Life story retold by Paul Beecroft
Alfred and Jane were both born in Reading. Alfred is thought to have been born on May 10th 1861. His parents were Thomas Pinchard COLLINSON and Ellen COLLINSON (nee Metheringham). Alfred had nine siblings – Ellen Sophia (1850), Thomas Frederick Metheringham (1851), Henry Albert (1853), Benjamin Arthur (1855), Douglas (1857), Charles Robert (1859), John Louis (1864), Louisa Maretta (1865) and Amelia Sarah (1868). In 1871 the family were resident at 4, Letcombe Street, Reading. Thomas’s occupation at the time was as a County Court Bailiff. By 1881 the family had moved to 170, Southampton Street. Alfred by now was nearly 20 years old and working as a labourer in a Foundry.
Jane E. COLLINSON was Jane Elizabeth WICKS. She was born September 1861. Her parents were John George WICKS and Jane WICKS (nee Evans). Jane had ten siblings – George (1845), Hanna (1847), John (1849), Susanna (1851), Samuel (1853), Charles (1857), Henry (1858), William (1860), Elizabeth (1863) and Alfred George (1867). In 1871 the family were resident at 9, Sparrow Court, Silver Street, Reading. Her father, who was known as George, was a Labourer and her mother was employed as a Laundress. In 1881 the family are shown as being at 10, Sparrow Court.
Many residents of Reading will be aware that Letcombe Street, Southampton Street and Silver Street are near to each other. Alfred and Jane may well have known each other from their childhood and possibly even have gone to the same school. They were the same age and only a few months apart.
On February 14th, 1880 Jane gave birth to a baby girl named Susan Jane (known as Jane). The census for the following year shows Jane and Susan Jane living at 10, Sparrow Court and Susan Jane is shown as granddaughter to the head of the household. The father was thought to be Alfred. Both Jane and Alfred would only be 18 years old when the baby was born.
In April 1881, Alfred and Jane were married in Reading. It is not known where they lived following their marriage but by 1891 the census shows them at 24, Waldeck Street with Susan Jane and another daughter Lily who was born on March 10th 1884. Alfred is shown as working in a Tin Factory which was most likely Huntley, Boorne and Stevens.
On the very last day of 1900 Jane died. What caused her death is not known. She was buried in Reading Old Cemetery.
In 1901, the census shows Alfred, Susan Jane and Lily living at 49, Essex Street. Alfred is shown as being a house painter and both daughters being employed as Nursemaids. Alfred is still at Essex Street in 1905.
In July 1908, Lily married Harry George PENNELL. They would have one daughter Vera May in 1910. In 1909, Susan Jane married Charles Bracey DUGUID who for reasons not known he was called Bob. They had a son, Charles Aubrey who was born in 1912. In 1918 they had a daughter named Peggy who sadly died when she was just eight weeks old. She was buried in the COLLINSON family plot in Reading Old Cemetery.
In 1911, Alfred is shown to be living with Lily and Harry at 13, Liverpool Road. Alfred is shown as a Painter at a Biscuit Factory, presumably Huntley and Palmers and Harry is a Gasfitter.
During the first half of the 1920s Alfred remained living with Lily and Harry. They had by then moved and were residing at 17, Norris Road, Reading.
Nothing further is known about Alfred until 1939 when he is shown as living at 88a, Castle Street, Reading and still working as a Decorator and House Painter.
Alfred died on April 22nd 1941 and was buried with his wife Jane and granddaughter Peggy in Reading Old Cemetery.
Division 12, Row 12, Plot 5