PART EIGHTY-FIVE

The Musical Colletts of London to Canada & USA

Updated October 2025

This new line, first issued in 2025, arose out of the discovery at the National Archives of the 1788 Will of Richard Collett gentleman of the Parish of St Lukes Chelsea in Middlesex. It was initially thought to be the Will of Richard Cobb Collett (Ref. 23K1) who was born in 1718 who perhaps died in 1788. Now, armed with the contents of the Will thanks to its discovery by Jonathan Leyland, the document cannot relate of Richard Cobb Collett. However, from the contents of the Will it has been possible to identify some of the people named therein and to include them in this mini line, in the hope that further details / confirmation can be forthcoming

Shortly after this family line was first published at the end of September 2025 it was spotted on the Collett Family History website by Renee Kraft, the great-granddaughter of Alfred Bertram Collett [85O8] and the granddaughter of Florence Louise Collett Koch – now added as 85P11. As a result, Renee has kindly provided the extra information to extend the family line, which makes all the hard work, carried out by Jonathan and myself, even more worthwhile. When we started the research, I do not think either of us had any expectation of finding a current descendent of the musicians from the late seventeen century. So, this is a wonderful overcome, and so quick after displaying it on the website

Unlike any of the other eighty-four lines of the Collett family, the starting point for this one is the Will of Richard Collett [85K3] of St Lukes Chelsea, who we now know was the son of Richard and Ann Collett, whose brother was Thomas Collett [85K4]

In the name of God Amen, I Richard Collett of the Parish of St Lukes Chelsea in the County of Middlesex, gentleman, being of sound disposing mind memory and understanding do make, publish, and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say after payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, and the expense of proving this my Will

I give and bequeath unto David Burnsall of the Parish of Saint Luke Chelsea in the County of Middlesex, esquire, and Thomas Hancock of the same place Gentleman the sum of One Hundred and Seventy Pounds per occurrence issuing out of all my freehold and leasehold Estates in Trust for my grandson Richard Reeve, my niece Catherine Collett, and my nephew Richard Thomas Collett which is to be paid to them in the manner following

That is to say, my grandson Richard Reeves for and during the term of his natural life the sum of Eighty Pounds per occurrence payable quarterly half yearly or monthly at the discretion of the said Trustees. To my niece Catherine Collett the sum of Sixty Pounds per occurrence for and during the term of her natural life to be paid to her yearly half yearly quarterly or monthly at the discretion of the said Trustees and that her own receipts shall always be a discharge to the said Trustees for the same And that the said Annuity shall not be liable to the control or debts of any husband that my said niece Catherine Collett may happen to marry and that she shall not in any ways sell or dispose of the said Annuity and from and after her decease I give the said Sixty Pounds per occurrence to Elinor the daughter of my said niece Catherine Collett for and during the term of her natural life to be paid to her half yearly quarterly or monthly at the discretion of the said Trustees

To my nephew Richard Thomas Collett the sum of Thirty Pounds per occurrence for and during the terms of his natural life to be paid to him half yearly quarterly or monthly at the discretion of the said Trustees

I also give and bequeath unto Ann Collett, Mary Collett, and Isabella Collett, the daughters of my half-brother John Collett deceased One Thousand and Fifty Pounds Stock in the South Sea Annuity to be equally divided between them share and share alike

All the rest and residue of my real and personal estate of what nature or kind soever I may die possesses of or entitled unto at the time of my deceased I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife Catherine Collett to hold to her, her heirs and assigns for ever. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said wife Catherine Collett and the above-named David Burnsall and Thomas Hancock whole and sole Executors of this my Will hereby revoking all former or other Will or Wills by me heretofore made declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby give to each of my Executors a Mourning King of the value of Five Guineas in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Third day of February One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Eight Pounds (signed) Richard Collett

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the Testator Richard Collett as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto - Charles Greenhead, Alexander Hutcheson, and Samuel Hancock

This Will was proved at London the Twenty Ninth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Eight before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of Catherine Collett widow the relict of the deceased, David Burnsall, and Thomas Hancock, the executors named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods, Chattels, and Credits of the said deceased, they having been first sworn duly to administer

Historical Note: St Luke’s Church in Chelsea is an Anglican Church on Sydney Street, Chelsea (off the King’s Road) designed by James Savage in 1819. On completion of the new much larger church, the former (original) Parish Church of St Lukes Chelsea (on Cheyne Walk, on the north bank of the River Thames) became a ‘chapel of ease’ which is known today as Chelsea Old Church

For the people named in the Will the following details are known, starting with grandson Richard Reeve (or Reeves) who was the son of Alice Collett and John Reeve who were married at St James Piccadilly, London in 1760. It was four years after their wedding day that their son was born, who was later buried at St Leonards Church in Shoreditch on 27^th August 1821 aged 57

On the Ancestry* website Alice Collett [1738-1794] who married John Reeve was said to be the youngest child of the two children of Richard Collett [1690-1748] and Elizabeth Cobb [1692-1774]. However, when Alice Collett married John Reeve, her parents were witnesses at their wedding who were named as Richard and Catherine Collett. Alice’s older brother was said to be Richard C Collett [1734-1782] which is supported by Mortimer’s London Universal Directory of 1763 in which Richard Collett is noted as Richard Collett senior [85K1]

On the same Ancestry* chart, their father had five earlier children; Ann Collett, John Collett [1719-1755], Elizabeth Collett [1721-], Sarah Collett [1725-1773], and the Rev. Peter Collett [1734-1790]. Apart from Ann, the other four children ARE the children of Richard Collett (Ref. 23J8) and Elizabeth Cobb, whose eldest child was Richard Cobb Collett [1718-1788]. The same webpage suggests Richard Reeve [1756-1832] married Sarah Francis [1762-], while the Richard Reeve, son of Alice Collett and John Reeve who born in 1760 and died in 1821

Richard Collett [85J1] was the husband of Ann (his second wife). At the time of death in 1748 he was residing at Mill Street, Hanover Square in London, having previously raised his family at St Martins-in-the-Field. In his Will made on 9^th April 1747, Richard Collett was described as a musician, and the father of surviving sons Richard and Thomas Collett. His wife Ann was named as the sole executrix, with her Will made two years later, on 22^nd July 1749. It is highly likely that Richard, the father, may have been married twice, since his son Richard’s Will of 1788 named John Collett as his half-brother

85K1 – John Collett born circa 1694 (referred to as *Richard’s half-brother)

85K2 – Anne Collett born circa 1698

The following sons were the issue of Richard Collett by his second wife Ann:

85K3 – *Richard Collett born before 1710

85K4 – Thomas Collett born after 1710

John Collett [85K1], was the half-brother of Richard (above) and is known to have had three daughters, Ann Collett, Mary Collett, and Isabella Collett, who were beneficiaries under the terms of the Will of the said Richard Collett who died in 1788. It is possible that John was born around 1694, who died on 17^th January 1771 at the age of 77 and was buried at St Lukes Chelsea where his passing was recorded. This would place John as an older half-brother, being the son of musician Richard Collett, the elder, and his first wife

85L1 – Ann Collett

85L2 – Mary Thomas Collett

85L3 – Isabella Collett

Anne Collett [85K2] may have been the sister, or half-sister, of John Collett (above) who, when she married became Anne Mitchell who was later buried at St Lukes Chelsea when she died on 21^st December 1776 at the age of 78, placing her year of birth around 1698, four years younger than John

Richard Collett [85K3] was a son of Richard and Ann Collett who served his apprenticeship with musician Richard at St Martins-in-the-Field commencing in 1719 for a premium of Fifteen Pounds. By 1730 it was Richard Collett, a musician of St James Westminster who took on apprentice Hezekiah Hopkins for a premium of Eight Guineas. It was around that same time when Richard married Catherine Cole, suggesting he may have been born during the first years of the 18^th Century. Their marriage produced at least four children (listed below) who all died before Richard made his Will

It is established that on 28^th August 1739 a Declaration of Trust was set up using £375 18 Shillings and 8 Pence from the South Sea Annuity Stock for the Society of Musicians, when Richard Collett of St James Westminster was named as one of the trustees. The purpose of the Trust was to support decayed musicians and their families

Richard and Catherine may have had other children who did not survive, amongst them a second Catherine, a Jane, and two sons named Thomas. Richard Collett of Westminster and Chelsea died in 1788 (see his Will above). According to the death record for his niece Catherine Tetherington (below), Richard was the son of another earlier Richard, with Catherine Tetherington listed as his great niece. In addition, the husband of one of the three daughters of Richard’s half-brother John Collett (below) was John Curtis who was referred to as the nephew of R Collett when he was buried at St Lukes Chelsea. Seven or eight months after the death of her husband in 1788, his widow Catherine Collett marry Thomas Hancock in London Middlesex on 24^th December 1788, who was one of the named executors of Richard’s Will. Catherine Hancock, formerly Collett, nee Cole, died in 1798, with the death of her second husband recorded in 1811

So, what do we know about Richard Collett? According to Mortimer’s London Universal Directory of 1763, Richard Collett senior {further confirmation that he had a son of the same name} was first violin at Drury Lane Theatre and had an association with the Italian cellist and composer Giacobbe Cervetto. This is confirmed by the first of Cervetto’s insurance policies in 1762, which concerned property at the home of Richard Collett. Furthermore, the same Richard Collett had insurance policies of his own with the same insurance company, Whitehead & Nex, at The Insurance of Musical London and The Sun Office 1710-1779.

