James Wilkins b 1857, Wiltshire, Essex

[rwenman]

I am attempting to locate the history of my great-grandfather James, David Wilkins, b 1857.  I believe he was born in Wiltshire. (please let me know if I should post this on another site.) I live in the U.S. and am amazed to find this useful website, so I hope someone here might be able to help me.

His birth entry on FreeBMD appears to be:
James David Wilkins 1857 Wilton Wiltshire

I am attempting to find church or other records or citations of his baptism, marriage and death if at all possible. Does anyone have access to church records where I can search for James.  I do not know what church he attended, but I do know where he lived from the census:

1871 Vauxhall Bridge Rd, St John The Evangelist, Westminster
WILKINS, David James Head 1836 Portsmouth Hampshire Steward Royal Navy
WILKINS, Sarah Wife  1833 Wiltshire
WILKINS, James D Son 1857 Wiltshire
WILKINS, Mary Ann Dau 12 1859 Westminster Middlesex
WILKINS, David Son M 3 1868 Middlesex
(Sarah is shown as a widow in the 1881 census).

And possibly with his parents on 1871 census

David James Wilkins, (my great, great grandfather)
11/11/1835 St. Thomas Portsmouth
father James mother Elizabeth

I have heard that James Wilkins was in the Irish Guard, so I was wondering if anyone could help me to locate his military history of that time as well.

any help is much appreciated.

thanks

Rob

[Tati]

Hi Rob,

Have a look for christenings here:
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/

James David Wilkins, 20 Mar 1857, St Mary's, Portsea, Hampshire
parents David James and Sarah

David James' christening in 1835 is there as well.

 

[rwenman]

you have been so helpful. will do, thanks

[Ladyhawk]

His birth entry on FreeBMD appears to be:
James David Wilkins 1857 Wilton Wiltshire

1871
Vauxhall Bridge Rd, St John The Evangelist, Westminster
WILKINS, David James Head 1836 Portsmouth Hampshire Steward Royal Navy
WILKINS, Sarah Wife  1833 Wiltshire
WILKINS, James D Son 1857 Wiltshire
WILKINS, Mary Ann Dau 12 1859 Westminster Middlesex
WILKINS, David Son M 3 1868 Middlesex
(Sarah is shown as a widow in the 1881 census).

I have heard that James Wilkins was in the Irish Guard,

**Confirmed **

this is your James David Wilkins

WILKINS    James David 1860    Salisbury, Wiltshire    Royal Artillery

I'm wondering if this is James on 1881 census
- not him as he was in R.A.

1881 Ewhurst House, Ewhurst ,Hampshire
RG11 Piece:1266 Folio:26 Page:11     
WILKINS, James Servant Single M 21 1860 Footman Dom Wilton Somerset
Head of the household
RUSSELL, Alexander G Mar. 59 1822 Lord Lieut. General Woburn Bedfordshire

[rwenman]

I received this inquiry from a researcher in Wiltshire and was wondering what you might make of this:

"I found JAMES DAVID WILKINS was born in Wilton, Wiltshire in March 1847 and died in London in 1901.  He married Lucy Ellen Riley who was born in March 1862 at Rochford, Essex on 13 July 1883 at Woolwich, Sagadahoc, Maine, US.  (This is the first reference re anything in the US, seems odd!!) They had five children.  Information about births etc. I can give you, but I expect you already have them.
 
We have not transcribed the parish registers for Wilton, so I suggest you contact our Local History Center at Chippenham, as they hold all the records that exist for Wiltshire.  Their email address is archives@wiltshire.gov.uk    They do make a charge for any indepth research.
 
I too was unable to find the family on the 1861 census."

Ladyhawk;  I have sent an email request to the archives in wiltshire to see where that may take me. I am perplexed about the reference to Maine, US. since that hasn't been posted before, but I am interpreting this as Woolwich Maine is where they married!  And that James wilkins died 1901 in London.  So I wonder if this is where his death is registered, and if he maybe died at sea?
 

