Wicks of Worthing
Arthur Sidney Wicks was born on 30 January 1869 at 21 Chapel street in Worthing, Sussex. He was the younger son of William Wicks and Eliza Barnett. Arthur was christened on 28 March 1869 in Broadwater, Sussex.
In 1871, Arthur was living, with his parents and older brother, at the home of his grandmother, Anne Wicks and her second husband, George, at 11 Field Row, Worthing His grandmother operated a laundry business with help from Arthur’s mother, Eliza. Arthur’s father, William was a house painter. By 1881, the family had moved to 32 Chapel street, Worthing, Sussex. Arthur’s grandmother, now widowed for the second time, ran her laundry business at home with assistance from his mother. Arthur’s father was working as a coal merchant. |
Arthur’s grandmother, Anne Wicks, died on 7 March 1887 at the age of 74 years and his mother, Eliza Wicks, died on 12 August 1887. Both died at 32 Chapel street in Worthing, Sussex. Eliza contracted hepatitis and developed purpura or blood spots, an autoimmune disorder which destroys the blood-clotting platelets in the body. Eliza was 42 years old.
Shortly after his mother’s death, 18-year-old Arthur married Harriet Caroline Virgoe. Arthur and Harriet were married at the Parish Church in Heene, Sussex on 18 September 1887. Harriet moved into Arthur’s grandmother’s house at 32 Chapel street, Worthing and both Arthur and Harriet worked in the laundry business his grandmother had established.
It was almost eight years after their marriage that Arthur and Harriet had their first child. A daughter, they named her Ellen Louisa. Arthur Sydney, named for his father, arrived on 8 August 1899. In 1901, Arthur and Harriet and their two children were living at 48 Portland road, Worthing, Sussex. Arthur was now employed as a house painter and decorator. |
Arthur and Harriet went on to have four more children. Elsie Elizabeth, Gladys Mabel (May), George and Marjorie Winifred (Winnie). In 1911, the family were living at 79 Portland road, Worthing, Sussex. Only eldest daughter, Ellen, was working; she was a domestic servant. Four children were at school and the youngest, 2-year-old Winnie was at home with her mother.
According to family lore, Arthur, or Micky, as he was known was a real character. He was a little man, just over five feet tall with a big walrus moustache and a quick temper. Besides being self-employed as a journeyman painter and decorator, he and Harriet also kept up the laundry business and rented a field so they could dry the laundry. Micky’s talent as a painter and decorator extended to French polishing, gilding and graining (producing a simulated wood grain finish). He was an excellent artist, both drawing and painting in oils, he would use oranges and sticks to make models for his grandchildren to explain gravity and the seasons. Micky grew all his own vegetables and kept chickens in the back garden, selling the surplus eggs and produce at the market. Micky’s family were also well supplied with fish when he helped out the local fisherman in return for fish. Micky rebuilt and sold second-hand bicycles, collected and sold scrap metal that he salvaged from homes he had redecorated. |
Micky’s great love, though, was football and rugby. He played football regularly with the Worthing Town team – except when he was barred for fighting or arguing with the referee. He even played for Sussex the first time they won the cup final. Harriet would cut out newspaper reports of match reviews from the papers, especially ones where Micky scored a goal. She kept them in an old tin.
Micky’s other great love was acting. He enjoyed acting and singing in amateur dramatic productions staged by the local repertory company. He would help out backstage as well shifting scenery and dressing the actors. His daughters would often join him at the theatre and sometimes would go on stage as extras. His youngest daughter, Winnie (Marjorie Winifred) would watch from the wings. She was too young to go on stage and by the time she was old enough, the theatre had closed down. |
Eldest son, Arthur, was married on 10 February 1919 in East Preston district, Sussex. His wife, Josephine Mabel Field, was born in Arundel, Sussex and was the daughter of William Field and Eliza Ann Norris. Arthur and Josephine had four children, Maurice Arthur, Raymond Claude, Ronald Sydney and Eileen Mabel.
Eldest daughter, Ellen Louisa was married on 14 September 1919 to Henry Charles Jacobs. Henry was a postman from Portsmouth, Hampshire. His father, Hedley Jacobs was a house painter. Henry and Ellen had two children, Henry Arthur E. and Rita Ellen.
Elsie Elizabeth Wicks married Sidney George Dockett on 24 March 1923 in East Preston district, Sussex. Sidney was a bus driver and they lived at 26 Normandy road, Worthing, Sussex in 1939 with their two children, Aubrey Sidney and Mavis Elsie.
Eldest daughter, Ellen Louisa was married on 14 September 1919 to Henry Charles Jacobs. Henry was a postman from Portsmouth, Hampshire. His father, Hedley Jacobs was a house painter. Henry and Ellen had two children, Henry Arthur E. and Rita Ellen.
Elsie Elizabeth Wicks married Sidney George Dockett on 24 March 1923 in East Preston district, Sussex. Sidney was a bus driver and they lived at 26 Normandy road, Worthing, Sussex in 1939 with their two children, Aubrey Sidney and Mavis Elsie.
21-year-old May (Gladys Mabel) married on 24 January 1926 in East Preston district, Sussex. Her husband, Alfred Charles Hall, was an electrical engineer. Alfred and May had one daughter, Gwendoline Mary. In 1939 they were living at 57 Cotswold road, Worthing, Sussex.
