Henry Wilkins (abt. 1835 - 1901)

Born about 1835 in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza (Findley) Wilkins — married 5 Feb 1861 in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 14 Mar 1901 at about age 66 in Overseal, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alison Wilkins [send private message]

Biography

Henry Wilkins, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Betty) was born in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, England in late 1834 or early 1835. He was baptised at St Michael & All Angels church in the village on 31 January 1835.^[1][2]

The 1841 census shows the Wilkins family living in Church Street in the Derbyshire section of Appleby. Thomas (the only family member born in Derbyshire) is an Ag Lab, and the eldest child William is a Tailor.^[3]

In 1851, Henry is living with his parents and brothers William and Charles. They were in the Leicestershire part of Appleby Magna (Ancestry refers to the county of Derbyshire, but the first page of the enumerators report states clearly this is "all that part of the Parish of Appleby in the County of Leicester"). Thomas, aged 63, was still working as an agricutural labourer. ^[4]

Henry married Eliza Findley on 5 Feb 1861 at the Parish Church (St Michael & All Angels) in Appleby. He is a 26 year old Servant, Eliza is also 26. Thier father's are Thomas Wilkins and John Findley, both labourers. ^[5][6][7] Thier Banns had been read at Appleby on January 13, 20 & 27th 1861.^[8]

On 7 April 1861, census night, the couple are living on Measham Road, Ashby de la Zouch and Henry was working as a Groom.^[9] They have a visitor too - 5 year old Laura Cherry. She's described as a scholar born in Ibstock.

By the 1871 census the family had moved to Gosty Lees, Overseal, Leicestershire where Henry continued to work as a Groom & Coachman.^[10] The couple now have children; William H, who was born in Ashby, and Elizabeth M, Henry & Charles, all born since the move to Overseal.

Henry was still a Domestic Coachman when their son Walter was born in 1872 ^[11] but by 1881 he was a farmer, carrier and Sub-postmaster.^[12] The census records the whole family together; father, mother, 5 sons and 2 daughters.

The 1891 census shows Henry & Eliza living at the Post Office in Overseal with their youngest four children. Henry is both an employer and employee working as both a Farmer and the Postmaster; occupations he maintains until his death. His sons work on the farm, and his daughter in the Post Office. ^[13]

Henry died without leaving a will^[14] on 14 March 1901 in Overseal, he had had Chronic Bronchitis for two years.^[15][16] He was buried on 17 March in St Matthews churchyard in Overseal.^[17][18][19]

The 1901 census, taken only 2 weeks later, shows Eliza as Postmistress, with her youngest son Ernest a postman, and boarder Ada Shuttleworth (soon to become Mrs Ernest Wilkins) employed as a telegraph clerk.^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ "Leicestershire Baptisms" Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland. Archive reference 15D55/5, Page 94 accessed via www.findmypast.co.uk
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NP7W-KGC) FHL microfilm 585,293.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7ST-PD2 : 28 May 2019), Henry Wilkins in household of Thomas Wilkins, Appleby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGFL-G4M : 9 November 2019), Henry Wilkins in household of Thomas Wilkins, Appleby, Leicestershire, England; citing Appleby, Leicestershire, England, p. 2, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
5. ↑ "Leicestershire Marriages" Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland. Archive reference DE4571/2 accessed via www.findmypast.co.uk
6. ↑ Marriage Certificate MXF446675 (Henry Wilkins & Eliza Findley) privately held
7. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DW4-GDN : 13 December 2014), Henry Wilkins, 1861; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1861, quarter 1, vol. 7A, p. 115, Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
8. ↑ "Leicestershire Banns" Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland. Archive reference 15D55/10 accessed via www.findmypast.co.uk
9. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7RL-WCY : 24 October 2019), Henry Wilkins, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
10. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFTX-4M3 : 28 September 2019), Henry Wilkins, 1871.
11. ↑ Birth Certificate BM429518 (Walter Wilkins) Privately held
12. ↑ ""England and Wales Census, 1881," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X353-2MG : 21 February 2018), [name withheld by request], [place withheld by request]; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 22, PRO RG 11/3139 / 41, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 1,341,748..
13. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W8TL-J2M : 5 May 2019), Henry Wilkins, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Leicestershire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
14. ↑ letter from HM Courts & Tribunals Service 22/04/2015 (privately held) confirming no will found. Also checked since and no trace on Probate Calendar or https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills
15. ↑ Death Certificate DYD 423705 (Henry Wilkins)
16. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NP3-6R3 : 31 December 2014), Henry Wilkins, 1901; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
17. ↑ "Derbyshire, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1991" Derbyshire Record Office; Matlock, Derbyshire, England. Accessed via ancestry.co.uk
18. ↑ South Derbyshire BDM, Record ID 35114. http://www.southderbyshirebdm.co.uk/Overseal/Burials/stmattburw.html
19. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87210205
20. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS4F-PCD : 21 May 2019), Eliza Wilkins, Overseal, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Hartshorn subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• Gosty Lees was also known as Goster Leys and now known as Gorsey Leys
• Used https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp to check that no children born Wilkins nee Findley (and variants) were born to the family that were not included on a census return. This family saw all 7 children survive to childhood.
• Due to county boundary changed, Overseal became part of Derbyshire in September 1897.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 01 June 2020), memorial page for Henry Wilkins (unknown–14 Mar 1901), Find a Grave Memorial no. 87210205, citing St Matthew Churchyard, Overseal, South Derbyshire District, Derbyshire, England ; Maintained by buttershap (contributor 46840435) .