Jemmy Wood
James "Jemmy" Wood | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Gloucester, England |
| Died | April 20, 1836 (aged 79) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, proprietor, undertaker, landowner |
| Known for | Proprietor of Gloucester Old Bank, "The Gloucester Miser" |
James "Jemmy" Wood (7 October 1756 – 20 April 1836) was the proprietor of the Gloucester Old Bank and gained national recognition as "The Gloucester Miser". With an estimated fortune of £900,000, he was regarded as "the wealthiest commoner within His Majesty's realms".
Early life
Born on 7 October 1756 in Westgate Street, Gloucester, Wood was baptized at St Michael's Church on 19 October 1756. He was the third child and only son of Richard and Elizabeth Wood. His education took place at either Sir Thomas Rich's School or The King's School.
Gloucester Old Bank
Wood came into possession of the Gloucester Old Bank through inheritance from his grandfather, who had established it in 1716. This institution was among the oldest private banks in Britain and endured the financial instability caused by the Napoleonic Wars, which led to the closure of many rival banks. Operating from Wood's drapery premises on Westgate Street, the bank did not pay interest on deposits held for less than a year. The staff consisted solely of Wood and two clerks, and counterfeit coins were displayed openly on the counter as a deterrent against fraud. In 1838, the bank was taken over by the County of Gloucestershire Banking Company, which subsequently merged into Lloyds Bank in 1897.
In addition to banking, Wood possessed an undertaking business and owned extensive land in and around Gloucester.
Gloucester City
Although Wood served as City Sheriff in both 1811 and 1813 and held office as an Alderman from 1820 until his passing, he never appeared among the city's benefactors. It is believed he avoided becoming Mayor due to the significant personal costs involved. Nevertheless, he was willing to expend public money; for instance, in 1818, a dinner hosted for the Duke of Gloucester at city expense included 47 guests and featured a 150-pound turtle gifted by Lord Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard.
In fiction
It is suggested that Charles Dickens may have drawn inspiration from accounts of the Gloucester Miser when creating Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (1843). A character named Dismal Jemmy appears in The Pickwick Papers, while Jemmy Wood is referenced in Our Mutual Friend. Furthermore, it is theorized that the fictional legal dispute Jarndyce v Jarndyce in Bleak House was influenced by protracted litigation surrounding Wood's will, highlighting the era’s slow and expensive judicial process.
Death
Wood passed away in 1836 and was interred at St Mary de Crypt Church in Gloucester, where a gravestone commemorates him. Accounts describe his funeral as lacking solemnity; reportedly, his coffin was pelted with stones.
Contention over his will sparked a lengthy court battle that significantly diminished his estate. Wood died unmarried and without heirs. His fortune of approximately £900,000 was intended to be divided equally among Sir Matthew Wood, solicitor John Chadborn, Jacob Osborne, and John S. Surman—his executors. A damaged codicil that allocated funds to the City of Gloucester and other parties caused delays due to doubts regarding its validity. Chadborn took his own life in 1839; his obituary mentioned his deep involvement with ongoing disputes over Wood’s will since the latter’s death.
See also
Further reading
- Savory, Charles H. The Life and Stories of Jemmy Wood, the Unconventional Banker, Merchant, and Draper from Gloucester, Including Details of the Notable Legal Dispute Concerning His Will. London & Cirencester: Kent & Co., 1883.