Collins of Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia

Daniel and Thomas Collins were in Frederick County, Maryland in 1757. Daniel Collins, Joseph Collins and Thomas Collins were both residents of York County, South Carolina before 1786 according to York County Records. York Minute Book A, page 86. John Fondren vs. Daniel Collins for Trespress. On motion of defendant’s attorney the plaintiff was non-suited. When the plaintiff failed to prosecute the case in the October Court of 1786, the action was re-instated.[1]

Captain John E. Collins, Revolutionary War Soldier[2], believed to be a son of Daniel Collins, was born 12/9/1760 in Frederick County, Maryland and died 3/8/1852 in Acworth. He was married to Phebe Sailors 1786 in Burke County, Georgia; both are buried in the Mars Hill Cemetery in Acworth. The pension application of John E. Collins is explicit in detailing his life. He was born in Frederick County, Maryland, but his family removed before the American Revolution to York County, South Carolina, then Camden District. He enlisted in the war at an early age against the wishes of his father. When the first term of three months ended, he variously substituted and re-enlisted throughout the war. After the war ended, he returned to his old neighborhood but soon thereafter removed to Georgia. He was in Georgia by 11/30/1786 when he married Phebe Sailors. No evidence has been discovered that John ever resided in Burke County, but the early records were burned. He was, however, found on the 1830-1850 Cobb County Census.

John E. Collins, soldier, drew in the 1832 Cherokee Land Lottery, Lots No. 223 and 224 in the 20th District (now Acworth, Cobb County), which land was granted to him in 1838. At the same time, his son, Felix Collins, drew land in Murray and Gilmer Counties. Issue:

• John Collins, Jr., born 1786/1787 in Georgia, married 3-5-1831 in Hall County Jincey Saxon. Jincey must be Nancy, born 1785 because in 1850 and 1860 Nancy and her son, Samuel, resided next door to the John E. Collins, Sr. farm. Samuel was born ca 1832 and his wife was Sarah, born 1832. In 1870, the wife of Samuel was Louisa, born 1842 and their daughter was M. J., aged 6 months. In 1880 Samuel and Louisa were residing in Oregon and Red Rock District of Cobb County. Issue:

  • Flora Collins, born 1864.
  • George Collins, born 1867.
  • Ella Collin, born 1871.
  • Homer Collins, born 1874.

• James Collins, born 1785 in South Carolina. Wife, Mary, born 1789 in South Carolina. Issue: Temperance C. E. Collins, born 1826. They must have had a son who died before 1850 because Priscilla Collins resided with them in 1850, viz:

  Priscilla B. Collins, born 1813. In 1880 Priscilla Collins was listed in Marietta, with her children, viz:

  • Amandy Collins, born 1840 Cobb County.
  • George Collins, born 1845 Cobb County.
  • Henry Collins, born 1857 Cobb County.
  • James Collins, born 1861 Cobb County.

• Benjamin F. Collins married Rachel Pennell 8/11/1832 in Hall County. 1840 GA?
• Sarah Collins, born ca 1805, married 11-18-1825 in Hall County, Granville Thompson.
• Charles Collins, born ca 1806 married Louisa Pennell 11-1-1826 Hall County. Where in 1830 and 1850?
• Felix Collins, born 5/13/1801 in Georgia, died 10/13/1873 in Acworth. Felix drew Lot No. 245 in the 25th District (1832 Cherokee Land Lottery) in Gilmer and Murray Counties, as follows: Felix left a life estate the farm of his father drawn from the Cherokee Land Lottery, being Lots 223 and 224 in the 20th district, second section of Cobb County to his nephews, James F. and Jessie E. Collins, sons of his brother, Daniel, in a deed dated 1873 in Cobb County. The wife of Felix Collins died before 1850. Issue:

  • Caty W. Collins, born 1827 in Georgia, married Singleton Chastain (born 1826). They were residing with Felix Collins in 1850. In 1860, the family was found in Sevier County, Arkansas. Issue: a. Mary E. Chastain, born 1851 Acworth, Cobb County. b. James E. Chastain, born 1854 Acworth, Cobb County. c. Joseph H. Chastain, born 1856 in Mississippi.
  • Martha (Peggy), born 1829 in South Carolina, married 1848 in Paulding County, James Singleton. In 1850, they were residents of Cobb County and James was called "Luke". In 1880 they resided in Gwinnett County. Issue:

    • James Singleton, born 1848 Cobb County.
    • John Singleton, born 1853.
    • Josephus Singleton, born 1855.
    • Georgia Singleton, born 1855.
    • William Singleton, born 1860.
    • Mary, born 1849 Cobb County.

