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Brenda Collins Dillon
I would like to tap into your 30 years of researching the Collins surname. My line goes back to Amos Collins, b oct.30, 1789 in Green Co. Tenn.. He married Muriel. They had 9 children among them was Benjamin Collins, b 1824, in Clay Co. Ky. I dont have much info going back from Amos. Can you please help.
Everett
On my Mullins line , supposed to be Blackfoot, there is marriages to Hubbards….. this line settled in VA also.
What are the mullegon traits you are talking about? ive never heard of this. Also does any of the collins here have any relitive around dyersburg tn, ? granpa had bros that lived in Miss but i dont know any of there names but one Henry he had long white hair and a long white beard. granpa died when i was 7 and im 46 now so i guess that would have made him born around early 19oo he wasnt old when he died maybe 50 at the most.I dont know anything about his family it would be nice to learn his mother and father name. his name was john mack collins.
Angie
My early Collins line dates back to Colonial Virginia, in the area known as the “Piedmont” . They are found among some of the early Native American tribes such as the Powhattan, Pumunkey’s and the Saponi’s. Some believe that they are all related tribes that were once a part of the mighty Powhattan confederency that greeted the Jamestown settlers in 1607 and over the years of intermarriage they became a mixed breed.
Early NC records show a group of people, to the south of Virginia , living in the mountains of what is today western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. These people, unlike the Indians, lived in log cabins,spoke a form of english, and broke from their daily labors to pray in a way different from the indians. These people became known as the MELUNGEONS
What is a Melungeon?
http://www.geocities.com/mikenassau/what.htm
By the late 1600’s Virginia had adopted several laws that made it difficult /impossible to live as a Indian or of mixed bloodlines. They were pushed south into territory that was called the frontier.
By the 1760’s the Saponi had begun moving again, possibly in response to increasing pressure from neighboring Whites. The community began moving back to the area near the Eno river where they had once lived, settling in the northeast section of Alamance county and adjoining Orange county. This section became known as the “Little Texas” community.
The earliest census for Orange county, which included Alamance county until 1849, listed Charles and Jesse Whitmore as well as Jacob Jeffries as heads of households. Within a few years, the bulk of the Tribe had joined them. A few families moved further west to Ohio and Indiana following the Quakers and were identified at various times as being Catawba.
By the mid 1700’s, the tribe had resettled in what is now Greensville and Brunswick counties on the Virginia/North Carolina border. Many of the tribesmen began to receive title to their ancestral lands, having acquired European names such as Jeffries, Whitmore, Stewart, Watkins, Guy, and Haithcock. This Saponi community was still noted as distinct as late as 1764 when they were reported by the Indian Superintendent of the South to have “60 gunmen” in combination with their neighbors the Nottoway. At that time, Lt. Governor Fauquier of Virginia reported that “tho’ they dwell in peace in the midst of us, (the Saponi) lead in great measure the lives of wild Indians.” As late as the year 1775 the author James Adair reported that the Saponi Nation was still living in southside Virginia. A few years later, several Saponi men fought on the American side of the Revolution. Charles Whitmore, Simon Jeffries, and William Guy were three of these Saponi soldiers.
Several families from Orange county moved in the 1820’s to what became Macon county, North Carolina. They became the subject of an 1897 U.S. Senate Document which again identified them as being Catawba Indians. The bulk of the Saponi remained in the “Texas Community”, forming an independent Indian settlement based on small scale farming. Indian Churches such as Martin’s Chapel and Jeffries’ Cross provided religious and social structure for the community. Schools like the Martin’s School tended to the educational needs of tribal youth. Community activities such as church revivals, family reunions, and group labor parties served to keep the community members united. During the 1930’s, Clayton Jeffries and others made contact with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to ask for assistance with their school and contacted other local Indian groups for support.
The NA Collins were ordered out of Orange Co. Va in the court case in 1742 where several Indians were arrested and brought before the court and charged with stealing hogs and burning the woods . These Indians moved across the border into Granville Co. NC which later became Orange Co. NC. In the beginning of the 1750’s they lived on the Flatt River and it appears the head of the family was Thomas Collins who was the father of several sons, Thomas Jr 1728, Joseph 1730,Samuel 1732,John 1734,George 1736 and Elisha 1738. From these sons come the many descendants of today’s Collins line. Thomas Collins Story
http://www.angelfire.com/wv2/dillon1944/old_thomas_collins_of_flatt_river.htm
It is my belief that many of these Collins moved to the south and mixed with the mysterious peoples called the Melungeons ,who later moved into the areas of Hancock and Hawkins Counties of Tennessee. The most common Melungeon was known as Vardy Collins who came from Ashe Co. NC and settled on Newman’s Ridge in Hancock Co. Tn.
Vardy Collins, s/o Samuel Collins (above) 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.
Shortly after Vardy settled on the Ridge another Collins joined him by the name of Solomon and the family grew. Over the years many Collins found their ways in and out of the Ridge,some staying and others drifting to newer territories not touched by the laws and prejustices that they had suffered in the past. In the new territories many took on a new life, hiding their identies, heritiage, customs, their very beings. Not speaking of the past to even their children ,who God forbid,might have a slip of the tounge and they would lose what they had fought so hard to hang onto.
