Born in Urmston in 1708, son to the Rev. John Collier, minister of Stretford. Collier was probably educated at home by his father, and took up employment when 14 years old to a Dutch-Loom weaver in Newton Moor.

However, he soon left to become a schoolmaster at the Free School at Milnrow, near Rochdale, and remained working in this post from 1739 until 1786 - the year of his death.

He was an inveterate caricaturist, poet and writer, and is best known for his writings in local Lancashire dialects which he studied extensively. His work was avidly bought by an appreciative public, particularly in the north of England where he was very popular.

Wrote "Human Passions Delineated" and "The Blackbird" in which he used the non de plume "Tim Bobbin". Died in Milnrow in 1786 and is buried in Rochdale's St Chad's parish churchyard.

In 1746 John Collier made the following observations so that they may be useful to those who are strangers to the Lancashire Pronunciation.

See copy below of original document.

The following Observations may be useful to those who are Strangers to the Lancashire Pronunciation.
IN some Places in Lancashire we s~und a instead of. 0, and 0 instead of a. For example we say far instead .of for; share, instead of short; and again we say hort, instead of heart; and port, instead of part; hone, instead of hand, &c.
Al and All are genLrally sounded broad, as aw (or 0) for all; Haw (or Ho) for Hall; Awmeety, for Almighty; awlus, for always, &c. .
In some places we sound h, instead of g; as thinlc, instead of thing; wooinlc, for wooing; &c.
The letter d at the End of Words, and the Termination ell, are often chang'd into t: as belr,int, for behind; wynt, for rind; awkert, for awkward; awtert, for altered, &c.
In some Parts it is common to sound ou, and ow as a; as tha', for tlr,ou; Ka (or Ca) for Cow. In oilier places we sound the ou and ow as eu; as tlr,eaw, for thou; Keaw, for Cow; Heawse, for House; Meawse, for Mouse.
The Saxon Termination en is generally retaied, but mute;
8S hat'n, lov'n, desir'no, tlr,inlc'n, bought'n, &c.

In general we speak quick and short; and cut oft' a great many Letters, and even Words by Apostrophes; and sometimes sound two, three, or more Words as one. For instance, we say I'll got', (or I'll gut',) for I'll go to; runt', for run to; hoost, ' for she shall; intle (or int'll) for If thou will; I wou'didd'n, for I wish you wou'd, &c.
But as Trade in a general Way has now flourish'd for near a Century, the- Inhabitauts not only Travel, but encourage all Sorts of useflll Learning; so that among Hills, and places formerly unfrequented by Strangers, the People begin within the few Years of the Author's Observations to speak much better English. If it can be properly. called so. ~ ''Tim Bobbin 1746.''
I still maintain that there can be no difinitive dictionary for any dialects, by the meaning of the very word it reasons that it is diferential. Every individual has his or her own idilect [Dialect] to maintain the point.