My mother's maiden name was Collins and I have been researching ancestors in that branch of my family. The family has lived in the region of Upper Lydbrook since 1800 at least. (Two second cousins live there to this day -- but aren't internet connected.) My great grandfather was James Collins (1821-1870) who was married to Prudence Harris (1826-after 1901). They were "Primative Methodists." I find the census records for this family to be very hit and miss, and birth records for their 8 children seem equally spotty. I can find no registered birth records for four of them (including my grandfather, Isaac) although later censuses, when the family appears at all, show that these children existed.

Were the censuses in the Forest of Dean less complete than in other parts of England at that time? (I don't have nearly as many misses for other branches of my family in different parts of England.) Or is it possible that "Primative Methodists" resisted formal registration of births, and perhaps avoided the census taker? I'd appreciate any information that you can give me.

I'm not aware of the FOD Census data being any less complete than other parts of the country. It is possible given the encroachment and settlement of the Forest that a few properties were missed. I have however seen some strange recording and subsequent transcriptions , MEEK as MECK, MICK, MEAK, MEEKE etc.

The non-conformists had/have their own records, only in later years did it become compulsory to register in the official BMD records, so this may be why Isaac is providing hard to track down.

My best guess is that they are in the Census data somewhere but maybe "hidden" by a poor transcription or a mis leading original recording :-)

Result of quick search ( as transcribed showing some of the problems):-

1851
James Collins abt 1822 East Hanney, Berkshire, England Head Woolhope Herefordshire
Prudence Collins abt 1827 Sidbrook, Gloucestershire, England Wife Woolhope Herefordshire
Sarah Collins abt 1849 Sidbrook, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Woolhope Herefordshire

1861 In Upper Lydbrook area ???
James Collins abt 1822 N Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Rebecca Collins abt 1822 N Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Sarah A Collins abt 1849 Ledbury, Worcestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
James Collins abt 1856 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Martha Collins abt 1853 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Richard Collins abt 1852 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
James Collins abt 1857 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Sophia Collins abt 1859 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire

Year: 1870
Month: Jun
Day: 5
Surname: COLLINS
Forenames: James
Residence: The Boorts Lydbrook
Age_at_death: 40 years [?]
Officiating_Minister: H. T. Hoitt Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P208 IN 1/11
Page_No: 43
Parish_Chapel: Lydbrook

1871 The Boarts
Prudence Collins abt 1826 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Esther Ann Collins abt 1865 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
Isaac Collins abt 1859 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
James Collins abt 1870 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Martha Collins abt 1854 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
Richard Collins abt 1863 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Sophia Collins abt 1861 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire

Name: George Gibbs
Name: Prudence Collins
Year of Registration: 1873
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 471

1881 Worral Hill
Prudence Gibbs abt 1831 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Morgan Gibbs abt 1874 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Esther Collins abt 1865 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
James Collins abt 1870 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Richard Collins abt 1863 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire

Isaac Collins abt 1858 Lydbrook Lodger Cheltenham Gloucestershire

1891 Worral Hill
Prudence Gebbs abt 1825 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Morgan Gebbs abt 1875 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Frank Collins abt 1888 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Grandson West Dean Gloucestershire

1901 Tewkesbury Gloucestershire
Prudence Collins abt 1825 Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, England Wifes Grand Mother

Baptism of Prudence HARRIS

Copied from the Drybrook parish records on this site which are available for everyone to search through.

Entry Number: 622
Year: 1828
Month: Feb
Day: 10
Parents Surname: HARRIS
Child's Forenames: Prudence
Father's Forenames: Richard
Mother's Forename: Sophia
Mother's Surname (if different):
Place of Residence: Lidbrook
Occupation Labourer
Minister: J. Chell
Type of Event: C
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Ref: P109 IN 1/1
Page Number: 78
Parish: Drybrook

Free BMD Marriages England and Wales

Name: Thomas Waddley
Name: Esther Ann Collins
Year of Registration: 1893
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Monmouth (1837-1939)
County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 41

Further details of this marriage are on the Parish Records Section of this website under Lydbrook

Burials Section of the Parish Records on this site-Lydbrook
Entry Number: 703
Year: 1883
Month: Feb
Day: 12
Surname: COLLINS
Forenames: James
Place of Residence: Worrall Hill, Lydbrook
Age at Death: 12 years