Alfred Collins (1872 – 1959)

                                    Mary Ann Collins (1872 – 1927)

Alfred Collins was born on 23 January 1872 in Quenton near Cirencester, the son of Emanuel and Elizabeth, nee Bulpit, Collins.

In the 1881 census Alfred was recorded with his parents (although his father was now using the name Edward) and seven siblings in Pembroke Road in Newbury, his father was an agricultural labourer. Alfred’s father Emanuel (Edward) died on 23 February 1887 in Salisbury. Subsequently in the 1891 census Alfred was recorded working as a printer living with his sister Elizabeth Bulpit, her husband Edmund, his mother Elizabeth and six siblings in Enborne Road in Newbury.

Mary Ann Payne was born in 1872 in Stroud Green, the daughter of Daniel and Mary Ann, nee Selwood, Payne. She was recorded with her parents in Stroud Green in the 1881 census, her father Daniel was a carman. Mary was working as a laundress and still living with her parents in the 1891 census at 7 Alms Houses in Newbury.

Alfred Collins married Mary Ann Payne in 1893 in Newbury. They had three children, Edith Mary (1895), Winifred Gladys (1898) and Alfred Daniel Payne (1904) who were all born in Newbury.

In the 1901 census Alfred and Mary Ann with daughters Edith aged 5 and Winifred aged 3 were living at Leighton, Andover Road in Newbury. Alfred was a printer’s compositor and Mary Ann a laundress.  

Ten years later in the 1911 census Alfred and Mary Ann with children Edith, Winifred and Alfred Daniel and Mary Ann’s widowed mother Mary Ann Payne were living at 2 Leighton Villas, Andover Road. Alfred was a printer’s compositor. 

Alfred and Mary Ann and their three children were still living in Leighton in the 1921 census although daughter Winifred was now married and her husband Frederick James Poffley was also resident in the house. Alfred senior was a compositor working for Blacket and Turner at 34 Northbrook Street while Alfred junior was working for GWR at Newbury station as a railway carriage and waggon greaser and oiler.

Mary Ann died on 23 July 1927 aged 55 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 March.

When the national register was compiled on 29 September 1939 Alfred was living at 22 Andover Road along with his unmarried daughter Edith and one other. Alfred was a printer compositor and Edith’s occupation was recorded as unpaid domestic duties.

Alfred died on 22 March 1959 aged 87 while still living at 22 Andover Road and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 March.

Alfred and Mary Ann’s children all died in Reading. Edith Mary Collins died on 31 August 1979 while living at 8 Pell Street in Reading. Alfred Daniel Payne Collins died on 11 June 1980 while living at 47 Sherman Road in Reading. Winifred Gladys Poffley died 26 February 1983 at Royal Berks Hospital in Reading.

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