Baptism for John Collier c1702?

[DebbieLou]

I have been unable to locate a baptism for John Collier (or Collyer) in about 1702. His parents were Jarvis/Jarvace and Honor/Honour/Honoria. He appears to be a younger member of the family, two siblings being baptised at least 10 years before him; one in Bury St Edmunds, St James and one in Westminster, St James.

According to a 19th century discussion about the family's history, John's father, possibly a surgeon, was killed in a battle when John was only an infant.

I would also love to find details of his parents marriage and his mother's maiden name.

Other possible family links include - Nunn, Eley and Coxage

Any help would be much appreciated!

[Raffaele]

He appears to be a younger member of the family, two siblings being baptised at least 10 years before him; one in Bury St Edmunds, St James and one in Westminster, St James

The information is very thin to do anything more than a quick look on the IGI. Can you post details of the siblings, it might give us something to get a start from.

According to a 19th century discussion about the family's history, John's father, possibly a surgeon, was killed in a battle when John was only an infant

Where did this information come from. Is it a document ? A surgeon killed in battle, presumably he was a military man. Have you searched for his military record ?

[Coromandel]

I have a couple more to add to Raffaele's questions.

I have been unable to locate a baptism for John Collier (or Collyer) in about 1702. His parents were Jarvis/Jarvace and Honor/Honour/Honoria.

One of the golden rules of genealogy is to cite your sources. What evidence do you have for (a) John's birthdate and (b) his parents' names?

Also, to save us duplicating research you've already done, what records have you checked so far in search of his baptism?

Other possible family links include - Nunn, Eley and Coxage

What do you mean by 'possible family links'? Do you have any first names, dates, places, or any clues as to how these people are supposed to be connected to John Collyer?

Sorry for all the questions, but the more information you can supply the more likely it is we will be able to help.

[DebbieLou]

In the mid 19th century my husband’s great-grandfather was trying to trace his family tree. A cousin sent him a letter written by his grandfather Nathaniel (John’s son) about his forebears.
“My father was the son of Jervase Collyer of St James Parish in the borough of St Edmunds, Suffolk”……”My grandfather Collyer was a surgeon and left his business to go out to serve his King in the then troublesome times and was killed, as my mother told me, by a cannon ball” He also mentions his Grandmother Honour as having been buried in the Poland Street (London) burying ground.

This letter included the other family names but with no specific relationships given.

I have found the following entries on the IGI;
Keziah Collier baptised 29th June 1684 at St James, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Daughter of ? Collier and Honora. (Keziah was also mentioned in the above letter)
Elizabeth Collier born 6th Feb 1689, baptised 13th Feb 1689 at St James, Westminster. Daughter of Jarvace and Honor Collier. (Also on Ancestry)

On Ancestry I have found John’s marriage bond which states he was 23 in 1725. Although it was believed (by his son) that he was 66when he died in 1766. I have found his burial in the St James parish records for January 1767.

I have searched the IGI, Ancestry (not just for the St James parishes) and the microfilms of St James, Westminster, and an on-line transcript of the PR for St James, Bury St Edmunds but have been unable to locate a baptism for John.

[Coromandel]

Hello again DebbieLou and thank you for posting all that extra information. That letter from Nathaniel sounds fascinating; let's hope it gives our members enough clues to pick up the trail.

Our London experts seem to be lying low at the moment and I'm not really up to speed on which Westminster records are online and which aren't. I know Findmypast have begun putting some online, so it might be worth checking there, and from time to time re-checking to see if they've updated their databases. For registers that aren't online, Westminster Archives seems to be the place to go. In case you don't already have details, here's their info sheet on Anglican parish registers:

http://www.
westminster.gov.uk/workspace/assets/publications/Info-Sheet-01-Anglican-Regs-1271422893.pdf

You mention that John's mother Honor(a) is said to be buried in Poland Street. Have you checked the burial registers? I think it is the burial ground for Westminster St James; there's some history here:

http://www.
british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41472

If Honor(a) remarried after her husband's death, she would of course be buried under another name. As her first name is quite unusual, it might pay to search for anyone called Honor buried in that burial ground.

Another thing to do if you haven't already is to check all the available probate indexes for wills of Jarvis or his wife. I can't see anything in the PCC but probate could have been dealt with at a lower court. Some other indexes are online, but others won't be.

Talking of the PCC, I see there's a PCC will for your John Collyer. Do you have a copy, and does it fill in any more about his siblings?

I will keep looking for Nunn, Eley and Coxage connections . . .

[DebbieLou]

Many thanks Coromandel for your suggestions. I have been checking on findmypast and Ancestry as they are always updating info - I was surprised to find John's marriage bond recently. I do have a copy of his will but it doesn't reveal any more about his siblings.

Poland Street was the burial ground for St James, Westminster and I found Honour (widow) was buried there on 12th May 1743.

Thanks again for your help