Updated Sep 2022
NOTE: The Collins Family Tree has been completely rewritten with many errors corrected and new chapters added. All chapter numbers have been updated to incorporate the new information. There are also new sections on the Bird and Sawyer Families
The third branch of our
family tree that had its origins in England is the Collins family. This line
joined the family tree when GGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Collins
married GGGF Anthony Smith (See Part 1: The Smith Family Tree) and
can be reliably traced back to the Collins and Bird families in London in the
mid 1700’s. The Bird family originated in Cookham, about 30 miles from central
London. John Bird married Sarah Sawyer who was also
born in Cookham, in 1753. The Sawyer family had lived in the Cookham area for a
least 100 years prior to that. The diagrams below show how members of the
Collins, Bird and Sawyer families fit into our family tree.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
My own research into the Collins Family has been supplemented by the work done by Rod Gilbert. Rod has not only added to our knowledge of individuals in the Collins family tree, but his work provides an insight into the historical, social and living conditions at the time, which allows us to better understand the environment in which our relatives lived.
60.0 Ancestors of GGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Collins (1818-1881)
Charlotte was baptised on 27 Sep 1818 at Lambeth St Mary,
London by her parents GGGGP William
Collins and Charlotte
Elizabeth Bird (see 71.3).
60.1 St Mary's
Church, Lambeth
St
Mary's Chapel, Lambeth (above) was where most of the English members of the Collins
family were baptised, married and later buried. Lambeth expanded quickly in the nineteenth
century, and 15,900 burials were recorded in the two decades after 1790. The church was a place of burial until the churchyard was closed in
1854.
A description of the graveyard in the 19th century
said, "At a short distance from the church is another burying ground,
belonging to the parish; it is divided into the upper, middle, and lower
grounds. It is very much crowded, and the tomb-stones are deeply sunk in the
earth; the state of the ground has rendered it necessary to discontinue the
practice of interment. Bones are scattered about, and a part of the ground has
been raised. The neighbourhood is thickly populated; the soil is very moist,
and water flows in at the depth of four feet."
The medieval and Victorian church of St Mary-at-Lambeth was
deconsecrated in 1972 and rescued from demolition and the Museum opened in 1977
as the world’s first museum of garden history; the churchyard was re-designed
as a garden.
60.2 Diagram 1 Showing Later Collins Tree
It is interesting to note that the above children were baptised in three different churches over a period of eleven years. One reason for this was that at the age of 24 in 1819, William became dissatisfied with the Established Church and converted to Methodism. According to his obituary, William’s parents were staunch Anglicans and so presumably was William prior to his conversion. According to Rod Gilbert, William joined the ‘Stranger’s Friend Society’ and spent much time visiting and providing comfort to those that were sick or imprisoned. This compassion for others continued to be demonstrated throughout his life and later by his son-in-law GGGF Anthony Smith.
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| Replica of the 'John Craig' built around 1860 and rebuilt for the bicentenary |
61.1 Arrival in Van Dieman's Land
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After
their arrival, two additional children were born in Hobart; George Miles
Collins born 1833 and baptised 17th Dec 1833 in Hobart and Sophia Collins born
9 Aug 1836 and baptised on 20 Nov 1836 in Hobart. Sophia’s baptism record informs us that the family
attended the Melville Street Methodist (Wesleyan) Church, Hobart. GGGGM Charlotte had her last
child when she was 42 years of age. In 1833 William was listed as
a builder and in 1836 as a bricklayer, but when he arrived in Adelaide in 1837,
he named his occupation as plasterer. From these and many later records it
seems that William was multi skilled as a builder.
61.2 Life in Hobart
The Collins family arrived in Hobart when it was still largely a penal colony. Convicts and former convicts outnumbered free settlers. For a devoutly religious person, everyday life would have been confronting in terms of perceived morality. The bulk of the population had little education, drunkenness and uncouth behaviour was commonplace and a number of convicts had reverted to the criminal life that led to their transportation in the first place. The military authorities reacted with the harsh penalties of that time, which included jail, chain gangs, whipping, the treadmill and with more serious offences, capital punishment.
William would have had plenty of building/plastering work as many private and public brick buildings were being constructed to replace the initial wooden ones. He and Charlotte joined the newly established Wesleyan Chapel in Melville St., Hobart and financially the family would have been in a sound position. However, William and Charlotte must have not felt comfortable and probably had some reservations for the safety and future of their children. Whatever the reasons, the family decided that after five years in Van Dieman’s Land there may be a better future in the newly established colony of South Australia.
The family departed Hobart on 3 November 1837 aboard the barque 'Eudora'. They sailed via the newly established settlement of Port Phillip (Melbourne) and arrived in Adelaide, SA on 27 Nov 1837. The barque 'Eudora' was a small boat and only carried 15 passengers on this voyage. The boat was captained by a Quaker missionary named James Backhouse. He kept a journal of his experiences on the trip and an extract is included below. The full account of the voyage can be found at www.portphillippioneersgroup
NB: Melbourne had only been officially named as such on 10 Apr 1937, and previously had gone by various names including Port Phillip after the Bay on which it is situated. William’s son, William Saunders Cook Collins b1831, was later quoted in a newspaper article (The Register 14 Sep 1892), as saying that Melbourne was passed because “things were very bad there financially”. William b1831 confirmed this in another letter shown below.
The above extract is a letter to ‘The Advertiser’ written by William’s son in 1909. It explains why the Collins family left Hobart in 1832 and why they chose not to settle in Melbourne in 1837. The reason given is that William senior did not find “business conditions satisfactory” (i.e. William did not see enough immediate opportunities for the family to establish themselves financially.)
During their nine day stopover in Port Phillip, the Collins family probably spent some time ashore and possibly met pioneer settler John Batman. The letter above infers William checked out business opportunities. They arrived in Adelaide on 27 Nov 1837, six weeks after Charlotte's future husband Anthony Smith. See James Backhouse's account of the arrival of 'The Eudora' at Patawolonga Creek, Glenelg on Holdfast Bay, S.A. below.
61.4 Life in Adelaide
The Collins family arrived just one year after South Australia was declared a colony and the city of Adelaide was founded and they were among the earliest settlers. According to the article in ‘The Register’ cited above, the family may have ridden the twelve kilometres from Holdfast Bay to the city in a cart, with Charlotte carrying her young baby. As more and more settlers arrived, there was a demand for skilled tradesmen like William. The family at this time included GGGGP William Collins 42 plasterer, and Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird 41 and eight children; GGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Collins 19, Christopher John Collins 15 miller, Joshua Alf Collins 12, Mary Ann Collins 10, Caroline Sarah Collins 8, William Saunders Cook Collins 6, George Miles Collins 4 and Sophia Collins 1. (http://passengersinhistory.sa.gov.au/)
NOTE: The Collins family were some of the earliest pioneers of the new Colony. They arrived less than 12 months after the commencement of the official settlement in the Glenelg vicinity by European settlers. Governor Hindmarsh had arrived eleven months earlier on 28 December 1836 and proclaimed the commencement of colonial government in South Australia.
Within six months of his arrival, GGGGF William had started a business (related to his bricklaying occupation) which he advertised in the 'South Australian Gazette' on 19 May 1838, "William Collins wishes to inform the inhabitants of Adelaide; that he has lime of the very best description on sale at his Lime Kiln, opposite Mr. Fisher's, on the Bank of the River". His lime would have been sought after as the demand for housing and public buildings was high as the population quickly grew with new settlers. In the same year William became an agent for ‘The Southern Australian' Newspaper. His business (and or home) address was given as Park Land, South Adelaide. William's business interests must have been doing well because the Collins family made several donations to appeals in 1838 and 1839. Mr. Collins, Mrs Collins, Miss Collins and C. Collins all donated money towards a new Wesleyan Chapel in Adelaide and in the following year, William gave 5s to an appeal to install a clock in the new Trinity Church Tower (The Southern Australian, 10 Apr 1839). In 1839 William built a residence for his family in Hindley Street. (See below).
Another sign of William’s successful business was his land purchases. Rod Gilbert has established that William Collins builder of Adelaide partnered with William Pearce tailor of Pirie St Adelaide to purchase 240 acres of land in town lots Section 47, 2 & 53 District B for £240 in Aug 1838. Sections 47 and 53 were on either side of South Road just south of Cross Road in today’s suburb of Clarence Gardens. This was less than one year after his arrival in South Australia. The two men subdivided the land and then sold the smaller blocks at a profit. Although they would have made a handsome profit, as Rod points out, these blocks would be worth many millions of dollars today. William used his profits to purchase a residence in Franklin Street and large acreages of farmland in the Glenelg (Section 211 corner of Brighton Road and Oaklands Road with Diagonal Road crossing the north east corner) and the Brighton area in the early 1840’s (Section 142 and 143). The latter purchase was the basis of William being described as a farmer in some records. The properties were about two km apart and all were bisected by the construction of Diagonal Road. The road reserve caused him to be involved in court disputes to settle disagreements about fencing. William’s Brighton property was in the vicinity of the Westfield Marion Shopping Complex and today all traces of his occupation are long gone.
NOTE: The Collins family were some of the earliest pioneers of the new Colony. They arrived less than 12 months after the commencement of the official settlement in the Glenelg vicinity by European settlers. Governor Hindmarsh had arrived eleven months earlier on 28 December 1836 and proclaimed the commencement of colonial government in South Australia.
Within six months of his arrival, GGGGF William had started a business (related to his bricklaying occupation) which he advertised in the 'South Australian Gazette' on 19 May 1838, "William Collins wishes to inform the inhabitants of Adelaide; that he has lime of the very best description on sale at his Lime Kiln, opposite Mr. Fisher's, on the Bank of the River". His lime would have been sought after as the demand for housing and public buildings was high as the population quickly grew with new settlers. In the same year William became an agent for ‘The Southern Australian' Newspaper. His business (and or home) address was given as Park Land, South Adelaide. William's business interests must have been doing well because the Collins family made several donations to appeals in 1838 and 1839. Mr. Collins, Mrs Collins, Miss Collins and C. Collins all donated money towards a new Wesleyan Chapel in Adelaide and in the following year, William gave 5s to an appeal to install a clock in the new Trinity Church Tower (The Southern Australian, 10 Apr 1839). In 1839 William built a residence for his family in Hindley Street. (See below).
Another sign of William’s successful business was his land purchases. Rod Gilbert has established that William Collins builder of Adelaide partnered with William Pearce tailor of Pirie St Adelaide to purchase 240 acres of land in town lots Section 47, 2 & 53 District B for £240 in Aug 1838. Sections 47 and 53 were on either side of South Road just south of Cross Road in today’s suburb of Clarence Gardens. This was less than one year after his arrival in South Australia. The two men subdivided the land and then sold the smaller blocks at a profit. Although they would have made a handsome profit, as Rod points out, these blocks would be worth many millions of dollars today. William used his profits to purchase a residence in Franklin Street and large acreages of farmland in the Glenelg (Section 211 corner of Brighton Road and Oaklands Road with Diagonal Road crossing the north east corner) and the Brighton area in the early 1840’s (Section 142 and 143). The latter purchase was the basis of William being described as a farmer in some records. The properties were about two km apart and all were bisected by the construction of Diagonal Road. The road reserve caused him to be involved in court disputes to settle disagreements about fencing. William’s Brighton property was in the vicinity of the Westfield Marion Shopping Complex and today all traces of his occupation are long gone.
On 16 Apr 1839 eldest daughter GGGM
Charlotte Elizabeth Collins married GGGF Anthony Smith
23 at Trinity Church in Adelaide. They possibly met whilst attending a
church service as both were devoutly religious and Anthony's
diary later indicated that he always attended a service on Sundays. According
to newspaper adverts William Collins builder still residing in Hindley Street in
Sep 1840 and Oct 1842 when he was a registered voter in the municipal
elections.
'The Mount Barker Courier' 27 Sep 1901 under the headline 'Demolition of old
city landmarks' ran the following article, "The old landmarks that used
to exist in the western end of the capital city of South Australia are rapidly
disappearing to give place to the requirements of modern times. Amongst the
last to disappear is the old Victoria Theatre, which latterly had been used as
a horse bazaar. This building, which was erected by the late Emanuel Solomon in
the early forties, was originally a hotel called 'Solomon's Temple' and the
facade was supposed to represent the original temple. The builder, or one of
the bricklayers, was the father of Mr. Matthew Collins, of Gawler, who
arrived in the colony in November 1837."
The above article, written some 60 years after construction, contained some inaccuracies. The reference to Matthew's father is obviously incorrect because Saunders Cook Collins never left England. It was either meant to refer to Mathew Collins b1815 or much more likely Matthew's brother GGGGF William Collins b1795. William was twenty years older than Matthew and may have been mistaken as being Matthew's father. Also, William was referred to in many documents as a bricklayer, carpenter and builder. In actual fact both brothers probably worked together on the building, with older brother William providing the bulk of the expertise. Although I have found no record confirming that William built this building, other records provide strong circumstantial evidence that he was indeed the builder.
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On 23 March 1841 a huge list of colonists signed an open letter to Governor Gawler which was published in the 'Southern Australian'. The people included William Collins, listed as a builder, and his brother Matthew Collins.
Rod discovered that William Collins bought a residence within Town Lot 249 on Franklin Street in August 1842 at public auction. It appears that there were already buildings on the site including three stone buildings, two wooden structures (cottages) and a fourth pise or lath and plaster structure closer to the street frontage. These properties were next to the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and opposite the Warminster Hotel.
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The above notice (S.A,Register 31 Jan 1846) shows that William was living in Franklin St in early 1846.
61.5 William’s Religious Connections
As mentioned above (see 61.0) William converted to Methodism in 1819, whilst living in Lambeth. He maintained his strong convictions and connections to various independent religious faiths for the rest of his life. Rod Gilbert has confirmed that whilst in Hobart, William and his family worshipped at the Wesleyan Melville St Chapel. After the move to Adelaide William sought out and joined a small group of Methodists, where he was one of the leaders, as there was no ordained Methodist minister in the Colony at that time. By 1838, William’s two eldest children; Charlotte and Christopher were Sunday School teachers at the Methodist Chapel in Hindley St. William and his family also helped by giving donations to several fundraising appeals associated with new churches.
61.6 More Court Appearances
Another court case reported in the 'Adelaide Observer' on 31
October 1846, named William Collins, a
farmer residing in Franklin-street, [who said that] "In February, 1844, he resided at Holdfast Bay. A Miss Tilt was
living at Holdfast Bay in a cottage [leased] belonging to William, and about
fifty yards from his then residence." In this evidence William indicated he was living at Holdfast Bay in the early 1840's, but had moved to Franklin
St, Adelaide by Oct 1846.
The above notice in the Adelaide Observer on 27 Jun 1846 listed William's properties in Brighton. Sections 142 and 143 were adjacent and located on the corner of present day Sturt and Morphett Rds. in an area now known as Oaklands Park (http://adelaide1849.com/adelaide20b.htm).
The above notice in the Adelaide Observer on 27 Jun 1846 listed William's properties in Brighton. Sections 142 and 143 were adjacent and located on the corner of present day Sturt and Morphett Rds. in an area now known as Oaklands Park (http://adelaide1849.com/adelaide20b.htm).
It is interesting to note that the above notice also refers to Edwin Bird. He was not a relative of William’s wife Charlotte Elizabeth Bird. Edwin was born in Gloucestershire some 80 miles from where Charlotte’s family originated. He was a baker, who arrived in the Colony one year after William and became a publican. Like William he lived in Adelaide for a while and then moved to Brighton, so they would have known each other. Apart from both signing letters praising the new Governor of S.A. (along with many other leading citizens) I can find no other records that link them. Edwin’s property was on the beachfront, just north of today’s Brighton Jetty and was about 2 km from William’s farm.
William spent much time in court over his lifetime, often as a witness, but later as a defendant. A court case reported in the 'Adelaide Times', 12 Mar 1851 titled 'Collins vs Kearns' dealt with a dispute over a fence. It also identified another farming property (160 acres) owned by GGGGF William. Both William and his son Christopher Collins gave evidence about the property which was located in Sturt (not far from Brighton). On 15 Jul 1852 he was involved in a second fencing dispute on another property, when he was charged with placing a fence over public land at Glenelg.
Rod notes that in 1852, William
moved to his new property at Brighton on Lot 142 and 143 where he built a grain
storage facility. It was also the year that he conveyed some of the 80 acres in
trust to his sons and daughters – Charlotte Elizabeth Smith nee Collins, William Saunders
Cook Collins, Mary Ann Baker, Sophia Turner and Caroline Sarah Dungey. Perhaps this
was a shrewd move – not only to allow his children to be landowners, a generous
father in support of his children, but also, perhaps, to disperse his land
titles out of the reach of the Insolvency courts should there be a downturn in
his business ventures. Although William may have had other motives, he does
appear to have been a generous man throughout his life. Interestingly eldest
son Christopher John and youngest son George were not included. William may
have passed property to his oldest and youngest sons through a different
mechanism. By 1855 both George (51 acres) and Christopher (27 acres) had
significant landholdings in Brighton and both applied for a reduction in rates
on their properties. Also Christopher was operating William’s Steam Mill and
only paying a nominal rent in return.
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| S.A Register 2 July 1853 |
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| S.A. Register 8 Apr 1853 |
In 1853 William built a Steam Flour Mill in Brighton at "a cost of some hundreds of pounds" (from Anthony Smith's letter to his father below). At first, he seems to have been actively involved, because the advert above lists his name. By mid 1853 he had decided to sell the property and placed the above adverts in the 'S.A. Register'. These ads appeared dozens of times over the next six months, but apparently there were no interested buyers.
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In 1853 the Collins family along
with other residents began agitating for the establishment of local government
in the Brighton area. An open letter to the Governor was drawn up requesting
His Excellency to proclaim the formation of the District of Brighton. It was
dated 20 September 1853 and signed by 123 rateable inhabitants and two of these
signatures were William Saunders Cook Collins and Christopher John Collins,
sons of William Collins.
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| Adelaide Observer 27 Jan 1855 |
Although William seconded the motion to set rates on
properties in the Brighton District in 1854, the following year he and his sons
had some objections as to the amount they were expected to pay. The 'Adelaide
Times', 21 April 1855, reported that "The
Court made the following reductions in rates .... Collins and Co., Steam Flour
mill, £170 to £130 [owned by William] ; Geo. Collins, 51 acres of land, from £30
to £10 ; W. S. C. Collins, 51 acres. ditto. and a house from £50 to £44; C. J.
Collins, 27 acres of land from £20 to £10." This report tells us that by the mid 1850's, three
of his sons also owned acreages in the Brighton area.
A dramatic incident occurred in
Brighton in mid Mar 1857. The 'Thatched House Tavern', Brighton, the location
of the meeting where William had seconded the rates motion
in 1854 (see above), burned down. The 'Adelaide Times' reported on 18
March 1857, "A Jury, to inquire into the origin and particulars of the
above unfortunate occurrence, was convened yesterday at Mr Moody's, [at] the
St. Vincent Inn, Brighton, at 11 a.m., of which William Collins,
gentleman, of Brighton, was elected foreman." His son-in-law GGF
Anthony Smith also gave evidence at the inquest. To be described as ‘gentleman’
and to be elected foreman of the jury showed that William was a
very respected member of the Brighton community. He had come a long way since
his early days when he was a young plasterer and labourer living in the over-crowded
and somewhat unsanitary conditions that existed in Lambeth in the early 1800’s.
In a very odd coincidence (or deliberate act) a month later, William
Collins' own property (Brighton Steam Flour Mill) also burned down. It
was revealed in the inquest which followed, that the mill had not been running
successfully for some time. The fact that the business was insolvent was
unknown to William who had been a silent partner. This event
turned out to be a disaster for William not only financially, but
also personally and socially. The ensuing ramifications followed him for the
rest of his life.
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| Adelaide Times, 20 Apr 1857. Losses were clarified in later testomy |
On Thursday morning, the 18 Apr 1857 William's 'Brighton Plains
Steam Flour Mill' burned down. The enquiry into the event was very detailed and
was reported in the 'Adelaide Observer' on 25 April 1857. This is a condensed
version of the enquiry including key eyewitness accounts from those involved.
"The first witness
examined was William Collins senior who deposed that he was the owner of the
mill. Rented it to his two sons. Considered the Mill and machinery worth
£2,000. It was insured; the building for £500, the machinery for £500, and the
stock for £500. Was a partner up to six weeks ago. It was a verbal partnership;
there was no deed. The insurance was in his name. Was called on Thursday
morning, and saw the mill on fire; the flames were coming through the roof, and
spreading all over the building. Gave the alarm, and got on to the top of the
engine house; stripped off the roof to save the engine, which had the desired
effect. Cleared everything away, set the engine to work and pumped up what
water they could. A good deal of wheat was saved but a good deal was burnt.
It was his son and
son-in-law who rented the mill. Two years' rent were due. The firm was 'Collins
and Co'. Let the rent lie for the benefit of sons as he did not want it. The building
and machinery were his own undivided property. If his sons were insolvent he
would not be involved with them. He had nothing to do with buying and selling.
Could not say where the fire first commenced; did not see it break out.
Reckoned the damage to the mill about £700, and that to the machinery about
£850. Was only insured for £1,000. I have nothing to do with the stock. Did not
know whether the mill books were saved or not. His sons paid for the insurance.
Had not transferred the policy to them; did not think it was necessary-indeed a
fire was the last thing in his thoughts. Had not noticed a clause on the policy
relative to giving notice to the Company of any change of interest; never
thought about it."
Thomas Boarman Dungey, miller (son-in-law), Brighton Plains
was a partner in the firm of 'Collins & Co.' He declared that the mill was
rented off Mr. Collins, senior for three years. "The wheat from 1,500 to 2,000 bushels-put down at £500 belonged
to the firm. It had been paid for. The insurance was effected by Mr. William J
Collins, senior, but the firm gave him the money to pay the premium. Mr.
Collins, senior had not now any interest in the stock, but he had an interest
in the profits, being a creditor for £151 according to the balance struck last
May. He bought a great many things for the firm with his own money, and had
credit for them in the books. Did not remember the exact amount."
"Ebenezer Dungey,
a lad, brother of Mr. Thomas Dungey was working at the mill on Wednesday
night... and was in bed when he heard of the fire. His mother woke him. Lived a
quarter of a mile off from the mill. Got to the mill at from l to half-past 1.
Went first to call Mr. Christopher Collins."
GGGF Anthony Smith,
storekeeper and son-in-law of Brighton Plains "deposed that he lived about 160 yards from the mill. Was aroused by Mr. Dungey
between half-past 12 and 1, and saw the mill in flames. Got on his clothes and
ran over, and gave what assistance he could. The whole body of the mill seemed
to be on fire; but most of the flames were above, and the roof was falling
in."
"Christopher
Collins, partner in the firm of 'Collins and Co.', first heard of the fire on
Thursday morning, about 1 o'clock, when Ebenezor Dungey aroused him. Got up and
saw the roof all fallen in. The whole mill seemed to be on fire. Was there last
night in the evening, having been at work all day. Everything seemed right when
he left. There was no deed of partnership between the firm and his father. His
father was not connected with the firm; his father was only a sleeping partner
as a kind of umpire. The property in the mill was not his, but was insured in
his name"
The Coroner remarked "that
there was nothing to throw the least suspicion upon the proprietor or occupiers
of the mill, who were evidently considerable losers by the fire, and could have
had no motive to destroy the property. The evidence, unfortunately, did not
throw any light upon the origin of the fire, and such, he imagined, must be
their conclusion."
One of the first court cases
examining the finances of the Mill operation reflected very badly on
Christopher Collins and Thomas Dungey. They were accused of making a profit
from the fire (by selling flour and then claiming it had been burnt) "and
their conduct was most wicked and base". The jury found the claim
against the pair by the plaintiff proved. See 'Adelaide Times' 30 June 1857,
above.
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| S.A.Register 22 Apr 1857. The large quantity of firewood had been used to heat water for the steam engines |
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| 'SA Register' 23 Apr 1857: Insolvancy proceedings resulted in loss of assets for the Collins family |
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| Adelaide Observer 18 Jul 1857 |
In 1858 the Collins family suffered a major blow, when creditors forced them to sell four of their properties (see above notice in ‘Adelaide Observer’ 5 Jun 1858):-
- A 3 acre Brighton block of land containing the remains of 'Collins Flour Mills' giving its location as the south west corner of Section 142, survey B, Brighton. The site also contained a four roomed stone house with verandahs and servants quarters, a part completed brewery, outbuildings, steam engines and boilers.
- Lot 1: A large town block' (no 249) in Franklin St, Adelaide City Centre and an adjacent block of land with four cottages and a store. These properties were next to the Weslyan Methodist Mission and opposite the Warminster Hotel. GGGGP William and Charlotte had been living here since 1844 (See above)
- Lot 2: A town block of land (Block no 219) in Thebarton (3 km from Adelaide centre). [In 1851 William's brother Matthew Collins ran a flour Mill in Thebarton.]
- Lot 3 A Brighton block of 34 acres (Section 142) containing a four roomed stone house with cellar and garden. This was the house of Christopher John Collins and was adjacent to the Flour Mills. Another later advert offered the house of T.B. Dungey for sale on the same piece of land and noted that the property fronted Brighton Rd.
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| Methodist Church Franklin St Adelaide. |
11 June 1857. "A
case for an amount claimed for wheat and firewood supplied to defendants at the
Brighton Steam Flour-Mill, from January 10 to January 22, 1857. Mr. William
Collins, one of the defendants, pleaded not Indebted. The other two defendants,
Mr. T. B. Dungey and Mr. C. M. Collins, disputed the amount."
29 September 1857. We learn a little about William's wealth; "He stated that he deposited the deeds
of some houses in Franklin-street, and some land at Thebarton, also the policy
on the mill with Mr. Parker."
Mr. John Dungey, "a
creditor, said he had transactions with Collins & Co. in 1853. He did some
carting for them which came to £13 18s. Never had any settlement with Collins,
nor was he ever furnished with any account. Another item was a loan of £20 lent
to 'Collins & Co.' through Mr. T. B. Dungey [his son, Thomas], a partner with
Messrs. Collins."
25 November 1857. "William
Collins, being sworn, deposed that the firm commenced business on May 2, 1854.
Thomas Dungey and the deponent's son were the partners. Was not aware that the
firm was unable to meet its liabilities till after the writ was issued and they
called their creditors together.
Paid a sum of about
£43 to Mr. Baker, being money held in trust belonging to Brighton Chapel. Had
no idea of being insolvent when he settled the butcher's bill. Had insured the
mill, the machinery, and £300 worth of stock, in his own name. Did not know
that the name made any difference. Gave some property to his children four
years ago, and expected that he was going to live retired and die retired. Gave
his son William a cow about twelve months ago, but nothing else. Signed
conveyances for the land he gave his children. That was twelve months before
the partnership commenced."
13 January 1858. "The
Commissioner [stated] there was a distinction between the cases of the two
Collinses. He was willing to suppose that William Collins had been ignorant of
the state of the firm's affairs, and of the course pursued by Christopher John
Collins and Thomas Dungey. He stood in the position of their father and
father-in-law, and it did not seem unlikely that he should have reposed full
confidence in them. This view of the case would remove from him the moral guilt
attaching to the others, though it would not entirely acquit him of all
blame."
After reviewing all the court documents and from his other research, Rod Gilbert suspects that William’s son-in-law Thomas Boarman Dungey abused his father-in-law’s trust and may have started the fire to cover up his financial ineptitude. Thomas had a history of financial mismanagement (see 62.6).
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61.8 The Move to Belalie
During the 1870's GGGGP William and Charlotte Collins moved to one of their children’s properties at Belalie, north of Adelaide. Perhaps an attempt to put all their troubles behind them, although the couple were still highly regarded by their fellow worshippers at the Wesleyan Church, Glenelg. An article in ‘The Express and Telegraph’ 8 Oct 1873, tells us that a valedictory service was held on the occasion of the departure of Mr William Collins senior and Mrs Collins. They were presented with a large bible as a token of love and esteem. The inscription inside read “Presented to Mr William Collins Trustee and Steward in the Pirie Street Circuit, Adelaide, on his leaving Glenelg for the Northern Areas, Oct 7, 1873, in recognition of his many services rendered to the Wesleyan Methodist Church during a membership of 55 years.” The 55 years of service refers to a starting point of 1818, which was the year that William converted to Methodism when he was residing in Lambeth (years before Adelaide was founded).
During the 1870's GGGGP William and Charlotte Collins moved to one of their children’s properties at Belalie, north of Adelaide. Perhaps an attempt to put all their troubles behind them, although the couple were still highly regarded by their fellow worshippers at the Wesleyan Church, Glenelg. An article in ‘The Express and Telegraph’ 8 Oct 1873, tells us that a valedictory service was held on the occasion of the departure of Mr William Collins senior and Mrs Collins. They were presented with a large bible as a token of love and esteem. The inscription inside read “Presented to Mr William Collins Trustee and Steward in the Pirie Street Circuit, Adelaide, on his leaving Glenelg for the Northern Areas, Oct 7, 1873, in recognition of his many services rendered to the Wesleyan Methodist Church during a membership of 55 years.” The 55 years of service refers to a starting point of 1818, which was the year that William converted to Methodism when he was residing in Lambeth (years before Adelaide was founded).
Two years prior to leaving
Glenelg, William Collins attended ‘The Old Colonists Banquet’. The banquet was
organised by merchant Emanuel Solomon at the Adelaide Town Hall on 28 December
1871 to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the founding of the colony of
South Australia. The above photo was of William Collins around the age of 76 and
was part of a photo display of early colonists created for the Banquet. The
photographic mosaic is held by The State Library of South Australia.
GGGGF William Collins died on the 10 Dec 1878 at
Belalie. The death notice in 'The Express' on 12 Dec 1878 read as follows, "On
the 10th December, at. the residence of his son, C. J. Collins, Belalie, William
Collins, in the 84th year of his age. An old colonist of 41
years." His wife GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird
died six years later. Her death notice in the 'South Australian Register' 19
Jan 1884 read, "On the 13th January, at the residence of her son,
W. S. C. Collins, Belalie, Charlotte Elizabeth, relict of the
late William Collins in her 90th year. A colonist of 1837."
GGGGF William Collins and GGGGM Charlotte
Elizabeth Collins nee Bird were buried together in Jamestown Cemetery
in plots CM23 & CM24. No gravestone was put in place at the time of their
burial, but many years later the local Lions Club placed memorial plaques on
their unmarked graves.
62.0 Nine Children of GGGGP
William Collins (1795-1878) & Charlotte Elizabeth Bird
(1794-1884)
The first seven children were
born in Lambeth, and most were baptised in St Mary's Wesleyan Church, China
Terrace, Lambeth. Two more children were born in Hobart after the family moved
there in 1832. St Mary's Wesleyan Church, China Terrace, Lambeth opened in 1808
and was damaged in the war and demolished.
NOTE: The Wesleyan Chapel was located in Lambeth Rd near the War Museum. It later became the Methodist Church. Interestingly, the grandfather of GGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Smith nee Collins was involved in the building of one of the chapels in nearby Brixton. When GGGF Anthony returned to England in 1847 he visited this area and possibly visited some of Charlotte's relatives. On 3 Oct 1847, Anthony wrote that he "Walked to Brixton Hill, saw the chapel that Daddie C. built." This was a reference to Charlotte's grandfather GGGGGF Saunders Collins.
62.1 GGGM Charlotte Elizabeth
Collins (1818-1881)
Charlotte was born in Lambeth in 1818 and baptised on 27th Sep 1818 in St Mary's, Lambeth. Her parents were GGGGP William Collins, plasterer and Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird.
The baptism entry describes the family residence as 'Butts' which is the area formerly known as Lambeth Butts; but now known as Black Prince Rd. The map below shows Lambeth Butts at the top left. This short road had a large population crowded into multistory dwellings on either side and ran down to the Thames River. The whole area has been redeveloped and many street names no longer exist. This area was so crowded that there were often a dozen or more baptisms done on any one day.
In 1832, when GGGM Charlotte was 14, the family set sail on the barque 'John Craig' for Hobart and arrived in Dec 1832. Two more siblings were born before the family departed Hobart on 3 November 1837 and arrived in SA on 27 Nov 1837 aboard the 'Eudora'. Charlotte was 19 by the time they arrived in Adelaide and settled in the Brighton Area.
About one month earlier GGGF Anthony Smith had arrived in the Colony of South Australia and he was busy taking on jobs around Adelaide to earn money so he could set himself up on a farm. At some stage he met his future wife. As both Anthony and Charlotte’s family were regular church goers, it is highly likely that they met at a church service or at a social occasion at the church.
On 16 Apr 1839 GGGF Anthony Smith married GGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Collins (1818–1881) in one of the earliest weddings in Adelaide. See photo above. The couple settled on a town block that Anthony had previously purchased, and they went on to have a family of eleven children. For more about their life together see 14.0.
GGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Smith nee Collins survived Anthony by three years and died on 29 Aug 1881. A death notice was placed in 'The Ballarat Courier' 3 Aug 1881. "On the 2nd August, at her residence, Tress Street. Golden Point, Charlotte Elizabeth, relict of the late Anthony Smith; aged sixty-three years. Adelaide papers please copy". Charlotte was buried in the Old Ballarat Cemetery and a headstone marks her grave.
62.2 William Henry Collins (1820-1829)
William was born on 22 July 1820 and baptised at the Wesleyan Chapel in St Marys, Lambeth on 3 Sep 1820 by his parents William and Charlotte Elizabeth Collins (surname incorrectly spelt in above record). He was the first son and was named after three close relatives, namely his father, his mother’s brother William Henry Bird b1787 and possibly an uncle (Henry Collins 1813-1820), who died in the same year as William was born. He was the first in the family baptised in the 'Wesleyan' tradition.
Sadly, William Henry Collins passed away at Lambeth and was buried in St Mary's graveyard on 20 Oct 1829 aged 9. At that time the family were living in High St, Lambeth.
62.3 Christopher John Collins (1822-1886)
In 1832 Christopher aged ten and his family set sail on the barque 'John Craig' for Hobart and arrived in Dec 1832. During their time in Tasmania, Christopher must have been an apprentice 'miller', because when the family sailed to Adelaide in 1837, Christopher 15 was listed as a miller on the passenger list. (Later Christopher put his knowledge of milling into practice when he ran a flour Mill in Brighton (see below). Christopher and the rest of the Collins family settled in the Holdfast Bay area near Brighton.
During the 1840's Christopher worked on his father's properties. A court case involving his father reported in the 'Adelaide Times', 12 Mar 1851, titled 'Collins vs Kearns', dealt with a dispute over a fence. "In his evidence Christopher Collins, son of the plaintiff, stated that he put up part of the fence in 1846, and the defendant [erected] the remainder."
On 3 Oct 1849 Christopher 27 married Mary Ann Susannah Wheatley 26 (1823-1883) at the Wesleyan Chapel in Brighton. Mary Ann was a widow whose husband Frederick William Pash (b1826 Greenwich) had died in England two years after their marriage at the age of 22, leaving her with a young son, Frederick James Pash b1847. A few months after her first husband's death Mary Ann Pash nee Wheatley took the huge step of migrating to South Australia with her one year old son. They sailed on the ship 'Trafalgar' and arrived in Adelaide on 17 Jan 1849. Nine months later she married Christopher. Christopher and his wife Mary Ann went on to have eleven children together. The first four born at Brighton were Christopher Matthew Collins 10 Nov 1850, Emily Marion Collins 8 Feb 1853, Erasmus Alfred Collins 3 Feb 1855 and Arthur Joshua Collins 10 July 1856. Sadly, the last two boys both died as infants in 1856 and 1857.
