Here are a few of my thoughts on the life of David Wilcockson. These are my own ideas and so not necessarily correct. In particular I am not an expert on Quaker history and as I find out more I have revised my opinions several times and may alter my views in the future. I think to try to put Davids life in focus we must start with his upbringing.
The Wilcockson family in Preston was close to the Satterthwaite family in Preston.
His father John Wilcockson was born in 1792 in Preston.
in 1802 John went to Ackworth age 10 with his first cousin Samuel Satterthwaite of Preston.
They both left Ackworth in 1806 when John was 14
(Samuel Satterthwaite moved to Manchester. His only son George Satterthwaite was later superintendent of Ackworth)
John grew up during the Napoleonic wars.
He had a certificate from Preston Meeting dated 3 July 1815 as an introduction to Southwark Meeting in London. (His older brother Isaac had gone to London in 1804.)
The battle of Waterloo 18 June 1815. I wonder what London was like at this time.
The battle of Waterloo 18 June 1815. I wonder what London was like at this time.
1816 was the year without a summer, what was that like to live through.
3.6.1818 John married Jane Dilworth, he was described as hat manufacturer of Preston. So he followed his father.
DAVID WILCOCKSON born 10.3.1819 Preston
1820 William Dilworth Wilcockson born in Preston
FRP/15/48 Disownment notices
12 July 1821 Jane Nichols, nee Wilcockson for conduct of a very reproachful nature.
Jane was John's sister. David's aunt.
FRP/15/48 Disownment notices
12 July 1821 Jane Nichols, nee Wilcockson for conduct of a very reproachful nature.
Jane was John's sister. David's aunt.
1822 Isaac Wilcockson born in Preston
1823 Mary Anne Wilcockson born in Preston
May 1824 William Dilworth Wilcockson buried in Preston age 3 years, David was 5
September 1824 John's father, David's grandfather David Wilcockson died at Preston.
1824 QSB1/1825/Jan/Pt1/3 (Lancashire record office - catalogue)
26 Oct 1824
William Dilworth tenant of 31 Market place Preston, tea dealer to appear as reputed father and abide by such order as shall be made concerning the bastard child of Dorothy Marshall of Walton with Lindeth, single woman.(see note at bottom)
This was Janes brother, Davids Uncle. William protested his innocence.
FRP/14/48 11 Mar 1825
William Dilworth, Preston to Michale Satterthwaite, Preston - appeal against charge of bastardy.
This was the William that went to America.
FRP/15/53 Disownment notices
10 May 1825 William Dilworth for bastardy
1824 QSB1/1825/Jan/Pt1/3 (Lancashire record office - catalogue)
26 Oct 1824
William Dilworth tenant of 31 Market place Preston, tea dealer to appear as reputed father and abide by such order as shall be made concerning the bastard child of Dorothy Marshall of Walton with Lindeth, single woman.(see note at bottom)
This was Janes brother, Davids Uncle. William protested his innocence.
FRP/14/48 11 Mar 1825
William Dilworth, Preston to Michale Satterthwaite, Preston - appeal against charge of bastardy.
This was the William that went to America.
FRP/15/53 Disownment notices
10 May 1825 William Dilworth for bastardy
1826 James Wilcockson born Preston
27.5.1828 James Wilcockson died at Bolton le Moors age 2 buried at Preston, David was 9
17 June 1828 David's mother Jane Wilcockson was disowned because of drink.
As Richard pointed out the disownment followed quickly after she had lost two of her children, but also there had been the departure and the scandal of her brother William. Had they been close? He had lived in Preston. What was it like for Jane to leave her country home to come and live in the towns? Preston was a gentile town when David Wilcockson the hatter came in the 18th century but it grew into a dirty industrial town. It is said Charles Dickens partly based Coketown in his novel Hard Times on Preston which he visited in the 1850s. I think all this points to a not so happy home for David.
David would have been old enough to be aware of what was going on.
1828 John Wilcockson and his children David, Isaac and Mary Ann moved to Todmorden meeting.
1829 Edward Wilcockson born at Great Bolton, buried age 3 months.
1829 David went to Ackworth, his residence given as Little Bolton, age 10 he left in 1833.
He was there the same time as Robert Greenough of Little Bolton who left in 1832. Were they friends? His brother Isaac of Preston was at Ackworth 1830-35, and sister Mary Ann Wilcockson of Preston 1833-37.
5 May 1831 John Wilcockson and children returned to Preston meeting.
Preston Chronicle July 14 1838 THUNDER-STORM
Preston - Notwithstanding the violence of the storm, and the terrific character of the thunder and lightning which occurred yesterday week, we have not heard of any very serious result in this town. Between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, the house of Mr. John Wilcockson, coach proprietor, of Peel-hall Farm, near the House of Recovery, was struck by the electric fluid. It entered the chimney, and then forced its way through the wall into a ground floor apartment, where it tore the mantle-piece from the wall, shattered the chimney ornaments, and caused some other trifling damage. The kitchen door being fortunately open, the destructive element passed out through it without doing further injury. Mrs. Wilcockson and her niece were in the kitchen at the time the lightning passed through, but it providentially passed between them.
