RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Capris on Tuesday 11 June 19 11:50 BST (UK)
-
Hi all, I’m trying to find information on my Collins family but there’s loads of them. On ancestry site it can take you to all different Collins families how on earth can you find the right one 🤔. I’ve spent ages going through loads of sites / records , my family where always closed lipped never talking about their past , just would love to know where I come from .
-
Welcome to rootschat sammy20
You need to work backwards from what you know about your Collins line, perhaps if you post on here where you are stuck and we can see if we can help. Presumably you have birth and marriage certificates for your family, don't post any information on anyone still living.
-
Welcome to rootschat sammy20
You need to work backwards from what you know about your Collins line, perhaps if you post on here where you are stuck and we can see if we can help. Presumably you have birth and marriage certificates for your family, don't post any information on anyone still living.
And welcome from me too. Great advice here from Rosie, just start with what you do know.
As she's said, don't post living people, but give us much detail as you have, including names of brothers and sisters of relatives and where they lived if you know.
Perhaps I should add, if you give us some details, we may be able to answer your question about how to find YOUR Collins family amongst the many!
Lots of people here ready to have a go to help
-
Thank you for the warm welcome 😀 I must admit I don’t know much, the more I research the more I get lost in the dates . So here goes
My grandparents
Patrick Henry A Collins born Stepney London 1907-1962 died in Bethnal Green London
Marriage found for marriage to Annie Hutchins 1914-1992 but the names mixed up says Henry Patrick A Collins on cert in 1935 popular London , I’m guessing it’s just a mistake .
An online certificate for Patrick Henry A Collins lists a mother maiden name as Sullivan.
A possible father Henry Collins 1886 but then there’s loads of possibilities of fathers for Patrick.
I’m going to order a birth certificate for Patrick H A Collins will it tell me he’s father and mother’s full
Names ? Patrick and Annie had 9 children only 3 are still alive today. So after months of researching I haven’t got very far .
-
Hello Sammy, and welcome from me too.
On the GRO website you can search for births, which gives this possible:
Patrick Henry Arthur COLLINS birth registered September quarter 1907 at Stepney (01C/370) and mother's maiden name SULLIVAN. If you ordered this certificate (or if you have seen it online) then hopefully the info contained will confirm whether it is your grandfather.
Other childen registered at Stepney that have the name COLLINS and SULLIVAN include Kathleen Esther in 1912, Grace Annie in 1903 and Elizabeth Matilda in 1902. Do you know of any of your grandfather's siblings?
Based on the names above, it is possible that this is the family in the 1911 census at Limehouse:
Henry Collins 35 Poplar, London (gas works labourer)
Elizabeth Sullivan 31 Stepney, London
Elizabeth Collins 9 Limehouse, London
Grace Collins 7 Limehouse, London
Henry Collins 3 Limehouse, London
John Collins 1 Canning Town, Essex
GBC/1911/RG14/01554/0295/5 (page 1)
(Possible birth for John registered at West Ham 1909)
-
Marriage found for marriage to Annie Hutchins 1914-1992 but the names mixed up says Henry Patrick A Collins on cert in 1935 popular London , I’m guessing it’s just a mistake .
Looking at other online records I think he used HENRY as his preffered name.
An online certificate for Patrick Henry A Collins lists a mother maiden name as Sullivan
COLLINS, PATRICK HENRY ARTHUR, MMN SULLIVAN
GRO Reference: 1907 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 370
A possible marriage for his parents
Marriages Jun 1901, Stepney 1c 611. Henry Collins/Elizabeth Matilda Sullivan.
And possible siblings
COLLINS, ELIZABETH MATILDA SULLIVAN
GRO Reference: 1902 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 395
COLLINS, GRACE ANNIE SULLIVAN
GRO Reference: 1903 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 380
COLLINS, KATHLEEN ESTHER SULLIVAN
GRO Reference: 1912 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 620
-
Posts crossed maddys52 but at least we both agree on the probables.
I didn't realise we could now post 1911 census, good to know.
-
Buried Tower Hamlets.
Name: Patrick Collins
Age: 55
Birth Date: abt 1907
Burial Date: 31 Dec 1962
Burial Place: London, England
Reference Number: CTHC/01/118-122
-
Was just about to post the same possible marriage of Henry and Elizabeth, agree with you libby ;)
(I think it's ok to post the transcription of the 1911 census that appears on familysearch as it's available and free to search now.)
-
Was just about to post the same possible marriage of Henry and Elizabeth, agree with you libby ;)
(I think it's ok to post the transcription of the 1911 census that appears on familysearch as it's available and free to search now.)