In the 1850's Christopher owned a
27 acre property at Brighton and gained a reduction in his rates along with
other members of his family. The 'Adelaide Times', 21 April 1855, reported that
"The Court made the following reductions in rates ... 'Collins and Co
Steam Flour Mill', £170 to £130 [owned by Christopher's father, GGGGF
William Collins] ; George Collins, 51 acres of land, from £30 to £10
(brother); W. S. C. Collins, 51 acres ditto, and a house from £50 to £44
(brother); C. J. Collins, 27 acres of land from £20 to £10."
In 1854 Christopher's father
turned 59 and was semi-retired and had recently built the Brighton Plains Flour
Mill, which was struggling to survive economically. GGGGF William
Collins had been trying to sell the mill, but Christopher and
brother-in-law Thomas Dungey convinced William to let them take
it on. William agreed and passed the flour mill business
over to them (whilst he retained ownership of the property). Christopher had
some knowledge of flour milling because he had been an apprentice miller while
the family was in Hobart. The 'Adelaide Observer' on 15 Apr 1854 carried the
following advert, "Brighton Steam Mills.—to farmers, merchants, &c.
These Mills are ready to receive Wheat and other Grist, and will commence
Grinding in a day or two. Collins & Co., Brighton." The
'Collins & Co.' venture was an informal arrangement between William,
son Christopher and son-in-law Thomas Dungey.
Disaster struck three years
later, when on Thursday morning 18 Apr 1857, the Collin's 'Brighton Plains
Steam Flour Mill' burned down. The enquiry into the event was very detailed and
was reported in the 'Adelaide Observer' on 25 April 1857. This is an edited
version (see 61.7 for more on the court case). "The first witness
examined was (GGGF) William Collins
senior who deposed that he was the owner of the mill. Rented it to his two
sons. Was a partner up to six weeks ago. It was a verbal partnership; there was
no deed. The insurance was in his name. It was his son and son-in-law who
rented the mill. Two years' rent were due £300. Let the rent lie for the
benefit of sons as he did not want it. If his sons were insolvent he would not
be involved with them."
The court case and ramifications
from it were dragged through the courts for four or five years. Along with his
brother-in-law and father, Christopher was declared insolvent on 6 Jul 1857.
Total liabilities owed to creditors were over £3000.The failure of the flour
mill angered many people, and this may have been one reason why Christopher
chose to move his family a few km closer to Adelaide to the suburb of Sturt
where their next daughter, Lylia Sarah Collins, was born on Aug 13, 1857. Sadly,
Lydia died the following year.
By 1859 Christopher and Mary Ann
Collins nee Wheatley had moved again, but this time to a country property at
Hope Valley about 30 km north of Adelaide and the next four children were born
there; William Wheatley Collins 12 Mar 1859, Jabez Cook Collins 7 Aug 1860,
Eramus Eggleston Collins 25 Apr 1862 (named after his deceased brother) and
Albert or Herbert Henry Collins 10 Apr 1865. Once again, they lost a child
during infancy when baby Jabez died on 9 Sep 1861 aged 1. The family moved to
Nailsworth in 1865.
Later that year (Adelaide
Observer, 5 Aug 1871) they moved the short distance to Walkerville where
Christopher was elected to the local council. Christopher John Collins of
Walkerville was named in documents as a chaff cutter. Several papers published
the following notice in 1872, "Assignment. Christopher John Collins, of
Walkerville chaff cutter. Trustee, Alfred Baker, of Brighton, butcher",
which shows that there was a financial relationship between sister Mary Ann
Baker nee Collin's husband Alfred Baker and Christopher, which probably related to
the fact that he needed to raise money for his next venture, which was far more
successful than the steam flour mill project in Brighton.
In the following year Christopher
placed his Nailsworth Property, which included a 7 roomed house, detached
cottage and chaff cutting engine room and one and a quarter acres of land up
for sale (SA Register 8 Aug 1872 above). The funds from this sale enabled him
to purchase his next property a month later. 'The Express and Telegraph', 13
Sep 1872 reported that, "The following selections at Belalie at a
price of £1 per acre, with 10 per cent deposit, have been made since September
5; Christopher John Collins of Walkerville, chaff dealer, 522 acres".
In the mid 1870's the family
moved 200km north to their new farm at Belalie near Jamestown. They were joined
there in the mid 1870’s by parents GGGGP William and
Charlotte Elizabeth Collins who were also keen to put their 'Adelaide'
troubles behind them. GGGGF William Collins died in 1878 and GGGGM
Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird in 1881. Both died at Belalie and
were buried in Jamestown Cemetery.
Christopher did well in his new
venture. The 'South Australian Chronicle' reported on 18 Jan 1879 that "Mr.
Christopher John Collins has been duly elected a councillor" on the
Belalie District Council.
By 1884 Christopher John Collins was in his 60's and decided to sell up and move closer to the city. The advert above from the 'Adelaide Observer' 16 Feb 1884, tells us that the farm was two miles south of Jamestown.
Christopher returned to city life at Glenelg. The photo above shows two of Christopher's children; Emily Marion Rofe nee Collins (seated) with family & Herbert Collins (2nd from left).
At the age of 62, Christopher J Collins widower married Eliza B Fergusson 55 at the Wesleyan Parsonage New Glenelg. The wedding was reported in 'The Express and Telegraph' on 27 Feb 1884; "Collins-Fergusson. On the 22nd February, at the Wesleyan Parsonage, Glenelg, Christopher [John] Collins, of Belalie to Eliza Buchanan, of Norwood, daughter of the late Rev. John Fergusson, of Scotland."
Christopher returned to city life at Glenelg. The photo above shows two of Christopher's children; Emily Marion Rofe nee Collins (seated) with family & Herbert Collins (2nd from left).
At the age of 62, Christopher J Collins widower married Eliza B Fergusson 55 at the Wesleyan Parsonage New Glenelg. The wedding was reported in 'The Express and Telegraph' on 27 Feb 1884; "Collins-Fergusson. On the 22nd February, at the Wesleyan Parsonage, Glenelg, Christopher [John] Collins, of Belalie to Eliza Buchanan, of Norwood, daughter of the late Rev. John Fergusson, of Scotland."
Sadly, Christopher did not have long to enjoy this second marriage. He died on the 19 June 1886 aged 64 at New Glenelg, Adelaide. The death notice described him as a "Colonist of 49 years".
Exactly one month later eldest son Christopher Matthew Collins died at Glenelg at the age of 36. Probate was granted on Christopher John Collins' will in Aug 1886 with his effects valued at £1100 (SA Register, 9 Aug 1886).
Christopher John and Mary Ann Collins nee Wheatley had at least eleven children; Christopher Matthew Collins 1850-1886, Emily Marion Collins (Rofe) 1853-1940, Erastus Alfred 1853-1856, Alfred Joshua 1856-?, Lydia Sarah Collins 1857-1858, William Wheatley Collins 1859-1878, Jabez Cook Collins 1860-1861, Erasmus E. Collins 1862-?, Albert Henry Collins 1863-1864, Herbert Henry Collins 1865-1944 and Lillia Collins 1871-1871. Only three of these children are known to have survived to adulthood.
62.4 Joshua Alfred
Collins (1825-1848)
 |
| Baptisms Wesleyan Chapel, China Terrace, Lambeth: Joshua Alfred Collins baptised 20 Aug 1825 |
In 1832 Joshua aged 7, with his family, set sail on the barque 'John Craig' for Hobart and arrived in Dec 1832. After five years in Tasmania the family moved to South Australia. Joshua 12 and the rest of the Collins family settled in the Holdfast Bay area near Brighton.
There is not much known about his life apart from a witness statement at a court trial in 1844. At the age of 19 young Joshua had to front the court and give evidence in the insolvency proceedings against William Pearce. Joshua Alfred Collins died from an unknown cause on 30 Mar 1848 at North Brighton aged 22. He was buried in West Terrace Cemetery on 1 Apr 1848. Although the cause of death is unknown, had it been an accident there would have been an inquest, so presumably he died from the onset of a disease. His grave is marked by a gravestone and the inscription includes sister Sophia Turner nee Collins who died in 1866.
62.5 Mary Ann Collins (1827-1876)
(The photos and some of the information below were kindly supplied by Bronwyn Klar)
 |
| Baptisms St Mary's Church of England 14 Oct 1827: Mary Ann daughter of William & Charlotte Collins. |
In 1832 Mary Ann aged five, with her family, set sail on the barque 'John Craig' for Hobart and arrived in Dec 1832. Two more siblings were born before the family departed Hobart on 3 November 1837 and arrived in SA on 27 Nov 1837 aboard the 'Eudora'. Mary Ann was ten when the Collins family settled in the Brighton area, near Adelaide.
 |
| Mary Ann Baker nee Collins |
Three of Mary Ann’s children were named after members of her immediate family. Joshua Alfred after brother Joshua Alfred Collins, Charlotte Elizabeth after her mother and William Collins Baker after her father. Second son Thomas Barnard Baker was named after Alfred’s mother Harriet Baker nee Barnard. Interestingly, mary Ann's cousin Mary Ann Hubble married Charles Henry Barnard. Although Charles Henry Barnard remained in England, he was a butcher, as was Mary Ann’s husband, so perhaps they were distant relations.
 |
| Alfred Baker, farmer & butcher; husband of Mary Ann Collins |
Alfred himself was in trouble with the law in 1854 when the
Adelaide Observer 14 Oct 1854 reported that he "was charged with furious driving in the streets of Adelaide. He
declared that his horse ran away with him, and that he did all he could to stop
him. The constable who brought the charge denied this, assuring His Worship
that the defendant was whipping the horse with all his might, 'To be sure 1
was, cried Alfred. I wanted him to know better another time, and not run away
again,' His Worship, doubting the effect of the intended remedy, fined him two
pounds, perhaps 'to make him know better another time', and not attempt to stop
a runaway horse by whipping it."
1858 was tragic year for the Baker family. The 'South
Australian Register' 27 Jul 1858 reported the deaths of three of their children
within three weeks. "On the 6th at
Brighton, of bronchitis, Jane the youngest daughter of A. Baker, aged five
weeks; also on the 25th, William Collins, the youngest son of A. Baker, aged
two years and eight months; and at the same hour, Ellen, second daughter of A.
Baker, aged four years and ten months." Respiratory diseases took many
young lives in those days.
In 1866 it was Mary Ann's turn to appear in court, but in
this case she was there to offer a character reference for a former employee.
The 'South Australian Weekly' 17 Feb 1866 stated, "The prisoner called on Mrs. Alfred Baker whose husband was a
butcher. Mary Ann Baker had known the prisoner two years. She had been in her
service. She was an honest girl, and she would trust her with all she
possessed." Also in 1867 Alfred
Baker was listed as a butcher at Brighton in the Adelaide directory.
 |
| Mary Ann Baker nee Collins in her latter years |
Several papers published the following notice in 1872, "Assignment. Christopher John Collins,
of Walkerville chaff cutter. Trustee, Alfred Baker, of Brighton, butcher",
which shows that there was a financial relationship between Mary Ann's husband
and her brother Christopher John Collins. Alfred was probably helping
brother-in-law Christopher in his endeavour to purchase a property at Belalie. Daughter
Harriet Baker married John Phillips at her parent’s home in Brighton in 1873,
but sadly died two years later in 1875 at Queenstown.
 |
| Son Percy Baker (1867-1952). He was 24 when his mother died. |
Less than four months later, husband Alfred had courted and
married another woman, as announced in the 'South Australian Register' 16 Nov
1876 "On
the 14th November at Laura, Alfred Baker of 'Appila', to Jane Elizabeth, third
daughter of the late George Rackstrow, solicitor, St. Giles-street. Oxford,
England."
Alfred Baker survived another 36 years. The newspapers
announced Alfred's death as follows,
"Alfred Baker (late of Brighton) died in 1912, aged 87. Colonist of 72
years".
62.6 Caroline Sarah Collins (1829-1884)
Caroline was born in 1826 and baptised on 6 Sep 1829 in St Mary, Lambeth (see record above). The family were living in High St, Lambeth and her father, William Collins, was listed as a plasterer. In 1832 Caroline aged 3, with her family, set sail on the barque 'John Craig' for Hobart and arrived in Dec 1832. Two more siblings were born before the family departed Hobart on 3 November 1837 and arrived in SA on 27 Nov 1837 aboard the 'Eudora'. Caroline was eight when the Collins family settled in the Brighton area, near Adelaide.
On 3 October 1849 at the age of
20 Caroline married Thomas Boorman Dungey (1829-1914), a miller at Brighton.
They went on to have three children in Brighton; Caroline Eliza Dungey
(1851-1852), Thomas William Dungey (1854-1941) and Arthur Eggleston Dungey
(1856-1938). Caroline
Sarah Collins and her daughter Emily Dungey 1866 are pictured bel;ow
Thomas Boorman Dungey, journeyman miller, late of the firm of 'Dungey and Good' got into financial strife in 1851 and was declared insolvent. The 'South Australian Register' 14 Nov 1851 reported a "paltry dividend of two shillings and nine-pence in the pound will be payable on and after Tuesday, 18th November, to those creditors of Thomas Boorman Dungey, of Brighton, near Adelaide, and formerly of Wright-street, Adelaide, miller, who have proved their debts."
Thomas did not let his financial woes hold him back. Over the next few years, he developed a partnership with his 'in-laws' GGGGF William and Christopher Collins and re-opened the 'Brighton Plains Flour Mill' in 1854. The mill seemed to go well for a few years, but it turned out that all was not well, when the 'books' were examined after a disastrous fire that occurred in 1857.
On Thursday morning, the 18 Apr 1857 the Collin's 'Brighton Plains Steam Flour Mill' burned down. The enquiry into the event was very detailed and was reported in the Adelaide Observer on 25 April 1857. This is an edited version. "The first witness examined was William Collins senior who deposed that he was the owner of the mill. It was his son and son-in-law who rented the mill. Two year's rent were due £300. Let the rent lie for the benefit of sons as he did not want it. If his sons were insolvent, he would not be involved with them. His sons paid for the insurance. Had not transferred the policy to them; did not think it was necessary-indeed a fire was the last thing in his thoughts. Had not noticed a clause on the policy relative to giving notice to the Company of any change of interest; never thought about it."
Thomas Boarman Dungey, miller (son-in-law), Brighton Plains was a partner in the firm of Collins & Co. and also gave evidence, "Rented the mill off Mr. Collins, senior for three years. Mr. Collins, senior had not now any interest in the stock, but he had an interest in the profits, being a creditor for £151 according to the balance struck last May. He bought a great many things for the firm with his own money and had credit for them in the books. Did not remember the exact amount."
"Ebenezer Dungey, a lad, brother of Mr. Thomas Dungey was working at the mill on Wednesday night... and was in bed when he heard of the fire. His mother woke him. Lived a quarter of a mile off from the mill. Got to the mill at from l to half-past 1. Went first to call Mr. Christopher Collins."
The court case and ramifications from it were dragged through the courts for four or five years. Along with his brother-in-law and father-in-law, Thomas was declared insolvent (for the second time) on 6 Jul 1857. Total liabilities owed to creditors were over £3000.
The failure of the flour mill angered many people, and this may have been one reason why Thomas chose to move his family interstate to Ballarat, where brother-in-law, GGGF Anthony Smith, had also moved in 1857. Thomas’ wife Caroline and her sister Charlotte Smith nee Collins would have been in contact with each other whilst they were both living in Ballarat. They were probably in regular contact at least up until the 1870’s when the Dungeys moved to Ararat, which was much further away. In the above report in 1858 (See SA Advertiser), George Birrel informed the Insolvency Court that he was told that Thomas Dungey had left the Colony. In Apr 1859 at Ballarat another child, Caroline Collins Dungey was born, but she died at Ballarat the following year.
Thomas and his family moved to ‘Spring Hill’ (either Springmount or Springbank) in the Kingston area in early 1860’s. In the above report (The Argus 22 Sep 1862) Thomas claimed to have grown tobacco in South Australia and also claimed to be in possession of machinery valued at 500 pounds. There is no evidence that these claims are true, and none of these supposed assets were mentioned in the bankruptcy proceedings in the Adelaide court case. Later newspaper reports indicate that the Adelaide tobacco crops and machinery actually belonged to Thomas’ father (The Star 20 Mar 1863). Thomas had grown four acres of Virginian tobacco at Bullarook according to 'The Star' 24 Mar 1863, and the following year he expanded this to ten acres. In Mar 1863 Thomas wrote a letter to ‘The Star’ correcting some errors in earlier reports and proving some details about his business. The letter suggests that Thomas not only grew tobacco but was in the business of promoting it as a crop to others, with himself acting as a handling agent to sell the final product. He would benefit from firstly selling the seed and then from adding his own handling fees when he sold crops to processors in Melbourne.
The Star’ reported on 22 Jul 1863 that a Mr Blair was suing J. B. Dungey for 20 pounds unpaid board and lodgings. This was most likely a typo with the ‘T’ being mistyped as a ‘J’. It certainly fits in with a pattern of unpaid bills that followed Thomas for most of his life.
Caroline and Thomas Dungey's final five children were born in 'Kingston' Victoria. Kingston is a rural locality in the rural Shire of Hepburn 5 km northeast of Creswick. It is about 15 km from Creswick and about 30 km north of Ballarat. Kingston was a thriving gold mining town during the Victorian Gold Rush. Kingston Post Office opened on 11 Oct 1858 and had a large coach and vehicle building manufacturer, up to five hotels, a flour mill and numerous chaff mills. Thomas' choice to live there was probably related to the establishment of flour mills in the area. Thomas entered into another partnership to run a new milling business. The children born in Kingston were Emily Dungey (1862-1949), Albert Collins Dungey (1864-1864), Edwin Beeching Dungey (1865-?), Ernest Alfred Dungey (1868-1872) and Frank Arnold Dungey (1870-1872).
There were two flour mills in the Kingston area. One on the Werona Kingston Rd built by Captain Hepburn in the 1840’s with power supplied by a water race on Bullarook Creek below Hepburn Lagoon. The other was The Stag Steam Flour Mill located opposite the Stag Hotel at Sutton Park, Kingston built in 1862 by James Fry. The Stag Hotel at Kingston can easily be confused with the Stag Hotel at Learmouth which was over 30 km away. James Fry’s mill was closed in 1887 by the then owners Anderson Brothers. The ruins of the bluestone building can be found on the southern outskirts of Smeaton (4 km north of present-day Kingston). In the 1871 court case cited below, Thomas said he was a tenant of James Fry, so it seems that he worked at that mill.
The above photo (from www.creswick.net/creswick/history) is Andersons Mill located on the banks of Birch's Creek on the southern edge of Smeaton and is located 13 kilometres north of Creswick. The ruins of the five-storey bluestone building, and iron water wheel are still in place. Construction of the flour mill commenced in 1861 and it was operational within six months. The oat section of the Mill was completed by the following harvest.
James Fry owned 1800 acres of
rich land at Sutton Park, Newlyn, where he died aged 82 on 14 August 1903. He
was predeceased in 1901 by his second wife Louisa Ann Coles, née Absolem, a
widow whose two sons and two daughters survived him. The Kingston Township
existed on private land and never really took off. By 1886 most buildings had
gone into decay and the imposing former bluestone flour mill was an empty shell
(The Australasian 27 Mar 1886).
In 1865 Thomas started his interest in 'community affairs' when he was elected
to the Kingston School Committee. By the late 1860’s several newspaper articles
nominate Smeaton (north of Kingston) as Thomas’ address. An article in the
Ballarat Courier 3 Aug 1871 about a court case against the Anderson Brothers investigating
who was to blame for the flooding of land near Fry’s Steam Mill provides more
details about Thomas’ property arrangements. Thomas lived near Hepburn Lagoon
and gave evidence as a witness. He stated that he was a tenant of Frys for the
mill on the Smeaton Estate and managed the flow of water to the mill by
inserting boards in the bywash of Hepburn Lagoon. Water was collected from the
lagoon, about five kilometres from the Mill, channelled into the water race to
turn the wheel then
released into Birch's Creek. The person operating the release gates at Hepburn
Lagoon would be asked to release "half oats water" or "full
flour water" for the shift's operation. The weir height was adjusted to
change water levels as required. Thomas Dungey utilised the services of the mill
and leased various plots of land to run his enterprises.
By 1870 the mill was running into financial strife and was put up for sale in 'The Argus' 24 Jun 1870. "To Millers, Capitalists, and Others. For Sale or to Let, with immediate possession, the well-known Kingston Steam Flour Mill, situated on the main road between Ballarat and Castlemaine in the centre of the finest grain-growing district in Victoria. The building is bluestone, Iron roof, four floors, with large storage room. The mill is in splendid condition, and ready for work, having a permanent supply of water, one seven-roomed cottage, and two smaller ones, with every convenience and about two acres of land. All Information can be obtained at the mill".
In 1870 Thomas Dungey formed a partnership with farmer John Morrish. They won several prizes for the quality of their flour at local agricultural shows, but their business still struggled. The following year the partnership broke up amicably as reported in 'The Ballarat Star' 31 May 1871. "Notice is hereby given that the partnership hitherto subsisting between the undersigned, Thomas Boorman Dungey and John Morrish, carrying on business as millers at the Hepburn Flour Mills, Kingston, in the colony of Victoria, is this day Dissolved by mutual consent."
Although the partnership dissolution seemed straight forward enough, the following year there were at least eight cases of people suing 'Dungey and Morrish'. Once again (the third time) Thomas Dungey had upset a number of people in the community through his business dealings and this is probably one reason why the family moved again 60km further west. John Morrish ran a farm next to the Smeaton Flour Mill and put it up for sale in 1872 but was declared bankrupt a few months later. Thomas became manager of the Ararat Flour Mill and was listed as a shareholder in 'The Homebush Mining Company' at Avoca in 1873.
In 1875 Caroline Sarah Dungey nee Collins aged 55, passed away. Her death notice in the 'Avoca Mail' 9 Apr 1875 read, "Dungey at Ararat, on the 5th April, Caroline Sarah, the beloved wife of Thomas B. Dungey, late of Avoca." Interestingly the Victorian Death Registration listed her father as William Collins, but states that her mother's maiden name was 'Nash'! NB: Caroline's aunt Elizabeth Collins b1803 was married to William Nash b1803, so whoever provided the family details was confused.
According to the Geelong Advertiser (11 May 1878) Thomas saved a woman from falling into a well near the Ararat Flour Mill (above) where he worked. Thomas Dungey lived in Ararat for a few years and worked as a miller winning prizes for the quality of his flour. One of his medals from the Philadelphia Exhibition is held by the Ararat Museum.
According to The Australasian (8 Jun 1881, above) Thomas was on the move again in 1881. Still in the employ of James Fry, it was intended that Thomas erect a new mill in the Kaniva area. After his move Thomas was appointed to the Kaniva Cemetery Trust and in 1886 became a sworn land evaluator. In 1882 Thomas forfeited a selection of 160 acres at Yanipy (near Kaniva) when he failed to pay the survey fees. Thomas applied for several other leases of land in the Horsham area, but the leases were not granted until in 1887 a property consisting of 2.5 square miles of land at Borung was transferred to him. He was elected a local councillor on the Lowan Shire in 1888. But later that year he again ran into financial trouble (for the fourth time). The Horsham Times 25 Sep 1888 reported that, "His total liabilities were over £5,000; probable assets £3000; and deficiency £2,000; but it is feared that the assets will not realise the amount stated. Many Kaniva farmers are creditors for large amounts, through having either lodged with or sold their wheat to Mr. Dungey". Thomas ran into more trouble when in Nov 1888, "Mr. Thomas B. Dungey, of Kaniva, commission agent, etc., has been committed for trial for the larceny as a bailee of £57".
Thomas Boorman Dungey seemed to lead a quiet life after that, although he had married again in 1876, the year after his first wife’s death. His second wife was widow Mary Ann Edwards nee Basham 37 (b1839) of Ararat. The couple had at least two more children Jessie Dungey (Ranking) 1877 and Frank Dungey in 1879. In 1889 Thomas changed direction completely. He gained the position of manager of a new seaside resort named The Coffee Palace at Barwon Heads, but sadly his second wife died there in 1891 at the age of 52. Thomas operated the coffee palace at least until May 1897, when it was taken over by Mrs Edwards. Thomas was in his late sixties so was probably ready for retirement by that stage.
In 1909 Thomas was living at Golf Links Ave, Oakleigh and had 'independent means'. His death notice in the 'Riverine Herald' 3 Feb 1914 read "Mr. Thomas B. Dungey, father of Superintendent A. E. Dungey, in charge of the Bendigo Police District, died on Sunday at Oakleigh, at the age of 85". He died at the home of his son, Alfred Eggleston Dungey, born in Brighton SA in 1856.
Another notice published in Bendigo Advertiser 3 Feb 1914 gave more details about Thomas’ children. The death occurred at his son's residence, Golf Links Avenue, Oakleigh, on Sunday, of Mr. Thomas B. Dungey at the age of 85 years. The deceased gentleman was the father of Superintendent A. E. Dungey, the officer in charge of the Bendigo police district. Other members of the family are Mr. Thomas D. Dungey (Warracknabeal), Mr. Albert C. Dungey (--- gurra), Mrs. J. [Jessie] Ranking (Geelong), Mrs. E. [Emily] Sinclair (Claremont), Miss Mora and Messrs. Edwin and Frank Dungey, of Kalgoorlie, W.A. Superintendent Dungey has been absent from Bendigo for some days owing to his father's illness and death. Some of these children were from the second marriage.
The Ararat Advertiser Tue 3 Feb 1914 published an obituary. "Old residents of the district will learn with regret of the death of Mr Thomas B. Dungey, a once well-known businessman of Ararat. The sad event occurred at his son's residence, Oakleigh, on Sunday. The deceased was the father of Inspector Dungey, of the Victorian Police Force, He for some years resided in Ararat, and married a sister of Mr John Basham, of this town, the relict of the late L. Edwards [second marriage]. He was manager of the Ararat Company's Flour Mill, and he won the world's championship for flour at the Philadelphia Exhibition, the medal he received being now in the Ararat Museum. He leaves a family of five sons and two daughters."
62.7 William Saunders Cook Collins (1831-1922)
William was born on 25 Jun 1831 and baptised on 28 Aug 1831 at St Mary's Church of England, Lambeth, Surrey (see record above). He was the seventh child born to GGGGP William and Charlotte Collins nee Bird. William's middle names were in honour of his grandfather; GGGGGP Saunders Cook Collins (1770-1828). His father was listed as a plasterer and the family were still living in High St, Lambeth. William was the last child born in England and was only one year old when the family migrated to Australia.
In 1832 the family set sail on the barque 'John Craig' for Hobart and arrived in Dec 1832. Two more siblings were born before the family departed Hobart on 3 November 1837 and arrived in SA on 27 Nov 1837 aboard the 'Eudora'. William was six when he arrived in South Australia and his family settled in the Brighton area.
At the age of 13 in 1844, young William had the daunting task of giving evidence in the S.A. Supreme Court fraud trial of William Pearce. The account in the paper reported that "William Collins, junr., (a boy), said I am Mr. Collins's son at the Bay; I was sent to Borrow & Goodiar's yard by my father to take some boxes; I took them to Mr. Pearce's; I think I saw them afterwards in our house; I think those in court are the same."
NOTE: Bronwyn Klar kindly shared these details, "William Ernest Collins, son of William and Elizabeth Jane (nee Nicholls) was born at Tea Tree Gully in SA, on 4 Feb 1862. He married Emma Campbell nee Hocking at Moonta 12 Mar 1884. Emma was the daughter of John and Frances Annie nee Nettell and was born at Campbell’s Creek Victoria on 25 July 1853. William Ernest Collins died at Felixstow SA on 31 Jul 1948 and Emma died on 2 Oct 1940. Their children were Arnold William Collins born 19 Oct 1885 died 1956 and John Norman Collins 1886-1979".
A fourth child, Lillian Blanche Collins was born on 30 Nov 1871 at Glenelg. She married Sidney Allen at her father's residence in Maylands in 1892 and died in 1942. From 1867-1870 W. C. S Collins was listed as a storekeeper at Jetty Rd, Glenelg in the Adelaide directory. In the 1870’s William moved to Caltowie to farm the land and sadly his second daughter died at the age of eight on her father’s farm, with the death registered in Clare in 1875. In the 1880’s William moved back closer to the city at Maylands.
At the age of 81 it seems William's uncle Matthew (see 64.9) started to indicate advanced signs of dementia. The 'Chronicle' 12 December 1896 reported on a court case to examine whether Matthew Collins should be declared "incapable of managing his own affairs by reason of senile decay. After the hearing of evidence in support of the petition and personally examining the respondent, His Honour remarked that this was a clear case of senile decay that clearly the respondent could not be in better hands than at present. He found that Matthew Collins was incapable of managing his affairs and recommended that Messrs. W. S. C. Collins" [Matthew's nephew William Saunders Cook Collins] be appointed to manage Matthew's affairs. The costs of both parties to come out of the estate". William cared for his Uncle Matthew until he died at William's home. The death notice in 'The Express and Telegraph' 1 Jul 1899 read "Collins-At his nephew's residence, Frederick Street, Maylands. Mathew Collins, formerly of Gawler River," aged 85 years."
On 8 Jan 1909 William wrote a letter to ‘The Advertiser’ correcting assertions made by another correspondent about the arrival of the Collins family in South Australia. The previous letter suggested that the Collins family did not arrive in Adelaide in 1837. William refutes this assertion in his letter with a very angry and understandingly irritated tone and provides evidence of arrival dates. An extract of his letter is found above.
On the 28th July 1913, at 40 Frederick Street, Maylands, Elizabeth Jane Collins nee Nicholls, "the dearly-loved wife of William S. C. Collins, died in her 83rd year". William Saunders Cook Collins survived his wife by nine years and died on 13 Sep 1922 at his residence 40 Frederick St., Maylands aged 91. Probate was granted for William's will in 1922 with effects to the value of £3600. The two beneficiaries were his surviving children William Ernest Collins (also executor) and daughter Lilian Blanche Allen nee Collins. William and his wife were both buried at Payneham Cemetery with the headstone that is shown below.
62.8 George Miles
Collins (1833-1902)
George was born on 17th Dec 1833 and was the first Collins child born in Hobart. He was baptised 19 Feb 1834. His father William was listed as a builder. On 3 November 1837 the family, with four year old George, boarded the 'Eudora' and sailed to SA. They arrived on 27 Nov 1837 and settled in Holdfast Bay in the Brighton area.
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George Collins, farmer of Brighton gave evidence in a court case in 1855 (Adelaide Times 15 Sep 1855). The case involved James Beeching Dungey (the brother of his brother-in-law). James was a Brighton resident and the local poundkeeper. He had found the cow belonging to his neighbour on the road and had attempted to drive the cow to the pound, when the family that owned the cow objected and promptly lead the animal back to their property. They claimed that James was their neighbour and took every opportunity to annoy them.
As his brother William had done, George joined the South Australian Volunteer Military Force and in 1855 was listed as a member of the Glenelg Company.
George was listed as a member of Sea Coast Reserve Company along with his brother-in-law Thomas Filmer in 1866. In that same year (S.A. Advertiser 19 Mar 1866) George had 15 tons of cut straw for sale on his farm which was located near Sturt Post Office. Three years later, in 1869, George and Celia moved 20km to St Morris where four more children were born; Leonard Thomas Collins (1869-1948), Charlotte Eliza Collins (1871-1871), Celia Emma Collins (1873-1929) and Frederick John Collins (1875-1910). The last child born to the couple was Violet Rose Collins in 1877 when his mother was 43. Sadly, both Violet and Charlotte died as infants.
In 1873, George Miles Collins, farmer of Brighton purchased 479 acres at Caltowie for £718. Caltowie is 230km north of Adelaide but only 20 km from Belalie, where his brother Christopher John Collins purchased a farming property the year before. George and Celia did not move to their new property for a few years but must have been there by 1876 as that was where their son George William Collins (1860-1876) died.
In 1873, George Miles Collins, farmer of Brighton purchased 479 acres at Caltowie for £718. Caltowie is 230km north of Adelaide but only 20 km from Belalie, where his brother Christopher John Collins purchased a farming property the year before. George and Celia did not move to their new property for a few years but must have been there by 1876 as that was where their son George William Collins (1860-1876) died.
By 1877 George was listed as a member of the Independent Order of Rechabites, Caltowie Branch. "Brother G. M. Collins was appointed P.D.C.R." 1877 was a year of great tragedy at Caltowie. Their last child Violet Rose Collins was born in April, but on 10 Dec, baby Violet died, followed by her mother Celia Collins nee Filmer two days later on 12 Dec 1877.
George survived his wife by 25 years and eventually moved closer to the city, where he died in 1903 aged 70. He was buried in the Payneham Cemetery. The Adelaide Observer 12 Dec 1903 published the following obituary, "Mr. George Miles Collins, a colonist of 66 years, died, after a short illness, at his residence Homesdale, North Norwood, on Dec. 3. The deceased, who was in his seventieth year, was born in Tasmania, and arrived in South Australia by the ship Eudora. He lived at Caltowie, and later at Norwood for about two and a half years. One daughter and four sons survive him. Mrs. Collins died about 28 years ago."
Of their eleven children only five survived their father and they were Ernest, Albert, Leonard, Frederick and Celia Collins. Sadly, daughter Annie Ladd Collins died the year before her father in 1901 and was buried in Payneham Cemetery.
62.9 Sophia Collins (1836-1866)
George survived his wife by 25 years and eventually moved closer to the city, where he died in 1903 aged 70. He was buried in the Payneham Cemetery. The Adelaide Observer 12 Dec 1903 published the following obituary, "Mr. George Miles Collins, a colonist of 66 years, died, after a short illness, at his residence Homesdale, North Norwood, on Dec. 3. The deceased, who was in his seventieth year, was born in Tasmania, and arrived in South Australia by the ship Eudora. He lived at Caltowie, and later at Norwood for about two and a half years. One daughter and four sons survive him. Mrs. Collins died about 28 years ago."
Of their eleven children only five survived their father and they were Ernest, Albert, Leonard, Frederick and Celia Collins. Sadly, daughter Annie Ladd Collins died the year before her father in 1901 and was buried in Payneham Cemetery.
62.9 Sophia Collins (1836-1866)
Sophia was born on 9 Aug 1836 and baptised on 20 Nov 1836 at the Melville Methodist Church, Hobart. Her father William was listed as
a bricklayer on the birth registration. On 3 November 1837 the family boarded
the 'Eudora' and sailed to SA via Melbourne; arriving on 27 Nov 1837, when
Sophia was one year old. The family settled in Holdfast Bay in the Brighton
area.
In 1853, Sophia at the young age of 17, married William
Turner at the Wesleyan Chapel in Brighton, Adelaide and gave birth to
five children; Harriett Sophia Turner 1854,
James Cooper Turner 4 Mar 1856, Julia Eva Turner 1858,
Arthur Turner on 15 Mar 1861 and Caroline Turner 1865. Caroline died as
an infant. All children were born in Brighton or Adelaide except Arthur,
who was born at Freeling in the Barossa Valley (80km north of
Adelaide).
'The South Australian
Register' 10 May 1866 reported Sophia Turner nee Collin's death, "Turner-On the 9th May, at Brighton,
Sophia, the beloved wife of William Turner, and youngest daughter of Mr. Wm.
Collins, of consumption, aged 29 years. Her end was peace." Sophia
was buried at West Terrace Cemetery.
