The 1891 census for York Infantry Barracks has Andrew Collins, private, aged 20, born Kerwin Cornwall. This must be Albert.
Thanks again, Shaun.
Having now found my way to FreeCEN, I am having some luck with retrieving further information there - only just started, first 1871 gave me a few more details, finds them running the Ship Inn (now Victoria Inn, and still there), in the Threemilestone district, and now I have just found James aged 17 in the 1851 Census:
Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
COCK James Head M M 48 Builder (Employing 2 Men) Cornwall - Truro
COCK Jane Wife M F 47 Cornwall - Truro
COCK William Son U M 20 Printer Cornwall - Truro
COCK Edward Son U M 19 Grocer Cornwall - Truro
COCK James Son U M 17 Teacher In British Schools Cornwall - Truro
COCK Joseph Son U M 15 Painters Apprentice Cornwall - Truro
COCK Jane Dau U F 12 Cornwall - Truro
COCK John H Son U M 9 Cornwall - Truro
WEBBER Mary Servnt U F 20 House Servant Cornwall - Truro
- So now that I'm on a roll, I'm going to work on finding what I can online with regard to the Cornwall life of the family, and then come back to the London moves.
One thing that struck me is that Albert is only about 7 when his father dies; I have yet to follow up on his mother, but perhaps Emily (Kate) became a kind of surrogate mum, and if her possibly older husband a father to Albert?
- I'll return once I have more definite info and some of the timelines sketched out and see where that leads.