Part 21 The Cornwall Line 1890 to 2008

PART TWENTY-ONE

The Cornwall Line – 1900 to 2022

This is the third of three sections of this family line

Updated May 2026

This is the family line of the late Terrence James Collett [21T25], and it was his wife Sue who

kindly provided the details relating to the twin boys of Terry’s great-grandfather

Edward Charles Collett [21Q39] whose wife died during their birth

Caleb Knight Collett [21Q89] was born at Creed on 22^nd March 1861, with his birth registered at St Austell (Ref. 5c 172) during the second quarter of 1861. He was the second child of John Vivian Collett and Elizabeth Jane Knight and was two weeks old by the time of the census on 7^th April 1861. By that date the family was recorded at Trevenna in Creed, where Caleb and his sister Catherine had been born. It was at St Ewe that the family was recorded within the census of 1871, when Caleb Collett was ten years old. What is known is that nine years later, as the oldest son of the family aged 19, he was taken under the wing of his mother’s sister Anne Knight and together they emigrated to North America during 1880, and were residing at Brighton, five miles west of Detroit, in 1885

It was originally believed that Caleb was never reunited with any member of his direct family, but this seems to be disproved by the information below. Shortly after he arrived in America, Caleb K Collett married (1) Alma C Hartman on 2^nd December 1882 at Brighton, Livingston County in Michigan. Caleb from England was 21 and Alma from Genoa Township was 19. It was during the next twelve months, that Caleb’s brother William Collett (below) crossed the Atlantic to join them in 1883. Towards the end of 1885, Alma presented Caleb with the first of their children who was born after the couple had moved to Alma’s home-town of Genoa, three miles north-west of Brighton. Only three children are named below from an undefined number of off-spring, because three of them are known to have suffered an infant death, one of them being Ralph, included in the list. However, seven years before he was born, Caleb was reunited with his older sibling Catherine Collett, who sailed from England in 1891. At the time of the birth of his unnamed son in 1894, and son Ralph in 1898, Caleb’s occupation was that of a carpenter

Caleb Knight Collett was initially employed in the copper mines of Calumet and Hecla in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While there, he worked under the guidance of Superintendent Vivian who was a distant relation through the marriage of his grandfather William Odgers Collett and his first wife Catherine Vivian. It was also through that relationship with ‘his uncle’ Superintendent Vivian, that Caleb was eventually introduced to his true uncle James Collett [21P92] - his father’s half-brother - who was the son of William Odgers and his second wife Jane Miners, by whom he was later employed. The American census in 1900 revealed more about the family than was previously known. On that occasion, the family was recorded at Brighton in Livingston County, where Caleb Collett was 39 and a carpenter, his wife Alma Collett was 37 and born in July 1863 of German parents, their son Claude Collett was 16 and born during November 1884, and Gliff Collett was 14. While the census return indicated that Caleb had settled in America in 1880, it also stated in error that Alma had given birth to only two children, both living

Five years after the birth and infant death of her last known son Ralph Collett, Alma Collett nee Hartman died on 22^nd July 1903. During the following year, at Brighton, Livingston County, Michigan, on 9^th March 1904, Caleb Knight Collett from England, aged 42, and the son of John V Collett and Elizabeth J Knight, married (2) Mary A Blanke, formerly Butterfield, from Green Oak, aged 50, the daughter of Abel F Butterfield and Anna A Denell. Mary may have been related to Mollie Blanke Pike who became Caleb’s daughter-in-law in 1920, when she married Gliff Knight Collett. For the census in 1910, Caleb and Mary were living at 37 Grand River Street in Brighton, when Caleb K Collett from England was 49 and a farmer having his own account, who had been married to 59-year-old Mary A Collett from Michigan for five years. Living on the farm with the couple, was Mary’s older sister Martha Butterfield aged 67. Twenty years later, Caleb was a widower who was again living in Brighton, but at 180 Grand River Avenue, when his property had a value of $3,000, and when he was a Justice of the Peace at the County Office. Unlike the census in 1910 when there was clearly an error regarding the much later date that he had first arrived in America, in 1930 the date he entered America was more realistically recorded as 1880

By September 1931, local records reveal that Caleb had established his own real estate brokership under the banner of ‘Caleb K Collett – Real Estate Broker’. He was successful with the business, which sold many houses in the Brighton area of Michigan. Upon his death, on 10^th November 1945 at the age of 82, Caleb was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Brighton, when his father was confirmed as John Collett. where his first wife Alma was buried, together with their baby son Ralph. His son Gliff Knight Collett was also later buried there, with two of his three children

21R72 – Claude Collett was born in 1885 at Genoa, Michigan

21R73 – Gliff Knight Collett was born in 1886 at Brighton, Michigan

21R74 – Collett male was born on 31^st March 1885 at Brighton, Michigan

21R75 – Ralph Collett was born in 1898 at Brighton, Michigan

Edith Jane Collett [21Q90] was born at Grampound-with-Creed in 1862, with her birth registered at St Austell (Ref. 5c 158) during the last three month of that year, a daughter of John Vivian Collett and Elizabeth Jane Knight. Apart from appearing with her family in 1871 at St Ewe, when Edith from Creed was eight years old and attending school, she was not listed in any further census records as Edith Collett because she became a married women very early in her young life. Her future husband John Wellington was an iron-moulder from Kenwyn in Cornwall and was four years older than Edith, who knew each other before his family left Cornwall and moved north to Lancashire, possibly for better job opportunities. Despite the great distance between them, Edith followed John to Lancashire and it was there, at the Church of St John the Evangelist in Accrington, that they were married on 10^th July 1880. Edith and John were both recorded as 21, when Edith was only 17 or 18, John being a moulder of 27 Taylor Street, the son of miner James Wellington, when Edith was a winder residing at Horne Street, the daughter of John Collett, a farrier. They both signed the register in their own hand, with the witnesses were Thomas Henry Lord and Emily Wellington, when the event was recorded at Haslingden (Ref. 8e 149)

By the time the next census was conducted on 3^rd April in 1881, Edith Wellington from St Austell was 19 and a cotton winder, who had with her, her four-month-old son Steven Vivian Wellington, meaning she was already with-child on her wedding day, hence the need to be married. On that census day, Edith and Steven, together with John Wellington aged 22 and from Kenwyn in Cornwall, were living at 3 Taylor Street, the home of his widowed mother, and dressmaker, Malinda K Wellington who was 44 and from Roche in Cornwall. Also living at that address was Malinda’s married twenty-three-year-old daughter Emily Lord from Newlyn, a cotton weaver, and her husband Accrington born Thomas Lord (witness at the wedding) who was 25 and working as flagger and slater. Two other children from Malinda’s marriage were also living there, and they were Mina Wellington, an 18-year-old cotton weaver from Kenwyn, and two-year-old Salome Wellington who was born in Accrington. The age of the younger child may indicate when Malinda became a widow, and when she moved to Accrington from Cornwall

In addition to all of that, Edith’s older sister Catherine Collett (above) from St Austell was also staying with the family and was recorded as a visitor, whose occupation was that of a domestic servant. A few years after that another of Edith’s sisters, Salome Collett, also moved to be with her in Lancashire. During the next ten years, Edith and her family, together with her sister Catherine, left Accrington and moved to Haslingden to the south of Accrington, where they were living in 1891. On that census day, head of the household John was 32 and an iron moulder, Edith was 28, son Steven was 10 and already working at the cotton mill as an errand boy. The couple’s other children that day were recorded as Catharine Wellington who was eight, Richard Wellington who was six, and William John Wellington who was one year old

Twenty years later in April 1911, the census return confirmed the Wellington family was still living at Haslingden. Head of the house John was 52 and a moulder operating a wringing machine at a local iron works, his wife Edith Jane was 48, and their children at that time were listed as William John Wellington who was 21 and working with his father, James Wellington who was 19 and a labourer at the iron works, Emily Wellington who was 17 and a cotton weaver, Clifford Wellington who was 14 and a messenger in the parcels department of the municipal tramways, and Ellen Wellington who was twelve and a part-time cotton weaver, still attending school

By 1911, and absent that day, was their 27-year-old son Richard Wellington who had already emigrated to America. According to his US death certificate, he had been born in England on 27^th March 1886 (sic) and was 64 when he died on 1^st March 1950 at Albion in Calhoun County, Michigan, when he was confirmed as the son of John Wellington and Edith Collett. That information led to the discovery of the baptism of Richard Wellington at St James’ Church in Accrington on 14^th July 1887, where his date of birth was recorded as 27^th March 1884, the child of John and Edith Jane Wellington of 18 Walter Street, where John was a moulder. Just over thirteen years after that census day, Edith Jane Wellington died at Haslingden on 30^th August 1924 at the age of 61

William Collett [21Q91] was born at Creed in 1866 and was baptised there on 2^nd September 1866, a son of John Collett, labourer, and his wife Elizabeth. where he was recorded as living with his family in 1871 at the age of five years. Ten years later, when he was 16, he was still living with his family who had then settled in Roche, but there appears to be no trace of him living in the UK after that time. It now transpires that the reason for his absence was that he had emigrated to America in 1883, just prior to his brother Caleb in 1885, and his sister Catherine in 1891. At the age of 18 William made the Atlantic crossing on board the steam-ship the SS Alaska and arrived in New York, from Liverpool via Queenstown in Ireland, on 7^th May 1883. His ultimate destination was Michigan and it was there, at Ironwood, that he died three years later, on 26^th November 1886 at the age of only 22. There is a memorial to him on his parents’ gravestone in the cemetery at Roche in Cornwall

Salome Collett [21Q92] was born at St Ewe possibly towards the end of 1868, with her birth registered at St Austell (Ref. 5c 147) during the last three months of the year. A record recently found in Mevagissey Bible Christian Circuit Baptisms would seem to indicate she was baptised Slome at the Bible Christian Chapel in Paramoor on 2^nd June 1869. The same baptism record confirmed the child Slome Collett was daughter of John and Elizabeth Jane Collett of Paramoor in St Ewe. In the 1871 Census her name was misinterpreted as she was listed as Florence rather than Salome. A thorough search through later census records has not revealed anyone of that name of the correct age and place of birth, so it is assumed to be an error. Just six months after the day of the census and twenty-eight months after Salome was baptised, she was subject to a second baptism at St Ewe on 8^th October 1871 in a joint ceremony with her sister Lavinia (below). The parish record confirmed the girls’ parents as John and Elizabeth Jane of Paramoor in St Ewe, when their father’s occupation was recorded as husbandman

Almost ten years later the 1881 Census confirmed that Salome Collett was 12 and that she had been born at St Ewe, and that at that time in her life she was living with her family at Roche. Sometime later Salome left Cornwall and moved to Lancashire to be with her sister Edith Wellington nee Collett (above) and to seek work in the cotton mills as a cotton winder. Nine years later, and during the third quarter of 1890, the marriage of Salome Collett and William Taylor was recorded at Burnley register office (Ref. 8e 491), with whom she had four children before the end of the century. At the time of the census in 1891, Salome and her husband were living in Burnley, and with them was Salome’s older sister Catherine Polkinghorne nee Collett (above) and her baby daughter Annie who were awaiting a sailing to America. The 1891 census return confirmed that William Taylor was 22 and had been born in Burnley and that he and his wife Salome Taylor, also 22 but from St Ewe in Cornwall, were living at 7 Trout Street in Burnley from where William was a joiner and Salome was a cotton winder

In the census of 1901 Salome Taylor, aged 32 and from Cornwall, was living with her family at Brierfield near Burnley in Lancashire. Her husband William Taylor of Burnley, also 32, was a carpenter and joiner, while their four children were recorded as Lavinia Taylor who was nine and born in Brierfield, James Taylor who was eight, Stanley Taylor who was six, and John Taylor who was three, all three of them having been born in Burnley. And it was at Burnley that the family was still living in 1911, when William and Salome Taylor (of St Ewe) were both 42, and their four children were Lavinia 19, James 18, Stanley 16, and John Taylor who was 13. Salome Taylor nee Collett died on 4^th March 1929 when she and William were living at 91 Barden Lane in Burnley and when Salome was 60 years old. Administration of her personal effects valued at £19 17 Shillings and 10 Pence was granted in London on 19^th March 1929 in favour of her husband William Taylor, who was described as a manager

Lavinia Collett [21Q93] was born at St Ewe on 3^rd April in 1871, the day after the census was conducted that year, when her birth was registered at St Austell (Ref. 5c 137) during the second quarter of 1871. As a baby of only a few months she was baptised at St Ewe in a joint ceremony with her three-year old sister Salome (above) on 8^th October 1871. At the time of the census in 1881, Lavinia was living with her family at Roche at the age of nine years. Ten years after, in the census of 1891, she was 20 years old and was one of only three children still living with her parents at Roche. It was a year later that Lavinia married Richard Henry Blake during the first quarter of 1892, the marriage being registered in St Austell. During the next nine years the marriage produced four children for the couple, and a fifth child was born into the family towards the end of the following decade

In 1901 the family was living at St Wenn in the St Columb district on Cornwall when the couple’s first four children were confirmed as having been born there. Their daughter of that occasion was listed as Edith Jane Blake, so named after Lavinia’s older sister (above). The full family was listed as Richard 31, who was a farmer at Criftoe Farm in St Wenn, Lavinia 29, Harry Blake who was six, Edith Blake who was four, William Blake who was three, and Richard Blake who was one year old. All of them, apart from Lavinia, had been born at St Wenn. According to the next census in April 1911, Richard Blake was 41, his wife Lavinia from St Ewe was 40, and they were living in the St Columb district of Cornwall with their five children. They were Harry 16, Janie 14, William 13, Richard 11, and John Vivian Blake who was one year old and named after Lavinia’s father John Vivian Collett. Of their children, Harry Blake was born in 1894 and died in 1946, Edith Jane Blake was born in 1896, William Blake was born in 1897, Richard Blake was born in 1899, and John Vivian Blake was born in 1909 and died in 1989

The death of Lavinia Blake, nee Collett, was recorded at Cornwall register office (Ref. 7a 191) in 1951 after she died at St Wenn on 5^th June 1951, when she was then buried at St Wenn Churchyard where a headstone marks her grave at Lavinia Collett Blake

The photograph of Lavinia (above) is taken from a large image which includes an older sister, either Catherine Collett who was thirteen years older than Lavinia, or Edith Jane Collett who was nine years older. It was hoped that Myrtle Blake, the wife of John Vivian Blake (Lavinia’s youngest child), might know which aunt it was. Myrtle was born on 20^th November 1912 and was 97 in 2009. It was during February of the following year that Eva, the aunt of Andrée Tuck (go to 21R76), visited Myrtle Blake (the first cousin of Andrée’s mother) to discover more information about her mother-in-law Lavinia Blake nee Collett, and particularly, which sister it was that was with her when the photograph was taken. Unfortunately, Myrtle did not know whether it was Catherine or Edith Jane Collett. For completeness a copy of the large photograph is shown here

David Knight Collett [21Q94] was born on 23^rd September 1876 at Carbus near Roche where his father was a labourer, when his birth was registered at St Austell (Ref. 5c 111) during the last three months of 1876. He was two years old when he was baptised at Roche on 26^th September 1878, another son of John and Elizabeth Collett. At the age of four, April 1881, he was living at Roche with his parents. He was still living at Roche with his parents and his two youngest siblings in 1891 when he was aged 14. Towards the latter part of the 1890s his work as a policeman took him to Plymouth where he met Ann Broad who was born there in 1875. David and Ann were subsequently married by banns on 20^th February 1900 in the village church at Pelynt near Looe, prior to setting up home at Devonport. The parish register at Pelynt recorded that David of Devonport was a 23-year-old police constable and the son of labourer John Collett, while Ann was 25 and a resident within the parish of Pelynt and the daughter of labourer George Broad. Ann’s parents George and Edith Broad were the witnesses

It was also at Devonport where their three known children were later born and where, one year after they were married, they were living at the time of the census conducted in March 1901. At that time David K Collett from Roche was 25 and Annie Collett from Plymouth was 26. The census also recorded that David was employed by the Borough Council as a police constable. During the next decade Annie presented David with their three children. So, by April 1911 the family living in Devonport comprised David Knight Collett, aged 34 and from Roche, wife Annie who was 36, and their three children John Collett who was 10, Gladys Irene Collett, who was eight, and Eva Phyllis Collett who was two years of age

Ann Collett nee Broad died on 13^th October 1952 at the couple’s home at 27 Leighton Road, Hartley Vale in Plymouth. Her Will was proved in London on 22^nd November that year when her husband was confirmed as David Knight Collett, a retired police sergeant. Her estate amounted to £857 9 Shillings and 5 Pence. It was just over seven years later that David Knight Collett died on 27^th February 1960 in the Greenbank Hospital in Plymouth, his death recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 7a 782) during March 1960 when he was 83. Probate for David Knight Collett of Charene, Austin Crescent, Goosewell Hill, Crownhill in Plymouth names his married daughters Gladys Irene Gardner and Eva Phyliss Small as joint executors of his estate valued at £4, 629 17 Shillings and 3 Pence. From that information it might be safe to assume that his son John Collett had already predeceased him

21R76 – John Collett was born in 1901 at Devonport

21R77 – Gladys Irene Collett was born in 1903 at Devonport

21R78 – Eva Phyllis Collett was born in 1908 at Devonport

Richard Knight Collett [21Q95] was born at Roche in 1882 and was the last child born to John Vivan Collett and Elizabeth Jane Knight. His birth was registered at St Austell (Ref. 5c 118) during the third quarter of the year. In the Roche census of 1911, his place of birth was recorded as West Goonbarrow, the same as his third child. He was eight years of age by the time of the census in 1891, when he was one of three children still living with his parents at Roche. When he was old enough, and having left school, Richard became a china clay worker like his father John, with whom he presumably may have worked. Just after the turn of the century Richard was 18 and was still living and working with his father and his mother at their home in Roche. Sometime shortly after that Richard moved away from the family home and took up lodgings in the village of Bugle to the north of St Austell prior to heading north to Lancashire

It was on 5^th May 1905, at the age of 22, that he left Liverpool on board the steam-ship the SS Cedric bound for New York and arrived there on 14^th May 1905. His ultimate destination was Redridge in Houghton County, Michigan where his older sister Catherine Polkinghorne nee Collett (above) and her family were living, and with whom he was to spend the next eighteen months. Richard’s intention was to work hard and earn enough money to take back to Cornwall where he would build his own house. When he left England, he was a miner in a china clay works, but by the time he returned to his home country in the autumn of 1906 he was a skilled bricklayer. His return journey across the Atlantic was via Montreal and Quebec, the crossing to Liverpool being on board the steam-ship the SS Ionian which docked in Liverpool on 29^th September 1906. Rather curiously, once again his age was given as 22, when in fact he was 24

Two years after he returned from America, on 10^th October 1908, Richard married Maud May Nicholls, who was born at Carthew near St Austell in 1887, with their wedding recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 225). He then fulfilled his ambition, when he built his own house named ‘Carbean’ midway between the villages of Carthew and Stenalees to the north of St Austell. This is a recent photograph of that house. During the following three years Richard and Maud were blessed with the birth of the first three of their ultimate ten children, including a set of twins whose birth was registered in St Austell. And it was at Carbean House that the family was living in April 1911. On that occasion, the family comprised Richard Collett from West Goonbarrow, Roche, who was 28 and a clay labourer, Maud May Collett from Carthew who was 24, their twin daughters Enid May and Erna Amy, aged one year and born at Carthew, and baby Maggie Collett who was just three months old and had been born at West Goonbarrow, just prior to moving into Carbean House. The details of the next seven children born into the family after 1911 have been kindly provided by Andrée Salisbury nee Tuck, the daughter of Hazel Collett who was born in 1912, and the granddaughter of Richard Knight Collett

Only one of the couple’s ten children was born during the Great War, and the reason for that was because Richard served his country in Salonika and Mesopotamia, where he contracted dysentery. Sadly, from that time in his life onwards in his life he suffered with poor health. Sadly, for the family, their eldest daughter Enid May died from meningitis in 1923, and she was therefore the only child missing from the family group photograph (below) taken around 1930.

Standing at the back left is Hazel Collett and on the right is Maggie Collett. Eldest daughter Erna Amy Collett is seated in the middle, with latest arrival Eva Lillian Collett (in white) sitting on her lap. The other five children from the left are William Vivian Collett, Cecil Alwyn Collett (standing in front of Erna), Elizabeth Beryl Collett (standing next to Erna), Sydney Austen Collett, and finally Victor Owen Collett on the far right. The children’s father Richard Knight Collett died at Carbean in Carthew St Austell on 29^th May 1945 from pernicious anaemia when he was around 63 years of age.

There may have been something contentious for the family to resolve after he had died, because he left no Will. It was therefore ten years after he had passed away that his personal effects of £665 were eventually settled by administration at Bodmin on 12^th October 1955 in favour of his widow Maud May Collett. After a further seventeen years Maud May Collett nee Nicholls died during 1972. By 2010, two of Richard and Maud’s daughters were still alive and living in Cornwall, and they were Elizabeth Beryl and Eva Lillian Collett

21R79 – Enid May Collett was born in 1909 at Carthew, St Austell

21R80 – Erna Amy Collett was born in 1909 at Carthew, St Austell

21R81 – Maggie Collett was born in 1911 at West Goonbarrow, St Austell

21R82 – Hazel Collett was born in 1912 at Carbean House, St Austell

21R83 – William Vivian Collett was born in 1913 at Carbean House, St Austell

21R84 – Victor Owen Collett was born in 1916 at Carbean House, St Austell

21R85 – Elizabeth Beryl Collett was born in 1921 at Carbean House, St Austell

21R86 – Cecil Alwyn Collett was born in 1925 at Carbean House, St Austell

21R87 – Sydney Austen Collett was born in 1927 at Carbean House, St Austell

21R88 – Eva Lillian Collett was born in 1928 at Carbean House, St Austell

William Collett [21Q97] was born at Ladock in 1866, with his birth registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 142) during the third quarter of the year. It was at Ladock where he was baptised on 2^nd September 1866, the son of William Collett and his wife Emma Ferrell. The 1881 Census confirmed that William was 14 and that he was living with his family at Bissick Mill in Ladock, where his father was a corn miller. Shortly after that time the family moved to Phillack area of Hayle near St Ives, before finally settling down to live in Penryn. By the time of the census of 1891 William, who would have been 24, was no longer living with his family in Penryn and had emigrated to North America. It was just over five years later that William Collett became a nationalised America citizen on 20^th July 1896 at the Circuit Court in Wayne County, Detroit in Michigan

It was also while he was in Michigan that he married Louise, the wedding taking place at Detroit on 17^th June 1903, when William was 37. His bride was 28 years old Louise J Westphal, who was born at Port Sanilac in Michigan on 30^th September 1875, the daughter of Charles Westphal and his wife Fredericka Schultz. It has not been established whether, or not, the marriage produced any children for the couple. However, new information received from Christine St Johanser during 2010 has revealed that, in his twilight years, William returned to England for a holiday in Penryn in 1938, when he and Louise stayed with Christine’s grandparents

For their return journey, the couple crossed the Atlantic Ocean on board the SS Queen Mary, sailing out of Southampton on 29^th October, and arriving in New York on 3^rd November 1938. The ship’s passenger list, kindly provided by, included the following details. William Collett was 72 and travelled using his passport no. 56510, his wife Louise Collett was 63, and the couple’s address was given as 5053 23^rd Street in Detroit. Other details included the date that William was nationalised, and Louise’s date and place of birth. It has since been established that William Collett from Ladock was a resident of Detroit, in Wayne County, Michigan, from 1910 until he died there on 14^th December 1956 at the age of 90

Elizabeth Jane Collett [21Q98] was born at Ladock in 1868, the daughter of William Collett and his first wife Emma Jane Ferrell who died when Elizabeth was only six years old. The birth of Elizabeth Jane Collett was registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 158) during the second quarter of the year, after which she was baptised at Ladock on 4^th October 1868 when her father was confirmed as a (corn) miller. A year after being widowed, her father was re-married in 1875 and in 1881, at the age of 12, Elizabeth was living with her new family at Bissick Mill in Ladock. The family later moved first to St Ives, then Budock Water near Falmouth, and finally Penryn to the north of Falmouth. Elizabeth had left the family home before 1890 and was the only general domestic servant at the Falmouth home of schoolmaster Isaac W Manger from London and his Cornish family. The census in 1891 described Elizabeth as Eliza J Collett from Cornwall aged 23. Less than seven years later the marriage of Elizabeth Jane Collett and Frederick James Duggan was recorded at Gloucester register office (Ref. 6a 602) during the last three months of 1898

The next two census returns for the family do not seem to present a true picture, with in 1901 Fred J Duggan was 30 and a bootmaker from Gloucester living there with his wife Elizabeth Jane Duggan who was 33 and from Cornwall, and their Gloucester born son William James Duggan (1900-1945) who was 13 (but 13 months, from his birth and the following census). It was within the Wotton-St-Mary-Without district of Gloucester that the extended family was recorded in 1911. Crazily, F J Duggan was 37, a bootmaker, his wife E J Duggan was 43 and from Truro, when W J Duggan was 11, and daughter Mary Jane Duggan was three years old (1908-1963). Staying with the family that day, and working alongside Frederick was his 19-year-old nephew H W Duggan, a boot repairer. It was still at Gloucester that they were living when Elizabeth Jane Duggan, nee Collett, died on 28^th June 1932 at the age of 64

Ellen Maud Collett [21Q99] was born at Ladock in 1876 and was the first children of William Collett, a corn miller, and his second wife Jane Smith, who was baptised at Ladock on 6^th August 1876 following her birth being registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 149) during the second quarter of that year. She was five years old in the Ladock census of 1881, and was 15 in 1891, by which time she had finished her schooling and was working as a dressmaker’s apprentice when living at Budock Water near Falmouth with her parents. By the time of the next census her father’s work had taken them the short distance north to Penryn, where Ellen Maud Collett from Ladock was 23 and established as a dressmaker in 1901. Five years later, the marriage of Ellen Maud Collett from Penryn aged 29, and William James Sim, aged 30 and a stonemason from Swansea, after the reading of banns was recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 309) during the final quarter of 1906, with their wedding ceremony conducted on 26^th December 1906 at St Gluvias Parish Church. While the bride was confirmed as the daughter of William Collett, a miller, the groom’s father was named as John Sim, a stonemason, when the couple signed the marriage register in their own hand, and the witnesses were William Collett and Gertrude Sim.

Once they were married William and Ellen settled in Penryn where they were still living on the day of the census in 1911. The census return stated that Ellen Maud Sim was 35 and born at Ladock, whose husband was absent that day, with Ellen confirmed as a married for four years. Recorded with her were the couple’s two children, Norman Sim who was three, and Mary Isabel Sim who was not yet one year old. As Aunt Maud to the younger members of the family, she was known for making their school uniforms and was remembered by them as being a ‘wonderful lady’ The death of William James Sim was recorded at Falmouth with his body laid to rest at Falmouth Cemetery on 23^rd January 1947. The later death of Ellen Maud Sim, nee Collett, was recorded at Cornwall register Ref. 7a 216) during the second quarter of 1961 when she was 85, after which she was buried at the Penmount Cemetery in Truro on 13^th May 1961. The earlier Will of William James Sim, proved at Bodmin on 10^th April 1947, may indicate that the couple had separated after the birth of their two children, with no further children added to the family after 1911, and the Will seemingly naming the two beneficiaries as Mary and Edwin Pellowe – maybe daughter and son-in-law

Emily Mary Collett [21Q100] was born at Ladock in 1878, whose birth was registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 137) during the third quarter of that year, and was baptised at Ladock on 7^th July 1878, the fourth child of miller William Collett, but the second child by his second wife Jane. At the age of 22 she was still living at the family home in Penryn from where she was working as a grocer’s assistant. Emily Mary Collett from Ladock was living alone at St Marylebone in London in April 1911, although it is known that she eventually emigrated to New Zealand

Annie Collett [21Q101] was born at Ladock on 4^th July 1880, with her birth registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 136) during the third quarter of the year, and was baptised at Ladock on 7^th November 1880. She was another daughter of miller William Collett and his second wife Jane, and was eight months old in the Ladock census for 1881. From Ladock via St Ives, her family moved to Budock Water near Falmouth where 10-year-old Annie Collett was recorded with the family in 1891. During the following decade the family moved again, on that occasion just a short distance, to Penryn to the north of Falmouth, where the family was recorded in 1901 when Annie was 20 and a dressmaker’s assistant, which probably meant that she was working with her older sister Ellen Maud Collett (above). Four years later, around the time that Annie was celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday, she also married Ernest George Dryden with their wedding recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 261) during the third quarter of 1905. Ernest was nearly a year younger that Annie, having been born on 18^th September 1881, the son of shipwright George Dryden and his wife Eliza

The next census in 1911 revealed the couple had been married for five years, during which time they had given birth to two children, the first born at Penryn, the second after moving to Falmouth. At that time in his life Ernest George Dryden from Falmouth was 29 and an engineer with the Royal Navy, who was residing with his family at Falmouth, where his wife Annie Dryden from Ladock was 29, Ethel Annie Dryden from Penryn was four years of age, and George William Dryden was one year old and born in Falmouth

Annie Dryden, nee Collett was 92 years old when she died at Penryn on 31^st July 1972 with her death recorded at Cornwall register office (Ref. 7a 56) and her body laid to rest at Penmount Cemetery in Truro where, eleven years earlier, her married sister Ellen Maud Sim (above) was buried. The last thirty-two years of her life were spent as a widow, following the death of Ernest George Dryden just eight days before his 59^th birthday on 10^th September 1940. and reported the day after in the Western Morning News in Plymouth, when Annie was confirmed as his wife, and he was buried at Falmouth Cemetery. Ernest’s Will was proved at Cornwall on 30^th October 1940, with his widow Annie the main beneficiary, when his passing was recorded at Cornwall register office (Ref. 5c 442). At some time during her life, perhaps as a widow, Annie lived just one street away from her brother Arthur James Collett (below) in Falmouth, where she had living with her, her younger unmarried sister Kittie (below) until she died in 1960

Kate Collett [21Q102] was born at the family home in the Phillack district of Hayle on 27^th October 1882, when her birth was registered at Redruth (Ref. 5c 238). She was then baptised at the Copperhouse Chapel in Hayle on 20^th December 1882, another daughter of William and Jane Collett. She was referred to as Katie in some census records but was known within the family as Kittie. In 1901 at the age of 18 she was working as a draper’s apprentice while still living with her parents. Curiously in April 1911, Kate Collett from Hayle was twenty-seven, a draper’s assistant and a boarder at J Yeo & Company in Plymouth, where another boarder and draper’s assistant was Mildred Mary Collett from Padstow in Cornwall who was nineteen years of age. In fact, there was a total of ten draper’s assistants, with head of the household being John Hearn, a draper’s porter, with his wife and their daughter. It is rather strange that no other record of Mildred Mary Collett has been found prior to 1911 so it is not known where she might fit into the Collett families in Cornwall. What is known, is that Kate Collett never married and lived all her adult life with her sister Annie (above) at Falmouth where she died during 1960 at the age of 77, her death recorded at Cornwall register office (Ref. 7a 155)

Clara Louisa Collett [21Q103] was born at Budock Water near Falmouth in 1884, the youngest daughter of William and Jane Collett. Her birth was registered at Falmouth (Ref. 5c 170) during the fourth quarter of the year and sadly, she was handicapped from birth. It was at Penryn where she was baptised on 22^nd January 1885, when her parents were confirmed as William, a miller, and Jane Collett. Clara and her family were living at College Row in Budock Water near Falmouth in 1891, when she was six years old and attending the local school. Eight years later, at the age of only fifteen, she died and was buried on 28^th December 1899 within the parish of Bodmin. At that time in her short life, she was a patient at an asylum college in Budock, when the death of Clara Louisa Collett was recorded at Bodmin register office (Ref. 5c 51)

Arthur James Collett [21Q104], who was later referred to as James, was born at Budock Water near Falmouth towards the end of 1886, the last child of miller William Collett and Jane Smith, whose birth was registered at Falmouth (Ref. 5c 160) during the first quarter of 1887. It was also under his full name that he was baptised at St Gluvias on 18^th March 1887, when his father’s occupation was that of a miller, whose family was living at Penryn. As Arthur James Collett he was four years old in the Budock Water census in 1891, when the family home was on College Row, and as Arthur J Collett he was 14 at the time of the Penryn census of 1901 when he and his family were residing at The Praze. Eight years after that census day, the marriage of Arthur James Collett and Lily Hutchings of Penryn took place there and was recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 322) during the second quarter of 1909. On their wedding day Lily was already with-child, their son born six months later