Husband William Turner remarried, had another family with second wife Jane Tucker of at least eight children, and moved to Victoria, where after 22 years in that state, he died at Carlton in 1899. Interestingly his death registration shown above listed the name of his first wife (Sophia Collins) incorrectly (it listed his mother's maiden name in error), but it does list the four children by Sophia that were still alive, along with their ages.
63.0 GGGGGP Saunders Cook Collins (1770-1828) & Elizabeth Johnson (1773-1847)
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63.0 GGGGGP Saunders Cook Collins (1770-1828) & Elizabeth Johnson (1773-1847)
Saunders Collins, 22 year old bachelor, with
the occupation plasterer, married Elizabeth Johnson (1773-1847)
on 15 Aug 1792 at St. Marys at Lambeth (above). Both were residents of Lambeth.
Saunders signed his name, but Elizabeth made her
mark. Witnesses were James Singleton and possibly a member of the Bird family
(looks like A.Bird). The signature of the latter bears some resemblance to
other witness signatures below.
The above signatures are those of witnesses at the marriages of (from top left) William Collins (1817), Saunders Collins (1792) and Christopher Bird (1795). The signatures seem to belong to H.Bird, A.Bird and E. Bird (Edward Bird b.1761). There are some similarities in the top two signatures. Apart from style similarities between the Bird family signatures above, it was not common for the signature to only include an initial for the forename which is also a clue that these signatures may be linked in some way. It appears that the Collins family had a good friendship with the Bird family from at least 1792. We know that Christopher Bird was a glazier working in the Lambeth area prior to his marriage in 1795 and his daughter Charlotte Bird later married Saunders' son William Collins in 1817. All were tradesmen involved in construction.
GGGGGP Saunders Cook Collins and Elizabeth Collins nee Johnson had ten known children, all baptised at St Mary's Lambeth and for most of this period the family were living in High St Lambeth. Lambeth at this time was experiencing a population explosion. The baptisms at St Mary's were numbering 20-30 per week in the early 1800's, so the area would have been very crowded and the need to construct dwellings would have provided plenty of plastering work for Saunders.
The ten children of Saunders and Elizabeth Collins were Matthew Collins 1793, GGGGF William Collins 1795, John Collins 1798, Edmund Collins 1802, Elizabeth Collins 1803, John Collins 1807, Ann Collins 1809, Henry Collins 1813, Matthew Collins 1815 and Ann Collins 1817.
On his return trip to England in 1847 GGGF Anthony Smith wrote in his diary, "Walked to Brixton Hill, saw the chapel that Daddie C. built". I believe he was talking about his grandfather-in-law [his wife's grandfather] GGGGF Saunders Cook Collins. The evidence for this was that GGGGGF Saunders was in the building trade and lived and worked most of his life in the Brixton/Lambeth area. The Collins family were also staunch members of the Wesleyan faith. The Chapel was the Brixton Hill Wesleyan Chapel built in 1824, about 3 miles from High St Lambeth where the Collins family lived. The chapel was rebuilt in the mid 1800's and subsequently destroyed in bombing raids in WW2.
Saunders Cook Collins died in 24 Jun 1828 at the
relatively young age of 58 and was buried in St Mary's churchyard, Lambeth. At
the time of his death, he was living in Colkett's Alley, Lambeth (probably
Crookets Alley off High St) and according to his will had amassed some wealth. Saunders
Cook Collins' will was proved 8th June 1832, four years after his
death. It is quite hard to read but legible extracts are below.
"Saunders Cook Collins
of Caulkets Alley, South Street, in the parish of Saint Mary, Lambeth in the
County of Surrey, plasterer, being of sound mind and memory and ......so make
this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say I desire my
boots may be buried in the parish where I shall happen to sit at the [time] of
my [death] ........my wish is I so hereby assent that all the just debts
which I shall owe at my death and also my funeral expenses may be paid by my
....... and I give and devise unto to my wife Elizabeth Collins
all those ......and which I have .... to the use of my will situate ... being
in Caulkets Alley, South Street, in the parish of Saint Mary, in the said
county of Surrey which now are in the tenure or occupation of Mr
Goldsmith ....... tenements to my wife the said Elizabeth Collins
her heirs and assignees forever .....of the manner of which the same upon trust
that the interest and proceeds of the said dwellinghouses situate in Caulkets
Alley as aforesaid may be applied for .... of my youngest son Matthew Collins
now of the age of six years or thereabouts until he shall be of the age of
twenty one years if he shall doth soeth live, but in the case the said Matthew
Collins shall depart this life [before] the said age of twenty one years and so
hereby give, devise and bequeath the said .. houses, tenements and premises
unto my said wife and that they may be ...as the absolute property of her, her
heirs and her assignees forever ..... may be disposed of by will or otherwise
as the ... my said wife Elizabeth Collins shall devise and I give
devise and bequeath all these too ..... or dwellinghouses situate and being in
a place called Salamanca in the parish of Saint Mary Lambeth in the said county
of Surrey which I ... hold by lease under Mr Hancock? and all that or tenement
with the ..... situate and being in John Street Kennelworth Road in the said
county of Surrey which I .... hold by lease under Mr Clark and all those too...
dwellinghouses situate in the New St in the parish of Saint Mary Lambeth which
I hold by lease under Mr Jaimeson? and all that tenements and dwellinghouses
situate in and being on Mr ... Eszzars ? Suras [Surat] St in the county
of Middlesex which I hold by lease under [erased] Elizabeth Collins her heirs
executors ...."
Saunders nominated his wife Elizabeth
Collins as the sole executrix and drew up the will in 1821, well before
his death. The will confirmed that Saunders' last son was Matthew
Collins, aged six in 1821 (the date the will was made). The will also suggests
that Saunders may have been well off because; firstly, he saw the
need to make a will and secondly the will nominated at least five properties
that he apparently owned or leased to tenants. There does not seem to be any
reference to his other children. Some were deceased at that time, but there
were at least two other sons; William 26 and John 23 (at the time the will was
made). However, by including his 'wife and her heirs' they were placed in
line for an inheritance when she determined it was time to share it.
63.1 Origins of the forenames 'Saunders Cook' Theory One:
Saunders Cook Collins may have been named after someone named “Saunders”, either as a Christian name or a surname. Although not a common name there are quite a few records for people with Saunders as a surname. In fact, there were two men in London named William Saunders who happened to marry women named Elizabeth Collins.
a) William Saunders married Elizabeth Collins in Jan 1788 at St George, Hanover Square. Both parties were of that parish and signed their names. Saunders Cook Collins’ sister Elizabeth Collins b1765 may have been the bride.
b) William Saunders c1780 bachelor of Norton Falgate married Elizabeth Collins (c1782) spinster of Holborn in 1802 at St Andrews, Holborn. William Sanders, 60 year old housekeeper (landlord?), and wife Elizabeth 55 were living at Honeylane Market, Allhallows in 1841. From 1847 to 1852 the Electoral Register listed son? William Saunders of Fuller St, Bethnall Green as owning a share (with Charles Stanton) in nine freehold houses in Hope Alley and Bostock St. Saunders Cook Collins b1770 also had a property portfolio.
Perhaps either of their fathers played a role in Saunders’ father’s life. Perhaps one of their wives was related to Saunders Cook Collins? As for the name ‘Cook’, that may have been the maiden name of Saunders’ mother or grandmother.
Theory Two:
Perhaps Saunders Cook Collins was
named after someone named Saunders Cook. In 1859 Saunders Cook, 20 year old
plasterer, married 19 year old Esther Ann Faulkner in Lewisham. Saunders’ father
was a bricklayer and was also known as Saunders Cook. Their residence at the
time was known as Cook’s Cottage. In 1851 Saunders Cook, 21 year old plasterer,
was living with Esther at Lewisham. He had been born in Cambridge in 1839. In
1854 Edward William Cook another plasterer son of Sander Saunderson Cook (the
father’s full name) married Elizabeth Rachel Edmonds at Christchurch,
Southwark.
In 1841 father, Sander Sanderson
Cook bricklayer 30 (really 32) was living in Chatteris Cambridgeshire with wife
Mary Cook nee Goodey 25 and children Frances 8, Lucy 5, Sanders jnr 2 and
Charlotte 9 months. Saunders snr was baptised in 1809 at St Giles, Cambridge by
his parents William and Frances Cook and had married in 1832 at Linton. The
father died in 1858 in Cambridgeshire.
William Cook was born to Sanderson
b1751 and Elizabeth Cook in May 1776 at Swaffham Prior in Cambridgeshire. His
parents had married in the same location the year before. Sanderson b1751 died
at Swaffham Prior in Cambridgeshire in 1819 aged 68.
Apart from sharing names, Saunders Cook b1839 Cambridgeshire, was a plasterer as was Saunders Cook Collins b1770. However, he was born many years after Saunders Cook Collins. Perhaps his great grandfather Sanderson Cook b1751 was a plasterer too and perhaps he played a role in Saunders’ b1770 father’s life. However, records seem to show that Sanderson Cook lived his whole life in Cambridgeshire.
Perhaps with more research the
mystery will be solved one day!
63.2 GGGGGM Elizabeth Johnson
(1773-1847) Wife of Saunders Cook Collins
Elizabeth Johnson's place of birth is not known with
certainty, but her death registration indicates a year of birth around 1773.
There is a birth registration at St Marys, Lambeth that could well be the right
one (above). It lists Elizabeth Johnson as being baptised on 4
Dec 1774 by parents George and Elizabeth Johnson. The fact that
she was later married in this church adds further support for this record.
GGGGGM Elizabeth Johnson 19 married Saunders Cook
Collins, plasterer on 15 Aug 1792 at St. Marys at Lambeth. Saunders
signed his name, but Elizabeth made her mark. The couple had ten
children. Elizabeth's husband Saunders died in
1828, then four years later in 1832 her three surviving sons migrated to
Tasmania. She would never see them again.
After she was widowed, Elizabeth moved
to 42 Vauxhall Terrace to live with Elizabeth Nash nee Collins; her only child
still living in England.
GGGGGM Elizabeth Collins nee
Johnson died at
home in Vauxhall Terrace on 15 Mar 1847 aged 74. She was buried at St Marys
(See above). For more about her married life see 34.0.
Elizabeth wrote a will dated 4 Mar 1847,
in which she left all her property to daughter Elizabeth Nash nee Collins (see
extract above). In part the will read as follows:- "I Elizabeth
Collins of Vauxhall Terrace, Lambeth in.... Surrey, widow, do hereby
declare this to be my last will and testament and do hereby give and bequeath
all my property..... unto my daughter Elizabeth Nash for her sole and absolute
use and benefit...." Signed by her mark (Elizabeth Collins)....
4 Mar 1847 Witnesses W.G Smyth; Mary Potter
Probate was granted on 29 Mar
1747. "On the 29th day of Mar 1847 ....of the goods and chattels of Elizabeth
Collins late of Vauxhall Terrace in the Parish of St Mary in ...
Surrey, widow ... to Elizabeth Nash wife of William Nash, the daughter
and the universal (sole) legatee named in the said will, having been
first sworn duly to adminster... executor named in the said will."
63.3 GGGGGF Saunders Collins'
Properties
Many documents give addresses for
the Collins family (Saunders and later his children) in the
Lambeth area of London and name South St, High St and Caulket's/Colketts Alley
at different times. South St, Lambeth was listed in 'Lockie's Topography of
London, 1813 "as nearly opposite The Three Stags [Inn], about half mile
on right from Westminster Bridge".
Caulketts/Colkett's Alley is
possibly a misspelling of Crookets Alley, off High St, Lambeth which was
described in 'Lockies London' as the second on the left from Broad St towards
Lambeth Church leading into Fore Street. Several of Saunder’s siblings were
associated with Fore St (see below). Crookets Alley may also have been known as
Crooked Alley (Pigot's Metropolitan Directory). Caulketts Alley was Saunders’
address in 1828 according to his will. Several of the children's baptism
records name High St. as Saunders’ abode in earlier times.
The Lambeth area today has
completely changed in terms of structures and even names of roads. Broad St is
now Black Prince Rd, High St is now Lambeth High St, Crooket's Alley has been
built over and was roughly in the vicinity of the London Fire Brigade building
on the Albert Embankment, which is now the L.F.B.'s museum. The above photo is of Bishop's Walk, Lambeth (c1860) and the phot below is of Lambeth Rd., c1860
High Street, Lambeth (now Lambeth High Street) High St was the long-time abode of Saunders Cook Collins and his family and according to his will, he owned property in High Street which was rented out. From 1817 to 1831 three Bird families lived in High Street, possibly renting properties that Saunders owned. Saunders’ son William and wife Charlotte Collins nee Bird lived there with their family through the 1820’s until the early 1830’s. It was also the abode of Charlotte’s brother William Bird when he had children baptised in 1824, 1826, 1827, 1829 and 1831 and sister Mary Ann Hubble nee Bird when her children were baptised in 1817 and 1829. Most children from these four marriages were baptised at St Mary’s, Lambeth. Also, the mother of the Bird siblings, Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw, died in 1828 and her abode at that time was listed as High St, Lambeth. It is very likely that they were all either occupying the same building or living close to each other in the same Street.
According to his will, Saunders
owned/leased buildings/tenements in Caulkets Alley (where he lived at the
time), High St, Salamanca Place, John St, New St. and Surat St Middlesex and
rented these to tenants. According to http://www.maps.thehunthouse.com/Streets , Surat St was formerly known as
'Collins Place' (possibly named after Saunders). Although some of these streets
no longer exist, most of them can be found on the 1820 map located at http://mapco.net/pigot/map10.htm
64.0 Ten Children of GGGGGP
Saunders Cook Collins (1770-1828) & Elizabeth Johnson
(1773-1847)
All children were baptised at St Mary's Church of England Lambeth (below) and for most of the later births Saunders’ occupation was listed as plasterer. Of the ten children, only GGGGF William, Elizabeth, John and Matthew Collins are known to have survived into adulthood. There was serious overcrowding in this part of London in the early 1800's. Child mortality was very high and over half the burials were of children below the age of ten. In 1832, four years after their father's death, Saunder's three surviving sons migrated to Tasmania.
Matthew died before the second
Matthew was born in 1815. There were several sons born in between 1793 and 1815
and they were given a variety of names. The second Matthew was most likely born
not long after his younger brother’s death. It was a common practice to name a
child after a deceased child; probably to help in the grieving process. If this
was the case, the first Matthew died around 1814 at the age of 21. No more is
known.
64.2 GGGGF William Collins
(1795-1878)
William was baptised on the 22 Nov 1795
in Lambeth, London. He became a plasterer like his father and married GGGGM
Charlotte Elizabeth Bird (1794–1884) on 19 Oct 1817 in London. They
went on to have seven children born in Lambeth, London before William
and his family and two brothers migrated to Tasmania on the barque 'John
Craig'. Later William and his family moved to Adelaide (in 1837)
and William died on 10 Dec 1878 at Belalie, S.A. For more
information about the lives of GGGGP William and Charlotte Collins
see the main entry at 61.0
64.3 John Collins (1798-1802)
John was baptised on 4 Nov 1798
at St Marys, Lambeth by his parents Sanders (sic) Cook Collins and his wife
Elizabeth (above). He
was probably named after his grandfather
John Bird b1726.
Sadly, John died as a young child aged 3, and was buried in St Mary's graveyard on 29 May 1802.
64.4 Edmund Collins (1802-1807)
Edmund was baptised on 3 Jan 1802
at St Marys, Lambeth by parents Sanders Cook Collins and his
wife Elizabeth (above).
Edmund died at the age of five
and was buried on 6 March 1807 at St. Mary's, Lambeth. He was the third child
to die young.
64.5 Elizabeth Collins (1803-1875)
Elizabeth was baptised on 5 Jun
1803 at St Mary's Lambeth by parents Sanders (sic) and Elizabeth Collins (above)
Elizabeth Collins 22 spinster
married William Nash bachelor on 26 Dec 1825 at St John the Evangelist, Lambeth
(above). Only Elizabeth signed her name. The family of William and Elizabeth were living in High
St, Lambeth when most of their children were born and William Nash was listed
as a carman. Children included John Nash 1829-1894, Charles Nash 1835-1836,
William Charles Nash 1838-1900, Richard Nash 1841-1923 and Matthew Collins Nash
1843. In 1828 Elizabeth was a witness at her brother John’s first marriage.
By the time of the 1851 census (above), the couple were living at 42 Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth. The family consisted of William Nash 51 'master carman', Elizabeth Nash 48, John Nash 22 wheelwright, William Charles Nash 13, Richard Nash 10 and Matthew C Nash 7 (On the next page). Soon after the census, eldest son John married Maria Buck at Newington, and both Elizabeth Nash nee Collins and her husband were witnesses to the wedding, although only Elizabeth signed her name.
In the 1840's Elizabeth's mother GGGGGM Elizabeth Collins nee Johnson moved to 42 Vauxhall Terrace to live with daughter Elizabeth Nash nee Collins; her only child still living in England. Elizabeth's mother died there on 15 Mar 1847 aged 74. Elizabeth Nash was the sole beneficiary of her mother's will. Probate was granted in 1847. William Nash seems to have died at the age of 53 and was buried at St Mary's, Lambeth on 23 Nov 1853. The family were still residing in Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth at the time.
In the 1860’s all the married sons and mother Elizabeth Nash were living very close to each other. All the streets mentioned below were within a few hundred metres of each other, but only Jonathon Street still exists today.
- In 1859 son William Charles Nash married Caroline Chapple (b.1840 Lambeth) at Southwark. William signed his name, and his father was listed as William Nash carman. At the census in 1861 William and Caroline were living at Nine Elms, Lambeth with their baby daughter also named Caroline.
- In 1860, son Richard 20 married Jane Copas 19 (b.1841 Newbury, Berkshire) at St Mary’s, Lambeth. In 1861 Richard was working as a fireman (steam engine) and living with his wife in Neville Place.
- By 1861 John Nash 32 year old wheelwright, wife Maria and their three children were living at 16 Jonathan St., Lambeth
- In 1861 youngest son Mathew, 17 year old apprentice engineer, was living with his widowed mother Elizabeth Nash nee Collins, 58 year old straw bonnet maker. They were living next door to brother John at 18 Jonathon Street. In 1862 Matthew married Jane Hookway (b.1842 Lambeth) at St John’s, Lambeth. Matthew’s occupation was listed as millwright and his deceased father William Nash was listed as a carman. Matthew Collins Nash and wife Jane had one daughter named Elizabeth Jane Nash in 1863, but sadly the family was residing at the local workhouse at that time. Perhaps Matthew had had an accident and he was not capable of supporting his wife and child. On the baptism record of hiks daughter Matthew was listed as an engineer. In 1887 daughter Elizabeth married plasterer Benjamin Paul b1861. She listed her father as Matthew Nash, millwright. It seems that Matthew may have died around 1863, because no records have been found relating to him and his family between 1863 and 1886. Wife Jane may have remarried with daughter Elizabeth temporarily taking her stepfather’s surname. There was another Mathew and Jane Nash having a family at Bermondsey during these years, but they do not match in terms of ages, birthplaces, occupations or children’s names.
By 1871 Elizabeth Nash nee Collins was a 68 year old widow still living at 18 Jonathon St, Lambeth and 'living off the interest of her money'. She was living with elderly nurse Hannah Stonehouse 79 who may have been providing care for Elizabeth. The money she lived off was probably her inheritance from her father, through her mother GGGGGM Elizabeth Collins nee Johnson who died in 1847. In 1871 son Richard Nash was visiting his brother William Nash, kennelman, in Alfred St, Lambeth at the time of the census
64.6 John Collins (1807-1878)
During her lifetime all the residences of Elizabeth Nash nee Collins b1803 were just a short walk from where she was born. No death registration has been found for Elizabeth Nash nee Collins., but she probably died in the 1870’s in the Lambeth area. There is a record for Elizabeth Nash being buried at St Mary’s, Battersea in Dec 1875. Elizabeth was reputedly 69 years old (really 72) and this location was only 3 miles from Jonathon Street.
We don’t know how much contact there was between Elizabeth Nash nee Collins and her three brothers William, John and Matthew Collins who had migrated to Australia in the 1830’s. Although she never saw them again, they may have kept in touch through the mail. Evidence of her affection for her brothers is the fact that three of her sons seem to have been named after them. Also, Rod Gilbert reports that the probate papers for her younger brother Matthew show that he left his estate divided between living nieces and nephews amongst whom were Elizabeth’s four sons. Of course if Elizabeth’s youngest son did die in the 1860’s (see above) this shows that brother Matthew Collins was unaware of that fact and therefore had not been in regular contact with Elizabeth’s family.64.6 John Collins (1807-1878)
John Collins was baptised on 22
Mar 1807 at St Mary's Lambeth by parents Saunders and Elizabeth Collins.
He was named after his deceased older brother and also after his grandfather
John Bird b1726. He became a plasterer, probably doing his apprenticeship with
his father.
On 18 May 1828 aged 21 John a
bachelor married Hephzibath Ayliff (1808-1831) spinster at St John the
Evangelist in Lambeth (above). Samuel Ayliff and sister Elizabeth Nash nee
Collins were witnesses and John's father was listed as (GGGGGF) Saunders
Collins. Elizabeth Nash b1803 was John's older married sister. All
parties signed their names. The marriage was just three months prior to his
father's death. John's father GGGGGF Saunders Cook Collins
died in 24 Jun 1828 aged 58 and was buried in St Mary's churchyard, Lambeth.
His will was proved 8th June 1832 four years after his death.
John's wife Hephzibath died at
the age of 23 in 1831 and was buried in St Mary's, Lambeth. The family abode at
that time was Lambeth Butts. John would have been devastated by the death of
his wife and it is not surprising that he started to think about starting a new
life overseas. At the time, assisted passages to Tasmania, were being offered
by the colonial government in an attempt to attract families and young people
who could help build the colony.
John booked tickets for the long
(and sometimes dangerous journey) along with his two brothers, GGGGF William
and Matthew. On the 18th July 1832, whilst in his mid twenties, John set sail
with brothers Matthew Collins and GGGGF William Collins and William's
family on the barque 'John Craig'. There were a total of 58 immigrants on board
the ship, which arrived in Hobart on 30 November 1832.
Not much is known of John's time in
Tasmania apart from the fact that he recorded his occupation as 'plasterer'
(like his father and brothers). In 1833 he apparently got into some conflict
with a neighbour in the centre of the island not long after he arrived. The
Hobart Town Courier 1 Feb 1833 published the following letter "I hereby
give notice to all persons and in particular to Mr. John Collins of the Lower
CIyde, plasterer, that I have sold all my cattle running in the neighbourhood
of the Ouse [River]. Any other persons pretending to have any claims whatever,
will be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law. William Newman,
Glenarchy" [John was apparently living close to the lower Clyde River
near where it flows into the Derwent River (Hamilton). The Ouse River also
meets the Derwent about ten km to the north]
NOTE: For the next decade there
are references to a John Collins of Hamilton, but marriage, birth and other
records confirm that our John was residing near Richmond at this time and
working as an overseer on Carrington Estate. There was also a freed convict of that
name living in the Colony at that time.
In the mid 1830's John moved
about 60 km eastward and became the overseer at Carrington Estate north of
Richmond. Whilst there developed a relationship with Ann Maria Dallen (see 64.6a
below) who had arrived in the colony at about the same time as John. The couple
lived as man and wife and had three known children all born at Carrington
Estate; Elizabeth Ann Collins b1836, John Collins (1838–1911) born in 3 Oct
1838 at Richmond and James Collins (1840-1916) born on 1 July 1840. The
last child was born when his mother was 40 years old. No baptism or birth
records have been found, perhaps because the parents were not married.
Carrington Estate was owned by
the Tasmanian Governor Arthur George who sold it in 1837 when he left the
island. An 1842 article said, "The mansion and buildings erected by the
late Dr. Ross cost above £2000. The greater part of the property is fit for the
plough, and about two hundred acres are already under cultivation."
Later newspaper articles continued to list John as an overseer on the
Carrington property at least until Oct 1839. Carrington Estate was put up for
lease in 1841 so John had probably left by then. In 1843 John was listed as a plasterer in a
subscription for the Catholic Church in Hobart.
According to the above advert
(Hobarton Guardian 13 Nov 1847) John was living in Hobart in Bathurst St. in 1847. He
was selling an investment property at Battery Point, possibly in preparation for moving to South
Australia. “Mr Collins” was not a reference to either of his brothers William
or Matthew, because they had left Hobart many years before.
Finally on 7 May 1851 John Collins and Ann Maria Dallen 'tied the knot' in a wedding at Trinity Church of England, Hobart. John was listed as widower with the occupation of bricklayer and plasterer. Ann Maria was a spinster. Both parties signed their names. Two weeks later they set sail for South Australia on the ship 'Gazelle'; leaving on 20 May and arriving on 4 June 1851 with their three children Elizabeth Ann, John and James Collins.
When John's daughter Elizabeth died in 1923, her obituary confirmed some facts about when John moved to Adelaide. "Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Ferris, who recently died at the age of 87 years, was born in Tasmania, and arrived in South Australia with her parents [John and Ann Collins], two brothers (Messrs. James and John Collins) and uncle (Mr. Matthew Collins); all since deceased— in the brig Gazelle, on 4 June, 1851". (Observer' 10 Feb 1923, above). The inclusion of Matthew Collins is probably an error see 64.9. This document can be cross referenced with the passenger list for the 'Gazelle' from Hobart Town with Captain Wood, which lists Mr Collins, wife and three children.
Rod Gilbert reports that John and
his family took up a lease land in the St Mary’s area, which was only two
sections east of Section 142 where William built the Brighton Steam Mill. The
land now known as Tonsley was purchased by Henry Watts in 1839 and comprised Section 63 of 80 acres on South
Road. John and Ann Collins were still living at St Marys in 1860 when their
only daughter Elizabeth Ann Collins married Thomas Ferris, of Edwardstown. (See
64.6c). In 1864 eldest son John married Mary Ann Fabian (1845-1898) at Lower
Mitcham, Adelaide and in 1865 youngest son James Collins married Catherine
Kelley in Adelaide.
In his latter years it seems that
John Collins of South Road made a living carting hay as reported in the S.A.
Register on 19 Mar 1866 above. He was charged with a breach of the bylaws, but
the case was dismissed. John Collins of South Road was a witness in another
case the following year. In the mid 1870’s John “who had been a farmer had started
carting hay for his son John Collins of South Road” (Evening Journal 11 Feb
1878). It seems
that son John had taken over the family farm in St Marys around 1875 and his
father helped by making hay deliveries to customers.
On 15 Jan 1878 John had a
terrible accident which was reported in S.A. Chronicle on 15 Feb 1878 (above).
John had been carting hay using a horse and dray in central Adelaide. He was
accompanied by his grand-daughter Phoebe Ferris, when shortly after he stopped for
some groceries in Gouger St, the horse bolted. Phoebe was able to jump free,
but John was thrown to the ground where he sustained various serious injuries.
He was taken to hospital but sadly died a few weeks later. John was 71 when he
died on 7 Feb. At that time, he lived on South Road (probably St Marys where
all three of his adult children were living).
Ann Maria Collins nee Dallen aged 81 died on 5 Feb 1883 at the Kent home of daughter Elizabeth Ann Ferris and was buried with husband John at St Marys Anglican Cemetery. The family of John and Ann's youngest son James Collins erected a family gravestone in memory of John and Ann. The gravestone also includes the names of James, his wife Catherine and well as five of their children.
64.6a Ann Maria Dallen (1799-1883) Wife of John Collins (1807-1878)
Anna Maria was baptised 21 Apr
1799 at Okham, Surrey. She was the daughter of James and Ann Dallen.
"Ann Maria was brought to
Tasmania aboard the ship the Princess Royal in 1832. The Princess Royal was the
first ship to transport female emigrants from England to Van Diemens Land
(Tasmania). The Princess Royal and the ships that followed were known as
'Bride Ships' and were to be the answer to the lack of female workers and
potential wives for the predominantly male population of Tasmania. The
women and girls were from a variety of backgrounds and social class and were
regarded as free immigrants, but many had 'questionable backgrounds'. The women
came from a variety of places such as the London Penitentiary, the Refuge for
the Destitute, the National Guardian Institution and the Chelsea School of Reform.
The women comprised widows with children, ‘fallen women’, orphans and ex-prisoners.
The women were provided with
clothing, linen and "all things necessary" for their voyage.
There was also a bounty to be paid on their arrival in Hobart. They departed
from Gravesend on the Princess Royal on 14 April 1832. Ann Maria was one of 250
passengers on board and was allocated bunk number 98. The ship's log records
that she was 30 years old and her last abode was 'The Women's Penitentiary'
London! It also notes that her baking, brewing and dressmaking skills were very
good.
After a journey of almost five
months, the ship was in sight of its destination, when on the night of 23
August 1832 there was a huge storm and the ship was severely damaged. The
passengers were put ashore at Frederick Henry Bay and subsequently taken to
Hobart. The women were given temporary accommodation at the newly built
Orphans' School in New Town, Hobart until they could find employment. Within 4
days of arrival, Ann was before the magistrates for drunkenness. She was taken
to Court various times for being drunk and fighting and also jailed several
times."
From at least Sep 1832 Ann Dallen
was frequently involved in drunken scuffles and spent many nights in the local
watch-house until she sobered up. Interestingly there were far fewer drunken
episodes reported in the papers after she met John, so he must have helped her
develop a healthy level of sobriety. By 1836 Ann had met John Collins who was
an overseer at Carrington Estate, Richmond, Tasmania and they lived as man and
wife for a number of years and had three children. Ann it seems came from a
troubled background and even after she met John, Ann sometimes found trouble,
as in this very unflattering account of her behaviour in a court report in
1846, "Ann Collins, a vixenish little woman, about four feet high, was
charged with attempting to leave the impression of her eight 'digits' on the
face of Mary Noyer, and calling her such 'audacious' names that she [Mary] saving
his honour's presence could not 'recruit' her mouth by uttering. Ann was fined
five shillings". Another court report in Mar 1847 confirmed that Ann
Collins was (thought to be) a married woman. See 64.6 for more about Ann’s
married life.
Ann Maria Collins nee Dallen aged
81 died on 5 Feb 1883 at the Kent home of her daughter Elizabeth Ann Ferris nee
Collins and was buried with husband John at St Marys Anglican Cemetery in
Mitcham. A family gravestone shown below is inscribed with family names. For more about her
married life see 64.6 above. Note: Main Source: Alison Smith (Ancestry)
64.6b Three Children of John
Collins (1807-1878)
& Ann Maria
Dallen (1799-1883)
The three known children were all
born in Tasmania but moved to South Australia with their parents when they were
young.
i) Elizabeth Ann Collins
(1836-1923)
Elizabeth Ann Collins was born to
John Collins and Ann Dallen at Carrington Estate, Richmond Tasmania in 1836. At
the age of 15, she moved to South Australia with her parents and brothers
(Messrs. James and John Collins). They sailed on the brig Gazelle, on 4 June
1851. She married Thomas William Ferris on 25 Oct 1860 in Adelaide. The couple
had eight children Alfred 1861, Phoebe 1663, Thomas 1864, James 1866, Emma 1868,
Sidney 1871, William 1873 and Charles 1876. Most of the children were born in
Edwardstown, near Glenelg, so the family were living close to Elizabeth’s
parents in South Rd, St Marys and not far from her uncle William Collins in
Sturt Road, Brighton. Only four children outlived their mother.
Her husband died 8 Sep 1905 at
Glenelg and Elizabeth Ann Ferris nee Collins died in 1923. An obituary
published in 'The Register' 5 Nov 1923 gave some information about her life.
"Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Ferris, who recently died at the age of 87
years, was born in Tasmania, and arrived in South Australia with her parents,
two brothers (Messrs. James and John Collins) and uncle (Mr. Matthew Collins);
all since deceased; in the brig Gazelle, on June 4,1851. (The inclusion of
Matthew Collins is probably an error see 64.9).
Mrs. Ferris (pictured), who until
comparatively recently, had good health, long resided at Glenelg; but, for the
last eight years, had lived with her daughter (Mrs. J. C. Sando) at St. Peters.
In her younger days she took an active interest in the work of the Church of
Christ denomination. Four children survive; Mrs. J. C. Sando, Messrs. Sydney
Ferris (Somerton), Charles Ferris (Glenelg), and W. Ferris (Magill), 20
grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Her husband, Mr. Thomas Ferris,
predeceased her by 18 years." The gravestone of Thomas and Elizabeth Ann Ferris nee Collins is shown below.
ii) John Collins (1838-1911)
John was born on Clarendon
Estate, near Richmond in Tasmania in 1838. At the age of 13, he moved to South
Australia with his parents and siblings. They sailed on the brig Gazelle, on 4
June 1851. In 1864 he married Mary Ann Fabian (1845-1898) at Lower Mitcham, Adelaide.
Mary Ann Fabien’s parents had
arrived in Adelaide in 1839 and were amongst the first to join the
Congregational Church at Hindmarsh formed by Rev Stowe. The Fabien family lived
in Edwardstown and Mitcham before moving to Adelaide. Mary Ann’s older brother
was the Adelaide City treasurer. (Observer 24 Mar 1906).
The couple settled in St Marys,
either with or near John’s parents and had four known children Ellen 1866,
Alice 1868, William 1870 and Edwin 1871. Most of the children were born in
Edwardstown, near Glenelg, so the family were living close to both John and
Mary’s parents in South Rd, St Marys and not far from John’s uncle William
Collins in Sturt Road, Brighton. As his father, aged John junior probably took
over the running of the family farm.
In 1875 (Evening Journal 11 May)
John gained a position of Ganger for Hindmarsh Ward. This was probably the
reason why the family moved some 10 km to North Adelaide. As ganger he would
have been responsible for organising workers to do repairs and maintenance on
roads and other council infrastructure. In March of the same year John Collins,
Adelaide Corporation labourer gave evidence in a trial concerning the theft of
wood from Light Square.
Two years later in 1877 (The
Express 8 Aug) John was apparently dismissed (from the position), but according
to other reports below he gained other similar work (perhaps in a different
Ward).
In 1881 (S. A. Advertiser 5 Mar)
John Collins, ganger was ordered to provide maintenance for his widowed mother.
His sister Elizabeth Ferris nee Collins provided evidence in the case and was
probably caring for her mother at this time. In 1885 John Collins, Corporation
(Council) Ganger living in North Adelaide was a witness in a court case
reported in the Evening Journal 6 Jan. John gave evidence in a horrific murder
investigation telling how he had come across the body of a murdered baby in a
drain. In 1886 an original poem titled ‘The Penitent’ written by John Collins
of North Adelaide was published in The Express (12 May). The poem was very
reflective and may be based on John’s experiences in life. Another poem was
published a few months later.
In 1892 Ellen, eldest daughter of
John and Mary Collins of Melbourne Street, North Adelaide married Robert Scott.
Sadly, John’s wife Mary Ann Collins nee Fabien died at home in Melbourne Street
in 1898 at the age of 52. John was still living in Melbourne Street in 1901
when his youngest daughter was married. In the early 1900’s John moved Victoria
St, Forestville on the other side of the city centre.
John died at the age of 73 in 1911 in hospital with his residence listed as Forestville. As can be seen by the two death notices above there was some confusion about John’s age. The hospital record lists him as a 74 widowed labourer of the Church of England faith. It also notes that he was born in Tasmania and had been in S.A. for 59 years (since 1851).
