Denzil and Emilie Bagster-Collins wedding picture
Bagster-Collins Papers privately help by Elaine Shisler Smith
DENZIL4 BAGSTER-COLLINS (Elijah3, Henry2, William1) was born at London, Middlesex County, England, on 26 March 1901 a son of Elijah and Edith Bagster-Collins . He died at Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on 1 October 1969. He married at Oscawana, Cortlandt Town, Westchester County, New York, on 24 June 1929 EMILIE BORCHERS MITTENDORF. She was born at Crugers, in the town of Cortlandt, on 10 July 1909, a daughter of William Elphinstone Keith Mittendorf and his wife Marie Alvina Borchers. She died at Brimfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, on 13 February 1980.[1] Denzil, for a time, went by the name of Robert Denzil Bagster-Collins.
Denzil, the middle child of a University professor, grew up in Westchester County, with frequent lengthy visits to his mother's family in England. Emilie grew up in New York City and Westchester County, the younger of two daughters of a physician.
Denzil began his education in the public schools of Montrose, Westchester County, and completed his early studies at Kent School, Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut, graduating in 1917. He then studied English at Columbia University, where he received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1922.[2]
Following graduation from college, Denzil went to England, where he worked for his grandfather's business, Bagster Bible Publishing Company. He was dismissed from that job on 29 August 1924.[3] Family members today suspect - but cannot prove - that he was dismissed becaues his grandfather did not approve of his engagement to his cousin, Theodora Whitwell Wilson. They were engaged some time before 3 August 1924, the date on the following letter, in which his uncle, and the father of the woman to whom he was engaged, expressed his approval:[4]
| 3 August 1924
My dear Denzil We have received your letter and are grateful to you for putting before us so clearly your desire to be engaged to Theodora. In view of the fact that she has accepted your proposal and is evidently convinced that you have her entire affection, as you are convinced that she has yours, we hope that you will accept our best wishes for a most happy life and that you will allow us to regard you with the same love which we have for Theodora, her brothers and sisters. We cannot say more and do not wish to say less. We are glad that you agree with us over Theodora completing her course at Vassar. The future is uncertain, at any rate in the economic sense, and we are strongly of opinion that, in her own interests, as well as your own, which are now identical, she should concentrate her whole mind, with a minimum of distraction, on her coming graduation, so that she may bring into her partnership the most effective possible equipment. With regard to your own prospects in business, we do not doubt that your abilities and resolution will enable you to establish a home. You are so good as to give us a hint about your relations with Bagsters and we do greatly appreciate your confidence, which we shall respect. Whatever step you feel to be right, that I am sure you will take, and we have no comment to make except this—that you are deeply loved by Uncle Robert and Aunt Catherine. If for any reason you have to discuss business with them, you will be all the tenderer in your personal attentions. It might be possible, perhaps, for you to keep the link and yet develop in some other direction. As to announcing the engagement, our view is that we will say nothing until Theodora returns. We hope that you will be assured of a warm, affectionate and ready welcome at any time we can catch a glimpse of you. Her education has been to us a burden, cheerfully borne, and her visit to England, at your request, was arranged by us at considerable sacrifice; we are sure, therefore, that you will help her to get back to normal, with a view to rendering her life and yours in every way a true success. In particular, we cannot too earnestly recommend that your engagement be a matter between you two alone, and that there be an avoidance of gossip over it with other young people. If our own marriage has been happy, a main reason has been this reticence. In our emphatic judgment, there is now no need for intimate letters or conversation to be pursued, except between you and Theodora, unless of course you wish to consult with either your parents or hers. If there be a condition to our unreserved assent, it is this. If there is any service that I can render you, pray drop me a line. And in the meantime, Believe me, my dear Denzil, on behalf of Theodora’s mother as well as myself,
|
The wedding did not happen. Denzil and "Teddy" were first cousins, both grandchildren of Henry Collins and Elizabeth Hollingworth. They were also first cousins once removed, both great grandchildren of Jonathan Bagster and Nancy Toms. The closeness of their relationship and opposition from some members of the family were the probable causes for the engagement being broken.
