David Collins (1750 - 1832)

Born 1750 in Grayson County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Thompsey (Posting) Collins — married 1 Oct 1772 in Rowan, Province of North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1832 at about age 82 in Morgan County, Indiana

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sarah Johnson [send private message]

Biography

Birth

1750, Montgomery County (now Grayson Co.), Colony of Virginia

Death

1820, Knox County, Kentucky

Note

Notes from Sarah Johnson: There is no proof and the information on his parents is estimated and sketchy at best. David lived in Virgina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Indiana. Many are claiming David to be of Saponi Indian bloodline, if this is true where did the bloodline come from? Which ancester?

His father's will of 27 December 1749, probated in Bertie County, on 18 March 1752: "I give to my two Sons, John and David Collins , each of them a Bible."

Other sources have his death as 1823, Knox County, Kentucky There were apparently three other girls born: - Baby Girl Collins, b. Abt. 1776. - Baby Girl Collins, b. Abt. 1777. - Baby Girl Collins, b. Abt. 1778.

^[1] David Collins (1750) married Thompsey Posting in 1770 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He is found in the 1790 Wilkes County, North Carolina census. This is an area just south of Henry County, Virginia. By 1790, David had most of his children except Isaiah (1791) and Hiram (1794). He also had several daughters. By 1800, David Collins and his family disappear. In 1804, they are located in Grainger County, Tennessee. Since the 1800 and 1810 census for Tennessee are extant, tax records in Grainger County, Tennessee show they were there for less than seven years because Aaron's (1772) oldest son, David (1799), was born in North Carolina and David's (1799) two oldest sons were born in Tennessee.

By 1807, David Collins (1750) and his family were in Knox County, Kentucky. Actually, they had just gone through the Cumberland Gap into a part of what is now Bell County, Kentucky. This area is just south of Middlesboro on Collins Creek. Most of the Collins remained there until 1822 when movement began northward to Morgan County, Indiana. David's brother, William, had passed through Knox County, Kentucky, on his way to Indiana where he drew his war pension and was probably awarded a land bounty in the new Indiana territory. William probably enticed David (1750) and his family to move to Indiana, since the area was virgin territory full of running streams and hollows. It is interesting to note that the Collins family, for the most part, preferred hilly country in every area they settled. David and his wife died before 1830, as well as William. A "Mary", who is believed to be the wife of William Collins, was found in the 1830 Morgan County, Indiana census. An interesting history of Morgan County, Indiana, contains several pages on the Collins family. One remark is about the fact that there were so many "Davids" that each was given a nickname, such as "Cacklin" Dave. By 1837, the Collins' families began their move to the eastern part of Taney County, Missouri (which is now eastern Ozark and Douglas Counties) on the North Fork River of White River. This migration was mostly completed by 1840 when 22 families with children are found in the 1840 Taney County, Missouri, and Izard County, Arkansas census. The reason for their move from Indiana was reportedly due to a two year drought. However, according to history, the Panic of 1837 occurred, which was a "big depression" and involved a shortage of currency (there was no money in circulation requiring bartering as a means of exchange). It is also likely that land was much cheaper in the fairly new state of Missouri, especially in the unsettled areas where they chose to settle.

^[2] David Collins is found in the 1790 Wilkes Co, N.C. census. By 1800 David and his family disappear but they are located in Grainger Co, Tenn., going by the Tax Records they were there for less than seven years because Aaron born in 1773, oldest son David, born in 1799, was born in N.C. And his next two oldest sons were born in Tenn. By 1807, David Collins and his family were in Knox Co, Kentucky. Most of the Collins remained there until 1822 when movement began northward to Morgan Co, Indiana. David's brother William probably enticed David and his family to move to Indiana. A book "The Pioneers of Morgan County, Indiana" has several pages on the Collins, joking that there were so many David's that they had to give them all a nickname such as "Cacklin Dave", (not sure which one this refers to). By 1833 the Collins family began there move to Taney Co, Missouri. (which is now eastern Ozark), Howell and Douglas Counties. David is believed to have had more than one brother whose names were William, Soloman and probably Aaron. His brother William was a Revolutionary War Veteran and probably received a Land Bounty because of his Veteran Status for land in Indian Territory.

