Potter: C & J Price / Manufacturers / Bristol (Early stamp dates around 1857 from previous research).
Images courtesy Michael Squires.
Edward Avery Wilton was a miller by trade. He was born in Berwick St. James, Wiltshire on 25 July 1829, second son of the Rev. Edward Wilton M. A. Master of the Endowed Free Grammar School, West Lavington. and wife Anne Bull. Rev. Wilton was curate of Berwick St. James at the time. Edward Avery was baptised at Berwick St. James on 31 Dec. 1829. He appears in Meksham on the 1851 census as a miller, lodging with miller Henry G. Breach of Union Terrace. He married Cordelia, daughter of Melksham innkeeper Robert Dore of the George Inn, at Melksham Parish Church on 10 May 1856.
In the 1861 census Edward is living on Bath Road, Melksham, with wife Cordelia, and daughters Annie Laura (3) and Cordelia Mary (2), his occupation is still listed as Miller.
The advertisements for Edward's Wine & Spirit Merchant's shop run in the newspapers from 4 October 1862 to 21 November 1863.
Edward Avery Wilton died on 27 May 1870 age just 40.
Cordelia Wilton continued to run the shop which was known as the "Porter Stores" in Bank Street.
From the Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser - Saturday 16 October 1875 page 3: "A BATCH OF BEGGARS. At the Town Hall on Monday before T. J. Heathcote, Esq., a man who gave the name Peter Fitzsimmons, and who refused to give his name and occupation till before the magistrate, was charged by Inspector Baldwin with begging in Melksham. About 7 p.m. on Saturday, complaint was made to the Inspector by two gentlemen, that the prisoner had been begging of them. The officer watched him for some time, and watched him go into Mr. Nosworthy's, chemist, and heard Mr. Nosworthy say, "You must go elsewhere for relief." The Inspector then stepped into the shop and told him he should charge him with begging. He made no reply. On searching him, nothing at all was found on him. Mrs. Cordelia Wilton, at the Porter Stores, said prisoner came to her house begging money the same evening, but she refused to relieve him, he left the house, and went begging of two gentlemen, who gave him some coppers. Mr. Sidney Smith, linen draper, said between 6 and 7 the same evening, the prisoner came to their shop begging, and he ordered him to leave, when he commenced cursing and swearing at him. Several other people of whom he had begged made similar complaints. It was stated that he spent all he got in public houses. The magistrate sentenced him to 14 days imprisonment with hard labour."
The Will of Cordelia Wilton, late of Melksham in the County of Wilts., Widow, who died 3 July 1883 at Melksham was proved at Salisbury by Annie Laura Fournier (Wife of John Fournier) and Cordelia Mary House (Wife of William Henry House) both of Melksham, the Daughters the Executrixes.
Cordelia was buried in Melksham on 6 July 1883, age 55.
| 2 Gallon Stoneware Flagon | |
| Impressed:
2
/ 57 / E. WILTON / Wine & Spirit Merchant / MELKSHAM Potter: C & J Price / Manufacturers / Bristol (Early stamp dates around 1857 from previous research). Images courtesy Michael Squires. |