This , I believe, is the case of my Meredith Collins family. I have no doubt Meredith Collins was somehow related to Vardy Collins, probably a first cousin. I also believe he was a mixture of NA/African American/ white ,possibly Melungeon. My Collins family were dark-skin toned, with black hair, some curly and others wavy. Most had dark eyes that ranged from a brown to black. They never owned land til they moved into Kentucky and those folks that married and lived in the surrounding area’s were such names as Mullins, Johnsons, Newsome, Hall, Blankenship, Roberts, Robinson, and later when Meredith’s son, William Collins settled and built a gristmill along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River they were surrounded by Clines, Trent, as well as the Hatfields & McCoys.
Here is an article written by a cousin, Frankie Collins Blackburn and myself and published by Applachian Quarterly out of Wise Co. Virginia. It is called “One More Mountain to Cross”, The Collins Story
http://bj_dillon.tripod.com/one_more_mountain_to_cross.htm
Brenda,
Looking back on my post and after reading your last post, I realize I posted some mis information, just wasn’t thinking right at the time, it is hard to keep my Mullins’s and Collins’s separate!
Anyway, it was Ashe Co. , NC census records with the FPC and it was Berry Collins s/o Riley Collins and Emaline McGinnis that married a Hammond’s – Nancy Emily Hammond. Sorry……and as to Coyote’s question about Melungeon traits: I have the bump at the base of my skull, ridges on the back of my four front upper teeth and also shovel teeth, and last be not least I have slight mottling ( white spots ) on my already fair skin. Two of my siblings have mottling also , one is fair like me and the other is olive skinned.
Again , sorry for my mistake.
Nancy
Brenda, that was a great summation of a good deal of the documentation on known Saponi families. I didn’t know that James Adair noted the Saponi Nation in southside Virginia as late as 1775. That’s very significant for my husband, since that means there’s only a 25 year gap in documentation between the known tribe and mention of his ancestors known in the family to be Iindians in that locale.
Bushtick. I emailed you with contacting info for Cherokee Collins. It may be interesting to see what they have to say.
I can see why you think your family is Saponi. The Hammond and the Gibsons are names associated with the Saponi. Baker is a SE Indian family name, too.
Was it you who just mentioned the Mullins identified as Blackfoot? That’s a Saponi associated name, too.
Yes, Linda it was me that mentioned the Mullins’s family oral history as being Blackfoot Indian……my G Grandmother Nancy Mullins was supposed to be 1/2 to full blood according to oral history. Well, this has never made sense to me because Nancy Mullins married Jefferson Mullins her 1st cousin , both of these lines are from Riley Mullins and Elizabeth Ingles. However, Nancy’s mother was a Dean . Nancy’s line goes: Riley Mullins and Elizabeth Ingles, William “Bill” Mullins and Malinda/Melinda Dean and then Nancy. Jeff Mullins line goes: Riley Mullins and Elizabeth Ingles, Washington Mullins and Malinda Hubbard , and then Jefferson. Washington and William “Bill” were brothers. This is my family oral history , not research. Now, resent research has linked this line to Ambrose Mullins of Bold Camp, VA as being Riley’s father. So it goes back to the 1700’s however, there isn’t any documentation to prove NA blood. But, isn’t Dean an NA surname? And of course, it has almost been proven that this line is Melungeon!
I have a strong belief that my Grandmother Ellen Mullins Roberson would not have insisted that we were Blackfoot Indian if it wasn’t so, I just can’t come up with HOW! This line resided in SW VA , which wasn’t a common NA area for any other tribe name than maybe Cherokee during her youth ( she was bron in 1910) and if I remember correctly she told us as children growing up that name was from blacking the soles of their moccasins with ashes, or even the soles of their bare feet.
Thanks for the connection to the Cherokee Collins and I will let you now what info I can obtain .
Nancy
I have many Mullins in my family line– the farthest back I can trace is Richard Henry Mullins, born in 1824– before that, I have no information… Its so frustrating that they’re from the right area, I just can’t trace ’em. Grrrr…
My David Collins Born about 1750 was in the 1790 census for Wilkes county N. C. but by 1800 they had disappeared and showed up in Grainger county Tenn. on a 1804 tax list. from there they moved to Knox County Kentucky, from there to Morgan County Indiana in 1822. By the early 1830’s they were in Douglas, Howell ,Taney and Ozark counties in Missouri , they supposedly brought about twenty two or twenty three familys with them to Missouri. One of the Brothers branched off and went to Arkansas and settled there . Along that time the Bunch Family, Turnbull Family, Johnson Family, the Clintons , Woods, and several other Saponi Core name familys showed up in Missouri. My belief is they were trying to stay ahead of the settlers.
Red Buffalo
What are the core Saponi names in Missouri that you know of? They’re not all the same as what we have here.
