Among the people who voted for street names as a new series, one person chose Wigglesworth Street. I decided to start there.
Like many odd or unusual street names, this road is named for a member of a prominent Boston family. The problem lies in figuring out which member.
The Wigglesworh family name goes back to the founding of Boston and a lot of its sons and daughters have passed through the city since then. Many of the men had the same name: Edward was popular.
Where is Wigglesworth Street?
Wigglesworth Street can be found on Mission Hill, where it runs from Tremont Street to Huntington Avenue. The Harvard Medical School lies to the north and Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park to the south. A gas station faces it on Tremont Street while the Harvard University Employees Credit Union lies across Huntington Avenue.
The street’s short length includes 19th-century bow-front and Second Empire brick row houses with mansard roofs and Panel Brick decorations. The doorways have enough architectural variety to make them interesting and owners have added their own ornaments. It makes for a visual haven from the institutional hubbub of Huntington Avenue/Route 9 traffic, the roar of the nearby E line, and the Stanhope Garage and parking lot that occupy half of the street’s north side.
But who were the Wigglesworths?
The Wigglesworh Family
In chronological order the male line of the family includes:
- Michael Wigglesworth (1631 – 1705)
- Edward Wigglesworth (1693 – 1765)
Author of “A Day of Doom” and “Meat Out of the Earth” - Edward Wigglesworth (1732 – 1794)
- Edward Wigglesworth (1771 – 1794)
- Thomas Wigglesworth (1775 – 1855)
East India merchant at 16 India Wharf - Thomas Wigglesworth (1814 – 1907)
Worked as a merchant with his father at India Wharf - Edward Wigglesworth (1804 – 1876)
Helped in the publication of the Encyclopedia Britannica - Edward Wigglesworth (1840 – 1896)
A dermatologist who helped found the Boston Dispensary for Skin Diseases and headed the Department of Skin Diseases at Boston City Hospital - George Wigglesworth (1853 – 1930)
President of the York Manufacturing Co. and Treasurer at M.I.T. - Norton Wigglesworth (b. 1882)
- Richard Wigglesworth (b. 1891)
A U.S. Congressman - Frank Wigglesworth (b. 1893)
You see the problem. Pinning down which Wigglesworth, or even which Edward Wigglesworth, presents difficulties. The houses on Wigglesworth Street were built between 1890 and 1900 so that offers no clarity.
All Harvard Men
Most of the Wigglesworth men went to Harvard University and served as trustees of various educational institutions. They married prominent Boston ladies with names like Goddard, Parkman, Sewall, Pickering and Sparhawk.
One of the daughters of Edward Wigglesworth (b. 1804) and Henrietta May Goddard married J. Pierpont Morgan.
Proximity to the Harvard Medical School may indicate that the street was named after Dr. Edward Wigglesworth, the dermatologist. That’s my best guess. If anyone knows for sure, please comment. Dr. Wigglesworth is buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.
Wigglesworth Street is part of a Boston Landmark District and thus protected from “changes that would adversely affect its historic character.”
Love to know the truth.. Interesting.. I’m finding other streets .. one in Malden and one in Somerville… trying to find the reason… It’s my maiden name!
I hope my post helped you, Nancy. The Wigglesworth genealogy in Boston is pretty long. You should have lots of sources on which to draw.
I live on Wigglesworth St in Boston and came upon your blog when trying to ascertain for which Wigglesworth our street might be named. The plot of land was once owned by Thomas Wigglesworth, the East India merchant at 16 India Wharf. (See page 5 of https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/mission-hill-triangle-architectural-conservation-district.pdf). Might the street not be named after him?
Yes, indeed, it just might Sharon. Thank you so much for sending this information.