Some Accumulated Gibson/Collin's Info

Some Gibson/Collin’s information I have collected in my search:

VARDEMON NAVARRH1 COLLINS; born 1764 at New River, Grayson County, Virginia; married Peggy Gibson.

He was also known as Vardy Collins. He settled in Blackwater Valley, Tennessee in 1797. In 1810 he had already acquired 100 acres of land, as listed for the Captain Looney Company, Puncheon Camp Valley (Pore Valley), along with Benjamin Colings, 90 acres; Hennery Collings, James Collings, 100 acres; John Denhan, Gerden (Jordan) Gibson, 100 acres; Yearby Gibson, Shepard Gibson, 50 acres; Charels Gibson, Tiry Gibson, 50 acres; Royal Gibson and Vallingtine (Valentine) Collins, 100 acres. The William Nichols list of 1812 includes Jesse Gibson 30 acres, and John Denhan, 30 acres.

Vardy Mineral Springs, operated by Vardemon Collins for many years and Vardy School, a Presbyterian Mission School, were both named for him. According to Court records of Wilkes County, North Carolina, Vardy Collins, born in 1764 in North Carolina, was involved in a lawsuit – Case 10, State vs Vardy Collins, as shown by Court Records of Wilkes County, of which Ashe County was a part at the time. In the same record, Case 11 was entitled, State vs Jordan Gibson.

Vardy Collins was said to be a full-blooded Indian. Probably half-blooded. His wife Margaret Gibson, was Spanish, probably full-blooded. Their descendents are mostly of dark skin, some with straight dark hair, though many have a wave in the hair, some have curly, even kinky hair. This may come from the Spanish or mixture of Irish.

Vardy and Peggy came in from North Carolina from near Red River, or crossed the Red River. They took practically all the land from the Virginia State Line to Mulberry Gap, between Newmans Ridge and Powell Mountain.

I have two different sets of fathers for Vardy.

1)Vardy was the son of James Navarrh H. Collins (he was called Henry), born in 1699 in Virginia. Henry was the son of Henry Collins, the indentured servant of Thomas Wood. He is listed in the Court Book of the Virginia Company dated 15 December 1619 and 23 June 1620. See Manchester Papers #241, Public Records Office, London, England, List of Records #58.

Where they got the money for this much land we do not know. Possibly it was a grant for some Military service, though he is not listed as a pensioner or having been in any military outfits under the name of Vardy. Some sources said his name was Henry Navarrh Collins, and that later it was changed to Vardimon or Vardy. Possibly Peggy came from a rich family and had the money before they moved here. Or it is possible that Vardy came from a rich family, or was in business and made it before he came to Tennessee. Vardy built a big double log house near the Vardy Springs. It was counted as one of the biggest houses in the county at the time. It is rumored that travellers stopped to stay over night there and were never heard from again. From the nature of the case we can not be sure of the truth of these traditions. Perhaps it is better to think that he came by his money in honest ways, and freely practiced the open and free hospitality of the backwoods and the mountains, and likely being a man of force and resolute habit, he likely was envied by those who were less successful, and suspected where there was but little truth or little cause for it.

2)Vardy Collins was in Ashe Co. NC in 1800 listed as head of household with 4 other Free Persons of Color.Meaning 4 children. Vardy according to tax records was the son of Samuel Born 1734 was a Mulatto, taxable in Orange Co. NC,with 2 Black Titles( probably Vardy and Valentine “Vol” Collins) ( T&C Box 1 Archives Raleigh NC) Samuel was listed as the Head of Wilkes Co. ( area that became Ashe in 1790) 1 male 21-60 and 1 female 1787 state census. Valentine ( Vol) Collins listed in 1800 Ashe Co. NC census as Head with 6 other Free Persons of Color.

Samuel is believed to be the son of Old Thomas Collins .Other Collins men who were associated with Thomas Collins Sr. in New Kent, later Louisa County, Va. were probably his BROTHERS. They were Samuel Collins, John Collins and William Collins.

25 Jan 1745 Louisa County, Virginia Court: William Hall, Samuel Collins, William Collins, Samuel Bunch, George Gibson, Benjamin Brannum, Thomas Gibson, & William Donothan appear to answer an indictment for concealing tithables. Plead not guilty, Case continued. (Louisa County, Va., Tithables and Census)

The following source Melungeon families lived in the same area of Virginia around 1730. John Bunch, Gilbert Gibson, Thomas Gibson and Thomas Collins. They begin selling their land in Louisa County. VA in 1747 and migrated to the Flatt River area of then Granville County, North Carolina this area became Orange County in 1753. 1747 Thomas Collins sells 184 acres of land on the south side of the Pamunkey River on Turkey Run Creek to John Dowell for 25 Ibs. (Louisa County, Va. ref..in Melungeons and Other Pioneer Families)

Thomas Collins Sr. b 1710 , probable children were; Thomas Jr. b 1728, Joseph b 1730, Samuel b 1732, John b 1734, George b 1736, Elisha b 1738. They settled on the Flatt River as the following records reveal.

“Land Grants from the Earl of Granville to the earliest settlers, The Granville Dist. Of N.C. 1748-1763 Vols 2 & 4 by Hofman.” 29 Oct 1751 -Grant to William Churton, 640 acres on the south side of Flatt River joining John Collins on the Rocky Branch. Grant is for warrant issued to Thomas Gibson (#3775) 1752. 250 acres to Thomas Gibson on the Flatt River. 28 Oct 1752 640 acres to Joseph Collins on the South West side of the Flatt River Witness- Thomas Collins and James Lilkemper.

The Flatt River lies in what is Person’s Co. today.

__________________