[WED]Spearing/Wilkins & "Windmills of Somerset"

[Susan Baines]

Many thanks Matthew for recommending this book - Windmills of Somerset and
the men who worked them, by Couthard and Watts.  As you have mentioned on
the Wedmore list, there are plenty of mentions of the Spearing and Wilkins
family (including the odd mistake in the family tree, as you pointed out)

There are a few connections with other milling families:

CRANE
p 61, Walton Mill.  There is mention of Samuel and Mary Wilkins.  This is
Samuel (bap 1798 Wedmore), son of Thomas Wilkins and Ann Look (or Luke).
(Thomas was the brother of Mary Wilkins who married Simon Spearing).  His
wife, Mary was Mary Crane, they married in Chedzoy probably 1820.
The book says that a William Crane was miller at Walton from c 1860 - 1889.
Samuel and Mary had 4 children:  Joseph born Burnham c 1875; Samuel born
Walton c 1829; Mary Jane born Walton c 1834; and Anna Maria born Walton c
1843. Cranes are also mentioned as millers at Puriton and Somerton.


PITMAN
Another of Thomas Wilkins and Ann Look's children was Flora (bap 30 April
1796 Chapel Allerton).  She married George Pitman - see - page 55,
Moorlinch.  After the mill was pulled down, the land was bought by a George
Pitman.

LATCHAM
Pages 29 and 64 mention a John Latcham, village carpenter who worked on
Heath House mill in the late 19th C.  George Wilkins who died in 1810 ("an
honest man" in Wedmore burials) married Jane Latcham in 1803 in Wedmore.
There was no shortage of Latchams or Lachams in Wedmore, so quite possible
that Jane was related to John the Heath House carpenter.


LUKE
Ann Look mentioned above as the wife of Thomas Wilkins.  Ann was born in
Woolavington, and married Thomas Wilkins in 1785.  Amongst their children
was a son Luke.  The Luke family were well known millers in Woolavington.
The book mentions a George Luke who was lessee of Mill Cottage in 1775, andG
Luke was miller there in 1761.  (right timing to be Ann's father - if she is
Luke rather than Look?).  Samuel Luke was miller from 1866 - 1875.

Another Luke miller was Joseph who was miller at Chedzoy in 1827 when the
mill virtually blew away.  See pages 46, 67.

Finally, page 34 refers to a son of William Spearing who was drowned in the
mill pond at Isle Brewers.  I had a session on Free BMD last night, and
think that William's wife was Elizabeth Jane Stott (married 1892 in Langport
registration area - covers High Ham).  There were four children:  Frederick
William S Spearing registered in Mar 1894 Langport;  Stanley Simon
registered Mar 1896 Langport;  Ada Mary reg Jun 1901 Langport;  and Simon
reg Sep 1903 Langport.
The death of Stanley Simon Spearing was registered in Dec 1900 - aged 4.

Pleased to have tracked down who Edwin Wilkins retired miller in 1881 census
as Chapel Allerton was.  He was the son of Paul Wilkins and Margaret Hogg.
Paul was another son of Thomas Wilkins and Ann Look/Luke.  His 2nd cousin,
Mary Spearing acted as housekeeper, and according to Coulthard and Watts -
page 14, Edwin baked bread, and Mary helped to sell it.

Thanks again for the book recommendadation

Susan