Edward Collins (circa 1808 – 1883)

Edward was born circa 1808 in Newbury according to the census details and also from his age at death.

At present there is no definite trace of Edward in the 1841 and 1851 censuses. There was an Edward Collins aged 23 and a labourer living in The City in Newbury along with Martha Collins aged 65 and her son John Collins aged 12. All were recorded as being born in Berkshire. It is possible that this is Edward but if he was born in 1808 he would have been 32 at the time of the census.

In the 1861 census Edward was recorded as a lodger in the Steamer Beer House in Cheap Street in Newbury. He was single and had no occupation and was stated to be blind.

Ten years later in the 1871 census Edward was a lodger at 26 Rose and Thistle Yard, off Northcroft Lane in Newbury. As in 1871 he had no occupation and was recorded as blind.

In the 1881 census Edward was a lodger at The Red House, a beer house, in The City in Newbury, again with no occupation.

Edward died on 25 June 1883 at the Union Workhouse in Newbury aged 75. He was buried on 29 June at Newtown Road Cemetery after a service at St Nicolas. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 5 July 1883 as below.

COLLINS – June 25, at the Workhouse, Newbury, Edward Collins, aged 75.

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