Rigby, James., 1806-1862

James Rigby (1806-1862) was born in Salford. From the age of 7 to 14 he worked in a cotton factory owned by Jospeh Brotherton (1783-1857) and also attended the radical Sunday School provided by him. Many of Rigby's belief's seem to have been influenced by Brotherton who was a strict vegetarian and campaigned against child labour and for a ten hour day. Rigby also became interested in the promotion of working- class self-improvement through the influence of Rowland Detroisier. At the age of 16 he became an apprentice to the Salford plumber and glazier Jospeh Smith. In his spare time, Rigby started a school for young people. In 1824 Rigby married Mary Firth at St John’s church in Manchester. After attending a lecture by William Pare in Manchester in 1829 he became interested in co-operative views and joined with Joseph Smith to form the Salford co-operative store and school. Rigby attended the London Co-operative Congress in 1833 as a representative of Salford and consequently joined Robert Owen's National Regeneration Society. As a member of this society he became a full time lecturer for a year. Afterwards he returned to his employment in Salford with Joseph Smith and became involved in the Salford Social Institution in 1836. In 1837 he was appointed to its Central Board and became a social missionary in Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham. In 1840 Rigby moved to Leeds with his wife Mary and two children.

In October 1840, Rigby became the Deputy Governor of Owen’s community in Queenwood, Hampshire. He was joined there by his family in 1841 with his wife Mary working as a domestic and nurse. He remained at Queenswood until its closure in 1845. In 1845 he became an employee of William Pare working for him in some capacity with the railways. This role ceased in late 1846. A short time afterwards Rigby gained a position as the London Agent of Finch & Willey, Windsor Foundry of Liverpool and also the London Agent of the Irish Engineering Company, the companies which Pare worked at. Rigby stayed in this role until 1851.The census records of 1851 confirm that Rigby was living in Camden Town with his wife Mary and son Thomas. In 1852 Rigby became the Assistant Secretary of the Co-operative League who met at 58 Pall Mall.The Co-operative League formed in 1852 and was intended as a forum for co-operative ideas, and held regular public meetings, at one of which Owen himself gave an address. A publication, Transactions of the Co-operative League was produced in three parts in 1852.

...