| Description | Letters from William Wilkinson, from 1786, 1788 and 1794 to 1799. William Wilkinson was the brother of the iron master John Wilkinson, and an engineer and iron founder in his own right. The brothers had various disagreements which lead to William spending time away from the works in Shropshire during the 1780s. The first two letters in the bundle date from that period. In the 1790s John and William had an irrevocable dipsute which went to arbitration and saw the division of their various works. It was during this dispute that William informed Boulton & Watt of John’s engine piracy, leading to their action against him. The letters cover the dispute between John and William, and others involving Boulton & Watt which resulted from their falling out, such as the dispute at Minera Mine and the dispute over the Stockdales’ engine at Cark. The letters also cover Boulton & Watt’s employment of men from John’s Bersham works, and William’s assistance in the design of Soho Foundry. |