Wilkins, Eliza

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1906

Area: Somerset - Bridgwater Surrounds

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Eliza Wilkins of Over Stowey (1868-1961): age 39, ‘Dilly’ song (FT966) on 7 Aug 1906: This was the third version of the Dilly song that Sharp had collected in Somerset. It is sometimes called ‘Green grow the rushes o’. Sharp collected 4 more versions and published the song in Folk Songs from Somerset vol4.

Eliza was born Eliza Palmer on 27/3/1868 and baptised at Over Stowey church on 21/5/1868, daughter of Henry Palmer, labourer and his wife Elizabeth. On 21/9/1893 at Over Stowey church she married William Wilkins, labourer. They had three children and lived for a time at Friarn, a hamlet half a mile to west of Over Stowey village (ref RG13/2280 f90 p6). By 1911 William Wilkins had taken over the running of the Enmore Inn and the couple were still running that pub in the 1939 England & Wales Register (ref RG 101/7064G). Eliza probably died 9/1961 age 93 ref 7c 88.