The first of his three policies was taken out on 9^th October 1741, Policy No. 88984, for “Richard Collett of the Parish of St James Westminster Musician, on his Household Goods, Musical Instruments, and Printed Music Books in a Brick house being his now dwelling house and situated on the East Side of James Street, near Golden Square, in the Parish aforesaid not exceeding Three Hundred Pounds”

The second policy was taken out on 18^th December 1759, Policy No. 170398, for “Richard Collett on the East Side of James Street, near Golden Square, Musician on his Household Goods, Musical Instruments & Music Books in his now dwelling house only, Brick built and situated as aforesaid not exceeding Two Hundred & Fifty Pounds, wearing apparel therein only not exceeding Fifty Pounds”

The final policy was an Endorsement for the second policy (above) and was taken out on 20^th October 1779, Policy No. 170398, as follows: “Richard Collett, Chelsea, Remd to his dwelling House, Brick, being No 23 Milman’s Row in Chelsea”

Advertisements at the time showed Richard Collett played at a number of benefit concerts from 1736 or 1737 onwards, but it is more than likely that he was active as a performer before that time. By 1745, he was leader of the band at Vauxhall Gardens, a position which he still held in 1750 when there was some disagreement with the proprietor, Mister Tyers. Music historian, composer, and musician Charles Burney (1726-1814) in 1776 to 1789 admired his technique saying “his tone was full, clear, and smooth, and his hand strong” but was less complimentary about his musicality, saying: “having neither taste nor knowledge of music, he always remained an inelegant player”

85L4 – Catherine Collett was born in 1731 at Westminster, London

85L5 – Richard Collett was born in 1733 at Westminster, London

85L6 – John Collett was born in 1736 at Westminster, London

85L7 – Alice Collett was born in 1738 at Westminster, London

Thomas Collett [85K4] was the brother of Richard (above) and another son of Richard the elder, who died in 1748, by his wife Ann. Thomas’ wife was Ann Cooper, to whom he was married on 28^th March 1753 at St George's Chapel in Mayfair, London, with their wedding included on the Clandestine Marriages Register. Ann gave birth to at least two children, with the two known children named as beneficiaries in their uncle’s Will of 1778. The later dates of birth for his two known children suggest that Thomas was the younger brother of Richard Collett. Thomas was another musician, like his father and his brother, and he died three years before his brother Richard, during 1785. His Policy No. 231628 with Whitehead & Nex was taken out on 17^th March 1766, as follows:

“Thomas Collett at The Violin & French Horn opposite Cecil Street in the Strand, Musician and Dealer in Musical Instruments on his Household Goods in his now dwelling house only, Brick situated as aforesaid, not exceeding Eighty Pounds Stock of Musical Instruments therein only, not exceeding One Hundred and Fifty Pounds, Printed Books therein only, not exceeding Five Pounds, Wearing Apparel therein only, not exceeding Thirty Pounds”

85L8 – Mary Ann Collett was born in 1755 at Westminster, London

85L9 – Thomas Lediard Collett was born in 1757 at Westminster, London

85L10 – Catherine Collett was born in 1759 at Westminster, London

85L11 – Richard Thomas Collett was born in 1768 at Westminster, London

Ann Collett [85L1], whose date of birth is not confirmed, was the eldest of the three daughters of John Collett who died in 1771 and was named as such in the 1788 Will of Richard Collett. Ann was a spinster when she was married following the reading of banns to John Curtis, a bachelor, in Chelsea on 10^th February 1795. They both signed the register in their own hand, when the witnesses were John Vickery and Martha Goodyer. The later death of John Curtis was recorded at St Lukes Chelsea on 26^th April 1837, when he was described as the nephew of R Collett - assumed to be her father’s half-brother Richard Collett

Isabella Collett [85L3], whose date of birth is not confirmed, was the third known daughter of John Collett, half-brother of Richard (above) who, together with her two older sisters, was named as a beneficiary in the 1788 Will of Richard Collett. Isabella Collett married Thomas Baker in London during 1795, the same year that her older sister Ann (above) was married there

Richard Collett [85L5] was born in 1733 at Westminster in London and was the eldest son of Richard Collett and Catherine Cole. His father, and his grandfather, were both musicians, and Richard and his brother John (below) followed in their footsteps. It is understood that Richard Collett died in 1782, six years before his father passed away

John Collett [85L6] was born at Westminster, London during 1736, another child of musician Richard and his wife Catherine. He served his apprenticeship with musician Guiseppe Mccattaneo for a premium of Twenty Pounds during 1749 at St George Hanover Square. John followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming an accomplished violinist, and eventually was established as the first British composer to complete a four-movement symphony. His father Richard, and uncle Thomas Collett were both members of the Royal Society of Musicians. John joined the Royal Society of Musicians in June 1757, when he was living in Queen's Street, Golden Square in London, near to where his father was living from around 1740 to 1760, at St James Street, off Golden Square. By 1768, it was musician John Collett of St Martins-in-the-Field who took on apprentice John Narbourne for a premium of Twenty-One Pounds

One of his works was “Six Solos for the Violin” which was published in 1758, and in 1766 he wrote the music for David Garrick’s “The Hermit” performed at Drury Lane. He also wrote six symphonies, the most well-known being the sixth. Today, the music of John Collett is available on the Naxos recording label, and on-line, including Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Opus 2, Symphony No. 6 in G-major Opus 2, and Sonata in A-major for violin and pianoforte. Symphony No. 3 was written as an Overture for “Midas” and was performed at Covent Garden in 1764

Most of his career was spent in London, before moving to Aberdeen in 1770 and to Edinburgh the following year, where he worked for the Edinburgh Musical Society. While in London he performed at Vauxhall Gardens and the Foundling Hospital. John Collett, musician, was recorded as 36 years of age when he died at Canongate in Edinburgh on 4^th August 1774, the cause of death, decay

Sixteen years earlier, while in Glasgow in 1758, John Collet, a musician, married Katharine Rodburn, the daughter of Rodger Rodburn, another musician. Katharine Rodburn was a classically trained singer and a member of the Edinburgh Musical Society who performed in concerts from the mid-1750s. On the births of their four daughters the mother’s maiden-name was curiously recorded as Rotburn. Ann Collet, daughter of John Collet, musician, and Kath Rodburn, was born on 19^th July 1759 and was baptised on 23^rd July 1759 when the godparents were Glassford March and James Morison Baker. After ten years, daughter Catharine Collet was born in Aberdeen and baptised at St Nicholas’ Church by the Reverend Forbes on 1^st February 1770 the daughter of John Collet, musician, and Catherine Rodburn, spouse, in the presence of Andrew Lunam Glazier and Henry Edbeck Lapidary. The couple’s last child was Isabel Collet whose baptism was also recorded St Nicholas’ Church in Aberdeen with identical handwriting as her sister Catharine, on 28^th July 1771 when the Reverend Forbes again officiated in the presence of William Gibson and William Paterson

A document about the Edinburgh Music Society 1728-1797 included many references to John and Katharine Collett, such as: “Mr Collet was a string player, and Mrs Collet was a singer. They were engaged by the Society in May 1762 and stayed for two years, returning in 1768-69 and remaining in Edinburgh thereafter. Mr Collet was paid £30 per year in 1763 and 1764, and later received payments for individual performances, including one guinea in January 1769, and three guineas in August 1769. When Mr. Collet died, his funeral expenses appeared in the 1775 accounts, and Mrs. Collet was paid £6-11-6 for individual engagements at the same time. Additionally, Catherine Collet and John Collet were employed as singers by the Society from 1763 to 1776, and 1763 to 1775, respectively. The name "Collett" also appears in the context of music purchases, with six overtures purchased in 1774, and works copied for use by the Society, potentially related to performances by Collet”

Following the death of her husband John in the summer of 1774, Catherine also suffered the death of her middle child, when Katharine Collett aged eleven years died in Edinburgh during 1783. That was also the year that another daughter of musician John Collett, deceased and late of Edinburgh, Mary Collet, married Thomas Martin, a coppersmith, in Edinburgh on 1^st August 1783. From an advertisement in the Caledonian Mercury for a classical concert at the New Concert Hall in Niddry’s Wynd, Edinburgh, on 26^th January 1764, one of the named performers was vocalist Mrs Collet. Five years later, and published in the Aberdeen Press & Journal on 25^th September 1769 was this article, under the heading MUSIC:

“Mr Collett who is lately arrived, and intends to settle in this place, teaches to play on the violin, harpsichord, and thorough bass. Mrs Collet proposes to teach young ladies singing. Those who are pleased to honour them with their encouragement, may depend upon being taught (by easy methods) to perform the respective branches above mentioned, in the gentlest taste. Those who choose may be taught at their own houses. On directing a line to him, at Mrs Olivieri’s, opposite the Bank, he will wait on any Gentleman or Lady, and inform them of the terms”

Towards the end of that same year, and published in the same periodical was the following:

“On Friday 22^nd December 1769 will be held in the Mason Hall a Concert of Music, for the benefit of Mr Collett: the celebrated composition called Stabat Mater in two acts, composed by Signior Pergolesi to be performed in the manner of an oratorio with choruses. Organ Concerto by Mr Collett, and Solo on the Violin by Mr Collett. To begin precisely at six in the evening. Tickets to be had at Mr Collet’s opposite the Bank”

On 5^th March 1770 the Aberdeen Press & Journal announced: “Mr Tait finding it necessary, on account of the state of his health, to leave off teaching, takes this opportunity of returning his best thanks to the public for all their favours. A Public School is now opened in the Music Hall, where young ladies will be taught the harpsichord and guitar, in a new and easy manner, at a Guinea per quarter (to be paid at entry) by Mr Collet, whom the Gentlemen of the Musical Society and Mr Tait beg leave to recommend as a teacher, of whose abilities they have a high opinion. Attendance will be given every lawful day, Saturday excepted, from ten in the forenoon till two in the afternoon. Those who choose to be taught privately, will be waited upon at their own their own lodgings, as is most agreeable. At the same time Mr Collett proposes to publish by subscription, Six Sonatas for the Harpsichord, with accompaniment for the violin or German flute, in an easy style, for the improvement of young ladies and gentleman, to be printed and delivered some time in the month of May next, price Six Shillings, one half to be paid at subscription, the other on delivery of the Book. Subscriptions to be taken in at Mr Collet’s own lodging, and at Messrs Angus & Thomson, Booksellers, Aberdeen”

On 11^th June 1770 the following article was printed in the newssheet: “Mr Collett begs leave to return the ladies and gentlemen who was favoured him of late, his sincere thanks; He also takes this method to inform the public that attendance will be given at his School in the Concert Hall from ten o’clock in the forenoon till twelve for young ladies at One Guinea per quarter; and from six o’clock at night till eight for young gentlemen: Ladies and Gentlemen may be waited upon at their lodgings any time before ten in the forenoon; and at any time after twelve in the afternoon, till six o’clock at night, at One Guinea for twenty-four lessons; the money to be paid at entry. He also teaches young ladies to tune the harpsichord or spinet after a short and easy method, which must be of great advantage to young ladies, especially to such as live in the country.

Note – Mrs Collet teaches young ladies the art of singing, and will give her attendance at the same place, or in private as is most agreeable. For the improvement of young ladies and gentlemen, Mr Collet is publishing six sonatas for harpsichord, with an accompaniment for the violin or German flute, in an easy style, price Six Shillings, one half to be paid at subscribing, and the other half upon delivery of the Book. The death of the engraver at Edinburgh, has prevented Mr Collet from having it finished so soon as he proposed; but has employed a proper hand at London for that purpose.

