Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
The Western Daily Press. Wednesday 16 Feb 1921
Page 5 Column 2
MARRIED SIXTY YEARS.
SOMERSET FARMER'S DIAMOND WEDDING.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE KING.
Surrounded by nearly forty children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Mr and Mrs Frederick WILCOX celebrated on St. Valentine's Day, at Stowey Farm, Fivehead, Somerset, the diamond anniversary of their wedding. They were married on Februray <sic> 14, 1861, at the Baptist Church, Cullompton, Devon, and have had twelve children, ten of whom are living. Their family consists of four sons and six daughters; three sons and four daughters are married, and have had between them 24 children.
MESSAGE FROM THE KING.
Numerous presents and congratulations were received by the old people, including a message from the King, expressing the hope that Mr and Mrs WILCOX would spend many more happy years together in good health and prosperity, and that their many children and granchildren <sic> would continue to be a joy and blessing to them.
Mr WILCOX comes of Somerset yeoman stock, having been born at Burton, Stogursey, 92 years ago. For upwards of sixty years he had been a farmer, and has latterly been living in retirement at Ile Abbots. Mrs WILCOX, who is ten years younger than her husband, also enjoys excellent health. The old couple are highly esteemed in the district, and their diamond wedding presents included useful gifts from the congregation of Ile Abbots Baptist Church.
PLOUGHING WITH OXEN.
Mr WILCOX has a good memory, and well recollects farming conditions in his boyhood days, when he learnt to plough with oxen and a rather primitive instrument, which he says made the work much more difficult than modern ploughing. At that time the labourers were paid 7s a week. He also recollects the opening up of the railway from Bristol to Exeter, and saw the first train pass through Bridgwater, a few miles from his home, nearly eighty years ago. The carriages of those trains he describes as less comfortable than modern cattle trucks.
<NOTES: Frederick WILCOX son of John WILCOX and Sarah RIDLER, married Isabella Mary MANFIELD
Isabella Mary MANFIELD daughter of John MANFIELD and Elizabeth DUNN, married Frederick WILCOX>