Collins Family
COLLINS FAMILY from Paul Heinegg
The Collins and Bunch families were taxable "Molatas" in Orange County, North Carolina, in 1755 [T&C, box 1]. They were also associated with the Gibson family. Lucrecy Collins witnessed the 1775 Orange County, North Carolina will of George Gibson [WB A:195]. They probably came to Orange County from Louisa County, Virginia. George Gibson, Thomas Gibson, William Hall, Thomas Collins, Samuel Collins, William Collins, William Donathan, Benjamin Branham, and Samuel Bunch were living in Louisa County on 28 May 1745 when they were presented by the court for failing to list a tithable (probably their wives) [Orders 1742-8, 152, 157, 172]. Some members of the family moved to Wilkes County with the Gibsons and like the Gibsons, they were counted there as white in 1790. This part of Wilkes County became Ashe County in 1799, and both families were counted there as "other free" in 1800.
Mixed-race members of the Collins family were
i. Catherine, born say 1705, a "free mulatto woman" of North Farnham Parish presented by the Richmond County, Virginia court in November 1725 for having an illegitimate child [Orders 1721-32, 248, 267].
2ii. Thomas, born say 1708.
2.Thomas1 Collins, born say 1708, was presented by the Louisa County court on 28 May 1745 for failing to list a tithable who was probably his wife and on 26 November 1745 he was presented for profane swearing [Orders 1742-8, 152, 157, 172, 174, 179]. He was a taxable in the 1750 Granville County list of John Wade [CR 44.701.23]. This part of Granville County became Orange County in 1752, and Thomas was a "Molata" taxable there on 3 "Black" tithes in 1755 [T&C, box 1, p.19]. He owned land on Flat River adjoining George Gibson and Moses Ridley [Orange County Loose Papers, vol. V, no. 131; vol.VI, no. 579]. He may have been the father of
3i. George1, born about 1728.
ii. Thomas2, Jr., born say 1734, an Orange County taxable listed nearby Thomas Collins in 1755 [T&C, box 1, p.19]. He may have been the Thomas Collins, Sr., who was head of a white Moore County household of one male over 16, two females, and one slave in 1790 [NC:44], and there was a Thomas Collins, Jr., head of a white Moore County household of two males under 16, three over 16, and four females in 1790 [NC:43]. He was head of an Ashe County household of 7 "other free" in 1800 [NC:74].
iii. John, born say 1736, a "Molata" taxable in Orange County, taxed on one Black tithe in 1755 [T&C, box 1, p.15].
3.George1 Collins, born about 1728, purchased 100 acres in Anson County, North Carolina, on 14 June 1764 [DB 3:268]. This part of Anson County became Richmond County in 1779, and his land was mentioned in a 2 February 1780 Richmond County land entry [Pruitt, Richmond County Land Entries, 10, 58]. He sold land by deed proved in the March 1783 session of Richmond County court. In December 1783 he and Arthur Dees were security for (his sons?) Thomas and George Collins, Jr. in a Richmond County court case [Minutes 1780-95, 33, 47]. The Richmond County court excused him from paying poll tax in 1788 because he was sixty years old. He was head of a Georgetown District, Prince George's Parish, South Carolina household of 7 "other free" in 1790 [SC:54]. He may have been the father of
i. Thomas3, born say 1760, a defendant in Richmond County, North Carolina court in December 1783 [Minutes 1780-95, 47].
ii. Charles2, born say 1765, ordered by the January 1787 Richmond County, North Carolina court to receive twenty lashes for larceny committed in 1783 [Minutes 1780-95, 50, 111].
iii. George3, Jr., born say 1767, head of a Richmond County household of 4 "other free" in 1790 [NC:45]. He entered 50 acres in Richmond County on Mayners Creek of Hitchcock Creek on 12 June 1794 [Pruitt, Richmond County Land Entries, nos. 169, 1013] and was taxed on 160 acres in 1795. He purchased 100 acres by deed proved in the January 1796 session of the Richmond County court and sold 50 acres to (his brother?) Elisha Collins by deed proved in the same session [Minutes 1793-1804, 312-3].
iv. Elisha, born say 1770, one of the freeholders ordered by the October 1794 session of the Richmond County court to work on the road to Catfish Road [Minutes 1793-1804, 282]. He was taxable on 250 acres in 1795. He purchased 50 acres from (his father?) George Collins by deed proved in Richmond County in January 1796 [Minutes 1793-1804, 313].
v. David2, head of an Anson County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [NC:203].
