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The WILKES/WILKS Family of C17th/C18th Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire,
 then C18th/C19th Birmingham

Ancestry of a family of stonemasons with origins in Bidford-on-Avon.
They quarried and cut the Lias limestone (Jurassic) from the Arrow river valley.

The stone quarried in the area was mostly the white lias, a stone which only occurs locally in Warwickshire and part of Somerset, and the more common blue lias. Name "lias" is derived from quarrymen’s dialect for "layers" as the strata are unusually clear. Buildings of the stone are to be seen throughout the area and quarries in the river valley of the Arrow, which runs through village, date back to Roman times. Blue lias is commonly used for flooring. Although the name WILKES lives on in the village and surrounding area, there are no geographical places supporting the name. However, the masons have not been neglected, for the "Mason's Arms" (now known as the "Anglo Saxon") is a Bidford pub.

The quarry locations are not always known but a couple of locations can be found: At SP 110537 (no direct trace of quarry but lies stones in field; on OS map marked as "old quarry"). In latter half of C19th century several masons at Bidford and a quarryman in the 1850 trade directory. In 1880, a trade in blue lias and cement is mentioned. In 1872, a quarryman worked at Barton (possible site is SP 114513), and at SP 108541 & 108538 quarries are marked on OS 6" map; There is no trace of Exhall quarry but in Wixford one lies near road and is being filled in. The 1874 directory has Joshua WILKES of Exhall as lime manufacturer and stone quarry owner.

My WILKES family

Head of family is possibly Joseph WILKES (1648) & Sarah QUINNEY who married in 1703 Bidford, my 7xGGPs.

Son Robert WILKES (1703), Stonemason = Sarah BAILIS/BAYLISS (m. 23.11.1729 Bidford , my 6xGGPs). Bidford children:

• Joseph WILKES (1730-1811), m. Elizabeth EDKINS in 1757:

  • Elizabeth WILKES (1758);

  • Joseph WILKES (1761-63);

  • William WILKES (1763);

  • Sarah WILKES (1764);

  • Robert WILKES (1767-1841);

  • John WILKES (1769);

  • Mary WILKES (1771-72);

  • Mary WILKES (1773);

  • William WILKES (1776-1862), m. Esther SORRILL in 1797 B'ham;

• Paul WILKES (1732), m. Mary WATSON in 1758:

  • John WILKES (1758-58);

  • John WILKES (1759), m. Elizabeth GREGG in 1778;

  • Sarah WILKES (1760);

  • Martha WILKES (1762-63);

  • Paul WILKES (1764-1846), m. Laetitia GARFIELD in 1792;

  • Susannah WILKES (1766);

  • Mary WILKES (1769);

  • William WILKES (1770);

  • Martha WILKES (1772);

  • Thomas WILKES (1776), m. Jane TURNER in 1801;

• John WILKES (1734-1811), m. Susannah MORLEY in 1773;

  • Ann WILKES (1774);

• Sarah WILKES (1735), m. William PRICE in 1757;

• Elizabeth or Betty WILKES (1741), m. John OAKES in 1768;

• Solomon WILKES (1743-1819), m. Mary SALE (my 5xGGPs):

  • Job WILKES (1770);

  • George WILKES (1771), m. Elizabeth c1794;

  • William WILKES (1773);

  • Hannah WILKES (1775-75);

  • Job WILKES (1776), m. Martha SCELDING in 1798;

  • Hannah WILKES (1778);

  • Elizabeth WILKES (1780);

  • Sarah WILKES (b. 30.1.1783) who is probably the second wife (married as "widow") to David Benjamin POPPLEWELL (my 4xGGPs), Cordwainer, who married 12.10.1812 Edgbaston (Sarah apparently remarrying using her maiden name). The fact she was given a widow may be in error since no first marriage has been found;

  • Solomon WILKES (1784-1843), m. Dorothy c1806;

  • John WILKES (1786);

  • Mary WILKES (1789);

  • Ann WILKES (1792);

• Job Benjamin WILKES (1748-1829), Stonemason, m. Elizabeth HEMMING in 1777:

  • Sampson WILKES (1779-1856), Stonemason;

  • Joshua WILKES (1781-1865), Stonemason, m. Amy SANDERS in 1805 B'ham;

  • Jemima WILKES (1783), m. Benjamin HARVEY in 1808;

  • Job WILKES (1788-1867), m. Ann BUCKINGHAM in 1810 Cheltenham, GLS. An Excise Officer, his family moved to Devon;

  • Jesse WILKES (1788), m. Mary HENDLY in 1824;

  • Kezia WILKES (1791-1860), m. George STAIT c1815;

  • Benjamin WILKES (1794-1832);

  • un-named infant son WILKES (1797-97);

For a detailed extended tree of 120 or more connected WILKES, stonemasons and their families refer to my tree on Ancestry.com or the copy on Genes Reunited.

Currently unconnected family information

Apprenticeship: 19 Feb 1851 - William Henry WILKS son of Henry WILKS of Bidford, mason, to George CRANMER of Stratford-upon-Avon, saddler and harness maker, for 3 years.

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