Person Page - 62

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

Samuel Albert Collins was born at Drummillar in Banbridge, Co. Down, on 6 August 1867.¹

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

Orphanage records state he was then 'sent to the hulk' but this means the Moreton Bay Reformatory School, whose records state he arrived on 1 July 1881,having been sentenced on 22 Jun for 5 years for 'neglect'. This term would have expired on 21 Jun 1886, when he would have been 18.^3,4

Samuel died on 15 September 1953 at 'Eventide' in Sandgate Nth, Brisbane, Queensland, at age 86 of myocardial degeneration and senility.⁵ He was buried on 18 September 1953 at the Sth Brisbane Cemetery, 181 Annerley Rd, Dutton Park.^5,6

Sarah Jane Collins was born in Co. Down circa 1864.

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.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

She was discharged from the orphanage on 3 April 1879, when she entered service with a Mrs LOWELL of Cooparoo.²

She married William Henry Robinson, son of William Alfred Robinson and Ellen Baker, at St Johns Cathedral in Brisbane, Queensland, on 31 March 1885.^3,4,5

Sarah died on 23 April 1934 in Brisbane, Queensland.^3,6 She was buried on 24 April 1934 at the Balmoral/Bulimba Cemetery, 441 Wynnum Rd in Morningside.^3,7