Once married the couple settled in Penryn, where their children were born. According to the census of 1911, Arthur James Collett from Penryn was confirmed as having married Lily during 1909, the same year the couple’s first child was born. On that census day he was 24 and an accountant with a corn and flour merchant who was still living in Penryn with his wife and family. Lily Collett was also 24, and their first two children were William Arthur Collett who was two years old, and one-year-old Thomas Leonard Collett. Not long after the census day, a further son was added to the family towards the end of that same year

During his working life James continued in his father’s occupation by being a miller and at one stage he and Lillie owned and worked the mill at Tremough Dale in Penryn. In later life the couple moved to Falmouth where, between 1950 and 1960, they looked after their grand-daughter Christine Collett. And it was Christine who kindly provided the details of her family line. James and Lillie were the parents of Leslie Collett who was killed in action over Germany in 1944 flying a Lancaster bomber. The couple also had other children but they have not been revealed at this time. It was in 1965, at the age of 78, that the passing of Arthur J Collett was recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 7a 37) during the third quarter of 1965

21R89 – William Arthur Collett was born in 1909 at Penryn

21R90 – Thomas Leonard Collett was born in 1910 at Penryn

21R91 – Albert Leslie Collett was born in 1911 at Penryn

Alma Collett [21Q105] was born at Tregony possibly near the end of 1867, while her birth was recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 151) during the first quarter of 1868. It was also as Alma Collett, later that same year, that she was baptised at Cuby-with-Tregony on 27^th September 1868, the first child of George Collett and Louisa Jenkins who was married on 24^th February 1867. It is therefore possible was she was a honeymoon baby. Within the Tregony census of 1871, Alma was living with her parents, when she was three years old. Ten years later Alma Collett from Tregony was 14 and was one of three servants at Polmenna Farm, the 120-acre holding of farmer Walter H Wevell and his large family to the south of Lostwithiel. No record has been located for Alma in 1891, but by 1901 she was still unmarried at the age of 26. That year’s census recorded that she had been born at Tregony and was living at Kenwyn where she was employed as a domestic housemaid

Just under two years after that census day, the marriage of Alma Collett and (1) George Henry Tamblyn was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 220) during the first three months of 1903. Eight years later, the young family was residing at Gwithian, Connor Downs, Hayle in Cornwall for the census in 1911. George Tamblyn from Lostwithiel was 37 and a labourer, his wife Alma Tamblyn from Tregony was stated to be 38 instead of 43, and their three children were Stanley Tamblyn aged six years, daughter Jessie Tamblyn who was five, and Gladys Tamblyn who was one year old. The first children had been born at Phillack, Hayle, the last at Truro. Towards the end of that year, the birth of the couple’s last child was recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 336) during the fourth quarter of 1911 as Lawrence J C Tamblyn. The earlier births of their two daughters were both recorded at Truro register office, Jessie Louisa B Tamblyn (Ref. 5c 187) during the first quarter of 1906, and Alma Gladys Tamblyn (Ref. 5c 120) during the third quarter of 1909

Alma’s husband may have been a casualty of the First World War since, during the second quarter of 1919, the marriage of Alma Tamblyn and William Tonkin was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 321). Also there, eight years later, was recorded the marriage of Alma G Tamblyn, most likely the daughter of Alma Tamblyn nee Collett, and William Waters during the fourth quarter of 1927 (Ref. 5c 291)

Care should be taken when considering the origins of Alma Collett since, also born in 1868, was another of the same name whose birth was also recorded at Truro. Initially, the daughter of George and Louisa was believed to be Alma Maud Collett, whose birth was recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 193) during the last three months of 1868. However, she was baptised on 1^st March 1868 and was the daughter of James Collett and his wife Ellen, who later, again as Alma Maud Collett, married Tom James Smith at St Austell on 20^th July 1892, when again her father was confirmed as James Collett. Another Alma Maud Collett, a spinster, died on 29^th December 1938 while she was a patient attending the Portsmouth City Hospital in Portsmouth. Her personal effects amounted to just £24 12 Shillings and 5 Pence

Mary Harriet Collett [21Q106] was born at Tregony, her birth recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 146) during the third quarter of 1869, following which she was baptised at Cuby-with-Tregony on 14^th November 1869, the second child of labourer George Collett and his wife Louisa. She was one year old in the Cuby census of 1871 and suffered the loss of her father when she was only about eight years of age. By the time of the following census of 1881 Mary H Collett was 12 and still attending school, while living with her widowed mother at St Winnow. On leaving school Mary entered domestic service and, on the day of the of the next census in 1891 when she was 21, she was employed as a housemaid at a property on Tregolls Road in the St Clements area of Truro, not far from where her widowed mother was also recorded. It was eighteen months later when, at the age of 22, Mary Collett married William Allen at St Pauls Church in Truro on 2^nd October 1892. Mary’s father was confirmed as George Collett, while her husband was 24 and described as the son of John Allen

William Allen, the son of John and Mary Ann Allen, was baptised at Truro on 11^th August 1869. By the time the census was conducted in 1901 Mary had given birth to two children. On that day the family was living on St Clements Hill in the St Clement district of Truro where William Allen was 30 and a painter, his wife Mary Harriet Allen from Tregony was 29, and their two children were Lillian Maud Allen who was five, and William Ernest Allen who was three. Four more children were added to their family over the next decade, although only three of them survived. The baptism of the first of them Barry John Allen took place at St Paul’s Church in Truro on 31^st May 1903, and it has he who was absent from the family in 1911. The following child Marian Frances Allen was baptised there on 29^th January 1905, and the next Lesley Nelson Allen on 26^th January 1908, also at St Paul’s Church. In each case the parents were recorded as William John Allen and his wife Mary

Curiously, in the census of 1911, Mary Harriet Allen was recorded as Polly Allen aged 42 from Truro. On that day the family living at 8 St Clement Hills comprised, in addition to Mary (Polly), William John Allen who was 43, Lillian Maud Allen aged 16, Ernest John Allen aged 13, Marian Frances Allen who was six, Nelson Leslie Allen who was three, and Kathleen Louisa Allen who was one year old, her birth recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 114) during the first quarter of 1910. The death of Mary H Allen nee Collett, aged 70 years, was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 374) during the second quarter of 1940. Her husband survived her by over twenty years, when the death of William J Allen aged 93 was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 163) during the second quarter of 1962

Emma Rachel Collett [21Q107] was born at Cuby-with-Tregony, with her birth as Emma Rachael Collett was recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 144) during the last quarter of 1870. A few months later Emma R Collett and her family were still residing in Cuby-with-Tregony but tragically, following the death of her father when she was around seven years old, Emma’s mother took the family to Bridgend near Lostwithiel in the district of St Winnow, where they were living in 1881 when Emma was 10 years old. During the next year or so Emma’s mother took her children to live in Truro, where they were certainly living from 1883 onwards. However, by 1891 when Emma was then 18, she was a general domestic servant at the Truro home of licenced victualler Henry Buck at Quay Street in the St Mary parish of the town. It was almost five years later that Emma Rachel Collett married Frederick Hoskin Trewhela with whom she had five children. Their wedding was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 232) during the first three months of 1896

Once married the couple initially settled in West Teignmouth in Devon where certainly the couple’s first three children were born, as confirmed by the census in 1901. Frederick H Trewhela from Tresillian was 25 and a gentleman’s outfitter’s assistant, Emma R Trewhela from Tregony was 27 (when she was nearer 30), Doris G Trewhela was four, Sidney G Trewhela was one years old, while Florence M Trewhela was still under one year old. The next census in 1911 revealed the couple had been married for fifteen years, during which time they had given birth to five children, all living. By that time in their lives, they were residing at 95 Bramshott Road in Portsmouth, where Fred Hosking Trewhela was 37, Emma Rachel was 40, Doris Gwendoline Trewhela was 14, Sidney Gordon Trewhela was 12, Florence May Trewhela was 11, Blanche Evelyn Trewhela was six, and Ivy Kathleen Trewhela was four years old. Emma R Trewhela nee Collett suffered a premature death thirteen years later when in her early forties, following which she was buried in the grounds of St Mary’s Church in Truro on 2^nd May 1924

George Collett [21Q108] was born at Tregony in 1872, whose birth was registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 143) during the last three months of the year. He was named after his father who died shortly after 1876. At the time of the census of 1881, he was eight years old and was living at Bridgend near Lostwithiel with his fatherless family. In the 1891 Census for Truro St Clement his age was given as 17, by which time he was working as a shoemaker, while still living with his widowed mother. Just over eight years later, when George was 25, he married Maud Mary Lowry, with their wedding recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 221) during the summer of 1899. According to the next census George Collett was a married man of 25 from Tregony, when he was still employed as a shoemaker. George was nearly 28 years old and told the census enumerator that he was the same age as his wife, Maud M Collett from Truro who was 25, when they were living within St Clement Urban on the eastern fringe of the City of Truro, where they were still living when their first two daughters were born

The couple continued to live in the Truro area for the next six years but shortly thereafter, moved to Saltash within the St Germans registration district, where they were living in 1911. George Collett from Tregony was 38 and a boot maker, Maud Mary Collett was 36 and carrying out household duties, and their three children were Dorothy Florence Maud Collett who was nine, Gladys May Collett who was six, and Violet Gwendoline Collett who was two years old. The census return also confirmed that Maud had given birth to four children, with only the three named below still living in April 1911

It has now been discovered that George travelled to Canada in 1911, sometime shortly after the census day at the start of April, where he was followed by his younger unmarried brother Stanley (below). The records in Canada confirmed George first entered the country in 1911, while Stanley arrived in Quebec onboard the ship Royal Edward during August 1911. George made the original in preparation for his family to join him there two years later. Maud and her three daughters sailed across the Atlantic onboard the ship Royal Edward from England to Quebec, arriving there in July 1913. The passenger list named the four of them in steerage as Maud Collett 38, Dorothy Collett 11, Gladys Collett aged nine, and Violet Collett who was four years old. The list also mentioned that they were heading for a reunion with their father George Collett, a shoemaker businessman, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Within the next three years every member of the family applied for Canadian citizenship

That was confirmed in the Canada census conducted in 1916 when, rather curiously, the head of the household was named as Stanley Collett from England who was 40 and a shoemaker. That was the right age for George, while his much brother Stanley was by then a married man living in Montreal with his wife. On that day the family was living at 736 4^th Avenue North in Saskatoon where Maud Collett was 37, Florence was 14, Gladys was 12, and Violet was seven years old, all of them having entered Canada in 1913. Nothing more is currently known about the family, although one internet source suggests the Maud Mary Lowry, the wife of George Collett, was living in Canada when she died on 13^th May 1961 at Vancouver in British Columbia

21R92 – Dorothy Florence Maud Collett was born in 1901 at Truro

21R93 – Gladys May Collett was born in 1904 at Truro

21R94 – Violet Gwendoline Collett was born in 1908 at Saltash, St Germans

Joshua Collett [21Q109] was born at Tregony in 1874 and his birth was registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 139) during the last quarter of that year. He was six years old at the time of the 1881 Census when he was living with his widowed mother and brothers and sister at Bridgend near Lostwithiel. His age in 1891 was stated as being 15 at a time when the family was living at East Rosewin Row in Truro St Clement, and when Joshua had already left school and was working as an errand boy. Ten years later Joshua was still living with his family but at Mitchell Hill, St Clement Urban in the City of Truro where he was working as a butcher. He was 23 and was still a bachelor, whose place of birth was given in the census of 1901 as Truro, where his birth had been registered

William James Collett [21Q110] was born at Tregony on 5^th December 1876, with his birth registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 141) during the first quarter of 1877. His father George Collett died shortly after he was born and, in successive censuses, he was living with his widowed mother Louisa. For the first of them in 1881, at the age of four years, the family was living at Bridgend near Lostwithiel and by the time he was 14 they had moved to Truro St Clement where they were living in 1891, by which time he was employed as an errand boy. Just after the start of the century William James Collett married Mary Elizabeth Goodman at St Paul’s Church in Truro St Clements on 31^st March 1900, with their wedding recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 188). William was described as 22, a bachelor and a gardener residing at Mitchells Hill, the son of deceased George Collett, a mason. Mary was 21 and a spinster with no occupation living at St Clements Hill, the daughter of labourer William James Goodman. The couple signed the register in their own hand, while one of the witnesses was Henry Bohenna – a name with previous links to the Collett family one hundred years earlier

Like other members of the family, William and Mary were living at St Clements Urban on the outskirts of Truro one year after they were married. According to the census in March 1901, William gave his age as 23, his place of birth as Tregony, and that he was employed as a gardener. His wife Mary was 22, and by that time Mary had given birth to the couple’s first child who was under one year old. Over the following four years two more children were added to the family. By April 1911 William and his family were still living in Truro St Clements, where he was 32 and from Tregony, who was working as a jobbing gardener, Mary Elizabeth Collett from Ladock was 30, and their three children were William Leonard Collett who was ten, James Gordon Collett who was eight, and Olive Mary Collett who was six years old. Their daughter was born on 13^th February 1905 and was baptised at St Paul’s Church in Truro on 17^th May 1905, with her birth recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 120) and was still living in Truro when she died in 1993

William James Collett was living at 13 Prospect Place in Truro when he died on 12^th December 1952, while it was not until 12^th May 1954 that his Will was proved at Bodmin when Mary Elizabeth Collett, widow, was named as executor of his personal effects amounting to £1,005

21R95 – William Leonard Collett was born in 1900 at Truro

21R96 – James Gordon Collett was born in 1903 at Truro

21R97 – Olive Mary Collett was born in 1905 at Truro

John Collett [21Q111] was born at Lostwithiel in 1880, the base-born child of Louisa Collett, widowed in 1877, and a man whose surname was very likely Smith. It was as John Smith, a boarder from Devonport, that he was living with his mother and his half-siblings at Bridgend near Lostwithiel in 1881. He was the first of three sons born to the widow Louisa Collett. Interestingly, John Smith aged ten years and born in Cornwall was named as Johnny Collett in the next census of 1891, when he and his two younger siblings were living with their mother, who had taken the family to live at East Rosewin Row in Truro St Clement. When he was only 20 years of age John became a married man as confirmed by the census conducted at the end of March 1901. On that day, John Collett from Plymouth (Devonport) was 20 and working as a market gardener living at Albion Place in Truro with his wife Emily Collett who was also 20 and from Plymouth

It is currently not known what happened to John and Emily after March that year, as no record of the couple has been found in the next census in 1911. It is known that his youngest sibling Stanley (below) had sailed to Canada in 1911 after the same journey was made by his older half-brother George (above), so maybe John and Emily had done the same. However, even if the couple had emigrated, it seems that sometime in the future they may have returned to England, since it was at Truro register office (Ref. 7a 225) that the death of Emily Collett, aged 79, was recorded during the second quarter of 1960

Sidney Collett [21Q112] was born at Truro around 1884, although no record of his birth, or baptism, has been found. There is also a query over who his parents were. It is possible that he was the second of three base-born sons of the widow Louisa Collett. Certainly, in the census of 1891, Sidney Collett aged seven years, was named as the son of Louisa Collett of East Rosewin Row in Truro St Clement. It was at Mitchell Hill in Truro that Sydney Collett from Truro was 16 and an errand boy, like his younger brother Stanley (below), when he was one of the three sons still living with Louisa Collett. No record of any member of the household has been identified within the census of 1911, with the possibility that they may have already sailed to Canada like brothers George (above) and Stanley (below)

Stanley Collett [21Q113] was born at Truro on 1^st September 1888, his birth recorded there (Ref. 5c 129) during the last three months of that year. There is a question as to who his parents were, because the father of his older siblings suffered a premature death in 1877. Within the census of 1891, Stanley Collett was described as the son of widow Louisa Collett (formerly Jenkins), the mother of his older siblings, who was only 29 years old when she was made a widow. One option could be that he was raised by his grandmother, as the base-born son of one of Louisa’s two eldest daughters, but that seems unlikely since all the daughters of Louisa (Jenkins) Collett and George Collett married and had children of their own. According to the census in 1891 Stanley Collett aged three years and born in Cornwall was living with Louisa Collett at East Rosewin Row in Truro St Clement. Ten years later it was a similar situation when son Stanley Collett from Truro was 12 years of age and still living in Truro St Clement with his mother Louisa, but at Mitchell Hill in the town, by which time he had his first job as an errand boy

During the summer of 1911, Stanley sailed to Canada onboard the ship Royal George which docked at Quebec in August 1911. The passenger list confirmed that he was 23 and a waiter, whose brother George had made the same journey before him, Stanley “going to be with his brother” with his intended destination being Montreal. Four months after that, on 26^th December 1911, Stanley Collett married Minnie Pascoe at Montreal. Once married the couple settled in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts in the province of Quebec where their daughter was born and where Minnie, who was born at Truro in 1890, died during January 1965. Almost exactly four years later Stanley Collett passed away on 22^nd January 1969 at the age of 81, while he was still residing in Sainte Agathe

New information regarding an earlier child for Stanley and Minnie Pascoe was provided by Trevor Collette of Kingston, Ontario, and was inserted here in May 2026. It all started with the death of Russell Thomas Joshua Collett, aged 28, Warrant Officer Class II R/77329 of the Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force who was killed in action during the Second World War on 20^th September 1942, and was buried at Durnbach War Cemetery in Germany. He was the son of Stanley Collett and Minnie Collett, nee Pascoe, and the husband of Aurora E Collett, nee Ferrier, of St Marguerita Station in the Province of Quebec, Canada

His military record stated he was a wireless operator and air gunner, who was a Canadian national. He was aboard Stirling Mark 1 bomber R9356 BU-U which took off from RAF Stradishall in Suffolk, England on 20^th September 1942 on a mission to Munchen, which crashed at Hader in Germany. Two of the 7-man crew on the plane survived, but were captured as prisoners-of-war

21R98 – Russell Thomas Joshua Collett was born during 1914 in Canada

21R99 – Viola M Collett was born on 31^st October 1921 at Sainte Agathe, Quebec

Percy Collett [21Q120] was born at Tregony in 1889, the eldest child of Edwin Collett by his first wife Martha Jane Truscott of Tregony. In the Truro & Probus census of 1891 Percy was one year old but tragically, shortly after the census day, his mother died during the birth of Percy’s brother Edwin (below). For the next couple of years, it seems Percy and his brother Edwin were looked after by their grandparents in Tregony. A few years later Percy’s father married for a second time, presenting Percy with four half-brothers and one half-sister. By March 1901, Percy and his new family were living in the Walthamstow area of north London, when he was 11 years old. Towards the end of the next decade, Percy left the family home in Walthamstow when he sailed to North America

On leaving school Percy is believed to have joined the Royal Navy and was attached to HMS Majestic. The battleship was re-commissioned at Portsmouth in February 1907 but was transferred to Devonport in June 1908. In 1911 she was taken out of service for a refit, and it may have been at that time that Percy ended his service with the navy, since he emigrated to Canada not long after that. After a few years in Canada, where he worked as a longshoreman, the Canadian name for a dock worker, he entered America in 1911. According to the US Records, it was at Detroit, Wayne County in Michigan, that he entered the country that year. Five years later Percy Collett married Clara Laura Schwers in Detroit on 9^th January 1917. Clara was born at Wisconsin on 19^th June 1896 and already had a daughter Grace Schwers, whom Percy subsequently adopted. Over the following years Clara presented Percy with two sons

That situation was confirmed in the Detroit census of 1930, by which time the family was residing at 15722 Cruse Street, Precinct 28. Percy Collett from England was 40 and a machinist at an auto plant, who had entered America in 1911, and was 27 years old when he became a married man. He was the also owner of the family home, which was valued at $4,000. His wife Clara was 34, and was 21 when she married Percy. Her daughter Grace was no longer living with the couple, while their two sons were recorded as Jack Collett who was 12, and William Collett who was six years old. Living with the family, and working as a waitress at a local restaurant, was Clara’s older sister Katherine Duprie aged 42, who was married at 24. It was the same situation ten years later when the same four members of the family were again living at 15722 Cruse Street. Percy Collett from England was 50 and still working at the automobile plant, Clara was 43, Jack 21 and working at a brass foundry, while William was 15 and still in education. It was also in 1940 when it was revealed that Percy Collett had illegally entered America in 1911

Later in their life, and following the marriage of their daughter Grace, Percy and Clara looked after the youngest of her three children, Darlene Hobbs. It appears the couple lived their whole life together in Detroit where, it is now known that Percy worked for the Ford Motor Company, and it was there also that he died on 16^th May 1958. Most of the information on Percy and his family has been kindly provided by his granddaughter Judith Ann Safford nee Collet, the daughter of Jack Edwin Collett, with the 1930 and 1940 census details unearthed in 2023

21R100 – Grace Collett (adopted) was born before 1917

21R101 – Jack Edwin Collett was born in 1918

21R102 – William Collett was born in 1924

Edwin Llewelyn Collett [21Q121] was born at Tregony on 21^st November 1891, but after the fifth of April that year. He was the second son of Edwin Collett and his wife Martha Jane Truscott who died around the time of the birth, or a little while after. Faced with looking after two very two young sons on his own, Edwin’s father sought help from his late wife’s parents who appear to have taken the boys into their home in Tregony. Edwin’s father later remarried and, around 1897, he and his new family moved to Walthamstow, taking Edwin’s brother Percy (above) with them. For whatever reason, Edwin chose to remain with his grandparents, and it was within the Walthamstow area of London that his family was living in 1901

Having stayed with his maternal grandparents, it was at their home in Tregony in March 1901, that nine years old Edwin L Collett from Tregony was confirmed as living in the census return. His grandparents were recorded as 67 years old John Truscott, a farmer and dairyman from Tregony, and his wife 68 years old Nancy Truscott from Cuby. With the passing of his grandparents during the first decade of the new century, Edwin then went to live with his aunt Fanny Ann Polkinghorne, the former Fanny Ann Truscott, and the older sister of his mother Martha Jane Truscott. That arrangement may even have been put in place prior to the deaths of his grandparents

So, in the census in April 1911 Edwin Collett from Tregony was living at the home of the Polkinghorne family at Sunny Corner in the village of Withiel to the west of Bodmin. Edwin was described as 19 and a nephew, whose occupation was that of a carpenter working with his uncle. Head of the household was Charles Polkinghorne who was 49 and from St Breock, who was a carpenter in the building trade. His wife of seventeen years was Fanny Polkinghorne aged 51 from Tregony St George. Also working with his father was the couple’s 14 years old son John James Polkinghorne, and completing the family was Olive Polkinghorne who was 18

It may be of interest that Charles Henry Polkinghorne, the son of James and Ann Polkinghorne, married Fanny Ann Truscott in Penzance during December quarter of 1893, just four years after Catherine Collett [21Q88] married Stephen Polkinghorne, the son of Stephen Polkinghorne and Mary Ann Knight in 1889

During the third quarter of 1915, Edwin L Collett married Gladys H Lidgey in Truro (Ref. 5c 278), and just over one year later their daughter Martha was born, and was named after Edwin’s mother, whom he had never known. Edwin Collett was 85 when his death was recorded at Truro register office (Vol. 21 0696) during June 1977. He spent the last eleven years of his life as a widower, following the death of his wife Gladys H Collett nee Lidsey during the second quarter of 1956, her passing recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 7a 206) when she was 64. It was on 2^nd June 1956 that Gladys Harriet Collett of Staddon House, Mitchell Hill in Truro, and the wife of Edwin Llewelyn Collett, passed away while a patient at the Royal Cornwall infirmary. Administration of her estate, amounting to £223 5 Shillings was granted to her husband E L Collett, journeyman carpenter

21R103 – Martha D Collett was born during the last three months of 1916

George Odgers Collett [21Q122] was born at Truro, either at the end of 1894 or early in 1895, the eldest child of Edwin Collett by his second wife Florence Hannah Pill. His birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 150) during the first three months of 1895. He was only around four or five years old when his parents left Cornwall and moved to London, where they were living in 1901, at 16 Clacton Road in Walthamstow. when George was six years old. On leaving school, George began work as a motor engineer, as confirmed in the Walthamstow census of 1911 when, at the age of 16 he was still living with his family but at 12 Devonshire Road in Walthamstow

It was on 5^th April 1917 at the church of St Philip in Dalston, within the London Borough of Hackney, that George Odgers Collett married Edith Anne Richardson, whose family came from Whitby in Yorkshire. In addition to the incorrect recording of his second name, the marriage register also confirmed that George was 22 years of age, the son of Edwin Collett, and that Edith was 27 and the daughter of Joseph Richardson. Their marriage was blessed with the birth of a son during the following year. George was an aircraft engineer, which may seem unlikely in Walthamstow but, apparently, there was something of an aviation industry in that part of London around that time. As the industry declined, he joined London Transport earning his living as a bus driver working out of the Leytonstone and Walthamstow depot

It seems George and Edith lived all their life together at Walthamstow, since it was there that George Odgers Collett died during 1956 at the age of 61. His wife lived the life of a widow for the next twenty years, when Edith Anne Collett nee Richardson died in 1976, aged 90

21R104 – Clifford George Collett was born in 1918 at Walthamstow

Gladys Ada Collett [21Q123] was born at Truro on 1^st November 1896, where her birth was also recorded (Ref. 5c 152) during the last quarter of the year. She was the only daughter, amongst a family of sons, of Edwin and Fanny Collett, his second wife, and was born just prior to her family moving to London. It was at 16 Clacton Road in Walthamstow, Essex, that they were residing in 1901, when Gladys was four years old. By 1911 the family was living at 12 Devonshire Road in Walthamstow, where 14-year-old Gladys was very likely helping her mother look after the men of the house, as she had left school, but had no stated occupation. The census return recorded that she was born at St Clement Street, Cornwall (in Truro). In fact, Gladys never married and had returned to Cornwall at the end of her life, with the death of Gladys Ada Collett recorded at Cornwall register office (Ref. 7a 101) in 1971 when she was 74

Jack Collett [21Q124] was born at 16 Clacton Road in Walthamstow in 1899 where he and his family were living in March 1901 when Jack was one year old. His birth was recorded at West Ham register office (Ref. 4a 423) during the second quarter of the year. During the next few years, the family moved home and by April 1911 they were living at 12 Devonshire Road in Walthamstow. The census return that year confirmed that Jack Collett was eleven years old and born at Walthamstow. When the war started in 1914, Jack became a second-class air mechanic F/20396 with the newly formed Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) and served on the HMS Airship C27 based at Pulham in Norfolk. Sadly, the airship was attacked by three German seaplanes and was shot down on 11^th December 1917 causing the death of all five members of its crew, which included Jack Collett

That was the second airship to be shot down during the war, following which its sister ship, the Airship C26, was sent out on a rescue mission, but ran out of fuel. As a result, it was forced to land in Holland where the crew was imprisoned until the end of the war. Jack was eighteen when he died and his next-of-kin were named as his parents Edwin and Fanny Collett of 1 Cornwallis Road in Walthamstow. The Royal Flying Corps was formed in 1913 and had an army and a navy element, with a Military Wing and a Naval Wing, that being the RNAS. The airship base at Pulham had been secretly built in 1913, where the airships were affectionately known as the Pulham Pigs

Frank Collett [21Q125] was born at 16 Clacton Road in Walthamstow on 15^th June 1903, his birth recorded at West Ham register office (Ref. 4a 438) during the second quarter of the year. He was another son of Edwin and Fanny Collett from Cornwall, who was eight years old in the Walthamstow census of 1911 and living at 12 Devonshire Road. The later marriage of Frank Collett and Lily N Amies was recorded at West Ham register office (Ref. 4a 778) during the last three months of 1925. After being married for seven years, Lily presented Frank with a son, whose birth was recorded at Hackney register office (Ref. 1b 511) during the quarter of 1932. Like his younger brother Fred (below), Frank also appears to have lived most of his life in Essex, where his death was recorded (Ref. 5d 2010) in 1969 at the age of 66

21R105 – Roy Collett was born in 1932 at Hackney, London

Fred Collett [21Q126] was born at Walthamstow, London on 12^th April 1904, with his birth recorded as Fred Collett at West Ham register office (Ref. 4a 474) during the second quarter of that year. He was the last child born to Edwin Collett and his second wife Florence Hannah Pill. He may have been born at either 16 Clacton Road in Walthamstow, where his parents were living in 1901, or at 12 Devonshire Road, Walthamstow where schoolboy Fred Collett was six years of age in 1911. He was 31 years old when the marriage of Fred Collett and Beatrice Phyper was recorded at West Ham register office (Ref. 4a 1107) during the third quarter of 1935. Beatrice was born on 21^st March 1905 at Bethnal Green and was living at Walthamstow with her family in 1911. As far as can be determined, their marriage produced no children. Fred and Beatrice were still living within the county of Essex when he died, the death of Fred Collett being recorded at Essex register office (Vol. 15 1105) in 1978, at the age of 74. Beatrice was a widow for only a few months, when the death of Beatrice Collett, aged 72, was also recorded at Essex register office (Vol. 14 1503) during 1979

Heather Wanda Rookledge Collett [21R1] was born at Christchurch near Bournemouth on 18^th February 1926. She was educated at Earlsfield in South West London and after at Carshalton High School for Girls. She married O E Glenser in 1954 with whom she had two children. Heather died at Carshalton in 2003 and her husband had passed away ten years earlier in 1993

Joy Beryl Rookledge Collett [21R2] was born on 5^th September 1927 and that may have taken place at Christchurch, just after which her parents moved to London. She was the second child of actor Charles Harcourt Collett and his partner Else Goodwin-Rookledge whose previous marriage had been annulled on the grounds of her husband being a bigamist. Charles was unable to secure a divorce from his first wife, hence the partnership. They must therefore have been difficult times for Charles and Elsie since in January 1928, when Joy was around four months old, they decided that she should be given up for adoption

Joy later married Barry Layzell with whom she had a daughter Lorraine Layzell who was born in 1954. Lorraine went onto marry John Calvert, and they in turn had a son Daniel Calvert who was born in 1986. In 2009 Joy was a widow and it was only through ‘surfing the net’ and coming across the Rookledge website (www.rookledge.com) that Joy contact her brother Gordon Charles Rookledge Collett (below) which resulted in her place in this family being confirmed. At the time of the death of Joy Beryl Layzell when she was 86, on 17^th February 2013, she was residing in the Hounslow area of London

Nigel Harcourt Rookledge Collett [21R3] was born at Wandsworth in South West London on 14^th October 1929. He was educated at Carshalton High School for Boys and he married Patricia Thatcher in 1956. Nigel died in 1989 and Patricia died at Maidstone in 2003. All their children were believed to have been born in Kent, although their births were recorded in Surrey

21S1 – Ian Harcourt Rookledge Collett was born in 1960 at Kent

21S2 – Caroline A Rookledge Collett was born in 1961 at Kent

21S3 – Keith Charles Rookledge Collett was born in 1963 at Kent

21S4 – Heather Rookledge Collett was born in 1965 at Kent

Jean Margaret Rookledge Collett [21R4] was born at Clapham on 5^th November 1932. Like her older sister Heather, Jean also attended school at Carshalton. She married Patrick E Kisbee in 1958 with whom she had three children Christopher Kisbee born in 1960, Ann Kisbee born in 1962 and Gillian Kisbee born in 1964. Patrick died at East Sussex in 1990

GORDON CHARLES ROOKLEDGE COLLETT [21R5] was born at Clapham on 3^rd December 1933. He was educated at the Stanley Park School in Carshalton and at Irstead School on the Norfolk Broads for a short time in 1947. On leaving school Gordon served with the Royal Artillery from 1952 to 1954 after which he entered the world of publishing and later became founder, chairman, and managing director of Gavin Martin Limited, Sarema Press publishers and KGM Limited. He married Jennifer Mary Dampier Lush at Carshalton during 1960 with whom he had three children. Gordon lived at Beeches Walk in Carshalton and had an excellent website depicting the milestones in his life – see www.rookledge.com. Sadly, on 8^th June 2012 Gordon suffered a stroke from which he never regained consciousness, and despite the most wonderful care, he tragically passed away on 8^th September 2012. During his last three months his family read to him the contents of the monthly Collett Newsletter, in the hope he might still hear what was going on

21S5 – Sarah Louise Rookledge Collett was born in 1962 at London

21S6 – GAVIN ALISTAIR ROOKLEDGE COLLETT was born in 1964 at London

21S7 – Emma Constance Rookledge Collett was born in 1966 at London

William John Collett [21R6] was baptised at Ladock on 25^th February 1873, the son of John Hosking Collett and Dinah Ellen Hooper. Tragically, his mother died and was buried on the same day that William was baptised. However, it is now known that the death of William John Collett was recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 103) during the second quarter of 1873 when he was just two months old. The burial of baby William John Collett took place at Ladock on 11^th April 1873

It was previously written here that William J Collett from Falmouth in Cornwall was 27 and a hawker, a married man living at King Street in Plymouth with his wife and child in 1901. His wife was Sarah J Collett from Dartmouth in Devon who was 25, and their son Frederick T Collett was one year old and born at Bristol. Tragically, William’s wife died nine years later, the death of Sarah Jane Collett, aged 34, was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 5b 211) during the first three months of 1910. It is possible that she had an infectious disease because, one year later her husband was recorded in the census of 1911 as being a resident at an institution/hospital in Plymouth. The census return that year described him as William J Collett from Launceston in Cornwall who was a widower at 38. New information discovered in January 2017 confirms that shortly after the census in 1911, William J Collett aged 37 died at Plymouth where his death was recorded (Ref. 5b 144) during the second quarter of 1911. It seems highly likely that the institution where he was recorded, just prior to his passing, may well have been a hospital. All of this must therefore refer to another William J Collett

21S8 – Frederick T Collett was born in 1900 at Bristol

John Collett [21R8] was born at Truro St Clement in 1878, the eldest son of James Thomas Collett and Ellen Cowl. By 1881 he and his family were living on Tresillian Road in St Erme when John was two years old. Ten years late he was still living at Gilles in St Erme with his family at the age of 12 years. By March 1901 he was unmarried at 22 and was living in St Agnes where he was described as Jack Collett of Truro who was working as a carter and horse driver. The banns of marriage of John Collett of the parish of St Erme, a bachelor, and Elizabeth Mary Gill, a spinster of the parish of Newlyn East, were read on 28^th August, 4^th and 11^th September 1904. The wedding ceremony was conducted at the parish church in Newlyn East on 6^th October 1904, when John Collett was 26 and a labourer residing in St Erme, the son of James Collett, a maltster, and when Elizabeth Mary Gilly was 30 and the daughter of Thomas Gilly, a foreman with the Great Western Railway. The two witnesses were Thomas Gilly and Edith Collett, John’s younger sister (below).

