Samuel Watlington and Anne Monke

Photo © John Salmon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

All Saints, Swallowfield, Berks - East end

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Samuel Watlington (b. ~1660) married Anne Monke at All Saints' Church, Swallowfield, Berkshire, on 29 Dec 1687. The church stands well away from the village, nestled in a corner of Swallowfield Park. What, if any, link Anne Monke may have had to that estate would be a subject for further research, but it is interesting to note its later links to the East India Company.

Watlington House
Mr Ignavy (cc-by-sa/2.0)
geograph.org.uk/p/3628685

Watlington House (Watlington Street), Reading, now Grade II* listed and reputed to be the oldest surviving secular building in the town, was built in 1688 for Samuel Watlington, who was a wealthy clothier or cloth merchant and leading citizen the town who twice served as Mayor of Reading in 1695 and again in 1711 [Watlington House – History]. He was also known to have been a Churchwarden of St Laurence's Church, Reading. The family is said to have been "of considerable influence in local affairs" and a 1929 article in the Reading Standard says the first mention of them was in 1520, of Robert Watlyngton among the burgesses of the Merchant Guild of Reading.

Richard Watlington, presumably an ancestor, had been Mayor of Reading no less than five times, in 1566, 1574, 1584, 1589 and 1593 and Samuel's son, Abraham Watlington, served as Mayor of Reading in 1734, 1743 and 1755. 

There was a baptism of an Ann Monke on 8 Dec 1672 at St Laurence's Church, Reading, the daughter of William and Ann Monke. This would have potentially made her 15, or maybe just 16, when she married, which, for the time, probably wouldn't have been too unusual. A father's name of William makes sense too. This would have made her 44 when she gave birth to her last child, which is a heck of a lot more reasonable than one Ancestry family tree, which would have her giving birth at 61! Can they not do maths? 

Samuel and Anne Watlington had 12 children:

1. Samuel Watlington bap. 29 May 1689 at St Giles' Church, Reading
2. William Watlington bap. 16 Apr 1691 at St Giles' Church, Reading
3. John Watlington bap. 4 Jan 1693 at St Giles' Church, Reading
4. Ann Watlington bap. 18 Jul 1695 at St Giles' Church, Reading. Anne Watlington, daughter of Samuel & Anne Watlington, was buried on 12 Mar 1700 at St Laurence's Church, Reading
5. Abraham Watlington bap. 24 Jun 1697 at St Giles' Church, Reading
6. Edward Watlington bap. 23 May 1699 at St Giles' Church, Reading
7. Thomas Watlington b. approx. 1702 (no baptism found)
8. Joseph Watlington bap. 22 Mar 1704 at St Giles' Church, Reading
9. Benjamin Watlington bap. 19 Jun 1707 at St Giles' Church, Reading
10. James Watlington bap. 3 Jan 1709 at St Giles' Church, Reading. James Watlington, son of Samuel (Alderman) & Anne was buried at the church of St Laurence, Market Place, Reading on 18 Jun 1711
11. Mary Watlington bap. 10 Aug 1713 at St Giles' Church, Reading
12. Ann Watlington bap. 26 Apr 1716 at St Giles' Church, Reading

On 27 Apr 1704, Samuel Watlington, son of Samuel Watlington of Reading, Gentleman was apprenticed to Thomas Barnard, Citizen Draper of London (presumably a member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers) to learn his art, for a period of seven years. In Jun 1713, Samuel Watlington Jr was granted Freedom of the City of London, his occupation noted as Draper.

On 13 Dec 1706, John Watlington, then about 13, son of Samuel Watlington of Reading, Berkshire, Gentleman was apprenticed to to Charles Yalden, Fishmongers' Company (Worshipful Company of Fishmongers).

In 1716, Edward Watlington, son of Samuel Watlington of Reading, Gentleman, was apprenticed to Master Christopher Diggs, Gentleman, of Barnard's Inn, for which the premium paid was £107. 10s. 0d. 

In 1718, Thomas Watlington, son of Samuel Watlington of Reading, Gentleman, was apprenticed to William Watlington, Girdler (presumably a member of the Worshipful Company of Girdlers), City of London. The bargain premium was £50. 0s. 0d, presumably because his master was family.

On 20 Jun 1720, Joseph Watlington, who would then have been round 15, son of Samuel, Reading, Berkshire, Farmer, was apprenticed to Arthur Walter, Fishmongers' Company, for a premium of £105. 0s. 0d.

Mrs Ann Watlington was buried at St Laurence's Church on 2 Sep 1735.

Samuel Watlington was buried at St Laurence's Church on 4 Oct 1735.

