Gamaliel Collins Jr.
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Gamaliel Collins Jr. (1742 - 1786)

Gamaliel Collins Jr.
Born in Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 11 Feb 1768 in Truro, Barnstable, Massachusettsmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 43 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 11 Sep 2010
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Biography

Son of Gamaliel born in Truro before 1751 and was baptized there November 3, 1751. He married Rachel Rich, of an old Truro family. Their two oldest children were born and baptized in Truro but about 1774 he removed to Hardwick, Massachusetts, where the rest of the children were born. He was a master mariner at Truro, and "the first adventurer in whale fisheries at Falkland Island." His home at Hardwick was in the southwesterly part of the town. He died at Plymouth, apparently on a return voyage, as his will dated March 27, 1786, proved June 13, 1786, mentions among his children his youngest son, born the previous Sept., "that was not named when I left home." Capt. Collins was a member of the committee of safety and correspondence in 1776, and selectman in 1778; his descendants are eligible to the societies of Sons and Daughters of the Revolution.

Gamaliel Collins was born on 15 Oct 1742 in Truro, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, as the first child of Gamaliel Collins and Sarah Dyer. He had seven siblings, namely: Elizabeth, Jonathan, James, Ebenezer, Benjamin, Sarah, and Jesse. He died on 01 Apr 1786 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. When he was 24, he married Rachel Rich, daughter of Samuel Rich and Bethia Arey, on 11 Feb 1767 in Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts. Rachel died after 1810, she is living alone in the Hardwick 1810 federal census, death and burial documents have not been found.

Gamaliel was baptized in Truro, Massachusetts. Little is written of his early years, but it was most likely spent in the fishing and whaling industry on Cape Cod, based on the fact that he was a ship master in 1774.

Gamaliel Collins, mariner, bought a farm in South West corner of Hardwick, Mass on the 23 August, 1773 from Stephen Fay for 400 pounds . The 200-acre farm included a house that was built around 1750 and still stands on what is now called Collins Rd. The farm land extended from Collins Rd to the western edge of what is now called Hardwick pond. His family moved to Hardwick in the 1773-1774 time frame.

In 1774, Capt. Gamaliel went on a Whaling Voyage to Falkland Islands, documents state that “Gamaliel Collins was a shipmaster and the “first adventurer in whale fisheries at Falkland Islands” “ . A newspaper account from 1774, states that another ship had contact with Capt Collins, master of the Brig Montague on Aug 28 1774 at Lat 39, 18, Long 68 ,53 on its way to Boston from the Falkland Islands. Capt Collins stated that his ship had been out for 5 months, his people were in great distress with the scurvy, but they had met with great success . A 5-month voyage means they had left port around the end of April 1774. On Sept 26, 1774 the Capt Collins and the Brig Montague was laying in Plymouth, “with most of her loading alongside” getting ready for sail to London England. The newspaper advertises for freight or passage to London, and states “good accommodations for passengers”.

In 1776 Gamaliel Collins was elected to the Committee of Correspondence for Hardwick. Tax on Gamaliel Collins farm in 1776 was 11 shillings 9 pence, which put him approximately the top 10% of the town . In 1778 Gamaliel Collins was a selectman in Hardwick .

After the revolutionary war, pole and property tax greatly increased which led to Shay’s Rebellion. The high taxes may have led Gamaliel Collins to go back to sea.

In 1786 Gamaliel Collins had been on a voyage to Jamaica (ship unknown) “where he was attacked by a fever, which after he had struggled with it for several months, finally put a period to his life”. The newspaper went on to say “It is not necessary to say anything more of the character of Capt. Collins, to those who were not acquainted with him, than that he was skillful and eminent in his profession, as a ship-master, and ever discharged the duties of his station with great fidelity, integrity and honor. But his particular acquaintance, and those with whom he has been connected in business, best know his worth, and cannot but lament the loss of so worthy and so valuable a character – We sincerely condole with his bereaved family at Hardwick, and wish them every possible consolation, under so severe a providence. -The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate – but just”.


Gamaliel Collins is buried at Burial Hill Cemetery (lot L 34) in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States of America. His will was dated March 27, 1786, proved Jun 13,1786, mentions among his children his youngest son, born the previous Sept., “that was not named when I left home”

Gamaliel Collins and Rachel Rich had the following children:

1. Jonah Stevens Collins was born on 27 Sep 1769 in Truro, Massachusetts. He died on 22 Nov 1840 in Genesee, Michigan, USA. 2. Rachal Collins was born on 17 Nov 1770 in Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. She died on 28 Jan 1847 in Enfield, Hampshire, MA. She married Elisha Newcomb on 23 Feb 1790 in Hardwick, Worchester, Massachusetts. 3. Jerusha Collins was born on 27 Jul 1772 in Truro, Barnstable, MA. She died before 1778 in Truro, Barnstable, MA. 4. Gamaliel Collins was born on 20 Feb 1776 in Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 28 Sep 1825 in Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. He married 1st, Patty Gilbert on 21 Jun 1798 in Hardwick, Massachusetts. He married 2nd, Betsey Billings on 29 Nov 1804 in Hardwick, Massachusetts. He married 3rd, Ann Snow on 25 Jan 1806 in Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts. 5. Ebenezer Collins was born on 02 Mar 1777 in Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. He died in 1813 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He married Polly Gilbert on 28 Sep 1800 in Hardwick, Massachusetts. He married an unknown spouse on 30 Nov 1800 in South Hadley, Massachusetts. 6. Jerusha Collins was born on 05 Aug 1778 in Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. She died on 22 Mar 1825 in ware, Hamden, Massachusetts. She married Judah Marsh on 20 Feb 1800 in Hardwick, Massachusetts. 7. Priscilla Collins was born on 24 Apr 1780 in Hardwick, Worcester, MA. She died on 14 Sep 1835 in Bridport, Vermont, USA. She married John Wicker on 15 Nov 1803 in Hardwick, Massachusetts. 8. Aquilla Collins was born on 29 Jan 1782 in Hardwick, Massachusetts. He died in 1860 in Jamestown, Grant, Wisconsin, USA. He married Mercy Smith on 18 Oct 1807 in Hardwick, Worchester, Massachusetts. 9. James Collins was born on 01 Sep 1785 in Hardwick, Worcester, MA.


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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Gamaliel by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Gamaliel:

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Categories: Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts