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Featured Article

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Catherine Alice Collins

Catherine Alice Collins was my Nan. My mother’s mother.

Kate was born on 20th September 1902 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, and her parents were Edward Nash Collins and Alice Florence Furzey.

Alice was Edward’s second wife, the first was Jemima Joanna Brookman. Jemima was born in 1858 in Southampton, Hampshire, her father, John, was 51, and her mother, Rose, was 44. She married Edward Nash Collins on 27th July 1884 in Southampton. She died on 1st October 1894 at the young age of 36. They had four children during their marriage. Elizabeth Emma Rose Collins was born in 1885, Beatrice Janet Collins was born in 1887, Laura Jessie Leah Collins was born in 1888, and Ellen Maud Collins was born in 1892. They were aged 9, 7, 6, and 2 respectively, when their mother died in 1894.

Edward was only 37 when Jemima died. Within a year, he had married Alice. According to their Marriage Certificate Edward Nash Collins (38, Widower) - Alice Florence Furzey (21, Spinster) on 3 June 1895 in the Parish Church of St Mary, Southampton, both of 73 Grove St, Southampton. Fathers, Thomas Collins, Labourer and Charles Henry Furzey, Marinier. In the presence of James Collins and Kate Turpin. Alice was 17 years his younger.

Edward’s mother was Elizabeth Peninah Hills Nash and her father was Edward Nash. I have a DNA connection with Edward Nash but there is some confusion with the paperwork surrounding people with the same name.

Further reading; An article about Edward Nash late 1700 to early 1800.
This is not a story about a single person but about many people called Edward Nash.

Kate was brought up in 89 Grove Street, St Mary’s, Southampton. She was recorded as being 8 years old in the 1911 Census. Her father Edward is stated as being a House Carpenter. All three daughters of Alice, including Kate, are still living with their parents at that time, together with Jessie, an older daughter from Edward's previous marriage.

Grove Street is still there but the whole area has been redeveloped. Follow the link to see an 1870 map of the area. A map of the area around Grove Street and the Chapel Road Level crossing.
If I have remembered the reminisces correctly, 89 Grove Street backed on to the busy railway line which led to the Southampton Terminus Station and the Docks.

From the 1846 map the London and South Western Railway (known up to June 1839 as the London and Southampton Railway) had increased the number of lines at the Level crossing from two to three on the 1870 map. It has a signal box and is the beginning of the throat approaching the Terminus Station. Trains used to pass here going to the Ocean Terminal, at a later time, and thence onto a trans-Atlantic Liner to the USA.
I have even travelled from there on the Orient Express, sadly after the Ocean Terminal was closed in 1980, and subsequently demolished and replaced with a more modern, less impressive, shed.

On 09 October 1916 Bertram Harry Stephen Pomeroy, who was born on 4 July 1902, and lived at 141 Radcliffe Road, Northam, Southampton, Hampshire, started work at the age of 14, at London South Western Railway at a wage of 7/- per week (£0.35) as a Parcels Van Lad.
He was recommended into the job by Mr Bell, Parcels Clerk at Southampton. Presumably this was at Southampton Terminus Station as apposed to the then smaller Southampton West Station, which is now the main station, renamed to Southampton Central. Was it this proximity which led to Bert and Kate meeting?

He was promoted to Parcels Porter with a wage of 12/- per week (£0.60) on 17 March 1919. He was still only 16 years old. He was too young to have served in the Great War, and the railways may have been a protected occupation.

An extract from Network Rail

In 1914, the country had 23,000 miles of rail track and 4,000 stations, according to industry body Rail Delivery Group. Passenger numbers had reached more than 1.5 million.
The railway had become one of Britain’s biggest employers with more than 700,000 workers. Of these, more than 100,000 enlisted when war broke out, leading to a substantial skills shortage at home when the railway was under great pressure than to deliver forces and supplies to the front line.
By the end of the war, 20,000 railway staff had tragically lost their lives.

The first deployments
Britain declared war on 4 August 1914 and by the end of the month, the railway had transported almost 120,000 servicemen to Southampton, where they would board boats to France.
The first train carrying members of the original expeditionary force left Waterloo station on the morning of Sunday 10 August, arriving into Southampton station at 8.15am.
Over the next three weeks, a train full of troops would reach the docks every 12 minutes, 14-hours a day.