[trish1120]

Hi rwenman,
They Married in Woolwich, KENT where they both lived at the time;

Marriage Cert;
13 July 1883, Register Office, Woolwich, Kent
James WILKINS, 24, Bachelor, Occp, Gunner R A, Residence R A Barracks, Woolwich,
Father David WILKINS (deceased), Fathers Occp, Ship Steward
Lucy Ellen RILEY, 21, Spinster, Residence 3 Ordnance Road, Woolwich,
Father John Lee RILEY, Occp Shoemaker

1871 Census you found is correct and the Christening Tati found is right as well

[trish1120]

1861 Census
Stoke Damerel, Devon
RG9/1456/35/30
David J Wilkins, 28, Head, Mar, Captains Steward R N, born Hants, Pickworth   
Sarah Wilkins, Wife, Mar, Stewards Wife, born Fisheston, W Salisbury    
JAMES D Wilkins, 4, born Westhampton, W Salisbury    
Mary A Wilkins, 2, Daug, born London, Middlesex
Emily Wilkins, 4mths, Daug, born Piddletrenthide, Dorset

Wow some place names there
Emily must have passed away by 1871 Census.

Trish

[Ladyhawk]

Thanks for finding that trish1120, that now confirms  the right James on 1871 census with his father and even better you have found him in 1861 

Marriage Cert;
13 July 1883, Register Office, Woolwich, Kent
James WILKINS, 24, Bachelor, Occp, Gunner R A, Residence R A Barracks, Woolwich,
Father David WILKINS (deceased), Fathers Occp, Ship Steward
Lucy Ellen RILEY, 21, Spinster, Residence 3 Ordnance Road, Woolwich,
Father John Lee RILEY, Occp Shoemaker

1871 Vauxhall Bridge Rd, St John The Evangelist, Westminster
WILKINS, David James Head 1836 Portsmouth Hampshire Steward Royal Navy
WILKINS, Sarah Wife  1833 Wiltshire
WILKINS, James D Son 1857 Wiltshire
WILKINS, Mary Ann Dau 12 1859 Westminster Middlesex
WILKINS, David Son M 3 1868 Middlesex

and possibly his father's baptsim

David James Wilkins
11/11/1835 St. Thomas Portsmouth
father James mother Elizabeth


Back to James’ birth according to the census he’s on he was born abt. 1857 Wilton, Wiltshire

Your info. says March 1847 – should that be 1857 ? This would link with the entry on FreeBMD

James David Wilkins
Mar qtr. 1857 vol 5a page 212

rwenman get ever closer linking all the family info. together - now if only we can get details as to whether your Arthur George  has been christened as a Skelton or Wilkins

here's a link to rwenman other post as not too duplicate info.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,518272.0.html

rwenman -

marriage details from Trish1120 confirm all the census info. I have sent to you via PM for Lucy Ellen Riley her father was John shoemaker, so it looks as if you are more of less up-to-date with her, apart from 'Herbert Baker' & her son Albert George's birth record

1881 13, The Hill, Northfleet
RG11 Piece:877 Folio:8 Page: 9
RILEY, John Head Widower M 38 1843 Boot & Shoe Maker Springfield Essex
RILEY, Lucy Daughter Single F 18 1863 Housekeeper Rochford Essex
RILEY, Frederick Son Single M 12 1869 Scholar Northfleet
RILEY, Joseph Son Single M 9 1872 Scholar Northfleet
RILEY, Robert Son Single M 7 1874 Scholar Northfleet
RILEY, Thomas Son Single M 6 1875 Scholar Northfleet
PENNELL, Lucy Mother In Law Widow F 81 1800 Pauper N K Kent

[Ladyhawk]

familysearch

James David Wilkins
Christened 20/3/1857 St. Mary's Portsea, Hampshire
father David James Wilkins mother Sarah

marriage entry (FindMyPast)
1855 Dec qtr. St. Pancras vol 1b page 68
David James Wilkins name on same page
Sarah Bryant