Ernest - or David in the 1881 census - Collard of Stodmarsh Manor, Canterbury, who had himself married a French actress.

TFPL in Dec 1999:

Not sure about the French actress bit.  In the 1881 census she is down as born in Adisham, Kent.

APL relates that coal was found under the farm and that the family lived off that.

In the 1881 census, it has for Occupation: "Farmer of 450 acres emp 14 men & 3 boys".
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See his wife’s Misc Notes entry for the mystery as to who she might have been.
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Here they are in 1871 with loadsadaughters but no sons:

Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation  Where Born

COLLARD, David Head        M 39 1832   Farmer, 360 acres, 9 men, 3 boys  Stone, Faversham, Kent
COLLARD, Ellen Wife            F 40 1831 Adisham, Kent
COLLARD, Emily Daughter F 16 1855 Reculver, Kent
COLLARD, Lucy   Daughter F 8 1863 Reculver, Kent
COLLARD, Jessie Daughter F 6 1865 Reculver, Kent
COLLARD, Mary   Daughter F 6 1865 Reculver, Kent
COLLARD, Maud Daughter F 3 1868 Stodmarsh, Kent
COLLARD, Ellen   Daughter F 2 1869 Stodmarsh, Kent
COLLARD, Olive Daughter F 1 1870 Stodmarsh, Kent
WELLSTEND, Ellen Governess F 18 1853 Rolvenden, Kent
SARGE, Emily      Servant F 18 1853 Maidstone, Kent
MEARS, Harriet      Servant F 14 1857 Kent

RG number: RG10 Piece: 966 Folio: 57 Page: 1    

Registration District: Bridge Sub District: Barham Enumeration District: 12
Ecclesiastical Parish:

Civil Parish: Stodmarsh Municipal Borough:
Address: Stodmarsh Court, Stodmarsh
County: Kent
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And in 1861 there were 2 sons and an extra daughter, Fanny, who looks like she died young:

Name  Relation  Condition  Sex  Age  Birth Year  Occupation  Disability  Where Born

COLLARD, David Head Married M 29 1832 Farmer Of 70 Acres Employing 7mens & 3boys  Ellastone, Kent
COLLARD, Ellen Wife Married F 30 1831   Adisham, Kent
COLLARD, Emily Daughter F 6 1855   Reculver, Kent
COLLARD, Ernest Son M 5 1856   Reculver, Kent
COLLARD, Douglas Son M 2 1859   Reculver, Kent
COLLARD, Fanny Daughter F 0  (3M) 1861 Reculver, Kent
SPICER, Louisa Servant Unmarried F 18 1843 Servant  Canterbury, Kent
ADAMS, Eliza Servant Unmarried F 15 1846 Servant Reculver, Kent
HUGHES, Henry Carter Unmarried M 18 1843 Carter  Chilcote, Kent

RG number: RG09 Piece: 523 Folio: 123 Page: 1    

Registration District: Blean Sub District: 2 Herne EnumerationDistrict: 9
Ecclesiastical Parish:

Civil Parish: Reculver Municipal Borough:
Address: Hillborough, Reculver
County: Kent
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He is not found on FindMyPast in their incomplete 1851 census.

In 1841, there were four Collard boys at School in Boughton under Blean, Kent:
Spencer Collard aged 15
David Collard aged 10
Henry Collard aged 8
all born in Kent.

Anthony Bishop (see his web-site http://www.airgale.com.au/collard/d8.htm#i1694) says that David was the son of George Collard and Sarah Mount of Elverton Mount Farm, Faversham, Kent.
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