24 Aug 2023

We thought we would try and find the burial of William Gilkes baptised 1749 in Lower Heyford. He married Mary Rose in 1768 in North Aston and had three children that we know of: Sarah (1773), Hannah (1779) and George (1782) all in Steeple Barton.

We started with the Steeple Barton parish registers. We checked baptisms from 1782 to 1801 and there were no Gilkes mentioned. There are a few Rymills.

We started looking at burials from 1785 (image) to 1812

• 1786 Jun 6 - John Gilkes buried, Steeple Barton
• 1801 Mar 24 - Mary Gilks, buried, Steeple Barton

Looked at burials from 1748 (image) to 1784

• 1758 Jun 3 - Anne daughter of Mary Gilks buried, Steeple Barton
• 1777 Mar 31 - Ann Gilkes buried, Steeple Barton

Christenings from 1770 (image) to 1773 - nothing

Marriages in Steeple Aston from 1754 (image) to 1812

• 1787 May 23 - Marriage of Richard Grimanet of the parish of Great Tew, bachelor, and Mary Gilks of Steeple Aston, by licence. Paupers. Neither could sign. Witnesses were William Preedy and Joseph Preedy, both could sign. (image)
• 1808 24 Sep - Marriage of Joseph Gilkes, bachelor, and Sarah Keyes, spinster, both of this parish, by banns. Neither could sign/ Witnesses were John Pearson and Elizabeth Smith (image)
• 1812 Feb 17 - Marriage of Thomas Gilkes, otp, bachelor and Anne Wain, otp, spinster, by banns. She could sign, he could not. Witnesses were Richd Pearson and Thomas Haines (did not sign)

Baptisms in Steeple Aston from 1783 (image) to 1812

• 1812 Jun 27 - William son of Thomas and Anne Gilkes, baptised Steeple Aston

Burials in Steeple Aston to 1783 to 1812 (image)

• 1812 Oct 10 - Thomas Gilkes, buried Steeple Aston

We then turned to the neighbouring parish of Westcote Barton where William’s daughter Sarah, then Rymill, was having children from 1789-1819

Baptisms in Westcote Barton from 1726 (image) to 1812 - no Gilkes, bur several Rimills

Marriages in Westcote Barton from 1705 (image) to 1753

• 1748 Oct 11 - Marriage of Samuell Allin and Ann Gilks of the parish of Sandford, by banns, in Westcote Barton
• 1749 Jul 9 - Marriage of Thos Gilkes of Chipping Norton and Miss Nazard Osbaldeston of Chalberry, by licence, Westcote Barton

Baptisms in Westcote Barton from 1805 (image) to 1812 - no Gilkes

Burials in Westcote Barton from 1695(image) to 1812 - no Gilkes but some Rimells

Marriages in Westcote Barton from 1754 (image) to 1811 - no Gilkes, some early Rimells

We turned to the neighbouring parish of Sandford St. Martin where Ann Gilks who married in 1748 was living.

Marriages in Sandford St. Martins from 1695 (image) to 1753

• 1729 Dec 15 - Marriage of Thos Prat and Margret Gilks, by licence, in Sandford St. Martins

Baptisms in Sandford St. Martins from 1695 (image) to 1712 (stopped for the night here)