Jiggy Nye is the tanner in Williamsburg where Felicity Merriman lives and the first owner of Penny. He has no living family; his wife has since passed. If Jiggy is a nickname, it is never explained as such in the context of the books. He is initially a brash, mean drunkard and considered an unreliable, cold-hearted scoundrel who gambles and drinks away his money. Other members of the town do not trust him including Edward Merriman, and he is spoken off in harsh tones. When he drinks too much rum he flies into rages and leaves things undone, including chores. His house is in disarray and the fences around it are falling. Felicity dislikes him more because of his job than his actions, due to her affection for horses and his job of killing them and turning the hides to leather. Due to Jiggy's drinking problem, Mr. Merriman insists he be paid up front for purchases. He also speaks in an old fashioned manner, archaically, using the word "ye", and makes multiple insults. He thinks very little of others and is not above threatening violence to anyone, including children. He would rather abuse and destroys things than have them taken from him, and refuses to negotiate with anyone. Jiggy Nye was good with animals before he became a drunkard. It is later in the series that he cleans up his act, enough that Felicity goes to him to ask for help with Penny's delivery of Patriot.