• Index to Families and Genealogies

Collins of Isle of Wight, King & Queen & Spotsylvania Counties, Virginia; Granville County, North Carolina, Kershaw & Lancaster Counties, South Carolina; & Amite County, Mississippi

William Collins came to Virginia in 1635 at the age of 23 years, landing on May 15th in the ship Plain Joan, with Richard Beckam, Master. "Having brought attestations at their confirmation to the orders and disciple of the Church of England." He settled on 561 acres of land in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. In 1691, he and Tim Corners had 620 acres in King and Queen County, Virginia (10 October 1691), where he was listed as a merchant. His wife was Anna Wilds, the widow of Thomas Wilds. The record shows that one, Ann Collins, widow, married (third marriage) Alex Murre or Merry. Issue: John Collins married either Eleanor Oliver, daughter of John Oliver, or the daughter of Amy Wyatt. Issue:

• Joseph Collins married Catherine Robinson or Robertson, indicated by land transfers from Robinson to Joseph.[1] His LWT dated 3 May 1748 in King and Queen County, Virginia. [2]He resided in Essex County, Virginia 1718/1728 where his brother, William Collins, resided in 1751. Joseph and Catherine had at least four sons. Issue:
  1. Captain Joseph Collins, born ca 1687, died 1757 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, married Susannah Lewis. Captain Joseph Collins, Gentleman, was commissioned to be a Lieutenant of a troop of horse under Captain Joseph Hawkins in the Virginia Colonial Militia. He took the oath on 6 December 1713.[3] Upon his oath dated 6 November 1750 he was commissioned to be Captain of a company of foot. His LWT dated 1 March 1757 in Spotsylvania County, recorded in Will Book B, page 329. Susannah Collins, the wife of Joseph, died in 1757.[4] Issue:[5]

     1. John Collins married Ann Cook, the daughter of Thomas Cook.
     2. James Collins married Elizabeth.[6]
     3. William Collins married Elizabeth Bashaw, the daughter of Peter and Mary Bashaw of Westmoreland County, Virginia. The marriage occurred before 1751 proven by dower, William Collins and wife, Elizabeth Bashaw Collins, sold 200 acres of land in Prince George Parish on 1 October 1751. His LWT dated July 1791, probated 29 February 1792 in Camden District, South Carolina, planter, "of Liberty Hill " in Lancaster County. Issue:

     1. Caty Collins married John Cayden.
     2. Reuben Collins, Revolutionary War Soldier, was born ca 1760, died 6 October 1830 in Kershaw County, South Carolina. Wife, Monica. His war record is on file with the Historical Commission in Columbua, South Carolina. After the war, he was Captain in the South Carolina Militia. [7] Issue:[8]

        1. name illegible, born 27 July 1783.
        2. Elizabeth Collins, born 27 July 1783.
        3. Susanner Collins, born 16 December 178-
        4. Jesse Collins, born 16 December 1790.
        5. Lewis Collins, born 18 January 1793.
        6. Bartlet Collins, born 3 January 1795.
        7. Jonathan Collins, born 8 July 1797.
        8. Thomas Collins, born 22 June 1802.

     3. Elizabeth Collins.
     4. William Collins.
     5. Nancy Collins.
     6. Bashaw Collins.
     7. Thomas Collins.
     8. Sarah Collins.

  2. Thomas Collins married Susannah Davis Bartlet, whose grandfather was Susanna Wyatt. They removed from Virginia to Kershaw County, South Carolina.
  3. Lewis Collins, born ca 1723 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, removed to Granville County, North Carolina.[9] He married Elizabeth. He died in Liberty Hill, South Carolina. His LWT was probated 1785 in Granville County. [10] The LWT of his wife, Elizabeth Collins, was probated on 10 April 1804 in Kershaw County, South Carolina.[11] Issue:[12]

     1. Edward Collins, his estate was administered 19 October 1829 in Liberty, Amite County, Mississippi. He married (1) Elizabeth Lee, the daughter of Robert Lee. The estate of Elizabeth Lee Collins was settled on 15 May 1811 in Amite County.[13] He married (2) Jane Terrell (born 10 January 1770 in North Carolina, died 1849 Liberty, Amite County, Mississippi), the daughter of Micajah Terrell and his wife, Hannah (Goodman) Terrell. After the death of Edward Collins, she married Edward Howard. Issue:[14]

        1. Wilie Collins, born ca 1772 in Lancaster County, South Carolina married Elizabeth Perry.
        2. son, born ca 1774.
        3. Lois Collins married John A. Martin.
        4. Elizabeth Collins married James Scott, Marriage Bond dated 31 March 1813.
        5. Polly L. Collins married Cadesbey Gayden.
        6. Frances Collins married 29 November 1818 Zachias Rembert.
        7. Emily Collins, born 1787 in Lancaster County, South Carolina married 28 November 1809 Samuel Scott.
        8. Diana Collins married 17 January 1810 Samuel Terrell.

     2. Betsey Collins married William Robinson.
     3. Lewis Collins.
     4. Wiley Collins.
     5. Diannah Collins married (1) Lemuel Perry (2) Mr. Carter.
     6. Lois Collins married 4 December 1782 George Gayden.

