Person:William Burks (14)

William Burks' origins have yet to be established. His first confirmed sighting is on 8th January 1756, when he married Ann Mettam at Great Hale in Lincolnshire. She already had a son called William, baptised the previous year, who went on to use Burks as his surname - it is possible therefore that the boy was William's actual son, although he may only have been a stepson. William and Ann went on to have at least two more daughters together at Great Hale in 1757 and 1768, although the younger died as a child. Their younger daughter's baptism describes William as a labourer.

Ann died in 1781. She was said to be 57 years old.

Five years later, William married again. His second wife was a widow called Sarah Ward, formerly Lister, whose first husband had died in 1783. They married at Great Hale on 28th August 1786. She must have been quite a bit younger than William, and she had three young children from her first marriage, who thus became William's stepchildren. William and Sarah do not appear to have had any further children.

William and Sarah were married for just under six years. William was buried at Great Hale on 16th July 1792. His burial record does not say how old he was, although it was 36 years since his first marriage. Sarah survived him by over 31 years and remarried in 1808.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish Church of Great Hale (Lincolnshire). Parish registers for Great Hale, ca.1568-1988. (Lincoln, England: Lincoln Archives Office, 1993-2002).

   In the Year 1792 were buried. / July 16th William Burks Senior