L is for Lydia
2025 A to Z blogging challenge
Lydia Wilks, my fifth great grandmother, was born on 17th Feb 1772 at Southwark, Surrey, England to Thomas Wilks (1750–1823) and Lydia Wilks nee Wilkinson (died 1785). Lydia was baptised 15 Mar 1772 at St George the Martyr, Southwark.
After her mother died in 1785 Lydia’s father Thomas Wilks married again to Elizabeth Bosdon.
On 10 June 1797 Lydia married Thomas Plaisted at St Bride’s in Fleet Street, London, England. The witnesses were William Winstandly and W Finch.
Thomas and Lydia had the following children:
Thomas 1798–1798
Thomas 1799–1799
John 1800–1858
Joseph 1802–1803
Lydia 1805–1805
Tabitha 1806–1891
Elizabeth 1809–1847
Thomas Wilkes 1811–1886
Lydia 1814–1843
Benjamin Ebenezer 1817–1825
Two children of Thomas and Lydia were baptised at St George the Martyr, Southwark. Both were called Thomas, the first baptised 12 August 1798 and the second on 10 March 1799. The first Thomas died in December 1798 and was buried on 14 December at St George the Martyr. The second Thomas died about June 1799 and was buried on 2 June, also at St George the Martyr. Both infants were stated to be from New Colley (or maybe Alley) Borough.
Their son John, my fourth great grandfather, was baptised on 27 April 1800 also at St George the Martyr, Southwark.
The next child whose baptism record I have seen is Tabitha, born in 1806. It seems unlikely that there were no other children born between 1800 and 1806, and I suspect their baptism records have not yet been digitised. I have found two possible burials. On 18 January 1803, Joseph from New Alley or Colley Borough, son of Thomas, was buried at St George the Martyr. On 28 March 1805, Lydia from New Alley or Colley Borough, daughter of Thomas, was buried at St George the Martyr.
The younger children of Thomas Plaisted and his wife Lydia Plaisted née Wilkes were baptised at the Ebenezer Chapel in Deptford and the Plaisted family seem to have become Dissenters. Tabitha, Elizabeth and Thomas Wilks were all baptised on 8 April 1813. Lydia was baptised not long after her birth on 10 April 1814 and Ebenezer was baptised in April 1817.
In 1823 Lydia’s father died. The will of Thomas Wilkes mentioned his wife Elizabeth and his daughters Lydia Plaisted and Tabitha Gibbons and their husbands. He left Lydia and her husband Thomas his house in Deptford, a freehold property on Broadway and also two leasehold properties.
Thomas was a wine merchant and his business at ‘The Coopers Arms’ was taken over by his son John.
On 29 May 1832 Lydia’s husband Thomas signed his will and added a codicil:
I Thomas Plaisted of the parish of Saint Paul Deptford in the county of Kent being of sound mind and memory do hereby make my last will and testament as follows To my wife Lydia Plaisted I leave the interest and rent of all my property during her natural life at her decease I direct that the whole of the property before named be sold and divided in equal parts John Plaisted Thomas Wilkes Plaisted Elizabeth Plaisted and Lydia Plaisted each having an equal share of the same and to my daughter Tabitha Ewer I direct that a fifth part of the above property when sold that she shall have the interest of for her natural life and at her decease to become the property of her daughter and the same to be invested for better security in one of the public funds of the kingdom I also direct that the interest of the above fifth share be paid to the said Tabitha Ewer exclusively and I hereby appoint my son Mr John Plaisted and Robert Law my sole executors as witness my hand this twenty ninth day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty two—Thos Plaisted—witness—Frederick Dove—John Ewer—El Miles
Codicil I Thomas Plaisted do hereby acknowledge that the house known as the sign of the Coopers Arms Woolwich Kent has been from the taking of the above house and is now the property of my son John Plaisted and I do hereby direct that the Licences be transferred to him or to whom he shall appoint witness my hand this twenty ninth day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty two—Thos Plaisted—witness—John Ewer
Thomas died the next day, 30 May, and was buried on 4 June at the Independent burial ground Deptford.
In 1841 Lydia Plaisted was recorded on the census as living in St Paul Deptford with her sister Tabitha Gibbons.
Lydia’s daughter Tabitha emigrated to Australia in 1838. In 1849 Lydia’s son John and his family also emigrated to Australia. Her youngest son, Thomas Wilkes Plaisted remained in Deptford running the ‘Coopers Arms’.
In the 1851 census Lydia Plaisted (age 80), widowed grandmother,was living in the Coopers Arms, 120 High Street, St Mary Woolwich. Her son, Thomas Wilkes Plaisted, head of the household and licensed victualler, was away at the time of the census.
At the time of the census taken on 7 April 1861 Lydia Plaisted was living at 4 Monmouth Place New Cross near Deptford in the household of her son-in-law William Green, a house agent, and daughter Tabitha; William and Tabitha had returned from Australia..
Lydia died on 30 April 1861 at 4 Monmouth Place of old age and debility. She was the widow of Thomas Plaisted, boot and shoe seller. Her death was registered in Greenwich, Kent. She was buried at Nunhead Cemetery in the same grave as her sister Tabitha.
Related posts
Wikitree: Lydia (Wilks) Plaisted (1772-1861)
Tis post first published at https://anneyoungau.wordpress.com/2025/04/14/l-is-for-lydia/