What we know so far about Matthew Wilkins, and his wife Elizabeth:
Matthew Wilkins was born in Great Milton, a short way south-east of Oxford, in July 1704. He was a butcher in the village and because he also taught music, he presumably also taught the village quire. There is a collection of instruments dating from his time in a locked case at the west end of the Parish Church.
As an itinerant Singing Master, he published his books in several editions, usually collections of other people’s music and for use in his teaching work. His publications are as follows:
- Wilkins, Matthew, of Great Milton, Oxfordshire. A Book of Psalmody. Great Milton: Matthew Wilkins, [c. 1723] British Library shelf no. A.992.a. and containing 40 tunes and 9 anthems.
- In 1725 Michael and John Broome of Birmingham acknowledged using eight of the tunes from Matthew Wilkins’ book in their Collection of Church Musick – The Divine Musick Scholars Guide.
- In 1725 Michael and John Broome of Birmingham acknowledged using eight of the tunes from Matthew Wilkins’ book in their Collection of Church Musick – The Divine Musick Scholars Guide.
- Wilkins, Matthew. An Introduction to Psalmody. London: J[ohn] Johnson, [c.1744]. Contains 46 tunes, 8 anthems and one chant.
- Wilkins, Matthew. A Second Book f Psalmody. London: John Johnson. 1746.
Confusingly, because Johnson had already published the 1744 Introduction to Psalmody, he had to rename what was essentially a second edition of the first book, A Second Book . . . even though the contents were the same.
By 1750 Matthew Wilkins seems to have given up using a London printer for his publications, for several editions are known to exist of his book, around this date, although it is fair to say that no one book yet found has the same contents as any other. Quite possibly he took from the shelves of his local printing press in Great Milton whatever copy came to hand which was suitable for the teaching work he had on at the time. Our copy of his Book of Psalmody has two plates of the same psalm, showing a certain degree of individuality!
In about 1750 he also produced another edition of the same book, but with enlarged contents:
- Wilkins, Matthew, of Great Milton. A Book of Psalmody. Great Milton: Matthew Wilkins, [c.1750]. Contains 48 tunes and 15 anthems.
Again, in about 1760, he produced yet another edition with the same title, but with entirely new contents:
- Wilkins, Matthew, of Great Milton. A Book of Psalmody. Great Milton: Matthew Wilkins, [c.1760]. Contains 34 tunes and 12 anthems. British Library shelf no. A.992.
At this point the story takes a different turn, for Matthew Wilkins died in 1773, and his widow -Elizabeth Wilkins – continued to publish his music. As she died in 1778*, the date of the next publication must be somewhere between these to dates:
- [Wilkins, Matthew, rev. Elizabeth Wilkins??] A Collection of Church Musick. Great Milton: Elizabeth Wilkins, [c.1750]. Contains 43 tunes and 13 anthems, many of them the same as in the 1750 edition of the Book of Psalmody, and using the same plates.