Hi all!
I'm getting very frustrated in my brick wall and I've come here as a last resort (and to make friends with like minded people, of course!!)
My grandfather's parents were Thomas Herbert Collin (known as Bert) and Florence Bell. I have this information from my grandfather, who is quite sure. My grandfather is the youngest and sadly the last left of 5 children - Mable (1916), Tom (1918), Cyril (1920), Mary (1926), Eric (1927) (and then Maurice, 1935). Granddad was born and raised in Lincolnshire and he believes the rest of them were, too, but he couldn't tell me anymore than that.
My grandfather recalls his dad as being "old" when he died, of which he apparently died at work, struck by a car in his role as a roadman for the council! I know Bert and Florence married in 1916 from a record I have found but other than that..... I know nothing.
Granddad doesn't know his grandparents names and there is nobody else left to ask! I'm going prematurely grey trying to trace my grandfather's side of the family back.
I've searched everywhere for family for the two - now, I have found a marriage record that shows Bert's dad being Tom, and Florence's dad being James Frederick Bell.
It also shows Florence was born in 1892 and that Bert was born in 1874 (he is also listed as a widower, and I believe his ex wife was called Kate and he may have had a daughter called Clara, but I'm unsure about this, may have chased someone else's family for all I know at this point!!!).
As far as I can tell, James Frederick Bell isn't on any census' with his daughter. In fact, I'm almost convinced it's a fake name or the name of her brother, but I don't want to make any assumptions. I've found a family with a Florence Bell b 1892, a brother names James Frederick Bell.... but the parents are John and Elizabeth Savage, and I can't find a record for Elizabeth and a Mr Bell.
On a similar branch, I've no idea where to begin with deciding which Tom Collin is the right Tom Collin - I find myself going down a rabbit hole and then suddenly.... I don't think it's the right one.
I'm hoping someone can help me with this one, I've been searching for them for a good few years now!! I would be really grateful if someone could point me in the right direction for this, please. I've managed to trace every branch except these two so I'm starting to get quite frustrated.
All the best,
Charleigh
