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Edward Collingwood (1694-1779) & Jane Carlton (c1714-1791)

Edward Collingwood was baptised on 4 June 1694 at St Dunstan, Stepney, the son of Edward Collingwood, a mariner, and Susannah Wood.

Edward Collingwood of the parish Chatham married Jane Carlton of Portsmouth in 1737. They were married by a Vicar General licence, which removed the need for the calling of banns on three successive Sundays – presumably because Edward was in the Royal Navy.

Edward Collingwood’s signature on the marriage licence

Edward joined the Royal Navy, serving as master (senior Warrant Officer) on ten ships, including HMS Centurion as part of Lord Anson’s circumnavigation and lastly on HMS Victory just before her loss in 1744 with all hands.

He then served as Master Attendant at Royal Navy dockyards – Plymouth (1744-47), Portsmouth (1747-48), Chatham (1748-55) and Deptford (1755-70). The Master Attendant was in charge of launching and docking ships, of ships ‘on ordinary’ (out of service for repair or maintenance) at the yard, and of ship movements around the harbour.

Edward Collingwood was buried at St Alfege, Greenwich, on 16 July 1779.

After Edward’s death, Jane lived at the Greenwich Royal Hospital. She was buried at St Alfege on 25 February 1791.

St Alfege, Greenwich

The children of Edward Collingwood and Jane Carlton had, with the exception of their youngest son, a close connection with the Royal Navy:

·      Jane Collingwood (1740-1814) married William Parker (1740-1802), who fought at the battle of St Vincent in 1797, for which he was created a baronet, who went on to be a Vice-Admiral.

·      John Trevor Collingwood (1738-1796) was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, commanding HMS Union.

  • Edward Collingwood  (1743-1809) was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

·      Francis (1746-1799) was a Captain, commanding HMS Hindostan. Francis’s son, Francis Edward Collingwood (1785-1835) also joined the Navy, serving as Commander but early in his career he served as a midshipman on HMS Victory at the battle of Trafalgar and reputedly he shot and killed (along with another midshipman) the French rifleman who had fired the shot which mortally wounded Admiral Nelson.

·      Susanna Collingwood (1748-1818) married Thomas Larkins, captain and owner of ships in the service of the East India Company.

  • Carlton Collingwood (1752-1828) was a brewer whose business was unsuccessful before working for the East India Company – possibly through the intercession of his brother Thomas Larkins.