Oates, Colley & Wigham was a merchant, based in Hollis Croft, which was active by the early 1790s and was listed in a directory in 1797.  The partners were Christopher Oates, Benjamin Colley, and Abraham Wigham.  They were Quakers.  Christopher Oates (1739-1814) had been a cutler in Hollis Croft since at least 1787.   He was probably the son of Samuel (a cutler) and may have been granted his Freedom in 1760.   Benjamin Colley had married Christopher Oates’ daughter, Mary, in 1792.  Apparently, Benjamin also had an interest in Colley & Hargreaves.   Abraham Wigham (1770-1806) was the son of Thomas (a husbandman and later mining surveyor from Newcastle upon Tyne) and his wife, Mabel.  In 1784, Abraham was apprenticed to Lemuel Davison, with a £5 5s premium paid by Joseph King, a glass maker at Newcastle.  Abraham became a Freeman in 1793 and in the same year married Margaret, the son of John Parkin (cutler, deceased).  

Christopher Oates and Benjamin Colley next joined John Parkin & Co, but this was dissolved in 1802.  Two years later Oates & Colley was trading at Hollis Croft under Christopher Oates and Benjamin Colley.  Oates & Colley was particularly active in the USA, where it had an agent in Philadelphia.  Abraham Wigham had died on 18 February 1806.  Christopher Oates, of High House, Sheffield, died on 30 December 1814, aged 75.   He was described in an obituary ‘as one of the people called Quakers’ (Hull Packet, 24 January 1815).  He was buried in the Quaker burial ground in Sheffield.

The business was continued by Charles Oates (1785-1821), who was Christopher’s son (by his wife, Ann).  But Charles died 10 December 1821, aged  35, of yellow fever at Kingston, Jamaica.   ‘His loss will be deeply felt by his kindred and friends, for he was greatly and deservedly loved’ (Leeds Intelligencer, 12 February 1821).  Oates & Colley ceased business after his death.