C O L L E T T   of   P H I L L E I G H


    COLLETT - In the region of Cornwall, and depending on a person's education and pronounciation, the name Collett has been variously pronounced and written. Even within the same will, the writter of the will has been seen to have spelled the name differently throughout the will and differently from how the signer of the will has signed his/her own name. The will of my 5th Great Grandfather Thomas Collett is one example. In his will I have tried to preserve the exact spellings and renditions as they appeared in the written will which I have transcribed. Even the Parish of Philleigh was spelled as it sounds to the uneducated producer of the will as to how to spell Philleigh according to it's standard spelling of the day. He wrote 'ffilley.' This happens more times than not as I have seen even the very person spell their own name variously through time with various variations of the same name.

    Note the locations on the map underlined by blue of Philleigh, St Just, Gerrans and Veryan as they will come into play in the related history of this family.



Thomas COLLETT/CHOLICK and Susanna FURSS

Thomas COLLETT/COLLICK and Susanna SAWLE


My 5th Great Grandfather Thomas Collett/Collick of Ruanlanyhome or a Yeoman of the Parish of Philleigh, he married either Susanna Sawle of Gerrans on 28 February 1715 according to the Philleigh parish record, or Susanna Furss on 14 Jul 1716 at Philleigh. He was buried in Philleigh on the 30th of September, 1760.
His will was written on the 6th day of March, 1759, and was proved the 28th of April, 1761. From his will and the Parrish records of Philleigh [though with many varied spellings of the name Collett], his family follows. If not for the details in his will, because of the size of the family and the various spellings of the name, this family may have not been able to be put together as one family.

  • Susanna Collect/born:Cholleck, was christened in Philleigh on the 30th July 1717. She married Samuel Warde/Ward Jr. 27 December 1740 as recorded in the Lamorran parrish record, both Susanna and Samuel being of Philleigh. She died and was buried 20 December 1758 at the parish of Philleigh. And her death in 1758 is why she is not named in her father Thomas' will of 1759-1761.
  • Richard Collett christened in Philleigh on the 26th April, 1719 as Richard Cholick. He married a Bridget Jennings 26 September 1747 as recorded at the Philleigh Parish. And he was burried 24th September, 1785 at Philleigh, age 67 of a Fever. His wife Bridget Collett also died and was buried 26 December 1781 at Philleigh at age 66 of a Fever.
  • Ann/Anne christened in Philleigh on the 5th February 1720/1 at Philleigh as Ann Cholick. It appears that she may have married Cornelius James of Key/Kea on 14 June 1747 as recorded at Philleigh.
  • Thomas christened in Philleigh on the 2nd February, 1723. He either died an infant or was rechristened again at a later date (see next child).
  • Thomas Collett christened in Philleigh on the 3rd November 1724. He married a Mary, likely Mary Cobledick 17 Apr 1746 as recorded at Gerrans [He as Thos. Collect]. And he died and was buried 29th April, 1796 at Philleigh at age 73, which seems to support the one Thomas idea and there being two christenings.
  • Elizabeth Collett christened in Philleigh on the 15th February, 1726. She appears to have died a child's death was buried either 16th October, 1730 or 12 February 1732 at Philleigh.
  • John Collett christened in Philleigh on the 22nd August, 1727. He married a Susanna Langdon on 21 June 1752 at Philleigh. He died at the age of 39 of an Ulcerous Sore Throat and Putirid Fever. He was buried 28th July, 1766 at Philleigh.
  • Frances Collett was christened in Philleigh on the 3rd November, 1729. She appears to have married Isaac Bohenna on 11 June 1752 at Philleigh. It would seem she died and was buried 24 April 1805 at Roche.
  • Zacharias Collett christened in Philleigh on the 17th August, 1731 in Philleign under the name of Collick. He is one of my 4th Great Grandfathers. He married Mary Bartley of veryan on the 19th of April, 1756 at Philleigh. He was buried on the 18th of March, 1815 at Philleigh at age 84.
  • Elizabeth Collett christened in Philleigh on the 10th February, 1732(33). She died an infant death that same year and was buried 10 February 1732/4th March, 1733. (Date from OPC differ from IGI?)
  • Hugh Collett christened in Philleigh on the 21st/25th April, 1734 at Philleigh. He married Hannah Jennings on 30 June 1755 at Philleigh. A Hugh Collett died and was buried 18 February 1804.
  • Joan/Jean Collett (a twin!) christened in Philleigh on the 25th June, 1737. She married a Thomas Ward on 30th January, 1759 at Philleigh. She appears to have died of dropsey and was buried on 20 June 1807 at Philleigh.
  • Benjamin Collett (a twin!) christened in Philleigh on the 25th June, 1737. He married Mary Langdon on 2nd November, 1760 at Philleigh. He died at age 63 and was buried on 3 October 1800 at Philleigh. He died of 'water in chest'.
  • Henry Collett (the 'baby') christened in Philleigh on the 19th September, 1741. He married a Susanna Bohenna on 27th November, 1766 at Philleigh. Henry died at age of 83 and was buried 30 May 1824 at Philleigh.
(Note to Catherine Carlyon: I believe Henry to be your 5th Great Grandfather making Thomas Collett my 5th Great Grandfather your 6th Great Grandfather and our common ancestor? Check Henry's link above for further details.)

