Person Page - 62

Alison's birth was registered circa 1892 in Ballarat, Victoria. She was the daughter of Joseph Daniel COLEMAN (a chemist) and Emily CARPENTER, although there is some confusion in the birth indexes, which appear to show the birth of a Richard Henry instead of Alison.^2,3

She married Clarence John White at 3 Victoria Parade in Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria, on 20 June 1911. He was a salesman, she a milliner.⁴

Alison was divorced from Clarence John White at Melbourne, Victoria, in August 1915.⁵

Alison's second marriage was to Percy Robert Allen on 25 September 1915 at Independent Church, Collins St in Melbourne, Victoria. He was secretary of a company, and she was still working as a milliner. Both had a single child from their previous marriages, and he had been widowed in Nov 1909.^6,7

Alison was divorced from Percy Robert Allen at Victoria in 1920.⁸

Alison's third marriage was to Herbert George Aorangi Forsaith, son of Robert Arnold Forsaith and Sarah Ann Littler, on 18 November 1922 at St Oswald's Church, Haberfield in Ashfield, New South Wales. She described herself as a widow, but unless her first husband had died by 1922, she was in fact a multiple divorcee.^9,1

Alison died on 9 September 1947 in Sydney, New South Wales.^10,11

He married (--?--) (---?---) in Ireland.

Bessy Collins was born in Co. Down circa 1871.¹

Sarah Jane Collins, Henry James Collins, Samuel Albert Collins, William Alfred Collins, Bessy Collins, Richard (aka Frederick) Collins and Lucy Collins arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, on 20 September 1875 on board the 'Renfrewshire' in the company of Henry Collins and Margaret Stevenson.¹

On 3 May 1876, just 10 days after their mother's death, all the COLLINS children (namely Lucy, Sarah, Bessy, Henry, Samuel, William and Richard), but excluding baby Lucy, were admitted to the Diamantina Orphanage and Receiving Depot.²

The orphanage records show she was 'hired out' for short periods in 1882 and 1884 before her discharge (aged 16) on 31 May 1887.²

She married Albert Edward John Watts at Registrar's Office in Sth Brisbane, Queensland, on 3 March 1896. Albert claimed to be 33, though actually he was only 31 and Bessy was probably about 25, not 23 as claimed.³

She was widowed on the death of her husband Albert on 17 January 1938.⁴

Bessy died on 10 January 1947 at Brisbane Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, of broncho-pneumonia.⁵ She was buried on 11 January 1947 at the Toowong Cemetery, Cnr Frederick St & Mt Cootha Rd in Toowong.⁵

Henry Collins was born in Tullylish, Co. Down, circa 1833.¹

He married Margaret Stevenson, daughter of William Stevenson and Mary McMullin, in Tullylish, Co. Down, on 17 August 1863.¹

Henry arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, on 20 September 1875, on board the 'Renfrewshire' accompanied by his wife Margaret Stevenson and children Sarah Jane, Henry James, Samuel Albert, William Alfred, Bessy, Richard (aka Frederick) and Lucy. They were assisted immigrants and had left Glasgow on 5 Jun, apart from Lucy, who was born during the voyage.
Henry's sister Jane was also on board, travelling as an unassisted passenger.

According to family lore, they had been advised to go to a warmer climate, specifically Australia, because of Margaret's 'weak lungs.²'

He was widowed on the death of his wife Margaret on 23 April 1876.³

Ten days after his wife's death all of their children (except baby Lucy, who was possibly adopted out) were placed in the Diamantina Orphanage and Receiving Depot home with the reason stated as being 'mother dead, father not in employment'. What then happened to Henry is unclear, although the orphanage records imply he died sometime between 1881 and 1884.⁴

Henry died between July 1881 and April 1884 in Australia as the reformatory school records for his sons Samuel and William state he was alive in Jul 1881, but dead by Apr 1884.⁵

Henry James Collins was born at Drummillar in Banbridge, Co. Down, on 5 November 1865.¹

Sarah Jane Collins, Henry James Collins, Samuel Albert Collins, William Alfred Collins, Bessy Collins, Richard (aka Frederick) Collins and Lucy Collins arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, on 20 September 1875 on board the 'Renfrewshire' in the company of their parents Henry Collins and Margaret Stevenson.²

On 3 May 1876, just 10 days after their mother's death, all the COLLINS children (namely Lucy, Sarah, Bessy, Henry, Samuel, William and Richard), but excluding baby Lucy, were admitted to the Diamantina Orphanage and Receiving Depot.³

He was discharged from the orphanage on 16 October 1876, when he entered service with a Mrs CAMPBELL of Logan River.³

Jane Collins was born in Ireland circa 1846.¹

Jane arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, on 20 September 1875, on board the 'Renfrewshire'. She was travelling as an unassisted immigrant and family stories claim she was travelling with her brother Henry and family to assist with looking after the children.¹

Lucy was born at sea in the 'Renfrewshire' and her birth registered on arrival, Queensland, on 31 August 1875.^1,2

Sarah Jane Collins, Henry James Collins, Samuel Albert Collins, William Alfred Collins, Bessy Collins, Richard (aka Frederick) Collins and Lucy Collins arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, on 20 September 1875 on board the 'Renfrewshire' in the company of Henry Collins and Margaret Stevenson.³

On 3 May 1876, just 10 days after their mother's death, all the COLLINS children (namely Lucy, Sarah, Bessy, Henry, Samuel, William and Richard), but excluding baby Lucy, were admitted to the Diamantina Orphanage and Receiving Depot.⁴

Lucy Collins was born at Drummillar in Banbridge, Co. Down, on 11 March 1871.¹

Lucy died before 1875.

Maud Collins was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 16 July 1894.¹

As of 1896, Maud Collins was also known as Maud Collins Watts after her mother's marriage to Albert WATTS.

Richard (aka Frederick) Collins was born at Drummillar in Banbridge, Co. Down, on 1 March 1873.^1,2

Sarah Jane Collins, Henry James Collins, Samuel Albert Collins, William Alfred Collins, Bessy Collins, Richard (aka Frederick) Collins and Lucy Collins arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, on 20 September 1875 on board the 'Renfrewshire' in the company of Henry Collins and Margaret Stevenson.¹

On 3 May 1876, just 10 days after their mother's death, all the COLLINS children (namely Lucy, Sarah, Bessy, Henry, Samuel, William and Richard), but excluding baby Lucy, were admitted to the Diamantina Orphanage and Receiving Depot.³

The records show that he was 'hired out' in Feb 1885, but remained at the orphanage until his eventual discharge on 3 June 1885 into the care of 'his sister', presumably being Sarah Jane, as she would now have turned 21.³