Recent DNA testing has shown that some members of the family share the Y-DNA haplogroup R1A1 or R1A (HG3). Haplogroup R1A is believed to have originated in the Eurasian Steppes north of the Black and Caspian Seas. This lineage is believed to have originated in a population of the Kurgan culture, known for the domestication of the horse (approximately 3000 B.C.E.). These people were also believed to be the first speakers of the Indo-European language group. This lineage is currently found in central and western Asia, India, and in Slavic populations of Eastern Europe.

^[3] Bride: Thompsey Posting Groom: David Collins Bond Date: 01 Oct 1772 County: Rowan Record #: 01 071 Bondsman: Henry Zevely; Alex Brown Bond #: 000123723 Marriage Application or Bond for David Collins and Thompsey Posting: Know all men by these presents that we David Collins and Henry Zively(?) are held and firmly bound unto our sovreign Lord the King & his Successors (?) in the Sum of five hundred pounds Proc. money for the True and faithful payment of which we bind our Selves our and each of our heirs Executors & Administrators jointly & Severally firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals and delivered this 1st day of October Anno Dom. 1772.

The condition of the above Obligation is Such; that Whereas the above Bounden David Collins has the day and date of these Presents, Obtained a License to be Joined in Matrimony with Thompsey Posting now if there should not (?) at any time appear any ---------- any Lawful Cause why the said David Collins & Thompson Posting should not be Joined together in holy Matrimony agreeable to the Laws Respecting that institution Then this Oblig. to be Void Otherwise to Remain in full force and Virtue.

Signed: David his mark Collins Seal Henry Zively(?) Seal Aba Brown Seal

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, ROWAN COUNTY. I, Louella M. Goodman, Deputy Register of deeds for Rowan County, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of Marriage License recorded in this office in Book 20, Page 1943 Witness my hand and Official Seal, the 7th day of Sept. 1990. Signed: Jean K. Ramsy (?) By: Louella M. Goodman, ASST. / DEPUTY REGISTER OF DEEDS

^[4]DAVID COLLINS 1750 TIMELINE, compiled by Scott Preston Collins, (with sources added July 2017 by Anne Ogle-Leonard)

1771: Botetourt County, VA Delinquent Tax List; {.Indian Lands, outside the line marking the western boundary of Virginia Colony}; David Collins

1772: Rowan County, NC marries October 1st to Thompson Posting/Thompsey Poston

1772/1773: Fincastle County, VA Delinquent Tax List, David Collens (Indian lands)

1773: John Montgomerys List David Collens (Indian Lands)

1773: Botetourt County, VA Delinquent Tax List; David Collins (Indian Lands?)

1774: Montgomery County, VA, Captain Herberts Company, David Collins (present Carroll and Grayson County areas of VA)

1776: Montgomery County, Christiansburg, VA, signed entry list for Rev. War under Capt. James McDaniel who was under Osborn's Company, David Collins

1778: Wilkes County, N.C. Tax List (became Ashe): David Collins ^[5]

1780: Militia List -Montgomery County, VA; David Collins

1782: Montgomery County, VA; Personal Tax List: 1 tithe, 0 slaves, 4 horse, 9 cattle. ^[6]

1782: Montgomery County, VA; David Collins is on the List of Capt. James McDaniel's Company

1787: Montgomery County, VA Tax List; David Collins

1788: Montgomery County, VA Tax List; David Collins

1789: Botetourt County, VA Personal Tax List; June 16th, David Collings

1790: Wilkes County, N.C. Census; David Collins, head of household with 2 males under 16, 3 males over 16, 6 females, all free persons; neighbor to Martha Collins. ^[7]

1791: Wythe County, VA 1793 Tax List David Collins 100 acres

1791 Elk Creek next to William Hill and David Collins 50 acres

1791 next to William Hill; [#379-9 July 1791 David Collins entered 100 acres on Elk Creek adjoining Wm Hill.]

1791: DB, p . 42- 20 DEC 1791 George Reves was granted by N.C. 600 acres on New River adj. conditional line made between said Reeves and David Collins. On the 28th of Jan 1797 George Reeves of Grayson County sold this land, same description, mentioning the same David Collins.

