Category Archives: Old England

UPDATE: The Samuel Collins and Robert Boyle Connection

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Robert Boyle

Robert Boyle (1627-1691)

I hunted all over the Internet for a copy of Mr. Loewenson’s article. All I found were references to it and an occasional brief excerpt. I tracked down the publisher, hoping they would have copies of past issues archived; they don’t. I searched through every online source for used books and publications trying to find an old copy to buy and found nothing. I checked with my local public library and then the local college library. They don’t have the magazine but they could try to find it on inter-library loan. Just as I was about to go to the college and send an order for the inter-library loan copy, Igor Osipov was gracious enough to send me a complete copy of the article! Continue reading →

Thomas Clarke of Bocking

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Mott Cottage

Mott Cottage

All of the Bocking records I’ve found have spelled the name “Clarke” so I will distinguish this family by that name. They are very likely to be related to the Clerke families in the area but for the sake of trying to trying to keep things straight I will use the different spellings for each family, except where there is a difference in the original record. Continue reading →

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 →