John was buried in West Terrace Cemetery with his wife Mary Collins nee Fabien and a gravestone marks their burial place.
iii) James Collins (1840-1915)
James was
born on Clarendon Estate, near Richmond in Tasmania in 1840. At the age of 11,
he moved to South Australia with his parents and siblings. They sailed on the
brig Gazelle, on 4 June 1851. In 1865 he married Catherine Kelley in Adelaide,
and they settled on a farm at St Mary’s where they had nine children, John 1866, Annie 1867, William
1869, Alice 1871, Alfred 1872, Arthur 1874, Percy 1876, Harry 1877 and Herbert
1880. Sadly, both William and Alice died in 1873. More tragedy hit the family
after they moved to Stanley Street, North Adelaide when youngest son Percy died
in 1893 aged 17. Stanley St runs parallel to Melbourne St. where James’ parents
resided in the 1890’s.
Wife Catherine Collins nee Kelley
died in 1915 and James Collins died the following year in 1916. Both died at their
home in Stanley St. The obituary above published in The Advertiser on 9 Sep
1816 tells us that they were survived by six children.
There is a headstone on the
family grave at St Mary’s Cemetery listing James and his wife Catherine as well
as five of their children and James’ parents.
64.7 Ann Collins (1811-1813)
Ann was the seventh child of GGGGGP Saunders
Cook Collins and Elizabeth Collins nee Johnson. She baptised on the 24
Feb 1811 in Lambeth.
64. 8 Henry Collins (1813-1820)
Henry was baptised on 7 Mar 1813.
His father, Saunders Collins was listed as a plasterer and the
family home was in High St. Lambeth (see above).
Henry died as a child.aged 7
and was buried on the 25 Jan 1820. The family were living in Princes St. (see
above).
64.9 Matthew Collins (1815-1889)
Matthew Collins was the youngest
son and was baptised on 18 Jun 1815 at St Mary's Lambeth (see above). He
was listed as the son of GGGGGP Saunders Cook Collins, plasterer
and Elizabeth Collins. Matthew was named after an older brother who diedand also after his uncle (brother to his father) who was born in 1754. The family were living in High St at the
time.
At the time of his father GGGGGF
Saunders Cook Collins' death on 24 Jun 1828, Mathew aged 13 was
probably living with his family in Colkets Alley, Lambeth. GGGGGF
Saunders Cook Collins' will was proved 8th June 1832, four years after
his death. Matthew was the only child listed in his father's will and was named
as the youngest son. He was only six years old when the will was written in
1821. The will stipulated that Matthew's share of the inheritance should be
held in trust until he was 21. However, by the time he reached that age (1836),
he was living in Tasmania (along with two of his brothers). Whether he ever
benefited from the will is unknown, but his mother who was the sole executrix
may have advanced his money prior to him leaving England.
Matthew aged 17 and older
brothers John and GGGGP William Collins and his family set sail
for Tasmania on18 July 1832. There were a total of 58 immigrants on board the
ship 'John Craig', which arrived in Hobart on 30 November 1832.
Matthew probably worked with his
brother William as a plasterer in the expanding colony. He was quite young so
there are no records that bear his name. There is also no definitive record
showing when Matthew moved to South Australia, but a number of records suggest
it was in 1837, which was when his brother William also moved to Adelaide. Several
documents list Matthew Collins as arriving in South Australia in 1837 from
Tasmania including his death notice which states that he "Arrived in the
colony in 1837."
Matthew's first wife Ann Unknown
(c.1820 information from her death notice) arrived in S.A. during 1837, but it
is unlikely that Matthew was married at that time (due to his wife’s age which
was 17). An arrival in 1837 would also tie in with the reference in his
obituary below, which records that Matthew was involved with the 1840
construction of the heritage listed Victoria Theatre (aka Queens Theatre)
located at "the south end of Gilles Arcade, off Currie Street"
in Adelaide.
Like his older brother William, Matthew,
aged 23, wasted no time in establishing a business. The above advert from ‘Southern
Australian’ 3 Nov 1838, shows that while William was selling bricklayer’s lime,
Matthew was into selling bricks.
In his niece's obituary published
in 1923 (above), it is stated that Matthew didn't arrive until 1851. All
available evidence points to an earlier arrival for Matthew. The passenger list
for the 'Gazelle', from Hobart Town with Captain Wood, only listed 'Mr
Collins, wife and three children'. Mr Collins was probably John Collins,
who was with his wife Ann and their three children. There were ten other adults
listed, but there was no 'Matthew Collins', so he more likely arrived in 1837,
but separately from William.
Another document that confirms Mathew being in South Australia in 1841 was the census of District B done in that year. The record indicates that Matthew Collins was between the ages of 22 and 34 (he was 26 years old) and no wife was listed. District B was where William Collins and his family had purchased land in 1838.
Matthew certainly arrived before 23 March 1841 because on that day a huge list of colonists signed an open letter published in the 'Southern Australian' to Governor Gawler. The people included Matthew Collins and his brother William Collins, builder.
In 1846 (South Australian 3 Feb 1846) Matthew purchased 59 acres of land (lot 1941, Section 1072) at a cost of 59 pounds. Rod Gilbert’s research shows that the land was adjacent to Section 882 in the Pasadena/Shepherds Hill vicinity, just east of Tonsley (where brother John settled) and about 10 km directly south of the city. However, Charles Sturt, Colonial Secretary, announced in April of that year that the deposit had been forfeited and was open for selection for £53 1s. This indicates that either Matthew did not proceed with the sale or purchased it after the original forfeiture. There are no indications of what he did with the land if, indeed, he bought it.
Later that year he may have
journeyed to Portland, Melbourne or Sydney, as he was listed on the passenger
list of the schooner 'Will Watch' that departed Adelaide on 14 Nov.1846. ('Adelaide
Observer' 21 Nov).
Matthew returned to Adelaide and
by 1851 he had purchased an existing flour mill at Thebarton (established
1840's and changed hands several times) as reported in the 'Adelaide Times' 21
Nov 1851, "Victoria Flour Mill, Thebarton. The undersigned beg leave to
inform the public that the above mill is now ready to receive wheat, to grind,
when the utmost care and attention will be paid to all orders that may be
entrusted to him. M. Collins, Thebarton". Many more adverts appeared
in 1852 (see above) and Matthew Collins of Thebarton, miller; was called for
jury duty that year too.
Matthew's milling business seems
to have been sold to Christopher Whitford (as reported in the Adelaide Observer
2 Jan 1858 above) around 1857. There are two factors that may have contributed
to Matthew having to sell the business Firstly, there was much competition in
the sector as more and more new mills were established, and secondly Matthew's
brother, William, was locked in a damaging court battle about the
finances of his mill (destroyed by fire) in Brighton. Perhaps the latter had
damaged Matthew's reputation as well, and driven customers away. The fact that
Matthew moved well away from Adelaide at this time also suggests that life in
the city had become uncomfortable for him. Thebarton was just a few km east of
Adelaide.
Matthew must have done well out
of his business interests, because he moved 40 km to his own farm at Angle Vale
near Gawler in the mid 1850's. A court case in 1856 (S.A.Register 17 Sep) shows
that Matthew had found 17 bullocks on his land (Section 85 Port Gawler) and was driving them to the pound when the owner
stepped in a took five of them back. In 1859 Charles Giles purchased a
residence off Matthew Collins near Magill (about 10km from Thebarton).
Matthew was listed as a farmer in
the 'S.A. Directory' of 1870 living in Port Gawler. In 1878 he got into a
dispute with a neighbour that went to court. 'The Bunyip' newspaper ' 22
November 1878 reported the case under the headline; "Threatening
language". Peter Rowe junior was charged with using threatening and abusive
language to Matthew Collins farmer, Angle Vale..... He was coming from the
pound where he had taken some of defendant's father's sheep and met defendant;
a female was with him in the cart. He used insulting and abusive language, the
repetition of which in the interests of society there is no need to publish.
The parties are near neighbours and have been so for 21 years past. From the
evidence, which was unsupported by witnesses on either side, it appeared that
very bad language, was used by the defendant to the plaintiff, who among other
things had threatened to kill him. The impounding of cattle on a former
occasion, and of sheep recently had brought about the rupture in their
friendship. Defendant was fined 20s. and costs." This article implies
that Matthew moved to Angle Vale around 1857.
On 4 Apr 1879, Matthew Collins, farmer from Angle Vale, appeared as a witness in a trial of his neighbour Mr Rowe. (Gawler Standard 5 Apr 1879). By the early 1880's Matthew had decided to put his property up for sale. 'The Bunyip' 5 Oct 1883 reported, "At Rowes Crossing, Gawler River, One mile north-west of Angle Vale, clearing out sale with instructions from Mr. Matthew Collins, who has sold his farm." Rowes Crossing was probably named after Matthew Collin's troublesome neighbour.
Mathew and his wife Ann then moved closer to the city to Nailsworth, where Ann passed away in 1885. The 'South Australian Register' 26 Sep 1885 published the funeral notice as follows, "the friends of Mr. Mathew Collins are respectfully informed that the remains of his late wife [Ann] aged 65 will leave his residence, Nailsworth for the Islington Cemetery [now Dudley Park, path B, grave 74]." She was a colonist of 48 years and arrived in the colony 1837.
On the occasion of South Australia's jubilee celebrations surviving early colonists were listed in the 'South Australian Register' 28 Dec 1886 and included Mathew Collins who was recorded as arriving in 1837.
Matthew must have been lonely after the death of his first wife and on 25 May 1886 he married his second wife. The marriage notice read, "On the 25th May, at Matthew's residence at Nailsworth, Matthew Collins, to Sarah, widow of the late James Salter, of the Isle of Wight". The marriage registration listed his father as GGGGGF Saunders Cook Collins.
Seven years later Sarah died (The
Advertiser 25 Dec 1893). The funeral notice read as follows; "The
friends of Mr Matthew Collins are respectfully informed that the remains of his
late wife (Sarah) will leave his residence, Nailsworth for the Islington
Cemetery."
In the 1890's Matthew was in his
seventies and getting frail and could not manage on his own. There are no
records of him having children, so his nephew William Saunders Collins (son of
brother William Collins) stepped in. The 'Chronicle' 12 December
1896 reported that the court was to examine whether Matthew Collins should be
declared "incapable of managing his own affairs by reason of senile
decay. After the hearing of evidence in support of the petition and personally
examining the respondent, His Honour remarked that this was a clear case of
senile decay that clearly the respondent could not be in better hands than at
present. He found that Matthew Collins was incapable of managing his affairs
and recommended that Messrs. W. S. C. Collins" [nephew William
Saunders Cook Collins] be appointed to manage Mathew's affairs. Costs of
both parties were to come out of the estate.
Matthew died in his nephew
William's home in 1899 as reported in death notices in 'The Express and
Telegraph' 1 Jul 1899, "Collins- At his nephew's residence, Frederick
street, Maylands. Mathew Collins, formerly of Gawler River, aged 85 years.
Arrived in the colony in 1837." Mathew had no known children and
the fact that he was cared for by his nephew when he was older is further
evidence of this.
Queens Theatre, Adelaide (See also 61.4)
64.10
Ann Collins (1817-1820)
Ann was baptised 19 Oct 1817 at
St Marys (see above). She was the last child born to parents Saunders
Cook Collins, plasterer of High St, Lambeth and his wife Elizabeth.
Sadly Ann died at the age of two and was buried at St Marys on 21 July 1820. The family were living in High St at this time.
65.0 Ancestors of GGGGGF Saunders Cook Collins (1770-1828)Not much is known about GGGGGF Saunders Collins' parents; GGGGGGP William and Ann Collins. As there is limited opportunity for information to be cross-checked the chance of errors increases. Research outlined below shows that there were eleven children born to William and Ann Collins at St Mary's, Lambeth between 1750 and 1770. The dates of baptism are sequential and on average two years apart, which is consistent with them being from the same couple. If this is so, then William and Ann would have been married in the late 1740's. Ann would have been about 21 when she married, and 22 when she had her first child (i.e born c1728). She would have been about 42 when she had her last child in 1770.
Some other researchers have listed the birth of William Collins as taking place in 1730 at Aldingbourne (64 miles from London) and a marriage to Ann Faulkner in the same place in 1759. Children born in Aldingbourne to William and Ann Collins were Edmund 1761 Charlotte 1762 John 1768, Elizabeth 1772 and Thomas 1773. As these births overlap with the Collins family births in Lambeth including GGGGGF Saunders Collins (1770-1828) I think it is safe to say that an unrelated William Collins married Ann Faulkner in Aldingbourne.
65.1 GGGGGGP William Collins (1726-1788) & Ann Unknown (c1729-1788)
GGGGGGP William and his wife Ann were both born in the late 1720’s, probably in the vicinity of London. Saunders Cook Collins was possibly given his middle name in honour of his mother's maiden name, which could mean his mother was Ann Cook. There were several Ann Cooks baptised around 1730 in Lambeth, but no marriage record has been found to support this contention.
William Collins was possibly baptised 5 Sep 1726 at Christchurch, Southwark. During the 1720’s this church deteriorated to such an extent that it collapsed and was not replaced for over a decade. By 1728 the family had moved one mile and used the much safer St Olaf’s Church in Tooley St, Bermondsey for the baptism of brother Robert. By the 1730’s William’s family had moved again, and his next four siblings were baptised at St Marys in Lambeth. (2 miles from St Olafs). William would have spent most of his childhood in Lambeth.
There is a record for William Collins marrying Ann Mills at St Peters, Petersham, Surrey on the outskirts of London which could be them, as it was only 9 miles from Lambeth. This marriage occurred in May 1750, six months before their first child was born, but fits with Ann being born c1729 and having her last child at the age of 40 in 1770. The family lived in Lambeth, London where they had at least eleven children. See 66.0 for the baptism details.
The full list of children born at St Marys to William and Ann Collins were William Collins 17 Nov 1750-1781, Anna Maria Collins 15 Mar 1752, Matthew Collins 24 Feb 1754 (see below), Edmund Collins 30 Nov 1755, John Collins 11 Dec 1757, Ann Collins 28 Oct 1759, George Collins 30 Aug 1761, Benjamin Collins 12 Dec 1762-1764, Elizabeth Collins 4 Dec 1765, Sarah Collins 17 Jul 1768 and GGGGGF Saunders Cook Collins 15 Sep 1770-1828. All were baptised at St Marys, Lambeth and abode locations given at the baptisms mostly list Princes St., so that is probably where the family resided in the 1750’s and 1760’s. At about this time, there was a 'population explosion' in Lambeth and there would have been plenty of work for skilled tradesmen like plasterers.
NOTE: GGGGGF Saunders Collins named at least six of his own children after his ten siblings. This was a common practice at the time.
The children’s baptism records on the Family Search Website indicate Princes Street as an address for most of the baptisms and some of the burials. This may have been the family abode or possibly the address of the church. Daughter Sarah died in 1769 and the family address was listed as Back Lane. Some of the children’s burial records later link the family to Fore St (very close to Princes Street) so the family or children may have moved there after 1781 when son William died.
Upper and Lower Fore Streets followed the bank of the River Thames directly south of St Mary’s Church. Upper Fore St was later replaced by the Albert Embankment. Fore Street ran parallel to Princes Street which was the next street back from the Thames. See www.theundergroundmap.com/article
It is not known with certainty when GGGGGGP William and Ann Collins died, however the following two records may tell us.
The couple settled in Cursitor St Holborn, and that is where their twelve children were born. The children were Eleanor Catherine Collins 1805, Caroline Martha Collins 1806, Charles Daniel Collins 1808, Frederick 1809-1809, Frederick 1811, Emily 1812, Edwin Henry Collins 1814, Emily Sophia Collins 1816, Louisa Mary Collins 1817, Julia Agnes Collins 1819, George John Collins b1820 and Edwin Henry Collins. Daniel’s occupation was given as law stationer.
Daniel died in 1844 at the age of 70 in Cursitor St, Holborn. He left a will and probate was granted to daughters Caroline Martha Collins and Catherine Evans nee Collins. (Married Evan Evans 1832).
Some other researchers have listed the birth of William Collins as taking place in 1730 at Aldingbourne (64 miles from London) and a marriage to Ann Faulkner in the same place in 1759. Children born in Aldingbourne to William and Ann Collins were Edmund 1761 Charlotte 1762 John 1768, Elizabeth 1772 and Thomas 1773. As these births overlap with the Collins family births in Lambeth including GGGGGF Saunders Collins (1770-1828) I think it is safe to say that an unrelated William Collins married Ann Faulkner in Aldingbourne.
65.1 GGGGGGP William Collins (1726-1788) & Ann Unknown (c1729-1788)
GGGGGGP William and his wife Ann were both born in the late 1720’s, probably in the vicinity of London. Saunders Cook Collins was possibly given his middle name in honour of his mother's maiden name, which could mean his mother was Ann Cook. There were several Ann Cooks baptised around 1730 in Lambeth, but no marriage record has been found to support this contention.
William Collins was possibly baptised 5 Sep 1726 at Christchurch, Southwark. During the 1720’s this church deteriorated to such an extent that it collapsed and was not replaced for over a decade. By 1728 the family had moved one mile and used the much safer St Olaf’s Church in Tooley St, Bermondsey for the baptism of brother Robert. By the 1730’s William’s family had moved again, and his next four siblings were baptised at St Marys in Lambeth. (2 miles from St Olafs). William would have spent most of his childhood in Lambeth.
There is a record for William Collins marrying Ann Mills at St Peters, Petersham, Surrey on the outskirts of London which could be them, as it was only 9 miles from Lambeth. This marriage occurred in May 1750, six months before their first child was born, but fits with Ann being born c1729 and having her last child at the age of 40 in 1770. The family lived in Lambeth, London where they had at least eleven children. See 66.0 for the baptism details.
The full list of children born at St Marys to William and Ann Collins were William Collins 17 Nov 1750-1781, Anna Maria Collins 15 Mar 1752, Matthew Collins 24 Feb 1754 (see below), Edmund Collins 30 Nov 1755, John Collins 11 Dec 1757, Ann Collins 28 Oct 1759, George Collins 30 Aug 1761, Benjamin Collins 12 Dec 1762-1764, Elizabeth Collins 4 Dec 1765, Sarah Collins 17 Jul 1768 and GGGGGF Saunders Cook Collins 15 Sep 1770-1828. All were baptised at St Marys, Lambeth and abode locations given at the baptisms mostly list Princes St., so that is probably where the family resided in the 1750’s and 1760’s. At about this time, there was a 'population explosion' in Lambeth and there would have been plenty of work for skilled tradesmen like plasterers.
NOTE: GGGGGF Saunders Collins named at least six of his own children after his ten siblings. This was a common practice at the time.
The children’s baptism records on the Family Search Website indicate Princes Street as an address for most of the baptisms and some of the burials. This may have been the family abode or possibly the address of the church. Daughter Sarah died in 1769 and the family address was listed as Back Lane. Some of the children’s burial records later link the family to Fore St (very close to Princes Street) so the family or children may have moved there after 1781 when son William died.
Upper and Lower Fore Streets followed the bank of the River Thames directly south of St Mary’s Church. Upper Fore St was later replaced by the Albert Embankment. Fore Street ran parallel to Princes Street which was the next street back from the Thames. See www.theundergroundmap.com/article
It is not known with certainty when GGGGGGP William and Ann Collins died, however the following two records may tell us.
William Collins died in May 1788
and was buried at St Marys, Lambeth on 20 May. His wife Ann Collins nee Unknown died a few
months later in the same year and buried on 13 Oct. Both were buried at St
Mary's, Lambeth. If these records are correct, GGGGGGP William and
Ann Collins died in the same year, probably aged in their sixties. The
fact that they had the same given address at the time (listed as
"Walks") is further evidence that they were a couple. The term
"Walks" was probably referring to Vauxhall Walk, which was a known
address for later Collins descendants.
65.2 Princes Street or Princes Road?
These were two different
locations. Princes Road or Black Prince Road was a main thoroughfare that
started at the Thames and was a continuation of Broad Street and Lambeth Butts
that ran towards Kennington. Princes Street (now Albert Embankment) on the other
hand was a smaller local street that ran south from Broad Street at a
right-angle, close to and parallel to the River Thames joining on to Vauxhall
Row. Fore Street ran parallel to Princes Street but was along the riverbank.
Lambeth High Street was a continuation of Princes Street on the other side of
Broad Street. (see www.theundergroundmap.com )
65.3 Diagram 2 Showing Ancestors of Saunders Cook Collins
66.0 Eleven Children of William Collins (1726-1788)
& Ann Unknown
Apart from son Saunders
Cook Collins not much is known about William’s other ten children. Three
children (Anna Maria, Benjamin and Sarah) probably died as young children and
three (William, George and Elizabeth) probably died in their early thirties.
Only Matthew and Saunders were known to have and children. The fact that
Saunders was quite wealthy when he died, may have been due in part to the fact
that he survived the longest and inherited assets from his father and siblings.
66.1 William Collins (1750-1781
William
was baptised on 17 Nov 1750 and was named after his father. He probably died
Lambeth in 1781 and was buried at St Mary’s with his place of abode given as Fore
St. No record of a marriage or children has been found.
66.2 Anna
Maria Collins (1752-c1759)
Anna
Maria Collins was baptised on 15 March 1752 and probably died before her sister
Ann was born in 1759. No other records have been found.
66.3 Matthew
Collins (1754-1827)
Second
son Matthew Collins was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 24 Feb 1754, but
possibly born in 1753. He was the earliest known child baptised with that name,
which continued to be used over many generations in the Collins’ family.
There are
two possible marriages for Matthew. After he turned 21, he may have married Ann
Austin in 1774 or perhaps Catherine Ridge in 1775. Either marriage is a
possibility.
Matthew
Collins of Southwark Parish married Ann Austin (b1754 Lambeth), spinster of All
Hallows, Barking on 4 Dec 1774 at St Marys Rotherhithe (4 miles from Lambeth).
He would have been 21 if born in Nov 1753. Witnesses were James Austin and
William Austin (b.1757 Lambeth). Matthew used Mathw as an abbreviated
signature. Children baptised to the couple at All Hallows include Mary Ann
b1775, Sarah Collins b1776 and Matthew Collins 1778. All Hallows was north of
the Thames, about 3 miles via Blackfriars Bridge. This couple may have been the
same couple that had three more children in Bermondsey (Esther 1783, Hannah
1784 and Edmund 1786). If so, then this couple lived in Jamaica Row and Matthew
was a ‘mariner’, which makes him an unlikely relative.
Banns for
the marriage of Matthew Collins aged 21 and Catherine Ridge (Kitty Ridge b1752,
Lambeth) were read at St Mary Le Strand in Jan 1775. No actual marriage
registration has been found, but presumably they married soon after. Their
first child was born in March 1775 (baptised April), so Catherine must have
been very pregnant when she travelled to St Mary Le Strand. In fact, the reason
they crossed the Thames to be married may have been to avoid scandal. Matthew
and Catherine had three known children, all born in the town where both Matthew
and Catherine were born. The children were Daniel b1775, Ann b1776 and Mary
1782, all baptised at Lambeth. Although Mary Le Strand was only about 1 mile
from Lambeth as the crow flies, it was a two mile trip using Blackfriars Bridge
which was the closest bridge over the Thames. See note below. Alternatively,
there may have been a ferry crossing.
Matthew
Collins b1754 died in 1827 at the reputed age of 75 (really 74) and was buried
at St Mary’s, Lambeth. His abode was listed as ‘Fore Street’, Lambeth, a street
where some of his siblings were known to reside.
NOTE 1: Another
Matthew Collins, bachelor, married Catherine Murphy (b1764 Holborn),
spinster, in 1787 at St George, Bloomsbury. Witnesses were John Prinsden and
William Holborn. Both were of the Parish of St Giles. The only known child from
this couple was Matthew b1796 baptised at St Giles. Matthew’s wife, Catherine (of
Great White Lion at St Giles), died in Jan 1797 and was buried at St Giles. Her
death was probably the result of a traumatic childbirth and explains why they
only had the one child. Matthew (the father) died at the age of 52 and was
buried at St Giles in 1818. This meant he was born in 1766 and therefore could
not be our Matthew. The two Matthews can easily be confused, especially since
they both married women named Catherine, but fortunately the marriage dates are
a considerable time apart. They were bachelors at the time of marriage which
confirms that they were different men.
NOTE 2: The first fixed crossing at
Blackfriars was a 995-foot (303 m) long toll bridge. It took nine years to
build, opening to the public in 1769. It was the third bridge across the Thames
in the then built-up area of London, supplementing the ancient London Bridge,
which dated from several centuries earlier, and Westminster Bridge.
66.3a Daniel Collins (1775-1844) Son
of Matthew Collins b1754
Daniel born in Lambeth in 1775 and baptised at Lambeth by Matthew Collins and Catherine Ridge. In 1804 Daniel married widow Eleanor Martha Bracey in Islington. Both were of that parish, and both signed their names. By 1806 Daniel had qualified as a ‘writer’ and had taken on an apprentice named Thomas Isaac Sanders in his business in Holborn. The couple settled in Cursitor St Holborn, and that is where their twelve children were born. The children were Eleanor Catherine Collins 1805, Caroline Martha Collins 1806, Charles Daniel Collins 1808, Frederick 1809-1809, Frederick 1811, Emily 1812, Edwin Henry Collins 1814, Emily Sophia Collins 1816, Louisa Mary Collins 1817, Julia Agnes Collins 1819, George John Collins b1820 and Edwin Henry Collins. Daniel’s occupation was given as law stationer.
Daniel died in 1844 at the age of 70 in Cursitor St, Holborn. He left a will and probate was granted to daughters Caroline Martha Collins and Catherine Evans nee Collins. (Married Evan Evans 1832).
66.4 Edmund Collins (1755-1807)
Edmund Collins was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 30 Nov 1755. The FS record lists his family abode as Princes Street. He probably died in 1807 aged 52 with his abode at the time given as High St. No more is known.66.5 John Collins (1757-1805)
John Collins was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 11 Dec 1757. The FS record lists his family abode as Princes Street. There were many marriages of men named John Collins in the late 1700’s. John probably signed his name but several of the marriage records have signatures so that information does not help. Many land tax records list John Collins. The records in the 1790’s do not clearly specify a street but John Collins was listed as living in an area containing many (crowded) tenements near Fore Street. These records could be referring to our John Collins because some of his siblings seem to be associated with this road. John Collins of Fore St died in 1805 and was buried at St Marys. There were no known children.66.6 Ann Collins (1759-1824)
Ann Collins
was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 28 Oct 1759. The FS record lists her
family abode as Princes Street. She may have married John Nicholson, bachelor
at St Marys in 1784 when she was 25. Witnesses were William Croydon and William
Rowland. All parties signed their names. Ann Nicholson was buried two miles
from Lambeth at St Saviour, Southwark in Nov 1824 at the age of 63 (really 65).
There were no known children.
66.7 George Collins (1761-1793)
George
Collins was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 30 Aug 1761. The FS record lists
his family abode as Princes Street. He may have married Sarah Spaurford on 3 Mar
1793 at Southwark but buried three months later at St Marys in June 1793 (aged
32), with his abode listed as Greenwich. No more is known.
66.8 Benjamin Collins (1762-1764)
Benjamin Collins
was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 12 Dec 1762. Benjamin died as a child and
was buried at St Marys in Apr 1764. The baptismal record and burial record on Family
Search lists Princes (Street) as his abode.
66.9 Elizabeth Collins (1765-1809)
Elizabeth
Collins was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 4 Dec 1765. Elizabeth probably
died as a young woman. There were several burials of people with her name at
Lambeth around 1810. Elizabeth Collins of Mount Row was buried in 1808,
Elizabeth of Princes Street was buried in Feb 1809, Elizabeth of Church Street
in Jun 1809 and Elizabeth of Glocester Street in Oct 1809. Of these, the second
Elizabeth is most likely to be William’s daughter. The Princes Street address
was frequently listed as an abode for the Collins Family. An alternative burial
is for Elizabeth Collins of Lambeth Butts buried 9 May 1831. There were no
known children.
An
unlikely alternative is that Elizabeth Collins b1765 may have married William
Saunders in Jan 1788 at St George, Hanover Square. Witnesses were Caleb and
George Greville. Both parties were of that parish and everyone signed their
names. Elizabeth’s brother Saunders Cook Collins may have been given his first
name in honour of Elizabeth’s father-in-law.
66.10 Sarah Collins (1768-1769)
Sarah Collins was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 17 July 1768 but probably died the following year. Sarah Collins of Back Lane was buried at St Marys in Nov 1769. Usually, burial records listed an age or at least an indication of whether the person was an infant, but none of the burials on this record give a clue as to the age of Sarah so it could well be her. If it was, the family must have been residing in Back Lane (now High Street) at this time.
66.11 GGGGGF Saunders Cook Collins (1770-1828)
Saunders Cook Collins was baptised at St Marys, Lambeth on 15 Sep 1770. Saunders married Elizabeth Johnson (1773-1847) on 15 Aug 1792 at St. Marys at Lambeth and they had ten children together. See 63.0 for more information about Saunders and his married life.
67.0 Ancestors of William Collins (1726-1788)
Rod Gilbert has researched possible ancestors for William Collins b1726. He suggests that William Collins b1726 may have been born to William and Elizabeth Collins at Lambeth. This couple had six children in addition to William. (See 68.0)
67.1 John & Daniel Collins. Brothers of William (1726-1788)
William b1726 and Ann Collins had a son named George in 1761. Four years earlier John Collins b1734 and his wife Ann also had a son named George baptised in the same church. What is particularly interesting is that the abode of both couples was given as “Princes” which was probably referring to Princes Street, Lambeth.
There was also a couple named Daniel c1727 and Mary Collins living at Princes Street and having children around the same time, many with the same names. Perhaps William b1726, John b1734 and Daniel Collins c1727 were brothers! Mathew Collins b1754 (son of William b1726) named one of his sons Daniel, perhaps in honour of an uncle and William b1726 named one of his sons John b1757.The names William, Matthew and John were frequently used in the Collins tree from then on.
Rod Gilbert has researched this line of enquiry further and suggests that William Collins c1726 may have been born to William c1700 and Elizabeth Collins at Lambeth. This couple had six children in addition to William c1726. See 68.0.
67.2 William Collins (c1700-1758) & Elizabeth Robertson (c1704-1762)
No baptism record has been found for William Collins c1700, but he was probably born near Southwark and going by the births of his children would have married in the early 1720’s.
A William Collins married Elizabeth Robertson at Clapham, 3 miles from Lambeth in April 1722 which may be them. William Collins c1700 and Elizabeth Robertson had seven children from the mid 1720’s. Their first children were born in Southwark, but then William and Elizabeth moved a few miles to Lambeth in the 1730’s where the rest of their children were born.
No definitive records for the years of death of William and Elizabeth Collins nee Robertson? have been found, but William may have been buried at St Saviour, Southwark in 1758 with wife Elizabeth buried in the same place four years later.
Rod found a baptism for William Collins the son of William Collins, at St Mary’s, Bermondsey in Aug 1669. This could well be the father of William c1700. William b1669 may have moved his family 2 miles to Christchurch, Southwark, where some of his grandchildren were baptised. William Collins b1669 was possibly buried on 5 Sep 1726 at Christchurch. This church was located in Blackfriars Road, just south of Stamford St. It closed to burials in 1856 and the church was destroyed in 1941, but later rebuilt. It was about two miles from Bermondsey and one mile from Lambeth.
William Collins c1700 may have had a relative (not a brother) named Robert (b1697 Christchurch to Robert Collins, a waterman, and wife Elizabeth). Robert Collins b1794 and his wife Mary had children named Robert (baptised in 1731 at Christchurch in Southwark), Ann (baptised 1733 at St Marys, Lambeth) and Elizabeth baptised 1743 at Christchurch, Southwark. Like William this couple baptised some of their children at Christchurch in Southwark and some at Lambeth. (See Diagram 2 in 65.3)
Most of our Collins family resided in the Lambeth area for at least the next century. Where they originated is very open to speculation. Rod suggests there may be connections north of the Thames around Holborn, but just as easily they may have moved to city from outlying parts of London in the south.
68.0 Seven Children of William Collins (c1700-1788) & Elizabeth Robertson (c1704-1762)
The connection of William Collins c1700 and Elizabeth Robertson c1704 to our family tree is based on guesswork using the few records that are available. William Collins c1700 and Elizabeth Robertson married at Clapham in 1722 and may have had the following seven children. Apart from the baptism dates
given below, other dates are my guesses based on the year of birth of the first child and allowing for time between births.
68.1 William Collins (1726-1788)
William was possibly baptised 5 Sep 1726 at Christchurch, Southwark. He married Ann Unknown c1730? in 1750 and had eleven children. See 65.1
68.2 Daniel Collins (c1727-1771)
Daniel must have been born around 1727 to marry in 1747 but no baptism registration has been found. He married Mary Unknown around 1747 and had the following children baptised at St Marys, Lambeth; Daniel 9 Apr 1748-c1750, William 30 July 1749, Ann 17 March 1750, Daniel 5 November 1752, Robert 6 Jan 1754-1760, Mary 1 Feb 1755-1755, Esther 8 Aug 1756-1756, Mary 11 Dec 1757, John James 22 September 1759-c1766, Henry 22 March 1761, Esther 27 October 1762, Elizabeth 7 January 1764, Robert 9 November 1765, James 22 February 1767 and Sarah 30 April 1769. If wife Mary was 40 when she had her last child, she would have been born in 1729 and would have been 18 when she married. She is credited with giving birth to 15 children but many of these would have died as infants. Daniel Collins died at Lambeth in 1771.
68.3 Robert Collins (1728-1760)
Robert was baptised 6 Mar 1728 at St Olave, Bermondsey (Tooley Street). According to the baptism record his father was a smith by occupation. He married Charlotte Unknown around 1749 and their only child named Harriet was born at St Marys in Aug 1750. Robert’s small family may have been the result of him being unwell. Robert Collins of Back Lane, Lambeth was buried at St Marys on 27 Apr 1760.
68.4 Mary Ann Collin (1731-?)
Mary was baptised 16 May 1731 at Lambeth. No more is known.
68.5 Charles Collins (1733-1816)
Charles was baptised 10 June 1733 at Lambeth. It seems he did not marry nor have children. Charles Collins died in Nov 1816 at a reputed age of 75 (really 83) and was buried at St Marys. NOTE: As the name Charles was used nowhere else in our family tree, he was quite likely from another family.
68.6 John Collins (1734-1796)
John was baptised at St Marys on 21 Jul 1734. John Collins of Lambeth Walk was buried at St Marys on 22 Dec 1796. Lambeth Walk was the abode of both William and Elizabeth Collins (John’s parents?) when they died in 1788. There are two possible families that may be associated with John Collins b1734.
i) At age 18 or 19 he may have married Ann Unknown in late 1753 and had the following children (abode listed as Princes) William 24 July 1754-c1754, William 6 July 1755, Mary 13 November 1757 and George 4 Sep 1757 (twin?). A marriage as a teenager was not very common in our family so this possibility is unlikely.
ii) At age 23 John Collins bachelor married Mary Mutchell (b1737 Lambeth), spinster, at St Marys, Lambeth on 14 Feb 1757. Witnesses were Richard Pugh and Andrew Cutler. All parties signed their names. John and Mary Collins (abode listed as Princes) had children named John in Nov 1758, William in 1760, Mary in 1761 and Elizabeth in 1779 with their abode listed as Princes Street. John’s wife Mary was 42 when she had her last child. Other possible children were born at St Saviour Southwark (2 miles from Lambeth) between the last two children, perhaps because of a temporary move for work, were Daniel 1766 and Sarah 1768. The latter baptism registration tells us that John was a wheelwright by occupation, and this would have required relocating from time to time. This occupation is similar to the occupation of brother Robert who was a blacksmith.
