Search records
Results

Rev James Wilks

Title: Rev

Epithet: (b.1719, d. 1777) Rector of Ballaugh, Vicar-General of the Isle of Man

Record type: Photographs

Biography: James Wilks, born in the parish of Santon, Isle of Man, was the son of John and Margaret Wilks. Records of his early life are few and far between; in 1742 he was ordained by the Bishop of Sodor and Man Thomas Wilson (1663-1755). After a period as curate in the parish of St German in 1745 he became the Vicar at St John's. During his time at St John's Bishop Wilson chose Wilks to go to Dublin and obtain arrears of interest on money left to the Academic Fund under Bishop Barrow's (1613-1680) will and invested there.

In 1745 Wilks married Margaret Woods (1725-1755), daughter of the Revd John Woods (1695-1740), former Vicar-General. The couple had five children. In 1750 he was made Episcopal Registrar and by 1752 Wilks was given the living in Kirk Michael; the vicarage was close to Bishopscourt (the home of the Bishop), for the elderly Bishop had come to be dependent on Wilks. In 1755 (after the death of Bishop Wilson) Wilks was sent to London 'on account and at the request of the Clergy of this Isle', about a chancery suit against the Early of Derby for the recovery of tithes which, it was claimed, had been annexed by the Earl's family. In London he dined with the 2nd Duke of Atholl and Lord of Man (1690-1764). Soon afterwards the Duke introduced him to the Revd Dr Mark Hildesley (1698-1772), whom he had appointed to succeed Wilson as Bishop of Sodor and Man. In 1755 Wilks's wife died; the following year he remarried, this time to Elizabeth Christian (d.1799), daughter of William Christian (1885-c.1743), Vicar-General of Ballamooar, Jurby. The couple had five children.

From the 1760s to 1770s Wilks managed the clergy's litigation with the Manx fishermen over tithes. By 1769 he was made Vicar-General and in 1771 he became the Rector of St Mary de Ballaugh. In June 1777 Vicar-General Wilks died at the age of 58 (Eleanor Williams 2016)

Occupation / profession: Clergyman

Nationality: Manx

Gender: Male

Date of birth: 1719

Place of birth: Santon, Middle, Isle of Man

Date of death: 1777

Place of death: Ballaugh, Michael, Isle of Man

Name Variant: Wilks, James, Rev

Comments

Optional, not displayed

Manx National Heritage (MNH) will always put you in control of the information we send you. Read our privacy policy

Family History research - Janelle Boyton Report this