Collins family

[nelwild]

Hello

Im wondering if anyone can help me with a family called Collins that im really struggling with.

Walter Matthews,travelling hawker married Nancy Collins in Maidstone,Kent Sept quart 1885.

On the 1881 is Nancy Collins born 1866 Maidstone.Her siblings were:

James born 1863 Sheerness.

Esther born 1869 Burwash,Sussex.

Henry born 1872 Bath,Somerset.

Francis(Frank) born 1877 Thackham,Kent.

William born 1880 Rotherfield,Sussex.

Parents were Francis Collins born 1836 Hangman,Sussex and Ann born 1837,possibly Chichester.Both travelling hawkers.

Theres a marriage in Maidstone for Frank Collins/Ann sept quart 1852 and one in Westhampton,Sussex 1861.

I havent been able to confirm either of these from the census.

Ive got Francis/Ann on 1901 with William still living with them.

Next door is Frank(Francis).His wife is Amy born 1876 Friers Gate,Sussex. 

The only potential marriage i can find for Frank/Amy is to an Amy Mobey tonbridge sept quart 1895.

So far as im aware,Mobey isnt a traveller name,and there are no Amy Mobeys that seem to fit the bill on census.

A similar name in the area is Gobey,they were travellers,theres an Amy Gobey born 1870 marrying Joseph Brazil.

Despite searching for hours,this is all ive been able to find,so these are turning out to be as elusive as Mathews.

If anyone can find anything ive missed ,however small,or confirm any of this,id be really grateful.

Many thanks,nel.

[CatOne]

According to the 1901 census for Amy, she was born c1876, and there is the birth of an Amy Mobey in 1876 -

Amy Mobey December 1876 Fulham Vol 1a Page 269

Frustratingly can't find her on the censuses though! 

[nelwild]

Thanks Catone,that potentially gives me a bit more.

Looks like it might be a case of more certificates

Nel.

[CatOne]

This looks like your family in 1871, enumerated "Cullins" -

RG10/1247 Folio 50 Page 33
No Fixed Residence, Thatcham, Berkshire
Francis Collins age unreadable (could be 36) Travellers Kent Maidstone
Ann 36? Kent M....worth
Francis age unreadable Kent Ashford
Thos? 8 Sussex Elso....e
Jas? 6 Kent Sheerness
Nancy 4 Kent Maidstone
Esther 6mo Sussex Barwash?

Regards
Cat 

[CatOne]

In 1851 theres a Francis Collins Traveller 19 Ag Lab Kent "Marding" (Marden?), in a lodging house with other traveller Ag Labs - Basonwell Street, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire HO107/1676 Folio 62 Page 37

[CatOne]

You say, as far as you are aware, Mobey isn't a traveller name, but have a look at this traveller "Moby" family in 1881, in neighbouring caravan is the Light family (and in the Fulham area where Amy Mobey's birth was registered) -

RG11/72 Folio 32 Page 11
Caravan, Victoria Yard, Garden Row, Fulham, London
John Moby 21 General Dealer Middlesex Fulham
Betsy 22 Kent
Amelia? 8mo Middlesex Fulham

In 1871, John is with his parents John and Amelia, and siblings Caroline, Alfred, William and Riley, at 5 Melson? Street, Fulham (his dad John is Chair Caner and mum Amelia is a Hawker) RG10/67 Folio 90 Page 39 (Alfred Mobey married Emily Bone in Fulham 1884)

ps. Riley Mobey died Sept quarter 1874 age 4 Brentford 3a 57

[CatOne]

I was wondering if Amy was maybe John (age 61, Horse Dealer born Shepherds Bush London) and Amelia's daughter (Amelia age 60, Hawker, born Todly? Kent). In 1901 they have a 16yr old granddaughter Amelia living with them (Hawker, born Fulham) + 2 servants William Hodges and Charles Stenning?
97,99,101 Earlswood Road Waste Ground, Caravan, Reigate, Surrey
RG13/627 Folio 85 Page 34

Looking for them in 1881 and 1891....

ps. Amelia, the granddaughter, is with her parents Alfred and Emily (nee Bone) in 1891 -

Alfred Mobey (transcribed "Mabey") 28 General Labourer Fulham
Emily 26 Fulham
Amelia 6 Scholar Fulham
John 3 Fulham
Emily 6mos Fulham
RG12/52 Folio 84 Page 52
48 Bullow Road, Fulham, London

[nelwild]

Catone,

many thanks for all this.I hadnt seen the 1871 Collins entry,so that takes me a bit further.

The Moby entries are very intresting.Ive had a look round,and there are lots of travelling Mobeys,but this is the first time ive come across them.

The 1881 entry for Amelia,daughter of John and Betsy looks a very tempting candidate,the only thing thats putting me off is my Amys born 1876,this one is born 1880.

But then theres a registration for 1876 in that area.

Why would they have given their daughters age as nearly one if she was in fact five.And could they have done that?Would the enumerater have needed to see her?Im not really sure how it worked.

One clue is that John and Betsy didnt marry until Dec Quart 1879.This would have put there daughters  birth just after their marriage.

Would birth before marriage,and at 16 years old,have been frowned on then?

And would they have cared what the enumerator thought?

All these things im wondering about at the moment.

Betsys maiden name was Hearne,a well known traveller name.Ive been unable to find a Betsy or Elizabeth under any Herne variation who fits a traveller profile.

There were lots of traveller Hern/es in Kensington at that time as there was a large encampment at Notting Hill,even a Betsy Hern born 1866,but shes still with parents in 1881,so i keep searching for her,will post seperatly

John Mobeys wife was Amelia Huxley a/m/j 1859 kensington.Cant find anything that looks like her either.If Huxleys a traveller name its another ive never heard of.

Theres a 1901 entry for a William Mobey born 1870 Middlesex travelling hawker with several kids born Tunbridge Wells where my Frank Collins/Amy were married.Im wondering if this is Johns brother,though the age is four years different.

Some of the other travellers there are Davis.Caroline Moby married a Henry Davis,hawker.

Im going to have another trawl round now,any more thoughts and assistance greatly appreciated,

Many thanks,nel.

[Steve G]

John Mobeys wife was Amelia Huxley a/m/j 1859 kensington.Cant find anything that looks like her either.If Huxleys a traveller name its another I've never heard of.

Theres a 1901 entry for a William Mobey born 1870 Middlesex travelling hawker .....

Some of the other travellers there are Davis. Caroline Moby married a Henry Davis, Hawker.

 Nel; In case ye wondering? Bob doesn't mention " Mobey / Moby " or " Huxley ".

 But, then; Ye own research appears to have the former down as Gypsy names?

 Once again then, a classic case of showing how The Book can be great, for adding a bit to what we may know. But, that finding nothing within actually proves nothing.

 Keep on digging, farmhouse