Winnie was married in Broadwater, Sussex on 26 August 1927. Her husband, William Edward Guile was the son of Edward Charles Guile and Eveline Edith Predeth. They had three children, Patrick Edward, Michael John and Marjorie Ann. Winnie and William separated after the war. William remarried in 1948. In later years both Winnie and William, together with his second wife and six children from that marriage, lived in New Zealand. |
Arthur Sidney (Micky) Wicks died in Worthing hospital on 11 January 1929 from intestinal cancer. He was 59 years old. Micky was buried on 11 January 1929 in Broadwater Cemetery on South Farm road, Worthing, Sussex.
A few years later, George Wicks married Barbara Slade in about September 1932 in East Preston district, Sussex. George and Barbara had a daughter, Marion Barbara. George was a manager of a gent’s outfitters and they lived at 10 Bramber road, Worthing, Sussex in 1939. Harriet Wicks sold the house in Portland road, Worthing after Mickey’s death. She lived with her daughter Nelly (Ellen Louisa) for a time and also moved to Leicester for a couple of years where she lived opposite her grandson Ray Wicks. She didn’t like the big city though and found it too noisy, so she moved back to Worthing and took a bedsit. Harriet Wicks died on 1 June 1950 in Worthing, Sussex from atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). She was buried with her beloved husband Micky in Broadwater Cemetery, Worthing, Sussex on 1 June 1950. |
Descendants of Arthur Sidney Wicks
Arthur Sidney (Micky) Wicks was born on 30 January 1869 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 28 March 1869 in Broadwater, Sussex and died on 8 January 1929 in Worthing, Sussex at age 59 years. Arthur married Harriet Caroline Virgoe on 18 September 1887 in Heene, Sussex. Harriet was born on 9 November 1866 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 23 December 1866 in Broadwater, Sussex and died on 28 May 1950 in Worthing, Sussex at age 83 years. They had six children: Ellen Louisa, Arthur Sydney, Elsie Elizabeth, Gladys Mabel, George and Marjorie Winifred.
- Ellen Louisa Wicks was born on 28 December 1895 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 12 April 1896 in Worthing, Sussex and died on 4 February 1984 in Goring, Sussex at age 88 years. Ellen (Nelly) married Henry Charles Jacobs on 14 September 1919 in East Preston district, Sussex. Henry was born on 28 May 1896 in Fareham, Hampshire and died in June quarter 1971 in Worthing, Sussex at age 75 years. They had two children: Henry Arthur E. and Rita Ellen.
- Arthur Sydney Wicks was born on 8 August 1899 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 11 May 1902 in Sussex and died in June quarter 1968 in Worthing, Sussex at age 68 years. Arthur married Josephine Mabel Field on 10 February 1919 in East Preston district, Sussex. Josephine was born on 15 March 1898 in Arundel, Sussex and died in September quarter 1988 in Worthing, Sussex at age 90 years. They had four children: Maurice Arthur, Raymond Claude, Ronald Sydney and Eileen Mabel.
- Elsie Elizabeth Wicks was born on 17 March 1902 in East Preston district, Sussex, was christened on 11 May 1902 in Worthing, Sussex and died in September quarter 1961 in Lambeth, Surrey at age 59 years. Elsie married Sidney George Dockett on 24 March 1923 in East Preston district, Sussex. Sidney was born on 1 January 1901 in Saint Pancras district, London and died in June quarter 1980 in Worthing, Sussex at age 79 years. They had two children: Aubrey Sidney and Mavis Elsie.
- Gladys Mabel Wicks was born on 9 April 1904 in East Preston district, Sussex, was christened on 12 February 1905 in Worthing, Sussex and died in September quarter 2001 in Chichester, Sussex at age 97 years. Gladys (May) married Alfred Charles Hall on 24 January 1926 in East Preston district, Sussex. Alfred was born on 7 April 1905 in Worthing, Sussex and died in September quarter 1982 in Chichester, Sussex at age 77 years. They had one daughter: Gwendoline Mary.
- George Wicks was born on 30 September 1905 in East Preston district, Sussex, was christened on 12 November 1905 in Worthing, Sussex and died in June quarter 1942 in Worthing, Sussex at age 36 years. George married Barbara Slade in September quarter 1932 in East Preston district, Sussex/ Barbara was born on 24 April 1905 in Elham, Kent and died in December quarter 1988 in Worthing, Sussex at age 83 years. They had one daughter: Marion Barbara. Barbara next married Leonard Frederick Nash in September quarter 1948 in Worthing, Sussex. Leonard was born in March quarter 1911 in West Ham, Essex and died in March quarter 1971 in Walthamstow, Essex at age 60 years.
- Marjorie Winifred Wicks was born on 4 September 1908 in East Preston district, Sussex, was christened on 8 November 1908 in Worthing, Sussex and died in 2004 in New Zealand at age 96 years. Marjorie (Winnie) married William Edward Guile on 26 August 1927 in Broadwater, Sussex. William was born on 20 November 1908 in Broadwater, Sussex, was christened on 10 January 1909 in Broadwater, Sussex and died in 1987 in New Zealand. They had three children: Patrick Edward, Michael John and Marjorie Ann (twins). William and Marjorie were divorced. William next married Marie-Therese Crevecoeur in December quarter 1948 in Chanctonbury, Sussex. Marie-Therese was born on 5 April 1919, possibly in Belgium and died in 2011 in New Zealand. They had six children: Claudette Anne-Marie, Jacqueline Marie, Paulette Kathleen Marie, Paul Edward, Bernard Charles and John Andrew.