By April 1911, the Elizabeth had given birth to two children who were born at Zelah, five miles north-east of Truro, with the family residing at nearby Perranzabuloe. Also, by then, John’s father-in-law may have found a new job of work for him, since John Collett from Truro, aged 32, was a packer employed by the Great Western Railway Company. Elizabeth Mary Collett was 36 and born at Newlyn East (four miles north of Zelah), while their two offspring were both recorded as being four years of aged, when they were born one year apart. They were Beatrice Mary Collett and William John Collett, with the birth of the eldest child recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 115) during the second quarter of 1906. It was a year after, that the birth of William John Collett was recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 120) during the second quarter of 1907. Their daughter Beatrice Mary Collett never married and lived all her life in Cornwall, where her death was recorded during 1991, when her date of birth was recorded as 21^st April 1906

21S9 – Beatrice Mary Collett was born in 1906 at Zelah, near Perranzabuloe

21S10 – William John Collett was born in 1907 at Zelah, near Perranzabuloe

Sydney Collett [21R9] was born at St Erme, either in the last few days of 1880 or very early in January 1881, with his birth recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 143) during the first three months of 1881. It was on 1^st March 1881 that, under the name of Sidney Collett, he was baptised at Truro, the son of James and Ellen Collett. It seems highly likely that he was born at Tresillian Road in St Erme, where his family was living at the time of the census in 1881 when Sidney was only three months old. He was still living with his family at Gilles in St Erme on the day of the next census in 1891 when, as Sydney Collett, he was ten years of age. Apparently, he was only 19 when he married the widow Catherine Alfreda Burley who was around ten years older than Sidney and already had two children from her first husband. All this was confirmed within the Merther census of 1901 and, by which time, Catherine had presented Sydney with the couple’s first child. Sydney Collett of St Erme was 20 years of age and was working as a horseman on a farm, Catherine Collett was 26 and had been born at Gorran, while living with the couple were Sydney’s stepchildren Beatrice Burley aged eight from Truro, and Ethel Burley who was five and from St Austell, together with the couple’s one-year-old daughter Ellen Collett who had been born at Truro

Just over five months after the census day Catherine presented Sidney with the couple’s second child. The baptism record stated that Sidney was then working as a labourer while living at Carharthen in Merther where his son was born. Over the next four years two further children were added to the family while they were still living in Merther, but shortly thereafter the family left Merther to settle in Probus. According to the census in 1911, the family of six was living at Benton Berron within the parish of Probus within the Truro registration district, where Sidney Collett from St Erme was 30 and still a horseman on a farm, his wife Catherine Alfreda Collett from Gorran was 40, and their children were Ellen Collett aged 11 from Kenyon, Ernest Edward Collett who was nine, Frederick Collett who was seven, and Lillian Edith Collett who was five, and all of them born at Merther. Curiously, the birth of the couple’s eldest son was recorded using the names Ernest and Henry, while the later records suggest he was Ernest Edward, which was also his baptismal name, although it was as Ernest H Collett that he was married in 1924. The later death of Sidney Collett, as Sydney Collett, was recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 7a 36) during the second quarter of 1953, when he was 72 years of age

21S11 – Ellen Collett was born in 1899 at Merther

21S12 – Ernest Henry Collett was born in 1901 at Merther

21S13 – Frederick Collett was born in 1903 at Merther

21S14 – Lillian Edith Collett was born in 1905 at Merther

Ellen Collett [21R10] was born at St Erme in 1882, the third child and eldest daughter of James and Ellen Collett. Her birth was registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 149) during the last quarter of the year, and it was at Truro that she was baptised on 6^th March 1883. The St Erme census in 1891 recorded Nellie Collett aged eight years, living at Gilles in St Erme with her family. Ellen Collett was seventeen years old when she died, her death recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 135) during the first quarter of 1900

Edith Collett [21R11] was born at St Erme in 1884 and was the eldest daughter of James Thomas Collett and Ellen Cowl. Her birth was registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 145) during the last quarter of the year. It was then on 27^th January 1885 that she was baptised at Truro. Her early years were spent with her parents at Tresillian Road in St Erme where she was recorded as being six years old in the census of 1891. Upon leaving school Edith entered domestic service and had left the family home in St Erme by March 1901 when she was 16 and working as a scullery maid at the Carlew home in Mylor, the home of retired Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Tremayne and his wife Emma, where Edith Collett was one of the fourteen servants employed at the hose that day. Five years later, the marriage of Edith Collett, a spinster, and William Henry Powell Horwell, a widower, took place at St Erme on 24^th November 1906, the event recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 245) when Edith was 22 and the daughter of James Collett, and William was 36 and the son of John Horwell. They had three children, Charles Hart Collett Horwell born at St Erme in 1908, Charles Kenny Horwell born at Truro in 1911, and Opre Horwell born at Newton Abbot in 1914, when the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett

The two older children were staying with their Collett grandparents at St Erme in 1911, and they were Charles Hart Collett Horwell aged two years and born at Tresillian Road in St Erme, and Charles Kenny Horwell who was only a few months old and had been born at Truro St Clements

Charles Collett [21R12] was born at St Erme possibly at the end of 1886 or at the start of 1887, with his birth registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 133) during the first three months of 1887. He was four years old in the St Erme census of 1891. According to the next St Erme census in 1901, Charley Collett of Tresillian (sic) was 14 and was living in St Erme with his family. Tragically, within a year he was dead. Charles Collett was only 15 years old when his death was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 105) during the first three months of 1902, just two years after his eldest sister Ellen Collett died aged 17

Gertrude Collett [21R13] was born at St Erme in 1889, although her birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 136) during the second quarter of that year, but only as Gertrude Collett. Again, as simply Gertrude Collett, she was two years of age in the St Erme census of 1891, when living with her family at Gilles. At the age of 12 years, Gertrude she was still living with her family in St Erme where, curiously, her place of birth was recorded as Tresillian, as it was for some of her other siblings born at St Erme

Blanche Annie Collett [21R14] was born at St Erme either at the end of 1890 or early in 1891, with her birth recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 143) during the first quarter of 1891, but as only Annie Collett. It was as Blanche Annie Collett who was only a few months old that she was living with her family at Gilles in St Erme. She was ten years old and referred to simply as Annie Collett in 1901 when she was still living with her family in St Erme. Eight years after that census day, the marriage of Blanche Annie Collett and John James Mitchell was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 229) during the second quarter of 1909. Two years later, as Anne Mitchell aged 21, Blanche Annie was staying with her parents at St Erme, confirmed again as the place of her birth. The couple’s only known child was born at Truro two years later, with the birth of Avis I Mitchell was recorded there (Ref. 5c 230) during the third quarter of 1913, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett

Beatrice Collett [21R15] was born at St Erme in either the last few days of 1893 or early in 1894 as her birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 130) during the first three months of 1894. She was seven years old at the time of the Tresillian census of 1901 and just like her sister Gertrude (above), Beatrice eventually left the family home to seek work. At the age of eighteen, she was living and working as a housemaid at Gwennap in the Redruth census of 1911, when her place of birth was recorded by her employer, elderly Edward Beauchamp, as St Erme. Beatrice was one of six domestic servants, which included two footmen, employed by Edward 77, his wife Louisa 67, and their unmarried daughters Louisa and Violet Beauchamp. It was much later in her life when the marriage of Beatrice Collett and Richard J Stephens was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 231) during the first three months of 1932. Beatrice Stephens was 72 when she died in Cornwall during 1966 (Ref. 7a 94)

Russell Clifford Collett [21R16] was born at St Rudmere within the Plympton area of south Devon, with his birth recorded at Plympton register office (Ref. 5b 185) during the third quarter of 1901. He was the eldest of three children of baker Sydney Charles Collett of Newton Ferrers and his wife Bessie Rogers from Plymouth. At some time before 1908, the family moved north to the village of Buckland Monachorum, near Tavistock, where his brother Ivor (below) was born, and where the family of four was residing in 1911, when Russel Collett was nine years old and attending school. Tragically, Russell died in an accident when he was only 23 years of age, with the death of Russell Clifford Collett was recorded in Devon (Ref. 5b 324) during 1924

Ivor Victor Roy Collett [21R17] was born at Buckland Monachorum (ten miles north of Plymouth) in 1908, the second of the two sons of baker Sydney Charles and Bessie Collett, whose birth was recorded at Tavistock register office (Ref. 5b 312) during the third quarter of that year. It was also at Buckland Monachorum that he and his family were living in 1911, when Ivor Collett was two years of age. Ivor later became a married man in 1936, when the marriage of Ivor Victor Roy Collett and Bessie Olive Kelly was recorded at Devonport register office (Ref. 5b 846) during the spring that year. They had a total of five children, all of whom were still living in 2010. The couple’s first child was born in Singapore, the second and the fourth while the family was living in Plymouth, between those two the third child was born at Looe, while their last child was born at Yeovil after the war. Just after his wedding day, Ivor was a civil servant working for the British Government, when he sailed out of the Port of London on 26^th May 1936 on board the P & O ship Ranchi, bound for Singapore, as a married man

21S15 – Sandra Georgina Collett was born in 1937 at Singapore

21S16 – Diana Collett was born in 1939 at Plymouth

21S17 – Bruce Ivor Nicholas Collett was born in 1942 at Looe

21S18 – Paul Ivor Craig Collett was born in 1945 at Plymouth

21S19 – David Ivor Charles Collett was born in 1950 at Yeovil, Somerset

Betty Collett [21R18] was the third child born to Sydney Charles Collett and Bessie Rogers, and was born into the family after an eleven-year gap back to the birth of her brother Ivor (above) in 1908. The birth of Betty Collett was recorded at Devonport register office (Ref. 5b 569) during the fourth quarter of 1919, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Rogers. She later married Charles Clifford Climo who was born on 17^th December 1922 and they had a son and a daughter. No record of their marriage, or the birth of their son, has been found. However, the birth of Sheila E Climo was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 7v 687) during the last quarter of 1950, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. At the time of the death of her father in 1951, it was Betty Climo, the wife of Charles Clifford Climo, who was granted administration of her father’s personal effects amounting to £179 4 Shillings and 6 Pence. Tragically, Betty Climo nee Collett died from cancer shortly after that time when she was still relatively young. Her husband Charles died during 1974 and his death was recorded at Bodmin register office (Vol. 21 0048) during the second quarter of that year

Alpha Harris Collette [21R20] was born at Lake Charles in Louisiana on 5^th May 1895, the eldest of the fifth children of Joseph Harris Collette and Ida King. He never married and was only 23 when he died on 17^th October 1918

Donald Allan Collette [21R21] was a twin with his sister Mabel (below) and was born at Lake Charles on 22^nd December 1896, the second son of Joseph and Ida Collette. It was on 3^rd September 1926 that he married Alice Dickinson Hester who was born on 7^th February 1895 at Hazelhurst in Copiah County, Mississippi. It was also during the year that they were married that Donald built a house for his bride just down the same street from where his mother lived. During the following year Alice presented Donald with their only child, who was also born at Lake Charles and who was also given the same name as his father. During their life together Donald and Alice lived in the house at 729 Iris Street in Lake Charles, where Donald Allan Collette senior died on 11^th February 1962 when he was 65. His widow Alice Dickinson Collette nee Hester survived him by twenty-two years when she passed away at Lake Charles on 9^th May 1984 when she was still living in the home built by her late husband on Iris Street. It is also in that same house that the wife of their only son was living in 2013

The notice of his passing in the Lake Charles newspaper read as follows:

“Lake Charles, Feb 11^th – Donald A Collette 65 life resident of Lake Charles and a member of a pioneer family of the city, died at 4.45 am Sunday at St Patrick’s Hospital. His body is at Hixson Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 pm Monday. The Rev C W Quaid, pastor at the Simpson Methodist Church of which Mr Collette’s grandfather the Rev Cyrus King was the first pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Highland Memory Garden Cemetery. Mr Collette resided at 729 Iris Street. Born in Lake Charles on Dec 22 1896 he was the son of Joseph Harris Collette and Ida King Collette. Surviving are his wife, the former Alice Hester; a son D Allan Collette Jr Lake Charles; three grandchildren, and three sisters, Miss Mabel Collette, Miss Jodie Collette, and Mrs Edith Vicellio, all of Lake Charles. Mr Collette was a buyer for Kelley, Weber & Co with which firm he had been associated for over 40 years. He was a member of the American Legion and of its Forty and Eight, and had been active in affairs of W B Williamson Post No. 1”

In another article the following was written in addition to the details reproduced above: “Mr Collette was a lifelong member of the Simpson Methodist Church, and had served as a church trustee and chairman of the board of stewards. He was a charter member of the church-sponsored Boy Scout Troop, senior councillor of the local chapter of the United Commercial Travellers, and a Mason”

21S20 – Donald Allan Collett was born in 1927 at Lake Charles

Mabel Edna Collette [21R22] was born at Lake Charles on 22^nd December 1896 the twin sister of Donald (above) and the eldest daughter of Joseph and Ida Collette. She was valedictorian of her high school class and later attended college and, although she had hours toward her PhD in Education, she never completed that degree. She did however earn an undergraduate and master's degree in education at the Central Elementary School in Lake Charles, where her fellow student was Alice Dickenson Hester who, through their friendship, later married Mabel’s brother Donald (above)

Later on, Mabel, who never married, served the Governor of the State of Louisiana as The Superintendent of Primary and Secondary Schools. She was the first and only woman to hold a state-wide office and to have an office in the Capital Building in Baton Rouge. It was really a big deal at the time, albeit the main reason she secured the job was because most of the men were serving in the Second World War. She also taught classes at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she lived for most of her adult life. The last twenty-five years of her life were spent at Lake Charles, where she died. Edie Collette, as she was known, was always considered the pretty one in the family and during the early 1970s she became the first woman to hold the position of Vice-President at the Calcasieu Marine National Bank on Ryan Street in Lake Charles

Josephine Collette [21R23] was born at Lake Charles on 21^st August 1902, the third daughter of Joseph and Ida Collette. She was known within the family as Jodie and, like her sister Mabel (above) she too never married. She maintained a business career, firstly working for the Calcasieu National Bank in Lake Charles, aka the Calcasieu Marine National Bank, before taking up the post of manager at the Walker Interests in Calcasieu Parish. Josephine Collette died on 29^th March 1978

Edith Collette [21R24] was born at Lake Charles on 14^th July 1907, the last child of Joseph Harris Collette and Ida King. Edith, who was known as Edie, was around twenty-five years of age when she married Charles Tell Viccellio who sadly died on 1^st November 1941. The short marriage produced two children for Edith and Charles, and they were Charles Day Viccellio, who was born at Lake Charles on 8^th July 1933, and Gay Collette Viccellio who was also born at Lake Charles but on 7^th January 1939. Edith never re-married after the death of her husband

Annie Jane Collett [21R27] was born at St Gluvias, just north of Penryn, on 2^nd November 1883, before the family settled in Mylor Bridge. Her birth was registered at Falmouth (Ref. 5c 179) during the last quarter of 1883, and it was at St Gluvias where she was baptised on 4^th January 1884, the first of the five children of William Henry Collett and his wife Elizabeth Ann. At the age of seven years, Annie J Collett was living with her family at Goonreath in Mylor. According to the next census in 1901, Annie Collett from St Gluvias was seventeen years of age when she was working as a dairy-maid at the Lane End home in St Gluvias of her spinster aunt Jane Bath aged 32 and from St Gluvias who was the keeper of the dairy. Jane Bath was the younger sister of Annie’s other, the former Elizabeth Ann Bath. It was the same situation in 1911, when 27-year-old Annie Collett was still living with dairy keeper Jane Bath in St Gluvias, but as a general domestic servant. Annie never married and lived all her life in the same county, and it was many years later that the death of Annie Jane Collett was recorded in Cornwall during 1969, when she was 85

Mary Ellen Collett [21R28] was born at Mylor Bridge, to the north of Penryn, on 21^st January 1886, her birth registered at Falmouth (Ref. 7a 120). Upon being baptised at St Gluvias on 2^nd April 1886, Mary Ellen was confirmed as the daughter of farm labourer William Henry Collett and his wife Elizabeth Ann, residing in Mylor. She was 15 at the time of the 1901 Census when she was working as an apprentice tailoress with her younger sister Beatrice (below) while living with her family at Gwennap. In 1911, as a general domestic servant employed by elderly grocer John Henry Tregoning and his wife Bessie, Mary Ellen Collett was 25 and from Mylor and was still living at Gwennap. By that time Mary’s family had already left Gwennap, and was living in the Falmouth area, but with her father absent. Previously, Mary was believed to have married into the Allen family of Carharrack, the next village to Gwennap. However, that may not be correct, since the death of Mary Ellen Collett was recorded at Cornwall during 1972

Beatrice Sarah Collett [21R29] was born at Mylor Bridge in 1887 and her birth was registered at Falmouth (Ref. 5c 159) during the second quarter of the year. By the time she was 13 years of age she was living with her family at Gwennap. She had left school by then and was working with her older sister Mary (above) who were both apprentice tailoresses. During the early years of the new century the Collett family move to the Falmouth area where they were living in April 1911. Beatrice Collett of Mylor Bridge was 23 and was still living with her mother and her two brothers. Her father’s whereabouts has not been discovered. Over three years later, the marriage of Beatrice S Collett and Thomas H Pope was recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 334) during the last three months of 1914. Thomas hailed from Perranwell and their marriage produced two daughters for the couple, they being Phyllis M Pope and Beatrice Eileen Pope. The births of the two daughters were recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 210) towards the end of 1915, and (Ref. 5c 174) during the summer of 1919, when the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. The later death of Beatrice S Pope was recorded in Cornwall during 1964, when she was 77 years old

William Charles Collett [21R30] was born at Mylor Bridge on 6^th March 1889, with his birth registered at Falmouth (Ref. 5c 149) during the second quarter of 1888. As William Charles Collett, son of labourer William Henry Collett and Elizabeth Ann Collett, he was baptised at St Gluvias on 31^st May 1889. He was 12 years old in March 1901 and was still attending school, while living with his family at Gwennap. His family left Gwennap after that and moved to live within the Falmouth registration district where they were recorded in 1911, when William was 22, although his father was absent from the family home on the census day. It was during the following year that William married Ethel Florence Hunt at Hicks Mill in 1912. Ethel was the daughter of William John Albert Hunt and Mary Jane Mills who, as children, left Cornwall for Australia where there were married at Bendigo in Victoria in 1887. And it was at Bendigo that their daughter was born. However, Ethel returned to Cornwall when she was sixteen years of age

Once they married, the couple settled initially in Perranarworthal about two miles west of Mylor Bridge, before moving later to live at Carharrack the next village to Gwennap where William’s parents lived. William Charles Collett became a prominent Methodist Church preacher in the local community and he and Ethel had four children during the eight years following their marriage. The births of their first two children were recorded at Redruth, with the births of the two later children recorded at Falmouth, all four confirming that the mother’s maiden-name was Hunt

21S21 – William Albert Hayne Collett was born in 1913 at Perranarworthal

21S22 – Florence Hazel Collett was born in 1914 at Perranarworthal

21S23 – Ethel Vera Collett was born in 1916 at Perranarworthal

21S24 – Edgar Sylvester Collett was born in 1920 at Perranarworthal

Thomas J Collett [21R31] was born at Stithians in 1895 and was five years old when he was living at Gwennap with his family according to the census of 1901. During the next ten years it is possible that his father passed away, following which the family move from Gwennap in the Redruth area to the Falmouth area. By 1911 Thomas Collett of Stithians was 15 and was living with his mother Elizabeth and his sister Beatrice and his brother William (above) within the Falmouth registration district. Sometime later Thomas Collett married Emmy and they lived at Mylor with their three children

21S25 – Joyce Collett was born in 1914 at Mylor

21S26 – David Collett was born in 1916 at Mylor

21S27 – Jean Collett was born in 1920 at Mylor

Stanley Warne Collett [21R32] was born at Wadebridge on 7^th May 1889 when his birth was recorded at the St Columb register office (Ref. 5c 86) during the second quarter of that year. He was the eldest son of Robert Davey Collett and his first wife Elizabeth Ann Hancock, and was born approximately nine months after their wedding day. By the time of the census in 1891 he and his parents were residing at St Breock near Wadebridge, when Stanley Warne Collett was one year old, but nearing his second birthday. His father’s occupation as a police constable meant the family travelled around mid-Cornwall, with Stanley’s two younger siblings born at St Ween and St Blazey respectively. By 1901 the family was complete with Stanley being 11 years of age and living at Molesworth Street in Wadebridge with his parents, and siblings John and Gwendoline (below). It was early in 1904 that his mother died, and a year later his father re-married

On 6^th February 1905, at the age of 15, Stanley Warne Collett entered employment with the Great Western Railway and was assigned a position at St Blazey Station, midway between St Austell and Lostwithiel. In April 1911 Stanley Warne Collett from Wadebridge was 21 and employed as a stationary engineman who was still living in the St Austell Urban home of his father and his stepmother Jemima. It seems Stanley lived most of his life in the St Austell area, since it was there that the death of Stanley W Collett was registered during the second quarter of 1959 (Ref. 7a 152) at the age of 69

John Percy Collett [21R33] was born at St Wenn on 12^th April 1892 and was eight years old when he was living with his parents on Molesworth Street in Wadebridge in 1901. The birth of John Percy Collett was recorded at the St Columb register office (Ref. 5c 76) during the second quarter on 1892. John’s mother Elizabeth died in 1904 and in 1905 his father Robert Davey Collett was re-married. By April 1911 John Percy Collett from St Wenn was 19 and working as a cooper, when he and his family were living within the St Austell Urban district of south Cornwall. It was twelve years after that when John Percy Collett married Lillian Violet Holberton, the event recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 220) during the third quarter of 1923. Once married the couple continued to live in St Austell

When John was 32, Lillian presented him with a son whom he named after his father. Although not known at this time, it is very likely that John and Lillian had other children besides just the one known son. Sadly, for John and Lillian their son Robert joined the army during the Second World War and he was killed in action in 1944 when he was just twenty years of age. As his next of kin, John and Lillian were recorded as being of St Austell at the time of the death of their son

Later in his life, John Percy Collett was known by the family simply as Percy. And it was just after the Second World War that, as Percy Collett, he was visited by his cousin Henry Collett (below) who was on a visit to England from Canada, to where his family had emigrated in 1912. In 1967, John Percy Collett was living at 25 Bridge Road in St Austell, while it was eight years later that the death of John Percy Collett was recorded at St Austell register office (Vol. 21 0463) during the third quarter of 1975 when he was 83

21S28 – Robert George Collett was born in 1924 at St Austell

Gwendoline May Collett [21R34] was born in 1897 at St Blazey, to the north of St Austell, her birth recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 92) during the second quarter of the year. It was at St Blazey, later that year, that she was baptised on 1^st August 1897, when she confirmed as the daughter of Robert Davey Collett and his first wife Elizabeth Ann Collett. Not long after she was born her father’s work as a policeman resulted in the family returning to Wadebridge where in 1901, they were living at Molesworth Street where Gwendoline May was three years old. Three years later her mother died at the age of 45, after which her father married for a second time, when the family returned to the south coast of Cornwall. That move was confirmed in the census of 1911 with the family residing at St Austell Urban, where Gwendoline from St Blazey was 13

William Henry Collett [21R37] was born at Veryan on 24^th March 1889, the first of three children born to Edward Charles Collett and Anne Williams John. Not long after he was born his parents moved the seven miles north to Ladock. Sadly, it was there, during the birth of his twin brothers in 1890 that his mother died. With his father being unable to cope with his tragic loss, William was placed in the care of his widowed grandmother Grace Collett nee Jewell, while the twins Edward and James (below) were separated and placed with two of their late mother’s brother’s families

It was with his grandmother Grace Collett that William was living at the time of the Truro & St Just census of 1891, when he recorded as William H Collett of Veryan aged two years. At that same time, William’s father was living and working at Stoke Damerel in Devonport, where he remarried. He then brought his new wife back to the village of Kea where he was born, and it was only then that Edward admitted to his bride that he already had a son from a previous marriage, which he had omitted to tell her beforehand, and about which she never forgave him. It is not clear whether Edward also admitted to having had twin sons who had been taken into the care of his late wife’s family. By the time of the census in 1901, William was 12 years old and was still living with his father and his stepmother, together with the first four of their ultimate six children. It was at the end of April in 1908 that William’s father sailed to Canada, leaving the family living in Devonport and awaiting the call to join him there

According to the census in April 1911, William’s family was still living in the Devonport area, whereas William Henry Collett, aged 22 and a gardener, was living at 8 Corporation Road in Devonport, the home of his future parents-in-law, Thomas Henry Watson and his wife Ellen. It was just over five months later that William married their daughter Bella Ann Watson on 9^th September 1911, the marriage being registered at Devonport. By that time William was no longer a simple gardener, but was a stoker in the service of the Royal Navy. The marriage certificate also gave his address as 8 Corporation Road in Peverell district of Plymouth, which was also the address given by Bella who said she was 20 years of age instead of her actual age of 18

Five months earlier Bella Watson, aged 18 and from Brealston (a misinterpretation of Brere Alston), was recorded as working as a servant away from her own family, but still within the Devonport area. Ten years before that she was living with her family at Brere Ferrers on the west bank of the River Tavy, just five miles north of Plymouth. Bella A Watson was seven years old and her place of birth on that occasion was given as Brere Ferrers, although the birth was registered at Tavistock in 1893

So, from this it seems likely that the love story of William and Bella developed in the following way. Employee, the younger gardener, falls in love with his boss’ eldest daughter. Father sends his daughter away to work with another family in another part of the town and out of temptation’s way. Young love persists, but Dad only gives his permission for the gardener to marry his daughter provided that his prospective son-in-law secures himself a decent job. As a result, the young gardener commits himself to the Royal Navy for the next twelve years

It is established from his naval records that William Henry Collett first entered the Royal Naval on 12^th March 1907, although the actual start date for his continuous twelve years of service did not happen until 27^th July 1911, less than two months before he married Bella Watson. His initial basic training was carried out on the land-based barracks of HMS Vivid I and HMS Vivid 2 at Devonport. Later he was attached to the armoured cruiser HMS Cornwall and after that he was assigned to HMS Active. The same naval record stated that prior to his entry into the service in July 1911, he had been working as a gardener’s assistant, that he was 5 feet 6¾ inches tall, with dark brown hair and brown eyes, having a fair complexion and a small scar over his right eye. For his first five months service he held the rank of stoker class II, after which he was promoted to stoker first class

It is understood within the family that during his time in the navy, he was flogged with a cat-of-nine-tails for insubordination and that the injuries he sustained resulted in blood poisoning, from which he later died. Whilst there is no apparent mention of this in his naval record, it does state that he was discharged from the service on 5^th February 1914, suffering with tuberculosis, and that he received a pension eleven days later, on 16^th February. The death of William Collett was registered at Tavistock in Devon during the second quarter of 1917

This family photograph of William shows him wearing his naval uniform. However, the name on the cap is misleading, since it is established from his naval records that he could not have been attached to the cruiser HMS Ringarooma named on the cap band. She was a Pearl-class cruiser and was launched in Glasgow at the end of 1889 – the year William was born. In April 1890 the vessel was renamed Ringarooma and became part of the Auxiliary Squadron of the Australian Station, arriving in Sydney in September 1891. It was in 1904 that the HMS Ringarooma returned to British waters, and two years later it was sold for scrap to a ship breaker in Scotland. That happened one year before William joined the Royal Navy

Thanks to Sue Collett [21T25] the following family story can now be told, which seems to clear up this anomaly. “In the photograph above William is wearing a naval uniform with a hat band marked HMS Ringarooma. William did not serve on this vessel, which was sold for scrap in 1906. However, in the 1891 census William's father Edward Charles Collett was working as a general servant and gardener at Oatlands, near Stoke Damerel in Devon. The owner of that property was John E Scott, the father of Robert Falcon Scott, Scott of the Antarctic. On 21^st December 1901 Scott sailed for the Antarctic from New Zealand onboard The Discovery, escorted by The Ringarooma and The Lizard. How the hat came into the possession of William is not known, perhaps via his father as a gift from the Scott family”

It is also interesting that not far from where Sue and her late husband Terry lived in Tasmania, is the village of Ringarooma, less than forty miles to the north-east of Launceston. And this is the road sign as you enter the village. Why a ship built and launched in Scotland carried the name of a Tasmanian village has still to be determined

It is known that the marriage of William Collett and Bella Watson produced two children, and possibly even three children, before William’s untimely death, a couple of months after the birth of the couple’s last child. Sadly, for the couple, their first child died within five months of being born. Following their loss, it is possible that Bella was already pregnant with William’s second son at the time of the death of their first child, since one internet record, so far unconfirmed, relates to the birth of a child with the same name, who was born during the second quarter of 1915

The first child was William W T Collett whose birth was recorded at Tavistock register office (Ref. 5b 638) during the third quarter of 1914, when the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Watson. The death of the same child was also recorded at Tavistock (Ref. 5b 466) during the final quarter of that same year. The second and unconfirmed birth of William W T Collett, mentioned on ancestry.com, took place between April and June in 1915

21S29 – William W T Collett was born in 1914 at Tavistock, Devon

21S30 – Edward Charles Collett was born in 1917 at Tavistock, Devon

Edward Charles Collett [21R38] was one half of a set of twins born to Edward Charles Collett and his first wife Ann Williams Johns after they had arrived at Ladock from Veryan. The twins’ birth was registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 130) during the second quarter of 1890. Edward and twin James (below) were born at Ladock on 25^th May 1890, although sadly their mother did not survive the ordeal and was buried later that same week. It was on 5^th June 1890 that the twins were baptised at the Church of St Symphorian in Veryan, where presumably their mother was buried, since that was where she had been born and baptised. Following her death, the twins and their older brother William (above) were all cared for separately by different members of the extended family. For Edward that meant going to Portloe, near Veryan, to live with his uncle, and his late mother’s brother, James Caddy Johns

By the time of the census on 5^th April 1891, Edward was confirmed as living at the Portloe, near Veryan, home of his uncle James Caddy Johns. The census return recorded the household as James C Johns, aged 42 who was a fisherman, his wife Phoebe Johns who was also 42, their sons Edward Johns 11 and Thomas Johns who was six, together with nephew Edward C Collett who was only ten months old

Edward was still living there in 1901, at the age of 10, and again in 1911. On that occasion the family was listed as James Caddy Johns and Phoebe Johns, both 62, Thomas Johns, aged 26, and Edward Collett who was 20. So far, all that is known about Edward is that he married Sarah Stansfield during 1928, the marriage being registered at Truro during the second quarter of that year. It is not known if the marriage produced any children for the couple, but it is established that Sarah Collett nee Stansfield, died in 1965, while Edward Charles Collett is believed to have died during 1970

