Alexander Collins

c1835-1874

Alexander was baptised on the 5^th April 1835 in Speen, Berkshire, the son of Edward and Hannah Collins (nee Knapp) who were married on the 29^th July 1811 in Blewbury Berkshire. (Edward was from the parish of Cookham)

His mother Hannah was baptised on the 22^nd December 1793 in Blewbury, the daughter of George and Susanna Knapp (nee Dandridge) who were married on the 3^rd November 1793 in Blewbury. Hannah died aged 62 in 1856 and was buried on the 27^th April in the Newtown Road Cemetery.

His father Edward was born c1790 (place unknown, not Berkshire) and was a Millwright. He died aged 58 in 1848 and was buried on the 24^th November at St Nicolas Newbury.

Edward and Hannah had the following children baptised in Blewbury:

Samuel born 13^th July, baptised 2^nd August 1812

Edward baptised 15^th May 1814

George baptised 7^th June 1818

By 1824 the family had moved to Speenhamland. Hannah and Edward had the following children baptised in Speen:

Clarissa baptised 19^th September 1824

Edwin baptised 4^th February 1827

Susanna baptised 20^th September 1829

Henry baptised 14^th October 1832

Letitia baptised 3^rd March 1834

Emmanual baptised 11^th February 1838

In 1841 Alexander (6) was recorded living in London Road, Speen with his parents and siblings Clarissa (15), Edwin (14), Susan (12), Henry (8) and Emanuel (3). (Surname recorded as Colling on Ancestry)

In 1851 Alexander (16) was working as a Millwright, he was living in Old Newtown Road, Newbury with his widowed mother Hannah and his brothers Henry (18) a Millwright and Emanuel (11).

Alexander joined the Army serving as a Private in the 52 Foot Regiment. He left in 1868.

He married Matilda Holloway on the 8^th October 1870 at the Independent Chapel, Thatcham

(Matilda was a widow with three children (maiden name Rodd, 1^st husband Thomas Holloway married in 1862)

Alexander and Matilda had two children, William Alex born c1871 and Ellen born c1873

In 1871 the family were recorded living in Wither’s Yard, Newbury

Alexander died aged 39 on the 9^th May 1874, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 11^th May.

In 1881 Matilda was recorded as a Seamstress, living in Waldegrave Place, Newbury with her children Thomas Holloway (14) and Errand Boy, William Collins (10) and Ellen Collins (8). She was still working as a Seamstress in 1891 and was still living in Waldegrave Place but was now living alone. By 1901 she was living in a Kimber’s Almshouse in Newbury.

The 1911 census records Matilda (81) living at 24 West Street, Newbury, with her married daughter Elizabeth Brazier (46), her two granddaughters Florence Brazier (16) a Draper’s Assistant and Kathleen Brazier (12) and a visitor, Emma Willmott (43).

Matilda died aged 86 on the 5^th January 1917, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 9^th January (At the time of her death she was living at 63 Gloucester Road Newbury, home of her daughter Elizabeth Brazier and her family)

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