Walter George Collins (1902 – 1903)

                                    Lilian Frances Collins (1907 – 1908)

                                    Ernest Stanley Collins (1911 – 1912)

                                    Ernest Albert Collins (1914 – 1915)

                                    Unnamed Collins (1900 – 1900)

Samuel John Collins was born on 2 June 1870 in Boxford, the son of William and Mary, nee Beckett, Collins. He was baptized on 3 July 1870 at St Andrew in Boxford, his father William was recorded as a labourer. Samuel was recorded with his parents and siblings in Boxford in the 1871 census. William died in July 1874 and he was buried on 8 July 1874 at St Andrew in Boxford. In the 1881 census Samuel was living in Boxford with his mother Mary, who was working as a farm hand, and brother James. Ten years later in the 1891 census Walter was living in Bucklebury and working as an under carter.

Samuel married Louisa Beatrice Westall in 1897 in Newbury. Louisa was born on 3 November 1877 in Newbury.

Samuel and Louisa had ten children, Samuel John (1898), William Charles (1899), Walter George (1902), Elsie Louise (1904), Lilian Frances (1907), Frederick Francis (1909), Ernest Stanley (1911), Ernest Albert (1914), Violet Mary (1916) and Frank Reginald (1918). In addition, Samuel when completing the 1911 census noted that they had a still born daughter born it appears after William Charles in 1899 and before Walter George in 1902. It seems likely that this was the unnamed Collins baby buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 17 November 1900, but as births of still born children were not recorded at that time it is not possible to confirm.

In the 1901 census Samuel and Eliza with sons Samuel and William were recorded at 14 Kennet Place in Newbury with Samuel working as a malster.

Sadly, Samuel and Eliza’s son Walter George died on 25 December 1903 aged 20 months at Waldegrave Place, off Northbrook Street in Newbury. He was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 30 December. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News of 7 January 1904 as below.

COLLINS – Dec. 25th, At Waldegrave Place, Northbrook Street, Newbury, Walter George, the dearly beloved infant son of L. and S. Collins, age 1 year 8 months.

Five years later daughter Lilian Frances died in November 1908 while the family was living at 10 Wilfred Place in Newbury. She was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 20 November.

In the 1911 census Samuel and Louisa were still living at 10 Wilfred Place along with children Samuel, William, Elsie and Frederick. Samuel was a general labourer.

A son Ernest Stanley was born just a few weeks after the census, Sadly, he died in February 1912 aged 8 months when the family was living at 11 Jack Street in Newbury and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 8 February.

Another son Ernest Albert was born circa May 1914. He died aged only 13 months in June 1915 when the family were still living at 11 Jack Street. Ernest was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 22 June.

The youngest son Frank Reginald was born circa December 1918. He died aged only 15 months on 28 February 1920 and he was buried at Shaw Cemetery on 3 March.

In the 1921 census Samuel and Louisa were living at 35 Park Street in Newbury along with children William, Frederick and Violet together with William’s wife Sarah and their daughter. Samuel was a malster and William a fish monger shop assistant.

Samuel and Louisa continued to live in Newbury. In 1937 on the marriage of daughter Violet Samuel was recorded as a coal miner. Samuel died on 31 May 1938 aged 67 while living at 36 Victoria Street. He was buried in Shaw Cemetery on 4 June.

Louisa was recorded living at 36 Park Street in Newbury with her son Samuel and his family in September 1939 when the national register was compiled. Samuel was a coal trimmer.

Louisa died on 9 January 1954 at Prospect Park Hospital in Reading aged 78 and she was buried at Shaw Cemetery on 14 January.

Author: soper
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