Hello Charles,

I was interested in your message for a number of reasons - none clear proof of a connexion of course, but interesting just the same. I have a connexion to the COLLETT family of Slaughterford, Wiltshire and a potential connexion to the COLLETT/ RUDMAN or REDMAN family of Kington St Michael, and Corsham, Wiltshire.

My great great grandmother Mary Ann COLLETT (1807 - 1872) of Slaughterford, Wiltshire married a Richard POOK of Culmstock, Devon, their son Richard POOK (later known as Richard Pook COLLETT) married into the HULIN family of St Briavels, and Fishponds, Gloucestershire.

It was interesting to note that in the 1851 Census my HULIN cousins at 26 Ruperra Street, St Woollas had a lodger named Edward J. PURNELL, single male aged 21(?), who was a Land Surveyor, born in Bristol. See 1851 Census St Woollas, District 1c, Monmouthshire, HO 107/2452, folio 93, page 46, schedule 150.

Furthermore, Mary Ann COLLETT'S brother Thomas COLLETT (1811 - ?) I believe married Anne Phenecia STUMP at Corsham, Wiltshire on 14 June 1831 (IGI Batch number M153432). While I am still researching this, I believe that Thomas COLLETT from Launceston, Tasmania and his second wife Ann Phenicia COLLETT may well be this same couple. What makes me think this is that in the 1861 Census three of their grandchildren Thomas COLLETT, Theodore Bartley COLLETT and Paul COLLETT have been sent to Corsham, Wiltshire to be educated. See the 1861 Census RG9/1282, folio 4, page 1, schedule 1.

I have obtained copies of will of Arthur Thomas COLLETT (dated 1861) who describes Ann Phenicia COLLETT as his step-mother residing at Evandale, Launceston, Tasmania, but unfortunately there is no mention her maiden surname, nor of Slaughterford, Corsham, or Kington St Michael.

In the 1861 Census of England and Wales Arthur Thomas COLLETT and his wife Sophia Jones COLLETT and children appear in Ilfracombe, Devon; RG9/1492, folio 116, page 9, schedule 54. Here again, Anne COLLETT his step-mother so recorded, is described as being born in Tasmania. In this census the ages of Arthur, Sophia and Ann COLLETT all appear to me to be quite incorrect. However, this might be resolved to some extent by obtaining the death certificate of Anne Phenica (sic) COLLETT who died in the June quarter of 1863 at St Thomas, Devon registered volume 5b, page 30.

Other research, which I will not go into here, indicates that this family returned to Australia, following the death of Arthur Thomas COLLETT in 1861, registered in the December quarter at Wellington, Somerset volume 5c, page 263.

Your comments welcome!

Cheers,

Don Cameron.