Category Archives: Collins Family

Samuel Collins, Jr. Doctor of Physic

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Meeting of doctors at the University of Paris

Samuel never married nor had any children. His brother, John, had three daughters and no sons, so these two are the last of the male line in this branch of the family. Samuel was well educated at the best schools of the day and, as a physician, served as the personal doctor of Czar Alexi in Moscow, so his life was not dull.

I have found many references to Samuel’s education and time in Russia but they all originate with Munk’s Roll (MR) and The Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) so I will give here that source for the information. Continue reading →

Samuel Collins Jr. in Russia

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Spring way of queen during Alexis I of Russia

We aren’t told just where Imperial Commissar John Hebden met Samuel but it was most likely in England, possibly in London. Hebden was looking for physicians to engage for the Czar’s court and England was one of the primary places for educated doctors. Continue reading →

Samuel Collins Jr., Author

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Memorial plaque for Samuel Collins, Jr.
St. Michael’s, Braintree, Essex

Most of Samuel’s writing was the usual correspondence with family and friends. His one published work is “The Present State of Russia; In a Letter to a Friend at London; Written by an Eminent Person residing at the Great Czars Court at Mosco for the space of nine years.” This was published, by a friend, in 1671 after Samuel’s death. Continue reading →

The Will of Samuel Collins, Jr. Doctor of Physic

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I SAMUELL COLLINS, The Son Of Samuell Collins late of Brayntrey in Essex intending  (if God please) to travaile into fforeyne countryes for some tyme do think fitt to leave behind me this my last will and testament in manner and forme as followeth. Continue reading →

Samuel Collins of Braintree

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St. Michael’s, Braintree, Essex

The Revd. Canon Bernard Davies has given us the definitive work on the life and times of Samuel Collins with his book “Samuel Collins of Braintree; A Seventeenth Century Essex Vicar”. This book is a delightful look into the history of the social and religious customs during the lifetime of Samuel Collins. Continue reading →

Samuel Collins Handwriting Analysis

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With any handwriting analysis one needs to be sure that the sample was written by the person in question. When I first discovered Samuel’s signature in the Romford records I didn’t think he had written the data on the rest of the page because it’s written in a different style.

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