The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
The Big One
The Neville Family
Introduction to Bower/Collier Family Tree
When I set out to study the Bower/Collier Family Tree, my initial aim was to identify my 8 Great Grandparents (Bower) and my wife Chris’ 8 Great Grandparents (Collier).
Though I have tended to study the Family History of the 16 Great Grandparents, I have also sought to find out the additional 16 Great Great Grandparents’ family names, and any 3 x Great Grandparents along the way!
The names that I have identified to date are:
Bower/Brecht Family Tree
Great Grandparents
Bower
Jones
Hayes
Gardner
Brecht
Walland/Worland
Saunders
Seabourne(e)/Saban
2 x Great Grandparents
Pitts (Bower)
Counter (Jones)
Bradbrook (Hayes)
Tunstell/Tunstill (Gardner)
Somes/Piper (Brecht)
Hutley (Walland/Worland)
Neville (Saunders)
Holbrook (Seabourn(e)/Saban)
3 x Great Grandparents
Pinnion (Pitts)
Spence (Jones)
Mason (Hayes)
Robinson (Bradbrook)
Shocke (Brecht)
Reynolds (Walland/Worland)
Hunt (Piper)
Howard (Seabourn(e)/Saban)
4 x Great Grandparents
Bates (Pitts)
Smithers (Pinion)
March (Jones)
Venice (Robinson)
Juliane (Brecht)
Adamson (Neville)
Siggins (Walland/Worland)
5 x Great Grandparents
Cook/Cock (Jones)
Wyat (Robinson)
Jahns (Brecht)
Odell (Walland/Worland)
6 x Great Grandparents
Amears (Robinson)
7 x Great Grandparents
Amore/Mills (Robinson)
Collier/Hunt Family Tree
Great Grandparents
Collier
Gardiner
Peryer/Perrier
Smith
Hunt
Farrow/Pharoah
Marjoram
Ransome(e)
2 x Great Grandparents
Adams (Collier)
Goodchild (Gardiner)
Mitchell (Peryer/Perrier)
Nye (Smith)
Sheldrake (Hunt)
Smith (Farrow)
Rookyard (Marjoram)
Aldous/Aldis or Alhous/Ollis (Ransome(e))
3 x Great Grandparents
Mason (Collier)
Ridett (Adams)
Sly (Nye)
Snelling (Peryer/Perrier)
Spall (Hunt)
Shepherd (Farrow)
Allen (Ransome(e))
More (Aldous/Aldis or Alhous/Ollis)
4 x Great Grandparents
Trigg (Peryer/Perrier)
My research has included a One-Name Study into the name Brecht, my mother’s maiden name.
Names Index
The additional surnames in this Report have been listed in the Names Index below.
Neville Family - Progress To Date
Great Grandparent: Charles Herbert Saunders
- His Parents: Henry Saunders & Ann Neville
- His Grandparents: Cornelius Neviile & Iset Adamson/p>
Mini Family Tree (Direct Ancestors)
The Neville Family Tree to date may be summarised:
Neville Family
Cornelius Neville
married
(1) St Andrews Church, Plymouth
Iset Adamson born c 1774
Married 24.5.1800
died 1825 (age 51)
Children
1. Mary Ann Neville bp 8.12.1802
2. Mary Parker Neville bp 20.1.1805
3. Iset Adamson Neville bp 23.2.1897
buried 6.5.1812 (age 5)
4. Cornelius James Neville bp 27.8.1809
5. Ann Neville bp 28.4.1811
6. Cornelius Neville bp 26.9.1813
2. Charles Church, Plymouth
Jane Mason
Married 26.6.1827
Henry Saunders b c 1810 d 6.4.1867
Married 12.05.1837
Ann Neville bp 28.4.1811
Charles Herbert Saunders b 17.04.1844
Married 26.9.1876
Emma Mary Seabourn b 06.11.1853
Arthur Brecht b 28.01.1877
Married 25.12.1899
Ellen Elizabeth * Creah Curran Saunders b 6.11.1877
*the additional name Creah was adopted after registration of birth
Doris Ivy Brecht b 15.03.1912
d 29.6.2003
Married 11.07.1936
Frederick Bower b 12.09.1910
d 10.9.2006
Colin Malcolm Bower b 12.01.1944
Married 15.10.1966
Christine Elizabeth Collier b 26.03.1946
Collier Family
