Edward Collingwood

Posted by Anne Kelsall on Friday 22nd of August 2025 05:03

Edward COLLINGWOOD & Jane CARLTON are my (proven) 6g grandparents, so I have skin in the game. Primarily I am after proof/clarification of Edward's parents.

Because the main result that comes up for a 1694 baptism is Edward, son of Edward & Susannah (believed to be nee WOOD), bapt at St Dunstan Stepney.

Is possible that Edward & Mary BIGGE were actually this Edward's grandparents, not parents? All the passed down family history does give a long line of Edwards.

The Susannah name is actually likely - as dau of Edward & Jane Carlton is from whom I am descended, she is mentioned in the will (£100k to each offspring was a lot of money then, and now worth about a quarter million! How on earth did an RN Captain have in excess of £500k back then?). Susannah COLLINGWOOD married Thomas LARKINS of the HEIC.

The other issue I have from this summary, the DOB 1694, but a date of first service of 1744 - which would make him around 50 years old. That does not fit the usual model of sea-goers, who primarily set sail in their late teens (whether RN or merchant). The date of service points to a missing generation in the 'accepted' lineage.

Jane Carlton was born in 1714. And although some 20-year gaps in marriages were not uncommon, I wonder if this Edward was of similar vintage, rather than 1694? Was this Edward (m CARLTON) born around 1714?

For the last 15-20 years, I have been going around in circles on this one.


The family history passed down through various sources gives (going upwards):
Edward m Jane CARLTON
Edward m Mary BIGGE
Edward m Ann UNK
Ralph m Dorothy GREY

From Ralph & Dorothy down, the line of Cuthberts down to the Lord Admiral.

And perhaps this Edward is not of Edward & Mary BIGGE at all, but of another lineage, that of Edward & Susannah?

I have no idea if this is correct, and I really want to sort this out once and for all! Please help!