4.Samuel Collins, born say 1724, was presented by the Louisa County court on 28 May 1745 for failing to list a tithable who was probably his wife. On 25 November 1746 Richard Vernon sued him for 16 pounds, 9 shillings and fourteen pounds of deer skins, and on 24 February 1746/7 he and William Collins were presented for fishing and hunting on the Sabbath [Orders 1742-8, 152, 157, 172, 215, 227, 233]. He was a "Molata" taxable in Orange County on 2 Black tithes in 1755 [T&C, box 1, p.19]. He may have been the Samuel Collins who was head of a Wilkes County household of one male 21-60 and one female in the 1787 state census.
Wilkes and Ashe County, North Carolina descendants were
i. George2, one of the hunters who had a cabin in present-day Ashe County when the first land grants were issued in the 1780s. He was taxable there on a 26 pound estate in 1778 [NCGSJ X:11, 14]. He was head of a Wilkes County household of one male 21-60, three males under 21 or over 60, and three free females for the 1787 state census and one white male over 16, three white males under 16, and four females [NC:123].
ii. David1, taxable on an estate of 41 pounds in present-day Ashe County in 1778 [NCGSJ X:17]. He was head of a Tenth Company, Wilkes County household of three males over 16, two under 16, and six females in 1790 [NC:123].
iii. Martin, head of a Tenth Company, Wilkes County household of one male over 16, 3 under 16, and four females in 1790 [NC:123].
iv. Valentine, head of a Tenth Company, Wilkes County household of one male over 16 and two females in 1790 (abstracted as Vol) [NC:123] and head of an Ashe County household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [NC:75].
v. Vadery, perhaps the "Hardy" Collins who was head of a Wilkes County household of one male over 16, one under 16, and four females in 1790 [NC:123]. He was called Vadery in 1800, head of an Ashe County household of 4 "other free" in 1800. The 26 January 1791 Wilkes County court referred to a road near Sandy Island Ford and Vardie Collens [Absher, Wilkes County Court Minutes 1789-97, 20].
vi. Ambrose, taxable on an estate of 20 pounds in present-day Ashe County in 1778 [NCGSJ X:17]. He was head of a Tenth Company, Wilkes County household of one male over 16, one under 16, and two females in 1790 [NC:123]. He was head of an Ashe County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [NC:76].
vii. Charles1, taxable in present-day Ashe County on an estate of 44 pounds in 1778 [NCGSJ X:17].
Northampton County, Virginia
1.Susan Collins, born say 1707, consented to the indenture of her "Mulatto" daughter Rebecca to Thomas Jenkins in Northampton County court on 12 February 1729/30. She was presented for bastardy on 14 May 1734, 9 November 1736 and on 14 February 1737/8. On 12 August 1740 she agreed to serve Elishe Stringer for twenty years on condition that she be allowed to marry Stringer's "Negroe fellow" Caesar and "live with him until she shall be parted by death" [Orders 1729-32, 10; 1732-42, 107, 114, 255, 260, 296, 301, 408]. She was a "Negro" taxable in Digby Semore's Northampton County household in 1737, called "Sue, negro" in 1738, taxable in Elishe Stringer's household in 1740 and 1741 but was not listed in Stringer's household in 1744 [Bell, Northampton County Tithables, 260, 281]. She was the mother of
2i. Rebecca1, born 17 August 1729.
ii. Rachel, born say 1734, "Negroe" daughter of Susanna Collins, bound to Michael Christian on 10 December 1734 [Orders 1732-42, 142].
3iii. Ann, born say 1737.
2.Rebecca1 Collins, born 17 August ___ (left blank in the record, say 1729), was bound to Thomas Jenkins on 12 February 1729/30. She was a "Negroe girl" listed in the inventory of the Northampton County estate of Thomas Jenkins in 1735 [W&I 18, part 2, 208]. She sued Alderton Gilding for her freedom on 10 September 1751, but the court ordered her to serve until 1 August 1752 according to the indenture produced in court [Orders 1729-32, 10; Orders 1751-3, 7, 35]. She was the mother of
i. Susanna2, born 31 July 1758, daughter of Rebecca Collins, bound to Robert Warren on 13 January 1772 [Minutes 1771-7, 27]. Sue's son Thomas, born in May 1785, was bound by the Northampton County court to John Evans on 9 January 1793 [Orders 1789-95, 271].
