Nelson Leslie (Furphy) Collins (1886 - 1960)

Born 18 Jul 1886 in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Vera Aletha (Eddy) Furphy — married 1913 (to 1920) in Victoria, Australia

Husband of Marie (Dawson) Collins — married about 1918 in Queensland, Australia [uncertain]

Died 1960 at about age 73 in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Nelson was born in 1886. He is the son of John Furphy and Annie Rogerson. ^[1]

He married Vera in 1913.^[2]. However they divorced in 1920.^[3]

Missing Friends. (Sep 1917).^[4] —Inquiry is requested at the instance of the Bendoc (Vic.) Police to trace George C. Collins alias Toby Collins, 30 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches high, medium build, florid complexion, curly chestnut or ginger hair, worn long and parted in centre, clean shaved, large nose, very talkative; is an excellent newspaper cor respondent and takes a great interest in the P.L.L. movement Left Delegate in June last accompanied by his wife. Supposed identical with Victorian offender Nelson Furphy (vide their Police Gazette, 1917, page ,466).

“Nelson did go to Tasmania, before have issues with authorities, he returned to Victoria, and when attempting to Enlist in WWI was arrested, for a larceny allegation. It is then he took off after not paying a fine, supposedly, and this lines up to when he left Vera in April 1916. And it is at this point, we believe he may have falsified documents to a be known to Turphy (also altering his mums name to Regerson), before changing his name to George Collins (which we think by using Turphy, has provided the disguise from the Furphy name, and therefore not discovered). We have no information at this point between 1916 and 1918, and he may have enlisted in WWI under the other name, but we are looking into that. He met, Marie Dawson, and this may have been the reason for the name change, a fresh start maybe. As subsequent to that period, he never has any issue with authorities. He ended up living a long life, having 7 children, and the resulting grand and great grandchildren. He actually ended up in Cairns, and wrote many very popular articles for the Daily Standard in Brisbane throughout the 1920's, under the name Toby C, before moving back down to Brisbane. Our search has discovered an incredibly fascinating story of a definite character. The use of the Collins name is interesting, as Nelson was an avid writer,and his style definitely seems to reflect the Joseph spirit, so maybe Joseph was a hero of his in his younger days. I gave my youngest son the name Tom Collins as a result.“^[5]

he met Marie Dawson about 1919. ^[6]possible children:

1. Constance Dawson Collins (1919 - 1948) ^[7]
2.  ?Queensland Death Registration: 1922/F/1735 Henry George Collins 29/07/1916, - Dawson, John Collins
3. Joseph Collins (1924–1996)
4. Nelson Collins (1926–1926)^[8]
5. Nelson Collins (1927 - 1991) ^[9]
6. Donella Eleanor Collins (1930 - 2001)

Nelson died in 1960.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Registration Number: 1886/16621, Nelson Leslie Ho Turphy, Birth Date: 18 Jul 1886, Carlton, Victoria, Australia, Father: John Turphy, Mother: Annie Ch Regerson
2. ↑ Victoria Marriage Registration Number: 1913/8854, Nelson Furphy, 1913, Spouse Name: Aletha Vera Eddie
3. ↑ Victoria Divorce Cause Books 1861-1938 at www.findmypast.co.uk
4. ↑ Government Gazette Notices - New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 - 1930)Wednesday 19 September 1917 - Page 408
5. ↑ Collins, Jeff, 2020, pers. comm.
6. ↑ No marriage Certificate fiund
7. ↑ Queensland Births Registration:1919/012094 Constance Dawson, 16 Nov 1919 Marie Dawson
8. ↑ Queensland Death Registration: 1926/B/49588, Nelson Collins 04/08/1926 Marie Dawson, George Collins
9. ↑ Victoria Death Registration:11071/1991 COLLINS Nelson, 63, Marie Dawson, Nelson Collins, b. Tenterfield, Spouse:Marie Therese Talbot
10. ↑ Victoria Death Registration Number: 1960 /8383, Nelson Leslie Howard Furphy, 1960, Age: 74, b.SHEPPARTON d.MELBOURNE SOUTH, John Furphy, Christine Rogerson