Matilda Collins

c1831-1917

Matilda, her parents, siblings and early life:

Matilda was born in Crookham, Berkshire, the illegitimate daughter of Mary Ann Rodd.

Her mother also had an illegitimate son Samuel, baptised in Thatcham in 1826.

Mary Ann married William Wilmot on the 18^th October 1832 at St Mary’s Church Thatcham (both were single). After they were married Maltida was known as Matilda Wilmot

William and Mary Ann had the following children:

John c1833

Mary Ann c1835

Henry 1838

Abraham c1841

Isaac 1842

Lucy c1844

Charles 1846

Edward 1848

George 1850

Ellen c1853

In 1841 Matilda (10) was living with her parents and siblings in Crookham Village.

The 1851 census records Matilda (20) as a House Servant at 29 Henry Street East, St Marylebone, Middlesex for William S Britton, a General Practitioner and his family.

Matilda in later life:

Matilda married Thomas Holloway in 1862 (marriage registered in Newbury, Matilda’s surname recorded as Rodd).

Thomas and Matilda also had the following three children:

Lucy Eliza 1863

Elizabeth Mary 1865

Thomas George 1866 

Matilda was widowed in 1866, Thomas died aged 45, he was buried at St Mary the Virgin Aldermaston on the 5^th May.

Matilda remarried in 1870, her 2^nd husband was Alexander Collins, an Engine Fitter (previously worked as a Millwright). (Alexander was baptised on the 5^th April 1835 in Speen, the son of Edward (a Millwright) and Hannah Collins (nee Knapp) who were married o the 29^th July 1811 in Blewbury Berkshire)

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 in 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). In this census both Matilda and her daughter Ellen were recorded as being deaf.

Matilda 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 with her married daughter Elizabeth Brazier (46), her two granddaughters, Florence Brazier (16) a Draper’s Assistant, Kathleen Brazier (12) and a visitor, Emma Willmott (43), at 24 West Street, Newbury. In this census Matilda was recorded as being totally deaf for 40 years.

By 1913 her daughter Elizabeth and her family had moved to 63 Gloucester Road, Newbury.

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 with her daughter Elizabeth and her family)

Mrs P

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LS(H)20

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