Mary Elizabeth Collins (1873 – 1886)

James Collins was born in 1846 in Greenham, the son of John and Ann, nee Stephens, Collins. He married Agnes Lawrence in 1869. Agnes was born in 1851 in Kingsclere, the daughter of John and Hannah, nee Hayward, Lawrence.

James and Agnes had five children, Ann Maria (1872), Mary Elizabeth (1873), William James (1874), Arthur Edwin (1882) and Agnes Gertrude (1890).

In the 1881 census James and Agnes with children Ann, Mary and William were living in Pembroke Road in Newbury, James was working as a brewer’s labourer.

Sadly, Mary Elizabeth died aged only 13 in November 1886 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 25 November.

James and Agnes with children James (William), Arthur and Agnes were recorded at 3 Denmark Road in Newbury in the 1891 census with James a general labourer. James died in November 1895 and was buried at St Mary the Virgin in Speen on 13 November.

Agnes remarried on 30 October 1897 at St Mary in Thatcham to George Giles. George was born in 1855 in Greenham. Agnes and George were living in Crookham Common in the 1901, 1911 and 1921 censuses, George was a farm labourer. George died on 6 December 1927 and he was buried at Thatcham Cemetery on 10 December.

Agnes died in October 1934 and she was buried at St Mary the Virgin in Chieveley on 31 October.

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