68.7 Eleanor Collins (1737-1786)
Eleanor was baptised 7 May 1737. Eleanor Collins of Princes St, Lambeth was buried at St Marys in 1786. There were no known children.
69.0 Reserved for Future use
THE BIRD FAMILY
NOTE: Some of the following details were kindly supplied by Bronwyn Klar who sourced them from 'Neil Newman and Dianne Patricia Hansberry – a Family History'. As yet I have been unable to locate the source document. GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Bird's parents were GGGGGP Christopher Bird and Elizabeth Henshaw.70.0 GGGGGP Christopher Bird (1759-1808) & Elizabeth Henshaw (1757-1820)
GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw was baptised on 27 Nov 1757 by her parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw at St Botolph, Aldgate (see baptism registration above). She was the youngest of at least five children born to her parents. Her siblings included Elizabeth Henshaw 1749 (died 1754), Hannah Henshaw (1751-1795), Ann Henshaw 1753 and William Henshaw 1755. At the time of the first baptism in 1749 the family were living in Sweedland Court but later moved 1 mile south towards the river. Elizabeth spent her early years living in King St, Tower Hill, Aldgate, which was less than one mile from the Southwark area, where her future husband was living. If GGGGGM Elizabeth married Christopher Bird on 1 Jan 1785, she would have been 27 at the time, and that explains why she only had four children; the last in 1799 when she was 41.
The first document tells us that
William was the son of glazier Christopher Bird of London and that William
desired to be admitted to the Freedom of the City by way of patrimony. It
states that William was a legitimate child born after his
father was admitted to the Company of Glaziers. The dates which are hard to
interpret, suggest that Christopher was admitted in 1780 and son William was
born in 1787, two years after his father’s marriage. The Ancestry website reads
the date as 1784, but that would make William illegitimate!
Christopher and Elizabeth Bird’s second child was probably Mary Ann Bird, born in 1789. Like her older brother, no baptism record has been found, but there is circumstantial evidence indicating she was a sister to William Henry Bird b1787 and GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Bird b1794.
Although their children may have been baptised at Cookham, other records indicate that the family lived in Southwark in the 1780’s. Christopher would have benefitted from work in the booming building industry in central London as a glazier. Two more children were born to Christopher and Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw and they were baptised during the 1790’s. Amelia Caroline Bird was born on 10 Sep 1796 and baptised at St Mary, Lambeth on 27 Nov 1796 (above). Amelia died in Jan 1801 at the age of four and was buried at St Olave's Churchyard, Southwark on 1 Feb 1801. Their last child was born when Elizabeth was 42. Christopher John Bird was born on 14 June 1799 and baptised at St Olave, Southwark (about 2 miles from Lambeth). The record listed Christopher senior as a glazier. There are no further records that tell what happened to son Christopher John Bird and he probably died as an infant.
The baptisms of the last two children were held near Southwark and land records of 1800-1801 listed GGGGGF Christopher Bird b1759 as an occupant of one of three tenements owned by John Armstrong in St Olave, Southwark. St Olave Church, now demolished, was located in Tooley St Southwark, not far from Old London Bridge (demolished in 1832). Not to be confused with other churches named St Olave north of the river. In the 1861 census, daughter Mary Ann Bird b1789 named her birthplace as Silver St, London (near London Wall), and three of the Bird children were married in nearby St Botolph’s Church, which suggests that the family moved north of the river to Silver St. around 1802. Mary Ann may have named Silver St. as her birthplace because that was where she spent her older childhood.
The dates of death for GGGGGP Christopher and Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw are not known for certain, but the burials below may be them. It seems that later in life Christopher and Elizabeth were still living north of the river.
The Cook family seem to have originated in Cookham, Berkshire, where their first known child GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Bird was baptised on 27 Jul 1794.
GGGGGF Christopher Bird was baptised on 5 Aug 1759 at Cookham by his parents GGGGGGP John Bird and Sarah Sawyer. At
some stage Christopher moved 30 miles to the Southwark area of London, probably
for employment reasons. Going by the age of their children it would seem that Christopher Bird married his wife Elizabeth in the 1790's. The marriage registration below fits the known facts.
The marriage registration above lists Christopher Bird marrying Elizabeth Henshaw at St George the Martyr, Southwark, London on 1 Jan 1795. (About 2 miles from Lambeth). The witnesses were William Stevens and E. Bird. The latter was probably Christopher’s younger brother Edward Bird b1761. Some members of the Bird family followed a pattern where their signatures consisted of their initials and their surname. (See image in 63.0.
GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw was baptised on 27 Nov 1757 by her parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw at St Botolph, Aldgate (see baptism registration above). She was the youngest of at least five children born to her parents. Her siblings included Elizabeth Henshaw 1749 (died 1754), Hannah Henshaw (1751-1795), Ann Henshaw 1753 and William Henshaw 1755. At the time of the first baptism in 1749 the family were living in Sweedland Court but later moved 1 mile south towards the river. Elizabeth spent her early years living in King St, Tower Hill, Aldgate, which was less than one mile from the Southwark area, where her future husband was living. If GGGGGM Elizabeth married Christopher Bird on 1 Jan 1785, she would have been 27 at the time, and that explains why she only had four children; the last in 1799 when she was 41.
NOTE: Sweedland Court is now Swedeland Alley and
is located at 202 Bishopsgate opposite Liverpool Station and just a few hundred
metres from St Botolph’s Church.
According to their marriage
registration, Christopher Bird and Elizabeth Henshaw
were 'of this Parish', so they both had been living in the Southwark
area for some time. All parties signed their names. The marriage record
also fits with Christopher working as a glazier in London during
his married life. Christopher must have been well qualified for his job because
he was granted Freedom of the
City of London when he was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Glaziers
sometime before 1787 (according to son William Henry Bird’s application to join, see
below). Although the date is hard to read Christopher may have been admitted to
the company in 1780 when he was 21; about five years before his marriage.
The
first known child born to the couple was William Henry Bird, in 1787. No
baptism record has been found but he was most likely born in Southwark or
Cookham. He was possibly named after Christopher’s younger
brother William b1763. William b1787 became a glazier, probably learning the
trade from his father and working with him in London. William Henry Bird b1787
applied for admission to the Freedom of the Glaziers Company by patrimony as is
shown in the two documents below.
The second document confirms that
William Henry Bird b1784, son of Christopher Bird, glazier was formally
admitted to the Freedom of the Glaziers Company by patrimony 16 May 1821 when
he was in his thirties.
Christopher and Elizabeth Bird’s second child was probably Mary Ann Bird, born in 1789. Like her older brother, no baptism record has been found, but there is circumstantial evidence indicating she was a sister to William Henry Bird b1787 and GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Bird b1794.
i) Mary Ann Bird and GGGGM Charlotte Bird were witnesses at each other’s marriages. Mary Ann also appears to have been a witness at older brother William’s marriage. It was very common at the time for siblings to witness each other’s marriage. See 74.0 for a comparison of Mary Ann’s signature at these three weddings.
ii) Mary Ann’s parents were married in 1785. The birth of their first two children William Henry in 1787 and Mary Ann Bird 1789, followed by GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Bird 1794, Amelia 1796 and Christopher 1799 follows a typical pattern of children being born every few years in a marriage.
iii) Both Charlotte and Mary Ann named their first sons with the forenames ‘William Henry’, probably after their older brother. When these sons died at young ages both women named other sons William, so this name was significant to both of them. Other not so common names they both used for their own children were Caroline (after their younger sister) and Christopher (after their father and brother). In fact, Charlotte named children after all four of her siblings using the exact same forenames for three of them (William Henry, Christopher John and Mary Ann).
iv) All three siblings were married in St Botolph’s church in 1809, 1813 and 1817 indicating that this church was the family church.
ii) Mary Ann’s parents were married in 1785. The birth of their first two children William Henry in 1787 and Mary Ann Bird 1789, followed by GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Bird 1794, Amelia 1796 and Christopher 1799 follows a typical pattern of children being born every few years in a marriage.
iii) Both Charlotte and Mary Ann named their first sons with the forenames ‘William Henry’, probably after their older brother. When these sons died at young ages both women named other sons William, so this name was significant to both of them. Other not so common names they both used for their own children were Caroline (after their younger sister) and Christopher (after their father and brother). In fact, Charlotte named children after all four of her siblings using the exact same forenames for three of them (William Henry, Christopher John and Mary Ann).
iv) All three siblings were married in St Botolph’s church in 1809, 1813 and 1817 indicating that this church was the family church.
Christopher and Elizabeth Bird’s third child, (GGGGM
Charlotte) was baptised in Cookham on 20 July 1794 (see 71.3). This was
nine years after their marriage and creates a puzzle. Why was Charlotte
baptised at Cookham, some thirty miles from where the family resided? Perhaps
the pregnancy was difficult, and the family temporarily moved back to Christopher’s
birthplace for family support, or perhaps the family had a special connection
with Cookham church. No original baptism records have been found for
Christopher and Elizabeth’s first three children so the records may be lost.
The baptisms of the last two children were held near Southwark and land records of 1800-1801 listed GGGGGF Christopher Bird b1759 as an occupant of one of three tenements owned by John Armstrong in St Olave, Southwark. St Olave Church, now demolished, was located in Tooley St Southwark, not far from Old London Bridge (demolished in 1832). Not to be confused with other churches named St Olave north of the river. In the 1861 census, daughter Mary Ann Bird b1789 named her birthplace as Silver St, London (near London Wall), and three of the Bird children were married in nearby St Botolph’s Church, which suggests that the family moved north of the river to Silver St. around 1802. Mary Ann may have named Silver St. as her birthplace because that was where she spent her older childhood.
The dates of death for GGGGGP Christopher and Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw are not known for certain, but the burials below may be them. It seems that later in life Christopher and Elizabeth were still living north of the river.
The above burial registration for
Christopher Bird on 4 Jun 1808 was most likely GGGGF Christopher
Bird because at 48, he was the right age, the burial place at Spa
Fields, Clerkenwell, was only one mile from Silver St and the Non-Conformist
Church fits in with other members of the extended family choosing to reject the
Established Church in the early 1800’s.
Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw died in 1828, twenty years after
her husband. The above record describes the burial of Elizabeth Bird
aged 67 of High Street being buried at St Mary, Lambeth on 16 Dec 1828. She
was probably living with one of her three married children who all lived in
High Street at that time and were having children baptised at St Marys.
Her mother’s death may have made it easier for Charlotte to migrate to Tasmania a few years later. The main problem with this record is that it lists Elizabeth's age as 67 when in fact she would have been 71, but age errors in records were quite common.
Edited Extract From http://deceasedonlineblog.blogspot.com
Spa Fields Burial Ground became notorious in the 19th century for its
overcrowded and insanitary conditions. Located in the parish of St James,
Clerkenwell, the graveyard was not far from the City of London. The Spa Fields
locality is known for its nonconformist Chapel. In fact, Spa Fields is not the
chapel's burial ground as it was privately owned. The nonconformist burial
ground is .. (in) .. Bunhill Fields. Originally designed to hold 2,722
adult bodies, the (privately run Spa Fields) cemetery was soon taking in
1,500 bodies a year. In 1842, it was discovered that at night, bodies were
being exhumed and coffins burned. The Dissenters Chapel was demolished and
replaced in 1888 with the church of Our Most Holy Redeemer Clerkenwell, an
Anglican parish church, whose entrance can be found by passing through Spa
Fields Walk into bustling Exmouth Market.
70.1 Diagram 3 Showing Descendants of Christopher Bird & Elizabeth Henshaw
71.0
Five Children of GGGGGP Christopher Bird (1759-1808) & Elizabeth
Henshaw (1757-1828)
Original
church baptism records have not been found for the first three children, but
there is strong circumstantial evidence indicating that they were siblings and
children of Christopher and Elizabeth Bird. It seems the first
three children were the only ones to survive to adulthood and get married. All
three married in the same church.
71.1
William Henry Bird (1787-1835)
The
first child born to the couple was probably William Henry Bird, in 1787. No
baptism record has been found but he was most likely born in Southwark or
Cookham. He became a glazier like his father, married Sarah Manning in 1809 at
St Botolphs and fathered ten children. See 72.0 for more details of his life
and descendants.
71.2
Mary Ann Bird (1789-1863)
The
second child born to the couple was Mary Ann Bird (1789-1863). No baptism
record has been found but she was most likely born in Southwark or Cookham.
Mary Ann Bird b1789 was 24, four years older than husband Nicholas Hubble, when
they were married in 1813 at St Botolphs Church. They went on to have ten
children. See 74.0 for more details of her life and descendants.
71.3
GGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Bird (1794-1884)
GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Bird was baptised in Cookham, Berkshire (30 miles from Lambeth) on 4 Jul 1794 and baptised there on 27 Jul 1794 by GGGGGP Christopher Bird and Elizabeth Henshaw. As with her two older siblings no original church baptism registration has been found for Charlotte. Charlotte's parents were living in Southwark (about 3 miles from Lambeth) from the late 1780's onwards and two older siblings were possibly born there, so, Charlotte would have spent most of her childhood living in Southwark. The family probably moved to the Clerkenwell area around 1802 (according to her sister’s census record and her father’s burial place). At her marriage Charlotte was listed as a parishioner of St Botolph’s Parish, which was very close to the family home in Silver St. It was also close to The Plaisterer’s Hall, and that may have been how Charlotte met her future husband, plasterer, William Collins. 
The marriage registration above shows that William was a bachelor and Sarah a spinster. The witnesses were Samuel Manning (father or brother of Sarah) and Mary Bird (sister Mary Ann Bird c1789). William would have been aged 22 at this time and his sister 20. Later baptism records confirm that William’s occupation was glazier.
Fye (sic) Foot Lane, Type Court, Georges Row (now Dingley Place) and Pearson
St were about one mile apart. In former times it was more extensive than
at present and extended north to Old Fish Street. The northern portion was
demolished for the formation of Queen Victoria Street.
73.1 Sarah Ann Bird (1810-?)
Sarah was baptised at St Mary, Mounthaw in Mar 1810. As the firstborn daughter, Sarah was named after her mother. Sarah Ann Bird married William Shadrack Cordrey at St Botolphs in Oct 1828. Neither William nor Sarah Ann were able to sign their names. She was around 18 at that time and needed permission of her parents. Witnesses were John and Mary Ann Oldiss. It seems that William Cordrey died leaving Sarah a widow.
In 1851 widowed Sarah Cordrey, 41 year old widow, was living with and working as a servant for Marianne Turner, Professor in Dancing. Their abode was Blowfield St, St Botolphs. In 1852 Sarah Ann Corderoy, 42 year old widow married John Park 43 year old carpenter at Bethnall Green. Sarah’s father was listed as William Henry Bird, window glass cutter. One of the witnesses was brother Edward Bird. Sarah Ann and Edward both made their mark. In 1861 John 53 year old carpenter and Sarah 51 year old washerwoman were living in Angel St, St Bartholomew. No more is known.
73.2 Mary Elizabeth Bird (1813-c1813)
Mary was baptised at St Leonard Shoreditch in May 1813. Her father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Margaret St. Shoreditch. Mary must have died as an infant in Oct 1813 and a sister was given a very similar name in 1815.
73.3 Elizabeth Mary Bird (1815-c1820)
Elizabeth was baptised in the Parish of St Mary Mounthaw in Oct 1815. Her father William’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Fye Foot Lane. Twelve months (Sep 1814) earlier Elizabeth Bird’s cousin Elizabeth Sarah Hubble (1814-1878) was also baptized in St Mary's, Mounthaw. Her family were also living in Fye Foot Lane and may have been sharing the same house. Elizabeth must have died before 1824 when a sister was born and given the same name.
73.4 Amelia Frances Bird (1817-1885)
Amelia was baptised in the Parish of St Mary Mounthaw in Jan 1817. Her father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Fye Foot Lane. Amelia was named after her father’s sister Amelia Caroline Bird b1796.
In 1840 Amelia married William McCarthy, soap boiler, at St Botolph’s Church. Her father was listed as a glass cutter and Amelia made her mark for a signature. During the marriage, Amelia gave birth to seven known children. By 1851 they were living in the Finsbury area and youngest daughter Amelia aged 1 was living with, or visiting, her grandparents. The family hit hard times in 1855 when William was hospitalised for a “rupture” at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. At that time Amelia was supporting five children and she had to apply for financial assistance in that year and again in 1857. In 1873 William McCarthy died at the age of 64 in Shoreditch.
In 1879 Amelia Frances McCarthy nee Bird aged 62 married widowed chimney sweep William Griffin 59. Amelia’s father was listed as a glass cutter and Amelia made her mark. William Griffin died in Shoreditch in 1884. Amelia died from bronchitis at the age of 68 in 1885. Her abode at the time was St Leonards, Shoreditch
73.5 Henrietta Hawkins Bird (1820-1897)
Henrietta was baptised in the Parish of St Mary Mounthaw in Dec 1820. Her father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Fye Foot Lane. Her unusual middle name may have come from a friendship with the Hawkins family who were also glaziers living in nearby Vain Court and were have babies at this time too.
In 1849 spinster Henrietta 28 married bachelor James Robert Powell, a waiter, at St James Hoxton. Witnesses at the wedding were Henrietta’s younger siblings, Elizabeth and Samuel Bird. Henrietta and Samuel both made their marks, but Elizabeth signed her name. Henrietta’s deceased father’s occupation was listed as glass cutter. The father of James Powell was George Powell a deceased painter and glazier. The couple may have met as a result of their father’s friendship.
From 1851 to 1861 Henrietta 40 (1861) and James Powell 37 (1861) were living on Coleman St, then Ironmongers St in Finsbury with their sons. As with sister Amelia, Henrietta had to apply for financial assistance when her husband developed consumption in 1856. James Robert Powell died in early 1872 with the death registered in Holborn, in March (about one mile from Finsbury).
In May 1872 widow Henrietta 52 married William Domingo Fossett, a widowed pewterer at Bethnall Green. As with her first marriage Henrietta made her mark and her father was listed as the deceased William Henry Bird. Sadly, the marriage ended two years later when Henrietta’s second husband died in 1874. The following year Henrietta married for the third time. At the age of 55 she married widower Henry Evans at St James, Bethnall Green. In 1881 Henrietta 60 and Henry 54 were living in Royley St, Finsbury. Henrietta Evans nee Bird died at Shoreditch in 1897 aged 76.
73.6 William Henry Manning Bird (1822-1893)
ii) William Bird (1845-?)
No record of William’s birth has been found, but census records tell us he was born at St Luke in 1845. He lived with his father up to at least 1861 and became an assistant stationer like his father and grandfather. He witnessed his sister Maria’s marriage in 1872. No more is known.
iii) Amelia Francis Bird (1849-?)
Some websites say that Amelia was baptised on 25 Dec 1849 at St Luke in Old St. but unfortunately her baptism is not listed in St Luke’s baptism register. Census documents confirm she was born at St Luke and her birth was officially registered in Jan 1850, but no parents were listed on the record. She lived with her father up to at least 1871 and worked with vellum like her father. In 1875 Amelia F Bird 24 married William Aitken, stationer at Shoreditch. Her father was listed as William Bird, vellum binder. William and Amelia Aitken nee Bird had ten known children all baptised in Clerkenwell. By 1901 Amelia 53 was a widow and was working as a housekeeper in Streatham, London. Details of her death are unknown.
iv) Frederick Wickens Bird (1852-1900)
Frederick was born in St Luke and the birth registered in 1852. His middle name came from his mother’s surname. Sadly, not long after his birth, his mother died. His father married again in 1856. Frederick lived with his father until at least 1871. Then in 1873 his stepmother died. By 1881 the unmarried Frederick Bird 28, printer’s porter, was living with his married sister Maria E Jones nee Bird 37. He may have been working with Maria’s husband whose occupation was printer’s roller. Things were much the same in 1891 with Frederick listed as unmarried and 37 years of age. Frederick may have been buried in Camberwell at the age of 48 in 1900. Frederick had no known children.
By 1851 the family had moved to 128 Old St, Finsbury and the family consisted of William Bird 29, Maria Bird 29, William Bird 6 and Amelia Frances Bird 1. William was doing well with the occupation of stationer, employing four men to help in his business. The family also had the services of a young servant girl named Sarah Ann Burton 19. The census also tells us that William’s wife Maria Wickens was born in Cookham, Berkshire. At this census, eldest daughter Maria 7 was staying in Speen, Berkshire with her grandparents, John Wickens, 53 year old retired stationer, and his wife Elizabeth Wickens 60.
William’s first wife Maria died sometime after the birth of son Frederick Wickens Bird in 1853 and William was left alone to care for his four young children. In 1856 William Bird 34, widowed stationer, married Sarah Leeson 36 (b1817) at St Mary Somerset, Finsbury. Sarah had been born at St Sepulchre. William’s father was confirmed as John Bird who also worked as a stationer. In 1861 William, a 39 year old stationer, resided in Old St. He was living with his second wife Sarah Bird (nee Leeson) 42 and their four children from William’s first marriage, Maria 17 b1844 book sewer, William 16 b1845 stationer assistant, Amelia F Bird 11 b1850 and Frederick Bird 8. All children were born in St Luke. Sarah’s sister Martha Leeson 33, also born in St Sepulchre, was visiting the family at that time.
At some point in the next decade William change occupations from stationer into the specialised field of vellum binding. Vellum being a parchment used for superior products such as deeds. By 1871 the family had moved to the Waterloo buildings in Bethnall Green. Living there were William Bird 49 vellum binder, Sarah Bird 54, Amelia F Bird 21 vellum sewer, Frederick W Bird 18 and Amelia Bird (Aitken) seven month old granddaughter. Two years later in 1873, Sarah Bird nee Leeson died at Bethnall Green aged 55. William may have died in 1890 at the age of 68 with his death registered at Holborn.
73.7 Elizabeth Mary Bird (1824-1897)
Elizabeth Mary Bird was baptised in Oct 1824 at St Marys, Lambeth by parents William Henry Bird and Sarah Manning. The family were living in High St, Lambeth when Sarah had her sixth child and William’s occupation was listed as glass cutter.
Elizabeth a spinster aged 25 married Charles Walter, a whitesmith, in 1849 at St Johns in Hackney. The marriage record listed her father as William Henry Bird, glass cutter. Elizabeth and her brother Samuel signed their names. The couple lived in the Shoreditch area and Elizabeth worked as a laundress. In 1871 they were living in Maria St, and Elizabeth 46 had given birth to at least eight children. The youngest being Alice aged 11. Also living with them in 1871 was Elizabeth’s young niece Mary Ann Bird aged 3 (b.1868, St George’s East). From 1881 to 1891 they were living at Tottenham and the children gradually left home to make their own way in life.
Elizabeth Walters died in 1897 at the age of 73. Charles Walters died at Broad Lane, Tottenham in Aug 1901 and left a will with son Charles Walters as the executor. Both deaths were registered at Edmonton, which is adjacent to Tottenham
73.8 Samuel Christopher Frederick Augustus Bird (1827-1913)
Samuel was baptised at St John the Evangelist, Lambeth in May 1827. His father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was High Street, Lambeth. On the same day a child named Robert William Bird (adjacent entry) was baptised by his parents Matthew and Eliza Bird. The father was a painter and was possibly related to our Birds.
NOTE: Samuel was the only one of William Henry Bird’s b1787 children baptised at St John the Evangelist. The parish was created in 1825 from St Marys parish and was located one mile north of High St. To get there, the family had to pass St Mary’s Church. Samuel was named after both of his grandfathers; Christopher Bird b1759 and Samuel Manning. Samuel’s father died when Samuel was eight years old, so he was too young to learn his father’s trade.
In 1841 Samuel 14 was living with his widowed mother Sarah Bird 50 (age rounded), glass grinder in Tyne Court, Finsbury. Three of his brothers William 15, John 12 and Edward 10, were living there too.
At the time of the 1851 census Samuel was working as a cigar maker and living with his mother Sarah, 64 year old widow, in George Row, Old Street with brothers John 22 stove? maker and Edward 19 tobacco stripper. It seems that older brother William (also a cigar maker) and his younger brothers were working in the tobacco industry and had possibly set up their own business.
Samuel married Hannah Sophia Green at St John’s Shoreditch in 1857. By 1861 the couple had two sons and were living Princes St, Shoreditch. Samuel 35 was a cigar maker and his wife aged 25 was a flower maker. In 1865 Adelaide Elizabeth Bird was born to Samuel Bird cigar maker and his wife Hannah at 75 Mary St, Hoxton. Hannah Sophia Bird nee Green died at the age of 35 in 1870 at Wandsworth with the family address listed as Robertson St, Wandsworth. In 1871 widower Samuel Bird, 44 year old cigar maker, was living in Lizard St, Finsbury with his four children. In 1881 cigar maker Samuel Bird aged 54 was living with unmarried daughter Mary Ann Bird 13 in White Cross St.
73.9 John Shadrack Bird (1829-1906)
John was baptised in July 1829 at St Marys, Lambeth. His father, William Henry Bird’s occupation, was listed as glazier and the family abode was still High Street.
In 1841 John 12 was living with his widowed mother Sarah Bird 50 (age rounded), glass grinder in Tyne Court, Finsbury. Three of his brothers William 15, Samuel 14 and Edward 10, were living there too.
At the time of the 1851 census John 22 was working as a stove maker and living with his mother Sarah, 64 year old widow, in George Row, Old Street with brothers Samuel 24 cigar maker and Edward 19 tobacco stripper. John did not join his brothers in the tobacco industry. Brothers William, Samuel and Edward were all involved in making cigars as an occupation.
On 13 Apr 1851 John married Caroline Moxon at St Johns, Hoxton. His father was listed as William Henry Bird, glass cutter. John’s occupation was listed as white smith and his abode was Herbert Street. John and Caroline lived most of their married lives in Bethnall Green with John working as a whitesmith. They had five known children. John Shadrack Bird died at West Ham in 1906 aged 77
73.10 Edward Thomas Bird (1831-1913)
Edward was baptised in July 1831 at St Marys, Lambeth. His father’s occupation was listed as glass cutter and the family abode was High Street. Edward was born when his mother was 44. He was only four when his father died.
In 1841 Edward 10 was living with his widowed mother Sarah Bird 50 (age rounded), glass grinder in Tyne Court, Finsbury. Three of his brothers William 15, Samuel 14 and John 12, were living there too.
At the time of the 1851 census Edward 19 was working as a tobacco stripper and living with his mother Sarah, 64 year old widow, in George Row, Old Street with brothers Samuel 24 cigar maker and John 22 stove maker. Brothers William and Samuel along with Edward were involved in making cigars as an occupation. In 1852 Edward was a witness at his older sister Sarah Ann’s second marriage to John Park.
At the age of 24 Edward married Matilda Mary Hinde 21 at Bethnall Green in 1854. Edward’s occupation was listed as cigar maker and his abode at the time was Wellington Row. His father was listed as William Henry Bird, glazier. Witnesses to the wedding were James Powell and Elizabeth Porter. James Powell was Edward’s brother-in-law who was married to sister Henrietta. Edward made his mark for a signature. Sadly, wife Matilda M. Bird nee Hinde died the following year.
Three years later Edward 27 married Emily Eliza Shattock at Bethnall Green. Edward was listed as a tobacco cutter and his deceased father William Bird, was listed as a glass cutter. Edward and Emily had one known daughter named Emily b1874. By 1901 Edward was a widower for the second time and living with his married daughter at East Ham. His occupation up to 1901 was listed as tobacco cutter and in 1911 as pensioned tobacco cutter. Edward T. Bird died at West Ham in 1913 aged 82.
If Mary Ann Bird was born in 1789, she would have been 24, four years older than husband Nicholas Hubble, when they were married in 1813 at St Botolphs Church. This age difference is confirmed in later records. The marriage was witnessed by brother William Henry Bird and sister Charlotte Bird. All parties signed their names.
Baptism records for their children show that Nicholas and Mary Ann moved house frequently in their early years together. At first, they lived in the City of London in Fye Foot Lane where daughter Sarah Elizabeth Hubble was baptised in 1814 at St. Mary Mounthaw and son William was baptised at St James, Garlickhythe, still very close to Fye Foot Lane. Mary Ann’s older brother William Henry Bird was also living in Fye Foot Lane at this time, and he had five of his children baptised at St Mary Mounthaw. If their families were not occupying the same building, they were living not far apart, as Fye Foot Lane was not a long street.
When their second child was born, their abode was listed as Crown Court. By 1817 they had moved south of the river and lived at various addresses in Lambeth including ‘Butts’ (also known as Broad St/Black Prince Rd.). The Butts residence was also the abode for the Bird family when Mary Ann’s sister Charlotte was born in 1794. Of their ten children only five survived to adulthood. From 1841 to at least 1849 the family resided in Princes Street, Lambeth and Nicholas worked as a warehouseman. In 1847 nephew GGGF Anthony Smith (husband of niece Charlotte Collins nee Bird) on his trip from Australia visited Mary Ann and Nicholas at their Lambeth home.
By 1851 Nicholas and Mary Ann were living a few miles to the south with their daughter Mary Ann Barnard nee Hubble and her family at St Faiths, Middlesex. In 1854 Nicholas a 61 year old warehouseman and wife Mary Ann 65 (b1789) sailed to Melbourne as assisted immigrants. The Hubbles may have had a stopover in Adelaide to visit Mary Ann’s sister Charlotte Collins nee Bird on either their trip to Melbourne in 1854 or their return trip to England in 1858.
Five months after Nicholas and Mary Ann Hubble migrated to Melbourne, their eldest daughter Elizabeth Sarah Whibley nee Bird, her husband and their children sailed to Adelaide, where they lived at Thebarton (1856) then Brown Hill Creek (1860) before finally purchasing land at Crafers in the Adelaide Hills in the 1860’s. Elizabeth Whibley’s aunt (Mary Ann’s sister) Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird b1794 lived in Adelaide and Brighton in the 1850’s to 1860’s, so in all likelihood they spent time together.
Mary Ann’s niece GGGM Charlotte E Smith nee Collins moved to Melbourne from Adelaide around Feb 1858, so the two possibly met up at around that time. In 1857 Nicholas’ mother died, and this may have been the impetus for a return to England in April 1858.
In 1861 Nicholas 66 and Mary Ann Hubble 71 (b1790) were living with their widowed daughter Mary Ann Barnard at St Faiths in England again. Mary Ann Hubble nee Bird died in late 1863 with the death registered in the City of London. Nicholas Hubble died early the following year with his death also registered at the City of London.
75.0 Ten Children of Mary Ann Bird (1789-1863) & Nicholas Hubble (1794-1864)
Of their ten children, four died as infants and one died at the age of 19. The five other children all had children of their own
75.1 Elizabeth Sarah Hubble (1814-1878)
Elizabeth Sarah Hubble was born on 14 Aug 1814 and baptized on 04 Sep 1814 in St Mary's, Mounthaw (in Old Fish St). Her father was listed as a porter and the family were living in nearby Fye Foot Lane. Elizabeth married farmer Richard Whibley on 20 Jun 1840 in St Giles, Camberwell, Southwark. Her father’s occupation was listed as ‘gentleman’ and one of the witnesses was sister Mary Ann Hubble.
Richard and Elizabeth Whibley had seven known children between 1841 and 1853, all born on their farm in Kent. In Aug 1854 Elizabeth’s parents sailed to Melbourne and three months later Richard, Elizabeth and their 5 surviving children followed, but headed to Adelaide where they arrived in April 1855. Richard and Elizabeth lived at Thebarton (1856) then Brown Hill Creek (1860) before finally purchasing land at Crafers in the Adelaide Hills in the 1860’s.
The marriage must have been under some strain in 1856 because Richard placed an advert in the paper declaring he would not be responsible for debts in his wife’s name (The S.A. Register 5 May 1856).
Almost two years after the death of Richard in June 1866, Elizabeth and her two youngest children returned to London. In 1871 she was listed as a 56 year old widow working as a fruiterer and living in Park Road Lambeth with two of her children. Elizabeth died at the age of 64 in 1878 and was buried at St Pancras.
75.2 William Henry Hubble (1816-1817)
William Henry Hubble was born on 01 Jun 1816 in 3 Crown Court, London and baptized on 23 Jun 1816 in St James, Garlickhithe (about 100m from Fye Foot Lane). His father was listed as a warehouseman. He was possibly named after an uncle who was a witness at Mary Ann’s marriage in 1817. William died in 1817 at the age of one and was buried at St Marys Lambeth. The family abode was listed as High St.
75.3 Mary Ann Hubble (1817-1896)
Mary Ann Hubble was born about Sep 1817 in Lambeth and baptized on 27 Sep 1817 in St Mary's, Lambeth. The family abode was listed as ‘Butts’ and her father’s occupation was warehouseman. In 1849 at the age of 31 she married 49 year old widowed butcher, Charles Henry Barnard at St Marys, Lambeth. Both were residents of Princes St, Lambeth at the time. Nicholas Hubble and Sarah Braden (future sister-in-law) witnessed the marriage and Mary Ann’s father was listed as a draper. Sarah Braden later married Mary Ann’s brother Thomas Hubble (see 75.7) The couple had two known children, Charles b1851 and Henry b1857 in addition to a child from Charles’ first marriage. At both the 1851 and 1861 census Mary Ann’s parents were living with her at St Faiths. Mary Ann died in 1896 at the reputed age of 77 and was buried in Lambeth.
75.4 Amelia Caroline Hubble (1820-1879) 
GGGGGGF William Henshaw was probably baptised at Whitechapel in Aug 1725 by parents Thomas and Hannah Henshaw. William named his second daughter after his mother.He had two known siblings named Samuel b1719 and Thomas b1723. According to all three baptisms the family lived in Buckle Street, Whitechapel.
William Henshaw’s future wife, GGGGGGM Elizabeth Fox, was baptised in 1728 by John Fox and Ann Hill at St Martins, Ludgate (about 1 mile from London Wall). Elizabeth’s parents were married at Clerkenwell in 1726. William Henshaw and Elizabeth Fox were married at All Hallows Church, London Wall on 10 Jul 1748. See above record. This was less than one mile from the Tower Hill/Aldgate area, where they would eventually have their family.
William and Elizabeth had at least five children, who were Elizabeth Henshaw 1749 (died 1754), Hannah Henshaw 1751-1795, Ann Henshaw 1753, William Henshaw 1755 and GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw baptised on 27 Nov 1757. All baptisms were held at St Botolphs Church in Aldgate. At the time of the first baptism in 1749 the family were living in Sweedland Court, Tower Hill, Aldgate. All baptism registrations after the first, list the Henshaw family as living in King St, Aldgate. At the time of burial of 5 year old daughter Elizabeth Henshaw b1749 on 23 Jun 1754, the family address was given as Eastsmithfield St (This street in Aldgate adjoins Towerhill St).
NOTE: Sweedland Court is now Swedeland Alley and is located at 202 Bishopsgate opposite Liverpool Station and just a few hundred metres from St Botolph’s Church.
According to the baptisms of the children below, St Botolphs Church seems to have been the family church in the early days of the marriage. However, the family may have moved in the 1870’s because some of the children married in St Clement Danes Church around 1780. The two churches were about 1.5 miles apart.
Elizabeth Henshaw nee Fox seems to have died in 1788 and was buried at St Clement Danes on 15 Jan in that year. The date of death of GGGGGGP William Henshaw is not known but he possibly died young, at the age of 33 and was buried at Allhallows Church, London Wall in Nov 1758. His death at a young age would explain the fact that no children were born after that date, even though wife Elizabeth Henshaw nee Fox was only 30 years old.