Probate was granted on 4 Nov 1735 on the Will of Samuel Watlington of Reading in the County of Berks, who requested that his body be buried in the North side of the Chancel of St Lawrence's Church. His bequests included those to his sons William Watlington, John Watlington, Abraham Watlington, Edward Watlington, Thomas Watlington, Joseph Watlington, and Benjamin Watlington, and daughters Mary Watlington, and Anne Watlington. Also mentioned were a Freehold Estate in Wokingham and a Copyhold Estate in Wargrave, amongst other assets. Samuel Watlington speaks of his "loving wife Anne Watlington during her widowhood", but the Will was drawn up on 13 Apr 1720, long before her death, which in the end was only around a month before his. He had said that she should have the use of all his plate and household goods and furniture, which he was then leaving (at the time of her marriage or death) to his son Samuel Watlington. From this we can deduce that their eight sons and two daughters were all still alive in 1720.

Joseph Wilton and Ann Thurlbourn

High Street, Great Dunmow
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © William Metcalfe - geograph.org.uk/p/388676

Joseph Wilton (b. 1815 in Royston, Hertfordshire), son of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, married Ann Thurlbourn (b. 9 Sep 1820 in Cambridge), daughter of John Thurlbourn and Rhoda Poarcher, in Cambridge in Q2 of 1841, and brought his new wife to Great Dunmow, where in 1841, we find Joseph Wilton (25) Tailor and Ann Wilton (20) in the High Street, where his uncle, eldest sister and two brothers already lived. If one could take a time-machine back to Great Dunmow in 1841, imagine how long it would take to get any shopping done after greeting all the family en route!

Joseph and Ann Wilton had thirteen children:

1. Sarah Ann Wilton b. 1842 M Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 84 
2. Edwin Joseph Wilton b. 1843 D Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 77
3. Eleanor Wilton b. 1845 D Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 77
4. Kate Wilton b. 1846 D Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 75 (d. 1870 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 294)
5. Clara Jane Wilton b. 1848 D Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 67
6. Arthur Thurlbourn Wilton b. 1850 J Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 12 Page 87 
7. Alice Maria Wilton b. 1852 M Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 316 (d. 1854 M Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A  Page 242)
8. Lydia Ann Wilton b. 1853 D Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 273
9. Alice Maria Wilton b. 1855 S Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 297
10. Herbert Charles Wilton b. 1857 S Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 304 (d. 1858 M Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A  Page 261)
11. Fanny Wilton b. 1859 M Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 372
12. Marion Louisa Wilton b. 1860 D Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 308 (d. 1861 M Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 228)
13. Frederic John Wilton b. 1862 S Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 334 (d. 1879 S Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 234)

Most of the registrations correctly spell the mother's maiden name as THURLBOURN, so someone in the family must have been literate.

Having often joked that I come from a long line of Essex girls (white stilettos optional), little did I know quite how much influence on 'Essex style' (stop thinking TOWIE), my relatives may have had, having served the clothing needs of the population in Great Dunmow for probably three centuries or more.

Robert Hockley (bap. 1775), who was also my relative, was listed as a tailor in Pigot's Directory of Essex 1823 and as a tailor and draper in the High Street in 1841. They may have been in competition, but as Robert Hockley was then 65, there also exists the possibility that my Wilton relatives took over the business from my Hockley ones. Joseph Wilton was once again listed in White's Directory of Essex 1848, as a Tailor and Draper.

The difference between tailor and draper is that tailor makes, repairs, or alters clothes professionally, especially suits and men's clothing while draper is one who sells cloths; a dealer in cloths; as, a draper and tailor. And a clothier is a person or company that makes or sells clothes or cloth, while an outfitter is a shop selling men's clothing.

As the census returns for 1851 in Great Dunmow are missing, we have to wait until 1861 - when Joseph's occupation is described as Tailor And Clothier - to encounter them again. That census locates Joseph's premises three-doors-down, on the same side of the road, from The Saracen's Head Hotel, with a confectioner and a clockmaker between them and a draper and grocer on the other side, with eight of the nine then surviving children still at home.

In 1871, Joseph Wilton, Clothier, employing 3 men and 1 boy, was still in the same position with the Willis brothers next door (although the clockmaker had changed career to become an insurance agent) and then the Parker family, confectioners. In the Wilton household were Joseph (56), wife Ann (50), Edwin Joseph (27), Eleanor (25), Arthur (20), Lydia Ann (17), Alice Maria (15), Fanny (12) and Frederick (8). Clara Jane (21) was living with her sister, Sarah Ann Jarvis (28), also in the High Street, Great Dunmow.

