Nathan R. Marshall, the father of Mrs. Collins, was born in Hudson N.H., in 1792. He removed to Bible Hill when a boy of fourteen, and six years later married Abigail Hawks, daughter of Farrington and Sarah Knowlton Hawks. He was a man of education and an especially good accountant, as shown by his old account books, kept in a neat, clear hand. He held town offices at different periods, being a most intelligent and valued official. He and his wife reared ten children, three sons and seven daughters. Two of these died in infancy. Joshua P. Marshall, the eldest son, a man of good mental attainments, for more than forty years was a manufacturers’ agent for the sale of glassware. He always kept his residence in Bradford, but spent his winters during his later years in Florida, where he had large interests in orange groves. He died there in 1893, aged seventy-six years. Joseph Addison, another son of Nathan R. Marshall, was a farmer in his earlier life. Later he became the proprietor of a market in Boston, and subsequently, in company with his brother Joshua, established himself as a dealer in glassware. They were burned out in the big fire of 1872, but resumed business after a time, and continued in it until Joseph’s health failed. His home Boston, and he died at the age of fifty-nine. Farrington H. Marshall resides in Boston. He and Mrs. Collins are the only surviving members of the family.
The Collins family are quite numerous, and hold frequent reunions in Amesbury, Mass.