1793: Wythe County, VA, 1793 Tax List (formed 1793 from the lower western part of Montgomery County, VA...1793 List for New River District); David Collins

1795: Wilkes County, N.C. Tax List District 8

1796: Wilkes County, N.C. Tax List District 4

1796, 27 December, Wilkes County, NC, 100 Acres, Grant No. 1476, Entered 3 Jun 1794, 'Begin two lines Hill's corner (on Elk Creek).^[8]

1796: Wilkes Co., NC, Dist 13 Lenoir Papers UNC Library; David Collins. 100 acres 1 poll

1796: Montgomery County, VA; Jan. 5th, David Collins buys 149 acres on Dry Fork of Elliott's Creek branch of the Roanoke River, bought from Isaiah Stevans for 50 pounds. ^[9]

1797: DB, D, pg. 412, 27 Dec 1797, N.C. granted David Collins 50 acres adj. Wm Hill

1800: Ashe County, N.C., Land Entries & Other Collins; David Collins

1801: Grainger County, TN; marriage bond surety for his son David Collins born 1774 and Mary Dodson

1802: Wilkes County, N.C. Nov. 8th 1802 Raleigh Register, and North Carolina Weekly Advertiser, Raleigh, N.C., October 5th,

1802: Issue 155, col. A, Wilkes County. "On Monday the 8th of November Next, There Will Be Expected to Sale, at the Courthouse in Wilkeborough Rich. Allen Shff. The following tracts of land, to satisfy the Taxes due for the Years 1798, 1799, 1800, and 1801: 100 acres given in by David Collins, sen., lying on the Waters of New River, for

1804: Grainger County, TN Tax List; David Collins

1806: Grainger County, TN Tax List; David Collins

1807: July 21st, Knox County, KY; David Collins, Sr. (1750)

1810: Knox County, KY Census; David Collins, Sr.(1750), Knox County, KY [Barbourville]

1820: Greasy Creek, KY (Knox County) Census

23 Oct 1821, David Collins was granted 50 acres in Knox County, Kentucky, along the 'Fk Stinking Cr'^[10]

1823: David Collins 1750 dies around 1823 in Knox County, KY and I have found no other record to indicate that Thompsey left Kentucky after Davids death or that David went to any other location prior to his death. The 1804 and 1806 Grainger County, TN tax lists do give some pause as we do not know for certain which David Collins these are referring to as it could either be David 1750 or his son David 1774.

Sources

1. ↑ West Plains Daily Quill, West Plains, Missouri, article about an upcoming Collins reunion, 05 Jun 1992.
2. ↑ West Plains Daily Quill, 19 June 1997. by Marvin Oakes
3. ↑ North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
4. ↑ :David Collins 1750 Timeline" Compilation by Scott Preston Collins [Tennessee, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895]
5. ↑ New River Notes website, maintained by Jeff Weaver and the Grayson County, Virginia, Heritage Foundation. Transcription of 1778 Tax List for Wilkes County, North Carolina. http://www.newrivernotes.com/historical_early_settlers_1778_northcarolina_18thcentury_newriversettlers.htm
6. ↑ New River Notes website, maintained by Jeff Weaver and the Grayson County, Virginia, Heritage Foundation. Transcription of 1782 Tax List for Montgomery County, North Carolina. http://www.newrivernotes.com/montgomery_enumerations_1782_personal_property_tax_list.htm
7. ↑ 1790 United States Federal Census for Wilkes, North Carolina, p. 161, image at Ancestry.com.
8. ↑ North Carolina, Land Grant Files, 1693-1960, image at Ancestry.com
9. ↑ "Annals of Southwest Virginia" by Summers, page 927
10. ↑ Kentucky Land Grants, 1782-1924, Book V, indexed at Ancestry.com.

• New River Notes website, maintained by Jeff Weaver and the Grayson County, Virginia, Heritage Foundation http://www.newrivernotes.com
• "North Carolina, Marriage Index, 1741-2004," database online, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8909/NCVR_M_C085_63008-0084/1609531 : accessed 13 Mar 2019), Rowen County, David Collins and Thompsey Posting, 1 Oct 1772; North Carolina State Archives, Reel 20, p. 1943.
• Source: Ted Collins at My Collins Research.

Acknowledgements

• Cathy Turnbull, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Cathy and others.