85M1 – Ann Collett was born in 1759 at Glasgow

85M2 – Mary Collett was born in 1764 at Aberdeen

85M3 – Catharine Collett was born in 1770 at Aberdeen

85M4 – Isabel Collett was born in 1771 at Aberdeen

Alice Collett [85L7] was born on 8^th September 1738 at Westminster, London, one of the children of violinist Richard Collett, and his wife Catherine Cole. Alice was around 22 years of age when she married John Reeve at St James Piccadilly in London during 1760 when her parents were the witnesses at the wedding ceremony. Alice and John, and their son Richard Reeve, were named as beneficiaries under the terms of Alice’s father’s Will of 1788. Richard Reeve, whose wife was Mary, died in 1821 and was buried at St Leonards Church in Shoreditch on 27^th August 1821 aged 57. His mother Alice Reeve, nee Collett, died and was buried during the month of January in 1794. Richard and Mary Reeve’s daughter was Catherine Collett Reeve, who was baptised at St Lukes Chelsea on 15^th June 1787 but sadly was buried at St Lukes on 5^th December 1787

Mary Ann Collett [85L8] was the first-born child of Thomas Collett and Ann Cooper who were married in 1753, who was born on 10^th July 1755 and baptised on 27^th July 1755 at St. Mary’s in Lambeth. And it was at St Mary’s that she was buried, just over one year later, on 25^th December 1756, but as Mary Anne Collett

Thomas Lediard Collett [85L9] was born at Westminster in London on 2^nd June 1757, the second of the four known children of Thomas and Ann Collett. Like his older deceased sister, he too was baptised at St Mary’s Lambeth on 12^th June 1757. Within the next two years the family left Lambeth, when they travelled north across the Thames River, to settle in the central London area of Westminster. Upon the death of Thomas Lediard Collett of St Martin’s-in-the-Field, just short of his second birthday, he was buried with his baby sister on 10^th June 1759

Catherine Collett [85L10] was born in the Westminster area of central London during 1759 and was baptised at the Church of St Martin’s-in-the-Field on 15^th July 1759, the daughter of Thomas Collett and Ann Cooper. Upon being married she became Catherine Tetherington, with her only known child being Eleanor Tetherington, with both mother and daughter being beneficiaries under the terms of the 1788 Will of Catherine’s uncle Richard Collett. Catherine Tetherington, nee Collett, died in Chelsea on 23^rd September 1821 at the age of 62, placing her year of birth around 1759, when the burial record at St Lukes Church described her as the great niece of Richard Collett. Twelve years earlier, Catherine Collett, other-ways Tetherington, made her Last Will & Testament on 24^th February 1809, as below:

In the Name of God Amen I Catherine Collett other-ways Tetherington being in good health and sound of reason do give and bequeath to my daughter Ellenor Lye all I die possessed of real and personal my annuity of sixty pounds per annum left by Mr Collett my uncle so expressed in Mr Richard Collett's Will [1788] and the whole of the property left me by Mr John Tetherington [died 1796] the father both real and personal I leave the said Ellenor Lye my daughter my chief executrix with her husband John Lye to aid and assist her in her executrixship the said property to be at her own disposal with a Mourning King [a five guinea coin minted during the reign of King George II] and Mourning to John Lye

Also, such part of the Cooper property of Joseph Cooper and Catherine Cooper my grandmother, which is in chancery should it be to be obtained, signed by me Catherine Tetherington before witnesses Isaac Paillet & Hannah Paillet - February 24^th 1809. A [Mourning] King to Mr and Mrs Paillet my funeral expenses paid and such bills as are in my possession found of my quarterly payments

The Will was proved at London with a Codicil on 22^nd June 1822 before the worshipful Joseph Phillimore, Doctor of Laws, and Surrogate by the oaths of Eleanor written in the Will as Ellenor Lye wife of John Lye and the said John Lye to whom administration was granted having been first sworn to duly administer

85M5 – Eleanor Tetherington - Elinor in the 1788 Will of Richard Collett [85K3]

Richard Thomas Collett [85L11] was born in Westminster in 1768, another child of Thomas and Ann Collett, who was also baptised at St Martins-in-the-Field on 14^th May 1768. It is possible that Richard’s parents died prior to him reaching full-age since, in 1785 for only twenty days, when he was 19 years old, Richard Thomas Collett was recorded on the Poor Law Register at St Martins-in-the-Field. The same record stated that he had arrived at the workhouse on 18^th July and left on 1^st August 1785. Richard was 26 years old when was married to Mary Walker at Holborn, London, Middlesex, on 1^st January 1795 following the reading of banns. Their marriage produced two known children, with their daughter born at Whitechapel and their son born at Bloomsbury in Middlesex. At the baptism of both children the parents were recorded at Richard Thomas Collett and Mary Ann Collett

85M6 – Harriet Selina Collett was born in 1809 at Whitechapel, London

85M7 – George Daniel Collett was born in 1812 at Bloomsbury, Middlesex

Eleanor Tetherington [85M5] was the daughter of John Tetherington and Catherine Collett who was baptised at St Martins-in-the-Field on 10^th September 1784, where her date of birth was recorded as 24^th August 1784. Eleanor was married by banns to John Lye at St Mary’s Church in Lambeth on 19^th October 1807, and it was two years later that her already widowed mother made her Will in favour of her only child and her husband

Harriet Selina Collett [85M6] was born in the Whitechapel area of London on 8^th July 1809 and was baptised there at St Mary’s Altab Ali Park on 26^th August 1810, the daughter of Richard Thomas Collett and Mary Ann Collett

George Daniel Collett [85M7] was born at Bloomsbury in Middlesex on 29^th May 1812 and was twelve years old when he was baptised at Holy Trinity Church in Mile End Old Town, Middlesex on 10^th October 1824. He was the son of Richard Thomas Collett and Mary Ann Collett and was four months short of his twentieth birthday when he married Elizabeth Orton on 17^th January 1832 at St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street, London. Twenty-one months later the only known child of George Daniel and Elizabeth Collett was born in London at Finchley. After another eight years the three members of the family were living in Bethnal Green at Gascoigne Place where George senior was 29, his wife Elizabeth was 28, and George junior was eight years of age. On that census day, and recorded at the same address, was Joseph Goodfellow aged 22, his wife Mary Goodfellow aged 26, with their son Joeph Goodfellow who was three years old. All six residents had been born in the County of Middlesex, with Mary Ann Thwaite having married Joseph Goodfellow on 9^th April 1837 at St Mary’s Church in Whitechapel

The next census in 1851 for Bethnal Green in the Tower Hamlets area of London, George Collett was 38 and a bedstead maker living at 7 Nichols Row with his wife Elizabeth aged 38 who was a seamstress. Still with them that day was the couple’s unmarried son George Collett who was 17 years old and working alongside his father as a bedstead maker. George senior’s place of birth was Bloomsbury (Middx), Elizabeth had been born at Hackney (Middx), with George junior described as being of Finsbury (Middx)

Their son George Thomas Collett was married in 1854 and started to raise a family of his own although, on the day of the next census in 1861, and perhaps because of the lack of room in their family home, the couple’s first-born child and eldest son George Collett was living with George and Elizabeth at 12 Richard Street in Islington, just a short distance from his younger siblings. At the age of six years George Collett from Shoreditch was described as the couple’s grandson, when George (Daniel) Collett from St Georges Bloomsbury was 49 and working as an army tailor, with his wife Elizabeth Collett from St John’s Hackney being 48 and an army tailoress

While no other record of George Daniel Collett has been found, it seems highly that the George Collett whose death was recorded at Islington in London (Ref. 1b 182) in 1887 was George Daniel Collett. He was a widower for the last years of his life, with the death of Elizabeth Collett, nee Orton, also recorded at Islington (Ref. 1b 214) during 1884 when she was 72

Their son George had seven children born in London, with his eighth and last child, Alfred Bertram Collett, born after the family emigrated to Canada. That last grandchild for George Daniel Collett had three children born in Canada by his first wife, and later, seven children by his second wife whom he married in America, where their children were born. It was the subsequent research carried out by the present-day family in America for those seven children that contained a likely error. Whilst it was agreed that their parents were Alfred Bertram Collett from Ireland (sic) and Bertha Belle Bassford from West Virginia, the parents of Alfred Bertram Collett were named in error as Nathaniel Collett [1796-1852] and Hannah Howard [1792-1849], and NOT George Daniel Collett [1812-1887] and Elizabeth Orton [1813-1884], as confirmed here

85N1 - George Thomas Collett was born in 1833 at Finsbury, London

George Thomas Collett [85N1] was born at Finsbury in London on 15^th October 1833 and was later baptised on 20^th August 1843 at St Leonard’s Church in Shoreditch when he was nine years of age. Upon his much later death his date of birth was recorded as 9^th October 1833 and, because his wife and their eldest child had already passed away by then, the informant may not have known George’s correct date of birth. On leaving school, George learnt the trade of a bedstead maker from his father, with the family home being 7 Nichols Row in Bethnal Green in 1851. Three years later, when George Thomas Collett was twenty years of age he married Sarah Ann Ford, with their wedding recorded at Islington in London during the second quarter of 1854 (Ref. 1b 363). Sarah Ann Ford was born in London on 6^th August 1831 and was baptised at St Leonard’s Church in Shoreditch on 31^st August 1831, the daughter of David and Sarah Ford

Born nine months after their wedding day, the couple’s first child was George Collett who was not living with his family on any census day after he was born near the start of 1855. By the day of the census in 1861 George and Sarah had given birth to three children but, rather curiously, their eldest child, six-year-old school boy George Collett from Shoreditch was not with his family at William Street in Islington for the census in 1861. Instead, he had been placed in the care of his paternal grandparents George and Elizabeth Collett in their Islington home at 12 Richard Street where he was confirmed as their grandson. So was he a poorly child, with his mother unable to look after him having two younger children

The remainder of the family residing at William Street comprised head of the household George T Collett from Shoreditch who was 27 and a watch lever escapement maker, his wife Sarah A Collett from St Lukes (Middx) who was 29, and the couple’s two newest arrivals. They were Elizabeth Collett from Shoreditch who was four, and David Collett from Islington who was two years of age. Five more children were added to their family during the following twelve years, with the first four of them born in London prior to the family emigrating to a new life in Canada in 1870, and importantly, without the couple’s first-born child son George. It was in Canada where the couple’s last child was born three years after arriving there. It was in Ontario that the young family settled, their first home being in Muskoka Township where they were recorded in 1871. Watchmaker George Collett was 37, Sarah Collett was 39, Elizabeth Collett was 14, David Collett was 12, Ernest Collett was nine, Florence Collett was seven, Charles Collett was four, and Edmund Collett was two years old, with every member of the household having been born in England