James Arthur Collett [21R39] was born at Ladock on 25^th May 1890, when his birth was registered at Truro (Ref. 5c 130), and was baptised at Veryan on 5^th June 1890 in a joint ceremony with his twin brother Edward (above). They were the sons of Edward Charles Collett, a labourer of Ladock, and his wife Ann Williams Johns who tragically died during the birth. After the death of his mother James was separated from his two brothers William and Edward, when he went to live with his uncle, Arthur Caddy Johns, one of the brothers of his late mother, at Portloe near Veryan, and it was there that James was living in 1891, and again in 1901. On the latter occasion James Collett, aged 10 years, was confirmed as living with the family of Arthur Johns at Portloe near Veryan where Arthur he was a general labourer. After a further ten years James was still living at Portloe with the Johns family. Arthur Caddy Johns was 50, his wife Elizabeth was 45, and living there with them were their four children, Henry Johns aged 24, Lilian Johns who was 19, Clarence Johns who was 13, and Ernestine John who was seven, plus James Collett from Ladock who was 20

Three years later James Arthur Collett emigrated to Australia, when he sailed from England on the Orient Line ship ‘Osterley’ on 7^th May 1914, bound for Fremantle. He was joined there in 1916 by Frances Mary Ebbett, the daughter of coastguard Thomas Ebbett and his wife Grace Matthews whom he had met when her father was stationed at Portloe. Frances Ebbett was only 10 years old when her mother died in 1899 when the family was living at Coastguard Cottage number 4 at Chideock in Dorset. James and Frances were married on 7^th June 1916 and took up residence at Manjimup, midway between Bunbury and Albany in Western Australia. Their marriage produced two children for James and Frances, James who was born during 1917, and Hazel who was born two years later. James Arthur Collett died in 1962, while his wife Frances Mary Collett, nee Ebbett, had already passed away three years earlier during 1959

21S31 – James Frederick Collett was born in 1917 at Manjimup, Western Australia

21S32 – Hazel Jean Collett was born in 1919 at Manjimup, Western Australia

Henry Lake Collett [21R40], who was known as Harry, was born at 61 Palmerston Street, Millbridge, Plymouth on 9^th February 1893, the eldest of the ten children of Edward Charles Collett of Kea and his second wife Ann Bowden Gribble of Devonport. His birth was recorded at Stoke Damerel register office (Ref. 5b 341) during the first quarter of the year, and was baptised at Stoke Damerel Parish Church on 26^th October 1893, when his father was a coachman living at 61 Palmerston Street. By the time of the census in 1901, Henry and his family were still living in the Plymouth area, where Henry L Collett was eight years old. The photograph of Harry was taken on 12^th September 1938 at Sardis in British Columbia, alongside his mother Ann who passed away exactly three months later

Nine years later, on 19^th April 1910, Henry volunteered to serve in the Royal Navy, but on his application form he gave his date of birth as 1892, rather than 1893, to ensure that he was accepted. However, he was discharged from the navy during March in the following year, when he returned to live with his family in Plymouth. The reason for his leaving the navy so shortly after joining, was that he discovered that he suffered from excessive sea sickness. The Plymouth census on 2^nd April 1911 confirmed that ‘Harry Collett’, aged 18, was living at 21 Corporation Road with his family when, as a member of the Royal Navy, he was a cook’s mate working for an officer. By that time though, his father and sister Beatrice were absence from the family group, his father having already sailed to Canada to seek a new life for the family, while Beatrice had gone to stay with an uncle in New York State in the USA

Less than three weeks later Henry Lake Collett sailed from England on 20^th April 1911, when he emigrated to Canada to be reunited with his father. He sailed out of Liverpool on the White Star Line ship the SS Montrose, which arrived at Quebec on 2^nd May 1911. The Canadian immigration form placed him as #10 on the passenger list, with just seven dollars in his pocket. The Canadian Census in June 1911 described Edward Collett and his son Henry Collett as lodgers at a house in District 1, Sub-District 62, in Calgary, Alberta

It was during 1914 that Henry’s mother Annie, together with Henry’s sisters Ann and Winnie and brother Alfred sailed from Liverpool to start a new life with her husband and her eldest son Henry in Calgary. According to the census of 1916, Henry was recorded as ‘Harry Collett’ aged 23, and by that time he was still living in the West Calgary family home with his parents and the rest of his family, but again without his sister Beatrice who had been married for three years by that time and was living in America

It was probably around that time in their lives that Henry, in co-operation with his brother Alfred, added the “e” to the end of the Collett name. That was done either to improve their employment opportunities with employers having a French background or simply because they preferred the more elegant sound of the name with the terminal “e”. The only member of Henry’s family not to continue to use the Collette spelling of the name, was his eldest son Robert, who lived his life as Robert Collett

It was also at Calgary during 1916 that Henry Collett married (1) Elizabeth Peach. Elizabeth was born at Nottingham in England on 29^th August 1889, the daughter of lace-maker Edwin Peach and from Lenton, and his wife Hannah from Greasley. In the census of 1901 Elizabeth Peach, aged 12, and her brother Edwin, aged 25, were living in Nottingham with their parents, aged 52 and 48 respectively. It was also during 1911, that Elizabeth sailed to Canada to join her married sister Mrs Fred Brooks, at Grassy Lake in Alberta. From there she later moved to Calgary where she first met Henry Collett

The marriage of Henry and Elizabeth resulted in the birth of eight children at Calgary between 1917 and Elizabeth’s untimely death on 3^rd June 1930. She died from the result of a long-term illness that had afflicted her since the birth of the couple’s last child over six months prior to her passing. Following the death of his first wife, Henry made some changes to his family. Firstly, his son Robert, who loved farming, went to live with his grandparents on their farm in Rosedale in British Columbia, while Henry’s daughter Lorraine went to Vancouver in British Columbia, where her aunt Anne Bowden Way nee Collett, and her uncle Jack Way raised her. When that happened, Henry employed several temporary housekeepers to help look after the remaining six children

The last of the temporary housekeepers was Eleanor Mary Mackee, who was a recent immigrant from Birmingham in England. She became very attached to the children, and they to her, whom they treated as their own mother. It was therefore from that early relationship that Henry Collett eventually married (2) Eleanor Mary Mackee, the wedding taking place during 1931. That marriage produced a further four children for Henry, including initially a set of twins, which were followed by another two sons, the first of which sadly did not survive beyond a few months

Eleanor Mary Mackee, who was known as Nellie, was born on 9^th December 1901 at Birmingham in England, the first daughter of William T Mackee (born London 1876) and Florence Deborah Antill (born Battersea, London 1875). She lived in the Birmingham area until around 1930. Times were difficult and she and two other women signed up for an opportunity to secure job training in Alberta, Canada. Her two companions backed out of the trip at the last minute, so Eleanor proceeded by herself on the long trip to the Agricultural School at Olds in Alberta. Following the training she sought employment in the Calgary area and, after having several jobs on different farms, she accepted the job as housekeeper for recent widower, Henry Lake Collette in Calgary. In that job she took over the care of Henry’s six children ranging in age from two years old Ronnie to 13 years old Grace. Sometime after she arrived, Henry was placed in a sanatorium to treat tuberculosis, so Nellie also cared for him on his return home

Henry Lake Collett was a member of the Crescent Masonic Lodge in Calgary for sixty years. In 1949 he and Eleanor joined the Unity Chapter of the Eastern Star, where he served as Patron on many occasions, including 1972 when Eleanor served as Grand Matron. He was also significantly involved in church affairs. At an earlier time, in the 1920s, he was a lay preacher in the Anglican (Episcopal) Church and served as Superintendent of the St. Michael’s and All Angels Sunday School. In the 1930s he and Eleanor became interested in spiritualism, and he was a member of the Calgary Spiritualist Church for forty-four years, and was ordained as a minister in 1954

Henry Lake Collett died at Calgary in Alberta on 11^th May 1978, some days after suffering serious burns in a house fire, while his wife Nellie survived him by just over twenty-two years. Nellie loved to travel and made many trips to visit her family and friends in England and Australia, and to see her children in Canada and the United States. It was on Christmas Day in 2000 that she died at the age of 99

21S33 – Robert David Collett was born in 1917 at Calgary, Alberta

21S34 – Grace Doreen Collett was born in 1918 at Calgary, Alberta

21S35 – Winifred Louise Collett was born in 1921 at Calgary, Alberta

21S36 – Vince Henry Collett was born in 1922 at Calgary, Alberta

21S37 – Alan Ross Collett was born in 1925 at Calgary, Alberta

21S38 – Lorraine Ruth Collett was born in 1926 at Calgary, Alberta

21S39 – Victoria Elizabeth Collett was born in 1928 at Calgary, Alberta

21S40 – Ronald James Collett was born in 1929 at Calgary, Alberta

The four children of Henry Lake Collett from his second marriage to Eleanor Mary Mackee were:

21S41 – Patrick George Collett was born in 1933 at Calgary, Alberta

21S42 – John Wilfred Collett was born in 1933 at Calgary, Alberta

21S43 – Frederick Collett was born in 1938 at Calgary, Alberta

21S44 – Terrance Robert Collett was born in 1943 at Calgary, Alberta

Beatrice Annie Collett [21R41] was born at 61 Palmerston Street, Millbridge, Plymouth on 8^th April 1894, the second child and eldest daughter of Edward Charles Collett and Ann Bowden Gribble. Her birth was recorded at Stoke Damerel register office (Ref. 5b 301) during the second quarter of that year, and was baptised at the Stoke Damerel Parish Church on 15 July 1894, when her parents Edward Collett, a coachman, and Annie Bowden, were living at 61 Palmerston Street within the Millbridge district of Plymouth. She was seven years old in the census of 1901, when she was living in Plymouth with her family. She was a favourite of her mother’s family and it was in 1910 that she emigrated to the United States to live with them

Beatrice sailed into New York Harbour on the White Star Line ship the SS Adriatic on 19^th August 1910, having set out from Southampton on 10^th August 1910, with her entry into America was recorded on Ellis Island. The ship’s manifest described Beatrice Collett as a domestic who was 18 years of age (sic) and from Plymouth, when he home address was confirmed as 21 Corporation Road, whose onward address was Churchville in New York State. It was originally believed that she went to live with her Uncle Harry Gribble and his family at Rochester in New York State, but more recent information indicates that it was to Churchville in New York State that she moved, where she was a servant at the home of another uncle, Harry Widger. And it was while she was living there that she met and married Cline Thurston in 1913, following which the couple settled in Rochester

In the British Census of 1911, it was just Beatrice’s mother Annie Collett and her five siblings who were living at 21 Corporation Road. By that time her father Edward had already sailed to Canada to establish a new life at Calgary for the family. Later that same year, in May 1911, Beatrice’s older brother Henry Lake Collett (above) joined his father in Canada, and three years after that the rest of Beatrice’s family sailed to Canada in 1914 to be reunited with Edward and his son Henry

Beatrice was known as Beatty, and Aunt Beatty, and from her marriage to Cline she had two daughters at Rochester, the eldest being Dora Thurston who was married twice. At the time of her second marriage, she became Dora Ledermann, and that produced two daughters, Nelma Ledermann, and Diane Ledermann. Prior to the birth of their second child, the United States Census in 1920, recorded the family living at Monroe in New York State, when Beatrice Thurston was 25, her husband Cline Thurston was 27, and their daughter Dora Thurston was six years old. Beatrice and Cline’s second daughter was Nelma Thurston and, following the later death of her husband, Beatrice moved to a retirement community in St. Petersburg in Florida to be near her daughter Nelma and her son-in-law Gus. And it was there that she died in 1980

Alfred George Collett [21R42] was possibly born at 61 Palmerston Street, Millbridge in 1895, the son of Edward and Annie Collett. Unlike all his younger siblings, who were born within the Plymouth area of Devon, the birth of Alfred George Collett, like that of his two older siblings, was recorded at Stoke Damerel register office (Ref. 5b 316) during the third quarter of 1895. He only survived for a few months, when his death was also recorded at Stoke Damerel during the last quarter of that same year (Ref. 5b 206)

George Edward Collett [21R43] was born at Mount View Cottage in Hartley, to the north of Plymouth town centre, on 15^th October 1896, the son of Edward Charles Collett and Ann Bowden Gribble. His birth was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 5b 132) and he was baptised on 25^th February 1898 at Holy Trinity Church, when his father’s occupation was that of a coachman. He was four years old in the census of 1901, and was 14 and still at school, when living at 21 Corporation Road with his mother in 1911. By that time his father had sailed to Calgary in Canada, ahead of the rest of the family joining him there in 1914, and by which time his sister Beatrice was already living in America

It was on 8^th January 1913 that George sailed from Bristol on the passenger ship ‘HMT Royal Edward’ bound for Halifax in Nova Scotia. The Royal Edward was notable for being the first troopship to be torpedoed during the First World War, when it was sunk on 13^th August 1915 in the Aegean Sea, with the loss of 935 lives. Following the outbreak of war back in England, George enlisted with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. That took place at Calgary on 13^th May 1915 when he was 18 years old, although his army record indicate that he gave his date of birth as 16^th October 1889. The other details show that he was born at Plymouth, that his father was Edward Charles Collett, and that he was a postman living at 2226-32 Street West in Calgary. It was possibly during his military career that George added the last E to his surname

Private George Edward Collette served as a machine-gunner with the 56^th Battalion of the COEF, when his army service number was A446884. As a machine-gunner he served on the frontline where he was seriously wounded and gassed during the trench-warfare, causing the loss of a lung and dreadful facial injuries which needed facial reconstruction surgery after the war. Once removed from the frontline action, George returned to Canada on board the ship ‘Olympic’ The ship sailed out of Southampton on 7^th December 1918 and arrived in Canada one week later, on 14^th December 1918. On the passenger list George Collett was shown as returning to Canada as there was no suitable employment for him in England. His home address was simply Calgary, and his mother was named as his next-of-kin

Despite his terrible injuries, George was placed in the Reserve Unit of Gamead on his return to Calgary. However, with just one lung, it was later realised that George could not tolerate the damp atmosphere of the Canadian west-coast or the extreme cold of the prairie winters, so he ended up living most of his life in Kamloops in British Columbia where the dry climate was more suitable for his health and wellbeing. It was on 10^th November 1928 that George Edward Collette married (1) Catherine (Cathy) Philp Davidson at Delburne in Alberta. Catherine was the daughter of James Philp Davidson and Helen Hume Crocket, both born in Scotland. The marriage did not endure and eventually George and Cathy were divorced

Twenty-three years after his first marriage George married (2) Sarah Melvina MacNaughton, nee Irvine, at Kamloops on 2^nd August 1952 when she confirmed was a divorcee, whereas George said he was a bachelor. Sarah, who was known as Mac, was born on 2^nd March 1909 and was living with her parents Edward Irvine, born Scotland, and Annabella Demeau, born Gaspe in Quebec at Matapelia in British Columbia at the time of the census in 1911

Sarah was a nurse’s aide and cared for and looked after George, both of whom were recorded together in the electoral roll for Kamloops in 1953. She continued to look after George at Kamloops right up until his death there on 2^nd February 1988 at the age of 91, his military marker stone is shown above. It was just over two years after the passing of her husband that Sarah died on 29^th September 1990, following which she was buried next to George at Hillside Cemetery in Kamloops (Section W, Row 48, Lot 29, and Sub-Lot E), when her name was recorded in the cemetery register as Sarah Melvina Collette, there being no headstone to mark her grave. The same record gives her place and date of birth as being at Mann Settlement in the Province of Quebec during 1909

Ann Bowden Collett [21R44] was born at Mount View Cottage in Hartley, Plymouth on 30^th December 1897, the daughter of Edward Charles Collett and Ann Bowden Gribble, her birth recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 5b 253) during the first three months of 1898. She was also baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 25^th February 1898 in a joint ceremony with her older brother George (above), At the time of the census in 1901 Annie B Collett was three years old when she was still living with her family at Mount View Cottage. Ten years later the family was living at 21 Corporation Road, although by then her father had made the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to Canada in preparation for the family’s subsequent move there. In the census of 1911, Annie Collett was 13 and still at school when she was living with her mother and four of her five siblings

Annie and the rest of her family sailed out of Liverpool on 2^nd May 1914 on board the SS Canada, to be reunited with her father and her older brother Harry. The ship’s passenger listed included her as A B Collett, and described her as a servant. Ann was not living with her family at the time of the census in 1916, but it was there in Canada during 1919 that Annie Bowden Collett married Jack Way with whom she had a son Francis Edward Way who was born in 1921 at Vancouver, where he died in 1988

Later, Annie was also stepmother to Lorraine Ruth Collette, the daughter of her brother Henry Lake Collett, whose (first) wife had died in 1930 leaving the girl’s father unable to look after his eight children without help from his family. Lorraine was later adopted by Annie and Jack to become Lorraine Ruth Way, who later went on to marry Melvin (Mel) R Bergman who was born on 30^th January 1917 and who died at Chilliwack on 17^th February 2013. Ann Bowden Way nee Collett died at Vancouver, British Columbia in 1974, the cause of death being congestive heart failure following a bout of shingles. Her husband Jack Way had already died by then, having passed away in 1962

Elsie May Collett [21R45] was born on 6^th July 1899 at Mount View Cottage within the Hartley district of Plymouth, her birth recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 5b 215) during the third quarter of 1899, the daughter of Edward and Annie Collett. Curiously, when she was baptised at Holy Trinity Church in Plymouth on 3^rd October 1899 her father was named as Edwin (sic) Charles Collett, a coachman, and his wife Ann Bowden, of Hartley. Sadly, she was only eleven months old when her death was recorded at Plymouth (Ref. 5b 129) during the third quarter of 1900, with her being buried within the grounds of St Pancras Church in Pennycross on 4^th July 1900, at a time when her family was living at Mount View Cottage in Hartley

Winifred Louisa Collett [21R46] was born at Mount View Cottage, Hartley, Plymouth on 10^th July 1902, the daughter of Edward Charles Collett and Ann Bowden Gribble, her birth recorded there (Ref. 5b 209) during the third quarter of that year. Winifred was nearly three months old was she was baptised at St Pancras Church in Pennycross on 5^th October 1902, with the family still living at Mount View Cottage in Hartley. She was recorded in the census of 1911 as ‘Winnie Collett’ aged eight years and, at that time she, was living with her mother and her four of her siblings, since her father was in Canada and her sister Beatrice (above) was in America

Three years later in 1914, Winifred she sailed from Liverpool to Canada with her mother and the rest of the family, where they were reunited with her father and brother Henry (above). The passenger list of the SS Canada described Winifred Collett aged eleven, as travelling to Calgary in Alberta where her father had been living for the past six years. Winifred Collett married Edward Anstey in the 1920s with whom she had two children, Edna Anstey and Edward Anstey. The children were only a few years old when, tragically, Winnie died in 1929 from tuberculosis. That is believed to have happened at Calgary in Alberta, where her two children were born

Alfred John Collett [21R47] was born at 21 Corporation Road within the Plymouth parish of Pennycross on 9^th September 1904, the youngest surviving son of Edward Charles Collett and Ann Bowden Gribble. His birth was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 5b 296) and it was at St Pancras Church in Pennycross where he was baptised on 6^th November 1904 when his family’s home address was 21 Corporation Road and his father was still working as a domestic coachman. In 1911 he was six years old when living at 21 Corporation Road with his mother and four siblings. Three years after that Alfred, aged nine years, and his family left Liverpool bound for Canada aboard the SS Canada, where they were reunited with his father and brother Henry (above) who had gone out there six years earlier to pave the way for the family to settle there. Alfred was incorrectly recorded as being ten years old in the Canadian census of 1916, when he and his family were living in West Calgary. The photograph of him was taken at family’s farm at Delburne in Alberta

Alfred attended cadet school in 1917, while it is understood that sometime later, perhaps around 1918 to 1920, he and his brother Henry added an E to the end of their surname to make it look more stylish, and to improve their chances of getting a job with a garage owner who liked French people. In the end they were not offered employment on that occasion, but decided to keep the name all the same, which was then passed onto their children

It was on 28^th December 1926 at the Church of the Nazarene in Delburne, Alberta that Alfred John Collette married Muriel Doris Stoness, Muriel having been born on 13^th October 1905 in Ontario. The marriage certificate confirmed the following details. That Alfred was 22 and a bachelor from Rosedale in British Columbia, who had been born in Plymouth, England, a farmer and the son of Edward Charles Collette and Ann Bowden Grobble. While Muriel, a spinster of 21 and a nurse from Delburne, had been born at Perth Road in Ontario, the daughter of William Thomas Stoness and Nellie Clough. The witnesses at the ceremony were George Collette of Delburne and Gladys Stoness, also of Delburne. After they were married, the couple initially settled in the Sardis district of Chilliwack where their first son was born, before moving to New Westminster in British Columbia, where their second son was born

It was while Alfred John Collette was living at Calgary that he died on 28^th January 1956, the cause of death being an arteriosclerosis of the heart. His death certificate confirmed that he died at home at 1317, 19^th Avenue, North West, Calgary at the age of 51 years 4 months 19 days, that his occupation was that of a postal clerk, and that the informant was D A W Collette of 11560, 80^th Avenue, Edmonton in Alberta. Alfred John Collette was buried at Queen’s Park Cemetery where a simple stone marks his grave. His widow survived him by over thirty-three years, when Muriel Collette died at Red Deer, Alberta on 7^th November 1989. During his life Alfred had been a heavy smoker and had started the habit when he was just twelve years of age. That had an adverse effect on his life, linked to which, his family believed that he died relatively young at 52 because of the hard work that his father had forced him to do

The children of Alfred John Collette and Muriel Doris Stoness were

21S45 – Donald Alfred William Collette was born in 1931 at Sardis in Chilliwack

21S46 – Neil Frederick Collette was born in 1939 at New Westminster, British Columbia

Christopher Thomas Collett [21R48] was born at 21 Corporation Road, Pennycross, Plymouth in 1905, the youngest son of Edward and Annie Collett. His birth was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 5b 243) during the third quarter of that year, as was his death (Ref. 5b 157)

Florence Eveline Collett [21R49] was born at 21 Corporation Road, Pennycross, Plymouth in 1907; and was the tenth and last child born to Edward Charles Collett and his second wife Annie Bowden Gribble. She was just two years of age, when the death of Florence Eveline Collett was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 5b 213) during the first quarter of 1909

James Roy Collett [21R50] was born at Camelford on 3^rd April 1902, the eldest of the five children of James Henry Collett and Elizabeth Jane Buse, his birth recorded at Camelford register office (Ref. 5c 11) during the second quarter of 1902. As James R Collett from Camelford, he was nine years of age in the census of 1911, by which time he and his family were living in Tintagel. During his life, he was twice married, the first time to (1) Elizabeth R Bennett which was recorded at Camelford register office (Ref. 5c 31) during the last three months of 1925. It was nearly ten years after that when he married (2) Alberta K Pethick, that event also recorded at Camelford register office (Ref. 5c 21) during the third quarter of 1935. It is not yet known whether either of those marriages produced any offspring for James, but it is known that James Roy Collett was 72 when he died in March 1975, his passing recorded at Camelford register office (Vol. 21 0190)

Kathleen Collett [21R51] was born at Camelford in 1904, her birth recorded at Camelford register office (Ref. 5c 9) during the second quarter of 1904. Not long after she was born her family settled in Tintagel, where Kathleen was seven years old in the Tintagel census of 1911

Richard Collett [21R52] was born at Tintagel on 2^nd April 1906 and was five years old in 1911 in the Tintagel census that year. His birth, like all his siblings, was recorded at Camelford register office (Ref. 5c 9) and it was at Bodmin register office (Vol. 21 0010) that Richard Collett married Kathleen Martin during the first quarter of 1976. That may have been his second marriage, while it was when he was living at Bodmin that he died in 1994, at the age of 88

Angelina Collett [21R53] was born at Tintagel in 1908 and her birth was recorded at Camelford register office (Ref. 5c 9) during the second quarter of that year. In the Tintagel census of 1911, she was two years of age while, later in her life she was referred to as Lena (Lina). Tragically, she was only 24 when she died, following with she was buried in the graveyard at St Menefreda Church in St Minver Highlands. The same grave was also used many years later for the burial of her parents, where a single headstone marks the plot

Francis Thomas Collett [21R54] was born at Tintagel during the first three months of 1910, his birth recorded at Camelford register office (Ref. 5c 7). He was the youngest known child of policeman James Thomas Collett and Elizabeth Jane Buse, and was one year old in the Tintagel census of 1911. He was later known as Frank and it was as Frank T Collett married Margaret Mary Flynn, as recorded at Birmingham register office (Ref. 6d 112) during the second quarter of 1932. Their only known child was born four years later. Thirty-one years after that, the death of Frank T Collett was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 7a 239) during the last quarter of 1968 when he was reported as being 57. Margaret Mary Collett died on 10^th January 1987, aged 75, at St Illogan in Cornwall, where curiously Frank Thomas Collett died on 8^th December 1966 when he was 57. The stated age of her husband seems to suggest that one of the years, 1966 or 1968, is an error

21S47 – Ian J Collett was born in 1937 at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

Richard Grenville Collett [21R61], who was always known as Gren, was born at St Just-in-Roseland on 22^nd February 1912, the eldest of the two sons of Richard Collett and Martha Collins. His birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 198), with Collins confirmed as his mother’s maiden-name. Richard studied at Exeter University before joining the Royal Air Force and serving in India during the Second World War. In 1944 he was photographed at Bangalore Race Course, as the goalkeeper for the army team. On his return to England, he married Dora Hinge, who was known as Betty, who came from Sussex and was born on 8^th January 1916, and with whom he had two children. Richard was also a Principal Medical Officer with Her Majesty’s Prison Service who, on moving away from St Just, after the birth of their first child, lived at various locations in England, including the Wakefield area of West Yorkshire, where the couple’s second child was born. His last career position was with the Ministry of Defence at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire. Like his brother Percy (below), Richard Grenville Collett was still living at Marlow in Buckinghamshire, when he passed away on 12^th August 1990 at the age of 78. His death was recorded at Buckinghamshire register office (Vol. 19 941) and, following his cremation at the Chilterns Crematorium in Amersham, his ashes were taken to Cornwall to be scattered there, as they were for his wife Betty

21S48 – Richard William Collett was born in 1947 at St Just-in-Roseland

21S49 – Rosemary Ann Collett was born in 1953 at Lower Agbrigg, Yorkshire

Douglas Percival Collett [21R62] was born on 20^th June 1919 when his birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 153) when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collins. He was known in the family as Percy and was the younger of the two sons of Richard Collett and Martha Collins. It is possible that he was born at St Just-in-Roseland, where his brother Gren (above) was born. Percy joined the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of war in 1939, and was posted to North Africa and later Ireland. After the war, he studied at Bristol University and became a school teacher in Slough until he retired. He never married and spent his remaining years at Marlow in Buckinghamshire, close to where his brother’s family also lived. When he passed away at Marlow on 22^nd November 1996, at the age of 77, his death was recorded at Buckinghamshire register office (Ref. 3271a a29c), with his ashes returned to the county of his birth, to be scattered there

Hermina Mary Collett [21R64] was born at Bristol on 14^th April 1901 the eldest of the two known daughters of William Henry Collett married Gertrude Katherine (Kate) Bremner or Brenner. However, she was not living with her family in nearby Clifton on the day of the census in 1911, instead at the age of nine years, Hermina Mary Collett from Bristol, was recorded at 109 Stokes Croft in Bristol, the home of her maternal grandmother Emily Louisa Brenner and her aunt Emily Mary Brenner

Grace Collett [21R65] was born at Bristol on 23^rd June 1904, the younger of the two daughters of William and Gertrude Collett. When she was six years old Grace was living with her parents within the Clifton area of Bristol and it was twenty-six years after that when she married Albert Falconer Fry. Their wedding was recorded at Weston-Super-Mare register office (Ref. 5c 955) during the first quarter of 1937. Grace Fry nee Collett was just over one-hundred years of age when she passed away, her death recorded at Cheltenham register office (Ref. C70d 479/1c 66) during November 2004

Leslie Harold Collett [21R66] was born in Victoria, Australia during 1898, and was the eldest child of William Hosking Collett and Hannah White. It is evident that he was married, and that the marriage produced at least one son, since Richard William Collett of Melbourne, who was born in 1962, was his grandson. The only other known fact about Leslie is that he died during November 1956 at the age of 58, and was buried at Fawkner Memorial Park in Coburg Cemetery in Victoria on 19^th November 1956. The grave, plot No. 1142, where he was buried, was also the last resting place of his parents and his sister Myrtle (below)

Myrtle Ivy Collett [21R67] was born in Victoria, Australia in 1900, and was the daughter of William Hosking Collett and Hannah White. She was later married, when she became Myrtle Ivy Curtis, but was tragically the first of her family to die in Victoria in 1934, before both of her parents and her brother Leslie (above). Following her death, possibly in childbirth, Myrtle was buried in Fawkner Memorial Park on 24^th September 1934, at the age of only 34. The same graveyard plot [No. 1142] at the Coburg Cemetery in Victoria was also used to bury her parents and her brother. No details are currently available about her life and her husband

Albert Edward Collett [21R68] was born at Truro, either at the end of 1901 or early in 1902, the only known son of Albert Collett and Elizabeth Rogers, whose birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 125) during the first three months of 1902. It was at Kenwyn that nine-year old Albert Edward Collett from Truro was living with his parents in 1911. He later married Dorothy W Tonkyn, the event recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 241) during the second quarter of 1932. It is likely that they only had one child, the birth of Armorel J Collett recorded at Truro register office (Reg. 5c 124) during the first quarter of 1938, when the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Tonkyn. They were married for forty-six years when the death of Albert E Collett, aged 66, was recorded at Truro (Ref. 7a 213) during the third quarter of 1968. Six years earlier, their daughter married Edward T Carlyon, their wedding recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 7a 526) during the third quarter of 1962

21S50 – Armorel J Collett was born in 1938 at Truro

Francis Thompson Collett [21R69] was born at Stoke Damerel, Devonport, Plymouth, during the first six months of 1905, the eldest of the three children of Francis Henry Collett and Clara Thompson. His birth was recorded at Devonport register office (Ref. 3b 312) during the second quarter of the year. His father was a Royal Navy Seaman and was absent from the family home at 47 Ford Hill in Stoke (Damerel) in 1911, when Francis Collett was six years of age. Tragically, it was also at 47 Ford Hill that he died shortly after that census day, with the death of Francis T Collett aged six years recorded at Devonport register office (Ref. 5b 204) during the second quarter of 1911

Elizabeth Collett [21R70] was born at Stoke Damerel in 1906, her birth recorded at Devonport register office (Ref. 5b 303) during the second quarter of the year, the only daughter of Francis and Clara Collett. It was as Betsy Collett who was five years old, that she was living with her two brothers, and their mother, at 47 Ford Hill in Stoke Damerel, their father having a posting abroad with the Royal Navy

Richard John Collett [21R71] was born at Stoke Damerel on 13^th January 1909, the third child of Francis Henry Collett and Clara Thompson. His birth was recorded at Devonport register office (Ref. 5b 293) during the first quarter of 1909. He was most likely born at 47 Ford Hill in Stoke where, as Richard Collett, he was living with his family in 1911 at the age of two years. It was again as simply Richard Collett that his marriage to Constance M Savage was recorded at Bodmin register office (Ref. 5c 143) during the last quarter of 1934, although no issue has been found. The only additional information currently known about him is through the probate process following the death of his mother in 1965 during which Richard John Collett was described as a storehouse assistant at the HM Dockyard in Plymouth. Twenty-eight years later, the death of Richard John Collett was recorded at Devon register office during 1993

Claude Collett [21R72] was born in 1885 at Genoa, five miles north-west of Brighton in Michigan, the first-born child of Caleb Knight Collett married (1) Alma C Hartman

Gliff Knight Collett [21R73] was born at Brighton in Livingston County, Michigan on 1^st September 1886, the sole surviving child of Caleb Knight Collett from England and Alma C Hartman from Michigan. He later married (1) Beulah Jolly on 3^rd May 1908 and after she died in early 1920 Gliff married (2) Mollie Blanke Pike later that same year on 24^th November 1920. Gliff’s first wife Beulah was buried at the Old Village Cemetery in Brighton, while Gliff was buried at Fairview Cemetery with his parents and other family members, including two of his own children. The third child Jack was buried at the Old Village Cemetery with his mother

21S51 – Vaughn Collett was born in 1910 at Michigan

21S52 – Josephine Collett was born in 1915 at Michigan

21S53 – Jack Collett was born circa 1918 at Michigan

Ralph Collett [21R75] was born at Brighton in Livingston County, Michigan on 8^th September 1898, the last known child of carpenter Caleb Knight Collett and Alma C Hartman who died in 1903. Sadly, Ralph only survived for a few months before he died in the spring of the following year and was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Brighton, where other members of his family were buried

