Emma Agnes (Collins) Weeks (1858 - 1946)

Born 14 Jul 1858 in Clifton, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Arthur Edward Tubb — married Jun 1879 in Bristol, England

Wife of Edwin John Weeks — married Sep 1889 in Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Died 3 Feb 1946 at age 87 in Bristol, Gloucester, England

Biography

Emma (Collins) Weeks was born in Gloucestershire, England.

Early Life

Emma Agnes Collins was born on 14 July 1858 in Clifton, Bristol, England^[1][2][3], and baptised on 8 August 1858 in the Parish of St Michael in Bristol.^[4] Her parents were William Collins and Ellen Skinner.

Emma must have learned tailoring from her parents. Her father was a tailor and her mother a dressmaker. Her older sister Mary Ann was a waistcoat maker. Emma was listed as tailoress in several census records.

The Seamstress (1858) Painting by Charles Baugniet (1814-1886) This portrait of a seamstress was painted the same year Emma was born.

In 1861 Emma Agnes (age 3) was living with her parents and maternal grandparents John Skinner and Sarah Ennever. Her siblings present at the time were: Mary Ann Eliza Skinner (Collins) Strange (1852-1930), William George Collins (1853-1923), Sarah Ellen Collins (1856-1862), Frederick Charles Collins (1861-). Emma grew up in a large household where almost everyone's activity revolved around clothing, including shoemaking.

1861 England and Wales Census^[5]
Residence: 27 ¹/₂ Paul Street, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

Emma’s grandparents’ household at the same address^[6]

In 1871 (age 12) she was still at home, probably already a good little seamstress, while many other girls her age were already in service as housemaids away from home.

1871 England and Wales Census^[7]
Residence: 28 Paul Street, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

First Marriage

In 1879, at age 21, Emma married Arthur Edward Tubb, a blacksmith, in Bristol.^[8]
They had two children:
   William Charles Tubb (1879–1967), ^[9]baptised 12 June 1881^[10].
   Frederick James Tubb (1885–1932)^[11]
A baptismal record for a Frederick Edward Tubb has been located.^[12] It is most probable that this refers to the second son Frederick James and that, as the baptism occurred after the death of his father, Emma changed his second given name recorded by the GRO to honour his father.

1881 England and Wales Census ^[13]
Residence: 28 Morley Terr., Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

Arthur Edward Tubb died of smallpox on 6 December 1887 at age 28, and life must have been difficult for Emma.^[14]

Second Marriage

Two years later, in 1889, in Barton Regis, Bristol, Emma married Edwin John Weeks (1863-1940), a coach painter a few years her junior. Edwin was a widower with two small children from his previous marriage to Ada Florence Boulton:^[15]
   Emily Louisa Weeks (1885–)^[16]
   Edwin William Carter Weeks (1887–)^[17]

Emma and Edwin had six children together, four of whom died in infancy and early childhood:
   George Yeates (1889–1891)^{[18] [19]}
   Lily Agnes Weeks (1891–1891)^[20][21]
   George Yeates Weeks (23 June 1892–),^[22] baptised 25 July 1892.
   Lily Agnes (1894–)^[23]
   Ellen Weeks (1895–1898)^[24][25]
   Minnie Iris Weeks (1896–1902)^{[26] [27]}

1891 England and Wales Census^[28]
Residence: 14 Bloy Terrace, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

1901 England and Wales Census^[29]
Residence: 11 Seal Street, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

In 1911 Emma and Edwin had been married 22 years, had six children born alive, and only two of them were still alive.
Suddenly, the Weeks family is in Lancashire. At this point the household has shrunk to just Emma, Edwin, and their son George and daughter Lily, still in their teens.

1911 England and Wales Census^[30]
Residence: 22 Smethhurst St, Pemberton, Wigan Lane, Lancashire, England

In 1939, Emma and Edwin, now in their 70s and 80s, live with their daughter Lily Agnes (45) and Emma's youngest sister Minnie (70), a retired cigar maker.

1939 England and Wales Register^[31]
Residence: 41 Stanley St., Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

Edwin died at the end of 1940.^[32] He and Emma had been married for 51 years.

Emma lived most of her life in Bristol (see map below) with the only exception of a period of residence in Lancashire.

Map of Clifton and Bristol in the late 1800s

Death

Emma Agnes died on 3 February 1946,^[33] at the age of 87, with her daughter Lily Agnes at her side.^[*] She had had two husbands, eight children of her own and two step children, lived through two world wars, and witnessed women getting the right to vote, among other things.