77.0 Five Children of GGGGGGP William Henshaw (1725-1758) & Elizabeth Fox (1728-1788)
All children were baptised in St. Botolph’s Church, with one dying as a young child.
77.1 Elizabeth Henshaw (1749-1754)
Elizabeth was baptised at St Botolphs in July 1749 by parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw. The family abode was Sweedland Court. Elizabeth Henshaw “daughter of William” died on 23 Jun 1754. The burial was at St Botolphs and the family address was given as Eastsmithfield St (This street in Aldgate adjoins Towerhill St).
77.2 Hannah Henshaw (1751-1795)
Hannah was baptised at St Botolphs in June 1751 by parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw. She was possibly named after William’s mother. The family abode was King St. about one mile from St Clement Danes. In 1778, Hannah Henshaw, spinster of the Parish of St Clements Danes married John Richards (?-1821) bachelor gunmaker, at St Martin in the Fields. Witnesses were Eliza Chambers and William Henshaw (either father or brother). All parties signed their names. John Richards was likely baptised by Thomas and Ann Richards in 1747 at St Martin in the Fields. St Clement Danes and St Martins were a half mile apart in Strand.
John Roberts had established his business at 114 Strand in 1775. After their marriage, Hannah and John moved to 25 Strand where he continued his gunmaking business. In 1781 John moved his business to 54 Strand and later 55 Strand where he remained until his death. It must have a successful business because according to court records, in 1787 he had several employees. Today, the guns he manufactures are sort after collector’s items and examples are held in the British Museum in London.
A nonconformist birth register confirms that children Mary Hannah Richards b1781, John Richards b1789 and Elizabeth Richards b1793 were the children of John Richards, gunmaker, and his wife Hannah Richards nee Henshaw, who was the daughter of William Henshaw. The records also confirm that all children were born in the Parish of St Martin in the Fields. The family abode for the last child was listed as Strand. A fourth child named Rebecca is sometimes named in family trees, but as she was baptised in Marylebone and not listed in the Nonconformist baptisms like the others, I think she was the daughter of another couple. According to tax records there was another John Richards residing in Marylebone from 1791-1810.
John Richards was a well-known gunmaker as is shown in the above advert. The British Museum lists two addresses for his business; No.54 Strand, near the Adelphi, London and No.114 Strand, London near the corner with the Savoy Steps. Further detail of his address can be found at collegehillarsenal.com and this information is displayed in the short biography below.
In the 1795-1820 London Directories John Richards of number 54 or 55 The Strand advertised his gun-making business. Land tax records confirm that John Richards occupied a property in The Strand from 1797-1820. The owner of his Strand property in 1807 was listed as Thomas Bird. Was Thomas related to the family of Hannah’s brother-in-law Christopher Bird?
In 1787 and again in 1799 John Roberts gunmaker of Strand was robbed. Both robbers were found guilty in The Old Bailey, the first was transported and the second, a 14 year old, jailed for 12 months. The transcripts of the court hearings are available on the web.
Hannah Richards nee Henshaw died in 1795 and was buried at St Martins in the Fields on 17 May 1795. Several websites indicate that John Richards died in 1821 and no business listings or tax records exist after that year. No burial record has been found, but he was probably buried alongside his wife at St Martins in the Field. Alternatively, there is a record for John Richards of Ironmongers Street, Finsbury buried at St Luke’s Finsbury in May 1821 which could be him. This location was less than two miles from Strand. The listed age of 62 (b1759) meant John would have been about 19 when he married Hannah in 1778, but only 16 when he opened his first shop, so this record is doubtful.
At
the age of 23 GGGGM Charlotte Bird, spinster of the parish of St
Botolph, Bishopgate married GGGGM William Collins bachelor of the
same parish on 19th Oct 1817 at St Botolph, Bishopsgate, London. (See marriage
registration above) One of the witnesses appears to be 'H. Bird', who may have
been William Henry Bird (using his initials, but the ‘W’ is partially missing) or
another relative (the signature is hard to read). The second witness was sister
Mary Ann Hubble nee Bird b1789. All parties were able to sign their names. St
Botolph is located about 4 miles from Lambeth, where GGGGF William
Collins was born, on the other side of the River Thames.
William
and Charlotte Collins nee Bird settled in
Lambeth to start their family. They went on to have nine children between 1818
and 1836. Many of the children were named after significant family members of
the Bird family. The chosen children’s names honoured Charlotte’s
mother, father and adult brother and sister.
In
1832 William, Charlotte and their family sailed to Hobart where
two more children were born. In 1837 they sailed to Adelaide where over the
next twenty years William established himself as a builder, a
land developer, and a respected gentleman of the city. After a traumatic court
case in the 1860’s, William and Charlotte moved to the country.
GGGGM
Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird died on 13 Jan
1884 aged 90 at Belalie. Her death notice in the 'South Australian Register' 19
Jan 1884 read, "On the 13th January, at the residence of her son, W. S. C.
Collins, Belalie, Charlotte Elizabeth, relict of the late William
Collins in her 90th year. A colonist of 1837." She was buried at
Jamestown Cemetery. GGGGM Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird
outlived all but four of her nine children. See 61.0 for full details about William
and Charlotte Collins' life in England, Tasmania and Adelaide.
71.4
Amelia Caroline Bird (1796-1801)
Christopher
and Elizabeth's fourth child was Amelia Caroline Bird born on 10
Sep 1796 and baptised at St Mary, Lambeth on 27 Nov 1796 (above). Amelia died
in Jan 1801 at the age of four and was buried at St Olave's Churchyard,
Southwark on 1 Feb 1801.
71.5
Christopher John Bird (1799-c1800)
William
was the first born child of Christopher and Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw.
No baptism record has been found but he was most likely born in Southwark or
Cookham. Both of his married sisters named their first son ‘William Henry’ so, he
must have been a highly regarded brother.
William
b1787 became a glazier, learning the trade from his father and working with him
in London. William Henry Bird b1787 applied for admission to the Freedom of the
Glaziers Company by patrimony as is shown in the two documents below.
Christopher
and Elizabeth's fifth child was Christopher John Bird. He was born
on 14 June 1799 and baptised at St Olave, Southwark (about 2 miles from
Lambeth) later that year. The record listed his father Christopher
senior as a glazier. There are no further records that tell what happened to
son Christopher John Bird and he probably died as an infant.
72.0 William Henry Bird
(1787-1835) Charlotte’s brother
William
was the first born child of Christopher and Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw.
No baptism record has been found but he was most likely born in Southwark or
Cookham. Both of his married sisters named their first son ‘William Henry’ so, he
must have been a highly regarded brother.
William
b1787 became a glazier, learning the trade from his father and working with him
in London. William Henry Bird b1787 applied for admission to the Freedom of the
Glaziers Company by patrimony as is shown in the two documents above. The first document confirms that
William was the son of glazier Christopher Bird of London and
that William desired to be admitted to the Freedom of the City by way of
patrimony. It states that William was a legitimate child born after his
father was admitted to the Company of Glaziers. William Henry Bird b1787 son of Christopher Bird,
citizen and glazier of London was formally admitted to the Freedom of the
Glaziers Company by patrimony 16 May 1821 when he was in his thirties.
William
b1787 married Sarah Manning at St Botolphs in May 1809, which was the same
church where his mother was baptised and where his two sisters were married in
1813 and 1817. Sarah Manning was 22 at the time of her marriage and 44 when she
had her last child in 1831. She was the daughter of Samuel Manning and Mary
Merritt and had been baptised in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, on 17 Sep
1786. At some stage Sarah had moved over 100 miles to London. Later censuses
confirm her age and birthplace.
The marriage registration above shows that William was a bachelor and Sarah a spinster. The witnesses were Samuel Manning (father or brother of Sarah) and Mary Bird (sister Mary Ann Bird c1789). William would have been aged 22 at this time and his sister 20. Later baptism records confirm that William’s occupation was glazier.
Above
are the signatures of William Henry Bird and sister Mary (Ann) Bird at Mary
Ann’s wedding in 1813 (top) and William’s wedding in 1809 (bottom). Despite the
fact that Mary Ann did not use her full name at her brother’s wedding, there
are definitely similarities in letter formation and in the way the names are
written in both of their signatures.
After
their marriage William and Sarah settled in Fye Foot Lane about one mile from
St Botolph. Sarah gave birth to five known children named Sarah Bird 1810,
Elizabeth Mary Bird 1815, Amelia Frances Bird 1817, Henrietta Hawkins Bird 1820,
and William Henry Manning Bird 1822 in Fye Foot Lane. By Oct 1824 the family had
moved two miles south across the river to High St, Lambeth where Sarah had four
more children Elizabeth Mary Bird 1826, Samuel Christopher Frederick Augustus
Bird 1827, John Shadrack Bird 1829, and Edward Thomas Bird 1831. In 1828
William’s mother Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw died and her place of
residence at that time was High St. William’s sisters Mary Ann Hubble nee Bird
and Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird were also living in High
St. with their families at this time. Their mother Elizabeth Bird nee
Henshaw was probably residing with one of her children’s families in
her later years.
After
the birth of Edward b1831, William and Sarah Bird nee Manning moved three miles
to Finsbury back on the north side of the Thames, but William did not have much
time to enjoy his new home.
William
Henry Bird b1787 died at home in Warwick Place, Finsbury in 1835 aged 48.
William’s death at such a young age was possibly due to lead poisoning.
Glaziers used lead to hold glass in place and seal windows. (His father who was
also a glazier died young -at about the same age). Daily use of this material
would cause toxic amounts to build up, leading to death. In 1841 Sarah Bird 50
year old widow (age rounded), glass grinder occupied a house in Type Court,
Finsbury with four of her sons, William 15 apprentice (glazier?), Samuel 14,
John 12 and Edward 10.A
decade later in 1851 Sarah 64 year old widow was living in Georges Row,
Finsbury with sons Samuel 24 cigar maker, John 22 stove maker and Edward 19
tobacco stripper and grand-daughter Amelia McCarthy 6. The listing tells us
that Sarah was born in Gloucestershire and her sons were born in Lambeth. Sons
Samuel and Edward were working in the tobacco industry, and we know from other
sources that oldest son William 29 was a cigar maker, so it may have been a
family business.
In
1861 Sarah 74 was a lodger living with Isabella Carvill in Pearson St,
Shoreditch. She listed her birthplace as Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. Sarah
died in 1863 and was buried at Tower Hamlets at the age of 76. Her abode at the
time was Randall St. which was 2 miles from her former address.
William
was a glazier by occupation and apparently by coincidence settled in the same
area where the Worshipful Company of Glaziers had their original Building that
was burned in the Great Fire of London in 1666 (see above). The Glaziers Company
did not rebuild their Hall on this site but operated out of nearby sites, sharing
a hall with the Loriners (harness makers), until more recently when they moved
south of the Thames in 1977. As mentioned above, William was admitted to the Glazier’s
Company in 1821.
NOTE: Lambeth High St ran south from St Marys Church parallel to the river. It had also been called Back Lane and was a place often occupied by traders who used the river. In 1826 the Doulton Pottery Company acquired a manufacturing site in High St to make glazed sewer pipes. This was about the time that William moved there and the move may have been associated with new developments in High St at that time.
73.0 Ten Children of William Henry Bird (1787-1835) & Sarah Manning (1786-1863)
Most of the first six children were baptised in the parish of St Mary Mounthaw. St Mary Mounthaw was a parish church in Old Fish Street Hill in the City of London. The church was of medieval origin and along with most of the 97 other parish churches, it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Like many others it was not rebuilt. The parish was united with that of St Mary Somerset, and the site retained as a graveyard. Old Fish St Hill was just a few hundred metres from the Bird family home in Fye Foot St. William and Sarah had five daughters before their first son was born. During the late 1800’s most of the siblings settled in the Bethnall Green area of London, so were living close to each other.
NOTE: Lambeth High St ran south from St Marys Church parallel to the river. It had also been called Back Lane and was a place often occupied by traders who used the river. In 1826 the Doulton Pottery Company acquired a manufacturing site in High St to make glazed sewer pipes. This was about the time that William moved there and the move may have been associated with new developments in High St at that time.
73.0 Ten Children of William Henry Bird (1787-1835) & Sarah Manning (1786-1863)
Most of the first six children were baptised in the parish of St Mary Mounthaw. St Mary Mounthaw was a parish church in Old Fish Street Hill in the City of London. The church was of medieval origin and along with most of the 97 other parish churches, it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Like many others it was not rebuilt. The parish was united with that of St Mary Somerset, and the site retained as a graveyard. Old Fish St Hill was just a few hundred metres from the Bird family home in Fye Foot St. William and Sarah had five daughters before their first son was born. During the late 1800’s most of the siblings settled in the Bethnall Green area of London, so were living close to each other.
73.1 Sarah Ann Bird (1810-?)
Sarah was baptised at St Mary, Mounthaw in Mar 1810. As the firstborn daughter, Sarah was named after her mother. Sarah Ann Bird married William Shadrack Cordrey at St Botolphs in Oct 1828. Neither William nor Sarah Ann were able to sign their names. She was around 18 at that time and needed permission of her parents. Witnesses were John and Mary Ann Oldiss. It seems that William Cordrey died leaving Sarah a widow.
In 1851 widowed Sarah Cordrey, 41 year old widow, was living with and working as a servant for Marianne Turner, Professor in Dancing. Their abode was Blowfield St, St Botolphs. In 1852 Sarah Ann Corderoy, 42 year old widow married John Park 43 year old carpenter at Bethnall Green. Sarah’s father was listed as William Henry Bird, window glass cutter. One of the witnesses was brother Edward Bird. Sarah Ann and Edward both made their mark. In 1861 John 53 year old carpenter and Sarah 51 year old washerwoman were living in Angel St, St Bartholomew. No more is known.
73.2 Mary Elizabeth Bird (1813-c1813)
Mary was baptised at St Leonard Shoreditch in May 1813. Her father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Margaret St. Shoreditch. Mary must have died as an infant in Oct 1813 and a sister was given a very similar name in 1815.
73.3 Elizabeth Mary Bird (1815-c1820)
Elizabeth was baptised in the Parish of St Mary Mounthaw in Oct 1815. Her father William’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Fye Foot Lane. Twelve months (Sep 1814) earlier Elizabeth Bird’s cousin Elizabeth Sarah Hubble (1814-1878) was also baptized in St Mary's, Mounthaw. Her family were also living in Fye Foot Lane and may have been sharing the same house. Elizabeth must have died before 1824 when a sister was born and given the same name.
73.4 Amelia Frances Bird (1817-1885)
Amelia was baptised in the Parish of St Mary Mounthaw in Jan 1817. Her father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Fye Foot Lane. Amelia was named after her father’s sister Amelia Caroline Bird b1796.
In 1840 Amelia married William McCarthy, soap boiler, at St Botolph’s Church. Her father was listed as a glass cutter and Amelia made her mark for a signature. During the marriage, Amelia gave birth to seven known children. By 1851 they were living in the Finsbury area and youngest daughter Amelia aged 1 was living with, or visiting, her grandparents. The family hit hard times in 1855 when William was hospitalised for a “rupture” at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. At that time Amelia was supporting five children and she had to apply for financial assistance in that year and again in 1857. In 1873 William McCarthy died at the age of 64 in Shoreditch.
In 1879 Amelia Frances McCarthy nee Bird aged 62 married widowed chimney sweep William Griffin 59. Amelia’s father was listed as a glass cutter and Amelia made her mark. William Griffin died in Shoreditch in 1884. Amelia died from bronchitis at the age of 68 in 1885. Her abode at the time was St Leonards, Shoreditch
73.5 Henrietta Hawkins Bird (1820-1897)
Henrietta was baptised in the Parish of St Mary Mounthaw in Dec 1820. Her father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Fye Foot Lane. Her unusual middle name may have come from a friendship with the Hawkins family who were also glaziers living in nearby Vain Court and were have babies at this time too.
In 1849 spinster Henrietta 28 married bachelor James Robert Powell, a waiter, at St James Hoxton. Witnesses at the wedding were Henrietta’s younger siblings, Elizabeth and Samuel Bird. Henrietta and Samuel both made their marks, but Elizabeth signed her name. Henrietta’s deceased father’s occupation was listed as glass cutter. The father of James Powell was George Powell a deceased painter and glazier. The couple may have met as a result of their father’s friendship.
From 1851 to 1861 Henrietta 40 (1861) and James Powell 37 (1861) were living on Coleman St, then Ironmongers St in Finsbury with their sons. As with sister Amelia, Henrietta had to apply for financial assistance when her husband developed consumption in 1856. James Robert Powell died in early 1872 with the death registered in Holborn, in March (about one mile from Finsbury).
In May 1872 widow Henrietta 52 married William Domingo Fossett, a widowed pewterer at Bethnall Green. As with her first marriage Henrietta made her mark and her father was listed as the deceased William Henry Bird. Sadly, the marriage ended two years later when Henrietta’s second husband died in 1874. The following year Henrietta married for the third time. At the age of 55 she married widower Henry Evans at St James, Bethnall Green. In 1881 Henrietta 60 and Henry 54 were living in Royley St, Finsbury. Henrietta Evans nee Bird died at Shoreditch in 1897 aged 76.
73.6 William Henry Manning Bird (1822-1893)
(Some of this information is sourced from the Ancestry Family Tree of H. Bird)
William was baptised in the Parish of St Mary Mounthaw in Nov 1822 by William Henry Bird and Sarah Manning. His father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was Fye Foot Lane. William was the firstborn son and was named after his father and his grandfather on his mother’s side. William b1822 was Sarah Bird nee Manning’s last child baptised at Mounthaw. By Oct 1824 the family were living in High St, Lambeth where Sarah had her sixth child. In 1835 William’s father died leaving the family without a breadwinner.
In 1841 William 15 (age rounded down) apprentice (cigar maker?) was living with his widowed mother Sarah Bird 50 (age rounded), glass grinder in Tyne Court, Finsbury. Three of his brothers; Samuel 14, John 12 and Edward 10, were living there too. William born 1822 was only 13 when his father died. At that age he was too young to be trained as a glazier by his father, so had to learn a different craft which turned out to be cigar making.
In 1847 William Henry Manning Bird, a cigar maker, married Maria Ann Allen (b1822 at Lambeth and baptised in the parish of St Mary, Newington). William’s deceased father (died 1835) was listed as a painter and Maria Ann’s parents were William Allen barge builder and his wife Maria Ann Allen. The listing of William’s father’s occupation as a painter is not surprising because glaziers often took on other work if it was available. Also, his father had died when William was still a teenager, and he may have been unsure of his occupation. William signed his name, but Maria made her mark.
NOTE: Around this time there was another man named William Bird, who was very close in age to our William. Both men for a time had wives with the same Christian name and were living in the same area. Records show that the other William had a first wife named Maria then a second wife named Sarah and the occupation of stationer which then changed to vellum binder. He remained in England his whole life. Some family histories combine elements of these men’s lives into one. The details below all relate to William Henry Manning Bird b1822, cigar maker, whose wife was Maria Allen and who migrated to New York in the 1860’s. The following chapter lists details of the life of this William Bird.
William Henry Manning Bird and Maria Bird’s three known children were William John Bird 1848, Henry James Bird 1851 and Joseph Marsden Bird 1863 (adopted). Baptism records have only been found for two of these children, but other records confirm that they were children of William and Maria as outlined below.
In 1841 William 15 (age rounded down) apprentice (cigar maker?) was living with his widowed mother Sarah Bird 50 (age rounded), glass grinder in Tyne Court, Finsbury. Three of his brothers; Samuel 14, John 12 and Edward 10, were living there too. William born 1822 was only 13 when his father died. At that age he was too young to be trained as a glazier by his father, so had to learn a different craft which turned out to be cigar making.
In 1847 William Henry Manning Bird, a cigar maker, married Maria Ann Allen (b1822 at Lambeth and baptised in the parish of St Mary, Newington). William’s deceased father (died 1835) was listed as a painter and Maria Ann’s parents were William Allen barge builder and his wife Maria Ann Allen. The listing of William’s father’s occupation as a painter is not surprising because glaziers often took on other work if it was available. Also, his father had died when William was still a teenager, and he may have been unsure of his occupation. William signed his name, but Maria made her mark.
NOTE: Around this time there was another man named William Bird, who was very close in age to our William. Both men for a time had wives with the same Christian name and were living in the same area. Records show that the other William had a first wife named Maria then a second wife named Sarah and the occupation of stationer which then changed to vellum binder. He remained in England his whole life. Some family histories combine elements of these men’s lives into one. The details below all relate to William Henry Manning Bird b1822, cigar maker, whose wife was Maria Allen and who migrated to New York in the 1860’s. The following chapter lists details of the life of this William Bird.
William Henry Manning Bird and Maria Bird’s three known children were William John Bird 1848, Henry James Bird 1851 and Joseph Marsden Bird 1863 (adopted). Baptism records have only been found for two of these children, but other records confirm that they were children of William and Maria as outlined below.
Records used to confirm William and Maria’s Three Children
- William John Bird was baptised at St Marys Lambeth in 1848 by parents William Manning Henry Bird and Maria Ann Bird. William’s father’s occupation was listed as cigar maker and the family abode was Broad St.
- Henry James Bird was born in Feb baptised at St Luke’s in Old St., on the 9 Mar 1851 by parents William Manning Henry Bird and Maria Ann Bird. Henry’s father’s occupation was listed as cigar maker and the family abode was Coleman St.
- Joseph Marsden Bird Born 2 Nov 1863 Adopted by William and Sarah Bird; birth father was Joseph Smith (from U.S. Death registration)
Around 1863 William and Maria adopted Joseph Marsden Bird (birth parents William Smith and Unknown Wilkinson). This information is on Joseph’s death certificate. According to his death certificate William senior arrived in New York in 1865. He may have travelled with his eldest son in Jul 1865 on the ship Hudson, to prepare for the family’s arrival the following year. In 1866 the rest of the family migrated. The ship’s passenger list included Maria Bird 43, Henry Bird 14 and Joseph Bird 2.
The 1870 New York Census of Brooklyn listed William Bird 47 cigar maker, Maria Bird 47 and sons William John Bird 22 tailor, Henry James Bird 19 cigar maker and Joseph Bird 7. The 1880 census was much the same and listed William Henry Bird 58 cigar maker, Maria Bird 58, widowed son William J Bird 33 and Joseph M Bird 17.
Maria Ann Bird nee Allen died in New York in 1890. William Henry Manning Bird died in Brooklyn in 1893 at the age of 73. He was a widower and had been in the US for 28 years (arrived 1865)
NOTE: Son Henry James Bird widower married Elizabeth Steele widow in the U.S. in 1904. Elizabeth’s parents were Thomas W Steele and Anna Powell. Was Anna related to Henrietta Powell nee Bird (see 73.5)?
73.6a William Bird (1822-?) Not Related
An unrelated William Bird was baptised at St Leonards, Shoreditch in 1822 and is sometimes confused with William Henry Manning Bird above. His father was John Bird. Around 1843 William married a woman named Maria Wickens who had been born in Cookham in 1821 (from census). In 1841 Maria Wickens 20 (age rounded) was working as a book sewer in Old St., St Luke. William was a stationer, and he may have met Maria through her employment. William and Maria were married about 1843 but no record has been found.
William Bird and Maria Wickens had four known children
The 1870 New York Census of Brooklyn listed William Bird 47 cigar maker, Maria Bird 47 and sons William John Bird 22 tailor, Henry James Bird 19 cigar maker and Joseph Bird 7. The 1880 census was much the same and listed William Henry Bird 58 cigar maker, Maria Bird 58, widowed son William J Bird 33 and Joseph M Bird 17.
Maria Ann Bird nee Allen died in New York in 1890. William Henry Manning Bird died in Brooklyn in 1893 at the age of 73. He was a widower and had been in the US for 28 years (arrived 1865)
NOTE: Son Henry James Bird widower married Elizabeth Steele widow in the U.S. in 1904. Elizabeth’s parents were Thomas W Steele and Anna Powell. Was Anna related to Henrietta Powell nee Bird (see 73.5)?
73.6a William Bird (1822-?) Not Related
An unrelated William Bird was baptised at St Leonards, Shoreditch in 1822 and is sometimes confused with William Henry Manning Bird above. His father was John Bird. Around 1843 William married a woman named Maria Wickens who had been born in Cookham in 1821 (from census). In 1841 Maria Wickens 20 (age rounded) was working as a book sewer in Old St., St Luke. William was a stationer, and he may have met Maria through her employment. William and Maria were married about 1843 but no record has been found.
William Bird and Maria Wickens had four known children
i) Maria Elizabeth Bird (1843-1905)
The birth of Maria was registered at St Luke in 1843, but parents are not listed on the record. In 1851 at the age of 7 she was visiting her grandparents in Berkshire, but by 1861 was back with her parents. In 1871 Maria E Bird 27, vellum sewer was living in a boarding house in Clerkenwell. It was here she met John Henry Jones a 26 year old paper glazer, who boarded in the same house. In 1872 Maria Elizabeth Bird spinster married John Henry Jones, printer, at Hackney. Witnesses were her siblings William Bird and Amelia Bird. Her father was listed as William Bird, a vellum binder by occupation. All parties signed their names. John and Maria settled in Clerkenwell and from 1881 to 1891 brother Frederick was living with them too. Maria Jones nee Bird probably died at the age of 60 in 1905, with her death registered at Hackney.
The birth of Maria was registered at St Luke in 1843, but parents are not listed on the record. In 1851 at the age of 7 she was visiting her grandparents in Berkshire, but by 1861 was back with her parents. In 1871 Maria E Bird 27, vellum sewer was living in a boarding house in Clerkenwell. It was here she met John Henry Jones a 26 year old paper glazer, who boarded in the same house. In 1872 Maria Elizabeth Bird spinster married John Henry Jones, printer, at Hackney. Witnesses were her siblings William Bird and Amelia Bird. Her father was listed as William Bird, a vellum binder by occupation. All parties signed their names. John and Maria settled in Clerkenwell and from 1881 to 1891 brother Frederick was living with them too. Maria Jones nee Bird probably died at the age of 60 in 1905, with her death registered at Hackney.
ii) William Bird (1845-?)
No record of William’s birth has been found, but census records tell us he was born at St Luke in 1845. He lived with his father up to at least 1861 and became an assistant stationer like his father and grandfather. He witnessed his sister Maria’s marriage in 1872. No more is known.
iii) Amelia Francis Bird (1849-?)
Some websites say that Amelia was baptised on 25 Dec 1849 at St Luke in Old St. but unfortunately her baptism is not listed in St Luke’s baptism register. Census documents confirm she was born at St Luke and her birth was officially registered in Jan 1850, but no parents were listed on the record. She lived with her father up to at least 1871 and worked with vellum like her father. In 1875 Amelia F Bird 24 married William Aitken, stationer at Shoreditch. Her father was listed as William Bird, vellum binder. William and Amelia Aitken nee Bird had ten known children all baptised in Clerkenwell. By 1901 Amelia 53 was a widow and was working as a housekeeper in Streatham, London. Details of her death are unknown.
iv) Frederick Wickens Bird (1852-1900)
Frederick was born in St Luke and the birth registered in 1852. His middle name came from his mother’s surname. Sadly, not long after his birth, his mother died. His father married again in 1856. Frederick lived with his father until at least 1871. Then in 1873 his stepmother died. By 1881 the unmarried Frederick Bird 28, printer’s porter, was living with his married sister Maria E Jones nee Bird 37. He may have been working with Maria’s husband whose occupation was printer’s roller. Things were much the same in 1891 with Frederick listed as unmarried and 37 years of age. Frederick may have been buried in Camberwell at the age of 48 in 1900. Frederick had no known children.
By 1851 the family had moved to 128 Old St, Finsbury and the family consisted of William Bird 29, Maria Bird 29, William Bird 6 and Amelia Frances Bird 1. William was doing well with the occupation of stationer, employing four men to help in his business. The family also had the services of a young servant girl named Sarah Ann Burton 19. The census also tells us that William’s wife Maria Wickens was born in Cookham, Berkshire. At this census, eldest daughter Maria 7 was staying in Speen, Berkshire with her grandparents, John Wickens, 53 year old retired stationer, and his wife Elizabeth Wickens 60.
William’s first wife Maria died sometime after the birth of son Frederick Wickens Bird in 1853 and William was left alone to care for his four young children. In 1856 William Bird 34, widowed stationer, married Sarah Leeson 36 (b1817) at St Mary Somerset, Finsbury. Sarah had been born at St Sepulchre. William’s father was confirmed as John Bird who also worked as a stationer. In 1861 William, a 39 year old stationer, resided in Old St. He was living with his second wife Sarah Bird (nee Leeson) 42 and their four children from William’s first marriage, Maria 17 b1844 book sewer, William 16 b1845 stationer assistant, Amelia F Bird 11 b1850 and Frederick Bird 8. All children were born in St Luke. Sarah’s sister Martha Leeson 33, also born in St Sepulchre, was visiting the family at that time.
At some point in the next decade William change occupations from stationer into the specialised field of vellum binding. Vellum being a parchment used for superior products such as deeds. By 1871 the family had moved to the Waterloo buildings in Bethnall Green. Living there were William Bird 49 vellum binder, Sarah Bird 54, Amelia F Bird 21 vellum sewer, Frederick W Bird 18 and Amelia Bird (Aitken) seven month old granddaughter. Two years later in 1873, Sarah Bird nee Leeson died at Bethnall Green aged 55. William may have died in 1890 at the age of 68 with his death registered at Holborn.
73.7 Elizabeth Mary Bird (1824-1897)
Elizabeth Mary Bird was baptised in Oct 1824 at St Marys, Lambeth by parents William Henry Bird and Sarah Manning. The family were living in High St, Lambeth when Sarah had her sixth child and William’s occupation was listed as glass cutter.
Elizabeth a spinster aged 25 married Charles Walter, a whitesmith, in 1849 at St Johns in Hackney. The marriage record listed her father as William Henry Bird, glass cutter. Elizabeth and her brother Samuel signed their names. The couple lived in the Shoreditch area and Elizabeth worked as a laundress. In 1871 they were living in Maria St, and Elizabeth 46 had given birth to at least eight children. The youngest being Alice aged 11. Also living with them in 1871 was Elizabeth’s young niece Mary Ann Bird aged 3 (b.1868, St George’s East). From 1881 to 1891 they were living at Tottenham and the children gradually left home to make their own way in life.
Elizabeth Walters died in 1897 at the age of 73. Charles Walters died at Broad Lane, Tottenham in Aug 1901 and left a will with son Charles Walters as the executor. Both deaths were registered at Edmonton, which is adjacent to Tottenham
73.8 Samuel Christopher Frederick Augustus Bird (1827-1913)
Samuel was baptised at St John the Evangelist, Lambeth in May 1827. His father’s occupation was listed as glazier and the family abode was High Street, Lambeth. On the same day a child named Robert William Bird (adjacent entry) was baptised by his parents Matthew and Eliza Bird. The father was a painter and was possibly related to our Birds.
NOTE: Samuel was the only one of William Henry Bird’s b1787 children baptised at St John the Evangelist. The parish was created in 1825 from St Marys parish and was located one mile north of High St. To get there, the family had to pass St Mary’s Church. Samuel was named after both of his grandfathers; Christopher Bird b1759 and Samuel Manning. Samuel’s father died when Samuel was eight years old, so he was too young to learn his father’s trade.
In 1841 Samuel 14 was living with his widowed mother Sarah Bird 50 (age rounded), glass grinder in Tyne Court, Finsbury. Three of his brothers William 15, John 12 and Edward 10, were living there too.
At the time of the 1851 census Samuel was working as a cigar maker and living with his mother Sarah, 64 year old widow, in George Row, Old Street with brothers John 22 stove? maker and Edward 19 tobacco stripper. It seems that older brother William (also a cigar maker) and his younger brothers were working in the tobacco industry and had possibly set up their own business.
Samuel married Hannah Sophia Green at St John’s Shoreditch in 1857. By 1861 the couple had two sons and were living Princes St, Shoreditch. Samuel 35 was a cigar maker and his wife aged 25 was a flower maker. In 1865 Adelaide Elizabeth Bird was born to Samuel Bird cigar maker and his wife Hannah at 75 Mary St, Hoxton. Hannah Sophia Bird nee Green died at the age of 35 in 1870 at Wandsworth with the family address listed as Robertson St, Wandsworth. In 1871 widower Samuel Bird, 44 year old cigar maker, was living in Lizard St, Finsbury with his four children. In 1881 cigar maker Samuel Bird aged 54 was living with unmarried daughter Mary Ann Bird 13 in White Cross St.
73.9 John Shadrack Bird (1829-1906)
John was baptised in July 1829 at St Marys, Lambeth. His father, William Henry Bird’s occupation, was listed as glazier and the family abode was still High Street.
In 1841 John 12 was living with his widowed mother Sarah Bird 50 (age rounded), glass grinder in Tyne Court, Finsbury. Three of his brothers William 15, Samuel 14 and Edward 10, were living there too.
At the time of the 1851 census John 22 was working as a stove maker and living with his mother Sarah, 64 year old widow, in George Row, Old Street with brothers Samuel 24 cigar maker and Edward 19 tobacco stripper. John did not join his brothers in the tobacco industry. Brothers William, Samuel and Edward were all involved in making cigars as an occupation.
On 13 Apr 1851 John married Caroline Moxon at St Johns, Hoxton. His father was listed as William Henry Bird, glass cutter. John’s occupation was listed as white smith and his abode was Herbert Street. John and Caroline lived most of their married lives in Bethnall Green with John working as a whitesmith. They had five known children. John Shadrack Bird died at West Ham in 1906 aged 77
73.10 Edward Thomas Bird (1831-1913)
Edward was baptised in July 1831 at St Marys, Lambeth. His father’s occupation was listed as glass cutter and the family abode was High Street. Edward was born when his mother was 44. He was only four when his father died.
In 1841 Edward 10 was living with his widowed mother Sarah Bird 50 (age rounded), glass grinder in Tyne Court, Finsbury. Three of his brothers William 15, Samuel 14 and John 12, were living there too.
At the time of the 1851 census Edward 19 was working as a tobacco stripper and living with his mother Sarah, 64 year old widow, in George Row, Old Street with brothers Samuel 24 cigar maker and John 22 stove maker. Brothers William and Samuel along with Edward were involved in making cigars as an occupation. In 1852 Edward was a witness at his older sister Sarah Ann’s second marriage to John Park.
At the age of 24 Edward married Matilda Mary Hinde 21 at Bethnall Green in 1854. Edward’s occupation was listed as cigar maker and his abode at the time was Wellington Row. His father was listed as William Henry Bird, glazier. Witnesses to the wedding were James Powell and Elizabeth Porter. James Powell was Edward’s brother-in-law who was married to sister Henrietta. Edward made his mark for a signature. Sadly, wife Matilda M. Bird nee Hinde died the following year.
Three years later Edward 27 married Emily Eliza Shattock at Bethnall Green. Edward was listed as a tobacco cutter and his deceased father William Bird, was listed as a glass cutter. Edward and Emily had one known daughter named Emily b1874. By 1901 Edward was a widower for the second time and living with his married daughter at East Ham. His occupation up to 1901 was listed as tobacco cutter and in 1911 as pensioned tobacco cutter. Edward T. Bird died at West Ham in 1913 aged 82.
74.0 Mary Ann Bird (1789-1863) GGGGM
Charlotte’s sister
Rod Gilbert has suggested that GGGGGM
Charlotte Elizabeth Bird possibly had a sister named Mary Ann Bird.