Enid May Collett [21R79] was one half of a set of twins born to Richard Knight Collett and Maud May Nicholls in Carthew in 1909. As the second-born twin, her birth was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 94, 11) immediately after that of her twin-sister Erna Amy Collett (above) during the third quarter of 1909, the twin sister being Erna Amy Collett (below). Both daughters were recorded as being one-year-old in the St Austell census of 1911. The family lived in the house called ‘Carbean’ and it was there tragically that Enid May Collett died at the age of fourteen in 1923. The cause of death was meningitis. The next child born into the family, Maggie (below), was interestingly born at West Goonbarrow, from where a two-mile stretch of railway linked it to Carbean, and was used by the clay works where the girls’ father was employed. In the census of 1911, Maggie and her father Richard were both recorded as born at West Goonbarrow

Erna Amy Collett [21R80] was born at Carthew in 1909, and was the twin-sister of Enid May Collett (below), the two eldest children of Richard and Maud Collett. The birth of Erna Amy Collett was entered in the St Austell register office recorded immediately before that of her twin-sister (Ref. 5c 94, 10) during the third quarter of 1909. By the time of the census in April 1911, one-year-old Erna and her parents were living at the family home ‘Carbean House’ within the St Austell & Roche census registration district, the house only recently completed by her father. Twenty-two years after that census day, Erna Amy Collett married Howard J Rundle in 1933. He was known as Owen, and their marriage produced two children. The first of them was David Richard C Rundle who was born in 1935, and who married Shirley E Higgs in 1960. They had a son James R Rundle in 1962 but, sadly, were later divorced, following which David did not remarry

Erna and Howard’s daughter, Marcia J Rundle was born in 1944. She married Terence Leonard Hodge in 1966, and their son was Matthew Leonard Hodge. He was born in 1973, and in 2008 he married Sarah. Unlike her twin sister Enid, Erna Amy Rundle nee Collett lived a long life and died in 2000 when she was 91. The last twenty years of her life was spent as a widow, since her husband Owen Rundle died during 1980

Maggie Collett [21R81] was born at West Goonbarrow, Roche during January 1911 and, by the time she was three months old, Maggie and her family were living at Carbean House in Roche. She was the third child of Richard and Maud Collett from Carthew, whose birth was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 79) during the first quarter of that year. Carbean House was built by her father and was situated between the villages of Carthew and Stenalees, just a few miles to the north of St Austell. This picture of her was taken at family gathering around 1930. It was about eight years later that she married Thomas Henry Jenkin in 1938, their wedding recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 199) in the summer of that year

During their life together Maggie presented Thomas with a son, Richard Vivian Jenkin who was born after the Second World War in 1948. Maggie Jenkin nee Collett died in 1997. Her son Richard married Patricia R M Rowe in 1969 and the first of their two daughters, Tracey, was born later that same year. Two years later their second daughter, Nicola Jenkin, was born in 1971. It is known that Tracey was married, and that Nicola married Craig Shore around 1992, with whom she has a daughter, Courtney Ria Shore who was born in 1994

Hazel Collett [21R82] was born at Carbean House in 1912, the fourth daughter of Richard Knight Collett of Roche and his wife Maud May Nicholls from Carthew. In the census of 1911, the family was recorded as living at Carbean House within the St Austell & Roche registration district. Eighteen months later, Hazel’s birth was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 156) during the last three months of 1912, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. The photograph of Hazel was taken when she was around eighteen years old and is an extract from the circa 1930 family group photograph

It was during the second quarter of 1935 that Hazel Collett married John Daniel Tuck, who was also born in 1912, their wedding recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 221). Following that day, Hazel gave birth to four children while the couple was still living in Cornwall. The first of them was Edwin John Colin Tuck who was born in 1938. He was known as Colin and he married Vera Geraldine Penno in 1966, and he died in 1993. They had Phillipa Louise Tuck, who was born in 1967, who later married David Gilfillan in 1997, but who were divorced not long after their son Ruaridh Gilfillan was born around 1998. Colin and Geraldine also had Annette Marie Tuck around 1970, who married Louis Parsons in 2000, and their daughter Wenna Colleen Parson was born later that same year. During the following years Annette also gave birth to a son, Charlie Parsons, but was later divorced from Louis Parsons

The second child of Hazel Collett and John Tuck was Kathryn Dawn Tuck who was born in 1943, who died in 2006. She married (1) Ian Wilkinson Jardine in 1964, and they were divorced around ten years later. They had Lindsay Jane who was born in 1965, and she married Simon Peter O'Connell in 1996. Their marriage produced Katie Jane O’Connell in 1991 and Benedict John O’Connell in 1994. Kathryn and Ian also had Helen Jardine in 1967, and Clare Kathryn Jardine in 1970. Clare married Hasan Tigoglu circa 2000 and had twins Alexander Eren and Gabriella Elif in 2001. Well over ten years after she was divorced Kathryn Dawn Jardine nee Tuck (2) married Roy Bonney in 1989, but they divorced. Hazel and John’s third child was Daniel Vivian Tuck who was born in 1949 and sadly died in 1965, when he was only sixteen years old

The couple’s fourth and last child was Andrée Linda Tuck who was born in Cornwall in 1956. Andrée married Trevor Anthony Salisbury in 1976, and they had a daughter Aimee Jane, who was born in 1978. Aimee married Darren Keith Willcock in 2007, and they had Joseph Ruan Willcock who was born in 2009. Andrée and Trevor also had another son, Anthony John Daniel who was born in 1987, and a daughter, Hannah Eve, who was born in 1993. And it is thanks to Andrée Salisbury (pictured) that this line of the Collett family has been opened-up, and now includes such a great deal of interesting information regarding her mother’s family, as well as that of her grandfather and his siblings.

Hazel Tuck nee Collett died in 2007, after spending the previous twenty-one years as a widow, following the passing of her husband John Daniel Tuck in 1986

William Vivian Collett [21R83] was born at Carbean House on 16^th November 1913, with his birth recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 173), his mother’s maiden-name confirmed as Nicholls. It was during the fourth quarter of 1939 that the marriage of William V Collett and Audrey G D Jenkin was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 371), with whom he had a son and two daughters. Coincidentally, the year before William married Audrey, his sister Maggie Collett (above) married Thomas Henry Jenkin, although they were not related in anyway. After the birth of the couple’s first child in Cornwall, the family of three moved to Salisbury in Wiltshire, where the two daughters were born. William Vivian Collett died in 1997, when his death was recorded at the Wiltshire register office

21S54 – Vivian Glen M Collett was born in 1940 at Redruth

21S55 – Kathryn Ann Collett was born in 1942 at Salisbury, Wiltshire

21S56 – Grace Collett was born in 1957 at Salisbury, Wiltshire

Victor Owen Collett [21R84] was born at Carbean House near Carthew on 7^th July 1916, a son of Richard Knight Collett and Maud May Nicholls. His birth was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 141), when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. Victor was around 21 years of age when he most likely married a member of his mother’s family, when the wedding of Victor Owen Collett and Ann Nicholls was conducted at St Austell in 1937. The event was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 239) during the last three months of 1937. Their marriage produced four children for Victor and Ann, two born before the Second World War and two after, most likely indicating that Victor served with the armed forces during the war. Victor Owen Collett was 73 when he died on 28^th September 1989, his passing recorded at the Somerset Mendip register office

21S57 – Victor Vivian Anthony Collett was born in 1938 at St Austell

21S58 – Harriet Patricia Collett was born in 1939 at Redruth

21S59 – Sheila Collett was born in 1944 at Redruth

21S60 – Margaret Ann Collett was born in 1946 at Redruth

Elizabeth Beryl Collett [21R85] was born at Carbean House in 1921, her birth recorded at St Austell (Ref. 5c 170) during the third quarter of the year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. She married Gerald V Rowe in 1940, with the event recorded at St Austell (Ref. 5c 351) during the last quarter of the year. The marriage produced two children for Elizabeth and Gerald. Their first daughter was Alison J Rowe, and she was born in 1946. She married Frederick J Stephens in 1966, with whom she had Donna Stephens in 1968 who married Kevin L Ewings in 1993. They have since been divorced, and Donna is now married to Steven Lobb, and has a daughter Tegen, who was born around 2007

Alison and Fred Stephens also had a son Garry Stephens who was born in 1972. He married Karen A Parsons in 1999, and they had a son Ewan Stephens, who was born in 2009. Elizabeth and Gerald Rowe’s second daughter was Vivienne M Rowe who was born 1950. She married Neil R Macleod in 1973, and they had a daughter Cheryl Louise Macleod who was born in 1981, who married Patrick Ada, and in 2008 their child Khy Ada was born

Cecil Alwyn Collett [21R86] was born at Carbean House on 5^th June 1925, another son of Richard and Maud Collett, whose birth was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 129) during the third quarter of the year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. He married (1) Constance Eva Burley in 1947, with their wedding recorded at St Austell during the summer of that year (Ref. 7a 382), and over the next seven years Constance presented her husband with two daughters, their birth recorded at Redruth when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Burley. Constance Collett nee Burley died in 1979 and, during the following year, Cecil married (2) Constance Daniell, the marriage recorded at St Austell during the third quarter of 1980 (Vol. 21 0529). That second marriage for Cecil endured for a further thirteen years, until Cecil Alwyn Collett died in Cornwall during 1993

21S61 – Molly E Collett was born in 1950 at Redruth

21S62 – Barbara Cheryl Collett was born in 1954 at Redruth

Sydney Austen Collett [21R87] was born at Carbean House during 1927, with his birth recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 130) during the second quarter of the year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. Tragically, he died in 1948 when he was only 21, the death of Sydney A Collett recorded in Cornwall (Ref. 7a 167)

Eva Lillian Collett [21R88] was born at Carbean House in 1928, the youngest of the ten children of Richard Knight Collett of Roche and his wife Maud May Nicholls from Carthew. The birth of Eva L Collett was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 123) during the last three months of the year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. Eva married William John Tonkin around 1953, and presented her husband with three children. The three children were Elizabeth Jill Tonkin who was born in 1955 and who lives with her partner Patrick Sargeant; Sheila Ann Tonkin who was born in 1959, who married Robert W Rowett in 1984 and they have two children, Tegen Beth Rowett born in 1986, and Bronnen Eve Rowett born in 1993; and Karen Eve Tonkin who was born in 1961, who lives with her partner Kevin Tyrone Ackrell and their son Robert Jowan who was born in 1996

William Arthur Collett [21R89] was born at Penryn on 22^nd October 1908, the son of Arthur James Collett and Lillie Hutchings. His birth was recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 125) during the last quarter of the year. In April 1911, he and his family were living in Falmouth when William was two years old. Very little is known about William after 1911, except that he lived a long life and passed away at the age of 73, his death recorded at Kerrier register office in Cornwall (Vol. 21 0221) during the month of December 1981. The record of his death, also included his date of birth as above. The Kerrier district was formed in 1974 as a merger of the Borough of Helston and the urban district of Camborne and Redruth

Thomas Leonard Collett [21R90] was born at Penryn on 23^rd December 1909, the second of three known sons of Arthur James Collett and his wife Lillie Hutchings, with his birth recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 126). He was one year old at the time of the Penryn census in 1911 when he was living with his parents and older brother William (above) who were awaiting the arrival of the family’s third child. Later in his life, and possibly in Penryn, Thomas Leonard Collett married Kathleen H Meek, their wedding recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 233) during the first quarter of 1931. The birth of their only child was also recorded at Falmouth, but may have been born in Penryn

21S63 – June R Collett was born in 1931 at Falmouth (Penryn)

Albert Leslie Collett [21R91], who was referred to as Leslie, was born at Penryn in 1911, the youngest child of Arthur James Collett and Lillie Hutchings who were living in Falmouth in April 1911, prior to Albert being born. The birth of Albert Leslie Collett was recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 248) during the summer of 1911, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Hutchings. He was twenty-six years of age when the marriage of Albert L Collett and Daphne V Bone was recorded at the Norfolk Docking register office (Ref. 4b 801), during the fourth quarter of 1937. With war on the horizon in Europe, Leslie was already a member of the air force and was eventually based at Sleaford in Lincolnshire where the couple settled and where their daughter was born. The birth of Christine Collett was recorded at Sleaford register office in Lincolnshire (Ref. 7a 1190), whose mother’s maiden-name was recorded as Bone. Today, as Christine St Johanser, she lives in New Zealand and has been instrumental in providing details of her family

He was a pilot with the Royal Air Force during World War Two and reached the rank of Squadron Leader. As Squadron Leader Albert Leslie Collett service number 45448 he was killed in action over Germany on 27^th April 1944 while flying an RAF Lancaster bomber of 83 Squadron out of RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Inside the Church of St-John-the-Baptist in the village of Great Hale, to the east of Sleaford in Lincolnshire, there is a memorial on the wall which commemorates whose who lost their life during the Second World War. Listed amongst the names is that of A Leslie Collett, who was presumably billeted with his wife and child somewhere in that vicinity. He was awarded the Air Force Cross and was buried at the Durnbach Cemetery which lies thirty miles south of Munich. His grave was Grave Number 3. His personal military record appears not to have updated after he became a married man, since it was only his parents, James, and Lillie Collett, who were named as his next-of-kin

21S64 – Christine Collett was born in 1941 at Sleaford, Lincolnshire

Dorothy Florence Maud Collett [21R92] was born at Truro in 1901, where her birth was recorded (Ref. 5c 123) during the last quarter of that year. She was the eldest of the three daughters of George Collett and Maud Mary Lowry, and was nine years old in the census of 1911 when she and her family were residing in Saltash in Cornwall

Gladys May Collett [21R93] was born at Truro on 19^th May 1904 and was baptised at St Paul’s Church in Truro on 27^th July 1904, when the family’s home was in the St Clements area of Truro, from where her father was working as an insurance agent who had been a shoemaker in 1901 and was again in 1911. Within the next couple of years her parents George and Maud took the family to live at Saltash where Gladys was six years old in 1911

Violet Gwendoline Collett [21R94] was born at Saltash in 1908, following which her birth was recorded at St Germans register office (Ref. 5c 40) during the first three months of that year. The census in 1911 confirmed she was born at Saltash, where she and her family were living, when she was two years of age

William Leonard Collett [21R95] was born at Tugolls Road in Truro on 28^th August 1900, with his birth recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 121) during the last three months of the year. He was the eldest of the three children on William, a gardener, and Mary Collett, and was baptised at St Paul’s Church in Truro on 12^th December 1900. He was ten years of age in the Truro census of 1911, when he was living there with his family and attending school. It was during the first quarter of 1924, that the marriage of Leonard William Collett (?) and Amy M Martins was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 224). No children have been found and when William Leonard Collett was 61 and residing at 10 Prospect Place in Truro, he died there on 31^st May 1962, and was buried at Truro Cemetery following his funeral service at St Paul’s Church on 4^th June 1962

James Gordon Collett [21R96] was born at St Clements Hill in Truro on 5^th January 1903, with his birth recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 118) during the first three months of 1903. It was at St Paul’s Church in Truro that he was baptised on 27^th May 1903, the son of William James Collett and Mary Elizabeth Goodman, who was eight years of age and at school in the Truro St Clements census of 1911. During the third quarter of 1926 James G Collett married Olivia Burrows, the event recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 263). A year later the couple’s only child was born, the birth of Eileen M Collett recorded at Truro register office during the third quarter of 1927, when the child’s mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Burrows

21S65 – Eileen M Collett was born in 1927 at Truro

Grace Collett [21R100] was born before 1917 as Grace Schwers, the daughter of Clara Laura Schwers of Wisconsin who married Percy Collett of Truro in Detroit on 9^th January 1917. Once they were married, Percy adopted his wife’s daughter. It was originally believed that Grace Collett married Reginald John Hobbs who was born in Gloucester in 1905, the son of Arthur Edwin Hobbs of Tewkesbury and Mary Lavinia Collett [21Q43] of Treworthal. However, that was Grace Doreen Collett [21S34], the daughter of Henry Lake Collett. It is established though, that Grace and her husband had three children, all born in America, and that the youngest of them, Darlene, lived with Grace’s parents Percy and Clara Collett

Jack Edwin Collett [21R101] was born at Detroit in the State of Michigan, USA on 3^rd June 1918, the eldest of two sons of Percy Collett, from Truro in England, and his wife Clara Laura Schwers from Wisconsin. He was named jointly after his father’s brother Jack, who was killed in the Great War, and his grandfather Edwin Collett. It was in the family home at 15722 Cruse Street, Precinct 28 in Detroit, that Jack Collett was 12 years old in 1930. He and his family were still at the same address in Detroit in 1940, by which time Jack was working at a brass foundry when he was 21

Shortly after that census day, and prior to America’s involvement with the Second World War, Jack Edwin Collett married Margaret Armstrong in Detroit, where the couple were living, and where they continued to live thereafter. When Jack enlisted with the United States Marine Corps, there was a requirement that married men needed to obtain the permission of their wives, which Margaret did. During the years that he served with the Marine Corps, Jack reached the rank of Master Sergeant. It must have been during a period of home leave that the couple’s first child was conceived. Upon finally returning home after the war, Jack became a fire fighter in Detroit, where both of his daughters were born. It was during 1969, that Jack and Margaret eventually left Detroit, when they moved to live at Livonia, still in Wayne County, Michigan, and it was there that Jack Edwin Collett died on 7^th March 1987

21S66 – Mary Jacquelyn Collett was born in 1945 at Detroit, Michigan

21S67 – Judith Ann Collett was born in 1947 at Detroit, Michigan

William Collett [21R102] was born at Detroit around 1924 and was six years old in the Detroit census of 1930, where he was living with his parents Percy Collett and his wife Clara Laura Schwers at 15722 Cruse Street in Detroit. His father was from England and his mother was born in Wisconsin. It was also at that same address that the family was still residing in 1940, when William was attending school at the age of 15. Not long after, William enlisted with the United States Navy when America entered the Second World War. The only other information currently known about William is that he had a son of the same name, that he lived in Livonia like his brother Jack (above), that he died in 2009, and that he had a grandson

21S68 – William Collett was born in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan

Clifford George Collett [21R104], referred to as Cliff, was born at Walthamstow during August 1918, the son of George Collett and his wife Edith Anne Richardson. His birth was recorded at West Ham register office (Ref. 4a 577), when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Richardson. Cliff developed an interest in communications which developed during his time of service with the Royal Air Force. He served in England, South Africa, and in Europe where he was involved on day two of D-Day landings. After the war he worked for Marconi Communications, which he did for the rest of his working life. It was just after the start of the Second World War when he married Constance (Connie) Manwaring of Walthamstow, the wedding taking place at St. Barnabas Church in Walthamstow on 27^th August 1940. They created their first family home in Gidea Park in Romford, and it was while they were there that their two children were born. Shortly after the birth of their son the family moved to Chelmsford in Essex, to be near the headquarters of Marconi. Clifford George Collett died at Chelmsford in 1966

21S69 – Irene Collett was born in 1946 at Romford, Essex

21S70 – Terence George Collett was born in 19451 at Romford, Essex

Roy Collett [21R105] was born in 1932 and his birth was recorded at Hackney register office (Ref. 1b 511) during the last three months of the year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Amies, the only know child of Frank Collett and Lily N Amies. He was 22 years of age when his marriage to Marion H Elvin was recorded at the Essex South-Western register office (Ref. 5a 413) during the third quarter of 1955. The birth of the first of their two children was recorded at Hackney register office (Ref. 5c 708) during the summer of 1960, while the birth of their second child was recorded at Waltham Forest register office in Essex (Ref. 5e 651) during the first three months of 1967. In both cases, the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Elvin

21S71 – Linda A Collett was born in 1960 at Hackney

21S72 – Deane Susan Collett was born in 1967 at Walthamstow

Ian Harcourt Rookledge Collett [21S1] was born in Kent, possibly near the end of 1959, with his birth recorded at the Surrey North-Eastern register office (Ref. 5g 787) during the first quarter of 1960, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Thatcher. However, the birth was registered under the name of Ian Harcourt Rookledge the first-born child of Nigel Harcourt Rookledge Collett and Patricia Thatcher. It was during the summer of 1984 at Swale in Kent that Ian Harcourt Rookledge married Janet Harris, with whom he had a son who was born in Kent

21T1 – Andrew Harcourt Rookledge Collett was born in 1982 at Kent

Keith Charles Rookledge Collett [21S3] was born in Kent the summer of 1963, when his birth was recorded at the Surrey South-Eastern register office (Ref. 5g 1160) where his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Thatcher. Just as with his two older siblings, his surname was recorded as Rookledge, and it was as Keith Charles Rookledge that his marriage to Rosalynde a Doust was recorded at Maidstone in Kent in August 1989 (Vol. 16 1452), with whom he had two sons, both born in Kent

21T2 – Benjamin Charles Rookledge Collett was born in 1992 at Kent

21T3 – Harrison James Rookledge Collett was born in 1995 at Kent

Sarah Louise Rookledge Collett [21S5] was born in London near the end of 1962, her birth recorded at the Surrey North-Eastern register office (Ref. 5g ?), but as Rookledge and not Collett, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Lush. Sarah was the eldest of the three children of Gordon Charles Rookledge Collett and Jennifer Mary Dampier Lush. Very curiously, at the same register office, during the same three months or the same year, the birth of Carol Louise Rookledge was recorded, whose mother’s maiden-name was also Lush. Sarah Louise partnered with Stephen Blanchard in 1990 at Clapham and their relationship produced three children, all born at Clapham in London. They were Thomas James (1992), Catherine Rose (1994), and Lillian Emma Tamar (1997)

GAVIN ALISTAIR ROOKLEDGE COLLETT [21S6] was the only son of Gordon Charles Rookledge Collett and Jennifer Mary Dampier Lush. While the births of his two sisters have been located in Surrey, no such record has been found for Gavin, either as Collett, or Rookledge his sisters’ given surname. It is believed, but not proved, that was born in 1964, but that he partnered with Judith Wise in 1999, which was confirmed at the recording of the births of their two older children. However, no record of the birth of their son has been located, using the mother’s maiden-name of Wise

21T4 – Ruby Tir James Rookledge Collett was born in 2004 at Croydon, Surrey

21T5 – Rose Emerald Rookledge Collett was born in 2006 at Lambeth, London

21T6 – George Charles Rookledge Collett was born on 21^st August 2008

Emma Constance Rookledge Collett [21S7] was born in London in 1966, her birth as Emma Constance Rookledge recorded at the Surrey Sutton register office (Ref. 5e 381) during the last quarter of the year, where her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Lush. She was the youngest of the three children of Gordon Charles Rookledge Collett and Jennifer Mary Dampier Lush who was living in North London in 2004. Eleven years prior to that, the marriage of Emma Constance Rookledge and Omaid Hiwaizi was recorded at Ealing register office (Vol. 12 138) during the summer of 1993

Ellen Collett [21S11] was born in 1899 at Merther, a small hamlet two miles east of Truro. Her birth was recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 134) during the last three months of that year. She was the eldest child of Sidney Collett and Catherine Alfreda Burley and was one year old in the Merther census of 1901, when her place of birth was recorded as Truro. Curiously though, in the Berron Probus census of 1911 she was described as Ellen Collett aged 11 who was attending school, whose place of birth was Benton in Probus. Ten years later, the marriage of Ellen Collett and William P Moore was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 262) during the first three months of 1921. The births of their three children were recorded at Redruth, when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. They were Sidney G Moore (Ref. 5c 272 in 1921), Betty Moore (Ref. 5c 257 in 1923), and Peter J Moore (Ref. 5c 212 in 1929). A fourth child may have been Ellen J Moore, whose birth was recorded at Falmouth in 1937, when again the mother’s maiden-name was Collett

Ernest Henry Collett [21S12] was born on 31^st July 1901 with his birth recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 113) as Ernest Henry Collett during the third quarter on that year. However, it was as Ernest Edward Collett that he was baptised at Cartarthen in Merther on 20^th September 1901, the son of Sidney and Catherine Elfrida (Alfreda) Collett. It was also as school boy Ernest Edward Collett aged nine years that he was living with his family at Berron Probus in 1911. He was nearly twenty-three when he became a married man, the marriage of Ernest H Collett and Alfreda S Armstrong recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 286) during the second quarter of 1924. The births of their two daughters were recorded at Truro register office, when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Armstrong. It was in Cornwall that they seem to have lived all their life, since it was at Truro Cemetery that Ernest was buried during the month of January in 1973, at the age of 72. On that occasion he was confirmed as Ernest Henry Collett who was born on 31^st July 1901

21T7 – Marjorie J Collett was born in 1925 at Truro

21T8 – Audrey J Collett was born in 1929 at Truro

Frederick Collett [21S13] was born at Merther on 14^th June 1903 and his birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 103) during the third quarter of that year. During the latter part of the first decade of the new century his parents took the family from Merther to Probus where Frederick was seven years old in 1911. The wedding of Frederick Collett and Hilda J Bone was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 214) during the first three months of 1928. The couple had two daughters and a son, whose births in Cornwall confirmed that the mother’s maiden-name was Bone. Frederick and Hilda were married for fifty-one years and, at the end of that time, they were living in the Bodmin area, where their daughters were married, and where the death of Frederick Collett was recorded during the second quarter of 1979. It was his death certificate which confirmed his date of birth as written above

21T9 – Myrtle Ivy Collett was born in 1928 at Truro

21T10 – Phyllis M Collett was born in 1929 at Truro

21T11 – Frederick J Collett was born in 1933 at Falmouth

Lillian Edith Collett [21S14] was born at Merther either very late in 1905 or early in 1906, since her birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 106) during the first quarter of 1906. Shortly after she was born the family moved to Probus where Lillian Edith was five years of age in the Probus census of 1911 when it was confirmed she had been born at Merther

Sandra Georgina Collett [21S15] was born in Singapore on 8^th April 1937, the eldest of five children of Ivor Victor Roy Collett and Bessie Olive Kelly. She later married to become Sandra Georgina Matthews

Diana Collett [21S16] was born at Plymouth on 5^th September 1939, the daughter of Ivor Victor Roy Collett and Bessie Olive Kelly. She later married to become Diana Campbell

Bruce Ivor Nicholas Collett [21S17] was born at Looe in Cornwall on 11^th February 1942, the eldest son and third child of Ivor Victor Roy Collett and Bessie Olive Kelly. It was Bruce’s daughter Yvonne Rogers, nee Collett, who made contact during 2010, following her brother Dennis finding their grandfather Ivor on the Collett website while surfing the internet

21T12 – Yvonne Susanne Olivia Collett was born in 1968 at Dusseldorf, Germany

21T13 – Dennis Nicholas Collett was born in 1971 at Hanover, Germany

Paul Ivor Craig Collett [21S18] was born at Plymouth on 17^th January 1945, the second of three sons, and the fourth child of Ivor Victor Roy Collett and Bessie Olive Kelly. His birth was recorded at Plympton register office (Ref. 5b 314), with his mother’s maiden-name confirmed as Kelly. At the age of 23, Paul Ivor Craig Collett was in Norfolk when he became a married man, his marriage to Caroline M Booty recorded at the North Walsham register office (Ref. 4b 2327) during the third quarter of 1968. It was most likely, Paul’s job of work that saw him in Norfolk in 1968 and then in Shropshire in 1970, with the birth of Mark Justin Collett recorded at Bridgnorth register office (Ref. 9a 300) during the second quarter of that year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Booty

21T14 – Mark Justin Collett was born in 1970 at Bridgnorth, Shropshire

David Ivor Charles Collett [21S19] was born at Yeovil on 22^nd December 1950, the last child of Ivor Victor Roy Collett and Bessie Olive Kelly. His birth was recorded at Yeovil register office (Ref. 7c 417) during the first three months of 1951, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Kelly. He was therefore only approaching his eighteenth birthday when his marriage to Sheila V Budge was recorded at Yeovil register office (Ref. 7c 1398) during the last quarter of 1968. Not long after they were married, Sheila gave birth to the first of the couple’s two sons, both of whom had their births recorded at Yeovil register office, with mother’s maiden-name confirmed as Budge. For their eldest son, his birth was recorded during the second quarter of 1969 (Ref. 7c 1940) and, unlike his younger brother Lee, no further record of Sean has been found

21T15 – Sean David Collett was born in 1969 at Yeovil, Somerset

21T16 – Lee Ivor Collett was born in 1972 at Yeovil, Somerset

Donald Allan Collette [21S20] was born at Lake Charles on 4^thNovember 1927, the only child of Donald Allan Collette senior and his wife Alice Dickenson Hester. It was during the early 1950s that he married Anna Dean Connell who was born at Jackson in Louisiana on 28^th March 1931. All four of their children were born at Lake Charles and in 2013 Alice Dickenson Collette was residing at 729 Iris Street in Lake Charles, the family home built by her late father-in-law, the first Donald Allan Collett

21T17 – Alice Anne Collett was born in 1953 at Lake Charles, Louisiana

21T18 – Allyson Dean Collett was born in 1958 at Lake Charles, Louisiana

21T19 – Donald Allan Collett was born in 1960 at Lake Charles, Louisiana

21T20 – Hugh Connell Collett was born in 1969 at Lake Charles, Louisiana

William Albert Hayne Collett [21S21] was born at Perranarworthal on 21^st July 1913, the son of William Charles Collett and Ethel Florence Hunt. His birth was recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 305), when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Hunt. It was during the summer of 1940, when he was around 27 years of age, that the marriage of William Albert Haynes Collett and Kathleen Martin was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 445) during the third quarter of the year. Eight years later, the couple was residing in the Plymouth area of south Devon, where the first of their two children was born, and less than two years after, for the birth of their second child. On both occasions, the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Martin. The later death of William Albert H Collett, aged 62, was recorded at Camborne-Redruth register office (Vol. 21 0153) in March 1976

21T21 – Marion F Collett was born in 1948 at Plymouth (Qrt 3, Ref. 7a 748)

21T22 – John A F Collett was born in 1950 at Plymouth

Florence Hazel Collett [21S22] was born at Perranarworthal in 1914, with her birth recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 280) during the last three months of the year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Hunt. Florence was around 32 when she married William T Philp, the first of many marriages between the two families within this branch of the Collett family. Their marriage was also recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 364) during the first three months of 1946. The birth of their only child, their daughter Gloria M Philp, later Gloria Waterfield of Staines in Middlesex and a contributor to this family history, was recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 7a 186) during the first quarter of 1949, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. Florence Hazel Philp was 93 years old when she died at Redruth on 20^th June 2007

Ethel Vera Collett [21S23] was born at Perranarworthal in 1916, with her birth recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 223) during the second quarter of the year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Hunt. Although not yet confirmed as the Ethel Vera Collett from Cornwall, the marriage of Ethel Vera Collett and William J Ashcroft was recorded at Aldershot in Hampshire (Ref. 2c 573) during the fourth quarter of 1944. However, their two children were born in Cornwall, which could be the link to suggest Ethel Ashcroft originally came from Perranarworthal. The birth of Terence G Ashcroft was recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 190) during the third quarter of 1945, while the birth of Florence M Ashcroft was also recorded there during the third quarter of 1946 (Ref. 7a 211). On both occasions the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett

Edgar Sylvester Collett [21S24] was born at Perranarworthal in 1919, his birth recorded at Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 220) during the last quarter of that year, where his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Hunt. He was youngest child of William Charles Collett and Ethel Florence Hunt, who was tragically killed in a road accident when he was just fifteen years of age in 1935. The death of Edgar S Collett was recorded at Cornwall register office (Ref. 5c 144)

Robert George Collett [21S28] was born in 1924 and his birth as simply Robert G Collett was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 5c 143) during the third quarter of that year. That was around one year after his parents John Percy Collett and Lillian Violet Holberton were married and where both of his parents were still living in 1944. Curiously though, whether in error or not, his mother’s maiden-name was stated on the birth record as Mead, so she may have been a widow when she married Robert’s father. He would have been around 16 or 17 when he signed up to serve his King and Country in the Second World War. He eventually joined the 5^th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, with whom he was Private Collett 14519019. Tragically, he was killed in action while in France on 27^th August 1944 and just after the Normandy landings. He was twenty years old and was buried at the St Desir War Cemetery at Calvados and his next-of-kin were named as his parents John Percy and Lillian Violet Collett of St Austell

Edward Charles Collett [21S30] was born on 1^st January 1917, with his birth also recorded at Tavistock register office (Ref. 5b 493) during the first quarter of the year, when once again the mother’s maiden-name was given as Watson. He was the only surviving child of Royal Navy sailor William Henry Collett and Bella Ann Watson. Edward was only a few months old when his father died, and a year later, his mother married Frank Cleave during the spring of 1918. The subsequent marriage of Edward Charles Collett and Doris I Falconar was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 5b 1299) during the third quarter of 1939, when he was 22 years old. Around two years later, and as part of the war effort, Edward became a merchant seaman. That was recorded after a further two years when, Edward Charles Collett, aged 26, was in Manchester on 4^th April 1943, with two-years’ experience at sea, when he was taken on as a galley-man on board the British cargo ship, M V Antar, sailing from England bound for New York, where it arrived on 2^nd May 1943. Edward Charles Collett was 65 when he died, his death recorded at Devon register office (Vol. 21 1805) during 1982

