Amos Collins (1858 – 1882)

                                    Elizabeth Collins (1881 – 1882)

Amos Collins was born in 1858 in Cold Ash, the son of William and Caroline, nee Willis, Collins. William and Caroline had married at St Mary in Thatcham on 16 October 1845.

In the 1861 census Amos was recorded with his parents, brothers William and John and sister Ann in Cold Ash, his father was an agricultural labourer. Ten years later in the 1871 census Amos was still living in Cold Ash with his parents and five siblings. Amos and his father William were both agricultural labourers.

Amos married Elizabeth Hawkins in 1879. Elizabeth was born 16 July 1858 in Brimpton. She was baptized on 29 August 1858 at St Peter in Brimpton, the daughter of Henry and Sarah, nee Cox, Hawkins. She was recorded with her parents and various siblings in the 1861 census at Brimpton and in the 1871 census in Thatcham.

In the 1881 census Amos and Elizabeth were residing at Exchange Buildings in Newbury with daughter Annie aged one. Amos was a maltster.

A few months after the census Amos and Elizabeth had another daughter Elizabeth. Sadly, she died on 20 February 1882 aged only 5 months and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 24 February. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News of 23 February as below.

COLLINS – Feb. 20, Exchange-yard, Newbury, Elizabeth, child of Amos Collins, aged 5 months.

Just over three months later Amos died on 3 June 1882 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 7 June. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News of 3 June as below.

COLLINS – June 3, Corn Exchange-yard, Newbury, Amos Collins aged 24.

In the 1891 census Elizabeth was living in Newtown, Thatcham along with two daughters Elizabeth Collins aged 7 and Lily Collins aged 4 and Alfred Jennings, a widower working as an engine driver. Elizabeth was still living in Newtown with Alfred Jennings in the 1901 census along with her two sons, Thomas Collins aged 9 and Norman Collins aged 3.

Elizabeth married James Wallin in 1904. In the 1911 census Elizabeth and James were living in Newtown, Thatcham along with Elizabeth’s son Norman. Ten years later in 1921 Elizabeth was a widow living with her son Norman still in Newtown with Elizabeth working as a charwoman and Norman a carpenter. When the national register was compiled on 29 September 1939 Elizabeth was living at 37 Dunstan Green in Thatcham with her daughter Annie Hedges and her husband Alfred.

Elizabeth died in March 1942 at her daughter’s house 37 Dunstan Green and she was buried at St Mary in Thatcham on 1 April.

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