Author Topic: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother  (Read 1440 times)

Offline GB2005

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Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« on: Saturday 12 October 24 00:58 BST (UK) »
A relative of mine, by the name Douglas Collins (born 1923, died 1994 (I think)) was one child of 11 children, by a mother I don't know the name of. He, according to my mother, whom to her Douglas is her mother's mother's husband.

According to my mother, when she was about 12, her and the Collins family (we are not called Collins) were in the local newspaper for being the largest family in Kent. This would have been in the early 1980s. The mysterious woman's maiden name was most likely not Collins, and the amount of times I have attempted to search for this woman is incalculable. Though no such luck as I don't know her maiden surname, name, anything. All I know is she lived to 103 years old, mothered 11 children in a 2-bedroom house, and died somewhere between 1984 and 1986 (possibly).

Douglas, Bill, and Frank Collins are the only children of this woman my mother knows (and even then she's not sure on Bill and Frank). Any help at all is appreciated greatly.

Offline Neale1961

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Re: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 12 October 24 01:31 BST (UK) »
I would suggest looking in the paper for the article you mention, and seeing what more information you can find. You really need to pinpoint an address, to be sure you have the right family.

You also need to give more detailed information about the relative that you name as Douglas - who did he marry, where did he die, where was he born, etc......

In the meantime there is this possibility ........

Douglas James Collins born 11 Jan 1923 Medway Kent, Died 2 Nov 1994 Southwark
Mother’s maiden name GILBEY
(He married ELizabeth Adcock in 1944 Chatham)



Marriage 1916 Chatham Kent
James Henry Collins to Harriet Gilbey

Harriet was born 8 Nov 1890 Southwark, and died 1993 (age 103) in Chatham

Children:- I can see 9 children born to that couple in Medway Kent between 1916 and 1933


ADDED -
It looks as if James Henry Collins who married Harriet Gilbey was previously married in 1905 to Edith Bird – and possibly a child from that union.
Milligan - Jardine – Glencross – Dinwoodie - Brown: (Dumfriesshire & Kirkcudbrightshire)
Clark – Faulds – Cuthbertson – Bryson – Wilson: (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire)
Neale – Cater – Kinder - Harrison: (Warwickshire & Queensland)
Roberts - Spry: (Cornwall, Middlesex & Queensland)
Munster: (Schleswig-Holstein & Queensland) and Plate: (Braunschweig, Neubruck & Queensland & New York)

Offline GB2005

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Re: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 12 October 24 01:53 BST (UK) »
Thank you for the swift reply,

Unfortunately, Regarding the use of newspapers, I have tried looking through online ones to no avail. It's possible my maternal grandmother owns a copy of the original clipping, however we are no longer in contact with them.

In regards to Harriet Gilby, the information to me looks near what my mother told me, however 2 things stand out that (from her testimony) are incorrect. She claimed her Great-grandmother had 11 children, a couple dying when they were tiny, and that she died when my mother was in her teens (specifically between the ages 14 and 16, or 1986-1988).

However, so as to not completely throw this potentially valuable information away, I will ask her in the morning. It is all the possible she confused this information with that or another relative, or that the information was distorted slightly by the passage of time.

Offline Neale1961

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Re: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 12 October 24 01:56 BST (UK) »
Please note my added information regarding 2 marriages for James Henry Collins

Children from 1st wife
James Henry , Doris (edit - Doris incorrect)

Children from 2nd wife -
Verdun, Joan Ellen, Leslie Richard, Marjorie Vera, Douglas James, Sidney, Cyril Robert, Robert Frederick, Sylvia


Once again you really need to supply more information as suggested in my 1st reply.
Milligan - Jardine – Glencross – Dinwoodie - Brown: (Dumfriesshire & Kirkcudbrightshire)
Clark – Faulds – Cuthbertson – Bryson – Wilson: (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire)
Neale – Cater – Kinder - Harrison: (Warwickshire & Queensland)
Roberts - Spry: (Cornwall, Middlesex & Queensland)
Munster: (Schleswig-Holstein & Queensland) and Plate: (Braunschweig, Neubruck & Queensland & New York)


Offline maddys52

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Re: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 12 October 24 02:02 BST (UK) »
There is an article about the 100th birthday of Harriet COLLINS of Chatham, Kent which mentions her 9 children and 1 step son.
Chatham News, 16 Nov 1990.

I don't have access to the complete article. She lived in Longdale House, Walderslade at the time.

Offline maddys52

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Re: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 12 October 24 02:08 BST (UK) »
An obituary in 1993 says she was late of Coronation Rd, Luton and Longdown House, Chatham and died at Frindsbury Hall Nursing Home.

Offline mckha489

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Re: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 12 October 24 02:14 BST (UK) »
From article posted by Maddy

Husband was James
He was a widower with a baby son and died in 1961
Married Feb 1916 at Chatham
Says Lived coronation road Luton
Then crane driver Strood docks.
Photo

36 grand children
71 great grandchildren
2 great great grandchildren


So.. That is the Gilbey marriage Neale posted

Offline mckha489

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Re: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 12 October 24 02:21 BST (UK) »
NB, that is Coronation Road, Luton, Chatham not Bedfordshire.

Offline Neale1961

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Re: Need help with looking up a long-dead relative's Mother
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 12 October 24 02:23 BST (UK) »
A relative of mine, by the name Douglas Collins (born 1923, died 1994 (I think))

Third attempt:- please clarify, how is Douglas Collins related to you?
This may help us confirm the family link.
Milligan - Jardine – Glencross – Dinwoodie - Brown: (Dumfriesshire & Kirkcudbrightshire)
Clark – Faulds – Cuthbertson – Bryson – Wilson: (Ayrshire & Renfrewshire)
Neale – Cater – Kinder - Harrison: (Warwickshire & Queensland)
Roberts - Spry: (Cornwall, Middlesex & Queensland)
Munster: (Schleswig-Holstein & Queensland) and Plate: (Braunschweig, Neubruck & Queensland & New York)