Thank you for the 1911 info, Maddy, I wasn't aware.
-
UK, Royal Air Force Airmen Records, 1918-1940
Name: John William Collins
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Birth Date: 6 Jul 1909
Birth Place: West Ham, London, London, England
Service Date: 6 Jun 1928
Service Number: 508731
Next of Kin: E Sullivan
Relation to Airman: Grandmother
Corresponding baptism
St Matthew, Limehouse Fields, Tower Hamlets. John William Collins son of Henry a labourer and Elizabeth Matilda, Born 6 Jul 1909, Baptised 28 Jul 1909
The Airforce record for John William tells you that Patrick Henry's maternal Grandmother's first name begins with E, which is some help.
I think it a good idea to get Patrick Henry Arthur's birth cert just to be absolutely certain you follow the right ancestors.
-
Marriage St Matthew Stepney, Apr 7th 1901. Henry Collins, 25, father Henry dock labourer. Elizabeth Matilda Sullivan 22, father Patrick steamship worker. Witnesses William Thomas Ford, Louisa Wilks.
-
Posts crossed maddys52 but at least we both agree on the probables.
I didn't realise we could now post 1911 census, good to know.
We are only allowed to post the information that is available from a 'free search' this is usually done by us using familysearch website which does not need a subscription to view :)
-
Based on the names above, it is possible that this is the family in the 1911 census at Limehouse:
Henry Collins 35 Poplar, London (gas works labourer)
Elizabeth Sullivan 31 Stepney, London
Elizabeth Collins 9 Limehouse, London
Grace Collins 7 Limehouse, London
Henry Collins 3 Limehouse, London
John Collins 1 Canning Town, Essex
GBC/1911/RG14/01554/0295/5 (page 1)
This is what a found too but on the 1911 census it’s missing Patrick Henry A Collins, as he was born
In 1907 surely he would be on it 🤔. Thank so much everyone for all the replies wow how quick you all are on finding possible match’s most if them have taken me ages to get that far lol. There’s a few names I haven’t seen before so shall check them out.
I never meet my grandad he died before I was born so don’t know of any siblings he had.
My daughter married a traveler and he’s family say they knew my deceased father whom was also a
traveling man, news to me ! So hence why I’m trying to find out if I have gypsy roots .
(Possible birth for John registered at West Ham 1909)
-
Is he not listed as Henry age 3 :-\
-
Oh yer thanks Rosie can’t believe I missed that as I was looking for Patrick but they often use their
middle names too. I’m going to order Patrick Henry A birth certificate today hopefully it will have the names of both parents of Patrick.
-
I assume you know you can get a PDF copy of the entry from the GRO cheaper than a paper certificate
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp
-
I noticed a John Collins aged 1 on the 1911 census, my late uncle was also called John , so could
Be on the right track as families tend to use the same names after relatives.
-
Thank you Rosie I’ll be using your link to order the birth certificate 😁.
-
Just ordered the birth certificate for Patrick using your link Rosie 🙂 it was easy to use thanks again,
I should have it within 2 weeks fingers crossed, it only costed 14 pounds .
-
That sounds expensive you should have been able to get the certificate for £11 as you had the details required to order it.
COLLINS, PATRICK HENRY ARTHUR,
MMN SULLIVAN
GRO Reference: 1907 Sept Quarter in STEPNEY
Volume 01C Page 370
-
Oh I thought it was cheap , other sites wanted 25 pounds . Well it’s done now just hope its got the relevant information I’m after 😀. I’m already feeling more positive in my search after help from you guys on the site seem to be matching most of the info I’ve also been finding. It’s helpful to know people change to using their middle names at times, I thought you had to stick to first names only in the right order when searching for ancestors.
-
It should have the information you need :)
The PDF is the cheapest option which is a copy of the full entry but it is not mounted on the certificate backing and best value if you only want it for FH purposes. It is only available for some years births and deaths though.
Always purchase UK BMD certificates directly from the GRO or the local register office, the other sites are only offering the identical document that they will buy from the GRO then sell on to you at inflated prices.
Let us know when it arrives :)
-
Great advice Rosie cheers for that 😀 I will definitely update when I get the birth certificate through the post . Can’t wait to start finding answers to the mysterious Collins family of London .
-
It does get addictive ;D
-
Sure is addictive I’m on a John Collins now 1931 born in Ireland possibly Henry Collins father lol I’m getting a headache from all the reading and searching. John Collins married Ellen Connell in 1859 😬
I thought with the name Collins it would lead to Ireland .