3.Ann Collins, born say 1737, was living in Northampton County on 13 February 1771 when her nine-year-old daughter Jane Collins was bound out. She may have been the A. Collins who won a suit for ten pounds against Scarburgh Bingham on 8 June 1779. Peter Beckett and Mary Jeffery were witnesses for the plaintiff [Minutes 1765-71, 433; 1777-83, 167]. She was the mother of
i. Jane, born 15 March 1762, bound to Eyre Stockley on 13 February 1771. She registered as a "free Negro" in Northampton County on 12 June 1794 [Orders 1789-95, 358].
ii. ?Rebecca2, born say 1764, mother of Sue Collins who was seven years old when she was bound to John Evans by the Northampton County court on 14 May 1788 [Minutes 1787-9, 144]. Rebecca registered as a "free Negro" in Northampton County on 13 June 1794 [Orders 1789-95, 364].
iii. ?Ritter, registered as a "free Negro" in Northampton County on 13 June 1794 [Orders 1789-95, 364].
Other members of the Collins family in Northampton County were
i. John, bound to Guy Grimes on 12 January 1768 [Minutes 1765-71, 154]. He registered as a "free Negro" in Northampton County on 13 June 1794 [Orders 1789-95, 364] and was a "Negro" taxable in Northampton County in 1800 [Personal Property Tax List, p.6]. He married Betsy Jeffries, 3 February 1803 Northampton County bond, Samuel Beavans security. Perhaps Betsy was the Betty Collins who was head of a Northampton County household of 5 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:216A].
ii. Lighty, born 30 July 1767, a "free negro" bound to John Tyler on 13 August 1771 [Minutes 1771-7, 3]. He married Lear Drighouse, 3 January 1794 Northampton County bond, Thomas Lewis security, and was a taxable "Negro" in Northampton County in 1800 [Personal Property Tax List, p.5].
iii. Ralph, born say 1772, security for the 2 July 1793 Northampton County bond of Betty Stephens and Isaac Reed. He registered as a "free Negro" in Northampton County on 10 June 1794 [Orders 1789-95, 354]. He married Tamar Bingham, 20 December 1799 Northampton County bond, John Simkins security. He was a taxable "Negro" in Northampton County in 1800 [Personal Property Tax List, p.4] and head of a Northampton County, Virginia household of 8 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:217]. His twenty-five-year-old daughter Esther Collins married Moses Bingham, 24 November 1819 Northampton County bond.
iv. Sarah, born about 1778, registered in Petersburg on 11 September 1805: a brown Mulatto woman, five feet two an a half inches high, a little pitted with small pocks, twenty seven years old, born free in the County of Northampton, Virga. & Registry of that County [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 359].
v. Mack, married Betsey Shepherd, 27 November 1809 Northampton County bond, Abraham Lang security. He was head of a Northampton County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:217].
vi. Nathaniel, married Salley Stockley, 6 October 1807 Northampton County bond; and second, Molly Sample, 16 August 1810 Northampton County bond, Isaiah Carter security.
Members of the Collins family in King William and King and Queen counties, Virginia, were
i. John, born say 1750, taxable in King William County on 198 acres in 1782 and 1783, taxable on 28 acres in 1787 but not subject to land tax in the following years. He was taxable in King William County on a free male tithable from 1787 to 1799 and from 1802 to 1814: listed as a "Mulatto" in 1813 and 1814 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-1811; Land Tax List 1782-1832].
1ii. Mason, born about 1758.
2iii. William1, born say 1765.
1.Mason Collins, born about 1758, was taxable in King William County from 1787 to 1796 and from 1799 to 1802: taxable on 27 acres, a horse and 4 cattle in 1787 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-1811; Land Tax List 1782-1832]. He was living in King William County on 2 January 1794 when he sold two cows, a yearling and a sow to Thomas Jones for 4 pounds, 11 shillings [Record Book 3:48]. He was taxable in King and Queen County from 1804 to 1820: taxable on 2 tithables from 1807 to 1812, called a "Mulatto" in 1807, a "free Negro" from 1809 to 1812, listed in 1813 with 4 "Mulattos" (male and female) over the age of sixteen, over the age of forty-five in 1815 [Personal Property Tax Lists, 1804-23]. He was about sixty years old on 15 May 1818 when he made a declaration in King and Queen County court to obtain a pension for his services in the 11th Virginia Regiment. He declared that he had travelled north as bowman to an officer named Holt Richeson in 1777 and enlisted while in the state of Pennsylvania. He called himself an "illiterate Mulatto" on 11 December 1820 when he stated that he had a life estate in 85 acres and that his family consisted of a twenty-year-old woman named Maneroy, seventeen-year-old Mason, fifteen-year-old Mary and eleven-year-old Eliza [M804-614, frame 373]. He was probably the father of
i. Elijah, a "free Negro" or "Mulatto" taxable in King & Queen County from 1811 to 1815 [Personal Property Tax Lists, 1804-23].