  4. Ann Collins married John Wisdom.
  5. Mary Collins married John Brockland and removed to Granville County, North Carolina.
  6. Tabitha Collins married (1) Henry Gatewood (2) John Holliday of North Carolina.
  7. Caty Collins married Mr. Glass.
  8. Drusilla Collins married William Cook, the son of Thomas Cook and removed to Kershaw County, South Carolina.
  9. Susannah Collins married William Golson.
• William Collins of Essex County married Elizabeth Thomas. His LWT dated 3 June 1751, probated 12 September 1752 in Spotsylvania County, St. George’s Parish, Spotsylvania County Will Book B (1749-59). Executors: Wife, Elizabeth, and brother, Joseph. Legacy went to wife, Elizabeth, his brother (Joseph Collins), Thomas Collins, Jr., William Collins, Richard Collins and Joyce Collins. Guardians bond of Benjamin Glaze. Joseph Collins was made guardian of Joyce Collins, the orphan of Thomas Collins, deceased on 2 April 1754; also made guardian of Thomas and William Collins., Issue:

  1. Joyce Collins (not 21 in 1752).
  2. Thomas Collins.
  3. Richard Collins.[15]

• John Collins. Issue: Edmund Collins.
• Thomas Collins of King and Queen County, Virginia. His LWT dated 3 January 1748 mentioned his father, John Collins and his brothers, John and Joseph Collins; also his nephew, Edmund, the son of his brother, John Colliins. Issue: George Collins.
• William Collins of Essex County, Virginia.

Sources:

[1] In 1741, John Robertson transferred 400 acres to Joseph Collins, and 1744, 200 acres to William Collins. These transfers are all to son-in-law Collins and his children. William Collins transferred his 300 acres to James Haley whose wife was then Beliah and presumably the daughter of William Collins. James Haley is shown as having a wife, Susannah (believed to be Brockman) in 1749 when he transferred 126 acres in Orange County to Samuel Brockman.

[2] Fleets Abstracts of King and Queen County, Virginia, page 39 and 176: "Ordered that summons be issued for William Collins of Essex, and George Collins of King and Queen County to cause them to appear at the next court held for his county to declare whether or not they will execute the Last Will and Testament of Joseph Collins, deceased. 3 May 1748."

[3] W. A. Croziers Virginia County, Spotsylvania County Records, page 515, Order Book 1749-1755, page 100.

[4] Gholson Family by Mrs. Margaret Scruggs Carruth, Dallas, Texas (1950) states that Susannah Collins was a close relative of Zachary Lewis I and Zachary Lewis II and Waller Lewis who was a son of Zachary Lewis II, was born 1 January 1702 and married Mary Waller in 1725. Zachary Lewis I came to Virginia in 1692, had two sons, John and Zachary Lewis; also had daughters. "Susannah Collins would have been about the right age to be the daughter of Zachary Lewis I." On 6 January 1768 Susannah Collins signed over her personal estate to her children, having already signed over her real estate to her children prior to 13 November 1760, at which time William, Thomas and Lewis, sold to their brother, John, all the interest which they expected to have in the real estate of their father, Joseph Collins, upon the death of their mother, Susannah. This deed was witnessed by Lewis, Sr. and Jr. and Waller Lewis, et al.

[5] Orange County, Virginia Family by W. E. Brockman.

[6] Spotsylvania County Deed Book E (1751-61), 8 January 1759. Deed of James Collins of North Carolina, the eldest son and heir of Joseph Collins, late of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, to Thomas Collins, land for 20 pounds.

[7] The LWT of Reuben Collins was signed on 8 October 1830, probated 18 December 1830 in Camden District, Kershaw County, South Carolina. "My estate to my beloved daughter, Elizabeth Sanders who is executrix." Witnesses: John Cantey, Isham Powell, Wylie Malone.

[8] Family Bible owned by Newton L. Collins, P. O. Box 843, Monterey, CA [9] Granville County, North Carolina Deed Book D, page 209. 12 February 1761. William Searcy of Orange County, North Carolina to Lewis Collins of Granville County for 20 pds., 264 acres on both sides of Great Island Creek. Deed Book E, page 212-213. 1 December 1760, land was granted to Lewis Collins, 339 acres in Granville County.

[10] LWT of Lewis Collins, Will Book 1, page 436, Granville County, North Carolina.

[11] The LWT of Elizabeth Collins, 1796:4/10/1804, Kershaw County, South Carolina, named: Edward, Lewis, Lois Gayden as her children. Grandchildren: Jackey Perry, son of Lamud Pery, deceased; Betsy Gayden, daughter of George Gayden. Youngest son: Wylie Collins.

[12] Orange County, Virginia Families, Vol. II, by W. E. Brockman.

[13] Orphans Court, Amite County, Mississippi by Albert E. Casey, pp. 10, 369, 403, 433. Jacky Perry was appointed administrator of the Estate of Elizabeth Collins on 15 April 1811. Elizabeth, late of Kershaw County, South Carolina Orphans Court, Estate of Edward Collins 19 October 1829. Administrators: James Scott, Jr., David Lea and John Collins.

[14] Personal records of Mrs. Benjamin O. Robertson, 5885 No. 4 Mile Run Drive, Arlington, Virginia (1958).

[15] Spotsylvania County, Virginia Deed Book E (1751-61. Richard Collins of King and Queen County, Virginia to Joy Collins. William and Thomas Collins, in compliance with the LWT of Thomas Collins, decd.