Of these 14 possible children of Thomas Collett and his wife Susanna, 10 are mentioned in his above referenced will. They are Richard (1719), Thomas (1723/4), John (1727), Zacharias (1731), Hugh (1734), Benjamin (1737), and Henry (1741) for the boys named in their exact birth order. And the girls are Anne (1721), Frances (1729), and Joan (1737) named in their exact birth order. The missing children from the will is the first born Susanna (1717), the two infant death Elizabeths, and Thomas (1723), if indeed there where two children named Thomas. Thus, though fourteen children seems a lot, they all do fit.


Zacharias Collett and Mary Bartley


My 4th Great Grandfather was Zacharias Collett of Philleigh. He was christened in Philleigh on the 17th of August, 1731. He married Mary Bartley on the 19th of April, 1756 in Philleigh. She was the daughter of Hannibal Bartley and Mary Henna. Zacharias was buried on th 18th March 1815. Though I have found no will for him to confirm the Parish registers listing, with a name like Zacharias, there seems to be little need for further confirmations. The children of Zacharias are as follows which includes the introduction of the name of Hannibal by naming of the second son after his mothers father, Hannibal Bartley:

  • Grace Bartly Collett christened in Philleigh on the 27th December, 1756.
  • Mary Collett christened in Philleigh on the 25th December, 1758.
  • Elizabeth Collett (a twin?) christened in Philleigh on the 25th April, 1761.
  • Zacharias Collett (a twin?) christened in Philleigh on the 25th April, 1761. He married Mary Jenkins on the 24th April, 1808.
  • Frances Collett christened in Philleigh on the 30th November, 1769. She married James Sye on the 31 July, 1802.
  • Hannibal Collett christened in Philleigh on the 13th March, 1772. He married Anne Harris on the 25 March, 1799.
  • Willaim Collett (the 'baby') was christened in Philleigh on the 30th October, 1774. He married Ann Davey on the 11 February 1804. He is my 3rd Great Grandfather. He was buried 19th December, 1854.
Twins seems to run in the families. Boy - Girl twins that is. This is the second consecutive generation of twins in the Collet families. My brother Robert and sister Roberta are also twins.


William Collett and Ann Davey


My 3rd Great Grandfather was William Collett, Master Shoemaker of Philleigh. He was christened in Philleigh on the 30th October, 1774. He married Ann Davey in Philleigh on the 11 February, 1804. He died on the 19th December, 1854. His five know children are as follows:

  • Mary Collett christened in Philleigh on the 14th April, 1805.
  • Robert Davey Collett christened in Philleigh on the 29th March, 1807. He married Grace Dingle on the 1st June, 1833. She appears to be a removed cousin of his.
  • John Collett christened in Philleigh on the 21st May, 1809. He married an Elizabeth.
  • Fanney (a common nick name for Frances) Collett was christened in Philleigh on the 1st March, 1812. She is my 2nd Great Grandmother. She married William Chipman on the 1st June, 1839.
  • William Collett christened in Philleigh on the 24th November, 1816.
The information gathered here is supported by census records, parish records, civil records, and the will of William Collett. The will of William Collett mentions four of his five children. The only child not in his will is Mary Collett his first child. In fact Fanny Collett, my 2nd great grandmother in listed in the will by her married name, Fanny Chipman.



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rev. 24 August 2014