The marriage of Edward and Doris produced two daughters, their birth recorded at Plymouth register office during the first three months of 1940 (Ref. 5b 743), and during the first quarter of 1942 (Ref. 5b 590). In both cases, the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Falconar. Maureen A Collett later married David J Collins, the event recorded at Newton Abbot register office (Ref. 7a 1193) during the fourth quarter of 1969. Their only know child was Suzanne Frances Collins whose birth was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 7a 1599) during the first quarter of 1971

21T23 – Shirley U Collett was born in 1940 at Plymouth

21T24 – Maureen A Collett was born in 1942 at Plymouth

James Frederick Collett [21S31] was born at Manjimup in Western Australia in 1917, the year after his parents James Arthur Collett and Frances Mary Ebbett from England were married in Australia. James was thirty in 1947 when he married the widow Cecilia Wallis, formerly Cecilia Donnelly, following which their son Terrence James Collett was born in 1948. Cecilia T Donnelly was also born in 1917, to parents Francis Donnelly and Hilda Ganfield, and it was as Cecilia T Collett that she died in 1997

James Frederick Collett sadly passed away on 16^th April 2012 at the age of 95. With his health failing fast, he had been in a Nursing Home for the last couple of months, but before that he was still quite good for his age. Thanks to the care he received from one of his nieces he was able to stay in his own little unit until just before Christmas 2011, following which he then moved into the low care section of the local Retirement Village. He was a lovely man, a real gentleman, always cheerful and happy to talk to all his friends and relatives. He had a difficult life at times, having contracted various tropical diseases during the war which recurred during the following years and then, after the war, contracting polio, the symptoms of which stayed with him for the remainder of his life. He also took wonderful care of his wife for many years

21T25 – Terrence James Collett was born in 1948 at Australia

Robert David Collette [21S33], who was known as Bob, was born at Calgary in Alberta on 21^st August 1917, the first child of Henry Lake Collett and his wife Elizabeth Peach. At the age of 14, and following the death of his mother, he went to live with his grandparents where he worked on their small dairy farm in Rosedale in British Columbia. It was while he was there that he first learned his father had added the extra “e’ to the Collett name, after his grandfather had told him that he was spelling of his signature incorrectly. From that day forward Bob reverted to the former spelling of his ancestral name as Collett. This photograph of him was taken at Sardis in 1938

He continued to operate the farm at Rosedale after the death of his grandmother in 1938 and after the death of his grandfather in 1943. Bob was around 44 years old when he married Mary Raglar in 1961, following which he happily continued to work as a farmer until he retired in 1991. He is also believed to have lived within the Sardis area of British Columbia, not far from Chilliwack, where again he spent his time in dairy farming. Just two years after he retired from farming, he suffered a fatal heart attack while out riding on his bicycle, which resulted in his death on 7^th September 1993

Grace Doreen Collette [21S34] was born at Calgary, Alberta on 30^th September 1918, the eldest daughter of Henry Lake Collett and his first wife Elizabeth Peach. It was Grace Doreen Collett, rather than Grace Collett [21R99] who married Reginald John Hobbs who was born in Gloucester in 1905, the son of Arthur Edwin Hobbs of Tewkesbury and Grace’s Aunt Mary Lavinia Collett [21Q43] of Treworthal. The wedding took place during 1939, with Reginald having emigrated to Canada from England to get away from his alcoholic father. Once they were married Grace and Reginald moved to Banff in Alberta, where they had two children. Lavinia Hobbs was born in 1940, and Robert Hobbs was born in 1942. Grace died in 1974. Reginald died soon after. After the Second World War, Reginald’s mother sailed over to Canada from England to spend some time with her son and his family at Banff. Grace Doreen Hobbs nee Collette died on 26^th March 1974, and was followed shortly after by her husband

Winifred Louise Collette [21S35], who was known as Winnie, was born at Calgary on 9^th January 1920, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Collett. During the Second World War she met an English pilot, Robert Curdling, who was undergoing training at Calgary with the Royal Air Force. And it was at Calgary that they were married on 5^th April 1943. Once his period of training was complete, Robert returned to England, to where Winnie emigrated and where they were reunited later that same year. Winnie courageously sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on board the Cunard White Star liner ‘Boskoop’ from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada to Liverpool in England, at the height of the German submarine attacks, eventually arriving safely on 27^th October 1943

After the war they lived near Robert’s family at Southbourne near Bournemouth in Hampshire, on the south coast of England, where they had one child, Michael Curdling, who was born in 1949. In 1975 Winnie travelled back to Calgary to visit her family and to celebrate her father’s eighty-second birthday. Her husband Robert died on 28^th October 1976, and during 1998 she moved to Lytham St Anne’s in Lancashire, to be near her son Michael, his wife Anne, and their daughter Anneka. Winifred Louise Curdling nee Collette died in Lytham St Anne’s on 9^th December 2004, at the age of 84

Vincent Henry Collette [21S36], who was known as Vince, was born at Calgary on 4^th February 1922, the second son and fourth child of Henry and Elizabeth Collett. Vince was an easy-going person who served in the Canadian Air Force during World War Two, spending some of the time in England. After the war he was a bus driver for the City of Calgary Transit System, where he worked for many years. In 1949 he married Barbara Munro, with whom he had three children. Sadly, the couple was divorced in 1977. Vince was a lover of camping and fishing, and remained very active until his sudden death on 25^th April 1991. When he died, it was felt as a terrible loss to the family

21T26 – Kathleen Collette was born in 1952

21T27 – Randall Collette was born in 1955

21T28 – Timothy Collette was born in 1959

Alan Ross Collette [21S37] was born at Calgary on 28^th February 1925. He was a skilled motorcar mechanic working for the City of Calgary Maintenance Department, and spent several years in the 1950s working on the Distance Early Warning (DEW) Radar Line built in the Canadian north to counter the possible threat of a Soviet attack. It is known that he accepted an assignment to carry out his work in Africa in the latter part of his life. Alan married Ella Simpson in 1950, with whom he had three children, before Ella died in 1969. Alan then re-married, but he and his second wife became estranged from the family. The date of his death is not known by the wider family

21T29 – Ross Edward Collett was born in 1951

21T30 – Ian Collett was born in 1952

21T31 – Heather Lynne Collett was born in 1955

Lorraine Ruth Collette [21S38] was born at Calgary on 3^rd March 1926 and was the fifth of the eight children of Henry Lake Collett and his wife Elizabeth Peach. Lorraine was four years old when her mother died in June 1930, following which her father sent her to live in Vancouver with her aunt and uncle, Annie Bowden Collett and her husband Jack Way. They virtually brought her up as their own children, and because of that she was later adopted by them, from whence she was known as Lorraine Ruth Way. She later married Melvin R Bergman who was born on 30^th January 1917, and who died only recently on 17^th February 2013, this photograph of Lorraine being taken just after at that sad time at the celebration of his life

Victoria Elizabeth Collette [21S39], who was known as Vicki, was born at Calgary on 24^th May 1928. She married Harvey Poffenroth in 1951 and settled on his family’s farm at Okotoks in Alberta, where they raised five children. Corrine Poffenroth was born in 1953, Rhonda Poffenroth was born in 1954, Brian Poffenroth was born in 1955, Kevin Poffenroth was born in 1957, and Joan Poffenroth was born in 1958. Tragically, Victoria’s and Harvey’s son Brian was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1970

Ronald James Collette [21S40], who was known as Ronnie, was born at Calgary on 14^th November 1929, and was the last child born to Henry Lake Collett, and his first wife Elizabeth Peach, who tragically died from a heart disease when Ronald James was just over six months old. It was therefore Henry Lake Collett’s second wife, Eleanor Mary Mackee, who raised Ronald as if he was her own child. He trained as a telegrapher and was employed by the Canadian National Telegraph for many years, first in Calgary, and then in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1959 he married Marguerite Weder in Edmonton. Marguerite, who was born in 1922 and was a chiropractor, died in 1984. As a child, Ronald was very musical and learned to play both the violin and the French horn. Later in his life he was also a prolific letter writer and was a regular visitor and helper to his stepmother Eleanor. Ronald James Collette died on 24^th February 2003

Patrick George Collette [21S41], who is known as Pat, was the twin brother of John Wilfred (below) who was born at Calgary on 20^th July 1933, they being the first two children from the second marriage of Henry Lake Collett to Eleanor Mary Mackee. After working in the electronics industry for some years, Patrick returned to the University of Alberta to complete a degree in Electrical Engineering. He later emigrated to the United States of America where he worked for several major electronics firms, first at Baltimore in Maryland, and then in Merrimack in New Hampshire

It was during 1961, while he was working in Baltimore, that he married Donna Ross who was born on 15^th July 1937. The first of their four children was born while the couple were still living in Baltimore, whereas the next three children were all born after the family had settled in Merrimack

21T32 – Murray Ross Collette was born in 1964 at Baltimore, Maryland

21T33 – David Patrick Collette was born on 24^th September 1967 at Merrimack, New Hampshire

21T34 – Wayne Michael Collette was born on 15^th March 1969 at Merrimack, New Hampshire

21T35 – Daryl Stephen Collette was born on 31^st October 1972 at Merrimack, New Hampshire

John Wilfred Collette [21S42], who is known as Jack, was born at Calgary on 20^th July 1933, the second twin of Henry and Eleanor Collette. Jack and his twin brother Patrick (above) were two very gifted boys who both excelled at school. After completing high school, he attended the University of Alberta, graduating first in his class in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He was accepted by the graduate school at the University of California in Berkeley and received his PhD in 1958. He worked in a variety of research and development fields for the DuPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware for thirty-nine years, rising to the position of Director of Science Affairs for the Central Research Department

It was in 1952 when Jack married Sylvia Smith, a recent émigré from England, with whom he had three children. The first child was born when the couple were living at Calgary, the second after they had moved to Berkeley in California, while their last child was born at Wilmington, in Delaware

Sylvia Mary Smith was born at Colne in Lancashire, England on 4^th August 1934, the daughter of Jack Smith and his wife Nora Cox. The family moved south to Worthing in Sussex soon after her birth, and lived there throughout the Second World War while her father served with the Royal Navy. After the war, her father, a plasterer by trade, looked for employment overseas and in 1950 the family moved to Calgary in Canada. Although Sylvia had already graduated from her English Secondary School, she elected to attend Grade 12 at the local high school. It was here that she met Jack Collette. Sylvia was a gourmet cook and an accomplished seamstress, creating many beautiful items of needlepoint and petit point, and sewing unique clothes for her granddaughters

In 1990, Jack developed a second career, becoming actively involved in systemic improvement of science education in the state of Delaware. From 1996 to 2004, he co-led a major National Science Foundation grant program that raised student achievement in science. His contributions to Delaware were recognised by the establishment of the John W. Collette Education Resource Center to support staff development of teachers in Delaware public schools. Jack and Sylvia became US citizens in 1969. Sylvia Mary Collette nee Smith died on 5^th November 2006, and almost two years later, during October 2008, Jack married Courtenay Forbes a recent widow whom he had met at his retirement community

21T36 – Valerie Jean Collette was born on 30^th August 1953 at Calgary, Alberta

21T37 – Martin John Collette was born on 3^rd March 1956 at Berkeley, California

21T38 – Graham Lee Collette was born on 29^th March 1961 at Wilmington, Delaware

Frederick Collette [21S43] was born at Calgary during 1938, the son of Henry and Eleanor Collette, who sadly died that same year

Terrence Robert Collette [21S44], who is known as Terry, was born at Calgary on 13^th July 1943, the youngest child of Henry and Eleanor Collette. He completed his Engineering degree at the University of Alberta before moving to Vancouver in British Columbia, where he worked in the telecommunications industry, from which he retired in 2009. A man of many interests and activities, Terry and his companion, Janet Magee, continue to travel widely

Donald Alfred William Collette [21S45], who is known as Don, was born at Sardis in Chilliwack, British Columbia on 17^th August 1931, the eldest and first of two sons of Alfred John Collette (formerly Collett) and Muriel Doris Stoness. It was around the time he was born, that his father changed his name to Collette in order to secure work. By the time he was eight years old his family was living in New Westminster, and it was there on 14^th August 1953 that Donald Collette married Mildred Charlotte Moodie who was born in 1932 at New Westminster, British Columbia. During the next few years, the couple left new Westminster, when they moved to Edmonton in Alberta, where their two children were both

It was at 11560, 80^th Avenue in Edmonton that the couple was residing at the time of the death of Don’s father in 1956, prior to the birth of his two grandchildren

21T39 – Ronald Stephen Collette was born in 1959 at Edmonton, Alberta

21T40 – Cynthia Collette was born in 1961 at Edmonton, Alberta

Neil Frederick Collette [21S46] was born at New Westminster in British Columbia on 9^th January 1939, the youngest child of Alfred John Collette and Muriel D Stoness. Neil later married Linda Fay Sigurdson on 4^th May 1966 at Lundar in Manitoba, with whom he had two children. Twelve years after he was married, Neil gained a Bachelor of Arts degree at Carleton University in Ottawa. He also served as a staff sergeant with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police from 3^rd August 1961 to his retirement on 4^th April 1997. During his time with the force, he was the officer in charge of the training unit in Manitoba. In 2013, when this photograph was taken, Neil was living at Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia in Canada, and it is thanks to him and his son David that the full story of their family line has been completed back to Edward Charles Collett who was born at Kea in Cornwall in 1865

21T41 – David Frederick Collette was born in 1967 at Beausejour, Manitoba

21T42 – Deidre Fay Collette was born in 1967 at Regina, Saskatchewan

Ian J Collett [21S47] was born in 1937, his birth recorded at Bromsgrove register office in Worcestershire (Ref. 6c 330) during the first three months of 1937, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Flynn. He was the only child of Francis (Frank) Thomas Collett and Margaret Mary Flynn. His father was born in Cornwall, where he also died, so it was no surprise that the marriage of Ian J Collett and Ann Mills was recorded at the Camborne-Redruth register office (Vol. 21 84) during the second quarter of 1985

Richard William Collett [21S48], who is known as Bill, was born at St Just-in-Roseland on 28^th November 1947, the eldest of the two children of Richard Grenville Collett and his wife Dora (Betty) Hinge. Richard William Collett married Susan Millyard and was a schoolteacher in other parts of England before eventually returning to Cornwall, following his retirement from teaching in 1998, to settle in Penryn where he and Susan are still living in 2015. The photograph of Bill was provided by his sister Rose and was a school photograph taken during his time at The Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe

21T43 – Richard Francis Peter Collett was born in 1985 at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Rosemary Ann Collett [21S49] was born on 6^th January 1953, the second of the two children of Richard Collett and Dora (Betty) Hinge, her birth recorded at the Lower Agbrigg register office in Yorkshire (Ref. 2c 623), where her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Hinge. And it was as Rose Evans of St Just-in-Penwith that she kindly provided the new details and photographs for the March 2015 update of this family line

Vaughn Collett [21S51] was born at Michigan on 10^th October 1910. It seems likely from the date of birth of his son that he married around the mid-1930s. The only other known facts about Vaughn are that he died in 1971 and was buried with his father and his grandparents at Fairview Cemetery

21T44 – Jack Vaughn Collett was born in 1938 at Michigan

Josephine Collett [21S52] was born at Michigan in 1915 and like his brother Vaughn (above) he was buried with his family at Fairview Cemetery when he died in 1988

Jack Collett [21S53] was born in Michigan sometime after 1915 and before 1920, which was the year his mother Beulah Collett died. In the same way that it has not been established when Jack was born, there is also uncertainty about when he died. However, it is known that he was still a child when he died and that he was buried with his mother at the Old Village Cemetery in Brighton

Vivian Glen M Collett [21S54] was born in 1940, the eldest child, and only son of William and Audrey Collett. His birth was recorded as Vivian M Collett at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 571) during the second quarter of the year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Jenkins. When he married Penelope R Godding in 1965, his named was recorded as Vivian Glen M Collett, their wedding recorded at register office (Ref. 7c 1081) during the second quarter of that year. Their son’s birth was recorded at Winchester register office (Ref. 6b 3347) during the spring of 1970, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Godding

21T45 – Alexander Paul Vivian Collett was born in 1970 at Winchester, Hampshire

Kathryn Ann Collett [21S55] was born in 1942 after her family had left Cornwall and had settled in Wiltshire, with her birth recorded at Salisbury register office (Ref. 5a 280) during the last quarter of the year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Jenkin. It was also as Kathryn Ann Collett that she married Edward G Luscombe towards the end of 1962, with their wedding also recorded at Salisbury (Ref. 7c 1028). Almost four years later, Kathryn presented Edward with their only child, with the birth of Edward Anthony Luscombe recorded at Devizes register office (Ref. 7c 627) when the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett

Grace Collett [21S56] was born in 1957, the youngest of the three children of William Vivian Collett and his wife Audrey Jenkin. Her birth was recorded at Salisbury register office (Ref. 7c 558) during the third quarter of the year, with the mother’s maiden-name confirmed as Jenkin. It was also at Salisbury that the marriage of Grace Collett and John B Stephens was recorded (Vol. 23 1346) towards the end of 1976. Many years after they were married, Grace gave birth to two daughters whose births were recorded at Portsmouth register office, when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. They were Rebecca Stephens in 1990 and Zoe Stephens in 1993

Victor Vivian Anthony Collett [21S57], who was known as Tony, was born at St Austell on 27^th April 1938, the only son and eldest of the four children of Victor Owen Collett and Ann Nicholls who were married in St Austell during the previous year. Victor’s birth was recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 204) when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. It was during the third quarter of 1962 that Tony married Janet Philp, their wedding recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 379), with whom he had two sons. Janet was living at 17 Hollabury in Poughill (near Bude) when she was baptised on 3^rd September 1939, the daughter of Reginald John Philp and his wife Kathleen. Victor Vivian Anthony Collett was 72 years of age when he died on 22^nd December 2010, his death recorded at St Austell

21T46 – Gary Richard Collett was born in 1963 at St Austell

21T47 – Robert David Collett was born in 1966 at St Austell

Harriet Patricia Collett [21S58] was born on 25^th July 1939, was the second child and the eldest of the three daughters of Victor and Ann Collett. Her birth was recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 282), when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. She was 20 years of age when, simply as Harriet Collett, she married Jeffrey Sherman on 1^st August 1959, the event recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 7a 341), and with whom she had three children. John Andrew Sherman was born on 12^th September 1964 and in 1988 he married (1) Judith Seegers with whom he had three children: Sam Oliver Sherman (born on 31^st January 1987) who is now married with two sons; Mia Elizabeth Sherman (born on 2^nd August 1991); and Jago Robert Sherman (born on 29^th April 1995). On 20^th August 2011 John Andrew Sherman married (2) Suzanne Barter (born on 17^th January 1977) and they have one child, Finley Jack Sherman (born on 8^th October 2010)

Jeffrey and Harriet’s second child, Paul Jeffrey Sherman, was born on 27^th October 1966 and he married Sarah Susan Dicker (born on 3^rd November 1967). They have two children, Harry John Sherman (born on 6^th December 1996) and Lois Olivia Sherman (born on 1^st February 2000). Jeffrey and Harriet’s third and last child Clare Jane Sherman who was born on 8^th July 1971, sadly died on 3^rd February 2007. Prior to the premature end to her life, Clare gave birth to two children with Angus Chisholm, and they were Oliver Victor Sherman (born on 19^th May 1992) and Sophie Harriet Hillary Sherman (born on 29^th July 1995). The latter of these, Sophie, and her partner Liam Swain have one child, Isaac Liam Sherman-Swain who was born on 11^th January 2015

Sheila Collett [21S59] was born on 6^th October 1944, the third child of Victor and Ann Collett. Her birth was recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 216) when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. Twenty years later, on 19^th December 1964 the marriage of Sheila Collett and Eric Stanley Dugmore (born on 5^th June 1944, who died on 3^rd February 2014) was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 382). Their marriage produced two children, Christine Dugmore (born on 6^th February 1966) and Jeremy Dugmore (born on 19^th April 1968). Christine Dugmore later married (1) Andrew Perrett in 1986 and they have two children, Ashley Daniel Perrett (born on 28^th December 1988), and Tristan James Dugmore nee Perrett (born on 18^th April 1990). Christine was later divorced, following which she married (2) Vince Iannelli during 1996 with whom she has a daughter Francesca Lucia Ianelli (born on 19^th July 1995.) Sheila and Eric’s son, Jeremy Dugmore, married Donna Malone (born on 23^rd June 1967) in 1994. They have two daughters, Phoebe Elizabeth Ann Dugmore (born on 18^th August 1992) and Polly Dugmore (born on 11^th April 1997)

Margaret Ann Collett [21S60] was born on 5^th March 1946, was the youngest of the four children of Victor Owen Collett and Ann Nicholls. Her birth was recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 5c 182) when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Nicholls. She married Colin George Barclay Sellar on 16^th July 1966 and they have two daughters. Tracy Dorothy Sellar was born on 6^th February 1969 and Jennie Ann Sellar was born on 14^th January 1971. The births of both daughters were recorded at Redruth register office, where their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed at Collett

Molly E Collett [21S61] was born in 1950 with her birth recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 7a 117) during the first quarter of the year, where her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Burley, she being the eldest daughter of Cecil Alwyn Collett and Constance Eva Burley. It was during the spring of 1968 that the marriage of Molly E Collett and Clifford Johns was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 245). Their marriage results in the births of two children; Robert Andrew Johns was born in 1970, and Claire Ann Johns was born in 1973. Both births were recorded at Truro register office, when the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. Robert Andrew Johns married Tera M E Burrows in 1999, and they had Harvey Richard Johns who was born in 2001 and Lowenna Johns, whose year of birth not known. Claire Ann Johns married (1) Andrew D Williams in 1998, but they were divorced, following which Claire married (2) Steven J Smale in 2003, with whom she has two children, a son, and a daughter

Barbara Cheryl Collett [21S62] was born in 1954, her birth recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 7a 118) during the first three months of that year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Burley. The later marriage of Barbara Cheryl Collett and Michael P Ridgway was recorded at St Austell register office (Vol. 21 588) during September 1984, with whom she had two children, Christopher Ashley Ridgeway in 1985 and Anna Louise Ridgeway in 1988

June R Collett [21S63] was born in 1931, possibly in Penryn, and was the daughter of Thomas Leonard Collett and his wife Kathleen H Meek, the child’s birth recorded at the Cornwall Falmouth register office (Ref. 5c 186) during the third quarter of the year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Meek. June Collett was the mother of Lynne Sharp who was still living in Cornwall at the end of 2009. And it was Lynne who kindly supplied the many photographs of the gravestones in the churchyard at Philleigh

Eileen M Collett [21S65] was born in 1927 and was the only child of James Gordon Collett and Mary Elizabeth Goodman. Her birth was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 154) during the third quarter of 1927, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Burrows. Eileen was only eighteen when she married Dixon C Bailey, their wedding recorded at Truro (Ref. 5c 250) during the first three months of 1946

Mary Jacquelyn Collett [21S66] was born at Detroit on 11^th January 1945, the eldest of two daughters of Jack Edwin Collett and Margaret Armstrong. She married Lawrence Carpenter and the couple settled in Fenton in Michigan where their five children were born. By the time of the passing of Mary Jacquelyn Carpenter nee Collett on 6^th July 2005, she and Lawrence had thirteen grandchildren

Judith Ann Collett [21S67] was born at Detroit on 11^th July 1947, the younger of the two daughters of Jack Edwin Collett and Margaret Armstrong. Judith married James Dwight Safford on 18^th August 1972, with whom she has two children. Today Judith and James live at Grand Blanc in Michigan and currently have two grandchildren. It is thanks to the information provided by Judith that the line of her family has been traced back to her great-grandfather Edwin Collett of Truro

William Collett [21S68], was the younger of the two grandsons of Percy and Clara Collett of Detroit, and a younger cousin of Mary Jacquelyn and Judith Ann Collett (above). Although the date of his birth is still not known, it is possible that he was born at Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, where William’s uncle Jack Edwin Collett lived most of his adult life, where his father William also lived. It is known that William Collett of Detroit, was living there in 2010, where he is married with a son of his own

21T48 – a Collett son

Terence George Collett [21S70], referred to as Terry, was born at Gidea Park in Romford during the spring in 1951 and was the son of Clifford Collett and Connie Manwaring. His birth was recorded at Romford register office (Ref. 5a 708) during the second quarter of 1951, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Manwaring. Terry later married Susan Lawson and the marriage produced two sons for him and Susan. Terry established a successful career in education living with his wife Susan in Aylesbury during the seventies and in Milton Keynes since the 1980’s. It was during the 1990s that Terry and Susan separated. However, the extended family continued to live in Milton Keynes. In 2010 and 2011 Terry kindly provided the details of his own family, together with that of his father’s and his grandfather’s, which has enabled this family line to be kept up to date

21T49 – Daniel Benjamin Collett was born in 1978 at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

21T50 – Matthew Thomas Collett was born in 1980 at Northampton

Marjorie J Collet [21T7] was born in the summer of 1925, her birth recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 181) when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Armstrong, the eldest daughter of Ernest Henry Collett and Alfreda S Armstrong. Marjorie was 23 years old when her marriage to Henry J Barnicoat was recorded at Truro (Ref. 7a 575) during the third quarter of 1948

Audrey J Collett [21T8] was born near the start of 1929 and her birth was also recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 164) during the first three months of the year, the younger of the two daughters of Ernest Henry Collett Alfreda S Armstrong. It was at the start of 1954 that the marriage of Audrey J Collett and Albert L Hall was recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 7a 503). Their twin daughters were born just over one year later, when the births of Susan C Hall and Victoria A Hall were recorded at Redruth register office (Ref. 7a 161) during the second quarter of 1955 where their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett

Myrtle Ivy Collett [21T9] was born on 27^th November 1928, her birth recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 167) during the second quarter of the year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Bone. She was the eldest of the three children of Frederick Collett and Hilda J Bone. It was also as Myrtle I Collett that she married (1) Victor W Uden, their wedding day recorded at Bodmin register office (Ref. 7a 1) during the third quarter of 1946. It was there also that her sister was married the following year, and where their father was knowing to be living. The marriage of Myrtle and Victor produced six children, the first five births recorded at Bodmin, the last at Redruth, and in all six cases, the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. The children were Richard J Uden in 1947, Christopher Uden in 1950, Gloria M A Uden in 1953, Denise K Uden in 1956, Mandy Uden in 1961, and Martin Paul Uden in 1966. Not long after the last child was born, Victor appears to have died, with the marriage of Myrtle I Uden and Patrick N Gerry recorded at the Cornwall Camelford register office (Ref. 7a 30) during the first quarter of 1970. Myrtle Ivy Gerry was 74 when she died on 19^th October 2007. When her date of birth was recorded as 27^th November 1927

Phyllis M Collett [21T10] was born within the Truro area of Cornwall in 1929, with her birth also recorded at Truro register office (Ref. 5c 152) during the first quarter of the year, where her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Bone. Like her older sister, Phyllis was also only eighteen years old when her marriage to Barry Barrasin was recorded at Bodmin register office (Ref. 7a 3) during the third quarter of 1947. It was also within the Bodmin area that her father lived later in his life, and where the birth of the couple’s son and first child Denis J Barrasin was recorded (Ref. 7a 11) during the second quarter of 1951, the second Hilda S Barrasin at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 191a) during the fourth quarter of 1958. For both births, the mother’s maiden-name was recorded as Collett

Frederick J Collett [21T11] was born in 1933 and, unlike his two older sisters, it was at Falmouth register office that his birth was recorded (Ref. 5c 148) during the last quarter of that year. Once again, the child’s mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Bone, being the last child of Frederick Collett and Hilda J Bone. Although not absolutely confirmed as Frederick J Collett from Falmouth, in 1954 when he would have been twenty, the marriage of a Frederick J Collett and Gladys M Emery was recorded at the Dorset Poole register office (Ref. 6a 1274) during the first three months of 1954. However, once married, the couple settled in Cornwall, where their five children were born

21U1 – Anthony F J Collett was born in 1955 at St Austell

21U2 – Elizabeth J Collett was born in 1956 at St Austell (Qrt 2 Ref. 7a 192)

21U3 – William J Collett was born in 1959 at St Austell

21U4 – Timothy Collett was born in 1960 at St Austell

21U5 – Heather Dawn Collett was born in 1968 at St Austell (Qrt 1 Ref. 7a 288)

Yvonne Susanne Olivia Collett [21T12] was born at Dusseldorf in Germany on 6^th June 1968, the daughter of Bruce Ivor Nicholas Collett. It was at the Sussex Uckfield register office (Vol. 461 0666) during September 1997 that the marriage of Yvonne Susanne Olivia Collett and Bruce A Rogers was recorded. It is thanks go to Yvonne Rogers for kindly providing the information regarding her father and the others members of her immediate family

Dennis Nicholas Collett [21T13] was born at Hanover in Germany on 11^th March 1971, the son of Bruce Ivor Nicholas Collett, whose birth recorded gave his mother’s maiden-name as Klason, according to the records of the British Army on the Rhine. Dennis is now a married man and has two children

21U6 – a Collett child

21U7 – a Collett child

Lee Ivor Collett [21T16] was born in 1972 and his birth was recorded at Yeovil register office (Ref. 7c 1879) during the first quarter of the year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Budge. He was the second of the two sons of David Ivor Charles Collett and Sheila V Budge. During the summer of 1998, when he was twenty-six years of age, the marriage of Lee Ivor Collett and Claire E Ellard was recorded at Yeovil register office (Vol. 726 0355) during the third quarter of the year. Five years later, the pair of them were living in Warwickshire when Claire gave birth to their only child. The birth of son Ryan was recorded at the Mid-Warwickshire register office (Ref. 7751a a25c) at the end of the summer in 2003, when the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Ellard

21U8 – Ryan Anthony J Collett was born in 2003

Alice Anne Collette [21T17] was born at Lake Charles in Louisiana on 1^st July 1953, the eldest of the four children of Donald Allan Collette II and his wife Anna Dean Connell. In 2013 Alice who is known as Anne, was living in Lake Charles

21U9 – Michael Paul Collette was born in 1983

Allyson Dean Collette [21T18] was born at Lake Charles on 29^th August 1958, the second daughter of Donald and Ann Collette. On 9^th May 1984 Allyson’s widowed mother passed away at Lake Charles, and that sad event took place just ten days before Allyson married Joseph Michael Nixon on 19^th May. Joe, as Joseph is known, is an attorney and former State Representative to the Texas Legislature (1995-2007) who in 2013 practices election law. Allyson, who is a piano teacher, is the person responsible for kindly providing all the new details that has enabled this family line to be extended from Joseph Harris Collett [21P27] where previously there were no information after 1881. In the second decade of the twenty-first century the family was living at Houston, Texas

Allyson presented Joe with three sons during the first five years of their life together, and they were as follows. Nicholas Lowery Nixon was born on 16^th June 1985, and on 9^th May 2009 he married Mary Alison (Ali) Crocker by whom he had a son James Hershell Nixon who was born on 9^th August 2012. Nicholas has a degree in Construction Management from Texas A&M and works for Zachary Construction Company in San Antonio, Texas. Ali earned a law degree from St. Mary's Law School in San Antonio and currently works for the San Antonio District Attorney's office

Stewart Allan Nixon was born on 19^th September 1987 and he earned a Finance degree from Texas A&M and is currently working in Houston for Calpine a natural gas trading company. The couple’s third son is Matthew Joseph Nixon who was born on 28^th June 1989, and he is currently a Film Student at North Texas State in Denton, from where it is hoped he will graduate very soon

Donald Allan Collette III [21T19] was born at Lake Charles on 8^th April 1960, the third of the four children of Donald and Anna Collette. He was known as Don and on 2^nd March 1972 he featured in a newspaper article when he was given his Eagle Scout Award in the company of his mother. He was the third Don Collette to be an Eagle Scout, his grandfather being a Charter Member of Troop 1, the first Boy Scout Troop west of the Mississippi River. He was tragically only fifty-two when died on 11^th April 2012, his obituary being reproduced below

“Donald Allan Collette III, age 52, died Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at home in Cutoff, Louisiana. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, April 14 at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Larose, La. Don will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery. Father Rholando Grecia will be officiating his services. Don was born at St. Patrick's Hospital in Lake Charles, La. on April 8, 1960 to the late Donald Allan Collette, Jr., and Dean Connell Collette. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Gwen Vedras Collette, his daughter, Sophia Augusta Collette, and his son, Noah Allan Collette, his sisters, Alice Anne Collette, and Allyson Collette Nixon, and his brother Hugh Connell Collette, his nephews, Michael Paul Collette, Nicholas Lowery Nixon, Stewart Allan Nixon, Matthew Joseph Nixon, Hunter Connell Collette, Cameron Connell Collette, Max Colin Collette, and his niece Catherine Eileen Collette

