Family Mystery: Looking for information on COLLINS family Greenock 1870s-1880s

[KeithMcNulty]

Thank you!  That Belfast record is clearly the Eliza I am looking for.  That's given me a great lead - really appreciate it.

I have a record for Denis Collins on Ancestry here: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/58238411/person/32042472339/facts, including various censuses, military, death.  No record of his first and second family mixing.  Its seems that they were completely separate.

That 1871 census transcription is erroneous, the actual document clearly lists Eliza as being born in Mauritius and Mary Ellen in England.

Denis was in the 55th regiment so I am not minded to think that the one in Portsea is the same one - the name is not uncommon in Ireland around the time.

Really appreciate your help!  Still trying to better understand context for why at least one of the girls would end up in an orphanage given she wasn't short of immediate family.

[Forfarian]

Denis was in the 55th regiment so I am not minded to think that the one in Portsea is the same one - the name is not uncommon in Ireland around the time.

No, but according to the 1901 census he was born in Co Cork, and his discharge papers say tht he was born in Dessart, near Bandon, Co Cork. Could he have transferred to the 95th? Or is there a transcription error? I wouldn't dismiss him out of hand.

[aghadowey]

Lots of Belfast records are online s it was fairly easy to trace the Williamson family there (more children than in 1901 census) and unfortunately makes for very sad reading.

William Williamson (c1858-24 Apr.1912, 59 Kenbaan St.) m. Elizabeth Collins (c1860-13 Dec.1908, 46 Epworth St.)
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Pottinger/Kenbaan/1261651/ (all born Belfast)
1903- 61 Spring St.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1908/05481/4535058.pdf
(Elizabeth) https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=6135.34125
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Pottinger__part_of_/Kenbaan_Street/221742/
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1912/05367/4496874.pdf
(William) https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=7927.7504
1. Mary Ellen Williamson (c1887-16 May 1903 Workhouse)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1903/05664/4595136.pdf
https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=6433.21602
2. William Williamson (c1889-aft.1912)
3. Albert Williamson (8 June 1891, 48 Chatsworth St.-19 Apr.1895 Ulster Hospital)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1891/02381/1888610.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1895/05934/4685561.pdf
https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=6361.9290
Belfast Newsletter, 20 Apr.1895: FATAL ACCIDENTS. An inquiry was held into the circumstances attending the death of Albert Williamson, aged four years, who succumbed to burns yesterday morning, received on Wednesday night, at his parents' residence, 8 Calvin Street…
4. Bella Williamson (24 Sept.1893, 8 Calvin St.-20 Mar.1908, 46 Epworth St.)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1893/02285/1857886.pdf (Eliza Bella)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1908/05507/4543394.pdf (Isabella)
(Eliza Bella) https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=6127.33478
?5. Rebecca Williamson (31 Dec.1895, 32 Solway St.-19 Sept.1897, 32 Solway St.)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1896/02186/1827419.pdf (father- James Williamson fitter, mother- Elizabeth Jones)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1897/05858/4660517.pdf note: listed as daughter of James Williamson engineer but informant father William Williamson
https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=6475.10788 (buried in same plot as Elizabeth (Collins) Williamson)
6. Jane Williamson (6 May 1897, 24 Epworth St.-1 Jan.1900, 17 Beechwood St.)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1897/02132/1809865.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1900/05774/4632465.pdf
https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=6511.15139
7. Alexander Williamson (22 May 1899, 42 London St.-23 Nov.1899, 42 London St.)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1899/02032/1779067.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1899/05783/4635491.pdf
https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialRecordDetails.aspx?RecordID=6509.14949
8. Andrew Williamson (8 Nov.1900, 7 Kenbaan St.)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1901/01968/1758984.pdf

The son William was alive in 1912 but haven't found any further trace of him in Belfast. Youngest child, Andrew, not spotted in Belfast deaths & I can't see him in 1911 Irishcensus (even under initials in case in some institution)

[aghadowey]

William born 17 Feb.1889, 40 Newcastle St.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1889/02488/1923327.pdf

[KeithMcNulty]

Yes, I'm starting to see all these death records - looks like pretty close to a whole large family is just wiped out.  What a sad story.  Thanks for all the details.  This might also give some leads on where Mary Ellen and Matilda (Eliza's sisters) might have ended up.  Certainly Eliza seems to have named one of her daughters after her younger sister.

[aghadowey]

Who are listed as parents of William Williamson on marriage certificate? this might help track down sons William & Andrew. Andrew was certainly might have gone to stay with relatives as he was only 7 when his mother died and she was likely unwell a good while before that.

[KeithMcNulty]

Parents listed as Alexander Williamson, Stone Cutter (Deceased) and Jane Williamson (MS Giles) (deceased) - so that's probably a no go. 

Fascinating that Rebecca's parents are listed so specifically as James Williamson and Elizabeth Jones, but then the informant is actually William Williamson and the child is buried with with the family.  Was the registrar just bluffing his way through it?

[KeithMcNulty]

I think this is high probability for William Junior (died 18 October 1932 aged 43 years):  https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialSearch.aspx?GraveSection=J1&GraveNumber=121&CemeteryName=City%20Cemetery%20-%20Glenalina%20Extension

[aghadowey]

1932 Belfast directory lists 11 Station St. as Model Lodging House so no clues there.
https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/scomplete1932.htm

William' parents married 1850-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1850/09384/5398885.pdf
Don't know how Family Search are now messing up records that used to be accurate but this reference gives place of marriage "Belfast, Belfast, Transvaal, South Africa" in the collection Ireland Civil Registration, 1845-1913 
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL34-3NGP

You can view the 1932 death certificate for William Williamson on GRONI's site (5 credits=£2.50)