November 1864 Classified Ad by JWB

[Steve]

There is a John B Wilkes a composer and music arranger (not sure where he lived) about this time period.
https://hymnary.org/tune/swell_the_anthe...ong_wilkes
Notice the "not to be confused with John Wilkes" ( a different John Wilkes)

I believe this is a tune he arranged. I am not familiar with it, but it is a nice song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhHqUtoUIaI

The point being, the name is not that unusual or unique.

I agree, it is a good hymn. Thanks for finding the link.

The hymnary.org website is mistaken; hymnist/organist John Bernard Wilkes was born on May 2, 1823 in Leominster, Herefordshire, England and not in 1785. The website has mistakenly divided the same person into two different people. I've seen his death listed as occurring in either 1869 or 1882, but I've looked and so far have found no evidence for either date. In fact, I can't find any sign of him, his wife, or his three children after he left his post as organist at Llandaff Cathedral in Wales in 1865.

Short bio:
https://books.google.com/books?id=CcleDA...ff&f=false

John Bernard Wilkes in 1861 Wales census in Llandaff (note this is a transcription missing his wife and kids information):
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7B6-J15

Llandaff Cathedral Wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llandaff_Cathedral