Eliza Collins (1852 – 1908)

Eliza Lawrence was born on 2 July 1852 in Crookham, the daughter of John and Susannah, nee Matthews, Lawrence. She was baptized on 29 August 1852 at St Mary in Thatcham.

In the 1861 census Eliza was recorded with her parents and three siblings in Crown Street in Thatcham, her father John was an agricultural labourer. Eliza was still living with her parents and siblings in Thatcham now in Crookham Road in the 1871 census.

Eliza married John Collins on 4 September 1876 at St John in Newbury. John was born in 1849 in Greenham, the son of John and Ann, nee Stephens, Collins. He was recorded with his parents and siblings at Greenham Common in the 1851 and 1861 censuses. In 1861 John junior was a shepherd’s boy while his father John was a shepherd. No trace of John in the 1871 census.

John and Eliza had six children, who were Mary Ann (1876), Clara Ellen (1878), Ernest John (1880), Francis Daniel (1882), Florence Maria (1885) and Charlotte Sophie (1886). It appears Eliza might have had another three children after the death of John.

In the 1881 census John and Eliza along with their children Mary Ann, Clara Ellen and Ernest were living in Greenham Fields with John recorded as a general labourer.

John died in December 1886 aged 37 and he was buried on 11 December at St Lawrence in Hungerford.

Eliza appeared before Newbury Borough Session in January 1890 along with her sister Susannah Lawrence and two boys who were all charged with receiving stolen money knowing it to be stolen. Two other boys were charged with stealing and pleaded guilty. The jury found three of those charged with receiving stolen money guilty but Eliza was found innocent.

One year later in the 1891 census Eliza along with her children Ellen, Ernest, Francis, Florence and Charlotte were living at 2 Fisher Building in Shaw with Eliza recorded as a laundress.

By the time of the 1901 census Eliza was living at Newtown, Thatcham with her children with John of Mary, Clara, Florence and Charlotte. Eliza was a housekeeper, Mary a packer at a paper mill, Clara and Florence were both paper bag makers while Charlotte was a machine feeder at a paper mill. The daughters were all probably working at Colthrop paper mill. There were also three more of Eliza’s children listed in the census, a son William aged 12 and daughters Alice and Ellen aged 10 and 4 respectively. There was also a niece, Christiana Collins, and three boarders living in the house.

Eliza died on 25 December 1908 at 2 New Square in Newbury from cancer of the rectum. She was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 29 December.

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