Answers to Questions

COLLETT, Hemel Hempstead, 1740-1870 January, 2010

Places Hemel Hempstead

Donald C Norris (donaldcnorris @t gmail.com), following up TOMPSON, Hemel Hempstead, 1750-1850 wrote:  I have done a little research on the Collett family of Hemel Hempstead as a Thomas Collett appears as a witness at the wedding of John Tompson to Elizabeth Goodwin in 1766. As you recall William Collett is mentioned in the will of George Tompson, 1808. William Collett appears to be the farmer and/or grocer in the Hemel Hempstead Directory for 1797.

Donald also drew my attention to the research by Brian Collett on the Collett Family History web site, particularly "The Great Western Line 1560-2009" page, where much of the name, date. and place research is attributed to Margaret Chadd. This provides some very useful information, particularly about Ebenezer John Collett, an M.P. who was born and died at Hemel Hempstead. I have summarized the family of Joseph Collett (1718-1771), born in Oxfordshire of Baptist origins, who came to Hemel Hempstead and set up a business as a draper.

Anne	1743-1819		Married her cousin Richard Williams
Thomas	1745-1814		Married Susannah Cole. Left Will. Baptist
William	1749-1811		Married Mary Crawley. Left Will. Baptist
Samuel	1751-1803
[Ebenezer] John	1755-1833		Married Margaret Alsagar. M.P. Lived at Lockers House from 1799. Had 8 children. Left Will - His daughter Mary married Samuel Sandars and they lived in Lockers.
Benjamin	1757-1815		Possibly lived at Lockers House with his brother John, Died Downing Street, Westminster, Buried Hemel.
Elizabeth	1761-1814		Married Joseph Hight. Baptist.

I had not come across Ebenezer John Collett, M.P., in my earlier researches and decided to see what I could find in Hemel Hempstead published sources to add to Brian Collett and Margaret Chadd's research. Because of the importance of the family in the town, and as trustees of the Boxmoor Trust, there could be considerable unpublished material.

Members of the family appear in the Militia Lists under the name of Collett, Collit, or Collitt for the following dates. (If a name appears it means they were in the town and eligible for Militia service in that year.)

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The History of Hemel Hempstead discusses the history of the Butchers' shambles and reports:

...  a reconstruction scheme was launched in 1798. Then a piece of the glebe land, on which stood a number of what were described as "ruinated shambles", was rented from the Vicar for £3.3.0d. a year and it was proposed to demolish these shambles, and also those in the front belonging to the Bailiwick and out of voluntary subscriptions to erect more commodious structures on the whole site. A special committee of five members was appointed to carry out the scheme. The work was put in hand and the new shambles were described as "neatly built of brick". But the subscriptions were not forthcoming and so the Committee in 1800 had to borrow, on the credit of the Bailiwick fund, £30 from one of its members, Thomas Collett, in order to pay the bill of the contractor, William Harvey. The loan was for four years and this was duly repaid, with interest payments of 30s. for each of the four years.

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The book Royalty to Commoners: Four Hundred Years of the Box Moor Trust describes what happened when the Grand Junction (now Union) Canal was built across Boxmoor. In September 1799 seven trustees were appointed - Thomas Squire, Samuel Collett, William Jennings, David Nicholls, Harry Grover, John Batchelor and Charles Howe. At a subsequent meeting five more were added. They were Thomas Collett, William Roberts, Francis Warren, Thomas Goodwin and Joseph Hight. In addition William Collett was appointed to replace David Nicholls. In 1809 an Act was passed to ensure the status of the Boxmoor Trust. and the first trustees were C. T. Tower, George Holloway, Harry Grover, Thomas Godwin, Frances Warren, William Collett, Thomas Collett, William Roberts, William Johnson, Joseph Hight, John Jennings and Ephriam Ware.

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As the Collett family clearly included Baptists I checked Nonconformity in Hertfordshire and found the following entry:

We, whose names are hereunder written, do desire that a dwelling-house and barn adjoining at Two Waters, in the parish of Hemel Hempstead, now in the occupation of Mr. Samuel Collet, may be registered as a place of religious worship for Protestant Dissenters, pursuant, etc., April 29th, 1801. John Geard, Tho. Button, Wm. Button. Registered. 2nd May, 1801.

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The Victoria County History for Hertfordshire records that in 1813 the straw plait market was held in Collett's Yard, and later in the King's Head Yard. It appears that Collett's Yard was on the East side of the High Street, and was later known as Orchard's Yard, and later still as Austin's Yard. It seems likely that when William Collett died the grocery business was taken over by the Orchard family, followed by the Austin family. The entrance to the yard would be the archway which now leads to Chapel Street. (The "Austin's Place" on modern street maps is in the wrong place!)

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Cussans' History of Hertfordshire records the following memorial in St Mary's Church

In memory of Margaret, wife of Ebenezer John Collett, Esq^re of Lockers House, this tablet is erected by her children. died March 7th, 1826, aged 51 years

In the Churchyard there was (no longer there) a large alter tomb of white marble, enclosed with an iron railing:

On the West End

Sacred to the memory of Margaret, wife of E. J. Collett, Esq., M.P., of Lockers House, who departed this life March 7^th, 1826, in the 51^st year of her age.

Also Thomas Collett, son of E. J. Collett, Esq., and Margaret, his wife, who departed this life December 25^th, 1841, in the 36^th year of his age.

On the East End

In memory of Samuel Sandars, Esq^re., of Lockers House, who died June 1^st, 1862, aged 73.

In memory of Mary, wife of Samuel Sandars, Esq^re., of Lockers House, who died Dec^er 26^th, 1869, in her 73^rd Year.

Also of Richard, son of the Above, who died July 7^th, 1871

Mrs Mary Sandars was the daughter of Ebenezer John Collett.

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Trade Directories have the following entries relating to Lockers:

Collet, John, Esq	Locusts [sic]	1829	Pigot's
Sandars Samuel, esq	Lockers	1838/9	Pigot's
Sandars Samuel, esq	Lockers	1846	Post Office
Sandars Samuel, esq	Lockers	1851	Post Office
Sandars Samuel, esq	Lockers	1859	Post Office
Sandars Samuel, esq	Lockers	1862	Post Office
Sandars Samuel, esq	Lockers	1863	Danks
Sandars Mrs Mary	Lockers	1866	Post Office
[no entry]		1870	Post Office
Howlett, Rev William Henry [curate]	Lockers Park	1878	Post Office
Draper Henry Montague	Lockers Park [School]	1878	Post Office
Cooper Clement Astley	Lockers	1882	Kelly's
Draper Henry Montague	Lockers Park [School]	1882	Post Office

April 2010

Brian Collett provided a copy of the Collett Family History Website Update No 44 which contains the following item on Ebenezer John Collett of Lockers House, Hemel Hempstead.