Eliza Collins (circa 1800 – 1890)

Eliza White was born circa 1800 in Newtown. Eliza’s age in the censuses implied she was born between 1802 and 1806 but her age at death was consistent with her birth in 1800. She could well be the Eliza White baptized on 13 October 1805 at Newtown, the daughter of Cornelius and Sarah.

Eliza married William Collins on 1 April 1826 at St Nicolas in Newbury. William was born circa 1806 in Greenham and was living at Sandleford at the time of the wedding.

William and Eliza had ten children. The eldest Harriet was baptized in Greenham, the next two in Newtown and the youngest seven in Greenham. William was recorded as a labourer in all the baptisms. The family moved around as their residence was recorded as Greenham in 1828, Newtown in 1830, Burghclere in 1832, Greenham from 1835 to 1839 and then Stroud Green from 1842 to 1850. The children were Harriet (1828), Emmanuel (1830), Maria (1832), Henry (1835), George (1837), Leonard (1839), Charlotte (1842), Hannah (1844), William (1847) and Eliza (1850).

In the 1841 census William and Eliza along with the eldest six children were living in Stroud Green with William recorded as a labourer.  William and Eliza were still living in Stroud Green in the 1851 census along with seven children. William was an agricultural labourer as were sons Charles, Henry, George and Leonard.

Ten years later in the 1861 census William and Eliza along with sons Leonard and William and daughter Eliza were living at Greenham Common with William and the sons recorded as agricultural labourers. 

By the time of the 1871 census William and Eliza were living in a cottage at Pigeon Farm in Greenham along with son George, William and George were both recorded as agricultural labourers.  William and Eliza with three lodgers were still at the same residence in the 1881 census and William was still working as an agricultural labourer aged 75.

William died in February 1882 while still living at Pigeon Farm and he was buried at St Mary in Greenham on 8 February.

Eliza died on 30 June 1890 at the Union Workhouse in Newbury and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 4 July. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 3 July 1890 as below.

COLLINS – June 30, at the Workhouse, Newbury, Eliza, widow of the late William Collins, of Greenham, aged 90 years.

Eliza’s son Henry Collins was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 January 1874.

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