Walter James Collier b 09.06.1862
d 10.2.1942
married St Luke’s, Hackney 13.05.1894
Mary Peryer/Perrier b 02.12.1869
d 10.02.1949 (Age 79)
Leonard Stanley Collier b 30.11.1909 d 9.5.1988
Married 6.06.1936
Phyllis Marjoram Hunt b 6.06.1912 d 1991
Christine Elizabeth Collier b 26.03.1946
Married 15.10.1966
Colin Bower b 12.01.1944
Hunt Family
Arthur Henry Hunt b 1.07.1866
Married 25.12.1889
Eliza Marjoram b 11.04.1870
Phyllis Marjoram Hunt b 6.06.1912 d 1991
Married 6.06.1936
Leonard Stanley Collier b 30.11.1909 d 9.5.1988
Christine Elizabeth Collier b 26.03.1946
Married 15.10.1966
Colin Bower b 12.01.1944
Summary of Research To Date
Early Progress
Obtained details of Henry Saunders & Ann Neville's marriage, children and entry in the 1841 Census.
My cousin Vernon obtained details of Ann's bp and her father's 2 marriages
Progress 2013/4
Visited Plymouth and went inside St Andrews Church and the ruins of Charles Church.
Progress 2024
Obtained more information about the family including detail of additional Cornelius and Iset's children
Revisited Plymouth and obtained 2 books and a map
Progress 2025
Began to put a Big One report together.
Things we wish we knew
Research Undertaken
Birth Marriage & Death Certificates Held (see below)
- Birth:
- Marriage:
- Death:
Census Records Obtained (see below)
- 1841 - Jane Neville and her step daughter Ann Saunders and
- her step son Cornelius Neville
25 West Street, Moscow, Parish of Portsea, Borough of Portsmouth
Jane Neville 54 Pensioner
Henry Saunders 30 Independent
Ann Saunders 30 Independent
Francis Saunders 3 weeks
Sarah Farrel 50 Nurse
District County Gaol, Winchester
Cornelius Neville, Schoolmaster (age 26)
- 1851 – 1921- 1939 Register -
Other Research Undertaken (see below)
- IGI -
- Parish Records -
- Wills -
- Businesses -
- Correspondence inc Genes Reunited
- Visits - Plymouth 2013/4, 2024
- Photographs - as Visits
- Misc Info/Documents -
Summaries
Where they were & what they did
The attached table summarises the name of my ancestors, where they lived and their occupations.
Family Tree Maker Sheets
The family details of have been summarised in the attached Family Tree Maker sheets which I may enter in to the relationship database, Family Tree Maker.
Names Index
The following surnames appear in this Report in addition to the names at the start of this Report.
Colin Bower
7 January 2021
Appendices
Direct Ancestors have been highlighted
Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates Held
Birth of Henry Saunders & Ann Neville's children
Full name: Francis Ferdinand Saunders
Born at: 24 West Street, Moscow, Landport (Date: 16/5/1841)
Father: Henry Saunders* (Occupation: Gentleman)
Mother: Ann Saunders* (Maiden Name: Neville)
Full name: Charles Herbert Saunders*
Born at: 24 West Street, Moscow, Landport, Southsea (Date:17.4.1844 )
Father: Henry Saunders* (Occupation: Late Mate R. N.)
Mother: Ann Saunders* (Maiden Name: Neville )
Census Records Obtained
1841 Census
25 West Street, Moscow, Parish of Portsea, Borough of Portsmouth
Jane Neville 54 Pensioner
Henry Saunders 30 Independent
Ann Saunders 30 Independent
Francis Saunders 3 weeks
Sarah Farrel 50 Nurse
District County Gaol, Winchester
Cornelius Neville, Schoolmaster (age 26)
Parish Records
See attachment
Neville Family - Parish Records
Misc Information Obtained
Books on Plymouth and Devonport-