ii. Thomas, a "free Negro" taxable in King and Queen County from 1814 to 1816 [Personal Property Tax Lists, 1804-23].
iii. Rily, a "free Negro" taxable in King and Queen County in 1816 [Personal Property Tax Lists, 1804-23].
iv. Maneroy, born about 1800.
v. Mason, born about 1803.
vi. Mary, born about 1805.
vii. Eliza, born about 1809.
2.William1 Collins, born say 1765, was taxable in King William County from 1787 to 1818: taxable on a horse in 1798, taxable on 2 free males in 1802 and 1810, listed as a "Mulatto" in 1813. David Pannell transferred 25 acres to him in 1786 and William was taxable on the land from 1787 to 1811 [PPTL 1782-1811; Land Tax List 1782-1832]. On 24 June 1793 he purchased 25 acres in the parish of St. Johns in King William County adjoining Thomas Pollard, David Pannell and his own land for 25 pounds. On 20 May 1802 he purchased 25 acres below the lower church and lying on Bull Swamp from James and Lucy Johnson, and on the same date his wife Elizabeth Collins released her dower rights to 25 acres sold to James Johnson [Record Book 3:17; 4:119-20]. He may have been the father of
i. William2, Jr., taxable in King William County from 1811 to 1820: listed as a "Mulatto" in 1813, a "Free Negro" in the years following [PPTL 1782-1811; 1812-50]. He became a charter member of the Lower College Baptist Church with his wife Jane. Jane may have had Pamunkey Indian ancestry since in 1836 a Richard Collins was called "a descendant of the Indian Tribe" when he became a member of the same church [Colosse Baptist Church Minute Book 1814-1834; 1814-1870, 20 cited by Rountree, Pocahantas's People, 341].
Bertie County, North Carolina
1.Josiah Collins, born say 1750, was a "free Molatto" taxable in his own Bertie County household in the 1771 list of Jonathan Standley [CR 10.702.1, box 2]. Perhaps he was the same Josiah Collins who was appointed a Bertie County constable in February 1777 [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, IV:212]. His family was associated with the Henry Bunch family of Bertie County. He was probably related to Lucy Collins, head of a Bertie County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [NC:36].
Hyde County, North Carolina
1.Cate Collings, born say 1744, was called an "Indian Woman" servant of William Gibbs when she was summoned by the March 1765 Hyde County court [Minutes II:113]. Perhaps her descendants were
i. Susannah, born before 1776, head of a Hyde County household of 2 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:248].
ii. Charity, born 1794-1806, head of a Hyde County household of 6 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:246].
iii. Horatio, a "free man of color" who had "taken up with" a slave named Winney, property of Henry Lucas, in Hyde County on 1 April 1843 [CR 053.928.2].
iv. Nancy, a "free woman of color" who had "taken up with" a slave named Ellick, property of Ananias Sadler, in Hyde County on 1 October 1842 [CR 053.928.2].
South Carolina
Those who were counted as "other free" in South Carolina were
i. Cary, head of a South Orangeburg District, South Carolina household of 6 "other free" in 1790.
ii. Reason, head of a Fairfield District household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [SC:606].
An unrelated South Carolina family:
1.Robert Collins, born say 1720, was a white plantation owner in St. Thomas and Dennis Parish, Charleston District. He left a will which left 545 acres to his African-American wife Susannah Collins and their children: Nelly, Esther, Rachel, Charlotte, Rebecca, Gasham, Elias, Robert, and Jonathan Collins [Koger, Black Slaveowners, 119-121]. His children were
i. Nelly.
ii. Esther.
iii. Rachel.
iv. Charlotte.
v. Rebecca.
vi. Gasham.
vii. Elias, married Elizabeth Holman. He was head of a Winyan County household of 5 "other free" and 68 slaves in 1800 [SC:760] and 6 "other free" and 16 slaves in Georgetown in 1810 [SC:219].
viii. Robert2, married Margaret Holman. He was head of a St. Dennis Parish, Berkeley County household of 2 "other free" and 10 slaves in 1810 [SC:442].
ix. Jonathan, head of a St. Dennis, Berkeley County household of 1 "other free" and 2 slaves in 1810 [SC:442].