Douglas Collison

Douglas was the son of Francis Albert Collison and Kate Collison nee Ward. His birth was registered in 1899 (J/F/M Nottingham), given names William Douglas, but he was baptised 'Douglas' at St Stephen, Hyson Green, on 17 December 1900, and subsequent records give only this first name. His father was born in Holme, Huntingdon, in 1859 (J/A/S Peterborough), given name 'Francis' but subsequent records use 'Francis Albert' and 'Albert Francis'. His parents, Howlett (b. Grimstone Norfolk) and Elizabeth Collison (b. Stilton Huntingdon), had a numerous family including at least six sons. Howlett and Elizabeth were living at The Green, Stilton, (registration district Peterborough) in 1871 but by 1881 had moved to Nottingham where they were living at 28 Hubert Street, Radford. It seems that their children also came to Nottingham about the same time. Howlett and most of his sons were bricklayers. In 1891, Francis (31), a bricklayer, was living with his parents on Camomile Street, Radford. He married Kate Ward (b. 26 November 1863) the same year (1891 O/N/D Nottingham). Kate Ward had three children before her marriage to Francis. Their names were recorded on the 1901 census as: Luke b. abt. 1884 (no other records found), Samuel Ward (later Samuel Ward Collison then Samuel Collison) b. 9 December 1886 (birth registered 1887 J/F/M Nottingham, Ward) and Kate Elizabeth Ward birth registered 1890 (J/F/M Nottingham, Ward). Their surnames were given on the census return of 1901 as 'Collison'. However, in 1891 Kate (single) and working as a curtain dresser was living with her widowed mother, Martha Ward (62), a charwoman, in Revill's Yard, North Street, Nottingham. Kate had three children who were named on the census as: John William Ward (6, b. 1884 (J/A/S Nottingham, Ward), Samuel Ward (4) and Kate Elizabeth Ward (1). The 1911 Census recorded that Francis and Kate had been married for 24 (sic) years and had eight children (no deaths recorded). However, nine chlldren were named on the census of 1901 and 1911: Luke, Samuel, Kate, Clarence, Albert (Francis Albert), Verity, Jane Elizabeth, Douglas and Leonard and another child has been traced on the registration of births index: Arthur Hewlett Collison born 1901, died 1903. It might be, therefore, that Luke (and John William if not one and the same child as Luke), and Samuel were Kate's children by a previous relationship and Kate Elizabeth was Francis' daughter (Elizabeth being his mother's name). The seven children born after the marriage were: Clarence b. 1892 (A/M/J Nottingham) poss. 21 March, Francis Albert b. 28 August 1893 bap. 23 May 1894 Holy Trinity Nottingham, Virtie (also Virty/Verty/Verity) b. 1895 (J/A/S Nottingham, Ward) bap. (Verty) 17 October 1900 St Stephen Hyson Green, Jane Elizabeth b. 1897 (O/N/D Nottingham, Ward) b. 11 September 1897 bap. 17 October 1900 St Stephen Hyson Green, William Douglas birth registered 1899 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. (Douglas) 17 October 1900 St Stephen Huson Green, Arthur Hewlett b. 1901 (A/M/J Nottingham, Ward) d. 1903 (A/M/J Nottingham), and Leonard b. 9 June 1903 (J/A/S Nottingham). The family was living at 3 Neavil's Yard, Nottingham, in 1894 when Francis Albert was baptised but had moved to 489 Berridge Road, Hyson Green, by the time of Verty's baptism in 1900. Francis (41) a bricklayer, and Kate (40) were still living at 489 Berridge Road in 1901. Also in the home on the night of the census were: Luke (17) a baker (bread), Samuel (14) an errand boy (post), Kate (11), Clarence (9), (Francis) Albert (7) and Verty (5). Not in the home that night were the two youngest children, Jane (3) and Douglas (2). Arthur was born a few months later but died in 1903 and then Leonard was born in 1903. By 1911 Francis (52) and Kate (50) were living at 54 Lambert Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham. Four children were in the home on the night of the census: Verity (sic) (15) a binder, Jane (13) a picker, Douglas (12) and Leonard (7). Douglas' widowed mother, Kate, was recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register living at 35 Imperial Road, Beeston, with her married daughter Jane E Shelton. She died in 1943 (J/F/M Basford) aged 79. Her husband Francis has not yet been traced after 1911. Of Douglas' siblings/half-siblings: John William Ward has not been traced after the 1891 Census and Luke (Collison) has not been traced before or after the 1901 Census. Samuel attested on 24 October 1914 and served in France with the 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (235442 Private) from 23 October 1918. He was discharged to 7 Waterloo Terrace, Gadd Street, Nottingham. His next of kin was