All travelling past Kate’s family’s backyard

Bert was promoted to Motor Parcels Vanman with a wage of 59/6 per week (£2.975) on 15 February 1923. Just a short time before his wedding.

Kate and Bert married on 21 May 1923 in the presence of: Edward N Collins, Alfred D Pomeroy, Neville Lovett, and L A Collins, at St Marys Parish Church, Southampton, just a stones through away from Kate’s home.

Kate had Rheumatic fever and was very poorly at some stage. I am not sure, but I think it was as an adult, possibly after she and Bert married. She moved from home and was looked after by relatives.

About 1935 Kate and Bert lived in 77 Radcliffe Road, Northam, Southampton, and by 1938 had moved to Oakley Road, Freemantle, Southampton, away from the town centre and docks.

That was short lived though, as by the time of the 1939 Register, on 29 September 1939, they had moved back close to Southampton Terminus Station and Grove Street. They were living at 5 Western Terrace. Western Terrace was off Chapel Road, opposite to Grove Street, approx. parallel to the railway and Nelson St. The houses were probably railway cottages. The Chapel Road railway gates were at the start of Western Terrace. Bert is recorded as being a Motor Driver, possibly for the railway driving the three-wheel mechanical horse, a predecessor to an articulated lorry, as he was known to have done that about that time. Living with them were Bessie and Laura Tyler. Bessie had the same birthday as Kate, 20 September, but 1918 not 1902. Bessie was a shop assistant and Laura a hide cutting machinist.

The mass evacuation of children and other vulnerable people took place in early September 1939, before National Registration on 29 September that year, according to the National Archives. Kate and Bert had two children at the outbreak of war. Peggy Alice Mary, my Mum, born on Kate’s birthday, and Edward (Ted) Bertram Dan Pomeroy, Peggy’s younger brother. They were both evacuated to Bournemouth, to a large house with servants and big garden, but relocated as Ted became ill. The 1939 register has them both living at 1248 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, with Mr Albert W Boyle and Mrs Dorothy V Boyle and their son, also at school, Francis W Boyle. This, as I understand it, is the relocated address. This explains why Kate and Bert’s children are not with them in their 1939 Register Record, at 5 Western Terrace.

One of Kate’s half-sisters was Laura Jessie Leah Collins. She was born in October 1888 in Southampton, Hampshire, her father, Edward, was 31, and her mother, Jemima, was 30. She married William Thomas Tyler in March 1918 in her hometown of Southampton. They had three children during their marriage. Her husband William died in 1924 and she died in June 1936 in Southampton, Hampshire, at the young age of 47. The three children were Bessie Frances Tyler, born on 20 September 1918, Joan Augusta Tyler, born on 7 July 1920, and Laura Florence Tyler, born on 18 July 1923 They were aged 17, 15, and 12 respectively when their mother died. Kate and Bert took them all in as their own following the death of Laura Jessie Leah. My understanding is that they were never formally adopted, just family looks after family. Apparently, Joan worked in the BAT tobacco factory near Millbrook, near Regents Park Road in 1938, not far from Oakley Road, Freemantle, Southampton. However, Joan is not with them in the 1939 register, just a year later. She is recorded as being in 24 College Street, working as a slide cutting machinist, living with the Prondley family. Less than half a mile away from Western Terrace. Joan might have been a bit rebellious and had moved out by 19 years of age.

Interestingly, there is another Pomeroy family at number 9 Western Terrace.

Click to continue reading about Catherine Alice Collins
Redirects to my website with more images.

Other Featured Articles

The Tilley Family Migration

This branch of my tree is about the Tilley family of the New Forest which commences with John Tilley and Martha Spearen, my 8th Great-Grandparents

In part at least, this came about due to a message from somebody on Ancestry, our trees shared a name. It turns out that that person is a 6th cousin, living in Australia. Far from the only relative found to be living abroad. The story starts with families that would be fairly static. Where perhaps twenty miles was a large distance and travels through time and space to go halfway around the world.

