Henry Collins (circa 1833 – 1874)

Henry Collins was born circa 1833 in Greenham the son of William and Eliza, nee White, Collins. He was baptized on 1 February 1835 at St Mary in Greenham, William was recorded as a labourer.

At present no trace of Henry in the 1841 census. In the 1851 census Henry was recorded with his parents and four siblings living in Stroud Green, both Henry and his father William were agricultural labourers.  

Henry married Ellen Griffin in 1852 in Wantage district. Ellen was born in Newbury and baptized on 25 April 1830 at St Nicolas in Newbury, the daughter of John and Sarah, nee Payn, Griffin. In the 1841 and 1851 censuses Ellen was recorded with her parents and siblings, in 1841 in the City in Newbury and in 1851 in Bath Road in Newbury.

Henry Ellen had eleven children, Edward Charles (1853), Ellen Malvina (1855), Louisa Maria (1857), Alice Emma (1858), Kate Jane (1860), Sarah Emily (1862), Rosa Sophia (1863), Henry Arthur (1865), William Ernest (1867), Ada Mary (1869) and Florence Eliza (1871).

In the 1861 census Henry and Ellen with children Edward, Ellen, Louisa, Alice and Kate along with Ellen’s brother Stephen Griffin were all living at 8 Brook Street in Reading. Henry was a millwright and Ellen was carrying out laundry work.

Ten years later in the 1871 census Henry and Ellen with children Edward, Louisa, Kate, Sarah, Rosa, Henry, Ada and Florence along with Ellen’s sister Eliza Griffin were all living in Bartholomew Street in Newbury. Henry and Edward were both engineers.

Henry died on 17 January 1874 and he was buried on 23 January at Newtown Road Cemetery.

An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 22 January as below.

COLLINS – Jan. 17, at West Fields, Newbury, Henry Collins, aged 41.

Ellen continued to live in Newbury after the death of Henry. In 1881 she was still living in Bartholomew Street with daughters Ada and Florence and was a charwoman. Then in 1891 she was living at 1 New Square with her daughter Ada and her brother Stephen Griffin. In 1901 she was recorded as a visitor in the house of her daughter Florence Terry and her family at Hampton Villas, Livingstone Road.

Ellen died 21 September 1903 in Bendigo, in Victoria State in Australia. She was buried in the White Hills Cemetery in Bendigo.

Sources: