William Collop 1847

[bobtonks]

William Collop was born in Essex in 1847 to James and Sarah Collop. In 1851/1861 he was living in Harlow with his parents.
In 1871 he was living with his wife Emma (1844) and son Frederick George (1870) in Needingworth.
In 1881/ 1891 living with Emma and family in Chapel Street, Needingworth, St Ives, Hunts.
In 1901 the family had moved to Impington Cambridge.

I believe that Emma was born Emma Smith and lived with her parents in 1851 in Needingworth and in 1861 worked as a servant at 2 Mount Street, St George, Hanover Square, London.

Can anyone see their marriage?

[rosie99]

Birth registration confirms mmn Smith but it is an amended registration
COLLOP, FREDERICK  GEORGE     SMITH 
GRO Reference: 1869  D Quarter in SAINT IVES UNION  Volume 03B  Page 272 
Occasional Copy: A

[Milliepede]

Sorry not finding a marriage for them. 

[bobtonks]

Thank you for looking. At least I am now reasonably sure that Emma's name was Smith. I will keep looking for the marriage, but it is beginning to look more likely that  they never actually married.

[DCB]

I can't find one either. Perhaps unconventional and not married, looking at some some newspaper reports.

Cambridge Independent Press 23 March 1878
Somersham, and Joseph Norman, Emma Collop, Emma Morley. and Abraham Prime, of Needingworth, were all charged with neglecting to give their children sufficient instruction. Order made that the children be sent to school at once.

Cambridge Independent Press 19 July 1879
William Collop, Joseph Norman, and Rebecca Mansfield, Holywell, were charged with neglecting to comply with the Education Act, by sending their Children to school. The usual orders were made.

Cambridge Independent Press 18 November 1882
William Collop, Robert Circus, and Joseph Norman, of Holywell, were also charged with a like offence (not sending children to school).— Adjourned to November 13th inst.

Cambridge Independent Press 01 August 1885
William Collop, of Holywell-cum-Needham, was summoned by Mr. Wallingford for neglecting to send his child, Henry Collop, to school -fined 2s 6d
COLLOP, HENRY mmn SMITH 
GRO Reference: 1877  D Quarter in SAINT IVES  Volume 03B  Page 301

David

[Milliepede]

You can check through the children's birth registrations on the GRO index which will show mothers maiden name.

Percy George for example born Dec 1885 has mothers name Smith

[DCB]

Some trees have the marriage in June 1867, but I can't find it, and the first child in that year.

COLLOP, WILLIAM  JAMES mmn SMITH 
GRO Reference: 1866  J Quarter in NEWINGTON  Volume 01D  Page 227

David

[bobtonks]

The family has a sad ending. In the Cambridge Independent Press 3rd June 1910 it was reported that "Emma Collop was found drowned in a water butt at the back of her house in Impington under circumstances that pointed to suicide."
Two years earlier, CIP 24 April 1908, her son was committed for trial for trial at the Assises on charges of serious offence against a young girl.
Her "husband" William Collop died in 1913. I have found it difficult to trace any of the children. There was just a mention of Percy in the Absent Voters List.
I also am having difficulty accessing the GRO records for births and deaths. Maybe someone can help.

[DCB]

Something odd about William Collop in 1867. He was baptised 9 miles away from his abode and never lived with his parents. He was with his grandparents

William James Collop, son of William, labourer, and Emma, was baptised in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, on 3rd November 1867.
Their abode was given as Epping, Essex.

David