By the time their eighth and last child was born the family had moved south to Orillia City in Simcoe County, Ontario, on the south-west shore of Lake Couchiching, after which they travelled south again, to finally settle in Toronto City. That move was confirmed by the census in 1881 when, on the fourth of April, George T Collett from England was 47 and employed as a machinist. His wife Sarah A Collett was 49 and only six of their eight children were living there with them. Thy were Elizabeth Collett who was 24, unmarried David F Collett who was 22 and a printer (double counted by his parents – see below), Ernest A Collett who was 19, Charles G Collett who was 14, Edmund B Collett who was 12, and Alfred B Collett who was eight years of age and described as born in Toronto. Staying with the family was Richard Ludlow from England who was 29 and a painter

The two absent children were eldest son George, who left England for North America during 1872, and daughter Florence who had already completed her education and was already at work away from home, but still in Toronto. Curiously, on that census day, in addition to being recorded with his family, son David was soon to become a married, and was recorded as such with his wife to be even before they were married. During the following decade the children started to leave the family home which, by 1891 was at 3448 Gerrard Street intersect with Church Street West in Toronto, the property being one in a block of five dwellings owned by Anthony Delaporte. Also, by that time in his life, George (Thomas) Collett from England was working as a confectioner, according to his Tax Assessment

On 31^st March in 1901 the Canadian census that year for Ward 3 of Toronto, included George Collett from England who was 67 years old and whose date of birth was confirmed as 15^th October 1833, who was again working as a machinist. His wife Sarah A Collett was 69, having been born on 6^th August 1831 in England who had entered Canada with her husband and family during 1870. Less than five years later Sarah Ann Collett, nee Ford, died in Toronto on 26^th January 1906 and, three years afterwards, George received that tragic news of the premature death of his married daughter Elizabeth in 1909 and, six months later, widower George Thomas Collett, aged 76 years 4 months 2 days, died on 13^th March 1910 and was buried at St James Cemetery in Toronto, where his late wife was also laid to rest. A large and grand grey granite memorial stone (on a plinth) marks their joint grave

Of concern, is the fact that at the time of recording the death of the couple’s youngest child, Alfred, the informant of his passing was his wife Bertha Bassford Collett who stated that he was the son of George Collett and Sarah Ford who were both born in Ireland, which was certainly not correct

85O1 - George Collett was born in 1855 at Shoreditch, London

85O2 - Elizabeth Collett was born in 1857 at Shoreditch, London

85O3 – David Ford Collett was born in 1859 at Islington, London

85O4 - Ernest Augustus Collett was born in 1861 at Islington, London

85O5 - Florence Augusta Collett was born in 1864 at Islington, London

85O6 - Charles George Collett was born in 1867 at Islington, London

85O7 - Edmund Barnes Collett was born in 1868 at Islington, London

85O8 - Alfred Bertram Collett was born in 1873 at Orillia City, Ontario

George Collett [85O1] was born in London at the start of 1855 with his birth registered at Shoreditch (Ref. 1c 162) during the first quarter of the year, when his mother’s maiden-name was confirmed as Ford. He was the first of the eight known children of George Thomas Collett (1833-1910) and Sarah Ann Ford (1831-1906). He was never recorded with his family in any of the subsequent census returns and, while the reason for that is not known, in 1861 George Collett aged six years and from Shoreditch was attending primary school when he was living with his grandparents George and Elizabeth Collett in their Islington home at 12 Richard Street. At that same time young George’s parents and his two younger siblings were living nearby at William Street in Islington for the census in 1861

Nine years later George’s parents and six of his seven younger siblings sailed to Canada, where the last sibling was added to the family. Where George was in 1871 has still to be discovered, while it was during the following year that 16-year-old George Collett sailed across the Atlantic to New York onboard the ship Great Western in steerage. He appears not to have been reunited with his parents, although for the Canadian Tax Assessments in 1884 and 1885 George and his younger brother Ernest (below) were joint tenants in a dwelling on Pearl Street in Hamilton, the property of Mrs June R Reid, when George Collett was a machinist. The following year, and just prior to brother Ernest being married, the same pair was living on Magill Street, Hamilton, in rented accommodation owned by Thomas Grant

Elizabeth Collett [85O2] was born on 1^st January 1857 at Shoreditch in London, where her birth was registered (Ref. 1c 132) during the first quarter of the year. During the next two years Elizabeth and her parents moved to Islington where her younger brother David (below) was born in 1859 and where the family was recorded in 1861 at William Street, Islington, when Elizabeth Collett from Shoreditch was four years old. On arrival in Canada with most of her family in 1870, Elizabeth Collett from England was 14 and living with her family at Muskoka Township in 1871. During the following years the family ended up in Toronto, where in 1881 unmarried Elizabeth Collett was 24 years of age. It was that same year when Elizabeth moved to Seattle in Washington, USA.

Elizabeth later married Walter Cortlands Freer with whom she gave birth to eight children. The two youngest children were Walter Cortlands Freer junior born on 9^th October 1894 at Toronto who was single when he died in Seattle on 19^th June 1951 at 86 Virginia Street, and Arthur Edmund Edwin Freer born on 23^rd April 1897 at 361 Church Street in Toronto, another son of shoemaker Walter C Freer and Elizabeth Collett. The US Census in 1900 listed the Freer family as shoemaker Walter from Canada who was 42, Elizabeth from England who was 43, Jessie E Freer aged 19, Norman C Freer aged 17, Ida J Freer aged 14, Grace M Freer aged 12, Bertram Freer who was ten, Sidney C Freer who was eight, Walter who was five, and Arthur who was three years old. Nine years later Elizabeth Freer, housewife, died at 2325 24 South in Seattle, King County, Washington USA, on 6^th September 1909 and was buried at Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota on 9^th September 1909. The death record confirmed that she was the daughter of George Collett and Sarah Ford from England

David Ford Collett [85O3] was born at Islington in London during early weeks of 1859 with his birth registered at Shoreditch (Ref. 1b 272) during the first three months of that year, the third child of George Thomas Collett and Sarah Ann Ford. He may have been born at William Street in Islington, where part of the family was recorded in 1861 when David Collett of Islington was two years of age. In 1870 he and most of his family emigrated to Canada, his eldest brother George not making the sea voyage. By 1881 the family had made their home in Toronto (St John’s Ward), where David was preparing for his wedding day, just of a month after the day of the census that year. His parents informed the census enumerator that their son was still living in their home, as David F Collett from England aged 22 who was working as a printer. That same day, another census return completed in Toronto (St Patrick’s Ward) provided the information that printer David Collett from England was 22 and a married man, was living there with his wife Elizabeth Collett of Canada who was 23. That was on 4^th April 1881, with the wedding day for the couple being on 11^th May 1881 in Toronto when David Ford Collett from England was 21 and a printer living in Toronto that he married Eliza Jane Robinson from Ontario who was 23 and the daughter of George and Isabella Robinson. The wedding ceremony was conducted after the reading of banns, within the Church of England, when the witnesses were (the groom’s sister) Florence A Collett, and Thomas A Norris

Sadly, it was towards the end of that year David Ford Collett from England, a printer, died in Toronto City on 21^st December 1881 aged 22 years and 10 months, the cause of his premature death being typhoid fever. Tragically, David Ford Collett left a very young widow, Eliza Collett nee Robinson, who was already expecting the birth of their child who was born at Toronto during the summer of the following year. The registration of his birth at the County of York, Ontario, was signed by Eliza Collett of 62 Elm Street, Toronto, where the father’s signature would usually be

Eliza Jane Robinson Collett was 79 years old when she died at Glenville Hospital in Mayfield Heights, Cleveland, on 19^th December 1934, when her date of birth in Canada was recorded as 13^th October 1855, after which she was buried at Knollwood Cemetery where other members of the Collett family were later buried. At that time in her life, she had been living with her daughter-in-law following the death of her son eight months earlier that year. The cause of death was a fractured left hip, followed by terminal broncho pneumonia, when her father was confirmed as George Robinson. The informant of her passing was Mrs D G Collett of 19731 South Lakeshore Boulevard Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, she was Edna Susie Dainz, the second wife of David George Collett

85P1 - David George James Malcolm Collett was born in 1882 at Toronto

Ernest Augustus Collett [85O4] was born at Islington in London and possibly at William Street where his family was recorded in the 1861. He was born during the month of October with his birth registered at Islington (Ref. 1b 188) during the last three months of that year. He was the fourth child of George Thomas Collett and Sarah Ann Ford who took most of their family to Canada in 1870 where Ernest was nine years old in the Canadian census of 1871 for Muskoka Township, Ontario. Soon after 1873 the family settled in Toronto City where he was still living with his family in 1881, by which time Ernest A Collett from England was 19 and employed as an expressman. The subsequent first marriage by licence of Ernest Augustus Collett, an Episcopalian, and (1) Martha Jane Carlyon, a Methodist, took place in County Wentworth at Hamilton City on 8^th July 1885. The groom from England and a resident of Hamilton was a bachelor aged 23, a mechanic, and the son of George Thomas Collett and Sarah Ann Collett, while the bride was 22 and a spinster of Hamilton whose parents were Walter Carlyon and Esther Lousia Carlyon. The two witnesses, both of Hamilton, were (Ernest’s brother) Charles Collett and Florence Burton

In 1884 the brothers Ernest and George (above) were in rented accommodation on Pearl Street in Hamilton, the property of Mrs June R Reid, with their Tax Assessment that year stating George was a machinist, and Ernest an engineer. The following year the same pair was living on Magill Street in a rented residence owned by Thomas Grant, which was prior to Ernest being married. By 1888 Ernest and his family were living at Queen Street in Hamilton when he was working as an engineer and in a property owned by Maria H Taylor, where they were again living in 1889. Very interestingly, by 1890, their home was on Canada Street, Hamilton, when the owner of the house occupied by Ernest and his family was Mrs Carlyon, who may have been his mother-in-law Esther Lousia Carlyon

