Chapter 9: COLLETT of Kempsford, Gloucestershire

The name Collett (as Colet) was first recorded in 1202. It is a dimunitive or pet-name form of Col (from Nicholas) plus -et. Collett families are historically concentrated in Gloucsetershire and Oxfordshire.

Collett Families in 1891

A great deal of research has been done on the Collett family, particularly by Brian Collett who has prepared a web site detailing several family lines. The first know representatiive of our family was Thomas Collett who was born in 1485 at Over Slaughter in Gloucestershire. His wife was Alice. Thomas was Joint Lord of the Manor of Over Slaughter with Mr Venfield and was godfather to ten children. Thomas died in 1538 and his Will of 24 March 1538 was proved in 1539.

Francis Collett, born in Westcott in 1661 was a descendant of Thomas and Alice. He was a blacksmith who moved to Kempsford where he married Susannah Sanders in 1685. Francis was buried in Kempsford in December 1729, fourteen months after his wife. All of their five children were born and baptised at Kempsford but only three are referred to in their father’s Will. One of these was the ancestor of Hannah Collett who became the secod wife of John Eagleton (=Eggleton)(Chapter 8) when she married him in Kempsford on 23 May 1802.