Historical Context

These are some significant events spanning Emma's life (1868 to 1946). The notes have been reproduced from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history

1870 The Education Act 1870 is passed, introducing universal education.
1880 The Elementary Education Act 1880 is passed, making primary schooling compulsory and extending it to girls.
1885 The Reform Act 1885 is passed.
1908 Parliament approves old age pensions.
1914 World War I: Great Britain declares war on Germany in response to the invasion of Belgium.
1914 Britain declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
1918 Women get the vote for the first time – women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification could vote as a result of the Representation of the People Act 1918.
1918 World War I ends.
1919 Nancy Astor becomes the first woman to take her seat in parliament.
1922 The BBC is founded as the British Broadcasting Company.
1926 The 1926 United Kingdom general strike takes place.
1928 Women receive the right to vote on the same terms as men (over the age of 21) as a result of the Representation of the People Act 1928.
1928 The first film with dialogue is shown in Britain, The Jazz Singer.
1928 Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin.
1937 First available in the London area, the 999 telephone number is introduced as the world's first emergency telephone service.
1939 British entry into World War II.
1945 World War II ends in Europe.
1945 Britain becomes a founding member of the United Nations.

Research Notes

• ^[*]The detail of Emma's daughter being present at her death is from a photo of Emma's death certificate uploaded by a member of Ancestry.co.uk to their family tree. The certificate specifies the exact date of death (3 Feb 1946), that she died at 41 Stanley Street, Easton, Bristol, and the cause of death was Hypostatic pneumonia and senile decay.
• Emma's family last name is transcribed "Collens" instead of "Collins" by FamilySearch for the 1861 census, and "Weeks" is spelled "Wicks" in another document.
• In 1877 the Clifton Registration District became the Barton Regis Registration District, and in 1905 it became part of the Bristol Registration District.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 20 September 2022)
   Collins, Emma Agnes (Mother's maiden name: Skinner).
   GRO Reference: 1858 Jul-Aug-Sep in Clifton Volume 06A Page 118.
2. ↑ Birth Registration: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008"
   citing Birth Registration, Clifton, Gloucestershire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
   FamilySearch Record: 26YT-LYG (accessed 20 September 2022)
   Emma Agnes Collins birth registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1858 in Clifton.
3. ↑ Photo of Certified copy of entry of Birth found on Ancestry.co.uk (paywall).(https://www.ancestry.co.uk/mediaui-viewer/tree/31853297/person/18136417474/media/2e9fc6ac-1597-4587-af7e-d230b92a28a6)
4. ↑ Baptism: "England, Bristol Parish Registers, 1538-1900"
   FamilySearch Record: XTSW-PL3 (accessed 20 September 2022)
   Emma Agnes Collins baptism on 8 Aug 1858, daughter of William Collins & Ellen, in Bristol, St Michael the Archangel on the Mount, Gloucestershire, England.
5. ↑ 1861 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1861"
   citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
   FamilySearch Record: M7VD-8B9 (accessed 20 September 2022)
   FindMyPast Image
   Emma Collens (3) daughter, Scholar, in household of William Collens (36) in Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom in Bristol registration district in Gloucestershire, England. Born in Westbury, Gloucestershire. (NOTE: The last name is incorrectly spelled Collens while it should be Collins.
6. ↑ 1861 Census: "1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: RG09; Piece number: 1722; Folio: 65; Page: 9; Schedule: 39
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 28 September 2022)
   John Skinner (62), married, Shoe maker, head of household at 27, Paul Street, St Michael in Bristol registration district in Gloucestershire, England.
7. ↑ 1871 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1871"
   citing The National Archives of the UK
   FamilySearch Record: V5B3-GN7 (accessed 20 September 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 939K-G13B-RL Image number 00015
   Emma Collins (12) daughter in household of William Collins (45) in Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom. Born in Bristol, Bristol.
8. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England & Wales Marriage Index"
   FreeBMD Entry Information (accessed 20 September 2022)
   Collins, Emma Agnes.
   GRO Reference: 1879 Apr-May-Jun in Bristol Volume 6a Page 125.
   
9. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
   Tubb, William Charles (Mother's maiden name: Collins).
   GRO Reference: 1879 Oct-Nov-Dec in Bristol Volume 06A Page 50.
10. ↑ Baptism: "Somerset Baptism Index"
    Archive: Somerset Archives; Reference: D/P/YAT 2/1/17; Page: 292
    FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 22 September 2022)
    William Charles Tubb baptism on 12 Jun 1881, son of Arthur Edward Tubb & Emma, in Yatton, Somerset, England.
11. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Tubb, Frederick James (Mother's maiden name: Collins).
    GRO Reference: 1885 Jul-Aug-Sep in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 160.
12. ↑ Baptism: "Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1914"
    Somerset Heritage Service; Taunton, Somerset, England; Reference Number: D\P\yat/2/1/18
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60857 #241025 (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Frederick Edward Tubb baptism on 24 Aug 1888, child of Arthur Edward Tubb & Emma Tubb, in Yatton, Somerset, England.
13. ↑ 1881 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1881"
    citing p. 43, Piece/Folio 2497/118, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,749.
    FamilySearch Record: Q27X-KHLQ (accessed 20 September 2022)
    FindMyPast Image
    Emma Tubb (22), wife, Tailoress, in household of Arthur Tubb (23) in Ss Philip And Jacob (Out) in Barton Regis registration district in Gloucestershire, England. Born in Bristol St Michaels, Gloucestershire, England.
14. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
    citing Death, Barton Regis, Gloucestershire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
    FamilySearch Record: 2JY3-996 (accessed 20 September 2022)
    Arthur Tubb death registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1887 in Barton Regis (age 28).
15. ↑ "Marriage Entry" (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=82950302:4289&d=bmd_1653949805) FreeBMD.org; database online. Citing: Emma Agnes Collins [and Edwin John Weeks], Marriages 1879 Jun Quarter District: Bristol Vol: 6a Page: 125. (accessed 11 Sep 2022)
16. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, Emily Louisa (Mother's maiden name: Boulton).
    GRO Reference: 1885 Oct-Nov-Dec in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 133.
17. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, Edwin William Carter (Mother's maiden name: Boulton).
    GRO Reference: 1887 Oct-Nov-Dec in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 85.
18. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, George Yeates (Mother's maiden name: Collins).
    GRO Reference: 1889 Oct-Nov-Dec in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 158.
19. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, George Yates (Age at death: 1).
    GRO Reference: 1891 Jan-Feb-Mar in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 81.
20. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, Lily Agnes (Mother's maiden name: Collins).
    GRO Reference: 1891 Jan-Feb-Mar in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 100.
21. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 24 September 2022)
    Weeks, Lily Agnes.
    GRO Reference: 1891 Oct-Nov-Dec in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 76.
22. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, George Yeates (Mother's maiden name: Collins).
    GRO Reference: 1892 Jul-Aug-Sep in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 91.
23. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 24 September 2022)
    Weeks, Lily Agnes (Mother's maiden name: Collins).
    GRO Reference: 1894 Jul-Aug-Sep in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 135.
24. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, Ellen (Mother's maiden name: Collins).
    GRO Reference: 1895 Oct-Nov-Dec in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 135.
25. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, Ellen (Age at death: 2).
    GRO Reference: 1898 Jan-Feb-Mar in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 115.
26. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, Minnie Iris (Mother's maiden name: Collins).
    GRO Reference: 1896 Oct-Nov-Dec in Barton Regis Volume 06A Page 148.
27. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Death (accessed 22 September 2022)
    Weeks, Minnie Iris (Age at death: 5).
    GRO Reference: 1902 Jan-Feb-Mar in Bristol Volume 06A Page 93.
28. ↑ 1891 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1891"
    citing PRO RG 12, Gloucestershire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
    FamilySearch Record: WB34-LW2 (accessed 20 September 2022)
    FindMyPast Image
    Emma A Weeks (31), wife, Tailoress, in household of Edwin J Weeks (28) in Bristol St George in Barton Regis registration district in Gloucestershire, England. Born in England.
29. ↑ 1901 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1901"
    citing St Philip And St Jacob subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
    FamilySearch Record: XSDJ-57X (accessed 20 September 2022)
    FindMyPast Image
    Edwin J Weeks (38), married, Coach Painter, head of household in Bristol registration district in Gloucestershire, England. Born in Bristol.
30. ↑ 1911 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1911"
    citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
    FamilySearch Record: XWYD-BQ3 (accessed 20 September 2022)
    FindMyPast Image
    Emma Agnes Weeks (51), wife, in household of Edwin John Weeks (48) in Pemberton in Wigan registration district in Lancashire, England. Born in Bristol, Gloucestershire.
31. ↑ 1939 Register: "1939 England and Wales Register"
    The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: Rg 101/5017a; Line Number: 38; Sub Schedule Number: 2; Schedule Number: 67
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61596 #31269091 (accessed 20 September 2022)
    Emma A Weeks (born 14 Jul 1858), married, Unpaid Hse Duties, at 41, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.
32. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales Death Index"
    FreeBMD Entry Information (accessed 27 September 2022)
    Weeks, Edwin J. (Age at death: 77).
    GRO Reference: 1940 Oct-Nov-Dec in Bristol Volume 6a Page 303.
33. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Death (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ : accessed 13 September 2022), database entry for Emma, Agnes Weeks. Age at death: 87. GRO Reference: 1946 M Quarter in BRISTOL, Volume 06A Page 208.

Acknowledgments

This profile has been improved by a member of the England Project's Orphan Trail.