Two years after their wedding day, Martha gave birth to the first of their three known children at Hamilton, when the informant was E A Collett, a caretaker, with the parents confirmed as Ernest Augustus Collett and Martha Carylion (sic). Although no record of the family has been found in 1890 and 1900, the couple’s two youngest daughters were born after the family had moved to Niagara Falls. Sometime after 1893, and before 1910, Ernest may have been widowed, or divorced from Martha, because the 1910 Census gave his wife as Mary from America who was three years younger than Ernest, with Martha being from Canada and only one year different in age

Ernest reappeared for the census in 1910, when he was still a married man but with a different, slightly younger wife, and with one of the daughters from his first wife, the three of them residing in Perth, Ontario. That year Ernest Collett was a steam fitter aged 48 from England who was born during the month of October 1861. His wife Mary Collett was a milliner who had been born in America during April 1864, while his daughter Mary Collett, born in Ontario during January 1893, was 18 with no job of work. The marriage of Ernest Augustus Collett and (2) Mary Ellis took place in Chicago the following year on 23^rd January 1911, when he was 49 and she was 46. After another twenty-year period of absence, their daughter was no longer living with them, when Ernest Collett aged 69 and a merchant with a retail store was residing in the City of Stratford in Perth County, Ontario, where wife Mary was 66 and a homemaker

85P2 – Florence Louise Collett was born in 1887 at Hamilton, Ontario

85P3 – Gertrude Collett was born in 1890 at Niagara Falls, County of Welland, Ontario

85P4 – Mary Augusta Collett was born in 1893 at Niagara Falls, County of Welland, Ontario

Florence Augusta Collett [85O5] was born in London near the start of 1864, when her birth was registered at Islington (Ref. 1b 321) during the first three months of 1864 and was seven years old in the Canadian census of 1871 for Muskoka, Ontario, having emigrated there with her family during the previous year. She was another daughter of George and Sarah Collett who, on completing her education, secured work as a live-in servant with the Toronto family of book-keeper Samuel Little from Ireland, with whom she was recorded in 1881 at the age of 17. Five years later, 22-year-old Florence A Collett, the daughter of George T Collett and Sarah A Collett, was married by licence to Thomas Westman, a Methodist, at Hamilton in the County of Wentworth, Ontario, on 22^nd September 1886. Thomas was 23 and the son of Joseph Westman, a bachelor and a resident of Toronto, whose occupation was that of a clerk. Spinster Florence from London, England, was an Episcopalian living in Hamilton, when the two witnesses were (the bride’s brother) Charles G Collett of Hamilton, and Edith Long from Toronto

The first of the seven children of Florence and Thomas, an excise office, was Florence May Westman who was born on 11^th November 1889, with the three of them living at 236 Gerrard Street East in Toronto, when their son Thomas Arthur Westman was born there on 2^nd December 1892. For the birth of the couple’s third child, the family home by then, was 196 Bleeker Street where Gertrude Viola Westman was born on 25^th October 1895, and was followed by a further two sons and two daughters. Two years later, George Edmund Westman was born at Toronto on 9^th December 1897 when it was at 200 Bleeker Street that the family was recorded, where his father was still employed as an excise officer. He was followed two years after, with the family then living at 52 Argyll Avenue in Ottawa, by birth of Albert Ernest Roberts Westman on 31^st May 1900 and was followed by Marion Evelyn Westman who was born on 7^th October 1905 in Ottawa, Carleton, when the family was residing at 8 Oriel Avenue, with her mother confirmed as Florence A Collett. It was also at Carleton that Margaret Kathleen Westman was born on 26^th September 1911 the last child of Thomas Westman and Florence Augusta Collett, by which time the family was residing at 32 First Avenue in Carleton

It was in Toronto during 1947 that Florence Augusta Collett Westman’s death was recorded at the age of 83, after which she was laid to rest in the Park Lawn Cemetery in Toronto

Charles George Collett [85O6] was born in London with his birth registered at Islington (Ref. 1b 288) during the second quarter of 1867. He was the sixth child of George and Sarah Collett and was three years old when his parents took the family in living in Canada in 1870. In the 1871 Ontario census for Muskoka Township Charles Collett was four years of age, after which the family travelled south to settle in Toronto, where they were living in 1881 when Charles G Collett was 14. Just one month prior to the next Toronto census in 1891, Charles George Collett was married by licence to Minnie Van Allen the daughter of Charles and Maggie Van Allen. Charles from England was 23, a printer, and an Episcopalian, with Minnie being 21 and a Methodist born at Acton, west of Toronto, when their wedding ceremony was conducted at Toronto on 25^th February 1891. The witnesses were George Devlin, and Bella White.

Charles from England was 24 and Minnie from Ontario was 22 in the Toronto City census of 1891 when they were recorded within St Patrick’s Ward and were members of the Church of England. Two years later Minnie gave birth to a son, Charles George Collett junior, who was born at 128 Portland Street in Toronto, when his father’s occupation was that of a printer. When junior was five years old, he and his mother, suffered the premature death of Charles George Collett, a printer was who 31, on 12^th September 1898 at Georgetown, Halton Hills, near Toronto. After that tragic event, mother and only son disappeared until they reappeared together in the census of 1931, at which time the head of the household at 9 Lindsay in the Parkdale district of Toronto was Charles Collett aged 38 and the owner of the property valued at 4,000. His occupation, like that of his late father, was that of a printer, employed at a paper box factory. His mother, the only other person living there, was Minnie Collett a widow and home-maker aged 62

Minnie Van Allen Collett was 78 years old when she passed away on 4^th October 1947 at Georgetown in Halton Hills, west of Toronto, and was buried with her husband at Greenwood Cemetery in Owen Sound to the north of Halton Hills. The record of her death gave her date of birth as 26^th May 1869

85P5 – Charles George Collett was born in 1893 at Toronto

Edmund Barnes Collett [85O7] was born in London on 13^th April 1869, the seventh child of George Thomas Collett and Sarah Ann Ford, with his birth registered at Islington (Ref. 1b 320) during the second quarter of that year. After sailing to Canada with his family in 1870, Edmund Collett was two years old and living at Muskoka Township in Ontario in 1871. Ten years later, and as Edmund B Collett he was 12 years of age and listing with his family in Toronto. When he was 21, Edmund B Collett was married by licence to Hannah Skene, aged 24 and the daughter of W S Skene and A B Skene on 27^th January 1890 at Toronto. Hannah was born in Ontario on 4^th January 1866, with Edmund born in London, England, a paper box cutter who was a member of the Church of England, as was his bride. The witnesses were Mary A Wallace and Dora Brown, both of Toronto. Their daughter Vera Estelle Collett was a honeymoon baby born at 101 University Road in Toronto on the last day of October 1890 when her father was described as a paper box cutter with his own company E B Collett. Eight years later the family was living in rented accommodation at 2683 Kings Street South in Toronto, the property owned by Robert Marr, when 30-year-old Edmund was working as a box maker. In the next census of 1901 Edmund from England was 32 and a manufacturer whose date of birth was 13^th April 1869, Hannah was 35, and Vera was 10 years of age.

It was just Edmund Barnes Collett and his wife Hannah who was residing at 130 Grenadier Road in Parkdale, Toronto, in 1931 with their home in their ownership. They were both recorded at 61 in that years’ census return, when Edmund was the manager of a paper box company, with his total earnings for the previous twelve months was $9,000. Ten years later, Edmund Barnes Collett was 71 and 3 months old when he died in Toronto on 31^st July 1940 and was buried there in St James Cemetery where his father had been buried thirty years earlier, and his wife more recently

For the last four years of his life Edmund had been a widower following the death of Hannah Collett, at the age of 72 and 10 months, on 3^rd November 1936 after which she was buried at St James Cemetery on 6^th November 1936. The record of her passing included the following information. Hannah, a housewife, was the daughter of William Skene from Scotland, and Annie Beeton, also from Scotland, and was living at 130 Grenadier Road, York Township in Toronto with her husband Edward (sic) Collett. The informant of her death was her son-in-law Doctor H F Sproule of 1200 Weston Road, Mount Dennis in Toronto. It was her son-in-law who signed the cause of death, being tryo…ditis (?) and nephritis – inflammation of the kidneys, and hypertension, having suffered with apoplexy for the previous four years

The later death record for Edmund Barnes Collett of 130 Grenadier Road in Toronto was also signed by Doctor H F Sproule, and contained the following details. He had lived in Toronto for 55 years, and in Ontario and Canada for 70 years, having been born in England on 13^th April 1869, and having been treated by his son-in-law from 6^th April 1940 up until his death, the cause of which was hypostatic pneumonia, cancer of the prostrate, extending into the bladder. Edmund had worked as a box maker up until December 1939 for the family business of Collett & Sproule Box Company, Herman Sproule being his son-in-law. His wife was confirmed as Hannah Skene, deceased, the son of George Collett and Sarah Ford, and was buried at St James Cemetery with his late wife on 3^rd August 1940

The announcement of his passing in the local newspaper read as follows: “ E B Collett, manufacturer, dead, aged 73 (sic) – President of Paper Box Firm was five times Commodore of the National Yacht Club – English-born – Edmund B Collett former commodore of the National Yacht Club, died today at his home, 130 Grenadier Road, in his 73^rd year. He was widely known in the paper box manufacturing industry and until his retirement about two years age was president of the firm of Collett, Sproule Limited, paper box manufacturers.

Mr Collett was born in England and brought to Toronto by his parents when only one year old. He had made his home here since and throughout his business life had been associated with the box making industry. In his younger days Mr Collett was an active and enthusiastic member and office of the National Yacht Club. He served for five years as commodore 1903 to 1907, and again in 1912. It was largely at his instigation that the club premises were moved from where the lighthouse now is on Fleet Street to the present site behind Maple Leaf Stadium.

A member for many years of St John’s Garrison Church, Mr Collett was long president of the Garrison Businessmen’s Association. He was for several years too, Grand Commander of the Knights of Malta, and belonged also to Wilson Lodge, A F & A M. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs Vera Sproule.

