Hi Marion,
I am a great great grandson of Thomas Collins and Leocadia Collins.
My mother was Doris Collins who emigrated to Australia in 1927.
Have you much information on this couple?
I would be interested to see it if possible.
Apparently Thomas Collins was Deputy Commissary in Lord Wellington's army in the Penisular War.That's how he came to Portugal. He married Leocadia Da Silva in April 1813 in Lyon,France apparently.
He was a very wealthy merchant in Lisbon, Portugal up until
1823 when he was put in prison for 4 years on trumped up charges.
He was fully exonerated.
He returned to England in 1829.His wife and himself were given a pension by the Portugeuse Government I believe.
I think he was a book publisher in London
He wrote a book "Statement of claims on the Portuguese Government" in 1844.
I believe he changed his name to Robert B.Scott after 1851.
Do you have anything else?
Best regards,
John Long,
Launceston.
Tasmania.
Australia.