After being fired, Denzil could no longer live with his grandparents. He moved into a club, Bloomsbury House Club, Cartwright Gardens. He got around London on a Douglas motorcycle. Denzil remained in England for a while, at one time working as a salesman for Hoover vacuum cleaners.[5] He eventually came back to America, found work at the New York Times,[6] and in 1928 began teaching at South Kent School, Kent.[7]
In June of 1929 Denzil Bagster-Collins and Emilie Mittendorf married in the garden of her family estate, "Elphinstone," in Westchester County. He was twenty-eight, she nineteen. Emilie dropped out of Mount Holyoke College to marry.[8]
The 1930 Census found Robert and Emilie Bagster-Collins at Kent.[9] Denzil received his Master's Degree of Arts at Columbia Teachers' College on 1 June 1932.[10]
By 1935 Denzil and Emilie had three children. In that year Denzil began teaching at Plattsburg Normal School [Teachers' College], Plattsburg, Clinton County, New York. The 1937-38 schol year he taught at Lyndon Normal School, Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont. In 1938 Denzil began teaching at Keuka College, Keuka Park, Jerusalem Town, Yates County, New York.[11] During their eight years there, Emilie had two more children, and the older children grew up.
In 1946 Denzil began his career as an English Teacher at Springfield College, Springfield, Hampden County. That year they purchased their home, which they called "Millstone Hollow," in Brimfield.[12] Denzil remained at Springfield College until his retirement in 1968,[13] with the exception of one year. During the 1950-1 school year he taught English at Plattsburg State College, sometimes called Champlain College. Daughter Jennifer shared this memory:[14]
One of Dad's colleagues at Keuka College had been made chair of the English department at Champlain College/Plattsburg State University. He was Carl Bode, Ph.D. Professor Bode invited our father to join the faculty in Plattsburg. Cynthia and I were still in elementary school and since the family had lived in the northeastern US previously; our parents decided to accept the offer. Fortunately, they did not sell 'Millstone Hollow' because as far as I knew, it was the first home they had ever owned. Our parents, Cynthia, and I traveled back and forth regularly to check on the house. It got to the point where one or the other of us would get car sick every time. We spent Christmas in MA, leaving the decorated tree up until the following Easter.
Emilie and Denzil had three children in five years, then went without additional children for six years, after which they had two additional children in three years. The older children were going to college and getting married, while the younger children were still quite young. Phyllis married in 1952, Marie "Mimi" married in 1953. The remaining children married in the 60s and early 70s.
Denzil had been retired for only one year when he died, visiting his daughter in Pennsylvania. The following obituary is from Parish Staff News.[15]
The following clipping, from the Palmer Journal Register, 2 August 1973, tells more of the story of Millstone Hollow.
Eleven years later Emilie died, and her death was reported in the Springfield Union.[16]
Brimfield -- Emily M. Bagster-Collins, 70, of Monson Road, died Wednesday at home. Born in Crugers, N. Y., she lived in Brimfield since 1946. She was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Palmer, St. Elizabeth's Guild of the church, Monson Free Library Association, and the National Cathedral. She was a graduate of Mount Holyoke College. She was the widow of Denzil Bagster-Collins. She leaves a son, Richard D. Bagster-Collins of Greenbelt, Md.; four daughters, Phyllis Anne Shisler of Perkasie, Pa., Marie A. Lezenby of Ambler, Pa., Jennifer Seaver of Greenbelt, and Cynthia K. Powers of Brimfield; a sister, Virginia Harcourt of Ortley Beach, N. J.; fourteen grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. . . . |
Denzil and Emilie Bagster-Collins had the following children:
1"Death and Burial," undated clipping, about October 1969; Bagster-Collins Papers; privately held by Elaine Shisler Smith, Biglerville, Pennsylvania. Parish Staff, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Palmer, Massachusetts. Social Security Administration, "U.S. Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 15 April 2017), Denzil Bagster-Collins, 131-16-3731; Emilie Bagster-Collins, 018-30-0694. "Denzil Bagster-Collins, Faculty," The (Springfield College) Bulletin, v. 44, no. 2, p. 18 (November 1969), Springfield College: Archives and Special Collections (library.springfield.edu : accessed 12 July 2021). New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, "New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967," database, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 4 February 2021), 1929, no. 18545; Collins-Mittendorf. New York State Department of Health; Albany, New York, "New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942," database, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 4 February 2021), 1909 certificate 31412; Emelie B Mittendorf. "Emily M. Bagster-Collins," obituary, Springfield Union, 15 February 1980; Genealogy Bank (genealogybank.com : accessed 29 October 2016), Newspaper Archives.
2Denzil Bagster-Collins, obituary, Parish Staff, Bagster-Collins Papers.
3Elaine Shisler Smith, "Denzil at South Kent," electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield, 20 July 2021.
4Philip Whitwell Wilson, (Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx County, New York) to Denzil Bagster-Collins, letter, 3 August 1924; Bagster-Collins Papers, privately held by Elaine Shisler Smith, Biglerville, Adams County, Pennsylvania.
5Smith, "Re: Denzil at South Kent," electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield, 21 July 2021.
6Denzil Bagster-Collins, obituary, Parish Staff, Bagster-Collins Papers.