As part of this research I am also creating a database of One Place Study of Marriages in Sopley. This will give some insight of the families living in Sopley with my 8th Great-Grandparents

It has already provided some excitement. A possible brother to John who married at a similar time, just a few years apart. This has potentially created a new, previously undiscovered, link, and a jump into another person's tree in Ancestry. Which, in turn has resulted in a whole new line of research.

Collaboration with other people has provided further insight, especially with the number of different spellings of surnames, with vast swathes of the population unable to read, write, or spell, and some records being in Latin. It all adds to the general confusion, challenge, and enjoyment.

Click to see a heat map of the Sopley One Place Study, which was commenced to aid the migration story, and resolve some of the Tilley's mysteries.

Read more at The Tilley Family Migration or go to a list of people in the database The people in The Tilley Family Migration

The one place study of the Parish of Sopley

Parish of Sopley, Hampshire, England

As part of my exploration of the Tilley Family Migration I created a database of One Place Study of Marriages in Sopley.

This research has since expanded, firstly with the Electoral Polls, at a time before universal suffrage and the secret vote, and then into the Lords of the Manor, This includes feudal Barons and has entries as far back as 1086 with information from the Domesday Book.

Sopley now has a place of its own in my Genealogy website

It is now a full One Place Study of Sopley, with Apprenticeships, occupations, census information. This will continue to expand. Although I think it will become less sustainable in the 20th Century and beyond in part due to the increase in population together with the enhanced mobility of the population

Where possible, I will geolocate the plots in the Tithe Map and cross reference with the various Census returns, where there is enough information to decerne the route taken by the enumerator.

I have registered my OPS with the Society of One Place Studies

My TNG database list of people in the Sopley study.

Family Trees

The Bignells and the Pomeroys of Broadwindsor

This is not my research, but it is my family. More importantly, it is how I became hooked on Family Tree research.

This tree was created by the hard work and research of Robin Pomeroy and "Bobby" Barbara Ann Pomeroy nee Hood, over many years, the old fashioned way, without the benefits of the Genealogy websites we have today and their associated records. Photographed above with my parents, Robin on the left and Bobby on the right.

I have merely put their data on line for them, with their knowledge and permission, firstly on Ancestry, and now here. Transcribing one of the hard copies they circulated to the family, my Mum's copy, into database record format and sharing with the world.

Additional contributions to the original work came from Pamela Shaftoe in respect of the descendants of Mary Brown. From Audrey Johnson, a lot of contributions on the Newport Pomeroys. From Colin Pomeroy, much about the descendants of Charles Cleal Pomeroy, and from Estella Nobles those of Thomas Pomeroy. Original information about the descendants of Charles Edward Pomeroy came from Geraldine Nottley-Jones and was amplified by Peggy Hurst, nee Pomeroy. There were also contributions throughout from Chris Pomery.

I believe that the Chris Pomery (note the variation in spelling) above is the primary and registered researcher of the Pomeroy surname, and its variations, in the Guild of One Name Studies and runs the Pomeroy Family Association


The improbable Hurst tree

Why is this improbable? Well, it is my general Ancestry rough working tree. Experiments and uncertain links and additions are included. It is generally not properly validated. Currently, it relies on a large portion of its far ancestors on an alleged bastard child. Using this dodgy link the tree continues back to BC dates and apparent relatives, with Royalty from a number of countries on the way.

Despite being improbable it is my biggest and main tree. It is also the Ancestry tree connected to my DNA results. Having so many branches sometimes leads to unexpected and interesting finds which aid development and research. Fully validated material is incorporated into a much smaller home tree.


The Hurst Family Tree

The Hurst Family Tree is my validated tree based around my father, Norman George Hurst.


The One Name and One Place Studies

Studies of One Name

Inspired by the Guild of One Name Studies I have started collecting data on the surnames of Hurst and Collins. Pomeroy is already extensively covered. I may add Broomfield latter. That would have all my Grandparents covered.

Read more at The Tilley Family Migration or go to a list of people in the database The people in The Tilley Family Migration

The One Name Study of the Surname Nash in support of the identification of one of my ancestor Edward Nash, or go to a list of people in the database.

