WIGBERT: First abbot of Fritzlar (32 m, n.e. of Marburg); d. about 746. What little is known of Wigbert's life is largely derived from the account by Servatua Lupus of Ferri&es, who compiled his biography at the desire of Abbot Bun of Hersfeld, but seems to have possessed only meager information as he furnishes hardly more than the outlines of the life of his hero. [Wigbert received his education in England at the monasteries of Winbrun and Glaston.] Boniface induced Wigbert to come from England to Germany and entrusted him with the charge of the abbey of Fritzlar, and at a later time transferred him to Ordruff,, whence he returned to Fritzlar after a few years to spend the rest of his days. During an invasion of the Saxons his corpse was taken to Buraburg and some years afterward Lullus of Mainz (q.v.) transported it to Hersfeld. Besides these few facts, the biography contains only the usual valueless eulogies of the saint, and a number of miraculous stories. The letters of Boniface contain hardly any more information than the biography, there being mentioned a number 'of persons named Wigbert, who eau not always be differenf

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WIGGLESWORTH, MICHAEL: New England divine; b. probably in Yorkshire, England, Oct. 28, 1631; d. at Malden, Mass., June 10, 1705. He was brought to New England, 1638; was graduated from Harvard, 1651; was tutor there, 1652-54; studied theology, and supplied the pulpit of Charleston for the winter of 1653-54; began to preach at Malden in 1655, and was pastor there, 1657-1705. He was kept from officiating personally in the pulpit for about twenty years because of ill-health; during this time he studied medicine and became a skilful physician. In 1686 he resumed his pulpit labors, but continued to practise as a physician. He was the author of The Day of Doom. A Poem (Cambridge, 1662, and often; printed again, New York, 1867; contains the famous (unsuccessful) "Reprobate Infants' Plea" against being eternally punished); A Poem on the Sanctification of Afflictions (1669); and Meat out of the Eater (1670).

Bibliography: W. B. Sprague, Annals of the American Pulpit, i. 143-148, New York, 1859.

WIGRAM, GEORGE VICESIMUS: Plymouth Brother; b. at Walthamstow (5 m. n.e. of London) in 1805; d. in London Jan. 1, 1879. He was the twentieth child of Sir Robert Wigram, one of whose sons became vice-chancellor in the old court of chancery, and another bishop of Rochester.. George in 1826 entered at Queen's College, Oxford, with the view of taking orders. As an undergraduate he came in contact with James Harris and Benjamin Wills Newton, both of Exeter College; the three were in 1830 associated with J. N. Darby (q.v.) in the formation of a company of Christians at Plymouth, who separated from the organized churches for "testimony" to the unity of the Church, and to its direction by the Holy Spirit alone, without official rule, while awaiting the Second Advent (see Plymouth Brethren). Between 1830 and 1838 Wigram was active in initiation of like "gatherings" at London; also in superintendence of the preparation of Bible Concordances, produced at his expense: The Englishman's Greek and English Concordance to the New Testament appeared in 1839, and The Englishman's Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance in 1863.

In the years 1845-50 Wigram was prominently concerned in an upheaval which affected Bristol in particular. For several years thenceforth he con ducted a periodical entitled The Present Testimony. In 1856 he produced a hymnal under the title of Hymns for the Little Flock. In 1866, at another critical juncture, he gave his support to Darby when the leader's doctrine introduced further . dissension. Wigram will rank as a devotional writer.

E. E. Whitfield.

Bibliography: E. D[ennett], Memorials of !he Ministry of G. V. W., 2d ed., London, 1$81.

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