Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
Hello,
I am researching my great grandmother Vida May Collins. I can't find her birth record, but from her death certificate, she was born around 1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland. The same certificate lists her parents as William Henry Collins and Ellen McAuley, and I haven't been able to find them either.
Vida May married Reginald Henry Lander in 1916, and had two children, Reginald Ernest Lander and Gwendolyn May Lander. She was later divorced and began a family in Mt Isa with Alva Russell. She passed away in 1965.
My mum thinks that Vida May had a sister called Bec, who married a ____ Bryant, possibly named Ernest. They lived somewhere like Yelarbon or Texas, Queensland during late 1920s, 30s and 40s. I haven't been able to find records for any Collins marrying a Bryant, or any Collins child of William Henry Collins and Ellen, nor a Rebecca Collins that matches. The only other information I have is that the husband Bryant died in an accident, being dragged behind a horse with his foot caught in the stirrup.
Any information anyone can share with me would be much appreciated! Thank you
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
Information from her marriage certificate will be more reliable as she supplied it.
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
There is this COLLINS-BRYANT marriage in Qld?
1927 C185 Alice May Collins Edward Thomas Bryant
EDIT: Not her, this is her death: 1960 / C3044 Alice May Bryant [father] Edward Collins [mother] Kathleen Gleeson
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
Hiya,
Birth of Bec? 1893 C10627 Florence Rebecca Mould William Henry Ellen Margaret Macauley
Marriage of Bec to BRYANT 1920 B26126 Florence Rebecca Mould Charles Henry Bryant
Possible death of Charles 1943 C1424 Charles Henry Bryant William Francis Ellen Rouben
Kellie
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
I think Kellie might be onto something here...certainly a good match for father's given names and mother's full name.
William Henry MOULD died in June 1947 and is shown as of Albion, 'late of Texas', so correct area too. He was buried at Lutwyche Cemetery.
Also Florence Rebecca MOULD had a son named Ernest Wm, born out of wedlock (he died in 1970).
No birth found for Vida though - she could have been adopted? Or maybe Collins was just a nicer name than 'Mould' to put on a certificate! :)
It is odd that these two (the eldest) were both reg the same year, apparently close together:
1893 / C10627 Florence Rebecca Mould William Henry Ellen Margaret Macauley
1893 / C10565 Margaret May Mould William Henry Ellen Margaret McAuley NB This is not Vida - Margaret May married in 1910 and died in 1960.
Wm & Ellen had at least 9 children. They married in 1892 (reg C1787).
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
Thank you so much for your help!
I just spoke to my mother, and she now remembers meeting great uncles with the surname 'Mould'. She also mentioned that Vida May was called 'Tibby' by her family, and this matches:
Elizabeth Rosanna Mould, born 1895 to William Henry and Ellen Margaret MacAuley.
I had a look at some of the family trees, and while this "Elizabeth" is in many, other than the birth certificate there are no other records, however some of them do record that she was called 'Tibby'.
I think it is possible she was adopted locally, which might explain the surname she used later in life. But it's a real mystery how she might have become Vida May...
You've certainly helped with a big part of the story, thank you again.
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
Hello, If you check Electoral Rolls Ellen Margaret appears to leave her husband ((and possibley moved in with someone else or vary her name atleast.)) She just seems to disappear as Ellen Margaret from elect rolls but she dies as Ellen Margaret MOULD so obviously didn't remarry.
Maybe Vida was put into care or taken on by another family OR maybe Ellen moved in with a man surname COLLINS???
Kellie
EDIT to add. Any idea where/when Vida was baptised? If another family member or foster parents etc baptised her, they may have changed her name then.
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
Hello I am Leanne, Vida May is my Grandmother. She sadly died before I was born. My sister and I are Gails children, one of her daughters. My grandfather and Vida May, my middle name is Vida by the way, had three children. Anita { June }, Gail and Boyd, all passed on now.
I have photos of her in her shop, Mrs Russell's store and other information I have gathered over the years. I currently live in Brisbane.
Kind Regards Leanne
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
My Nanna, Vida May had a little store in Camooweal street, Mrs Russells store. Everyone knew it as that even long after she had died and it burnt down. There was a taxi phone put front and was still called in as pick up from Mrs Russells store. I have photos of her in her shop, I share her name, Leanne Vida. I have a newspaper article when she passed away as well.
Cant wait to share her story and hopefully fill in some blanks.
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Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
Hi Vida May is my Nanna, from her relationship with Alva Russell. I don't believe they actually married although they had three children. She passed away before I was born but was a well known identity . I am asking around about the adoption, it's the first I have heard of it. I was always told she was born in Toowoomba, so its interesting. Neither Nan or Pop had birth certificates which was very common back then.
Leanne Vida Mostert.
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