These two women were witnesses at each other’s marriages. A check of the
records seems to support the contention that they were sisters.
Above are the signatures of Mary Ann Bird at three weddings. In 1809 she signed as Mary Bird at her brother William’s wedding in 1809 (middle). In 1813 she signed as Mary Ann Bird at her own wedding in 1813 (top). In 1817 she signed under her married name as Mary Ann Hubble at her sister Charlotte’s wedding in 1817 (bottom). Despite the fact that Mary Ann’s names varied as was appropriate at each wedding, there are definitely similarities in letter formation and in the way the names are written. ‘Mary’ in particular is almost identical each time
A large amount of circumstantial evidence indicates that William, Mary, and Charlotte were siblings. This includes the following details.
- They were all married in the same church just a few years apart.
- In the 1820’s both Mary Ann and Charlotte baptised their children at the same church which was the Wesleyan Chapel, China Terrace, Lambeth.
- The two sisters could both sign their names (only a minority of families at that time ensured that their daughters were literate. The sisters witnessed each other’s weddings.
- William and Mary Ann witnessed each other’s marriages. It was a very common practice that marriages were witnessed by siblings.
- All three named children using names that were commonly used in their extended family including children named Christopher (uncommon at the time) after their father.
- From 1814 to at least 1815 the families of William Henry Bird and Mary Ann Bird lived in the same building or nearby, in Fye Foot Lane. They had children baptised in the same church including daughters named Elizabeth after their mother. Fye Foot Lane was half a mile from Silver Street, where the Bird family resided in the early 1800’s, so William and Mary Ann were living not far from their parents for a time.
- From 1817 to 1831 according to baptism and burial records, William Bird (1824, 1826, 1827, 1829, 1831), Mary Ann Hubble nee Bird (1817 and 1829) and Charlotte Collins nee Bird had children baptised at St Mary’s Lambeth and each of their abodes was listed as High St Lambeth. In addition, High St was the long-time abode of Charlotte’s father-in-law Saunders Cook Collins, his wife Elizabeth and their family. The mother of William, Mary Ann and Charlotte, Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw, died in 1828 and her abode at that time was also High St, Lambeth. They were all either occupying the same building or living close to each other in the same Street. It was very likely that Elizabeth Bird was living with one of her children. According to his will, Saunders Collins owned property in High Street which was rented out, so the Bird families may have been his tenants.
- The family abode was Lambeth Butts when Charlotte was baptised in 1794 and was also the abode for Mary Ann and her husband in 1817.
- On 14 November 1847 GGGF Anthony Smith (husband of Charlotte Collins wrote in his diary: "Sabbath. Went to Lambeth Chapel…. spent the rest of the day at Uncle Hubble with some friends”. 'Uncle Hubble would have been Nicholas Hubble (husband of Charlotte Collin's mother’s sister Mary Ann)
The fact that original church
baptism records have not been found for any of the first three Bird siblings suggests
they may have been baptised in the same parish (probably at Cookham), but those
records have been lost. Together, these factors indicate that William, Mary Ann
and Charlotte Bird were siblings. If this theory is correct Mary
Ann would have most likely been born before 1792 to be 21 at the time of her
marriage.
The 1861 census lists the
birthplace of Mary Ann Bird as Silver St, London and her age as 71. The family
may have shifted to Silver St when Mary Ann was a child and she may have
believed that to be her birthplace. Silver St was less than 1 mile from St
Botolphs where William, Charlotte and Mary Ann, were later
married. An age of 71 in 1861 would make Mary Ann’s birth year 1789. This fits
with the births of her brother William b1787 and sister Charlotte
b1794. Mary Ann would have been 24 when she was married and 65 in 1854 when she
visited Victoria, which the age the ship’s passenger list shows.
NOTE regarding Silver St. Abode of the
Bird family in the early 1800’s
Interestingly William Shakespeare
also lived in Silver St for a time and although it no longer exists, it ran
from Noble St to Wood St just south of London Wall. The present day Plaisterer’s Hall is located
at the east end of what was then Silver St. Plaisterer’s Hall (EC2Y 5JU) was
built to encourage excellence in all aspects of plastering. The Worshipful
Company of Plaisterers (sic) has occupied buildings on this site since 1501 and
it is possible that GGGGF William Collins who was a plasterer by
trade attended meetings. If the Bird family were living in Silver St, he may
have met his future wife, Mary Ann’s sister Charlotte there in
1817.
74.1 Mary Ann Bird (1789-1863) &
Nicholas Hubble (1794-1864)
Baptism records for their children show that Nicholas and Mary Ann moved house frequently in their early years together. At first, they lived in the City of London in Fye Foot Lane where daughter Sarah Elizabeth Hubble was baptised in 1814 at St. Mary Mounthaw and son William was baptised at St James, Garlickhythe, still very close to Fye Foot Lane. Mary Ann’s older brother William Henry Bird was also living in Fye Foot Lane at this time, and he had five of his children baptised at St Mary Mounthaw. If their families were not occupying the same building, they were living not far apart, as Fye Foot Lane was not a long street.
When their second child was born, their abode was listed as Crown Court. By 1817 they had moved south of the river and lived at various addresses in Lambeth including ‘Butts’ (also known as Broad St/Black Prince Rd.). The Butts residence was also the abode for the Bird family when Mary Ann’s sister Charlotte was born in 1794. Of their ten children only five survived to adulthood. From 1841 to at least 1849 the family resided in Princes Street, Lambeth and Nicholas worked as a warehouseman. In 1847 nephew GGGF Anthony Smith (husband of niece Charlotte Collins nee Bird) on his trip from Australia visited Mary Ann and Nicholas at their Lambeth home.
By 1851 Nicholas and Mary Ann were living a few miles to the south with their daughter Mary Ann Barnard nee Hubble and her family at St Faiths, Middlesex. In 1854 Nicholas a 61 year old warehouseman and wife Mary Ann 65 (b1789) sailed to Melbourne as assisted immigrants. The Hubbles may have had a stopover in Adelaide to visit Mary Ann’s sister Charlotte Collins nee Bird on either their trip to Melbourne in 1854 or their return trip to England in 1858.
Five months after Nicholas and Mary Ann Hubble migrated to Melbourne, their eldest daughter Elizabeth Sarah Whibley nee Bird, her husband and their children sailed to Adelaide, where they lived at Thebarton (1856) then Brown Hill Creek (1860) before finally purchasing land at Crafers in the Adelaide Hills in the 1860’s. Elizabeth Whibley’s aunt (Mary Ann’s sister) Charlotte Elizabeth Collins nee Bird b1794 lived in Adelaide and Brighton in the 1850’s to 1860’s, so in all likelihood they spent time together.
Mary Ann’s niece GGGM Charlotte E Smith nee Collins moved to Melbourne from Adelaide around Feb 1858, so the two possibly met up at around that time. In 1857 Nicholas’ mother died, and this may have been the impetus for a return to England in April 1858.
In 1861 Nicholas 66 and Mary Ann Hubble 71 (b1790) were living with their widowed daughter Mary Ann Barnard at St Faiths in England again. Mary Ann Hubble nee Bird died in late 1863 with the death registered in the City of London. Nicholas Hubble died early the following year with his death also registered at the City of London.
75.0 Ten Children of Mary Ann Bird (1789-1863) & Nicholas Hubble (1794-1864)
Of their ten children, four died as infants and one died at the age of 19. The five other children all had children of their own
75.1 Elizabeth Sarah Hubble (1814-1878)
Elizabeth Sarah Hubble was born on 14 Aug 1814 and baptized on 04 Sep 1814 in St Mary's, Mounthaw (in Old Fish St). Her father was listed as a porter and the family were living in nearby Fye Foot Lane. Elizabeth married farmer Richard Whibley on 20 Jun 1840 in St Giles, Camberwell, Southwark. Her father’s occupation was listed as ‘gentleman’ and one of the witnesses was sister Mary Ann Hubble.
Richard and Elizabeth Whibley had seven known children between 1841 and 1853, all born on their farm in Kent. In Aug 1854 Elizabeth’s parents sailed to Melbourne and three months later Richard, Elizabeth and their 5 surviving children followed, but headed to Adelaide where they arrived in April 1855. Richard and Elizabeth lived at Thebarton (1856) then Brown Hill Creek (1860) before finally purchasing land at Crafers in the Adelaide Hills in the 1860’s.
The marriage must have been under some strain in 1856 because Richard placed an advert in the paper declaring he would not be responsible for debts in his wife’s name (The S.A. Register 5 May 1856).
Almost two years after the death of Richard in June 1866, Elizabeth and her two youngest children returned to London. In 1871 she was listed as a 56 year old widow working as a fruiterer and living in Park Road Lambeth with two of her children. Elizabeth died at the age of 64 in 1878 and was buried at St Pancras.
75.2 William Henry Hubble (1816-1817)
William Henry Hubble was born on 01 Jun 1816 in 3 Crown Court, London and baptized on 23 Jun 1816 in St James, Garlickhithe (about 100m from Fye Foot Lane). His father was listed as a warehouseman. He was possibly named after an uncle who was a witness at Mary Ann’s marriage in 1817. William died in 1817 at the age of one and was buried at St Marys Lambeth. The family abode was listed as High St.
75.3 Mary Ann Hubble (1817-1896)
Mary Ann Hubble was born about Sep 1817 in Lambeth and baptized on 27 Sep 1817 in St Mary's, Lambeth. The family abode was listed as ‘Butts’ and her father’s occupation was warehouseman. In 1849 at the age of 31 she married 49 year old widowed butcher, Charles Henry Barnard at St Marys, Lambeth. Both were residents of Princes St, Lambeth at the time. Nicholas Hubble and Sarah Braden (future sister-in-law) witnessed the marriage and Mary Ann’s father was listed as a draper. Sarah Braden later married Mary Ann’s brother Thomas Hubble (see 75.7) The couple had two known children, Charles b1851 and Henry b1857 in addition to a child from Charles’ first marriage. At both the 1851 and 1861 census Mary Ann’s parents were living with her at St Faiths. Mary Ann died in 1896 at the reputed age of 77 and was buried in Lambeth.
75.4 Amelia Caroline Hubble (1820-1879)
Amelia Caroline Hubble was born on 25 Jun 1820 London and baptized on 03 Sep 1820 in the Wesleyan Chapel, China Terrace, Lambeth. She was named after her mother’s sister Amelia Caroline Bird who died in 1801. In 1838 Amelia, a minor aged 18 married Jonathon Warren at St Ann Church, Westminster. Amelia’s father’s occupation was warehouseman and her husband worked as a servant. In 1841 they were living Mill St, Lambeth. Jonathon was a ‘lucifer man’ and Amelia 24 was looking after their two daughters. A decade later they were living at Bethnall Green, and Amelia 30 was caring for her five children. In 1861 they were living in Broadwalk, Southwark and Jonathon 52, was working as a warehouseman. Amelia died in Lambeth in 1879 aged 58.
75.5 William Nicholas Hubble (1822-1823)
William Nicholas Hubble was born on 25 Jun 1822 in Lambeth and baptized on 1 Sep 1822 in the Wesleyan Chapel, China Terrace, Lambeth. William died at the age of 1 and was buried at St Marys, Lambeth on the 31 Aug 1823. The family abode was Mitre St. A witness at the baptism was James Randell Nash. James Randell Nash was also a witness a several Collins family baptisms. He was possibly related to William Nash, who married Elizabeth Collins b1803 three years later in 1825, but as he was a witness on many records, he was possibly a church official, and the surname similarity was just a coincidence.
75.6 John Hubble (1824-1902)
John Hubble was born on 14 Jul 1824 in Lambeth and baptized on 12 Sep 1824 in Wesleyan Chapel, China Terrace, Lambeth. He was living with his family in Princes Street in 1841 and was working as a warehouseman like his father. In 1846 John 23 married Caroline Hicks 18 at St Marys Lambeth and by 1851 they had a daughter. Caroline Hubble nee Hicks died in 1864. In 1866 John married Sarah Quarman at Christchurch, Southwark. John’s occupation was listed as commercial traveller. One of the witnesses was brother Thomas Waite Hubble, also a commercial traveller (salesman). By 1871 the couple were living in Tottenham, and John was working as a warehouseman again. In 1881 John, working as a leather agent, was living at Bethnall Green with his two daughters and a servant named Elizabeth. His youngest daughter was deaf. By 1891 John seems to have married his former servant because she was listed as his wife. John died in 1902 at Hackney at the age of 78.
75.7 Thomas Wait Hubble (1826-1904)
Thomas Wait Hubble was born on 12 Oct 1826 in Lambeth and baptised on 7 Jan 1827 in Wesleyan Chapel, China Terrace, Lambeth. He was living with his family in Princes Street in 1841. In 1853 Thomas married Sarah Braden at Kennington, Surrey. They had five known children. Thomas became a commercial traveller selling Manchester and died at West Ham in 1904.
75.8 James Hookham Hubble (1829-1848)
James Hookham Hubble was baptized on 24 May 1829 in St Mary's, Lambeth. The family abode was High St. Lambeth, and his father was listed as a porter. He was living with his parents in Princes Street in 1841. James died at Lambeth at the age of 19 in 1848.
75.9 Christopher Dunmoll Hubble (1832-c1832)
Christopher Dunmoll Hubble baptized on 8 Jan 1832 in St John the Evangelist, Lambeth. The family abode was Queen St., Lambeth and his father was listed as a porter. As he was not mentioned with the family in the 1841 census, he probably died as a child.
75.10 Frances Esther Hubble (1833-1835)
Frances Esther Hubble was born on 27 Dec 1833 and baptized on 9 Jan 1834 in St John the Evangelist, Lambeth. The family abode was Tyers St. Vauxhall, and her father was listed as a warehouseman. Sadly, Esther died as an infant and was buried on 4 Jan 1835.
76.0 GGGGGGP William Henshaw (1725-1758) & Elizabeth Fox (1728-1788)
GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw was baptised on 27 Nov 1757 by her parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw nee Fox at St Botolph, Aldgate.
75.6 John Hubble (1824-1902)
John Hubble was born on 14 Jul 1824 in Lambeth and baptized on 12 Sep 1824 in Wesleyan Chapel, China Terrace, Lambeth. He was living with his family in Princes Street in 1841 and was working as a warehouseman like his father. In 1846 John 23 married Caroline Hicks 18 at St Marys Lambeth and by 1851 they had a daughter. Caroline Hubble nee Hicks died in 1864. In 1866 John married Sarah Quarman at Christchurch, Southwark. John’s occupation was listed as commercial traveller. One of the witnesses was brother Thomas Waite Hubble, also a commercial traveller (salesman). By 1871 the couple were living in Tottenham, and John was working as a warehouseman again. In 1881 John, working as a leather agent, was living at Bethnall Green with his two daughters and a servant named Elizabeth. His youngest daughter was deaf. By 1891 John seems to have married his former servant because she was listed as his wife. John died in 1902 at Hackney at the age of 78.
75.7 Thomas Wait Hubble (1826-1904)
Thomas Wait Hubble was born on 12 Oct 1826 in Lambeth and baptised on 7 Jan 1827 in Wesleyan Chapel, China Terrace, Lambeth. He was living with his family in Princes Street in 1841. In 1853 Thomas married Sarah Braden at Kennington, Surrey. They had five known children. Thomas became a commercial traveller selling Manchester and died at West Ham in 1904.
75.8 James Hookham Hubble (1829-1848)
James Hookham Hubble was baptized on 24 May 1829 in St Mary's, Lambeth. The family abode was High St. Lambeth, and his father was listed as a porter. He was living with his parents in Princes Street in 1841. James died at Lambeth at the age of 19 in 1848.
75.9 Christopher Dunmoll Hubble (1832-c1832)
Christopher Dunmoll Hubble baptized on 8 Jan 1832 in St John the Evangelist, Lambeth. The family abode was Queen St., Lambeth and his father was listed as a porter. As he was not mentioned with the family in the 1841 census, he probably died as a child.
75.10 Frances Esther Hubble (1833-1835)
Frances Esther Hubble was born on 27 Dec 1833 and baptized on 9 Jan 1834 in St John the Evangelist, Lambeth. The family abode was Tyers St. Vauxhall, and her father was listed as a warehouseman. Sadly, Esther died as an infant and was buried on 4 Jan 1835.
76.0 GGGGGGP William Henshaw (1725-1758) & Elizabeth Fox (1728-1788)
GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw was baptised on 27 Nov 1757 by her parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw nee Fox at St Botolph, Aldgate.
William Henshaw’s future wife, GGGGGGM Elizabeth Fox, was baptised in 1728 by John Fox and Ann Hill at St Martins, Ludgate (about 1 mile from London Wall). Elizabeth’s parents were married at Clerkenwell in 1726. William Henshaw and Elizabeth Fox were married at All Hallows Church, London Wall on 10 Jul 1748. See above record. This was less than one mile from the Tower Hill/Aldgate area, where they would eventually have their family.
William and Elizabeth had at least five children, who were Elizabeth Henshaw 1749 (died 1754), Hannah Henshaw 1751-1795, Ann Henshaw 1753, William Henshaw 1755 and GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw baptised on 27 Nov 1757. All baptisms were held at St Botolphs Church in Aldgate. At the time of the first baptism in 1749 the family were living in Sweedland Court, Tower Hill, Aldgate. All baptism registrations after the first, list the Henshaw family as living in King St, Aldgate. At the time of burial of 5 year old daughter Elizabeth Henshaw b1749 on 23 Jun 1754, the family address was given as Eastsmithfield St (This street in Aldgate adjoins Towerhill St).
NOTE: Sweedland Court is now Swedeland Alley and is located at 202 Bishopsgate opposite Liverpool Station and just a few hundred metres from St Botolph’s Church.
According to the baptisms of the children below, St Botolphs Church seems to have been the family church in the early days of the marriage. However, the family may have moved in the 1870’s because some of the children married in St Clement Danes Church around 1780. The two churches were about 1.5 miles apart.
Elizabeth Henshaw nee Fox seems to have died in 1788 and was buried at St Clement Danes on 15 Jan in that year. The date of death of GGGGGGP William Henshaw is not known but he possibly died young, at the age of 33 and was buried at Allhallows Church, London Wall in Nov 1758. His death at a young age would explain the fact that no children were born after that date, even though wife Elizabeth Henshaw nee Fox was only 30 years old.
77.0 Five Children of GGGGGGP William Henshaw (1725-1758) & Elizabeth Fox (1728-1788)
All children were baptised in St. Botolph’s Church, with one dying as a young child.
77.1 Elizabeth Henshaw (1749-1754)
Elizabeth was baptised at St Botolphs in July 1749 by parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw. The family abode was Sweedland Court. Elizabeth Henshaw “daughter of William” died on 23 Jun 1754. The burial was at St Botolphs and the family address was given as Eastsmithfield St (This street in Aldgate adjoins Towerhill St).
77.2 Hannah Henshaw (1751-1795)
Hannah was baptised at St Botolphs in June 1751 by parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw. She was possibly named after William’s mother. The family abode was King St. about one mile from St Clement Danes. In 1778, Hannah Henshaw, spinster of the Parish of St Clements Danes married John Richards (?-1821) bachelor gunmaker, at St Martin in the Fields. Witnesses were Eliza Chambers and William Henshaw (either father or brother). All parties signed their names. John Richards was likely baptised by Thomas and Ann Richards in 1747 at St Martin in the Fields. St Clement Danes and St Martins were a half mile apart in Strand.
John Roberts had established his business at 114 Strand in 1775. After their marriage, Hannah and John moved to 25 Strand where he continued his gunmaking business. In 1781 John moved his business to 54 Strand and later 55 Strand where he remained until his death. It must have a successful business because according to court records, in 1787 he had several employees. Today, the guns he manufactures are sort after collector’s items and examples are held in the British Museum in London.
A nonconformist birth register confirms that children Mary Hannah Richards b1781, John Richards b1789 and Elizabeth Richards b1793 were the children of John Richards, gunmaker, and his wife Hannah Richards nee Henshaw, who was the daughter of William Henshaw. The records also confirm that all children were born in the Parish of St Martin in the Fields. The family abode for the last child was listed as Strand. A fourth child named Rebecca is sometimes named in family trees, but as she was baptised in Marylebone and not listed in the Nonconformist baptisms like the others, I think she was the daughter of another couple. According to tax records there was another John Richards residing in Marylebone from 1791-1810.
John Richards was a well-known gunmaker as is shown in the above advert. The British Museum lists two addresses for his business; No.54 Strand, near the Adelphi, London and No.114 Strand, London near the corner with the Savoy Steps. Further detail of his address can be found at collegehillarsenal.com and this information is displayed in the short biography below.
In the 1795-1820 London Directories John Richards of number 54 or 55 The Strand advertised his gun-making business. Land tax records confirm that John Richards occupied a property in The Strand from 1797-1820. The owner of his Strand property in 1807 was listed as Thomas Bird. Was Thomas related to the family of Hannah’s brother-in-law Christopher Bird?
In 1787 and again in 1799 John Roberts gunmaker of Strand was robbed. Both robbers were found guilty in The Old Bailey, the first was transported and the second, a 14 year old, jailed for 12 months. The transcripts of the court hearings are available on the web.
Hannah Richards nee Henshaw died in 1795 and was buried at St Martins in the Fields on 17 May 1795. Several websites indicate that John Richards died in 1821 and no business listings or tax records exist after that year. No burial record has been found, but he was probably buried alongside his wife at St Martins in the Field. Alternatively, there is a record for John Richards of Ironmongers Street, Finsbury buried at St Luke’s Finsbury in May 1821 which could be him. This location was less than two miles from Strand. The listed age of 62 (b1759) meant John would have been about 19 when he married Hannah in 1778, but only 16 when he opened his first shop, so this record is doubtful.
- Daughter Mary Hannah Richards (1781-1820) married John Johnson at St Martins in Fields in 1813. Brother John Richards was one of the witnesses. John Johnson may have been a cousin related to Mary through her aunt Elizabeth Henshaw b1757 whose brother-in-law GGGGGF Saunders Cook Collins married Elizabeth Johnson b1773.
- Son John Richards (1789-1860) became a clerk and married Mary Gibson Grover in 1825.
- Daughter Elizabeth Richards (1793-?) married Hugh Paine Savigny at St Martin in the Fields in 1810. After her husband’s death in 1826 she married Josiah Smith in 1827. Married sister Mary Hannah Johnson nee Richards was a witness at the second wedding.
77.3 Ann Henshaw (1753-1806)
Ann was baptised at St Botolphs in June 1753 by parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw. The family abode was King St. about one mile from her marriage location at St Clement Danes. Ann may have married widower Aldous Arnold in 1779 at St Clement Danes. Presumably St Clement Danes was her abode, which was the same with sister Elizabeth when she married in 1778. As with her sister’s wedding, William Henshaw was a witness. William may have been Ann’s brother or father. The other witness was M. Henshaw who may have been an unknown sibling or cousin. All parties signed their names. Ann and Aldous had at least one child named William Roland Arnold born in 1782 in Clerkenwell. By profession (Aldous b1744 Wapping) was a Broderer (embroiderer) and was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Broderers. Sadly, Aldous died at the young age of 43 and was buried in 1787 at St John of Wapping. Ann Arnold nee Henshaw probably died in 1806 and was buried at St Clement Danes in that year.
77.4 William Henshaw (1755-1810)
William was baptised at St Botolphs in Nov 1755 by parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw. The family abode was King St. William may have married a woman named Elizabeth around 1780 and had children baptised at St Clement Danes in 1781. No marriage registration has been found. In 1787 William Almond Henshaw (sic, perhaps a misspelling of Arnold after brother-in-law Aldous Arnold who died in that year) was baptised in the same parish by William and Elizabeth Henshaw. William b1755 may have been buried at St James, Piccadilly in 1810. One record lists his birth year as 1755, which fits and means he would have died at the age of 55. Piccadilly is one mile from St Clement Danes.
77.5 GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw (1757-1828)
Ann was baptised at St Botolphs in June 1753 by parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw. The family abode was King St. about one mile from her marriage location at St Clement Danes. Ann may have married widower Aldous Arnold in 1779 at St Clement Danes. Presumably St Clement Danes was her abode, which was the same with sister Elizabeth when she married in 1778. As with her sister’s wedding, William Henshaw was a witness. William may have been Ann’s brother or father. The other witness was M. Henshaw who may have been an unknown sibling or cousin. All parties signed their names. Ann and Aldous had at least one child named William Roland Arnold born in 1782 in Clerkenwell. By profession (Aldous b1744 Wapping) was a Broderer (embroiderer) and was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Broderers. Sadly, Aldous died at the young age of 43 and was buried in 1787 at St John of Wapping. Ann Arnold nee Henshaw probably died in 1806 and was buried at St Clement Danes in that year.
77.4 William Henshaw (1755-1810)
William was baptised at St Botolphs in Nov 1755 by parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw. The family abode was King St. William may have married a woman named Elizabeth around 1780 and had children baptised at St Clement Danes in 1781. No marriage registration has been found. In 1787 William Almond Henshaw (sic, perhaps a misspelling of Arnold after brother-in-law Aldous Arnold who died in that year) was baptised in the same parish by William and Elizabeth Henshaw. William b1755 may have been buried at St James, Piccadilly in 1810. One record lists his birth year as 1755, which fits and means he would have died at the age of 55. Piccadilly is one mile from St Clement Danes.
77.5 GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw (1757-1828)
GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw was baptised on 27 Nov 1757 by her parents William and Elizabeth Henshaw at St Botolph, Aldgate (see baptism registration above). She was the youngest of at least five children born to her parents and named after a deceased older sister and her mother. Elizabeth spent her early years living in King St, Tower Hill, Aldgate. Her family may have moved 1.5 miles into the Parish of St Clement Danes in the 1770’s because most of her siblings were married in that parish and her mother Elizabeth Henshaw nee Fox died there in 1788. St Clement Danes was 1.5 miles from the Southwark area, where her future husband was living.
GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw married Christopher Bird on 1 Jan 1785 at St George the Martyr, Southwark. She would have been 27 at the time, and that explains why she only had four children; the last in 1799 when she was 41. The last two children were baptised in Lambeth, but the family seems to have moved north of the river to Silver St about 1802.This was less than a mile from Strand and St Clement Danes, where Elizabeth’s siblings were living. Elizabeth’s husband Christopher Bird was buried on 4 Jun 1808 with the burial place at Spa Fields, Clerkenwell, which was about one mile from Silver St.
The widowed Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw probably went to live with one of her three married children who all lived in High Street, Lambeth at that time. Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw died at the reputed age of 67, twenty years after her husband. She was buried at St Mary, Lambeth on 16 Dec 1828. For more about Elizabeth’s married life see 71.0
78.0 GGGGGGP John Bird (1726-?) & Sarah Sawyer (1735-?)
GGGGGM Elizabeth Henshaw married Christopher Bird on 1 Jan 1785 at St George the Martyr, Southwark. She would have been 27 at the time, and that explains why she only had four children; the last in 1799 when she was 41. The last two children were baptised in Lambeth, but the family seems to have moved north of the river to Silver St about 1802.This was less than a mile from Strand and St Clement Danes, where Elizabeth’s siblings were living. Elizabeth’s husband Christopher Bird was buried on 4 Jun 1808 with the burial place at Spa Fields, Clerkenwell, which was about one mile from Silver St.
The widowed Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw probably went to live with one of her three married children who all lived in High Street, Lambeth at that time. Elizabeth Bird nee Henshaw died at the reputed age of 67, twenty years after her husband. She was buried at St Mary, Lambeth on 16 Dec 1828. For more about Elizabeth’s married life see 71.0
78.0 GGGGGGP John Bird (1726-?) & Sarah Sawyer (1735-?)
GGGGGF Christopher Bird was born to GGGGGGP John and Sarah Bird nee Sawyer at Cookham in 1759. According to the pattern of births of their children GGGGGGP John and Sarah Bird nee Sawyer were likely to have been married in the early 1750's. The following record may be their marriage.
Three Sarah Sawyers were born in Cookham, and one of these was our GGGGGGM (parents are in brackets). They were baptised on 19 Mar 1727 (Edward and Ann), 15 Jul 1734 (Thomas and Sarah) and 2 Jun 1735 (Christopher and Elizabeth, see above). There is no way of identifying which one is correct, but the latter parents fit in with the family tradition of naming a son Christopher, so that is the couple I think most likely were our GGGGGGGP.
78.1 Diagram 4 Showing Early Collins, Bird & Sawyer Family
79.0 Six children of John Bird (1726-?) & Sarah Bird nee Sawyer (1735-?)
All six children were baptised in Cookham. Apart from Christopher, few records relating to their lives have been found. Some of them may have moved closer to London. If so, it is harder to differentiate their records from other people with the same name.
All six children were baptised in Cookham. Apart from Christopher, few records relating to their lives have been found. Some of them may have moved closer to London. If so, it is harder to differentiate their records from other people with the same name.
79.1 John Bird (1753-1816)
John Bird was baptised at Cookham on 8 Dec 1753. He may have moved to London like his brother Christopher. A John Bird of Clapham Place, St Mary, Lambeth was buried at St Giles in the Fields, Holborn in 1816. He was 62 so was the right age. Brother Christopher Bird lived in Southwark for a time, then moved to Silver Street in the early 1800’s and was buried at Clerkenwell in 1808. St Giles, Clerkenwell and Silver Street are about 1 mile apart.
John Bird was baptised at Cookham on 8 Dec 1753. He may have moved to London like his brother Christopher. A John Bird of Clapham Place, St Mary, Lambeth was buried at St Giles in the Fields, Holborn in 1816. He was 62 so was the right age. Brother Christopher Bird lived in Southwark for a time, then moved to Silver Street in the early 1800’s and was buried at Clerkenwell in 1808. St Giles, Clerkenwell and Silver Street are about 1 mile apart.
79.2 Mary Bird (1755-?)
Mary Bird was baptised at Cookham on 7 Sep 1755 may have married Charles Clark in her hometown of Cookham in 1780. However, there was another Mary Bird born in Cookham in 1758, so distinguishing between the two is difficult.
79.3 Susannah Bird (1756-?)
Susannah Bird was baptised on the 5 June 1756. She may have married Richard Holland (b.1747) in her hometown of Cookham in Oct 1772. It was not common for women to be married as a teenager in our family, but it sometimes did happen. To be married at 16 was extremely rare. This was more likely if a daughter’s parents died young or if she was pregnant and neither of these seem to be the case. However, Susannah was not a common name, so this was most likely her marriage. Six known children were born Richard and Susannah in Cookham, Richard Holland Nov 1773, Sarah Holland 1776, Henry Holland 1778, John Holland 1782, Edward Holland 1786 and Thomas Holland 1788. Two of Susannah’s children were named after her parents, and she was 32 when she had her last child. No more is known.
79.4 GGGGGF Christopher Bird (1759-1808)
Christopher was baptised on 5 Aug 1759 at Cookham by his parents GGGGGGP John Bird and Sarah Sawyer. At some stage Christopher moved 30 miles to the Southwark area of London, possibly with his parents when he was young or later for employment reasons. Christopher became a glazier and married spinster Elizabeth Henshaw at St George the Martyr, Southwark, London on 1 Jan 1785. (About 2 miles from Lambeth). The couple had three children baptised at Cookham then two more baptised at St Marys Lambeth. In the early 1800’s Christopher moved north of the Thames to Silver Street (near present day Noble Street). He was buried at Spa Fields, Clerkenwell on 4 Jun 1808 at the age of 48. See 71.0 for more information about his life.
79.5 Edward Bird (1761-?)
Edward was baptised on 8 Mar 1761 at Cookham. He may have married Eleanor Giles at St Andrews, Holborn in 1785. This church was close to the marriage locations of brothers John and Christopher. They had a daughter named Elizabeth in 1793 baptised at St George Hanover Square and Eleanor died soon after (buried 15 June 1793 at St George). St George was about 2 miles from where brother Christopher was living in the early 1800’s. Alternatively, Edward may have lived in Cookham. There is a Land Tax Record for Edward Bird occupying land in Cookham in 1798.
Edward was baptised on 8 Mar 1761 at Cookham. He may have married Eleanor Giles at St Andrews, Holborn in 1785. This church was close to the marriage locations of brothers John and Christopher. They had a daughter named Elizabeth in 1793 baptised at St George Hanover Square and Eleanor died soon after (buried 15 June 1793 at St George). St George was about 2 miles from where brother Christopher was living in the early 1800’s. Alternatively, Edward may have lived in Cookham. There is a Land Tax Record for Edward Bird occupying land in Cookham in 1798.
79.6 William Bird (1763-?)
William was baptised on 3 Aug 1763 at Cookham. He may have been widowed in the 1780’s. William Collins widower married Elizabeth Collins of St John the Evangelist, Westminster at St Mary, Newington in 1793. Newington is very close to Lambeth. Witnesses were Susannah Jones and George Hemp. All parties signed their names. No more is known. Susannah Jones spinster married Edward Evans at St George, Southwark in 1811. All parties signed their names and Susannah’s signature is similar both times but lacking the ‘h’ on one.
80.0 GGGGGGGP William Bird (1669 or 1682 -?) & Ann Gibbons (c1686-?)
GGGGGGF John Bird was born Cookham in 1726 to parents GGGGGGGP William and Ann Bird nee Gibbons.
81.0 Parents of GGGGGGGF William Bird (born 1669 OR 1682)
There are two possible parentages for GGGGGGGF William Bird who married Ann Gibbons in 1715. These are
i) William Bird born to William and Eleanor Bird in 1682 at Cookham. 1682 is a better match for a marriage in 1715 and makes William closer in age to his wife Ann Gibbons. See 81.1 for more information OR
ii) William Bird born to Thomas and Martha Bird in 1669 in Cookham. A birth in 1669 would make William 46 at the time of marriage in 1715 but might explain why he only had five children. It would have been a second marriage. See 81.2
81.1 William Bird (c1655-?) & Eleanor Unknown (c1658-?) Possible parents of GGGGGGGF William Bird b1682
i) William Bird born to William and Eleanor Bird in 1682 at Cookham. 1682 is a better match for a marriage in 1715 and makes William closer in age to his wife Ann Gibbons. See 81.1 for more information OR
ii) William Bird born to Thomas and Martha Bird in 1669 in Cookham. A birth in 1669 would make William 46 at the time of marriage in 1715 but might explain why he only had five children. It would have been a second marriage. See 81.2
81.1 William Bird (c1655-?) & Eleanor Unknown (c1658-?) Possible parents of GGGGGGGF William Bird b1682
William Bird and Eleanor Unknown were probably born in the 1650's and married around 1676. If Eleanor was 18 (b1658) when she married, she would have been around 45 when she had her last child. She was possibly born in Cookham in 1658 to Thomas and Mary Goddard.
William and Eleanor’s ten known children born at Cookham, with baptism dates, were Eleanor Bird 2 Jan 1677, Anna Bird 8 Oct 1679, GGGGGGGF William Bird 27 Oct 1682, Mary Bird 15 Oct 1685, Susannah Bird 28 Nov 1688, Deborah Bird 20 Jun 1691, Richard Bird 17 Dec 1693, Martha Bird 1 Jun 1696, Jane Bird 25 Jun 1699 and Hannah Bird 7 Sep 1703.
No burial records have been found for either GGGGGGGGP William Bird (c1655-?) or Eleanor Bird nee Unknown. No more is known about William and Eleanor. Note the choice of names for their children include several names (Jane, Deborah and Hannah) not used in later generations, so these children probably died at a very young age.
