William Wilkins

William Wilkins came from a family of devout Baptists in Cirencester. He studied for the ministry at Bristol Baptist Academy and in Scotland; shortly after this letter he began a lengthy service (1777-1795) as assistant to Benjamin Beddome (1717-95), Baptist minister at Bourton-on-the-Water, 1743-95.  In 1777 he was an unsuccessful suitor of Mary Steele of Broughton. Wilkins had three sisters, two of whom married sons of the Baptist minister Benjamin Beddome, Boswell and Samuel; a third sister married the business partner of Samuel Beddome, Hewitt Fysh. All had settled in London by 1797. After the death of Benjamin Beddome in 1795, Wilkins was not chosen as Beddome’s successor. Apparently he removed to London at that time and joined in business with Mr. Reynolds. Martha Steele, sister of Mary Steele, stayed with the Reynolds family during her visit to London in 1804 (see below, letter 117). For Reynolds and Wilkins in London, see Universal British Directory, vol. 1, part 2, p. 266.