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.
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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