Don was employed as a Project Engineer at Shaw Coastal Inc. in Houma, LA. His latest project was working on the Inner Harbour Navigation Canal in New Orleans, LA. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 14 and enjoyed many years of scouting, both as a scout and as a member of the staff at Camp Edgewood. He represented Barbe High School at Boys' State and was the editor of the school paper, The Barbe Wire. Don was valedictorian of a class of close to 500 students at Barbe. He earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge. He followed his father not only in his career field, but also his fraternity, Lamda Chi Alpha

Don was most excited by the achievements of his wife, Gwen and children Sophia and Noah. They were the light of his life. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, and co-workers. Pallbearers will be Noah Collette, Hugh Collette, Hunter Collette, Cameron Collette, Stewart Nixon and brother-in-law, Joseph Nixon. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Collette, Nicholas Nixon, Matthew Nixon, and Steele Viccellio. Visitation will be at Falgout Funeral Home in Cutoff, LA on Friday from 6 pm - 9 pm and on Saturday from 8 am - noon”

21U10 – Sophia Augustin Collette was born on 4^th June 1991

21U11 – Noah Allan Collette was born on 25^th August 1995

Hugh Connell Collette [21T20] was born at Lake Charles on 7^th May 1969, the last of the four children of Donald Allan Collette II and his wife Anna Dean Connell. Hugh’s first marriage produced two sons, but on 16^th September 2000 he married Shawn Shelton with whom he had a further two children. In 2013 Hugh and Shawn are divorced

21U12 – Hunter Connell Collette was born on 5^th October 1990

21U13 – Cameron Connell Collette was born on 10^th June 1994

21U14 – Max Colin Collette was born on 13^th December 2003

21U15 – Catherine Eileen Collette was born on 19^h October 2006

John A F Collett [21T22] was born in 1950 at Plymouth, where his birth was recorded during the first three months of the year (Ref. 7a 655), with his mother’s maiden-name confirmed as Martin. He was the second of the two children of William Albert Haynes Collett and Kathleen Martin. He was only eighteen years of age when the marriage of John A F Collett and Celia M Bray was recorded at Plymouth register office (Ref. 7a 1122) during the second quarter of 1968. Interestingly, twenty-eight years later, the marriage of Robert David Collett [21T47] and Victoria L Bray was recorded at Truro. Their common ancestor was Thomas Collett 1689-1760 [21L2], making John and Robert cousins seven-times-removed

John and Celia were blessed with three daughters, the first of them born around nine months after their wedding day, with all three births recorded at Plymouth register office, when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Bray. Marlene Linda’s birth was recorded towards the end of 1968 (Ref. 7a 612) Suzanna Jane during the first quarter of 1972 (Ref. 7a 1783), and Lisa Marie during the last quarter of 1980 (Vol. 21 1722)

21U16 – Marlene Linda Collett was born in 1968 at Plymouth

21U17 – Suzanne Jean Collett was born in 1972 at Plymouth

21U18 – Lisa Marie Collett was born in 1980 at Plymouth

Terrence James Collett [21T25] was born in Australia in 1948, the son of James Frederick Collett [21S31] and his wife Cecilia Wallis. Terry, as he was known, and his second wife Susan M Attwood lived in Tasmania, and it was Sue who kindly provided much of the information for the September 2011 update of this family line back to Terry’s grandfather James Arthur Collett [21R39] and his twin brother Edward Charles Collett. The photomontage below shows the seven generation of the Collett family from Terry back to William Henry Collett [21P43], the father of Edward Charles Collett [21Q39]

Terry’s daughter Nardi and son Dion came from his first marriage to M Myers, with baby Hayden James Collett (in the photograph above) being Terry’s granddaughter and the son of Dion James Collett. Sadly, on 3^rd September 2014, Terrence James Collett passed away peacefully at the age of just 66. Terry had been poorly for some time but his condition deteriorated very rapidly at the end, after just six days in hospital. His wife Sue has been his full-time-carer during that difficult period in their life together, but that has not stopped her from continuing to supply family details for this family line, as well as many other items of interest relating to other members of the worldwide Collett family

21U19 – Nardi Collett was born before 1980

21U20 – Dion James Collett was born in 1980

Murray Ross Collette [21T32] was born at Baltimore in Maryland on 27^th June 1964, the eldest child of Patrick George Collette and his wife Donna Ross. Murray graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and has since acquired a private pilot’s license which he likes to utilise as much as possible. It was at Merrimack in New Hampshire on 17^th October 1987 that he married Denise Marie Gamache who was born at Nashua in New Hampshire on 17^th December 1962. It was also while the couple was living at Nashua that their two sons were born. In 2013 the family was residing at Merrimack and in May that year their son Brian graduated from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Mathematics. At that same time the couple’s youngest son Kevin was attending high school. It is thanks to Denise that we now know a little more about her family

21U21 – Brian Ross Collette was born on 30^th April 1990 at Nashua, New Hampshire

21U22 – Kevin James Collette was born on 15^th September 1998 at Nashua, New Hampshire

Ronald Stephen Collette [21T39] was born at Edmonton on 1^st May 1959, the eldest of the two children of Donald Alfred William Collette and Mildred Charlotte Moodie. Ronald excelled with his studies and became a Doctor of Medicine, following which he later practiced at Edmonton and Vancouver

Cynthia Collette [21T40] was born at Edmonton, Alberta in 1961, the youngest of two children of Donald Alfred William Collette and Mildred Charlotte Moodie. Cynthia later married Patrick Zelenack and had two children, both born while the couple were living at Edmonton. They were Shaun Zelenack, and Kendra Zelenack who was born there in 1990

David Frederick Collette [21T41], who is known as Dave, was born at Beausejour in Manitoba on 26^th March 1967, the son of Neil Frederick Collette and Linda Fay Sigurdson. David later married Lynda Ann Witty who was born at Russell in Manitoba on 3^rd December 1968. The daughter of David and Lynda was born while the couple were on Curacao, one of the five islands of Netherland Antilles in the Caribbean. David was married for a second time during August 2010, and his father has presented him with a set of gold cufflinks that once belonged to his great-grandfather Edward Charles Collett. And it is thanks to the initial contact from David, together with the subsequent help received from his father, that the line of descendants from Edward Charles Collett to the present day has been added to this family tree. The photograph of Dave shows him flying a Douglas C47 Skytrain during 1989

21U23 – Mackenzie Pauleen Collette was born on 12^th November 1997

Deidre Fay Collette [21T42] was born at Regina in Saskatchewan on 28^th January 1972, the daughter of Neil Frederick Collette and Linda Fay Sigurdson. In her teenage years Deidre was a model and travelled extensively for modelling assignment. For one such assignment she received a commission to work in Tokyo, Japan. She attended Balmoral School for Girls in Winnipeg and then completed a bachelor of science degree at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Following her graduation, Deidre then attended Life College at Atlanta in Georgia, USA where she acquired her Doctor of Chiropractic Degree. However, she never actively practiced her skills since, not long after, she married Arman Glodjo at Chapel Hill in North Carolina, USA on 9^th October 1999 and started a family of her own. The marriage of Deidre and Arman provided the couple with three children who were all born at Chapel Hill; Greer Lalaith Glodjo, who was born on 25^th April 2000, Feanor Finwe Glodjo who was born 8^th September 2004, and Lorian Ahinsa Glodjo who was born on 17^th August 2006. The photograph of Deidre above was taken during December 1995

Richard Francis Peter Collett [21T43], who is known as Peter, was born on 12^th September 1985, the only child of schoolteacher Richard William Collett and his wife Susan Millyard. His birth was recorded at Wycombe register office (Vol. 19 1913) when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Millyard. At the time of writing, Peter’s wedding with Sarah Barker had just been conducted on Saturday 13^th August 2022. Sarah was born in Truro on 21^st June 1991 and she and Peter have a son Richard Arthur Flynn Collett who was also born at Truro on 15^th December 2018. The family currently lives in Penryn, where Peter is a professional actor and a schoolteacher

21U24 - Richard Arthur Flynn Collett was born on 15^th March 2018 at Truro

Jack Vaughn Collett [21T44] was born in Michigan on 28^th June 1938. He was married and the marriage produced five children for Jack and his wife. Jack Vaughn Collett died on 4^th May 1997

21U25 – Jack Collett whose date of birth has not been revealed

21U26 – Michael Collett whose date of birth has not been revealed

21U27 – Carol Collett whose date of birth has not been revealed

21U28 – Patricia Collett whose date of birth has not been revealed

21U29 – Diane Collett whose date of birth has not been revealed

Gary Richard Collett [21T46] was born in Cornwall on 12^th September 1963, the eldest of the two sons of Victor Vivian Anthony Owen Collett and Janet Philp. Like his brother Robert (below), Gary’s birth was also recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 212), when again his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Philp. It was during the month of May in 2002 when Gary Richard Collett married Jerradine C Chua, the event recorded at Truro register office (Vol. 370 1003)

Robert David Collett [21T47] was born in Cornwall on 31^st March 1966, the youngest of the two children of Victor Vivian Anthony Collett and Janet Philp. His birth was recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 203), when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Philp. It was at Truro register office (Vol. 370 1579) during the summer of 1996 that the marriage of Robert David Collett and Victoria L Bray was recorded. Robert has three daughters, plus a granddaughter who was born to his eldest daughter Samantha, that child being Jax Rickard who was born on 23^rd May 2011. The births of Bethany and Evie were recorded at St Austell and Truro register office, when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Bray

Samantha Goudge was born on 19^th January 1990

21U30 – Bethnay Eliza Collett was born on 31^st January 1998 at St Austell

21U31 – Evie Victoria Collett was born on 24^th June 2000 at Truro

Daniel Benjamin Collett [21T49] was born at Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire in 1978, the eldest son of Terry and Susan Collett of Milton Keynes. It was also at Aylesbury register office (Vol. 19 1129) that his birth was recorded during the summer of 1978, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Lawson. Daniel was married to Deborah during the first decade of the new century and their union has produced two sons for the couple

21U32 – Joshua Collett was born in October 2009

21U33 – Jacob Harry Collett was born on 10^th January 2013 at Milton Keynes

Matthew Thomas Collett [21T50] was born at the Barrett Maternity Hospital in Northampton during 1980, the youngest of the two sons of Terry and Susan Collett of Milton Keynes. His birth was recorded at Northampton register office (Vol. 7 2977) during the spring of that year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Lawson. Matthew used to run his own business in Milton Keynes, has worked for an international sportswear company and, from 2011, was working as a kindergarten teacher at Chiang Mai in Thailand, where he now lives with his partner Annie and their son Akira

21U34 – Akira Max Collett was born on 23^rd March 2013 at Chiang Mai, Thailand

Antony F J Collett [21U1] was born in Cornwall near the start of 1955, with his birth recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 178) during the first quarter of the year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Emery. He was the eldest of the five children of Frederick J Collet and Gladys M Emery. He was married twice in his life, the first time to (1) Sally L Oliver when the event was recorded at St Austell (Vol. 21 0390) during the second quarter of 1976. Seven years later the marriage of Antony F J Collett and (2) Pauline A Chapple was recorded at Truro register office (Vol. 21 0437) during the first quarter of 1983. Some after the birth of their daughter Antony and Sally were divorced, and in 1982 the second marriage for Sally L Collett and Clifford G Udy was recorded at Bodmin (Vol. 21 0029) during the first quarter of that year. The births of the later three children of Antony and Pauline recorded the mother’s maiden-name at Truro register office as Chapple

21V1 – Kathleen Marjorie Collett was born in 1977 at St Austell (Qrt 2, Vol. 21 139)

The following are the three children of Antony F J Collett and his second wife Pauline A Chapple:

21V2 – Richard Antony Collett was born in 1985 at St Austell (Qrt 3, Vol. 21 512)

21V3 – Maria Mary Collett was born in 1989 at St Austell (Qrt 4, Vol. 21 134)

21V4 – Rachel Jane Collett was born in 1992 at St Austell (Qrt 3, Ref. 21 344)

William J Collett [21U3] was born in 1959, the third child and second son of Frederick and Gladys Collett, his birth recorded at St Austell register office (Ref. 7a 202) during the first three months of the year, his mother’s maiden-name recorded as Emery. He was twenty-four when his marriage to Jacqueline D Williams was recorded at St Austell register office (Vol. 21 0581) during the summer of 1983. As far as can be determined, they had no children in Britain

Timothy Collett [21U4] was born in 1960 and was the fourth of the five children of Frederick J Collett and Gladys M Emery. His birth was recorded at St Austell (Ref. 7a 197) during the last three months of that year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Emery. Just like his eldest brother Antony (above), Timothy was also married on two occasions, the first time to (1) Ann-Marie Martin and recorded at Camelford register office (Vol. 21 130) during the spring of 1984. Fifteen years later the marriage of Timothy Collett and (2) Deborah J Southwick was recorded at Truro (Vol. 370 1417) during the summer of 1999

21V5 – Maria Roseanna Collett was born in 1988 at Truro (Qrt 1)

21V6 – Lucy Victoria Collett was born in 1989 at Truro (Qrt 2)

21V7 – Kirsty Anna Collett was born in 1993 at St Austell (Qrt 4)

21V8 – Sylvia Rebecca Collett was born in 1994 at St Austell (Qrt 4)

21V9 – James Lewis Collett was born in 1999 at Truro (Qrt 1)

Michael Paul Collette [21U9] was born on 13^th July 1983, the son of Alice Anne Collette. He lives at Shreveport in Louisiana and on 24^th September 2011 he married Laura Anne Deas

Dion James Collett [21U20] was born during 1980, the second of the two children of Terrence James Collett and his first wife, whose maiden-name was Myers. From the earlier photomontage in this file, it seems highly likely that Dion is the father of Hayden James Collett. Towards the end of 2022, Dion was living at Port Lincoln on the Lower Eyre Peninsular in South Australia, overlooking Boston Bay. Having contacted Dion, his father’s second wife Sue (of Victor Harbor) discovered that Dion’s daughter Hayden had just graduated from school and, as in true traditional Aussie style, after their final exams the pupils have a festive weekend at some local holiday resort which, in South Australia, is Victor Harbor to the south of Adelaide, commonly known as “Schoolies weekend”

21V10 – Hayden James Collett was born in 2007

Jack Collett [21U24], whose date of birth is not known, married Cindy

Michael Collett [21U425, whose date of birth is not known, is currently living in California

Carol Collett [21U26], whose date of birth is not known, married Tim Ross

Patricia Collett [21U27], whose date of birth is not known, married Randall J Wilson who was born on 3^rd July 1952. Randall died three months after his fiftieth birthday on 15^th October 2002

Diane Collett [21U28], whose date of birth is not known, married Jim Goodall and is thought to be currently living at Brighton in Michigan

APPENDIX C – The Family of Daniel Collett of St Gluvias

So far, in this family history research, no direct connection to this family line has been found for Daniel Collett of St Gluvias. However, it is hoped that by including the details in this appendix that something may be discovered in due course. Previously the only details known about Daniel had been traced from the IGI and that commenced with the birth and baptism of three of his children by his wife Ann. However, more recent information received from David Collette in the USA has confirmed the place and date of his marriage to Ann

Daniel Collett [21o1a] was married to Anne Pearce of Mylor at St Gluvias on 30^th March 1812. Just following their marriage, the couple initially settled in Mylor where their first child was born and baptised. However, the next four children of Daniel and Anne were all born after the family had left Mylor and while the couple was living within the Penryn parish of St Gluvias. It is also now evident that the fourth child was given his mother’s maiden-name as a forename. Perhaps in the continuous search for work, the whole family eventually left Cornwall, during the late-1820s, and made the move to the county of Somerset, with the last three children of Daniel and Anne born at Batheaston a few miles from the of the city of Bath. It was also at Batheaston that Daniel Collett died and was buried on 4^th April 1838 at the age of 51

By the time of the census in 1841 Daniel’s widow Ann Collett was living at Batheaston in Somerset with six members of her family. Ann had a rounded age of 50, indicating she was born around 1790, while the six children were named as Betsy Collett who was 25, Daniel Collett who was 20, Francis and Grace who were both listed with rounded ages of 15, Sarah who was 10, and William who was seven years of age. After a further ten years, there were only four children still living with 60-year-old Ann Collett from Mylor in Cornwall at Batheaston, and they were Betsy Collett who was 36, Stephen Collett who was 22 (absent in 1841), Sarah Collett who was 20, and William Collett who was 17. Whilst no record of Ann Collett has yet been identified within the next two census returns of 1861 and 1871, it was at Bath that her death was recorded (Ref. 5c 499) during the first three months of 1876 at the age of 82

21p1b – Betsy Collett was born in 1814 at Mylor, near Penryn

21p2b – Daniel Collett was born in 1817 at Penryn

21p3b – Susan Jane Collett was born in 1820 at Penryn

21p4b – Francis John Pearce Collett was born in 1822 at Penryn

21p5b – Grace Thomas Pearce Collett was born in 1825 at Penryn

21p6b – Stephen Seles Collett was born in 1829 at Batheaston, Somerset

21p7b – Sarah Ann Collett was born in 1831 at Batheaston, Somerset

21p8b – William Worthy Collett was born in 1834 at Batheaston, Somerset

Betsy Collett [21p1b] was very likely born at Mylor around 1814, where she was baptised on 28^th January 1816, the daughter of Daniel Collett and Ann Pearce. By the time of the baptism of her brother Daniel (below), Betsy and her parents were living at nearby Penryn within the parish of St Gluvias. By the time of the census of 1861 ‘Betsey’ Collett from Penryn in Cornwall was 46 and a servant living at the home of her brother Daniel Collett (below) and his family, which was a cottage with a garden in London Road at Swainswick within the Bath & Batheaston registration district of Somerset. From that it would appear she never married

Daniel Collett [21p2b] was born in 1818 or slightly earlier, and was baptised at the Church of St Gluvias in Penryn on 5^th April 1818, the son of Daniel and Ann Collett. It is evident that Daniel may have been around ten years of age when his family departed Cornwall and settled in Somerset, where his younger brother Stephen was born in 1929 and where the death of his father was recorded in 1838. That move was confirmed in the census of 1841, which identified Daniel Collett as having a rounded age of 20 when he was living at Stallard’s Lane in Batheaston, where he met his future wife. On that day in June 1841, Daniel was living with his widowed mother Ann Collett, together with his unmarried older sister Betsy Collett (above), and four younger siblings, Francis Collett and Grace Collett not born in Somerset, while Sarah Collett and William Collett had been. Also at the same address were Charles Rich who was 20, Charles Mannings who was 15 (Daniel’s future brother-in-law), and Jane Kill who was 85, all three of them also born in Somerset

It was seven years later, at Batheaston on 6^th November 1848, that Daniel Collett, the son of paper-maker Daniel Collett, married Martha Mannings, the daughter of labourer Stephen Mannings and the sister of the Charles Mannings (above). Both the bride and groom were residing in Batheaston, with one of the witnesses was confirmed as Francis Collett, Daniel’s younger brother (below). That same day, at the same church, Daniel’s younger sister Grace Thomas Collett married Thomas John Saxby, making it a double family wedding, the event recorded at Bath with the same register number (Ref. xi 15). Not long after they were married, Martha presented Daniel with their first child so, by the time of the census in 1851, the family of three was recorded at Batheaston. Daniel Collett was 34, Martha Collett was 30, and their son Francis Collett was two years old

By the time of the census in 1861 when the family was living at London Road in Lower Swainswick just north-west of Batheaston, the marriage of Daniel and Martha had produced five children for the couple. Daniel Collett from Penryn was 43 and an agricultural labourer, his wife Martha was 40 and from Batheaston, and their first three children had been born at Batheaston. They were Francis Collett who was 12, and had already started work as an errand boy, Stephen Collett who was nine and attending school, as was Ann Collett who was seven years of age. The couple’s other two children had been born after they had arrived at Lower Swainswick, where they were living in a cottage with a garden on London Road. Daniel Collett was four and William Collett was two years old. Visiting the family that census day, was Daniel’s unmarried sister Betsey Collett from Penryn who was 40 and a servant

Ten years later they were still living within the Bath & Batheaston district, when Daniel was 53 and Martha was 50. The children still living with the couple were Annie Collett 17, Daniel Collett 14, William Collett 12, and new arrival Sarah Collett who was nine years old. Living separately from the family on that occasion, but living nearby, was their son Stephen Collett who was 19

By 1881 Daniel was 63 and Martha was 60. Daniel’s place of birth was simply Cornwall and his occupation was that of a gardener, while Martha was born at Batheaston near Bath. Living with the couple were two of their three youngest children, they being Daniel Collett who was 24 and a gardener working with his father, and William Collett who was 20 and a general labourer. On that occasion, the family was living at 4 Worcester Villas in the Walcot area of Bath, and the place of birth of the two sons was stated as Swainswick, which is just two miles to the north of Bath. Twelve months after that census day, when Daniel Collett was 64 years of age, he died at Batheaston on 10^th April 1882 and was buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptised that same day, his death recorded at Bath (Ref. 5c 427). After surviving her husband for a further four years, the death of Martha Collett, aged 66, was recorded at Bath (Ref. 5c 440) towards the end of 1886, following which she also buried in the grounds of the Church of St John the Baptist, with her husband, on 28^th December 1888

21r1b – Francis Collett was born in 1848 at Batheaston

21r2b – Stephen Charles Collett was born in 1851 at Batheaston

21r3b – Ann Collett was born in 1853 at Batheaston

21r4b – Daniel William Collett was born in 1856 at Lower Swainswick

21r5b – William Thomas Collett was born in 1859 at Lower Swainswick

21r6b – Sarah Collett was born in 1862 at Lower Swainswick

Susan Jane Collett [21p3b] was born on 31^st January 1820 and was baptised at St Gluvias Church in Penryn on 24^th February 1822, when her parents were confirmed as paper-maker Daniel Collett and his wife Anne Pearce

Francis John Pearce Collett [21p4b] was born in 1822 and was baptised at St Gluvias Church in Penryn on 23^rd June 1822, the son of Daniel Collett and Ann Pearce. The fact that his two-year old sister Susan (above) was baptised at the end of February that same year perhaps is an indication that he was born during the period March to June 1822. It was as Francis Collett aged 15 years that he was listed in the census of 1841, by which time he and his family were residing in the Batheaston area of the City of Bath in Somerset. His father had passed away by then. Eight years later Francis John Collett of Chapel Row in Batheaston married Joanna Stockwell of 12 Sion Hill in Bath, at Batheaston on 18^th April 1849, the event recorded at Bath (Ref. xi 19) during the second quarter of 1849. Francis, a labourer, was confirmed as the son of Daniel Collett, a paper-maker, and Joanna was named as the daughter of gardener John Stockwell. During the previous year, Francis had been a witness at the wedding of his older brother Daniel (above) to Martha Mannings

While no record of the couple has been positively identified in 1851, by 1861 Francis and Joanna were recorded in the census that year as living at Upper Batch in Batheaston close to where Francis’ sister Betsy and his married brother Daniel (above) were both living at that time. Francis from Cornwall was 39 and a labourer, and his wife Joanna was 44 from Milborne Port in Somerset. It has not been determined whether, or not, their marriage resulted in any children, although the childless couple was still living in the same area ten years later in 1871, by which time Francis was 48 and Joanna was 54

According to the next census in 1881 Francis Collett was 58 and was married to Joanna who was 65. At that time the couple were living at Ashley Road in Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. Francis was a shepherd and he gave his place of birth as being Devonport in Cornwall, while Joanna again was born at Milborne Port. Living with the couple was Joanna’s older sister, the widow Elizabeth Billott aged 75 who was also from Melbourne Port

Joanna Collett, nee Stockwell, died just over one year after that census day, her death recorded at Bradford-on-Avon (Ref. 5a 83) during the second quarter of 1882 at the age of 65. The census in 1891 included Francis Collett from Mylor in Cornwall as a widower of 68 and an agricultural labourer and a shepherd, living alone at Ashley Proper near Bradford-on-Avon. Over the next decade he returned to Upper Batch in Batheaston, where he was staying with his nephew Daniel William Collett and his wife Eliza Yeeles, Daniel being the son of Francis’ brother Daniel (above). The census return in 1901 described him as a widower and the uncle of head of the household Daniel Collett, aged 78 and a retired shepherd from Mylor in Cornwall. It was also at Bath that his death was recorded seven years later (Ref. 5c 299) during the third quarter of 1908 when he was 68

Grace Thomas Pearce Collett [21p5b] was born at Penryn during 1825, although by 1841 she was simply named as Grace Collett aged 15 in the census that year when she was living at Batheaston in Somerset with her widowed mother Ann and five of her siblings, her father Daniel having died by then. She was no longer living with her family in 1851 since, three years earlier on 6^th November 1848 at Batheaston, she had married Thomas John Saxby from Batheaston, with their wedding recorded at Bath (Ref. xi 15) during the last three months of that year, the same day and place that her older brother Daniel (above) married Martha Mannings. Grace was the daughter of Daniel Collett, a paper-maker, while Thomas was the son of William Saxby, a labourer. The 1851 census return identified the childless couple living at Charles Street in the Mayfair area of London, where Thomas Saxby from Batheaston was 27 and a policeman, who was a lodger there with his wife Grace Saxby who was also recorded as 27 and from Batheaston, to where she had obviously moved when very young. Over the following years Grace gave birth to six children, while it was at Frome in Somerset (Ref. 5c 309) that her death was recorded during the fourth quarter of 1896 at the age of 72. On both the occasion of her death, and that of her marriage, she was recorded as Grace Thomas P Saxby and Grace Thomas P Collett respectively

Stephen Seles Collett [21p6b] was born at Batheaston in 1829, not long after her parents brought the family from Cornwall to Somerset. It was also at Batheaston where he was baptised on 11^th October 1829, another son of paper-make Daniel Collett and his wife Ann. Why Stephen was not with his family at Batheaston is still to be discovered, however, as simply Stephen Collett he was 22 years old and back living with them at Batheaston in 1851. No record of him or his two younger siblings (below) have been found after that time

Sarah Ann Collett [21p7b] was born at Batheaston in 1831, another daughter of Daniel and Ann Collett, and was baptised there on 1^st May 1831. As Sarah Collett she was 10 years old in the Batheaston census of 1841, when she was living there with her family, and again in 1851 when she was 20

William Worthy Collett [21p8b] was born at Batheaston in 1834 and was the last child of Daniel Collett, a paper-maker, and his wife Ann Pearce. It was as William Worthy Collett that he was baptised at Batheaston on 7^th June 1835. Instead of being six years old in the Batheaston census conducted in June 1841, his age was recorded by his parents as seven years. It was the same in 1851, when 17-year-old William Collett from Batheaston was still living there with his family. Those two events very likely mean that he was one year old when he was baptised

Francis Collett [21r1b] was born at Chapel Row in Batheaston late on in 1848 or early in 1849, the eldest child of Daniel Collett and Martha Mannings, with his birth registered at Bath (Ref. xi 12) during the first three months of 1849. Francis was baptised at Batheaston on 4^th March 1849, when his father was confirmed as Daniel Collett a labourer, residing at Chapel Row. In 1861 he was twelve years old when he was living with his family in a cottage on London Road in Swainswick, from where he was working as an errand boy. Ten years later he had left the family home to make his own way in life. Although not traced in the census of 1871, it was later that same year when Francis Collett married Emma Burns Jones at Holy Trinity Church in Clapham, within the London Borough of Lambeth, on 7^th August 1871. Both the bride and groom were 22 years of age, the bride’s father named as Joseph Burns Jones, while Francis’ father was confirmed as Daniel Collett. During the next nine years Emma presented Francis with three children and by 1881 the family was recorded as living at 9 Richmond Place in Plumstead on the south side of the River Thames near Woolwich

Their first child was born while the couple was living in Nottingham, while the next two were born after the family had initially settled back in Middlesex, London, north of the River Thames. However, around 1880 the family moved again, to 9 Richmond Place in Plumstead, on the Kent side of the river where Francis Collett from Bath and aged 32, was a wood-working machinist in 1881. His wife Emma was also 32, but from Middlesex, and their three children were Francis F Collett who was six, Kate Laura who was three, and Annie Maud who was one year old. Emma may have been in the very early stages of carrying her fourth child on the day of the census, since towards the end of that year another son was added to the family. In addition to that, it seems likely that two more children were born into the family during that decade, although only the second of them survived

So, by 1891, the family residing at Villas Road in Plumstead comprised Francis who was 42 and a carpenter machinist, Emma B Collett who was 41 and born in London, Francis F Collett from Nottinghamshire who was 16 and a labourer at Royal Woolwich Arsenal, Kate L Collett who was 13 and at school, as were all the other children, with Annie M Collett who was 11, Philip S Collett who was nine, and Percy D Collett who six years old. Once again, on the day of that census, Emma was very likely pregnant with the family’s last child, who was born later that same year

Ten years later in 1901 the family was still living in Plumstead, but at Lake Dale Road, with the couple’s eldest daughter married by then. Francis was still employed as a wood-working machinist at the age of 52, the same age as his wife Emma from Islington in London. The children still living with them were Francis, who was listed as Frederick Collett aged 26 from Nottingham who was working as an electrical machinist, Annie who was 21 and born at Kingsland (to the east of Islington, where her mother had been born), Philip who was 18 and a general labourer working at Royal Woolwich Arsenal with his brother Percy who was 16. Staying with the family that day was the niece of Francis Collett, Lily Collett who was nine years of age and born at Batheaston like her uncle, a daughter of Daniel Collett (below), Francis’ younger brother

According to the census in April 1911, the family continued to live in Plumstead, but by then only son Philip and daughter Lily were still living with Francis and Emma. Francis Collett from Batheaston was 62 like his wife, their son Philip Collett was 28, and still living with the family was niece Lily Collett from Batheaston who was 19, Lily May Collett being one of the daughters of Daniel Collett and Eliza Yeeles. It is probably the case, following the death of their youngest daughter Lily Clara Collett, that Francis and Emma were offered Lily May Collett as a replacement. Either that, or maybe to ease overcrowding in the home of Daniel and Eliza, daughter Lily May being one of eleven children

21s1b – Francis Frederick Collett was born in 1875 at Radford, Nottinghamshire

21s2b – Kate Laura Collett was born in 1877 at Hackney, London

21s3b – Anne Maud Collett was born in 1879 at Islington, London

21s4b – Philip Stephen Collett was born in 1881 at Plumstead, London

21s5b – Percy Daniel Collett was born in 1884 at Plumstead, London

21s6b – Lily Clara Collett was born in 1885 at Plumstead, London

Stephen Charles Collett [21r2b] was born at Chapel Row in Batheaston in 1851, the second son of Daniel and Martha Collett, whose birth was registered at Bath (Ref. xi 10) during the second quarter of the year. Stephen Charles Collett was then baptised at Batheaston on 25^th June 1851, when his father was confirmed as Daniel Collett, a labourer of Chapel Row. In 1861 he was nine years old and was living with his family on London Road in Lower Swainswick, but by 1871 at the age of nineteen, he had moved out of the family home and was living and working close by his family in the Bath & Batheaston area of Somerset. Although no record of Stephen has been located within the census of 1881, it was within the next three months that he married Caroline Kate Hutchings. That took place at Westbury-on-Trym in Gloucestershire on 29^th June 1881

Caroline was born at Eling in Hampshire and was baptised there on 30^th May 1858, the daughter of Edward and Jane Hutchings. Three months before she married Stephen Collett, Caroline was employed as a cook at Durdham Down Hide Lodge in Westbury-on-Trym, the home of widow Elizabeth Thomas of Bristol who was a soap manufacturer

Once married, the couple settled in the Clifton area of Bristol where their two daughters were born. The 1891 Census for Westbury-on-Trym in Barton Regis listed the family as Stephen C Collett aged 39 who was a coachman and a domestic servant, Caroline Collett 32, and their daughters Winifred K Collett, who was eight, and Beatrice M Collett who was five. On that day the family was residing at Brighton Road in Westbury. After a further ten years the family was living at Etloe Road, near Westbury Park, to the north of Bristol city centre, where Stephen C Collett, aged 49 and from Batheaston, was employed as a domestic coachman, and his wife Caroline from Totton and Eling in Hampshire was 43. The couple’s eldest daughter was still living there with them, when Kitty W Collett was 18 years of age and working as a tailoress. Their younger daughter, Beatrice M Collett aged 15 was already working away from home as a domestic servant, but was back with her family shortly thereafter

