Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 2 researchers who have claimed Edmund Collins
- Researcher (1742)
- Researcher (Chris Sutton)
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Biographies
In 1835, Edmund Collins, known to his friends as Ned, was 18 years old. He was a “baker’s boy”, an apprentice baker, and came from Berkshire. The son of Edmund Collins, a miller, of West Horsley, he and his two brothers were baptised on the same day in 1819, when Edmund was a year and a half old. In 1835 Ned appeared in the Crown Court at the Northampton Assizes. He was on trial for Highway Robbery. Highway robbery was a capital offence for which the penalty would be either Life Imprisonment or Death. Ned and his companions had their death sentence recorded and then commuted to transportation, to serve a term of 14 years in New South Wales. It was quite a severe penalty.
Edmund Collins, James Turner and William Brown were taken to the Portsmouth and imprisoned on the hulk Leviathan to await transportation. On the 19th October, at Spithead, 160 male convicts from the Leviathan, including Edmund Collins and William Brown, and 120 from the York Hulk were transferred to His Majesty’s Convict ShipRecovery for the voyage to NSW.
The Convict Indent for the Recovery describes Edmund physically.
Edmund’s behaviour is described in the surgeon’s report as orderly. We can assume that he was not only well behaved, but healthy and hard working as there are no mentions of him in the surgeons’ journals, or any other reports, for disciplinary or health issues on either the hulk or the convict transport.
On the 4th September 1836, they disembarked. Ned was assigned to “Government” in Sydney. Only hardened criminals and those who had the skills needed in the city remained in Sydney. According to the Convict Muster of 31st December 1837, he was still there more than 12 months later.
In 1843 Ned married Catherine Brogan, an Irish Bounty Immigrant at St Francis Xavier’s Church, Wollongong. From there he moves to Campbelltown and receives his Ticket of Leave in 1844, returning to his baker’s trade. By this time he and Catherine have two children. In 1846 his second child, Daniel, dies, aged 1. Their third child Ann is born in 1846.
On 17th December 1847, Edmund receives his Conditional Pardon. In 1849 Edmund opens a business as a Confectioner and Baker in Goulburn. A month after opening, Edmund and Catherine do a moonlight flit and return to Campbelltown.
Their son George is born in 1850 and dies in 1851. A second child, also George is born in 1852. This is the year of the discovery of gold in Bathurst. According to William Bayley in ‘History of Campbelltown: New South Wales’, Edmund leaves Campbelltown on May 25th, 1851, with several other men, to walk to the goldfields Summer Hill.
The family settles in Golden Point, on Summerhill Creek. Conditions are hard and baby George succumbs and dies in 1852. Ned and his family move to Sofala. The family stays there. Edmund dies in 1862.
The Collins family remained in the district. Ann Collins married miner William Charters. Bill and Annie were well known in Gulgong and Sofala. Edmund’s son, also Edmund, known as Ned, was a popular man. Ned’s youngest descendant is a seventh generation Australian.
Submitted by Researcher (Chris Sutton) on 7 December 2018
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/10, p.191
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