Rollin Wilkinson (1863 - 1901)

Born 1863 in Churwell, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Minnie (Medley) Rickards — married 4 Oct 1894 in Kirkstall, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Died Apr 1901 at about age 38 in Churwell, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Rollin Wilkinson was born in Yorkshire, England.

Rollin was born in Churwell, Yorkshire, England. His birth was registered in the last quarter of 1863. ^[1] He was the son of Henry Wilkinson (1829-) and Eliza (Burnill) Wilkinson (1835-).

Baptism

He was baptised on the 13th of November 1864 at St Peter's Parish Church, Morley, Yorkshire. ^[2]

Marriage

Rollin married Minnie (Medley) Wilkinson (1875-) on 4 October 1894 in Kirkstall, St Stephen, Yorkshire, England.^[3]

Family

In the News

Charges against merchants

Rollin appeared alongside his brother Herbert Wilkinson (1861-) in the Leeds Times on the 15th of January 1898. They had charges brought against them.

CHARGES AGANST MERCHANTS.-At the Leeds City Police Court on Monday, Rollin Wilkinson of Pudsey, and Herbert Wilkinson, of Churwell, described and as merchants, were charged, the former with being a fraudulent bankrupt and the latter conspiring with the other prisoner to defraud his creditors. - Mr. Foster, for the prosecution, asked for a remand. Stating that the evidence would consist largely of admissions by the prisoners in a civil action at the recent Leeds Assizes, and that it would be necessary to bring shorthand writers from London as witnesses. A remand was granted, bail being allowed. ^[4]

Defendants from Pudsey and Churwell

Three days later, on the 18th of January 1898 in the Yorkshire Evening Post there was a great deal more information reported about the case.

DEFENDANTS FROM PUDSEY AND CHURWELL

SEQUEL TO AN ACTION AT LEEDS ASSIZES.
At the Leeds Police Court to-day, before the stipendiary Magistrate, Rollin Wilkinson, of Cemetery Road, Pudsey, and Herbert Wilkinson, of Clarendon Terrace, Cherwell, were charged on remand. The former with being a fraudulent bankrupt, and the latter with conspiring with him to defraud his creditors.
The proceedings, it will be remembered, arose out of a case at the recent Leeds Assizes in which Mr Ford, a Leeds accountant and member of the City Council, who was trustee in Rollin Wilkinson's bankruptcy, was sued for trespass on property of the other prisoner. Mr E H Foster prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury, and the prisoners were represented by Mr North, of Pudsey.
In opening the case, Mr Foster said that the prisoner, Rollin Wilkinson, was charged with misdemeanours under the Debtors' Act, including the concealment of the removal of 130 pieces of cloth, and the concealment and destruction of the wages and pieces book. The charge against the brother was for conspiracy to defraud Rollin's creditors, and aiding and abetting in the misdemeanour. Up to May 15th 1897, when the receiving order and adjudication in bankruptcy took place. Rollin Wilkinson was in business as a woollen manufacturer at Manor New Mills, Yeadon, and he had also a warehouse at 9, Park Place, Leeds. He started in business in 1892, at Woodside Mills, Horsforth, and took the Park Place warehouse in 1894. He removed from Horsforth to Prospect Mills, Pudsey and in January, 1896, went to the Yeadon Mills at a rental of £950 a year. When he became bankrupt Mr Ford was appointed trustee at a meeting of the creditors on June 2.
Replying to the Stipendiary Magistrate Mr Foster said that the debtor was adjudged bankrupt on his own petition.
Continuing, Mr Foster said that almost immediately in his appointment Mr Ford received certain information and went over to Bradford. As the result an affidavit was sworn, a search warrant obtained, and on Jun 10 he seized 130 pieces of cloth from a warehouse in Bradford. They were removed to Leeds, and a claim was made to them by the prisoner, Herbert Wilkinson.
It was backed up by and action in the High Court. Herbert Wilkinson's case being that during 1896 he had advanced several sums of money to his brother amounting in all to £500. He also said that in October, 1896, he had advanced £300, and that his brother had given him a promissory note for that amount. He then said to him, "I have lent you quite enough; I think you ought to give some security." Upon that, it was said, Rollin deposited with him some 2. Pieces of cloth in an upper room of Park Place Warehouse. In April the pieces were taken to Bradford by Herbert, and whilst they were there it was conceded that Rollin had access to them and removed some thirty or forty pieces. When Mr Ford's clerk made the seizure there were 130 pieces of clothe left.
Mr Foster went of to say that the basis of his case would be the cross-examination of the prisoners at the Assizes. The story told by the prisoners contained several strange inconsistencies, which Mr Foster proceeded to deal with. He asked at once where the prisoner Herbert got the £500 he was alleged to have lent to his brother. He was a man of no occupation, but kept a small farm at Churwell, along with his brother, which brought them in about £130 a year each. It was said that Herbert had early in 1896 from £100 to £120, and said that at the end of the year it had swollen to £500 by successful gambling, though he was unable to give the name of the bookmaker with whom he had been so consistently successful.
Mr Charles Wood, of Cliff Mount, Leeds chief clerk in the Bankruptcy Department if the Leeds County Court, produced certain files and documents connected with the bankruptcy proceedings. His attention was drawn by Mr Foster to certain answers given by Rollin Wilkinson in the preliminary examination.
A rather singular fact transpired in connection with the answers to the usual questions put to Rollin Wilkinson as to whether or not he had disclosed all property belonging to him. Mr Foster read the question and the reply, the latter being "No."
This was so evidently agains the spirit of the case that the Stipendiary Magistrate drew his attention again to it, and Mr Foster again referred to the examination, but could only report that a negative reply was in the transcript. The discovery evidently came as a great surprise to Mr Foster and to everybody else connected with the case.
Mr Ford, chartered accountant, of Leeds, was put in the witness-box and examined at great length with regard to his connection with the case. He fully corroborated the opening statement, and was cross-examined by Mr North.
Prisoners were remanded for eight days. ^[5]