Joseph Wilton died, aged 58, on 11 Aug 1873 (1873 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 242) from Consumption (Tuberculosis) and was buried on 18 Aug 1873, leaving effects valued 'Under £600'. 

Ann Wilton died, at 56, on 15 Nov 1876 (1876 D Quarter in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 248) and was buried on 22 Nov 1876 in Great Dunmow. 

Kate Wilton had died, from Consumption (Tuberculosis) aged 23, in 1870 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 294 and was buried on 24 Jan 1870; Sarah Ann Jarvis died at 31, in 1874 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 271, again from Consumption (Tuberculosis) and was buried on 8 Jan 1874; and Frederick John Wilton died, aged 17, in 1879 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 234 and was buried on 20 Aug 1879. The level of loss in this family is truly heart-breaking. 

In 1881, it fell to Edwin Joseph Wilton to carry on the Outfitters Shop, High Street, Great Dunmow, assisted by his brother Arthur Thurlbourn Wilton (30) Clothier. Eleanor Wilton (29 ish) Tobacconist; Clara Wilton (27) Tobacconist, Tom Jarvis (13) Cashier Clerk, Nephew born in Thaxted [William Thomas Jarvis son of Sarah Ann Jarvis] and a Lodger were at 3, Duke Street, Chelmsford, Essex. Alice Marie Wilton (25) Governess and Fanny Wilton (22) Governess were elsewhere in the High Street, Great Dunmow.

In 1891, Alice Wilton (31) Schoolmistress; Fanny Wilton (28) Schoolmistress; Eleanor Wilton (38) Dressmaker; Clara Wilton (36) Dressmaker and Lillie Wilton [Lydia Ann] (32) Governess. The last three were visitors in the household of the first two in the High Street, Great Dunmow. 

In 1901, Eleanor Wilton (claiming to be 45) Dressmaker and Clara Wilton (42 ish) were living in Fairfield Road, Chelmsford; Arthur T Wilton (50) Clothiers Assistant, was a Lodger at The Brook, Great Dunmow. Lydia A Wilton (42), Alice M Wilton (41) and Fanny Wilton (37) were all listed as Teacher Private School and living together in New Street, Great Dunmow.

Alice Maria Wilton died at 51 in 1906 J Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A 385. Essex Newsman of 9 Jun 1906: "MISS ALICE WILTON, of New Street, Dunmow, died very suddenly on Friday last. The deceased lady was in her usual health until the previous Wednesday afternoon, when she was seized with pain, and on the doctor's arrival it was found necessary for her to undergo an operation without delay. This was carried out, but death followed very soon afterwards, from heart failure. The funeral took place at the Congregational Church Burial Ground on Tuesday, when a large number of fiends attended, The mourners were Mr E J Wilton of Brighton and Mr Arthur Wilton, brothers; Messrs J W Beard, L Saville, A Dennis ad J V Mackenzie, Mr James Mackenzie, Mr & Mrs Scarfe, Mr & Mrs Dennis, the Choral Society, the Choir, the Misses White (old pupils), Mr & Mrs Budd, of Chelmsford, and the pupils of the school. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev D B Thomas.

In 1911, Arthur Thurlbourn Wilton (60) Outfitter, was a Boarder in Market Street, Great Dunmow; Eleanor Wilton (55 ish) Dressmaker and Lets Apartments was still living in Chelmsford with sister Clara Jane Wilton (51) and two Boarders; Lydia Ann Wilton (47) School Mistress and Fanny Wilton (42 ish) Music Teacher were still in Great Dunmow. 

Clara Jane Wilton died at 70 in 1919 D Quarter in CHELMSFORD.

In 1921, Arthur Thurlbourn Wilton (70) Formerly Clothier, was an Inmate in Severalls Mental Hospital, Colchester (Severalls Hospital: the Evil Inside The Asylum); Eleanor Wilton (72) Lodging house keeper; Lydia Ann Wilton (56) and Fanny Wilton (52) were at 10, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford with Thomas Cunnington (23) Accountant Clerk from Gorleston on Sea, Boarder.

Arthur Thurlbourn Wilton died at 72 in 1923 M Quarter in COLCHESTER Vol 04A Page 772; Fanny Wilton died at 67 in 1926 D Quarter in CHELMSFORD Vol 04A Page 620; Lily Wilton [Lydia Ann] died at 74 in 1928 M Quarter in CHELMSFORD Vol 04A Page 724 and Eleanor Wilton died at 82 in 1928 J Quarter in CHELMSFORD Vol 04A Page 684. 

None of them, other than Sarah Ann and Edwin Joseph, ever married.