William Edward WATKINS

1779 - 1821  (42 years)

• Name	William Edward WATKINS
  Birth	26 Jun 1779	Westerham, Kent, England
  Christening	18 Jul 1779	St. Leonards, Shoreditch, London, England
  Gender	Male
  Will	14 Dec 1820	Westerham, Kent, England
  Death	26 Oct 1821	Westerham, Kent, England
  Probate	18 Apr 1822	Prerogative Court of Canterbury, London, England
  Notes	(1) England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Name: William Edward Watkins Gender: Male Christening Date: 18 Jul 1779 Christening Date (Original): 18 Jul 1779 Christening Place: Saint Leonards, Shoreditch, London, England Birth Date: 26 Jun 1779 Father's Name: David Watkins Mother's Name: Susanna (2) "The Swan Brewery," in "Westerham's War Factory" <http://www.visitwesterham.org.uk/images/documents/thesterlingworks-1.pdf>: The earliest reference to the Swan was on the 11th of October 1720 when John Wickham got a lease from the Reverend George Lewis for a building 'in use as a malt house'. It would seem that it continued as a malt house until 1795 when Edward Finniss converted it to a brewery. Edward Finniss's nephew William Edward Watkins actually ran the brewery and when he died in 1822 his eldest son William Finniss Watkins took control. 50 years later William Finniss Watkin's son John was the active partner in W Watkins and Son. The firm was clearly in financial difficulties by the 1870's but they carried on in a quiet way and when in 1889 William Finniss Watkins died at the age of 80 he bequeathed to his son John 'all the fixed plant used in the carrying on of our business of brewers, maltsters and mineral water manufacturers'. On the13th of June 1891 John and his wife Ruth laid the foundation stone for a 78 foot high chimney adjacent to the Swan premises on land that was to eventually become the Sterling factory. It must be assumed that they were expanding their premises to meet the growing threat from the Black Eagle Brewery at the other end of the town, however in spite of this they were not able to resist the pressure and in 1897 sold out to the Black Eagle. The Swan Brewery was immediately closed but the malt house continued in use 'for some time'. Some accounts for 1901 show 'repairs to Swan Malt house'. For some years the brewery continued in use as a vinegar brewery but whether this was in the old Swan or the new part constructed by John Watkins we do not know. We do know that a company called the Kent Vinegar Brewery Company Ltd operated the vinegar works. (3) Will of William Edward Watkins, Malster of Westerham, Kent <https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D150648>: Reference: PROB 11/1656/151 Description: Will of William Edward Watkins, Malster of Westerham, Kent Date [of probate]: 18 April 1822 Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
  Person ID	I46197	Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	David WATKINS
  Mother	Susanna FINNIS
  Marriage	21 Feb 1770	St. Leonards, Shoreditch, London, England   [1]
  Family ID	F19887	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth INGRAMS,   b. 1781, Westerham, Kent, England d. 3 May 1847, Westerham, Kent, England (Age 66 years)
  Marriage	20 Nov 1804	Westerham, Kent, England
  Children	1. William Finnis WATKINS, Sr.,   b. Bef 5 Jun 1808, Westerham, Kent, England d. 29 Oct 1889, Westerham, Kent, England (Age > 81 years)
  Family ID	F19874	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

• Sources

  Details: Details: Citation Text: (1) England Marriages, 1538–1973: Name: David Watkins Spouse's Name: Susanna Finness Event Date: 21 Feb 1770 Event Place: Saint Leonards, Shoreditch, London, England.