Editing Marie Collings (section)

== Background ==

Collings was born into a wealthy family from [[Guernsey]], one of the [[Channel Islands]]. She was one of the two daughters of the [[privateer]] [[John Allaire]] (1762–1846), the other one being Catherine Allaire.<ref name="Marshall">{{cite book|last=Marshall|first=Michael|publisher=Paramount-Lithoprint|title=Hitler envaded Sark|year=1967|page=39}}</ref> Her father was reputedly the most affluent man in Guernsey, whose fortune appears to have stemmed not only from privateering during the [[Napoleonic Wars]], but also from outright [[piracy]].<ref name="Ewen"/> She was married to Thomas Guérin Collings, [[Connétable (Jersey and Guernsey)|Constable]] of the Town and Parish of [[Saint Peter Port]].<ref name="Reports">{{cite book|title=Reports from commissioners, 1847–1848|year=1848}}</ref> The couple had a son, [[William Thomas Collings]] (1823–1882), and several daughters. Collings' husband died in 1832.<ref name="Ewen">{{cite book|last1=Ewen|first1=Alfred Harry|first2=Allan Roper|last2=De Carteret|title=The Fief of Sark|publisher=Guernsey P.|location=[[Guernsey]]|year=1969|pages=101–102}}</ref>