81.2 Thomas Bird (c1635-?) & Martha Unknown (c1639-?) Possible parents of GGGGGGGF William Bird b1669
Thomas and Martha Bird had nine children including two sons named William Bird. The first of these born in 1667 and died as an infant, but it was the second of these sons (baptised in m1669), who may be the connecting link with our Bird family (See Diagram 3A).
If William Bird b1669 married Ann Gibbons b1786 in 1715, William would have been in his mid forties and Ann around thirty years old. Such an age gap was reasonably common, especially if it was the husband’s second marriage. The first marriage may have occurred in nearby Binfield and recorded as William Beard marrying Ann Hill in 1696. Ann Hill had been born to William Hill in Warfield in 1671 and so was close in age to her husband. These villages are all close to Cookham. William Beard/Bird and Ann Hill had two sons baptised in Cookham named William born in 1702 but died in 1708 and Thomas born in 1706. The boys were named after their father and grandfather. Ann Bird nee Hill may have died sometime after the birth of her second son, which explains why no more children were born in this marriage. Records show that William Beard/Bird’s first son, also named William, died in 1708 and his second Thomas b1706 must have also died young, because the first two sons in William’s second marriage were also named William and Thomas. These two names were obviously significant to William Beard/Bird.
Other circumstantial evidence supporting this contention is that William b1669 named two sons Thomas (the first died) after his father and two other sons John (the first died) after an older brother.
William Beard/Bird b1669 had brother named John Beard/Bird b1662. John married Ann Matthews (b1772 Bisham) at Binfield in 1701 (see 82.4). That marriage record has the same spelling for the surname (Beard instead of Bird). This error may be the result of the spelling habits of the person officiating. Another reason for believing that GGGGGGGF William was in the older age bracket when he married for the second time is that there were only five known children born in the second marriage. It is possible William Bird died in his late fifties, not long after the last child was born in 1726. Further research may throw more light on these potential ancestors. For more about the life of GGGGGGGP William Bird and Ann Gibbons see 80.0 above.
81.3 Diagram 5 Showing Possible Ancestries for William Bird
William and Eleanor’s ten known children born at Cookham, with baptism dates, were Eleanor Bird 2 Jan 1677, Anna Bird 8 Oct 1679, GGGGGGGF William Bird 27 Oct 1682, Mary Bird 15 Oct 1685, Susannah Bird 28 Nov 1688, Deborah Bird 20 Jun 1691, Richard Bird 17 Dec 1693, Martha Bird 1 Jun 1696, Jane Bird 25 Jun 1699 and Hannah Bird 7 Sep 1703.
No burial records have been found for either GGGGGGGGP William Bird (c1655-?) or Eleanor Bird nee Unknown. No more is known about William and Eleanor. Note the choice of names for their children include several names (Jane, Deborah and Hannah) not used in later generations, so these children probably died at a very young age.
81.2 Thomas Bird (c1635-?) & Martha Unknown (c1639-?) Possible parents of GGGGGGGF William Bird b1669
Thomas and Martha Bird had nine children including two sons named William Bird. The first of these born in 1667 and died as an infant, but it was the second of these sons (baptised in m1669), who may be the connecting link with our Bird family (See Diagram 3A).
If William Bird b1669 married Ann Gibbons b1786 in 1715, William would have been in his mid forties and Ann around thirty years old. Such an age gap was reasonably common, especially if it was the husband’s second marriage. The first marriage may have occurred in nearby Binfield and recorded as William Beard marrying Ann Hill in 1696. Ann Hill had been born to William Hill in Warfield in 1671 and so was close in age to her husband. These villages are all close to Cookham. William Beard/Bird and Ann Hill had two sons baptised in Cookham named William born in 1702 but died in 1708 and Thomas born in 1706. The boys were named after their father and grandfather. Ann Bird nee Hill may have died sometime after the birth of her second son, which explains why no more children were born in this marriage. Records show that William Beard/Bird’s first son, also named William, died in 1708 and his second Thomas b1706 must have also died young, because the first two sons in William’s second marriage were also named William and Thomas. These two names were obviously significant to William Beard/Bird.
Other circumstantial evidence supporting this contention is that William b1669 named two sons Thomas (the first died) after his father and two other sons John (the first died) after an older brother.
William Beard/Bird b1669 had brother named John Beard/Bird b1662. John married Ann Matthews (b1772 Bisham) at Binfield in 1701 (see 82.4). That marriage record has the same spelling for the surname (Beard instead of Bird). This error may be the result of the spelling habits of the person officiating. Another reason for believing that GGGGGGGF William was in the older age bracket when he married for the second time is that there were only five known children born in the second marriage. It is possible William Bird died in his late fifties, not long after the last child was born in 1726. Further research may throw more light on these potential ancestors. For more about the life of GGGGGGGP William Bird and Ann Gibbons see 80.0 above.
81.3 Diagram 5 Showing Possible Ancestries for William Bird
82.0 Another Bird Family Descended from a Common Ancestor
There was another Bird Family living in Cookham during the 1600 and 1700’s. They were most likely related to our Bird family, but the connection was at least two or three generations back. The fact that this family left wills over a number of generations provides excellent information about family connections, but also suggests that they were a wealthy family. The Bird surname name disappeared in this branch after the death of John’s three daughters. Interestingly this branch also married into the Sawyer family
82.1 John Birds born in Cookham
Three known John Birds were baptised in Cookham in the early 1700’s
82.1 John Birds born in Cookham
Three known John Birds were baptised in Cookham in the early 1700’s
- John Bird b1704 to John and Ann Bird nee Matthews. This John married Ann Sawyer in 1727 and their family is explored below (see 82.2). They were most likely related to our Bird family, but the connection was at least two or three generations back. The Bird surname name disappeared in this branch after the death of John’s three daughters
- John Bird b1724 to William and Ann Bird nee Gibbons. This baby was probably GGGGGGF John Bird’s deceased younger brother. Two years after his birth GGGGGGGP William and Ann Bird nee Gibons’s next child was given the same name.
- GGGGGGF John Bird b1726 to William and Ann Bird nee Gibbons. This John married Sarah Sawyer in 1753 and is the possibility explored above. Most family trees agree that this John was probably a direct ancestor in our Bird family.
John Bird was baptised in Cookham by parents John and Ann Bird nee Matthews in 1704. John married Ann Sawyer in 1727 at Cookham (see marriage registration below). Ann Sawyer b1705 was born to Edward Sawyer at Cookham and was part of the extended Sawyer family (see 87.5 & Diagram 4).
John and Ann Bird nee Sawyer had six
known children who were Richard Bird 1727-1727, Sarah Bird 1729, Ann Bird 1731,
Mary Bird 1734-1745, Elizabeth Bird 1737-1756 and Thomas Bird 1741-1748. All
children were baptised in Cookham. Sadly, three children died young. Richard at
the age of two weeks, Thomas aged seven and Mary aged eleven. Ann was 36 or 37 when
she gave birth to her last child and died sometime between 1741 and 1784, when
her husband wrote his will (she was not mentioned). John Bird b1704 died in
1788 and left a will written in 1784 which listed his surviving daughter, his
son-in-laws and grandchildren. According to his will, John Bird b1704 was the
Parish Clerk for Cookham, so had some standing in the community. He died in
Cookham in 1788.
Beneficiaries of the Will of John Bird b1704 (written in 1784, probate granted 1788)
82.3 Six Children of John Bird b1704 & Ann Sawyer b1705 (not related)Beneficiaries of the Will of John Bird b1704 (written in 1784, probate granted 1788)
- Grandson John Robins, son of shopkeeper John Robins (and husband of deceased daughter Ann)
- Grandchildren Henry, Sarah and Elizabeth Sudbury, children of Phillip Sudbury, peruke maker (wigmaker) and daughter Elizabeth Sudbury nee Bird.
i) Three children who died in Cookham as infants were Richard Bird 1727-1727, Mary Bird 1734-1745 and Thomas Bird 1741-1748.
ii) Sarah Bird was born in 1729 at Cookham. Still a spinster in 1753, Sarah was a beneficiary and executor of her grandmother’s will (see 82.4a). She married shopkeeper John Robins in 1755 at St Martins in the Field in London. During the 1700’s several members of the Bird and Sawyer family were married in London which was about 30 miles from Cookham. The couple had two sons both named John Robins born in Cookham in 1762 and 1768, so the first-born son must have died as a child. As Sarah was not mentioned in her father’s will in 1784, she must have died before then. However, both her husband and surviving son were both listed as beneficiaries. Sarah Bird nee Robins’ date of death is not known. Son John Robins may have been buried at St Clement Danes, London in 1815 at the age of 47.
iii) Ann Bird was born in 1731 at Cookham. At the age of 22 Ann was a beneficiary of her grandmother’s will in 1753 (see 82.4a). No more is known about Ann, but as she was not mentioned in her father’s will written in 1784, she probably died before then.
ii) Sarah Bird was born in 1729 at Cookham. Still a spinster in 1753, Sarah was a beneficiary and executor of her grandmother’s will (see 82.4a). She married shopkeeper John Robins in 1755 at St Martins in the Field in London. During the 1700’s several members of the Bird and Sawyer family were married in London which was about 30 miles from Cookham. The couple had two sons both named John Robins born in Cookham in 1762 and 1768, so the first-born son must have died as a child. As Sarah was not mentioned in her father’s will in 1784, she must have died before then. However, both her husband and surviving son were both listed as beneficiaries. Sarah Bird nee Robins’ date of death is not known. Son John Robins may have been buried at St Clement Danes, London in 1815 at the age of 47.
iii) Ann Bird was born in 1731 at Cookham. At the age of 22 Ann was a beneficiary of her grandmother’s will in 1753 (see 82.4a). No more is known about Ann, but as she was not mentioned in her father’s will written in 1784, she probably died before then.
iv) Elizabeth Bird 1737-? was born in 1731 at Cookham. At the age of 14 Elizabeth was a beneficiary of her grandmother’s will in 1753 (see 82.4a). In 1762 Elizabeth married Philip Sudbury, wigmaker at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which was six miles from her birthplace. She had three known children all baptised at High Wycombe. They were Henry Sudbury, Sarah Sudbury and Elizabeth Sudbury. No baptism registrations have been found but Phillip, Elizabeth and their three children were all listed in the will of Elizabeth’s father written in 1784. In 1798 Phillip Sudbury, and perhaps his wife, were living in Cookham Township. The house was just four doors away from Elizabeth’s cousin Edward Sawyer b.1731. No death records have been found for anyone in Elizabeth’s family. They may have migrated overseas.
82.4 John Bird (1662-c1748) & Ann Matthews (1681-1753) Not directly related
John Bird b1704 was born in Cookham to John Bird b1662 and Ann Matthews b1681. As his father was in his thirties or forties, it was possibly a second marriage.
82.4 John Bird (1662-c1748) & Ann Matthews (1681-1753) Not directly related
John Bird b1704 was born in Cookham to John Bird b1662 and Ann Matthews b1681. As his father was in his thirties or forties, it was possibly a second marriage.
The above record lists the birth of John Bird b1662 but incorrectly lists his father as Jho (John) Bird. The father should have been listed as Thomas Bird. ‘Thos’ was the abbreviation for Thomas and the transcriber has misread the letter ‘T’ as a ‘J’. This contention is reinforced by the fact that there were several other children born to Thomas and Martha Bird in sequential years around this time and no other children were born to a couple named John and Martha. Also, John Bird b1662 named his first child Thomas after his father, second child Martha after his mother then third child John after himself.
John b1762 married Ann Matthews b1681 at Binfield in 1701, ten miles from his hometown The record has the incorrect spelling for John’s surname but is still likely to be correct because spelling errors were common and Binfield was closely associated with Cookham. Also, there were no other children born with the surname Beard in either Binfield or Cookham following the marriage. John would have been close to 40 and Ann 21 at the time of the wedding so it was possibly John’s second marriage. The couple settled in Cookham where three known children were born, named Thomas Bird 1702, John Bird 1704 and Martha Bird 1707. The fact that there were only three children, supports the theory that John married as an older man. In fact, he may have died in his forties in the early 1700’s.
Daughter Martha Bird died in 1748 and left a will which confirmed relationships within the family. The Will of Martha Bird spinster written in 1747 listed her brothers as Thomas Bird and John Bird. She did not list any children of brother Thomas (no known children) but did single out brother John’s eldest daughter Sarah (her niece). Martha appointed her “dear and loving mother Ann” as her executor.
John probably died before 1748, because his daughter Martha did not mention him in her will and his wife Ann was listed as a widow in her own will written in Jun 1753. Ann Bird nee Matthews died in mid 1753 at the age of 72.
82.4a The Will of Ann Bird nee Matthews (1681-1753)
Ann Bird nee Matthews, widow of Cookham, Berkshire, died in 1753 and her will was proved by grand daughter Sarah Bird. In part it read,
"I, Ann Bird of Cookham, Berkshire...to my two sons Thomas Bird and John Bird [b1726] I give and bequeath 25 pounds each and also to Ann Bird my granddaughter I give and bequeath 15 pounds also to ... Elizabeth Bird my granddaughter I give and bequeath 15 pounds.. to be paid within 12 months of my demise .. the remainder to my granddaughter Sarah Bird, spinster who I appoint executrix ....Signed by Ann Bird 19th June, 1753".
This will was proved by “....grand-daughter Sarah Bird....at London 6 Jun 1753”. (The document clearly specifies dates, but strangely the will was proved two weeks before Ann signed the will! There is a note in the margin that appears to change the proved date to 26th June, which illustrates that someone was very quick off the mark to have the will settled.
The will confirms that Ann had two surviving sons named Thomas and John Bird (a third child Martha Bird b1707 was deceased). The sons are named in order of their births. The will also confirms that son John had three surviving daughters (Ann’s grandchildren). They were named as spinster Sarah Bird, Ann Bird and Elizabeth Bird. The latter two were named in order of their births and given their ages were unlikely to have been married. The eldest child (Sarah), who would have been 24, was made executor of Ann’s will.
83.0 Thomas Bird (c1639-?) & Martha Unknown (c1639-?)
NOTE: The chapters above explore the ancestry of John Bird (1704-1788) who was not directly related to our family. However, it is very likely that our Bird family descended from a common ancestor given the number of people with the Bird surname that lived near Cookham from 1600 to 1800. Thomas and Martha Bird may have been those common ancestors, but the small number of available records make it impossible to confirm this.
Going by the baptism dates of the children, if Martha was around 40 when she gave birth to her last child in 1679, she would have been born in 1639. If she was married in 1657 (the year prior to the birth of the first child) she would have been about 18 or 19. John and Martha had nine known children, all born at Cookham. The children were Thomas Bird 1658, Mary Bird 1660, John Bird 1662, Martha Bird 1664, William Bird 1667, William Bird 1669, Margaret Bird 1671, Richard Bird 1678 and Ann Bird 1679. All of these names were used in the next two generations of descendants. No more is known.
83.1 Possible Early Ancestors in the Bird Family
Thomas c1639 may have had several siblings because there were other members of the Bird family baptising their children at Cookham during the same period. Below are 7 couples who baptised children in the Cookham area in the mid to late 1650’s. (Children’s name and year of birth in brackets). Looking at the commonality of chosen names, couples a) to c) seem to be related. There are no records available prior to 1658
- Thomas & Martha Bird married c1657 (Thomas Bird 1658, Mary Bird 1660, John Bird 1662, Martha Bird 1664, William Bird 1667, William Bird 1669, Margaret Bird 1671, Richard Bird 1678 and Ann Bird 1679.
- William & Eleanor Bird married c1676 (Eleanor Bird 1677, Anna Bird 1679, William Bird 1682, Mary Bird 1685, Susannah Bird 1688, Deborah Bird 1691, Richard Bird 1693-1694, Martha Bird 1696, Jane Bird 1699 and Hannah Bird 1703)
- John Bird & Grace Bird married c1672 (William 1673)
- Abraham & Ann Bird (Eleanor 1664, Mary 1668, John 1673)
- John & Ann Bird married c1669 (John 1670, John 1689 (at Bray), John 1698 (at Hurst)
- Thomas Beard at Hurst married c1665 (William 1667, Ruth 1667)
- William & Ann Beard or Bird married c1668 (John 1669, Abraham 1672, Ann 1674, Steven 1677, Joseph 1681, Daniel 1685)
83.2 Diagram 6 Showing Bird
Descendants from a Common Ancestor
84.0 Reserved for Future use
SAWYER FAMILY TREE
Members of the Sawyer Family married into the Bird family on at least two occasions. Ann Sawyer b1705 of Cookham married John Bird of Cookham in 1727 (See 82.2). Ann’s niece (Sarah, daughter of her brother) also married into the extended Bird family. GGGGGGM Sarah Sawyer married GGGGGGF John Bird b1726 at Hurst in 1753 (see 78.0).
Males in the Sawyer family often learned a trade through an apprenticeship and will records listed various occupations. They mainly lived in Cookham and interacted in close-by communities such as Bisham, Hurst, Medmenham and Bray. Parish records from the Cookham area seem to have many gaps, including almost no burial records, which makes research difficult. In the 1700’s members of the family seemed to move thirty odd miles to London, probably for work opportunities. As London grew there would have been a demand for skilled tradesmen, especially those involved in construction industries. There would have been an even bigger demand for tradesman to help with rebuilding London after the Great Fire of 1666. It seems that the name Christopher originated in the Sawyer family before 1650 and was then frequently used over many generations in the Bird and Collins families for over 200 years.
The Sawyer Family lived in Cookham at least back to 1598 when the will of John Sawyer senior of Cookham was proved.
85.0 GGGGGGM Sarah Sawyer (1735-?) & Her Parents
Three Sarah Sawyers were born in Cookham and one of these was probably our GGGGGGM (parents are in brackets). They were baptised on 19 Mar 1727 (Edward and Ann), 15 Jul 1734 (Thomas and Sarah) and 2 Jun 1735 (Christopher and Elizabeth). As the Sawyer Family Tree diagram shows, I think that all three Sarah’s above were cousins, and their fathers were brothers. Sarah was named after the brother’s mother Sarah, who married their father Edward Sawyer around 1696. At the time of GGGGGGM Sarah’s marriage to GGGGGGF John Bird in Sep 1753, the above Sarahs would have been aged 26, 19 or 18. All three of these Sarah’s were younger than husband John Bird (aged 27), which was usually the case.
There is no way of conclusively identifying which Sarah was our ancestor but taking all the evidence above into account I believe either Christopher or Edward Sawyer was her father. In either case the tree continues back in time the same way because these two men were brothers born to Edward Sawyer and Sarah Webb (See 86.0). See 85.2 to 85.4 for more about each of these brothers.
GGGGGGM Sarah Sawyer married John Bird at Hurst, Berkshire on 2 Sep 1753 (where her parents were married). Hurst was 12 miles from Cookham, and the marriage date fits with the birth dates of their children. Sarah was pregnant with her first child (who was baptised three months after the marriage). See 78.0 for more about the married life and descendants of John Bird and Sarah Sawyer.
85.1 Diagram 7 Showing the Early Sawyer & Bird Family
85.2 Edward Sawyer (1701-?) & Ann Unknown (?-?) Son of Edward b1679
Edward Sawyer was born to Edward and Sarah Sawyer at Cookham in 1701. Edward married a woman named Ann in the 1720’s but no marriage record has been found. Their only known child was Sarah Sawyer born in Cookham in 1727, who may have been our ancestor.
Edward and Ann’s daughter Sarah b1727 would have been 25 at the time of her marriage in 1753 and had her last known child in Apr 1763 at the age of 36. A birth in 1727 makes the most sense in terms of her age, and Sarah named her third son after her father, so there is strong evidence that Edward and Ann were GGGGGGM Sarah’s parents. No other children seem to have been born to Edward and Ann, so Sarah was an only child, which suggest her mother died when Sarah was a baby. That may explain why Sarah did not name children after her mother. No more is known about Edward and Sarah Sawyer.
85.3 Thomas Sawyer (1707-?) & Sarah Howlet (1699-?) Son of Edward b1679
Thomas Sawyer was born to Edward and Sarah Sawyer at Cookham in 1707. Although quite young at 18 he possibly married older woman Sarah Howlet in Cookham in 1725. Sarah Howlet had been born in nearby Bisham in 1699 to George and Catherine Howlet. Thomas and Sarah Sawyer nee Howlet had four known children born in Cookham. They were George 1727, Thomas 1730-1731, Thomas 1732 and Sarah 1734.
It was uncommon for people to be under the age of 21 when they married in our family. In this scenario Thomas would have been 18 or 19 when he married Sarah Howlet and his daughter Sarah b1734 would have been 19 at the time of her marriage in 1753. She would have had her last known child in 1763 at the age of 29. A birth in 1734 makes her a bit young to marry in 1753 and 29 was too young for a last child unless the mother or father died. GGGGGGM Sarah named none of her children after her father or mother or siblings. It is unlikely that Thomas and Sarah were GGGGGGM Sarah’s parents.
85.4 GGGGGGGP Christopher Sawyer (1703-?) Son of Edward b1679, married Elizabeth Aldridge (1703-?)
Edward and Ann’s daughter Sarah b1727 would have been 25 at the time of her marriage in 1753 and had her last known child in Apr 1763 at the age of 36. A birth in 1727 makes the most sense in terms of her age, and Sarah named her third son after her father, so there is strong evidence that Edward and Ann were GGGGGGM Sarah’s parents. No other children seem to have been born to Edward and Ann, so Sarah was an only child, which suggest her mother died when Sarah was a baby. That may explain why Sarah did not name children after her mother. No more is known about Edward and Sarah Sawyer.
85.3 Thomas Sawyer (1707-?) & Sarah Howlet (1699-?) Son of Edward b1679
Thomas Sawyer was born to Edward and Sarah Sawyer at Cookham in 1707. Although quite young at 18 he possibly married older woman Sarah Howlet in Cookham in 1725. Sarah Howlet had been born in nearby Bisham in 1699 to George and Catherine Howlet. Thomas and Sarah Sawyer nee Howlet had four known children born in Cookham. They were George 1727, Thomas 1730-1731, Thomas 1732 and Sarah 1734.
It was uncommon for people to be under the age of 21 when they married in our family. In this scenario Thomas would have been 18 or 19 when he married Sarah Howlet and his daughter Sarah b1734 would have been 19 at the time of her marriage in 1753. She would have had her last known child in 1763 at the age of 29. A birth in 1734 makes her a bit young to marry in 1753 and 29 was too young for a last child unless the mother or father died. GGGGGGM Sarah named none of her children after her father or mother or siblings. It is unlikely that Thomas and Sarah were GGGGGGM Sarah’s parents.
85.4 GGGGGGGP Christopher Sawyer (1703-?) Son of Edward b1679, married Elizabeth Aldridge (1703-?)
Christopher’s daughter Sarah b1735 would have been 18 at the time of her marriage in 1753 and would have had her last known child in 1763 at the age of 28. A birth in 1735 makes her a bit young to marry in 1753 and 28 was too young for a last child unless her mother or father died. A common reason for young women marrying in their late teens was when they had been orphaned and finding a husband was one way they could support themselves.
There are three other reasons why I tend to favour Christopher as being Sarah’s father.
- Sarah b1735 was very pregnant at the time of her marriage and this may explain her marriage at a young age.
- Sarah married her husband John Bird in the same church at Hurst where her father and mother were married.
- Sarah named her second son Christopher after her father (first son was named after her husband)
85.5 Ancestors of GGGGGGGM Elizabeth Aldridge (1703-?)
Elizabeth was baptised in Cookham in 1703 by her father William Aldridge b1679. William had been born in nearby Hitcham, only three miles away. William Aldridge’s parents were possibly Robert Aldridge and Susannah Salter who had been married in the Quaker tradition in 1676. The marriage took place in Susannah’s hometown of Giles Chalfont and was witnessed by over forty people including Richard and Rebecca Aldridge and Edward, George and Mary Salter. William Aldridge had one sibling; older brother Robert Aldridge (1677-1722) also born at Hitcham (see will below).
85.6 William Aldridge (1679-?)
It seems that William Aldridge b1679 and his unknown wife settled in Cookham where the following children were baptised; John Aldridge 1699, Richard Aldridge 1700, Elizabeth Aldridge 1703, Thomas Aldridge 1704 and John Aldridge 1706.
86.0 GGGGGGGGP Edward Sawyer (1679-?) & Sarah Webb (1677-?)
GGGGGGGF Christopher Sawyer b1703 was baptised by Edward and Sarah Sawyer. Edward and Sarah were the parents of ten children including the three brothers listed above (See 87.0). Edward Sawyer b1679 named his son after his own father GGGGGGGGGF Christopher Sawyer c1646. Whilst in his late teens (18 or 19), Edward b1679 married Sarah Webb (b1677 Cookham) in early 1697. No marriage registration has been found so this information is based on her probable age at marriage and the baptism year of her first child. Sarah was born in 1677 at Cookham to parents Richard and Ann Webb. Sarah named two of her children with those names.
The ten known children born to the couple in Cookham were Frances Sawyer b.June 1697, Mary Sawyer 1699, Edward Sawyer 1701, GGGGGGGF Christopher Sawyer 1703, Ann Sawyer 1705, Thomas Sawyer 1707, William Sawyer 1710-1711, William Sawyer 1712, Sarah Sawyer 1714 and Richard Sawyer 1716. Sarah would have been 39 when she gave birth to her last child in 1716. At least one child, and probably more, died as infants.
According to the Poll book of 1721 Edward and his family occupied a house in Cookham in that year. The 1725 Register of Apprentices listed Edward as a master cooper employing an apprentice in Cookham. The apprentice was not one of his children because by then, his own sons, apart from Richard, were either deceased or set up in their own trades. Richard may have been an employee of his father by then.
Nothing more is known about Edward and Sarah Sawyer and very little is known about their ten children listed below.
87.0 Ten Children of Edward Sawyer (1679-?) & Sarah Webb (1677-?)
All children were baptised in Cookham and all except Mary were named after parents, grand parents or siblings.
87.1 Frances Sawyer (1697-?
Frances was born in Cookham in 1697 and named after her grandmother. No more is known.
87.2 Mary Sawyer (1699-?)
Mary was born in Cookham in 1699. She may have married John Widmore in 1720 and had three children named John 1722-c1730, Ann 1725 and John Widmore 1731. No more is known.
87.3 Edward Sawyer (1701-?)
Edward was born in Cookham in 1701 and named after his father. He may have married a woman named Ann c1725 with his only child named Sarah b1727. See 85.2.
87.4 GGGGGGGF Christopher Sawyer (1703-?)
Christopher was born in Cookham in 1703 and named after his grandfather. He married Elizabeth Aldridge at nearby Hurst in 1753 and had five known children. See 85.4 for more information.
87.5 Ann Sawyer (1705-?)
Ann was born in Cookham in 1705. She may have married John Bird in May 1727 and had six children named Richard Bird 1727, Sarah Bird 1729, Ann Bird 1731, Mary Bird, Elizabeth Bird 1737 and Thomas Bird 1741. Ann named a daughter (the first) after her mother. See 82.2 for more information about John and Ann Bird nee Sawyer.
87.6 Thomas Sawyer (1707-?)
Thomas was born in Cookham in 1707 and named after an uncle. He may have married Sarah Howlet at nearby Bisham in 1727 and had three known children. See 85.3 above for more information.
87.6a Another Thomas Sawyer (1699-1736) glazier
Not to be confused with Thomas Sawyer b1707, Thomas b1699 was baptised by Edward and Martha Sawyer at Holborn in 1699. His father Edward Sawyer bachelor married Martha Jones spinster in 1694 at St James, Dukes Place.
Edward Sawyer’s listed occupation and abode from 1699 to 1706 (listed at the first three children’s baptisms) was coachman of Leather Lane. He and Martha had the following children baptised at Holborn, Thomas Sawyer 1699, John Sawyer 1701, William Sawyer 1703 and Edward Sawyer 1706. Son Edward died in 1707 and was buried at St Andrew with the family abode given as Sumers Street. Son Thomas Sawyer b1699 was apprenticed to Thomas Hardy glazier for seven years starting 1714 and was admitted to Company of Glaziers in 1721. On the apprenticeship agreement, father Edward Sawyer of St Andrew, Holburn was listed as a yeoman. The apprenticeship agreement is an intriguing link to our other relative GGGGGF Christopher Bird (1759-1808) and his son William Henry Bird (1787-1835) who were also a glaziers in London a few decades later. (See 70.0)
Thomas Sawyer b1699 glazier of Wap (Wapping) married widow Sarah Wood in 1726 at Stepney (3 miles from Holborn). Thomas Sawyer made his will at Marylebone in 1736 and died that year. His wife Sarah was the sole beneficiary and executrix and there were no children listed. It is tragic to note that all three glaziers mentioned above (GGGGGF Christopher Bird b1759, William Henry Bird b1787 and Thomas Sawyer b1699) died before the age of 50 which may indicate that their occupation contributed to their early deaths.
87.7 William Sawyer (1710-1711)
William was born in Cookham in 1710 and named after an uncle. He died as an infant at Cookham in 1711.
87.8 William Sawyer (1712-?)
William was born in Cookham in 1712 and named after an uncle and his deceased older brother. William may have married a woman named Ann around 1740 and had a son named William who was born in Cookham in 1742 but died in 1743. No more is known.
87.9 Sarah Sawyer (1714-?)
Sarah was born in Cookham in 1714 and named after her mother. She may have married John Davey at nearby Bisham in 1751. No more is known.
87.10 Richard Sawyer (1716-1781)
87.8 William Sawyer (1712-?)
William was born in Cookham in 1712 and named after an uncle and his deceased older brother. William may have married a woman named Ann around 1740 and had a son named William who was born in Cookham in 1742 but died in 1743. No more is known.
87.9 Sarah Sawyer (1714-?)
Sarah was born in Cookham in 1714 and named after her mother. She may have married John Davey at nearby Bisham in 1751. No more is known.
87.10 Richard Sawyer (1716-1781)
Richard was baptised in Cookham in Feb 1716 and was named after his grandfather Richard Webb, who had been born at Hurley. Hurley is only a mile or two from Medmenham, but the Thames needs to be crossed by a ferry. Richard may have died at Medmenham in Nov 1781. His wife was Ann Sawyer nee Unknown and according to the baptism records of his children he had married around 1750 and lived in Medmenham since then. No marriage registration record has been found. Richard and Ann had at least three children named Francis 1752-1753, Frank 1755-1808 and Amy (Robinson) 1754-?, All were baptised in Medmenham. Richard’s will listed assets including land in Cookham, Wooburn Green and Burnham as well as his residence in Medmenham so he was very well off. Probate was granted to Richard’s two surviving children, Frank and Amy Sawyer spinster, in 1782.
88.0 Christopher Sawyer (c1646-?) & Frances Arnold (1646-?) All we know about Christopher and Frances comes from the baptismal records for their children. It seems that they were married around 1674 in the Cookham area. If they were in their mid-twenties, they were born around 1646. Their six known children were Frances Sawyer 1675, named after her mother, Ann Sawyer 1677, GGGGGGGGF Edward Sawyer 1679, Christopher Sawyer 1681-1681, Thomas Sawyer 1682 and William Sawyer 1686. A birth in 1646 would have made Frances Sawyer 40 when she had her last known child. There was a Frances Arnold baptised in Binfield (11 miles from Cookham) in 1646 by Thomas Arnold. Frances named her third son Thomas, perhaps after her father. No more is known about the couple. They must have been highly regarded because their Christian names were used many times for later generations.
88.1 Possible Siblings for Christopher Sawyer c1650 (baptised at Cookham)
Christopher may have had several siblings because there were other Sawyers baptising their children at Cookham during the same period including the couples below (Children’s names and year of birth in brackets). His siblings may have included William c1645 and Thomas c1657 because he named two of his children with these names. Also, both William and Thomas had children named Frances which was a very common name in our Sawyer Tree.
In the mid 1600’s our relatives lived through two disasters that hit London. The Great Plague arrived in 1665 and caused the death of about one quarter of London’s inhabitants. The following year another catastrophe hit when the Great Fire of London broke out. Although there were few deaths from the latter, a large part of central London was destroyed.
Our Sawyer and Bird families living 30 miles from London were unlikely to have been directly affected by either of these calamities. However, they would have been very fearful of the plague spreading to their village as Londoners evacuated the city and moved into country areas. They may have also found their skills as tradesman in demand after the Great Fire, when a huge rebuilding effort took place in London. As tradesmen were in short supply some of our relatives may have moved to the city for employment. This may explain why there are so many records relating to tradesmen in central London with the surname Sawyer in the late 1600’s and why it is so hard to find a complete record trail based on the Cookham Parish records.
88.0 Christopher Sawyer (c1646-?) & Frances Arnold (1646-?) All we know about Christopher and Frances comes from the baptismal records for their children. It seems that they were married around 1674 in the Cookham area. If they were in their mid-twenties, they were born around 1646. Their six known children were Frances Sawyer 1675, named after her mother, Ann Sawyer 1677, GGGGGGGGF Edward Sawyer 1679, Christopher Sawyer 1681-1681, Thomas Sawyer 1682 and William Sawyer 1686. A birth in 1646 would have made Frances Sawyer 40 when she had her last known child. There was a Frances Arnold baptised in Binfield (11 miles from Cookham) in 1646 by Thomas Arnold. Frances named her third son Thomas, perhaps after her father. No more is known about the couple. They must have been highly regarded because their Christian names were used many times for later generations.
88.1 Possible Siblings for Christopher Sawyer c1650 (baptised at Cookham)
Christopher may have had several siblings because there were other Sawyers baptising their children at Cookham during the same period including the couples below (Children’s names and year of birth in brackets). His siblings may have included William c1645 and Thomas c1657 because he named two of his children with these names. Also, both William and Thomas had children named Frances which was a very common name in our Sawyer Tree.
- William & Frances Sawyer married c1667 (Frances 1668, Mary 1671, William 1673, Francis 1677)
- Richard and Mary Sawyer (Mary 1663, Elizabeth 1665)
- John & Dustable Sawyer (Elizabeth 1660, Richard 1667)
- John & Ann Sawyer (Ann 1672, John 1673, Mary 1677)
- John Sawyer & Catherine Lawrence married 1686 (John 1687, Robert 1689, Henry 1690, Rebecca 1692, Mary 1696 and Catherine 1698)
- John Sawyer & Margaret Heaburd married 1682 (William 1683-1683, Richard 1684, Mary 1688, John 1690, Elizabeth 1692 and Ann 1695.
- Thomas Sawyer c1757 & Alse (Alice) Stephens c1757 married 1683 at nearby Hedgerley (Ann Sawyer 1684, Elizabeth 1685-1686, Susanna Sawyer 1686, Alse Sawyer 1689, Mary Sawyer 1690 and Frances Sawyer (F) 1697). If Alse was born in 1757 she would have been 40 when she had her last child and 26 when she was married.
In the mid 1600’s our relatives lived through two disasters that hit London. The Great Plague arrived in 1665 and caused the death of about one quarter of London’s inhabitants. The following year another catastrophe hit when the Great Fire of London broke out. Although there were few deaths from the latter, a large part of central London was destroyed.
Our Sawyer and Bird families living 30 miles from London were unlikely to have been directly affected by either of these calamities. However, they would have been very fearful of the plague spreading to their village as Londoners evacuated the city and moved into country areas. They may have also found their skills as tradesman in demand after the Great Fire, when a huge rebuilding effort took place in London. As tradesmen were in short supply some of our relatives may have moved to the city for employment. This may explain why there are so many records relating to tradesmen in central London with the surname Sawyer in the late 1600’s and why it is so hard to find a complete record trail based on the Cookham Parish records.
89.0 Reserved for Future Use
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