1692 JOHN WILKINS, (Clockmaker).

18 Aug.

(272)

Probably a native of the county and born about 1635. Having completed his apprenticeship with Henry W ood~ land, a slater, he was made free of the borough 25 June 1660; soon afterwards elected a councillor of the cor~ poration and made an alderman 5 August 1679.

AId. Wilkins is reported to have been a mechanical genius, latterly a clockmaker by trade, and a man of many schemes. With the help of his patron, Baron Carter, who advanced him a large sum of money, this enter~ prising alderman carried out some waterworks under~ takings in the town, but unfortunately the scheme was not a great success. He resided in St. Mary's parish where he was churchwarden in 1668~9, and by his wife Katherine, had several children. In 1714, on his own petition, he was dismissed from the corporation. The parish register of St. Mary's records his burial 23 March 1 no~ 1. His will was proved at Leic. shortly afterwards. A dispute between his sons followed over their father's property, and the estate, we are told, was frittered away in legal expenses, the sons dying in poverty.