Our thanks go to Terry Wilkinson, his father Leslie and to Andrew Wilkinson and Gillian Wilkinson who have very kindly spent time and shared family knowledge and photographs. Thanks also to Philip and Carol Tallent for their contributions and identifications and to Paul McDougall for corrections re Alfred Ernest “Young Ernie” and substantial dating and other family information. Thank you also to Alan Bainbridge and Joyce Marti for the Moffitt photos.

WILLIAM ARTHUR AND EMMA WILKINSON

WILLIAM ARTHUR WILKINSON
(1849 -18.01.1924)
[Founder of W.A.Wilkinson Ltd, Mineral Water Manufacturer ]

married 9.9.1872, St Mary’s Church, Gateshead.

EMMA WILKINSON (nee Turnbull?)
(1850 – 30.07.1904)

THEIR CHILDREN

1. WILLIAM ARTHUR (Jr)

(1874-19.01.1955)
Eldest son, William Arthur (Junior) is standing hand in pocket.  Willliam Arthur Wilkinson (Senior) (seated holding child) and wife, Emma (seated).

George Richard is standing on the left. Arthur Ernest is lying down in the front row.

William Arthur married Margaret Ann Williamson (1886-02.01.1956) on Dec 1 1903 – he eventually became the manager of the mineral water factory.

They had 13 children:
Emma (1904 – ?),
William Arthur (1906 – 22.09.1930),
Florence May (1908 – 13.12.2001)
Decima Elizabeth (1910 – ?)
Sydney Alwyn (c1912 – c1914)
Suzanne Maud (1914 – 1993)
Margaret Anne (1915 – 16.07.1998)
Constance Evelyn (1919 – 24.12.2008)
Ada (1922 – ?)
Leslie Alwyn (1924)
Noveen Olivia (1926)
Joan (1928)
Dorothy (b and d c1930)

William Arthur  –  was a seaman and died from pneumonia, TB and pleurisy aged 24 years.  Buried at Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Sydney Alwyn  –  died about 2 year old don’t know what from and guessing at birth year. Believed buried at Westoe Cemetery, South Shields

Decima Elizabeth  – died on the 14^th December, year uncertain, from septicaemia following child birth.

Ada – died in childhood, age unknown.

Dorothy – only lived 1 week after she was born with spina bifida

2. ELIZABETH
(1875-20.4.1951)
She married Andrew William Trotter (1867-1924) (a railway clerk) in 1905. They had two children – Herbert William Trotter (1906-1977) and John Trotter (an electrician) (1909-?).

3. EMMA
(1878-?)
She married Robert Doubleday Forster (clerk at Wilkinsons and b1874) in 1901. One child, Robert.

Photo shows wedding gathering of Emma and Robert, taken at the rear of William Arthur senior’s property, Phoenix House in North Shields.

4. MARY JANE (b/d1880)
No information known.

5. GEORGE RICHARD (1882 – c1952)
There is the death of an infant George Richard b1882 recorded on William Arthur senior’s gravestone. His name was re-cycled for his brother here. He married Louisa G Allen in 1913. They had 2 sons, Alfred and George.
George Richard worked as a marine engineer.

6. FLORENCE (1883-?)
She married August William Erickson (1879-1961 draper’s assistant, father born in Finland) in 1914.

They had 2 children, William (died WW2) and Elsie.

Photo shows daughters of William Arthur senior: l-r: Florence, Elizabeth, Gertrude, Emma

7. ALFRED ERNEST (1884-28.6.1939)
He married Francis Coates Wharrier (1886-20.12.1951) in 1908. Their grave is in Preston Cemetery, North Shields just in front of WAW senior’s.

They had four children, Alfred Ernest (aka “Young Ernie”) (1908-1962), Winifred Mary (1910-1986), Matthew D (1911-1911), and Gertrude (1916)

Alfred Ernest married Mary Jane (“Jennie”) Dawson in 1933, without known issue. It is “Young Ernie” who took over the reins of the business when his father died in 1939.
After her husband’s death, Jennie moved to the Isle of Wight to work in a hotel. She later returned to Northumberland.

Photo shows l-r: Alfred Ernest, William Arthur (junior), George Richard?

Young Ernie (bottom left) with brothers in law at the Phillips-Dawson wedding.

8. GERTRUDE (06.04.1885 – d30.03.1975)
She married David Moffitt (Wilkinson’s company driver) in 1919.
They had 2 daughters, Mabel (06.08.1921 – surviving) and Dorothy (17.12.1924-2.2.1990).
Both unmarried.

Mabel’s certificate in ARP taken in 1939.

9. KATE EVELINE (1890-8.11.1891)

10. BLANCHE MAUD (1890-?)
aka Maud. She married James Storey in 1913.
Storey is stated as “son in law” in WAW senior’s will, dated 16.01.1923.

11. WINIFRED ELSIE (30.9.1892-18.5.1983)
aka Elsie. She married Arthur Henry Loweman on 29th June 1920, in the Tynemouth registration district.

Their son Camille Oliver Loweman was born in North Shields in 1922, and they then moved to Suffolk and their daughter Millicent Elsie Loweman was born in 1928.

Photo c1918

Arthur died in 1957.

ALSO listed on gravestone
MINNIE (dates u/k – died in infancy)
THOMAS FREDERICK (dates u/k – died in infancy)

BURIAL PLACE

At the foot of the family plot is the resting place of Arthur Ernest Wilkinson and his wife Frances Coates Wilkinson.