his wife, Hettie (nee Coulson, b. 9 March 1886) whom he had married at St Peter's Radford on 6 October 1906 (O/N/D Nottingham). They may have had nine children: Mabel and Elsie b. 29 August 1907 (J/A/S Nottingham), Francis Harry b. 10 September 1910 (O/N/D Nottingham), George A. b. 1912 (A/M/J Nottingham), Samuel Stanley b. 3 October 1913 (O/N/D Nottingham), Dorothy C. b. 13 November 1919 (O/N/D Nottingam), Eric L b. 1 May 1922 (A/M/J Nottingham), Denis A. b. 1925 (J/A/S Nottingham) and John L. b. 1926 (O/N/D Nottingham); all the registration records give the mother's maiden name as Coulson. In 1911 Sam and Hettie were living at 7 Melville Place, Melville Street, Nottingham. with their twin daughters Mabel and Elsie (3) and Francis Harry (6 months). Also in the household was a boarder, Gertruce Coulson (17, b. Eastwood) a cardboard box maker. In 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register, Samuel, a butcher's labourer, and Hetty were living at 53A Portland Road, Nottingham, with their children Harry a general labourer, Dorothy (later Benson) a hosiery packer, and Eric a general labourer. Samuel died in 1964 (J/A/S Nottingham) aged 77. Kate Elizabeth has not yet been traced after 1901. Clarence married Ellen Brown (b. 23 September 1890) in 1910 (O/N/D Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living at 4 Britannia Square, Lenton, Nottingham. Clarence (22) was a plumber's labourer. They had four children: Francis Albert b. 12 June 1914 (J/A/S Nottingham, Brown) d. 1983 (J/F/M Newark), Ellen b. 1918 (A/M/J Nottingham, Brown) d. 1933 (J/A/S Nottingham) age 15, George T. b. 9 April 1921 (A/M/J Nottingham, Brown) and Elsie Collison b. 1928 (J/A/S Nottingham, Brown) d. 1929 (J/A/S Nottingham) age 1. In 1939 Clarence, a bricklayer's labourer, and Ellen, were living at 19 St Peter's Street, Nottingham, with their son, George, a painter and decorator. Clarence died in 1956 (O/N/D Nottingham), buried 9 October. Francis Albert attested on 1 December 1915 and transferred to the Army Reserve on 2 December. He was mobilized on 7 February 1916 and posted on the 9th to the 1st (Res.) Garrison King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (28451 Private). He had been employed as a timber sawyer and gave his address as 282 Alfreton Road, Nottingham. He named his next of kin as his father, Francis Albert, of 7 Wellington Square, Ronald Street, Nottingham. Francis was discharged from the army on 16 June 1916 as 'unlikely to become an efficient soldier (KR para 392 III cc)' - medical documents record that he suffered from deafness and heart trouble and had received treatment at Newcastle and Grimsby hospitals. He was discharged to 19 St Peter's Street, Old Radford. Francis married Gertrude Singleton (b. 19 March 1893) in 1917 (O/N/D Nottingham) and they may have had two children: Hilda b. 1918 (J/A/S Nottingham, Singleton) and Beryl b. 1932 (J/A/S Nottingham, Singleton). In 1939 Francis, a wood machinist (furniture) and Gertrude were living at 176 Allendale Avenue, Nottingham, with Cyril Collison b. 3 March 1925, an errand boy for a corn merchant. Cyril has not yet been traced on any other records apart from the registration of his death on 3 March 2011. Francis died in 1961 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 68 and his wife Gertrude in 1975 (O/N/D Nottingham). Verity may have married in 1917 ('Kertie' Collison, J/F/M Glanford Brigg Lincolnshire, George W. Adamson) and died in 1939 (J/A/S Basford) aged 44. Jane Elizabeth married Herbert W Shelton (b. 28October 1896) in 1917 (O/N/D Basford). They probably had two children: Irene b. 4 July 1920 (J/A/S Basford, Collison) and Douglas b. 1932 (A/M/J Basford, Collison). In 1939 Herbert, a builder's labourer, and Jane were living at 35 Imperial Road, Beeston, with their daughter Irene (later Orme) an embroidery machinist. Also in the household was Jane's widowed mother, Kate. Jane died in 1953 (J/F/M Basford) aged 55. Leonard married Violet Cox (b. 4 April 1902) in 1921 (O/N/D Nottingham). They probably had four children: Kenneth b. 1 My 1922 (A/M/J Nottingham, Cox) d. 13 February 2010 age 88, Alan b. 27 August 1928 (O/N/D Nottingham, Cox), Jean b. 1936 (J/F/M Nottingham, Cox) and Patricia b. 1938 (J/A/S Nottingham, Cox). In 1939 Leonard and Violet were living at 24 Roderick Street, Nottingham, with their son Kenneth (b. 1 May 1922) an apprentice motor mechanic. Leonard was a foreman wood machinist. Leonard probably married a second time, to Elsie Goodall in 1947 (J/A/S Oakham Rutland) and Violet Collison married secondly William A Wheeldon in 1949 (O/N/D Nottingham). Leonard died in 1990 (J/F/M Rutland).

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