Prison Record

Rollin was tried with his brother Herbert on the 22nd of March 1898. He was initially found not guilty with no evidence to offer. However, he was detained and later found guilty and sentenced to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for six calender months. Sentenced with him was a Frank Wilkinson who at this point in time has not been identified.^[6]

Census

(unused years to be deleted as the profile is completed)

1871

In the 1871 census Rollin (age 7) was the son of Henry Wilkinson in Clarendon Terrace, Churwell, Holbeck, Yorkshire & Yorkshire (West Riding), England.^[7]

1881

In the 1881 census Rollin (age 17), Apprentice to woollen manufacturer, was the single son of Eliza Wilkinson in Clarendon Terrace, Churwell, Holbeck, Yorkshire & Yorkshire (West Riding), England.^[8]

1891

In the 1891 census Rollin (age 27), Manager of woollen mill, was the single brother of Herbert Wilkinson in Clarendon Terrace, Churwell, Holbeck, Yorkshire & Yorkshire (West Riding), England.^[9]

1901

In the 1901 census Rollins (age 38), General labourer, was an inpatient in Leeds General Infirmary in Leeds, Yorkshire & Yorkshire (West Riding), England.^[10]

Death

Rollin (age 38) was buried on 5 April 1901 in Morley-Cum-Churwell, Yorkshire, England.^[11]

Research Notes

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 18 May 2022)
   Wilkinson, Rollin (Mother's maiden name: Burnill).
   GRO Reference: 1863 Oct-Nov-Dec in Kirkstall Volume 09B Page 246.
2. ↑ Baptism: "West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910"
   West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP195/1/1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2252 #7723801 (accessed 18 May 2022)
   Rollin Wilkinson baptism on 13 Nov 1864, child of Henry & Elisa, in Morley, St Peter, Yorkshire, England.
3. ↑ Marriage: "West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935"
   West Yorkshire Archive Service; Leeds, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Reference Number: RDP50/6
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2253 #5559770 (accessed 18 May 2022)
   Rollin Wilkinson (30) marriage to Minnie Medley on 4 Oct 1894 in Kirkstall, St Stephen, Yorkshire, England.
4. ↑ Leeds Times 15 Jan 1898 Find My Past British Newspaper Archive
5. ↑ Yorkshire Evening Post 18 Jan 1898 Find My Past British Newspaper Archive
6. ↑ Prison Record: "West Yorkshire, England, Prison Records, 1801-1914"
   West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England; Calendar of Prisoners; Year Range: 1892 - 1898; Reference Number: C118/263
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 5085 #278552 (accessed 19 May 2022)
   Name: Rollin Wilkinson; Birth Year: abt 1864; Age: 34; Event Date: 22 Mar 1898; Prison or Quarter Session: West Riding and Yorkshire; Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England; Sentence: Imprisonment or Servitude.
7. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: RG10; Piece number: 4519; Folio: 27; Page: 7; Schedule: 33
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 18 May 2022)
   Rollin Wilkinson (7) son in household of Henry Wilkinson (42) in Holbeck registration district. Born in England.
8. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: RG11; Piece number: 4495; Folio: 29; Page: 7; Schedule: 225
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 18 May 2022)
   Rollin Wilkinson (17), single son, Apprentice to woollen manufacturer, in household of Eliza Wilkinson (46) in Holbeck registration district. Born in England.
9. ↑ 1891 Census: "1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: RG12; Piece number: 3669; Folio: 24; Page: 6; Schedule: 33
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 18 May 2022)
   Rollin Wilkinson (27), single brother, Manager of woollen mill, in household of Herbert Wilkinson (30) in Holbeck registration district. Born in England.
10. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
    Reference: RG13; Piece number: 4241; Folio: 97; Page: 20; Schedule: 0
    FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 18 May 2022)
    Rollins Wilkinson (38), married patient, General labourer, in Leeds registration district. Born in England.
11. ↑ Burial: "England Deaths & Burials 1538-1991"
    FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 18 May 2022)
    Rollin Wilkinson burial (died age 38) on 5 Apr 1901 in Morley-Cum-Churwell, Yorkshire, England.