LINDA
Here is some of the core names you were interested in COLLINS, TURNBULL, CLINTON, DAVIS ,FREEMAN, JOHNSON, BUNCH, BIRD, JONES, JAMES, GOANS, HICKS, MARTIN,SMITH, WADE, WOOD, PARSONS, REED, RILEY,STUBBS,CHANEY?..
Red Buffalo
Red Buffalo,
This is another Collins I have been chasing. From what I have David 1750 was born in Grayson Co. Virginia. ( IF he was the son of John of Bertie Co. then there sould be a John living in that county at that time……my thoughts are that David 1750 was NOT his son but a grandson…..only my thoughts, no proof)
Here is what I do have: source Glenda Breakbill
David Collins, 1750, VA-1832, Morgan Co., IN
Married Thompsey Posting 01 October 1771, Rowan Co., NC
He had a brother named William Collins who died prior to 1830. William’s wife married is in Morgan Co., IN in 1830.
Children: In 1890, there are five sons and five daughters listed for David in Wilkes Co., NC. One son Hiram was born after this census.
By 1804, the family had moved to Grainger Co.,TN. About 1818 families moved into Knox Co., KY. In 1822, the families gradually moved into Morgan Co., IN where they are listed in 1830. Ages of the children and where they say they were born give approximation of moves of the families.
Known Children:
1. Aaron Collins, b. 1773 NC
m. Mary
2. David Collins, Jr. b. 1775 NC
m. Mary Dodson 06 Feb 1801, Granger Co., TN.
3. Levi Collins b. 1784 NC
m. Polly
4. Solomon Collins b. July 1786, Grayson Co. VA
d. Dec. 1882, Douglas Co., MO
m. Delilah Nichols 01 October 1812, Clairborne Co., TN.
Solomon served in the War of 1812 enlisting at Rogersville, in Hawkins Co., TN.
5. Isaiah Collins b. 1790 d. 11 Aug 1885, Ozark Co., MO & buried in
Parsons Cemetery,
m. Betsy Mason Dora, MO.
6. Hiram Collins b.1794
m. Rebecca
Hiram was a school teacher, and he remained in Morgan Co., IN after brothers and sisters moved to MO.
Known daughters:
1. Margaret “Peggy” Collins
m. Solomon Dodson 15 Feb 1802, TN
2. Eleanor “Nelly” Collins b. 1783 NC
m. John Bull or Turnbull
This David 1750 connects to my Meredith Collins line. I found proof in a Clay Co. Ky court case, however that is the only place so far that I have found the connection.
Meredith entered Captain James McDaniel’s Fincastle Militia in 1776 at the age of 16 with a David,George and Lewis. These four Collins men are together durning the *1780’s Montgomery Co. Va. Militia, again in *1797 Wilkes Co. NC where they lived on adjoining land of Vardy Collins. (It is possible that they could also be found on the *1793 Wythe Co. Va. tax list as I find George, David and Lewis plus a M. Collins which could very easily have been Meredith) I have wondered for years if the David he entered with in 1776 was actually David 1750.
If we can find somebody that lives in the area of Christianburg Va. and can do some digging in their Courthouse archives and library perhaps we might find a clue to some answers. I sent to Christianburg for the roster list of McDaniel’s Company and the lady at the courthouse was really nice. She sent me two copies and only charged me 50 cents copy fee. She said they have a mildew proof valt in their basement that they store all the old records and documents.
A lady from DAR told me that the reason that McDaniel’s Company has so little written about it could be because it was made up of all mixed bloods. I can post the roster if anybody is interested. Somebody might reconize some of the names.
Brenda
THANKS FOR POSTING THAT INFORMATION AS FOR HIRAM COLLINS 1794 HE MARRIED A REBECCA CRANK AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ THAT ROSTER IF YOU WOULD PRINT IT.
1 7 7 6
RevWar List of Captain James McDaniel’s Company
( I sent to Christianburg ,Va. for this record. I will try to the best of my ability to give you
the info from this old record however you must remember the old style handwriting is
difficult to read. The record appears to be 63 names and 20 names marked out by author)
Benjamin Stinnet
George Recees
John Long
Calop Coniway
Edward Williams
James Blueiens
William Tobian
Benjamin Sexton
Jonathan Blueiens
Burnell Spencer
John Mullens
Sammuwill( Samuel) Phijus
John Burton
Moses Peasley
James Islom
John Blueiens
Sammuwill Hunson
Patrick McBride
John Smith
Thomas Long
Joseph Zlover
James May
Jacob Williams
Martian Munay
James Slant
John Still
David Collins
James Dikes
Joseph Constom
Iuel Stomper
Daniel Blueiens
Will Blueiens
George Collins
Charles Cale
John Isom
William Mainar
Isian Stomper
James Cox
Calop May
Richard Cole
Jacob Stomper
David Smith
Meridia Collins
Lewis Collins
Robert Jones
Sammuwill———-
John——–
Jonar——–
Joseph———-Thomas Conston
William Duncan
John Murray
( The rest of the names are unreadable
David Collins, George Collins, Meridia Collins, Lewis Collins
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