The family was once again together and living at 6 Hughenden Road in Clifton in April 1911, when Stephen Charles Collett from Somerset was 59 and was working as a jobbing gardener. He had been married for twenty-nine years, during which time his wife had given birth to just two children. Caroline Collett from Hampshire was 52, while the couple’s two daughters were described as Kitty Winifred Collett, who was 27 years old and a domestic servant, and Beatrice May Collett who was 25 and a dressmaker, both born in Bristol. The births of both daughters were registered at Barton Regis in Bristol, Kitty Winifred (Ref. 6a 176) in the summer of 1882, and Beatrice May (Ref. 6a 166) near the end of 1885. Kitty was baptised at St Saviour’s Church in Woolcott Park in Bristol on 24^th August 1882, with Beatrice baptised at the same church on 1^st January 1886

Stephen Charles Collett died during the spring of 1920, his death at the age of 69 was recorded at Bristol register office (Ref. 6a 233) during the second quarter of that year. He was survived by his wife by six years, when the death of Caroline Collett was also recorded at Bristol register office (Ref. 6a 7) during the second quarter of 1926 when she was 68. Probate for Caroline Collett of 45 Pembroke Road in Clifton, Bristol, a widow, stated that she died on 16^th April 1926 and that administration of her estate of £109 19 Shillings and 3 Pence was granted to Humphrey George Wyatt Prideaux, a chartered accountant. What is very interesting, is that in the 1911 Census Humphrey George Wyatt Prideaux, aged 24 and a chartered account from Bristol, was also living at 6 Hughenden Road in Clifton, and so appears to have been a possible friend and a lodger with the Collett family

21s7b – Kitty Winifred Collett was born in 1882 at Bristol

21s8b – Beatrice May Collett was born in 1885 at Bristol

Ann Collett [21r3b] was born at Batheaston in 1853, the eldest daughter and third child of Daniel and Martha Collett, her birth registered at Bath (Ref. 5c 411) during the summer of 1853. It was also as Ann Collett that she was baptised on 28^th August 1853 at Batheaston, whose father Daniel Collett was a labourer. By 1861 the family was living at London Road in Lower Swainswick, when Ann Collett was seven years of age

Daniel William Collett [21r4b] was born in 1856 at Lower Swainswick, just north of Bath, the third son of Daniel and Martha Collett, whose birth was registered at Bath (Ref. 5c 758) during the second quarter of that year, but with the forenames in reverse order. However, on being baptised at Swainswick on 3^rd August 1856, the son of labourer Daniel Collet, was given the name Daniel William Collett, when the family’s place of residence was Lower Swainswick. He and his family were living at London Road in Lower Swainswick in 1861, where Daniel was four years, and in 1871 he was 14. By 1881 the family was living at 4 Worcester Villa in the Walcot area to the north of Bath city centre, by which time Daniel was twenty-four and was working with his father as a gardener. It was on 13^th March 1884 that the marriage of Daniel Collett, aged 27, a gardener from Batheaston, and the son of gardener Daniel Collett, and Eliza Yeeles, aged 24 and the daughter of quarry man James Yeeles, took place at Batheaston. Although Eliza was recorded as residing in Batheaston, she was originally from Halt near Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. One of the witnesses at their wedding was Sarah Collett, Daniel’s youngest sister (below)

After their wedding day, they made their home in Batheaston, where all their eleven children were born, the first of them just nine months later. In 1891 Daniel was 34 and an engineer’s labourer, and Eliza was 31, when they and their family were living at Avon Lane in Batheaston. At that time, they had four children, and they were Martha Collett who was six, Frances Collett who was five, Edward N Collett who was four, and Annie Collett who was two years old. During the next decade a further seven children were added to the family, although by the time of the next census in 1901 the couple’s eldest child was not living at the family home

By March 1901 Daniel was still living in Batheaston at the age of 44, where he was working as a general labourer. His wife Eliza, from Kingsdown in Wiltshire, was 41 and she was working as a charwoman to ‘make ends meet’. Nine of their children were still living at home and they were Alice Collett who was 16 and an errand girl, Edward Collett who was 14 and employed as a butcher’s apprentice, Annie Collett who was 12, Albert Collett who was nine, Daniel Collett who was seven, Emma Collett who was six, Frank Collett who was four, Percy Collett who was two, and Frederick who was just one year old. All the children had been born at Batheaston. Missing daughter Frances R Collett was already working by then, and living nearby in Batheaston

Just six children were still living with Daniel and Eliza in April 1911, but at Beech Cottage in Batheaston. Daniel Collett was questionably recorded as being 56, rather than 56, when he was working as a mason’s labourer. His wife Eliza was 51, Edward was 24 and a butcher, Albert was 19 and a carter, Emma was 16 and a domestic servant, Frank was 13 and an errand boy, Percy was 12, and Frederick was 11, both still at school. At that time in their life, Daniel and Eliza had living with them, their grandson Frederick Mills from Bristol who was three years of age. He was either Frederick Edward G Mills (Ref. 6a 45), born during the third quarter of 1907, or Frederick William Mills (Ref. 6a 167) born during the last quarter of 1908. Nothing much is known about the couple’s eldest daughter, so it may be the child of Martha Alice Sarah Collett, who may or may not have been married at the time of the birth. Sadly, no records have been discovered to ascertain the truth of the matter

Towards the end of the Great War, Daniel and Eliza were living at 1 Poplar Cottages in Batheaston, and it was there they received the tragic news that their youngest son Frederick Yeeles Collett had been killed in action during August 1918, just three months before peace was achieved. Just less than ten years later, Daniel Collett of Batheaston died on 14^th January 1928 and was buried at the churchyard of St John the Baptist, when he was 71

21s9b – Martha Alice Sarah Collett was born in 1884 at Batheaston

21s10b – Frances Rose Collett was born in 1886 at Batheaston

21s11b – Edward Nathaniel Collett was born in 1887 at Batheaston

21s12b – Annie Florence Louise Collett was born in 1889 at Batheaston

21s13b – Lily May Collett was born in 1891 at Batheaston

21s14b – Albert Victor Collett was born in 1891 at Batheaston

21s15b – Daniel Collett was born in 1893 at Batheaston

21s16b – Emma Kate Collett was born in 1895 at Batheaston

21s17b – Frank Stephen Collett was born in 1897 at Batheaston

21s18b – Percy Reginald Collett was born in 1898 at Batheaston

21s19b – Frederick Yeeles Collett was born in 1900 at Batheaston

William Thomas Collett [21r5b] was born at Swainswick, near Bath, either at the end of 1858 or early in 1859, with his birth registered at Bath (Ref. 5c 769) during the first three months of 1859. It was at Swainswick where he was baptised on 1^st May 1859, the youngest son of labourer Daniel Collett and Martha Manning of Lower Swainswick. By 1861, when he was two years old, the family was residing on London Road in Lower Swainswick. and was twelve years old in 1871 when, on both occasions, he was living with his family at Batheaston. In the census of 1881 William’s age was given as being 20 rather than twenty-two, at a time when he was working as a labourer, while still living at his parents’ home which, at that time, was at 4 Worcester Villas in Walcot, Somerset

From the later census records, it appears he never married and in 1891 he was living near his brother Daniel and his family (above) in Batheaston at the age of 32, and following the deaths of both of his parents. According to the census of 1901, general labourer William Collett, aged 42, was the only Collett living in the Walcot area of Bath. And it was still in Walcot that he was living in 1911, although, as with the census in 1881, he gave a round age of 50 rather than fifty-two

Sarah Collett [21r6b] was born at Lower Swainswick in 1862 and her birth was registered at Bath (Ref. 5c 689) during the third quarter of the year. Sarah was then baptised at Swainswick on 3^rd August 1862, the last children of Daniel Collett, a labourer living at Lower Swainswick, and his wife Martha Mannings

Francis Frederick Collett [21s1b] was born at Nottingham in 1875, his birth recorded at Radford (Ref. 7b 223) during the first three months of that year. Shortly after he was born his parents moved to London and in 1881 were living at 9 Richmond Place in Plumstead when Francis was six years old. In the following census returns for Plumstead Francis was 16 and 26 respectively. At the time of the latter census in 1901, Frederick Collett from Nottingham was employed as an electrical machinist. It was three years later that Francis Frederick Collett married Jessie Louisa Morgan, the event recorded at Woolwich register office (Ref. 1d 2381) during the third quarter of 1904. By April 1911 the couple was still living in Plumstead but with their five-year-old son Sidney, who may have been the first of many children. Francis Frederick Collett from Nottingham was 36 and a shell turner at Royal Woolwich Arsenal, and his wife Jessie Louisa Collett was 32 and from East Molesly in Surrey. The birth of Sidney Collett was recorded at Woolwich register office (Ref. 1d 1331) during the first quarter of 1906. Staying with the family was Jessie’s widowed mother Caroline Morgan from Rotherham who was 69

21t1b – Sidney Collett was born in 1906 and Plumstead, London

Kate Laura Collett [21s2b] was born at Stoke Newington in Middlesex in 1877, the second child and eldest daughter of Francis Collett and Emma Burns Jones. Her birth was recorded at Hackney (Ref. 1b 442) during the second quarter of 1877. Again, as Kate Laura Collett, she was three years old in the census of 1881 when she and her family were living at 9 Richmond Place in Plumstead, while it was again as Kate Laura Collett that she was baptised at the Church of St John the Baptist in Plumstead on 25th February 1883. Kate L Collett aged 13 years was recorded in the Plumstead census of 1891 as living at the family home which, by then, was at Villas Road in Plumstead, when her place of birth was confirmed as Stoke Newington. It was seven years later that Kate was married

That event was recorded at Woolwich (Ref. 1d 2268) during the second quarter of 1898, where Kate Laura Collett married either George Parkes or Alfred John Hogg. Unfortunately, no record of Kate Laura Parkes or Hogg has been unearthed within the census returns of 1901 or 1911. However, it is possible that her first husband did not survive, since it is assumed that she was married for a second time and was again made a widow sometime before 1929. That year Katherine Shortland was living at 24 Martin Bowes Road in Woolwich, the home of her brother Percy Daniel Collett (below) and his wife Charlotte Elizabeth Holmes, with whom she was also living in 1929, 1934 and 1936

Anne Maud Collett [21s3b] was born on 20^th July 1879 at Kingsland (where Richmond Road intersects with Kingsland High Street in Dalston) just east of Islington, with her birth registered at Stoke Newington (Ref. 1b 437) during the third quarter of that year. By the spring of 1881 Annie Maud Collett was one year old when she and her family were living at 9 Richmond Place in Plumstead, where they were again living in 1891, but at Villas Terrace. The census that year described her as Annie M Collett who was 11, while ten years after that she was still living with her family at the age of 21. Also living in Plumstead at Brewery Road was Annie’s future husband George Ambrose, the son of Alexander and Mary Ambrose, whose birth was recorded at Woolwich (Ref. 1d 1096) during the third quarter of 1879

It was four and a half years later when Anne Maud Collet married George Ambrose at Woolwich (Ref. 1d 2051) during the last three months of 1905. Once married the couple remain in Plumstead where in 1911 George Ambrose was 31 and from Woolwich and his wife Annie Maud Ambrose was 29 (sic) and born at Stoke Newington. The death of Annie Maud Ambrose was recorded at Surrey Northern register office (Ref. 5g 505) during the third quarter of 1972

Philip Stephen Collett [21s4b] was born at Plumstead either at the end of 1881 or early in 1882, since it was at Woolwich where his birth was recorded (Ref. 1d 1241) during the first quarter of 1882. Philip S Collett was nine in 1891 when living with his family at Villa Road in Plumstead and by 1901 he was 18 and working as a general labourer at Woolwich Arsenal when still living at the family home at Lake Dale Road in Plumstead, as he was ten years later in 1911 at the age of 28

Percy Daniel Collett [21s5b] was born at Plumstead during 1884, the son of Francis Collett and Emma Burns Jones whose birth was recorded at Woolwich (Ref. 1d 1263a) during the second quarter of that year. It was as Percy D Collett, aged six years, that he was listed within the Plumstead census of 1891 at Villa Road, Plumstead, and was simply recorded as Percy Collett, who was 16 and a general labourer at Woolwich Arsenal, in the Plumstead census of 1901, living at Lake Dale Road. It was five years later that he married Charlotte Elizabeth Holmes in London on 22^nd December, the marriage recorded at Woolwich register office (Ref. 1d 2257) during the last three months of 1906. Charlotte was the eldest child of Robert and Charlotte Holmes. Less than five months later Percy D Collett from Plumstead was 26 and living within the London parish of St John at Hackney. His wife Charlotte E Collett was 23 and had been born at Bethnal Green, their daughter Evelyn W Collett was two years of age, and their son Stanley P F Collett was nine months old, both born at Hackney. In 1916 Percy Daniel Collett was in military service with the 6^th Division of the Royal Field Artillery, service number 179616, when he was 31 and residing in Kent

Percy Daniel Collett had enlisted with the army in 1915 when the following information was recorded in his Short Service Attestation papers. His home address was 7 Moira Road in Eltham Well Hall, just south of Woolwich. His wife was named as Charlotte Elizabeth Holmes and their four children were listed as Evelyn Winifred Collett, Stanley Percy Francis Collett, Jessie Charlotte Alice Collett, and Queenie Maud Collett. Percy Daniel Collett served in both France and Germany and was injured on the battlefield on 17^th April 1917. However, he survived and was still serving King and Country in 1919, when he was placed on Army Reserve list on 15^th October 1919. His home address on that day was still 7 Moira Road in Eltham Well Hall

According to successive electoral rolls Percy and Elizabeth were living at 24 Grangehill Road in Woolwich in 1927 and two years later their address was 24 Martin Bowes Road in Woolwich. In 1932 Percy and Charlotte had living with them their two children Stanley Francis Collett and Evelyn Winifred Collett, while two years after, when the family was residing at 24 Lovelace Gardens in Woolwich, just their son Stanley Francis Collett was still living with them, together with Katherine Shortland who had also been living with the couple in 1929. By 1936 it was just Katherine Shortland who was staying with Percy and Charlotte and in the last of the electoral roll, for 1939, three people were recorded as living together and they were Percy and Charlotte Collett, and Queenie Maud Collett

While it is confirmed that Stanley, Evelyn, and Queenie were three of the four known children of Percy Collett and Charlotte Elizabeth Holmes, it is likely that Katherine Shortland was Percy’s eldest sister Katherine Laura Collett who had been widowed by 1929. The death of Percy D Collett, aged 61, was recorded at the Lancashire Wigan register office (Ref. 8c 4) during the third quarter of 1945

21t2b – Evelyn Winifred Collett was born in 1908 at Holborn, London

21t3b – Stanley Percy Francis Collett was born in 1910 at Hackney, London

21t4b – Jessie Charlotte Alice Collett was born in 1913 at Hackney, London

21t5b – Queenie Maid Collett was born in 1916 at Lewisham, London

Lily Clara Collett [21s6b] was born at Plumstead in 1885, her birth recorded at Woolwich (Ref. 1d 1194) during the third quarter of the year. Tragically, within the final three months of that same year the death of Lily Clara Collett was recorded at Woolwich (Ref. 1d 698). A few years later her parents offered a place in their home to Lily’s younger cousin Lily May Collett, the sixth of eleven children of Daniel Collett and Eliza Yeeles, who was living with them in 1901 and 1911

Martha Alice Sarah Collett [21s9b] was born at Batheaston in 1884, with her birth registered at Bath (Ref. 5c 629) during the last quarter of that year. She was the first-born child of Daniel Collett and Eliza Yeeles, and was baptised at Batheaston on 28^th December 1884, when her father’s occupation was that of a gardener. In the Batheaston census of 1891 she was listed with her family as simply Martha Collett aged six years. Ten years later it was Alice Collett from Batheaston who was 16 and an errand girl. It is possible that Martha was the mother of Frederick Mills, whose birth was recorded in Bristol around 1907-1908, who was living with her parents as their grandson in 1911, aged three years

Frances Rose Collett [21s10b] was born at Batheaston in 1886, the second child of Daniel and Eliza Collett. Her birth was also registered at Bath (Ref. 5c 636) during the first quarter of the year, after which she was baptised at Batheaston on 28^th March 1886 simply as Frances Collett, when her father was a gardener. She was five years of age in the Batheaston census of 1891 when she and her family were living at Avon Lane in the village. On leaving school at the end of the following decade, Frances entered domestic service and, at the age of 15 in 1901, she was employed at the Batheaston home of architect Samuel S Reay and his family at Stambridge. After a further five years, the marriage of Frances Rose Collett and Thomas William Ricketts was recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 1102) during the third quarter of 1906

According to the next census in 1911, Frances Rose Ricketts from Batheaston was 25, when she and Thomas Ricketts aged 29 and a gardener, also from Batheaston, were living at Bailbrook, very near Lower Swainswick, midway between Bath and Batheaston. By that time, their marriage had produced two sons: Maurice William Ricketts who was four, and Leonard Ricketts who was three years old, both born at Batheaston. All her life appears to have been spent in Somerset, since it was at the county register office that the death of Frances Rose Ricketts was recorded (Ref. 7c 69) in 1964, at the age of 78

Edward Nathaniel Collett [21s11b] was born at Batheaston early in 1887, the third child and eldest son of Daniel Collett and his wife Eliza Yeeles, his birth registered at Bath (Ref. 5c 599) during the first three months of the year. It was on 13^th March 1887 that he was baptised at Batheaston. At the age of four years in 1891, he was recorded with his family at Avon Lane in Batheaston as Edward N Collett whereas, at all other times, he was simply named as Edward Collett. In March 1901 Edward Collett, aged 14, who had been born at Batheaston, was employed as a butcher’s apprentice when he was still living with his family at Upper Batch Batheaston. Ten years later, when he was 24, Edward Collett was still a bachelor at the age of 24, by which time he was a butcher still living with his parents at Beech Cottage in Batheaston

Within the following six months, the marriage of Edward N Collett and Florence Ladd was recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 1057) during the third quarter of 1911. As far as can be determined, Edward and Florence had just one child, their daughter Kathleen R Collett, whose birth was recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 869) during the first three months of 1913, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Ladd. Many years then passed before the birth of their second child, Monica Jean Collett was recorded at Chippenham register office (Ref. 5a 100) with the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Ladd, during the second quarter of 1928. Afterwards, she was baptised at Colerne in Wiltshire on 17^th July 1928, the daughter of Edward Nathaniel and Florence Collett. The later death of Edward N Collett at the age of 53 was recorded at Wiltshire register office (Ref. 5a 121) in 1940

21t6b – Kathleen R Collett was born in 1913 at Bath, Somerset

21t7b – Monica Jean Collett was born in 1913 at Colerne, Wiltshire

Annie Florence Louise Collett [21s12b] was born at Batheaston on 1^st February 1889, the daughter of Daniel Collett and Eliza Yeeles, whose birth was registered at Bath (Ref. 5c 604) during the first quarter of 1889. She was baptised at Batheaston on 31^st March 1889 as Annie Florence Louise Collett, whose father was a gardener. She was simply described as Annie Collett aged two years and 12 years in the census returns for Batheaston in 1891 at Avon Lane, and again in 1901 at Upper Batch in Batheaston. Prior to the next census in 1911 Annie Florence Collett married George William Henry Gingell at Bath in 1909. In July 1910 Annie gave birth to the couple’s first child, Florence Gingell in Bath Widcombe who was nine months old in April 1911. Annie Gingell from Batheaston was 22 and her husband George Gingell from Box in Wiltshire was 25 and a groom and a gardener. On that occasion the family was living in the village of Marldon in Devon, inland and midway between Torquay and Paignton. The family of three later returned to Bath, where they were living when son Frederick R G Gingell was born in the summer of 1918. The death of Annie Florence L Gingell, nee Collett, was recorded at Somerset in 1985 at the age of 96

Lily May Collett [21s13b] was born at Batheaston in 1891 and was one half of a pair of twins, her birth recorded in Bath (Ref. 5c 602) during the third quarter of the year. On being baptised with her twin brother at Batheaston on 11^th October 1891, she was confirmed as the daughter of Daniel and Eliza Collett. By the time of the next two censuses, she was living with her uncle Francis Collett of Batheaston, at his home in Plumstead, London, Francis being the older brother of Daniel Collett. In 1901 Lily was nine years old, and was 19 years of age in 1911, when Batheaston was confirmed as her place of birth, to where she may have returned to be married. One year after that, a Lilian May Collett married Sidney A Garraway, the event recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 1275) during the second quarter of 1912, followed by the birth of twins at the end of that same year. Their births were recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 827) during the final quarter of 1912, when the mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. They were Sidney Garraway and Kenneth G Garraway. Now see below

However, knowing the Lily May was living in the Plumstead area of South London for the first twenty years of her life, perhaps it was there that she was married three years after the 1911 census day. The alternative marriage of Lily M Collett and Willie G Webb was recorded at Woolwich register office (Ref. 1d 2498) during the last three months of 1914. Woolwich is just two miles to the west of Plumstead, so this may be the most likely pairing of Lily May Collett. That marriage also resulted in the birth of two children, their births also recorded at Woolwich register office, when the children’s mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. They were Vera L Webb in 1916 (Ref. 1d 2213) during the first three months of 1916, and Betty R Webb in 1923 (Ref. 1d 2054) during the second quarter of 1923

Albert Victor Collett [21s14b] was born at Batheaston in 1891 and was the twin brother of Lily May (above). His birth was recorded at Bath register office, having the same reference number of his sister. He was baptised in a joint ceremony with Lily, which took place at Batheaston, when they were confirmed as the children of Daniel and Eliza Collett. It was at Upper Batch in Batheaston that he was living with his family in 1901 when he was nine years old and when his twin sister was staying with their father’s older brother Francis Collett in London. Albert and his family were still living in Batheaston in 1911, but at Beech Cottage, from where 19-year-old was working as a carter. Once again, his twin sister was still living with their uncle Francis in London. Seven years later, the marriage of Albert Victor Collett and Dorothy A Fisher was recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 1085) during the fourth quarter of 1918. It seems they had no children, when the premature death of Dorothy A Collett was recorded at Somerset register office (Ref. 5c 575) during 1922. Her widowed husband was still living in Somerset when the death of Albert Victor Collett was recorded there (Vol. 22 0047) in 1976 at the aged of 85

Daniel Collett [21s15b] was born at Batheaston on 26^th June 1893, with his birth recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 582) during the third quarter of the year. He was baptised at Batheaston on 30^th July 1893, another son of Daniel Collett, a labourer, and his wife Eliza Yeeles, and was seven years of age in the Batheaston census of 1901, when living there with his large family at Upper Batch. After leaving school, Daniel followed in his father’s earlier footsteps as a domestic gardener, and it was as such that he was recorded in the Chippenham census of 1911 at Marshfield, when he was 19 years old. “Raiyes the Bothy” appears to be a very grand property where Daniel was one of four domestic gardeners, along with two grooms, chauffeurs. Eight years later, the marriage of Daniel Collett and Beatrice Mundy was recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 1352) during the second quarter of 1919, most likely after he had served King and Country during the First World War. Beatrice gave birth to twins during the spring on 1922, with the births of David R Collett and Florence M Collett recorded at Chippenham register office (Ref. 5a 107), when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Mundy

21t8b – David R Collett was born in 1922 at Chippenham, Wilshire

21t8b – Florence M Collett was born in 1922 at Chippenham, Wilshire

Emma Kate Collett [21s16b] was born at Batheaston on 26^th January 1895, with her birth recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 607) during the first three months of the year. On being baptised at Batheaston on 25^th April 1895, she was confirmed as the daughter of labourer Daniel and Eliza Collett. She was six years of age in 1901 when living at Upper Batch in Batheaston with her family, where she was 16 years old in 1911, by which time she had finished her education and was still living with her family at Beech Cottage from where she was employed as a domestic servant – out, at another residence within the local area. Just under four years later Emma Kate Collett married Hebert Skirton, their wedding day recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 851) during the first quarter of 1915

Frank Stephen Collett [21s17b] was born at Batheaston on 10^th May 1897 and his birth was recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 550) during the second quarter of that year. It was at Batheaston that he was baptised on 8^th August 1897, another son of labourer Daniel and Eliza Collett. As simply Frank Collett he was four years old in the Batheaston census return for 1901, when he and his family were residing at Upper Batch in the village. Again, as just Frank Collett, he was 13 years of age and an errand boy in 1911, when living with his family at Beech Cottage in Batheaston

Percy Reginald Collett [21s18b] was born at Batheaston on 1^st October 1898, the tenth child of Daniel and Eliza Collett, whose birth was recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 526) during the last three months of the year. He was baptised at Batheaston on 25^th December 1898, when his father was employed as a gardener. As just Percy Collett he was two years old in 1901, at Upper Batch in Batheaston, and was 12 years of age in 1911 when he was still attending school, while living with his family at Beech Cottage in Batheaston. It is possible that the marriage of Percival R Collett and May F Philpott recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 893) early in 1922, was indeed the wedding of Percy Reginald Collett, who would have been 23 years old. That couple had three children, their births all recorded at Bath register office, when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Philpott. They were Irene L Collett born in 1922 shortly after the wedding day, Rita J Collett during the summer of 1927, and Dorothy M Collett near the end of 1929. Percy Reginald Collett may have lived all his life in that part of the country, since it was at Somerset register office (Ref. 7c 82) that his death was recorded in 1964, at the age of 65

21t10b – Irene L Collett was born in 1922 at Bath, Somerset

21t11b – Rita J Collett was born in 1927 at Bath, Somerset

21t12b – Dorothy M Collett was born in 1929 at Bath, Somerset

Frederick Yeeles Collett [21s19b] was born at Batheaston on 24^th December 1899, with his birth recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 548) during the first three months of that year. At the age of three months, Frederick Y Collett was baptised at Batheaston on 8^th April 1900. He was one year old in the census of 1901, when the family was living at Upper Batch in Batheaston, and was eleven years of age in April 1911. He was the youngest of the eleven children of Daniel Collett and Eliza Yeeles and he joined the army as soon as he was able, bearing in mind he was only fourteen years of age when the war started. It was as Private F Y Collett 45529 that he was assigned to the 8^th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment. Sadly, he was involved in the final battle push, which was referred to as the ‘Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois’ That was the final Battle of the Somme and commenced on 8^th August 1918 and was concluded with the Armistice on 11^th November 1918

Tragically, it was on the very first day, during intense fighting, that Frederick Yeeles was killed in action at the age of eighteen. The Vis-an-Artois Memorial bears his name in Panel 7; the memorial being covered with the names of 9,000 men who fell during that one battle. The memorial lies six miles south-east of Arras in French. In addition to that the name of F Y Collett is also included on the Batheaston War Memorial

Evelyn Winifred Collett [21t2b] was born in London on 20^th June 1908 and was the eldest child of Percy Collett and Charlotte Elizabeth Holmes, her birth recorded at Holborn register office (Ref. 1b 672) during the second quarter of the year. As Evelyn W Collett she was two years old in the London Hackney census in 1911, while during the war years, the family home was at 7 Moira Road in Eltham Well Hall, just south of Woolwich

Stanley Percy Francis Collett [21t3b] was born at Hackney in London on 24^th June 1910, the only son of the four children of Percy Collett and Charlotte Elizabeth Holmes, whose birth was recorded at Hackney register office (Ref. 1b 492) during the third quarter of 1910. As Stanley P F Collett he was nine months old in the Hackney St John census of 1911. The death of Stanley Percy F Collett was recorded at Greenwich register office (Vol. 12 1022) during the last three months of 1984 when he was 74

Jessie Charlotte Alice Collett [21t4b] was born at Hackney on 6^th January 1913, her birth recorded at Hackney register office (Ref. 1b 961) during the first quarter of the year as Jessie C A Collett whose mother’s maiden-name was Holmes

Queenie Maud Collett [21t5b] was born at 7 Moira Road in Eltham Well Hall within the London Borough of Lewisham on 30^th July 1916, the youngest of the four children of Percy and Charlotte Collett. Her birth was recorded at Lewisham register office (Ref. 1d 1856) during the third quarter of the year, when her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Holmes

Rita J Collett [21t11b] was born during the summer of 1927, when her birth was recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 653), where her mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Philpott. It was during spring of 1947 that the marriage of Rita J Collett and Mervyn A Perry was recorded at Trowbridge register office (Ref. 7c 11677)

Dorothy M Collett [21t12b] was born towards the end of 1929, with her birth recorded at Bath register office (Ref. 5c 602) during the last quarter of the year. Twenty years later, and around the same age as her sister Rita (above) was when she was married, Dorothy M Collett married Reginald K A Robertson and their wedding was recorded at Bathavon register office during the second quarter of 1949 (Ref. 7c 154). The births of their two children were recorded at Bathavon register office, when their mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Collett. They were Brenda J Robertson, born in the summer of 1951 (Ref. 7c 85), and Peter M C Robertson born during the summer of 1954 (Ref. 7c 80)

APPENDIX D – The Rookledge Family Line

John Rookledge [21o1b] was born at Tholthorpe in the North Riding of Yorkshire on 22^nd February 1829. He was married three times, the first marriage producing two children and the second marriage producing the five children listed below. It seems his second wife died in or after 1864, following which he married the sister of his second wife, the wedding taking place in Switzerland. However, by 1881 John was a widower. At that time in early April, he was aged 52 and was a chemist, bookseller and a bank agent living. It is known that the Rookledge family owned the chemist shop in the Market Place in Easingwold over which they lived and which was next door to the George Inn which, rather strangely, was where the census record stated the family was living. Easingwold lies to the north of York, approximately four miles east of Tholthorpe where John was born

Living with John in April 1881 was his daughter Mary E Rookledge aged 19 and his son Frederick aged 18, both having been born at Easingwold. According to the census record, son Frederick was a chemist’s apprentice working with his father. No occupation was given for Mary who must have been acting as housekeeper for her father. In addition to his two children, staying with them was Rose E Rocliffe aged 11 of Birdsall, North Yorkshire, who was described as John’s niece and therefore the child of one of his brothers or sisters. Also living on the Market Place at that time was widower John Rocliffe aged 48, so Rose was most likely his daughter, with his late wife having being the sister of John Rookledge

John Rookledge also employed a second apprentice, Charles R Elliot of Knaresborough, and the household was supported by 18-year-old Mary J Fothergill a general domestic servant of Easingwold. Another son, John Robert Rookledge, aged 16 and born at Easingwold, was a boarder attending the Commercial College in Holgate Crescent at Bishopshill in the St Mary district of the City of York. It would also appear that not far away from the Market Place in Easingwold, John’s sister, the spinster Maria Rookledge aged 51 was living alone at Long Street where she was living on the ‘interest from house property’. At some time later, John moved around the corner from the Market Place in Easingwold to live in a property at Oxenby Close. However, John must have returned to Easingwold where he died on 10^th May 1899

21p1b – Francis E Rookledge was born in 1860 at Easingwold, Yorkshire

21p2b – Mary E Rookledge was born in 1861 at Easingwold, Yorkshire

21p3b – Frederick Rookledge was born in 1862 at Easingwold, Yorkshire

21p4b – John Robert Rookledge was born in 1864 at Easingwold, Yorkshire

Francis E Rookledge [21p1b] was born at Easingwold in 1860 and at the turn of the century he was 40 and was working as a pharmaceutical chemist at Easingwold. It seems very likely that he was the owner of the chemist shop in the Market Place at that time

Frederick Rookledge [21p3b] was born at Easingwold in 1862. He was married and is known to have had at least one child

21q1b – Harold Dalby Rookledge was born in 1892

Harold Dalby Rookledge [21q1b] was born at Leamington in Warwickshire on 22^nd December 1892. At the age of eight years, he was living at Milverton in Warwickshire. There was no listing of his father Frederick in the 1901 Census. He first married Mrs Eleanor Knox (nee Norman born in 1884) at Scarborough on 13^th February 1919 at a time when he was a lieutenant with the British Army. Three years later, on 27^th August 1921, Harold married Elsie Alice Goodwin [21Q2] at Greenwich and declared on the marriage certificate that he was a bachelor, which was not the case as he was not divorced from his first wife. The same marriage certificate also stated that his occupation was that of a managing clerk. However, that was not in fact correct as he was still a serving member of the British Army at that time

It was during their honeymoon that Elsie discovered Harold was still married to Eleanor Knox, so she left him but not before conceiving a son who was born eight months later. Tragically the child, who was born at Greenwich, also died there when only twelve days old. On leaving the army, Harold then enlisted as an airman with the Royal Air Force in 1923, while Elsie went on to partner Charles Harcourt Collett [21Q2] the following year in 1924

Undeterred by his two failed marriages, Harold continued with his polygamous behaviour when he married Mabel Muirhead at Biggin Hill on 3^rd November 1924. Mabel was born in 1893 and died at Aylesbury in 1962. How long that marriage lasted has not been determined, but he later married Nancy Winifred who was born in 1909 and who died at Chippenham in Wiltshire in 1982. Harold Dalby Rookledge had died thirty years earlier in March 1952 also at Chippenham where presumably he and his fourth wife had lived after leaving the air force

21r1b – Robert Charles Rookledge was born on 22^nd March 1922; died 3^rd April 1922