85P6 – Vera Estelle Collett was born in 1890 at Toronto

Alfred Bertram Collett [85O8] was the eighth and youngest child of George Thomas Collett, an engine fitter from London, and his wife Sarah Ann Ford, also from London. All his older siblings were born in London, with the family emigrating to Canada in 1870, and it was there, at 9 Brant Street in Orillia, County of Simco, Ontario, that Alfred was born on 6^th May 1873. The informant of his birth was Sarah Ann Ford, mother, when she registered his date of birth (as above) on 28^th May 1873

Later in his life he travelled to America where he died on 12^th September 1936 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. Prior to that, Alfred Bertram Collett had been twice married, with his first wife being (1) Elizabeth Clarke, with whom he had three children. Their third child, daughter Alda Ladysmith Collett, was born in the County of York, Ontario, on the first day of March in 1900, when her birth was registered by A B Collett, father, of 112 Stollard, Orillia, whose occupation was a foreman on the railway. For the census day on 31^st March 1901, Alda L Collett was one year old, and the youngest of the three children living with Alfred and Elizabeth within Ward 3 of Toronto. Alfred was 27 and a coachman, Elizabeth was 25 and born on 20^th September 1875, and their two older children were five-year-old Victor C Collett who was born in 1895, when Alfred was a butcher, and four-year-old Eugenie Collett who was born two years after in 1897. The Tax Assessment return for the County of York completed in 1897 by Alfred Collett indicated he was a conductor on the railway who was residing at 2543 Gauge Avenue intersect with Birch Avenue South, with the owner of the property being Mary Holmes

Not long after that census day, Elizabeth Collett, nee Clarke, suffered a premature death, perhaps even during the birth of a fourth child who did not survive. When that happened the three young children of Alfred Collett were looked after by his parents to enable him to continue to work which, eventually resulted in him emigrating to the United States, and settling in West Virginia, where he was married to (2) Bertha Belle Bassford in 1906. Bertha Belle was born in Ohio County, West Virginia on 1^st December 1880 (Vol. 38, Page 95) the daughter of Crawford Bassford [1841-1912] and Ida Huntsberry [1854-1924] whose forenames were given to two of their children. That second married produced another seven children for Alfred, with the first two born at Bethany in Brooke County, West Virginia, and the remainder after the family had settled in Wellsburg in Brooke County. The US Census in 1910 identified the family still residing in Bethnay in Main Street, where Alfred Collett from Canada was 35 and working as a motorman with street cars. He was described as the son of an English father and an Irish mother (sic), when his wife Bertha Collett from West Virginia was 29, who had given birth to two children during the couple’s first four years of marriage. Those two children were recorded as Katherine Collett who was three, and Dorothy Collett who was one year six months old. Shortly after that day, the family of four moved to Wellsburg

It was at Wellsburg that the family was recorded in the next two census returns for both 1920 and 1930 where, in the first of them, Alfred was 46 and employed at a glass works, the owner of the family’s home who had taken-up American citizenship in 1907 who, for some reason, gave his place of birth as Ireland (sic), where he also said his parents were born. Curiously, at other times in his life he said the same thing. His wife Bertha was 39 when the children living with them that day were Katharine Collett who was 13, Dorothy A Collett who was 11, Grace B Collett who was nine, Mary E Collett who was seven, Crawford B Collett who was four, and Florence L Collett who was one year and eight months old. Four years later the couple’s last child was added to their family

By 1930, the family was living in rented accommodation at 824 Commerce Street in Wellsburg when Alfred B Collett was 56 and a Justice of the Peace from Ireland (sic), although English speaking, the son of an English father and an Irish mother (sic). The census return stated that he was 32 when he married Bertha, when she was 25, and that he was a War Veteran S P. Bertha was 49 and their seven children were Katharine Collett 23 and a printer’s secretary, Dorothy Collett was 21 and a book-keeper, Grace B Collett was a sales lady at a drug store aged 19, Mary Collett was 17, Crawford Collett was 15, Florence Collett was 11, and Janet Collett was six years of age

After a further six years the death of Alfred Bertram Collett was recorded at O’Hara Township, Allegheny County in Pennsylvania when he was a patient at the nearby Veterans Administration Facility in Aspinwall. The Certificate of Death stated that he had become sick on 12^th August 1936 and had died at 11 p.m. on 12^th September 1936 following an operation for a strangled hernia. Prior to his death at the age of 63, he had been a Justice of the Peace, and the husband of Bertha Bassford Collett, whose date of birth was 7^th May 1873, rather than 6^th May as stated above. He had been born at Orillia in Canada, the son of George Collett and Sarah Ford who were both described in error as being from Dublin in Ireland. Four days after he passed away, he was buried at Brooke Cemetery in Wellsburg on 16^th September 1936, just two months before his only son died at Wheeling, when the family home was at 1414 Main Street in Wellsburg.

Four years after that census day Bertha and two of her daughters were living with her 2021 Palmer Street in Wellsburg, another rented dwelling. Bertha B Collett was a widow aged 59, Mary E Collett was single, 27 and working as a bottomer in a bag factory, with unmarried Jeanne S Collett who was 16 and not working. Staying with them was Bertha’s son-in-law Howard Pfabe who was a married man with three children, the husband of one of Bertha’s daughters who was absent that day. Howard senior was 30 and a crane man at a steel works, his son Howard junior was seven, and the two daughters were Barbara Ann who was four, and Dawn K Pfabe who was two years of age. They were described at the grandson and granddaughters of Bertha Collett. Nine years after being made a widow Bertha Belle Bassford Collett passed way at Wellsburg on 25^th August 1945 at the age of 64, when her headstone at Brooke Cemetery was placed adjacent to that of her late husband

Three family photographs have been kindly provided by Renee Kraft, the great-granddaughter of Alfred Bertram Collett, one of Alfred, one of his son Crawford – in army uniform, and one of five of Alfred’s six daughters, Kay, Dot, Mary, Florence, and Jeanne dated 4^th July 1966

85P7 – Victor Clarke Collett was born in 1895 at York Township in Toronto, Ontario

85P8 – Eugenie Collett was born in 1897 at York Township in Toronto, Ontario

85P9 – Alda Ladysmith Collett was born in 1900 at Orillia, on Lake Simcoe, Ontario

The following are the children of Alfred Bertram Collett and his second wife Bertha Belle Bassford:

85P10 – Kathryn Ida Collett was born in 1906 at Bethany, Brooke County, West Virginia

85P11 – Dorothy Ava Collett was born in 1909 at Bethany, Brooke County, West Virginia

85P12 – Grace Bertha Collett was born in 1911 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia

85P13 – Mary Ellanore Collett was born in 1912 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia

85P14 – Crawford Bertrum Collett was born in 1915 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia

85P15 – Florence Louise Collett was born in 1918 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia

85P16 – Janet Susan Collett was born in 1924 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia

David George James Malcolm Collett [85P1] was born in Toronto on 22^nd August 1882 whose father David Ford Collett died before he was born, so was raised by young widow Eliza Jane Collett nee Robinson. David was married twice in his life with each of those relationships producing a daughter. However, his first child, Edith Collett, was born on 13^th October 1906 at Cleveland, Ohio, before David George Collett and Saba Bartlett Oakes were married at Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on 19^th November 1907. Their Application (Ref. 55095) for a licence to be married provided their details, as follows: David George age 25, residing at 1331 North 85^th Street, born in Canada, a clerk, father David Ford Collett, mother Eliza J Robinson, unmarried. Saba Bartlett Oakes age 19, of 7617 Linwood Avenue, born in Cleveland, father Sheridan A Oakes, mother Anna Lavantie. The following year, the couple’s second child was born in hospital, but did not survive, the un-named daughter born on 26^th October 1908, to David aged 26, and Saba Collett aged 19

The subsequent marriage licence for David George Collett and Edna Susie Dainz was issued by Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on 16^th June 1916 (Application 109394) with the following details. David G Collett age 33 of 1523 Massachusetts Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio, an auditor, and the son of David F Collett and Elizabeth Robinson, with one previous marriage, now divorced. Edna S Dainz age 33 of 3181 West 11 Street, single and the daughter of Charles A Dainz and Susan McCann. The couple was married on 17^th June 1916, with their daughter Betty Collett born five years later, on 13^th February 1922

The 1917-1918 US Draft Registration Form was completed by David George Collett aged 36 (dob as above) of 444 Logan Avenue, Milwaukee, a declared alien having British citizenship, an asset treasurer with the Ludish Drop Forge Company at Packard Avenue, Cudahy, Milwaukee, nearest relative his wife at 444 Logan Avenue

Around that same time, two years after their weeding day, 35-year-old David applied for American Citizenship, with his Declaration of Intention drawn up at The Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, containing the following details. “I David George Collett aged 35, an accountant, white and of fair complexion, 5 feet 6 ½ inches tall, 139 pounds, blonde hair, blue eyes, scar over right eye, was born in Toronto on 22^nd August 1882, now residing at 444 Logan Avenue, Milwaukee, emigrated to the USA from Toronto on the R & O Navigation Company, my wife Edna Susie from Cleveland now resides in Milwaukee. I arrived at the Port of New York on 20^th June 1903. Signed by the Clerk of the Court on 10^th July 1918”

The US Census in 1920 identified the family residing in Milwaukee City, where David G Collett from Canada was 37, living in rented accommodation, who was an auditor with a steel manufacturer, his wife Edna Collett from Ohio was 37, and David’s daughter from his first marriage, Edith Collett, was 11 years of age and born in Ohio. Two brothers (27 & 25 years old) were boarding with the family that day.

The subsequent Petition for Naturalization was signed on 16^th April 1925 and read as follows: “David George Collett of 12530 Edmonton Road, Cleveland, Ohio, occupation auditor, was born on 22^nd August 1882 in Toronto, entered the United States on 20^th June 1903 at Buffalo N Y, do declare my intention to become a citizen of the United States on 10^th July 1916 at Milwaukee. I am divorced from my wife Edna who was born on 15^th January 1882 at Cleveland where she now resides. I originally resided in the State of Ohio from 20^th June 1903 until 15^th March 1920 and being residence within this state of at least one year next preceding the date of this petition.” David also stated on the form that his two surviving daughters were Edith Collett (dob 13.10.1906), and Betty Collett (dob 13.02.1922) both born in Cleveland, the first date creating a conflict with other, later records for Edith

Five years later, the Collett family was recorded in the 1930 for Cleveland City at 1070 East 197 Street when David G Collett was 47 and employed at a factory as an asset treasurer, Edna S Collett was 47, Edith G Collett was 21 and a clerical office worker, and Betty M Collett was eight years of age. Living with the family was David’s widowed mother Lizzie Collett who was 73. Four years after that day, David George Collett was still living in Cleveland when he died there on 9^th April 1934 at the age of 51. His obituary was published in The Plain Dealer newspaper and included the names of his mother, Lizzie Collett, his wife Edna Dainz Collett, and his two daughters (in reverse order) Betty Mae Collett, and Edith Lore Collett. Following the later death of his widow Edna S Collett aged 67, at Cleveland her obituary was published in The Plain Dealer which mentioned her surviving family members as Mrs Betty (Mae) Purvis, and Edith G Lore (daughters), and her elderly father Charles A Dainz

