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Brentford Councillors - George C Collier
Introduction
Janet McNamara has researched details of the men who served as Brentford Local Board Members and Councillors, see intro page for more details of early local government structure.George C Collier
Mr Collier was an early Brentford Councillor with his name on the dedication stones at Brentford Union Workhouse dated 1894, 1896, 1900 and 1902 (now at West Middlesex Hospital). Mr Collier was one of the two New Brentford Guardians. He’s also named on the Foundation Stone at the Library 1903 as a member of the Council at the time.There is information about him on the ancestry website which states that his father George was born in 1803 in Isleworth and was a carpenter aged 38 in 1841 (see Note 1). His wife was Lucy with children George 1828–1905 (d June quarter 1905 aged 76 Brentford 3a 57), Rebbecca 1831-1859, Job, b1834, Jem b 1836 and Francis b1838.
It seems he married Hannah Marianne MOLES in the March quarter 1847 and was a waterman in 1851. Their children were Joseph b1848, Sarah b 1849, Rebecca b 1853 and Jemima b 1859. In 1861 he was a licensed victualler in the High Street and in the September quarter of 1869 he married Sarah Jane (b1835) in Chelsea.
The 1881 census shows them at The Catherine Wheel, 94, High Street with a son and a daughter.
By 1891 he was a widower at the same address with his 22 year old son a lighterman.
He died on March 31st 1905.
TopHis obituary in the Middlesex Independent says that he took the Catherine Wheel PH in 1861 and at his death from cancer was the oldest publican in the town having held the licence for 43 years.
His family had had connections with the town for 120years.
He served on the Local Board and the District Council for 21years and was described as ‘the Father’ of the Council. He was one of the Brentford Guardians up to his death and prior to serving on the Council had been the Surveyor for the Highways in New Brentford.
He was one of the founders of the Brentford Philanthropic Society and a ‘strong supporter’ of the Brentford Conservative Club, The Brentford Swimming Club and the Brentford Football Club.
He was buried in South Ealing cemetery and the Probate record shows that Probate was granted on May 5th to George Henry Collier,(Note 2) licensed victualler and Frederick William Richard SLY rope maker.
His effects were £4,198.7.8d.
Note 1: George’s obituary says that George senior was said to have worked for Brunel.
Note 2: This is his son by his second wife whose birth is registered in Brentford in the September quarter 1870 (3a 76). He is mentioned on the bhs project website as being in the 1928 trade directory for the town and present at James Clements funeral in 1934.
Other material
Janet has also provided photos of G C Collier from 1888 - 1897 and examples of his signature, to be added as time permits.Page published April 2011