Preston Chronicle July 14 1838 THUNDER-STORM
Preston - Notwithstanding the violence of the storm, and the terrific character of the thunder and lightning which occurred yesterday week, we have not heard of any very serious result in this town. Between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, the house of Mr. John Wilcockson, coach proprietor, of Peel-hall Farm, near the House of Recovery, was struck by the electric fluid. It entered the chimney, and then forced its way through the wall into a ground floor apartment, where it tore the mantle-piece from the wall, shattered the chimney ornaments, and caused some other trifling damage. The kitchen door being fortunately open, the destructive element passed out through it without doing further injury. Mrs. Wilcockson and her niece were in the kitchen at the time the lightning passed through, but it providentially passed between them.
The Blackburn Standard. 27 Feb 1839
(Death) Jane wife of John WIlcockson coach proprietor, Peel Hall Preston.
David age 20.
14 Jan 1841 David Wilcockson returned to Preston from Manchester meeting. David age about 22
His brother Isaac returned from Manchester 14 Sept 1843.
What were they doing in Manchester? On the census a couple of months later in 1841 David was a tea dealer. Did they serve apprenticeships with tea dealers in Manchester?
I still have not decided whether John, David's father was actually the driver of the coaches. If he was then he would have been away from home plenty. It seems to me that David had an unsettled childhood. As the oldest child probably aware of his mothers troubles and the deaths of his younger siblings.
I still have not decided whether John, David's father was actually the driver of the coaches. If he was then he would have been away from home plenty. It seems to me that David had an unsettled childhood. As the oldest child probably aware of his mothers troubles and the deaths of his younger siblings.
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What was Manchester like in the 1830s?
The Quakers in Manchester at that time very interesting.
The Quaker meeting house was involved in the aftermath of Peterloo in 1819. Soldiers entered the meeting house and attacked protesters, their blood stained the floor. The meeting house was replaced by a larger meeting house in the early 1830s (check date?) it is different to the smaller plain meeting houses. It has a grand entrance with columns - money given for the building by Isaac Crewdson?
Quakers in Manchester businessmen were mixing with other denominations. In America Elias Hicks had caused a split in the Quakers, in reply to that situation Isaac Crewdson in Manchester published A Beacon to the Society of Friends in 1835 and that led to many Quakers leaving the society. It even split families. It must have been a talking point for all Quakers.
The famous scientist Quaker John Dalton(1766-1844) was based in Manchester.
Family links to Manchester through the Satterthwaite family. Going back to Esther Satterthwaite who married David Wilcockson. Two of her brothers and two nephews removed to Manchester. We also relate to Michael Satterthwaite who came to Salford. There were Quaker tea dealers in Manchester. One was William Labrey.
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Also from google books
West Riding election 1849
page 379 Bradford
Wakefield polling district
Wilcockson David, Preston 2
Evidence of expanding cotton mill.
Expanding his home.
Quakers and slavery
Google books -
The Bankers Magazine Vol 26 1866
Mercantile suspensions
Suspension of Mr D. Wilcockson of Preston, manufacturer, with debts between £15,000 and £20,000.
The fact that he went on to Lytham and did not seem to loose his social status or go to debtors prison suggests to me that the family helped out with his debts but thats only a guess.
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The move to Lytham
Seaside resorts were developing for well to do people. An opportunity to make money whilst keeping up social status. The following found on google books using the advance search full books - searching for Lytham Wilcockson.
The earliest connection from "The life boat" shows donations and subscriptions for various life boat branches. It looks like 1864 for Lytham Branch Wilcockson Esq Preston paid £1 1s. (Which Wilcockson might this be?)
search on google for Lytham Pier Company will give you a link to amoundrness.co.uk
It tells us that at the first meeting of the shareholders of the Lytham Pier Company among the directors were Mr D. Wilcockson and Mr M Satterthwaite (The Preston Guardian 9 April 1864).
The book "Seaside watering places" published 1876 has a lovely description of Lytham and its intention to be an exclusive destination.
"There are no house agents in Lytham strictly speaking, but Mr Clarke of Lytham and Kirkham Times office, and Mr David Wilcockson, Church-road, will at all times furnish information of houses to let. Of hotels there are several, two first class, the Clifton and the Ship, which, for good living and moderate charges, cannot be excelled."
In the British Friend Vol 27-28 David is advertising from 1869 to 1870
LYTHAM-APARTMENTS
D. Wilcockson
CLIFTON HOUSE, WEST BEACH
Fronting the sea
HOT AND COLD BATH ON PREMISES
search on google for Lytham Pier Company will give you a link to amoundrness.co.uk
It tells us that at the first meeting of the shareholders of the Lytham Pier Company among the directors were Mr D. Wilcockson and Mr M Satterthwaite (The Preston Guardian 9 April 1864).
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from lan opc site
I think this might be William Dilworths illegitimate daughter
I did look at her some time age, as usual can't find the notes I made but I think she went on to have a family.
St Oswald Warton Nr Lancaster
bap. 19 Jan 1823 Isabella Marshall dau. of Dorothy Marshall, single woman born 23 Dec 1822.
She would have been David's first cousin.
