Personal Life
Joseph Wilkes was born into a large and moderately well off family in 1733. His father, also named Joseph Wilkes was a yeoman farmer, and owned a farm in Overseal. Joseph Wilkes appears to have been close to his brothers, with whom he was to have many business dealings throughout his life.
Wilkes married Elizabeth Wood from Burton upon Trent in 1759 and together they had many children, and although unfortunately his only son didn't survive past infancy, some of his daughters however, did grow up and were married. Wilkes' own married life was relatively short, as tragically his wife Elizabeth was to die in 1767. It was a little while after her death, that Wilkes probably expecting to marry again, began the building of the stately Overseale House around 1775. Wilkes' life finally ended in Croydon in 1805 and is buried there.
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