The next census in 1940 recorded mother and daughter living at the same rented accommodation where they had been living in 1935 after the death of David. Both were employed by the same steam railroad company, where Edna S Collett was a widow at 59, and an office clerk, while Betty Collett was 18 and a stenographer

85Q1 - Edith G Collett was born in 1906 at Cleveland

85Q2 - daughter Collett was born in 1908 at Cleveland, infant death

The following is the child of David George Collett by his second wife Edna Susie Dainz

85Q3 - Betty Mae Collett was born in 1922 at Cleveland

Florence Louise Collett [85P2] was born at Hamilton in Ontario on 13^th March 1887, the first-born daughter of Ernest Augustus Collett from England and his Canadian first wife Martha Jane Carlyon. Florence was 19 and residing at Stratford, Hamilton, when she married bachelor William Rieck aged 27, a labourer, at New Hamburg, Stratford, County of Waterloo, on 30^th January 1906. His parents were William Rieck and Marie Berlin, with Florence’s parents confirmed as Ernest A Collett and Martha Carlyon, when the witnesses were Henry Hiller and Jillie Rieck. Four years on from their wedding day the couple and their two daughters were living at Perth North in Ontario when William Rieck from Germany was 33 and a carpenter, wife Florence was 23, Berthenia Rieck was four, and Lezetee Rieck was eleven months old. Florence was supplementing the family income by taking in boarders, who on the day were John McQuade 19, and John Britt 17 from England

Gertrude Collett [85P3] was born at Niagara Falls, County of Welland, Ontario on 25^th July 1890, the second of the three daughters of Ernest and Martha Collett. Apart from the record of her birth, no other information is currently known

Mary Augusta Collett [85P4] was born at Niagara Falls in 1893 and was the youngest child of Ernest and Martha Collett. Mary was 20 years of age when she married Alfred William Kempster on 20^th January 1914 at London Township, County of Middlesex, Ontario. The Marriage Act Affidavit written out prior to the marriage contained the following details. Mary Augusta Collette of 260 King Street, London, Ontario, born at Niagara, Ontario, Church of England, daughter of Ernest Augustus Collett and Martha (maiden-name not known). The groom was 31 and a driver, who was born in Wiltshire, England, also residing at 260 King Street in London, the son of George Kempster and Lucy Stevens. As with the rest of her family, very few records of their life have been unearthed, with just the later death of Mary A Collett Kempster registered at London in the County of Middlesex during 1927 when she was only 33, and was buried at Woodland Cemetery in London

Charles George Collett [85P5] was born at 129 Portland Street in Toronto on 26^th April 1893, the only known child of printer Charles George Collett from England and Minnie Van Allen of Ontario. His father died in 1898 with no obvious record of George and his mother until the census in 1931. By that time mother and son were together at 9 Lindsay in Parkdale, Toronto, where Charles Collett was a printer with a paper box factory at the age of 38, when his widowed mother was 62 and died in 1947. Charles was single and the owner of the property in which they were living, which was valued at $4,000. Nothing more is known about Charles, other than he died on 22^nd November 1965 at Georgetown, Halton Hills, and was buried with his parents at Greenwood Cemetery in Owen Sound, Ontario

Vera Estelle Collett [85P6] was born at 101 University Street in Toronto on 31^st October 1890, the only known child of Edmund Barnes Collett and Hannah Skene, born nine months after their wedding day. It was at 2683 Kings Street South in Toronto where the family was living in 1901 when Vera Collett was eight years. Fourteen years after that day, when Vera Estelle Collett was 24, she married Herman Frederick Sproule [1889-1976] aged 26 in York Township, Toronto, on 30^th June 1915. Herman was a physician and a Methodist, the son of Frederick Alexander Sproule [1861-1919] and Amelia Abigail Post [1865-], while Vera was confirmed as an Episcopalian and the daughter of Edmund B Collett and Hannah Skene

Their first child was Frederick C Sproule, with the couple’s only other known child was Edmund Barnes Sproule, named after Vera’s businessman father, who was born at 1200 Weston Street in Mount Dennis, Toronto, in 1920 but tragically did not survive, and died on 25^th November 1920 and was buried two days later, on 27^th November. His tiny body was laid to rest in Prospect Cemetery, St Clair Avenue West in Toronto, in a plot owned by his father Doctor Herman F Sproule. He was just five months old and the cause of his premature death was meningitis

Victor Clarke Collett [85P7] was born at York Township in Toronto, Ontario on 1^st September 1895, the first-born child of Alfred Bertram Collett, a butcher, and Elizabeth Clarke. The record of his birth, unlike all the others, had the extra note that “child born at Toronto Locando” which may have been a hotel. It was at Ward 3 in Toronto that Victor C Collett was living with his family at the age of five years in the 1901 Census. During the following years his mother died and his father emigrated across the border into America, but without his three children. And it was in America that his father married for a second time in 1906. From a comment made by Victor, on his wedding day, it seems highly likely that he, and his two younger sisters, were raised by their paternal grandparents George Thomas Collett and Sarah Ann Ford

Victor was 24 when the licence for his proposed marriage was granted in Toronto on 25^th September 1919. It was during the following week that Victor married Hannah Madeline Vanston at Elm Street Methodist Church, Toronto, on 1^st October 1919, when she was 23. On that occasion, having lived without his father for twenty years, Victor recorded that he was the son of Thomas Collett (sic) and Elizabeth Clarke, with Hannah described as the daughter of George Vanston and Jean Hart. Victor was a printer and a member of the Church of England, with Anna being a Methodist who was employed as a stenographer. Victor’s home address was 897 Logan Avenue in the City of Toronto, when the witnesses were Isabel Vanston of 38 Hearborn Street, Toronto, and Benedict Alfred Clarke of 178 Harvard Avenue, Toronto, the latter possibly being a relative from his mother’s family, and Isabel possibly being Hannah’s sister

Four years earlier, with war raging in Europe, Victor may have been involved in military service and fathered a child around that time who, eventually ended up as his only surviving child. However, eleven years after their wedding day, a subsequent child was born in Toronto during 1930, who appears to have died at birth, since it was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto and referred to as an infant of Victor C Collett

The following year, the census in 1931 identified Victor as 35 and a pressman in a printing business who was living at 38 Earl Haig Avenue in Scarborough, Toronto, when he was a married man with a wife and child. Madeline Collett was 35 and a home maker, and their son Victor Clarke Collett junior was 15 and a student, all three of them born in Ontario. Victor was the owner of the property which was valued at $3,900, when his annual income was $2,000. Fourteen years later, Victor suffered the loss of his wife, when Hannah Madeline Vanston Collett died at London, Middlesex, Ontario, on 2^nd November 1945, three weeks short of her fiftieth birthday. Her death record confirmed she was born on 22^nd November1895 at St Mary’s Perth, Ontario, the daughter of George Joseph Vanston, a jeweller, and Jean Hart, after which she was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto

Sometime between 1945 and 1955, Victor Clarke Collett married Nona and, on 29^th July 1955, Victor Clarke Collett, aged 59, travelled first class from New York on the Alcoa Ranger V/81 arriving at Baltimore on 8^th August 1955 after staying at the Commodore Hotel in the Big Apple. Accompanying him on the cruise was his wife Nona Collett who was 40, both recorded as Canadian nationals on the manifest of in-bound passengers. Victor Clarke Collett from Canada was 84 years old when he died on 5^th March 1980 at Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio, after which he was transported back to Ontario to be buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, where his first wife was buried thirty-five years earlier

58Q4 – Victor Clarke Collett was born in 1915 at Toronto

Eugenie Collett [85P8] was born on 31^st January 1897 at 2543 Gauge Avenue, Toronto Junction, the eldest of the two daughters of Alfred Bertram Collett and Elizabeth Clarke, whose birth was registered in York County. When she was three years of age Eugenie and her family were residing at 112 Stollard in Orillia, and was four years old in the Toronto census the following year. Tragically, she was only 13 years old when she died on 21^st November 1910 and was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery where her mother was buried during the first half of that decade, after which she was very likely care for by her grandparents following her father’s move to America

Alda Ladysmith Collett [85P9] was born on 1^st March 1900 at 112 Stollard, Orillia, York County, Ontario, another child of Alfred B Collett, a foreman on the railway who registered her birth on 29^th March that year. As Alda L Collett she was one year old in the Toronto Ward 3 census of 1901, by which time her father was a coachman (on the railway). With the death of her mother shortly after that census day, and her father appearing not able to look after three young children, Alda and her two siblings were very likely taken-in and raised by their father’s parents. That allowed her father to seek a new life in America, where he was remarried

Alda was twenty years and three months old when the marriage licence for Alda Ladysmith Collett and William Halford McEwan was approved on 25^th May 1920 at Mississauga in Peel County, Ontario. Alda was a stenographer living at 897 Logan Avenue in Toronto, a Presbyterian and daughter of Fred Collett and Elizabeth Clarke, when William was 20, a traveller, Methodist, and the son of William Brown McEwan and Annie Grinnell of 754 Logan Avenue, Toronto. The witnesses at the wedding on 27^th May 1920 were E Cameron Hall and Jessie R Hall of Newmarket. During the following decade Alda presented William with two children

By 1931 the four members of the McEwan family were living in an apartment block at 225 William Street, Belleville City, Hastings County in Ontario, from where William was 31 and employed as a district superintendent with a life assurance company. His wife Alda was 31 and a homemaker, when her two children were daughter Elizabeth McEwan who was ten years of age and a student, and son Robert McEwan who was five years old. It was at Brighton, Northumberland County just west of Belleville that Alda Ladysmith McEwan was living when she died in 25^th January 1986 and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery on County Road in Brighton Township. Just four months after being widowed, William Halford McEwan also died at Brighton on 31^st May 1986 when he was 85 years old, having been born on 1^st May 1901 in Toronto, and was buried with his late wife at Mount Hope Cemetery

Kathryn Ida Collett [85P10], sometimes referred to as Katharine in official records, and known within the family as Kay, was born on 3^rd October 1906 at Bethany, Brooke County in West Virginia, the eldest of the seven children of Alfred Bertram Collett and his second wife Bertha Belle Bassford. As Katherine Collett she was recorded as three years of age in the 1910 census for Bethany, following which the family moved to Wellsburg. Again, as Katharine she was 13 and 23 in 1920 and 1930 census returns for Wellsburg. For the latter, conducted on 1^st April 1930, she still living with her parents but at 824 Commerce Street in Wellsburg, from where she was employed as a secretary with a local printing company. It was also in 1930 that the marriage of Kathryn Collett and Charles Osler Booher was conducted at Wellsburg and recorded at Brooke County register office. Charles was born on 14^th April 1907, the son of Doctor William Booher from Ohio and his wife Mary, with whom Charles was living on the day of the Wellsburg census in 1930 when he was 23 and a manager of a newspapers

