David Wilkinson
(1828-1905)
24 April 1861

Volume 3, page 136, sitting number 3235.    

Born on 18 August 1828, David Wilkinson was a younger son of the railway magnate and stockbroker William Arthur Wilkinson by his second wife, Rachel née Ricardo, sister of the political economist David Ricardo. The Wilkinsons were a Quaker family. The Ricardos were a Jewish family of Portuguese descent but several members of the family converted to Christianity when they married members of the Wilkinson family. David Ricardo married Priscilla Anne Wilkinson and William Arthur Wilkinson married firstly Esther Ricardo, then after her death in 1823, secondly, her sister Rachel. 

Like his father, David became a stockbroker; he was in business with his older half-brothers Horace and Conrad at 56 Threadneedle Street, London. 

He appears on the 1861 census living at Shortlands, his father's estate near Beckenham in Kent. Also present on the night of the census were brother Conrad, sister Sarah, and ten servants, including a butler, a footman and two grooms.

On 23 September 1869 David Wilkinson married Eliza Weatherby, daughter of James Weatherby, whose family was - and still is - closely associated with the history of horse racing in Great Britain. In 1891 and 1901 the couple were living with six servants at the Manor House in Esher. 

David Wilkinson died at the Manor House in Esher on 15 October 1905, leaving an estate valued at £13,707. According to a short report in the Surrey Comet (18 October 1905): 'We regret to announce the death of Mr David Wilkinson, which occurred on Sunday at his residence, Manor House, at the age of 76. Deceased, who leaves a widow, but no children, was of a very generous disposition, and his benefactions were innumerable. Deceased had been resident in the village some fourteen or fifteen  years, and some years ago discharged the duties pertaining to the overseership of the parish.'