  • Abram Collins, born 1833 in South Carolina, a laborer in Paulding County in 1850.
  • Humphrey Collins, born 1835 in South Carolina, resident of Paulding County. He was married to Elizabeth Bone in Paulding County.

• Elsey Collins, born 1/22/1802 in Georgia, died 10/11/1873 in Acworth, Buried Mars Hill Cemetery. She married (1) Mr. Williams and (2) Hardy Strickland (1/23/1804-8/11/1864). He died during the war and she and her small children went to reside on the family farm with her brother, Felix Collins. Issue:

  • Nancy Strickland, born 10/24/1830, died 5/9/1910, buried Mars Hill Cemetery.
  • Sarah E. Strickland, born 9/16/1840, died 11/19/1924, buried Mars Hill Cemetery.

• Daniel Collins was born 6/13/1813 in Georgia and died 8/8/1890 in Cobb County, buried in Mars Hill Cemetery. He married (1) Isabella (born 1826) who died before 1860 in Cobb County, buried Mars Hill Cemetery. He was married (2) to Mary Frances (born 1841), a young wife who bore him several children. Daniel was the executor of the estate of his father, John E. Collins in 1852. The farm apparently went to Daniel and his brother, Felix Collins, because Felix later deeded a life estate of the 360 acres of Land Lots 223 and 224 of the 20th District drawn in the Cherokee Land Lottery (Acworth) to his nephews, Jesse E. and James F. Collins, sons of Daniel. Issue by Isabella:

• George D. Collins, born 1847 in Acworth, Cobb County. Drugstore Clerk in Store in Acworth in 1880. Wife, Laura J., born 1851. Issue: a. Millie Collins, born 1871 Acworth. b. Emmett Collins, born 1873 Acworth.
• James F. Collins, born 1852 in Acworth, Cobb County. He was a merchant in Acworth but resided on the family farm with his father. Wife, Mary, born 1852. Issue:

  • Isabella Collins, born 1873 Acworth.
  • Idell Collins, born 1874 Acworth.
  • Felix Collins, born 1876 Acworth. (Named after his uncle Felix who left him the Collins Farm)
  • Daniel H. Collins, born 1877 Acworth. Wife, Sarah, born 1879. Residents of Acworth in 1930. Issue: Daniel B. Collins, born 1913 in Acworth.
  • Clifton Collins, born 1879 Acworth.

• John S. Collins, born 1855 in Acworth, Cobb County, merchant. Wife, Louls, born 1859. Issue by Mary Frances:
• Thomas D. Collins, born 1864 in Acworth, Cobb County.
• Hettie B. Collins, born 1864 in Acworth, Cobb County.
• Thomas F. Collins, born 1868 in Acworth, Cobb County.
• Jessie E. Collins, born 1869 in Acworth, Cobb County.
• Lena Collins, born 1874 in Acworth, Cobb County.

Willie Florence Collins


Humphrey Collins, Dallas City Cemetery, Dallas, Georgia


Humphrey Collins, Dallas City Cemetery, Dallas, Georgia


Captain John Collins, Revolutionary War Soldier. Mars Hill Cemetery, Acworth, Georgia.


Daniel Collins. Mars Hill Cemetery, Acworth, Georgia.


Isabella Collins. Mars Hill Cemetery, Acworth, Georgia.


Felix Collins. Mars Hill Cemetery, Acworth, Georgia.

Sources: 1850-1932 Cobb County Census; 1850-1860 Paulding County Census; Paulding and Hall County Marriages; York County, South Carolina Estate Records; Mars Hill Cemetery, Acworth; Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Paulding County.

[1] York County Minute Book A, page 17, April Term 1786. Ordered that Joseph Collins be appointed overseer of the road leading from the north line of Hugh Quinns in that part between north line and Buffaloe Creek. Joseph Collins to have power to pay out and cut said road the highest and best way from the North Carolina line to Mr. Quinns. Thomas Collins and Joseph Collins served on the 1790 and 1794 grand jurys. In 1790 Census, Thomas and Daniel Collins were listed in York County. This is the last record of Daniel.

[2] Revolutionar War Pension of John E. Collins

Comments: There is one surviving paltry paper on the estate of John Collins. Although Daniel Collins was referred to as an executor, I did not locate any reference to a will in Cobb Co. Will Book A or the Minute books.