The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
Silk Weavers named Collier
Will of William Collier died 1808
Two wills & a ferret!
In 2013 when I was updating the website, I re-read Doreen Furby's article: "Furby – a French Connection?"
in which she states that the father of Thomas Collier who married Mary Kemp was William Collier, a "fringe, ferrit and velvet ribbon maker" (1799).
It occured to me that I had never looked for William and I "googled" him,, as you do!
William Collier born 1741/2
I found a link to:
www.pyenet.co.co.nz/family trees
which gave William Collier of John Street, Spitalfields's death as 1808 and details of the bequests under his will to:
- his wife Phoebe
- his daughter Phoebe (house in Thomas Street)
- his eldest son William Delves Collier of the White Horse in Hare Street, Bethnal Green (houses in St John Street and Shacklewell Street and Carter Street in Bethnal Green)
- his daughter Ann Kemp (houses in Roadside, Whitechapel and Princes Court & John Street, Bethnal Green)
- his son Thomas Collier - who married Mary Kemp - (properties in & around Shacklewell Street and Shacklewell Court. Bethnal Green)
There has always (to me) been doubt about which were William & Phoebe's children and this makes it very clear and meant that the Register of Silk Weavers needed a drastic overhaul!
William's father William Collier born c 1710
In a Family History UK Genealogy Forum, a contributor asked for help in tracing more information about William Collier born 1710 who married Sarah Dealus on 4.3.1738 at St Dunstan, Stepney.
William Collier Senior was described in his 1789 will as a "Gentleman of Chester" born in London but died in Chester. He appears to have been a rich man and left virtually everything to his two sons - William & Matthew Collier.
In the Parish Records of St Leonards, Shoreditch are 2 christenings:
- William Collier bp 31.5.1741 (Parents William & Sarah Collier)
- Matthew Collier b 3.1.1741 bp 24.1.1742 (Parents William & Sarah Collier of Norton Falgate)
In the above website and another:
www.pennantpublishing.co.uk
it has been assumed/proved that William& Sarah Collier are the parents of William Collier who married Phoebe Booth on 3.9.1782 at St Leonard, Shoreditch.
I am happy to accept that William Delves Collier had a father, William (who married Phoebe) and grandfather William
(who married Sarah) as described. Using someone else's research means that I do not have to re-invent the wheel!
Colin Bower 7 January 2017
Links to:
Silk Weavers named Collier - Introduction & Index