7Smith, "Denzil at South Kent," electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield, 20 July 2021.
8Jennifer Bagster-Collins Seaver, "Family History: Denzil and Emilie," electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield, 18 July 2021.
9Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, population, Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut, enumeration district (ED) 9, p. 6B, household 4, Robert Bagster-Collins family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 8 September 2016); NARA microfilm record group T626; Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
10Smith, "Family History: Denzil and Emilie," electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield, 20 July 2021.
11Springfield College Bulletin: Catalog Number, 1956-60 (Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts: Springfield College, 1958), p. 134.
12Seaver, "Family History: Denzil and Emilie," electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield, 18 July 2021.
13"Denzil Bagster-Collins, Faculty."
14Seaver, "Family History: Denzil and Emilie," electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield, 18 July 2021.
15Denzil Bagster-Collins, obituary, Parish Staff, Bagster-Collins Papers.
16"Emily M. Bagster-Collins."
17Information on the family of Phyllis Ann Bagster-Collins is from: "New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942," 1930 certificate 71039; Phyllis A Bagster-Collins. Beulah Cemetery, New Britain, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : accessed 20 December 2019), Earl-Phyllis Shisler; Created by: Vishnu, Photo added by Elaine Smith. (day month and place provided by informant). U.S. Social Security Death Index", Elwood E. Shisler, 186-24-1409. "The Family Tree of Elaine Shisler Smith", database, Family Tree Maker (familytreemaker.genealogy.com : accessed 12 February 2021), "The Family Tree of Elaine Shisler Smith"; submitted 27 June 2010 by Elaine Shisler Smith.
18Information on the family of Richard Bagster-Collins is from: "New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942," 1934 certificate 63723; Richard D Bagster-Collins. "The Family Tree of Elaine Shisler Smith."
19"Paul W. Seaver Jr. of West Chester," obituary found at Find a Grave, originally from Daily Local News, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania on 5 November 2013. Created by: Dan Oh (findagrave.com : accessed 20 December 2019). "The Family Tree of Elaine Shisler Smith." Jennifer Bagster-Collins Seaver, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, interview by Charles A. Maxfield, 28 July 2021; notes.
20Information on the family of Cynthia Bagster-Collins is from: "U.S. Social Security Death Index", James B Powers, 027-26-9469. Brimfield Road Cemetery, Monson, Hampden County, Massachusetts,, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : database 20 December 2019), James Bradford “Brad” Powers; Created by: Stephanie Powers. Elaine Shisler Smith, History of the Family and Her Story Too: A Portrait of the Bagster-Collins Family Tree (N.p.: self published, [2010]), 42. "The Family Tree of Elaine Shisler Smith."
Bagster-Collins, Denzil. "Death and Burial." Undated clipping, about October 1969, from Parish Staff. Privately held by Elaine Shisler Smith, Biglerville, Pennsylvania.
Beulah Cemetery, New Britain, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2019.
Brimfield Road Cemetery, Monson, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2019.
"Denzil Bagster-Collins, Faculty." The (Springfield College) Bulletin v. 44, no. 2, p. 18 (November 1969). Springfield College: Archives and Special Collections. library.springfield.edu : 2021.
New York State Department of Health; Albany, New York. "New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942." Database. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2021.
________York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967." Database. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2021.
"Paul W. Seaver Jr. of West Chester," obituay found at Find a Grave, originally from Daily Local News, West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania on 5 November 2013. Created by Created by: Dan Oh (findagrave.com : accessed 2019).
Seaver, Jennifer Bagster-Collins. "Family History: Denzil and Emilie." Electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield. 18 July 2021.
________. West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Interview by Charles A. Maxfield, 28 July 2021. notes.
Smith, Elaine Shisler. "Denzil at South Kent." Electronic mail to Charles A. Maxfield. 20 July 2021; 21 July 2021.
________. "The Family Tree of Elaine Shisler Smith." Database. Family Tree Maker. familytreemaker.genealogy.com : 2021.
________. History of the Family and Her Story Too: A Portrait of the Bagster-Collins Family Tree. N.p.: self published, [2010].
Springfield College Bulletin: Catalog Number, 1956-60. Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts: Springfield College, 1958.
Springfield Union. Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. 15 February 1980.
United States Department of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2016.
United States Social Security Administration. "U.S. Social Security Death Index." Database. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2017.
Wilson, Philip Whitwell (Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx County, New York) to Denzil Bagster-Collins. Letter. 3 August 1924. Bagster-Collins Papers, privately held by Elaine Shisler Smith, Biglerville, Adams County, Pennsylvania.