John Wickens was born at Kingsclere Woodlands, Hampshire, on 3rd June 1854; he was the sixth child of Stephen and Harriet Wickens (nee Mace). He grew up in Kingsclere Woodlands and Burghclere, where he followed his elder brother Mark into the police force. While living in Burghclere John met his future wife Elizabeth Garrard. They were married on 22nd October 1879 in Burghclere Church.

In the 1881 census John and Elizabeth are stationed in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, their house was in Oxford Road. This was where their first child Ruth was born in March 1881. John left the police force for health reasons and the family had returned to Burghclere by February 1883. After leaving the police force John was employed as a railway platelayer. The family remained in Burghclere until after 1894 where the next six of their eight children were born, William 1883, Walter 1886, George 1887, John 1889, Frederick 1891 and Annie 1894. They then moved to Newbury, living at 4 Adeys Buildings, York Road, where their last child Elsie was born in 1898.

John died on 13th June 1899 from heart disease and dropsy just 10 days after his 45th birthday; he was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 17th June.

Three of his children emigrated: John with his brother Frederick sailed to Canada in April 1914; John settled there but Frederick returned home in January 1915.

Elsie May their youngest married an Australian serviceman who came over during the Firstt World War. They sailed to Australia in August 1919. Ruth, the eldest child also emigrated to Australia with her son Ernest in February 1922.

The following comprises Sue Rosier's biography as John and Elizabeth Wickens were her great grandparents.

John was born in Kingsclere on 3rd June 1854, he was the fourth child of Stephen and Harriet Wickens. Elizabeth was born in Burghclere on 30th September 1857 the fourth child of Charles and Eliza Garrard. John and Elizabeth's fourth child George was my grandfather.
John Wickens was already a police constable when he married in 1879 and was stationed in Woodstock Oxon in the 1881 census where their first child Ruth was born. John left the police force for health reasons, I don't yet know when or what they were, but the family where living in Burghclere by Feb 1883. After leaving the police force he was employed as a railway platelayer, why the complete change I don't know. He died on the 13th June 1899 at his home in Adey's Buildings, York Road, Newbury from pneumonia 10 days after his 45th birthday and was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 17th June. At the time of his death John and Elizabeth had 8 children ranging in age from 18 yrs down to almost 13 months.

Elizabeth Wickens remained living in York Road, I believe the house in Adey's Buildings was either re-numbered as 22 York Road, or she moved into no. 22 sometime before 1915. She appears in the Cosburns Directory for that address in 1915 in 1916 the house is listed as vacant, she was probable in the process of moving when that edition was compiled. By 1917 Elizabeth was listed as being at Yew Tree Villa, Shaw Road, Newbury, where she remained until her death on the 27th March 1921 aged 63, I have been told she died from throat cancer but am sending for a copy of her death certificate to confirm this. Elizabeth was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 30th March, details of which you already have.

Three of John and Elizabeth's children emigrated. John (5th child) and his brother Fredrick Charles (6th child) sailed to Canada in April 1914 John settled and married in Canada. Fredrick returned home in January 1915. Elsie May their youngest child married an Australian serviceman who came over during the 1st World War, they sailed to Australia in August 1919. Ruth, John & Elizabeth's eldest child also emigrated to Australia with her son Ernest in February 1922

Sources:Census and family research