Matilda Collins (circa 1819 – 1888)

Matilda was baptized on 26 March 1819 at St Mary the Virgin in Speen, the daughter of William and Sarah, nee Woolford, Collins. William was recorded as a labourer and they were living in Woodspeen. On the baptism of her elder brother Edward in 1814 the father William Collins was recorded as a hawker.

In the 1841 census Matilda was living in Speen with her parents.

Matilda’s mother Sarah died in January 1845 while living at London Road in Speen and she was buried on 5 January at St Mary in Speenhamland. Her father William died just over a year later when he was living in Speenhamland and he was buried on 25 January 1846 at St Mary in Speenhamland.

In the 1851 census Matilda was recorded living by herself in Dibley’s Cottage in Speen and she was a seamstress. Ten years later in the 1871 census she was living in Speenhamland and her occupation was a dressmaker. She was still living in Speenhamland and working as a dressmaker in the 1881 census.

By the time of the 1891 census Matilda had moved to West Mills in Newbury and was still working as a dressmaker.

Matilda died 17 September 1888 at St Mary’s Almhouses in Cheap Street in Newbury. She was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 20 September. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 20 September as below.

COLLINS – Sept. 17, at St Mary’s Almhouses, Newbury, Matilda Collins, aged 71.

In the same edition of the Newbury Weekly News of 20 September there was an announcement that there was a vacancy in St Mary’s Almhouses in Cheap Street caused by the death of Matilda Collins.

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