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Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 24 Jan 2014 7:57AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Collins, Lander, Bryant
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

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 3:13AM GMT
Classification: Query
Information from her marriage certificate will be more reliable as she supplied it.

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 7:39AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 25 Jan 2014 7:40AM GMT
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

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 10:46PM GMT
Classification: Query
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

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 8:05AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Jan 2014 8:17AM GMT
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).

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 7:03PM GMT
Classification: Query
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.

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 26 Jan 2014 11:22PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Jan 2014 11:26PM GMT
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.

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 6:16AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 1 Jul 2015 12:02PM GMT
Surnames: Vida May Collins
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

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 6:37AM GMT
Classification: Query
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.

Re: Vida May COLLINS, born ~1895 in Stanthorpe, Queensland

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 6:45AM GMT
Classification: Query
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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