On 16^th October 1940 Charles completed a military draft registration form which confirmed his date of birth and that he was born at Bethany, like his wife. At that time in his life, aged 33, he was employed by the Sanderson & Porter Power Company at Power in Brooke County, when residing at 2110 Maple Avenue in Wellsburg with Kathryn Collett Booher. It is not known whether they had any children, while it known that Kathryn Collett Booher was 83 when she died on 18^th November 1989 and was buried at Franklin Cemetery in Brooke County, prior to which she was residing in Wellsburg. The last three years of her life were spent as a widow after Charles died in 1986

85P11 – Dorothy Ava Collett, who was known as Dot, was born at Bethnay in Brooke County, West Virginia on 17^th October 1908, the second daughter of Alfred and Bertha Collett of Wellsburg, who was eighteen months old in the Bethany census of 1910. Dorothy A Collett was 11 in 1920 and, on completing her education began her working career as a book-keeper who was 21 in 1930, when living at 824 Commerce Street in Wellsburg with her family. Five years later, in 1935 Census, Dorothy A Collett was 31 and a patient at the Tuberculosis Sanitarium in Portland, Preston County, West Virginia, when she was described as a professional accountant. Dorothy never married and in 1950 was 41 and working as a private secretary for a public accountant company in Wellsburg where she was a lodger at the home of elderly George M Boelh and his much younger wife Frances E Boelh and their two-year-old daughter Sharon. The later death Dorothy A Collett was recorded at Brooke County, three weeks after her married sister Kathryn (above) passed away, when she died at Wellsburg on 6^th December 1989 at the age of 81 and was buried at Brooke Cemetery

85P12 – Grace Bertha Collett was born during the month of November 1911 at Wellsburg, Brooke County in West Virginia and was nine years old in the Wellsburg census of 1920, another daughter of Alfred and Bertha Collett. Ten years later the family was recorded living at 824 Commerce Street in Wellsburg, where Grace B Collett was 19 and working as a sales lady in a drug store. Although not yet proved, it is possible that Grace married Howard Pfabe around one or two years later, with whom she had three children prior to the census day in 1940. On that day, with his wife missing, the married son-in-law of widow and head of the household Bertha Collett at 2021 Palmer Street in Wellsburg, Howard Pfabe was 30 and a crane man at a steel works, who had with him his three children. Howard Pfabe junior was seven, Barbara Ann Pfabe was four, and Dawn K Pfabe was two years old

In the photograph of the Collett sisters, provided by Renee Kraft and taken during the summer of 1966, it was only Grace who was missing

85P13 – Mary Ellanore Collett was born at Wellsburg, Brooke County in West Virginia on 8^th December 1912, the middle child of Alfred and Bertha Collett, who was seven years old in the Wellsburg census of 1920. In 1930 it was at 824 Commerce Street in Wellsburg that she was living with her family at the age of 17, having no job of work. With the family having lost their father in 1936, by 1^st April 1941 Mary was preparing for her wedding day later that same year, when she was one of two daughters still living with her widowed mother at 2012 Palmer Street in Wellsburg. Mary E Collett was recorded as 27 years old who was employed at a bag factory as a bottomer. Fifteen weeks after, she was said to be 25 when Mary E Collett was married by licence to George H Dotson aged 25, at Alexandria in Virginia on 26^th July 1941. The groom from Parkersburg was a machinist and the son of James A Dotson and Mary A Krick, with Mary from Wellsburg confirmed as the daughter of Alfred B Collett and Bertha Bassford. No details are currently known regarding any children who may have been born to the couple

During the next decade Mary gave birth to a daughter, with the three members of the family recorded in the 1950 Census at 2205 West 11^th Street in Ashtabula City, Ohio. George H Dotson was 34 and a mill-wright with a construction company, when Mary E Dotson was 37, and their daughter was Dorothy J Dotson was five years of age. Mary Ellanore Collett Dotson was 68 years old when she died on 8^th April 1981 at Monmouth in New Jersey, after which her body was transferred to her home town of Wellsburg, where she was buried in the ground of Brooke Cemetery. Her daughter, and only known child, Dorothy J Dotson was born at Wellsburg in 1944 and died on 3^rd December 2019 at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Tehama, California, aged 75. Her obituary stated she had been a banker on Wall Street for thirty years prior to retirement, with her funeral taking place at Lincroft Bible Church, the same church of which she was a founding member

Crawford Bertrum Collett [85P14] was born on 26^th April 1915 at Wellsburg, Brooke County in West Virginia, the only son in a family of daughters of Alfred Bertram Collett and Bertha Belle Bassford. In consecutive census returns for Wellsburg he was four and 15 in 1920 and 1930. Six years later, when he was only 21 years old, he died at Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia on 25^th November 1936, just over two months after the death of his father. Crawford’s death certificate recorded that he was a paper-mill worker aged 21 years 6 months 29 days who, having died at Wheeling, was stated to be residing in the family home with his mother in Wellsburg at 1414 Main Street. Once again, the informant of his personal details incorrectly stated that his father Alfred B Collett was from Ireland, with his mother Bertha Bassford having been born in West Virginia. At some earlier time, he was photographed in a military uniform, as provided by Renee Kraft, the granddaughter of Florence Louise Collett (below)

85P15 – Florence Louise Collett was born in 1918 at Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia, the sixth child of Alfred and Bertha Collett. As Florence L Collett she was twenty months old in the Wellsburg census of 1920, and as Florence Collett she was 11 years of age in 1930, when she and her family were living at 824 Commerce Street in Wellsburg. She was only around sixteen years of age when she married Melvin Louis Kock during 1935 in Hancock County, West Virginia. Melvin was born on 8^th April 1915 at Aliquippa, Pennsylvania and died on 1^st December 1985 at Phoenix, Arizona. Twenty-two years later Florence Louise Collett Koch passed away during 2008. The couple’s son Keith Collett Koch was born at Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, on 26^th December 1940 and was 83 when he passed away at Fenton, Genesee, Michigan, on 1^st June 2024. His obituary revealed his parents were Florence Louise Collett and Melvin Louis Koch, and his predeceased brother was Melvin Koch II. The obituary also revealed that Keith had married Sheila Jean Hutton on 23^rd December 1961, with whom he had three children; Keith Koch, Renee Kraft nee Koch, and Robert Koch

And it is from the basic details generously provided by Renee Kraft that has enabled a major update of this file to be prepared during October 2025 and eventually uploaded to the Collett Family History website – www.collettfamilyhistory.net

85P16 – Janet Susan Collett was the last child born to Alfred Bertram Collett and Bertha Belle Bassford. In different public records she was described as Jeanne, Jeanne Sue, and Janet. As with four of her older siblings, she was born at Wellsburg, Brooke County in West Virginia on 15^th January 1924, and was simply Janet Collett aged six years in the Wellsburg census of 1930, who was residing at 824 Commerce Street with her completed family. After her father died in 1936, Jeanne S Collett aged 16 was one of two daughters still living at 2012 Palmer Street in Wellsburg in 1940. She never married and appears to have lived her whole life in Wellsburg, where she died on 27^th December 2003 at the age of 79

Edith G Collett [85Q1] was born at Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on 13^th October 1906, the only surviving child of David George Collett and Saba Bartlett Oakes whose parents were divorced sometime after the death of Edith’s younger un-named sister towards the end of 1908 and before the 1916 remarriage of her father. Whether her mother did not survive is not currently known but, four years after her father’s second marriage, Edith was living with her father and stepmother Edna Susie Collett in Milwaukee for the census in 1920. There is some confusion with her date of birth, with her father saying it was 13^th October 1906 when he became an American citizen in 1925, while in the 1920 census he informed the enumerator that she was 11 years of age, which he may have confused with the un-named daughter who was born and died towards the end of 1908. An alternative source suggests that Edith G Collett was born on 2^nd October 1910. Ten years later Edith was planning to be married when she was still living with her family in Cleveland City

It was on 7^th August 1930 that the wedding of Edith Collett and Salvatore Lore junior took place in Ohio and was recorded at Cuyahoga County. The bride was 21 and the daughter of David G Collett and Saba Oakes, with the groom being 23, the son of Salvatore Lore and Caroline Carmidzzaro. Edith gave her home address as 1070 East 197 Street in Cleveland City, the home of her father that year, when she was working as a clerk. Her husband was a paymaster residing at 18206 Harland in Cleveland City. Twelve years into their marriage, Edith gave birth to a son when the couple was living at 1596 Maple Road in Cleveland City with the un-named child born on 13^th September 1942, who died on 15^th September 1942, and was buried at Knollwood Cemetery in Mayfield Heights on 16^th September 1942.

By 1950, Edith was a widow residing at Bassett in Los Angeles when she was 41 with no stated occupation, but when she was recorded as Edith G Lo Re, head of the household. The only person living with her was her son David F Lo Re who was eleven years old. David Ford Lore was born on 28^th May 1938 at Cleveland the only surviving child of Salvatore Lore and Edith Collett, who died on 6^th September 1990 in Los Angeles. Upon the earlier death of his mother, Edith G Lore, nee Collett, on 2^nd March 1969 at Los Angeles, her date of birth was recorded as 26^th October 1908 which was the date of the un-named sibling who was born in hospital, who died there

Betty Mae Collett [85Q3] was born at Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio on 13^th February 1922 and was the only the child of David George Collett and his second wife Edna Susie Dainz, with whom she was living in 1930 aged eight years. Following the death of her father in the spring of 1934, Betty was living and working with her mother in Cleveland in 1940, when she was 18 and a stenographer with the steam railroad

It was as Betty Collett Mayo that she died on 16^th April 2012 at Spring Hill, Smith County in Texas. Her obituary was later published at Brooksville, Hernando County, in Florida on 25^th July 2012, naming her three children and the spouses. They were daughter Collette Buckley and husband Joe Buckey, and sons Dean and Dale Purvis and daughter-in-law Rita Purvis, wife of Dean. One of her two husbands was Harry E Purvis with Dean E Purvis (03.07.1944-15.02.1995), and Dale Edward Purvis (04.05.1948-14.01.2009) being just two of their many children