Died
12 June 1935
Born
1851/2
Sources
Ancestry
Barrow News
Place
Walks
Themes
Thomas Wilkinson
I picked this for no other reason than I liked the headstone: local limestone with a striking Maltese Cross and clearly-written brass plaque. It reminded me of, but is more beautiful than, those in Kettlewell Churchyard, North Yorkshire, where many stones are of local limestone with a plain metal plaque attached.
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
THOMAS WILKINSON
WHO DIED 12TH JUNE 1935
AGED 84 YEARS
ALSO OF HIS BELOVED WIFE
EMILY WILKINSON
WHO DIED 25TH FEBRUARY 1940
AGED 84 YEARS
LIFE IS ETERNAL
Mr. Wilkinson was obviously well-respected locally: the Barrow News 22 June 1935 carried a long list of mourners at the funeral:
Mr. T. Wilkinson
The remains of the late Mr. T. Wilkinson, of Greenhaume, Dalton, were laid to rest in Urswick churchyard on Saturday in the presence of many mourners. The vicar of Dalton, The Rev. T. Jones, M.A., R.D., conducted the first part of the service at the house. Subsequently there was a service at Urswick Church and the graveside, taken by a nephew the Rev. T. B. Cornish, vicar of St. Peter’s, Shipley. There was a large gathering of Urswick folk awaiting the arrival of the cortege at Urswick Church. There follows the said list of mourners.
1861 Census
I found Thomas Wilkinson on the 1861 Census living in Much Urswick (Local names used in the newspapers for Great Urswick include this one, and Urswick Magna) with his parents and siblings, and in the 1871 Census living at Satterthwaite working as a Farm Servant on Isabella Bellingham or Billingham’s farm.
Thomas Wilkinson married Emily Bray in the 3rd quarter of 1872 in Ulverston. Emily and her family had moved north sometime between 1865 and 1870: in the 1871 Census Emily (15) was living in Keekle Terrace, Hensingham, with her father John Bray (56), an iron ore miner, mother Amelia Bray (35), and siblings William (12); Edith (8), James (6) and Emma A. Bray (1). All but the last were born in Cornwall.
1881 Census
In the 1881 Census the Wilkinson household consisted of Thomas Wilkinson (29), Iron Miner, born Urswick; Emily Wilkinson (25), Wife, born Saints Days (sic), Cornwall; Pheva (sic) Wilkinson (8), Scholar, born Urswick (as were the following children); Ameila (sic- Amelia?) Wilkinson (6), Scholar; William Wilkinson (4), Scholar; John Wilkinson (2); George Wilkinson (5 days); and two visitors: Amelia Bray (46) Married, Monthly Nurse, born St Day, Cornwall, and Thomas Bray (8), Scholar, born St. Day. Speculatively, these could be Emily’s mother and brother.
1891 Census
In the 1891 Census living in Much Urswick were Thomas Wilkinson (40) Head,, Iron Miner, born Urswick, Lancashire; Emily Wilkinson (34), Wife, born St. Day, Cornwall; Phoebe Wilkinson (18), Daughter, General Servant (Domestic), born Urswick (as were all the following children); William Wilkinson (14), Son, Farm Servant; George Wilkinson (10), Son, Scholar; Thomas Wilkinson (8), Son, Scholar; Edith Wilkinson (4), Daughter; Mary J. Wilkinson (1) Daughter.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census George, (20), Iron Miner, and Mary J. Wilkinson (11) are still at home with their parents. Thomas and Emily have had four more children: Margaret (8); Annie (6); Emily G. (5), and Daisy A. E. Wilkinson (1). In the same 1901 Census Edith Wilkinson (13), General servant and sister-in-law, and James M. Wilkinson (3), brother-in-law, are staying at Adgarley Green Farm with Thomas H. Butler (32), Farmer and Limestone Quarryman; Phoebe Butler (28), wife, and their children Tom (8), and Ruby M. Butler (3).
1911 Census
By the time of the 1911 Census the family are living at 10, Green Haume, Dalton-in-Furness. Remaining are Thomas Wilkinson (59), Iron Ore Miner; Emily Wilkinson (55), James Wilkinson (13), at school; and Daisy Wilkinson (11), at school. The form has been completed and signed by James Malachi Wilkinson. It says that the Wilkinson’s had 14 children, 13 of whom were still living. Private James Malachi Wilkinson (30116 8th Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France, having been killed in action on 26th April 1917.
1939 Register
Only a few months before her death, in the 1939 Register Emily J. Wilkinson (DoB 5 October 1855) was living at 3 Ann Street, Dalton-in-Furness with Thomas Woodburn (DoB 14 May 1889), Relieving Officer and Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and daughter Mary J. Woodburn (DoB 15 May 1889), Unpaid Domestic Duties. By this time she is Incapacitated due to age.
In a July 1924 Ship’s Manifest for S.S. Aquitania, sailing from Liverpool, daughter Phoebe Butler (47), Housewife, and grand-daughter Ruby M. Butler (23), Domestic are returning to or visiting Thurston Butler in Inspiration, near Miami, Arizona (sic). Inspiration was a copper mining town.
Phoebe’s next of kin is listed as Emily Wilkinson; mother; 12, Green Haulin (sic – Haume?), Dalton-in-Furness.
Phoebe’s brother Thomas Wilkinson (DoB 10 April 1878) died in Miami, Arizona on 16 April 1954 aged 76, having worked in a Copper Mine, and lived there for 33 years. The cause of death is given as Terminal Broncho-pneumonia due to Chronic Cardiac Decomposition due to Severe Myocarditis. His parents are listed as Thomas Wilkinson and Emily Bray.
