1847. He was the son of Joseph and Mary Jenkins. Edward married Sarah Plummer in Leeds in 1867. Sarah died in Bradford in 1878.
In 1881, Edward Thomas Jenkins was a photographer operator in Manningham, Bradford. He was a widower with four daughters; Annie Elizabeth Jenkins (born Leeds 1869), Edith Plummer Jenkins (born Ilkley 1873), Clara Louise Jenkins (born Bradford 1876) and Kate Jenkins (born Bradford 1878).
Edward Thomas Jenkins married Alice Matilda Holmes in Bradford in 1882. They were certainly living in Grimsby by 1891 and most probably by 1887. Edward’s photographic studio at 7 Victoria Street West was operating at one time as Jenkins & Remy. (August Remy was living with the family at 7 Victoria Street West between 1887 and 1890.)
Edith Plummer Jenkins married Richard West in Grimsby in 1894. (They were living in Healing in 1911.) Clara Louise Jenkins married George William Robinson, a saddler and harness maker, of 179 Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby in 1898. Annie Elizabeth Jenkins married James Allen Christian of 100 Welholme Road in Old Clee in 1904. Annie Elizabeth Christian died in Grimsby in 1906.
In 1901, Edward Thomas Jenkins and Alice Matilda Jenkins were living at 316 Victoria Street, Grimsby. With them were daughters Annie Elizabeth and Kate Moon and her daughter, Clara. (Kate Jenkins had married Thomas Percival Moon in Grimsby in 1899.) The family were still in Grimsby in 1907. On 10th December 1909, Kate Moon, wife of Thomas Percival Moon, shipbuilder, of 197 Willingham Street, died.
By 1911, Edward Thomas and Alice Matilda Jenkins were at Channons Hill, Fishponds, Bristol. Edward was still in Bristol in 1921. He appears to have died in Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol in 1923, aged 76. (Alice appears to have died in Bristol in 1912.)
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A brief history of the Riggall family:
James Kirkby Riggall was born in Gayton-le-Wold in 1828. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Riggall. He married Anne Foster, from Ludborough, in Louth in 1853.
In 1871, James and Anne (Annie) were living at 5 High Street, Grimsby. James was a grocer. They had four children Mary, Alice, Albert Edward and Clara Foster. Several other people were also living at the address, including a governess. In 1881, the family were living at 1 Pelham Terrace (Bargate), Grimsby with another daughter, Anne Maria, and Albert Edward and Clara Foster plus two servants. James was a grocer employing six hands. The family were still living at the same address in 1891. Anne Maria, Alice, Albert Edward and Clara Foster were still living at home.
James Kirkby Riggall died on 26th January 1898, aged 69. (Albert Edward Riggall was executor of his father’s will.) James’ wife, Anne, had died on 1st December 1892, aged 65. They were both buried in the Old Cemetery, Grimsby, Ainslie Street. Clara Foster Riggall died on 16th October 1900 and was buried in the same cemetery. Mary and Alice Riggall may have married.
Albert Edward Riggall and his sister Anne Maria, both unmarried, were both still living at the family home in 1911. Albert was a wholesale and retail grocer. Albert married Constance Gertrude Smith Coathupe, from Grantham, in Clee on 17th June 1914. Constance was 20 years his junior. They had a daughter, Josephine May Riggall, in 1915. By 1918, they were living at ‘Park Gate’, 15 Welholme Road, Grimsby.
Albert Edward Riggall of 37 Louth Road, Scartho died on 2nd February 1949. His widow, Constance, was executor of his will. Constance and daughter, Josephine May, were living in Torquay at the time of the 1939 Census. Josephine died in Devon in 1977 and Constance in 1978.
Annie Maria Riggall, spinster, of 45 Heneage road, Grimsby died on 30th October 1955.
Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.