Another ONS is that of Biddlecombe, commencing with those in the parish of Eling Hampshire. Edward Biddlecombe, born in 1770 in Beaulieu. Of his children one was called John and another James. They both had children called Charles, born about 4 years apart. Living a couple of miles apart. Both Charles married Emma. Then to add to the confusion, both Charles use similar names for their children. All residing in Eling. Very confusing. The way forward, research all Biddlecombe, Biddlecomb, and other variations in the area. Hoping to allocate them to relative branches and trees. Hoping to resolve the confusion.

Read more at Biddlecomb(e) of Hampshire or go to a list of people in the database The people in Biddlecomb(e) of Hampshire and Dorset

Studies of One Place

The one Place Studies started with the people of Whiteparish, in Wiltshire, England. I have a hunch that that parish may have links to my tree. I find family and social migration interesting and this will help explore that. At the time of writing, the earliest date is 1470 when the population was less than 200, and the community fairly static. Marriages tended to be within the community and family associations can be assumed.

Read more at Whiteparish One Place Study or go to a list of people in the database The people of Whiteparish

I also have a Millbrook Parish One Place Study. It starts with plotting The enumerators route of the 1841 census of Millbrook, Hampshire, but now absorbed into Southampton. Turnpikes became an interesting challenge.

Read more at Millbrook Parish One Place Study

or go to a list of people in the database The people of Millbrook

When I was 14 years old our family moved from Southampton to the outskirts of Romsey. Romsey has a very significant country estate called Broadlands, with a long and intertwined history. Broadlands formed part of the abbey of Romsey in the tenth century. Surrendered to the Crown at the Dissolution in 1539, it was granted first to John Foster, a former steward to the abbey and then in 1544 to Sir Thomas Seymour, an uncle of Edward VI. More recently it has been the home of Louis Mountbatten with connections to the Royal Family. Rather that a One Place study of Romsey I have started a One Place Study, or One Estate Study of The Broadlands Park Estate.

Read more at Broadlands - A country estate in Hampshire, near Romsey

 

Perhaps the next will be Western Terrace, small road of railway cottages backing on to the railway off Chapel Road Southampton, Hampshire, England. Parts of my family lived there in living memory, until it was demolished in the mid 1960's.

 

 

My parents wedding group

The wedding of Norman George Hurst and Peggy Alice Mary Pomeroy on 9 November 1946 in Southampton

Photo taken at Atherley Studios by Eva E Powell, 300/302, Shirley Road, Southampton.

Back row from left; William Charles H Stanley, husband of Normans sister Millicent (and probably best man), Jean Ricketts, Norman George Hurst, Yvonne Letitia Ricketts, Bertram Harry Stephen Pomeroy (Peggy's Dad), Edward (Ted) Bertram Dan Pomeroy (Peggy's brother).

Front row; from left; Francis Hurst nee Broomfield, (Norman's Mum), Peggy Alice Mary Pomeroy, Catherine Alice Pomeroy nee Collins, (Peggy's mum)


DNA

DNA testing adds a whole different aspect to Genealogy

You can find relatives you did not know you had, open new branches to your tree, and create validations of people between the match and myself.

Whilst the improbable tree has lots of information yet to be validated, the tree I have created just for DNA matches and the links of ancestors between us, only has spouses that are not in some way validated.

I have started with DNA matches in Ancestry, but will eventually include MyHeritage and GEDmatch matches as well.

A lot to do.

More ...

More background about trees, people, and places

Family Trees can be just a list of people and how they are interrelated.

However they can contain so much more. Records, so many records.

Part of the process of assessment of a record for me, is about location. This takes me into social economic history. In the 19th century, where a lot of our records come from, life was considerably different form today. The very rich could move about the country, and indeed they would with a degree of ease that we have today, albeit on a different timescale. I recently found people on my tree that migrated to North America, and subsequently part of the family moved on to Australia, and set up home there. Shipping passenger records indicate that people from that family frequently visited their relatives both in North America and Britain, before returning to their home in Australia. That was not the lot of the masses though.

More ...

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