John Collins Sr. (abt. 1690 - 1752)

Born about 1690 in Nansemond, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Dempsey) Collins — married 1720 in Bertie, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1752 at about age 62 in Bertie, North Carolina

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• Profile Represents John Collins born 1690, Nansemond, Virginia son of William Collins and Elizabeth Macktyer m Martha Dempsey

• This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources? Recent research availability has helped to solidify some of the mis-information; Researchers are encouraged to reverify (and add source) information; making adjustments to profiles as necessary.

No original source records have been located to confirm birth or marriage records. It appears that some erroneous information may have been published, and perhaps republished/reported, making the “actual facts” obscure. There is a great deal of conflicting information surrounding the Collins Family of Essex – Many Source-to-Source discrepancies; co-mingling, Lack of records; conflicting family stories; number of Collin’s with the same names, etc.

• Links are provided for reference and convenience only (and are considered unreliable /unproven unless sources are contained within).

Biography

John Collins, son of William Collins and Elizabeth Macktyer was born about 1690 in Nansemond, Virginia. The birth year of John Collins is an estimate based on a 1716 deed in Bertie County, NC. It is believed that John Collins married Martha DEMPSEY, daughter of John Dempsey and S. Hollyman]]) between 1706-1710. She is believed to be the mother of all of his children. John's will written in 1749 does call his wife by name, but his estate papers in 1752 name his wife as "Mary" indicating a nickname for Martha or a second marriage.^[1]

John wrote his will on 27 December 1749 in Bertie County, NC. His will states that some of his sons are underage and should receive their estate at age 18. He also names eight sons, then specifically re-lists six of them. John Collins' estate went to probate on 18 March 1752 in Bertie County. His death is estimated to have been in 1852.

John and Martha Collins are credited with ten children (all named in will except unidentified daughter Collins).

1. William, m. Margaret RHOADES, he died in Tyrrell County, NC in 1764.
2. John, may be the John Collins granted land in Washington County, GA in 1784.
3. David,
4. Joseph, m 3X
5. Michael, b. by 1729, he died in 1799 in Nash County, NC.
6. Dempsey, m Mary Langford (1730) d. 1805 or 1810 in Marion District, SC.
7. Jesse, was in Bertie County, NC in 1771.
8. Absalom was in Chowan County, NC by 1780.
9. daughter Collins - (Not in Will) m. George Keen
10. [[Collins-7015 |Martha Collins (1745) Martha T. Collins - 1m. Edward BRYANT; 2m. Humphrey HARDY; her will went to probate in 1812 in Bertie County, NC.

John Collins' Will

In the name of God, Amen, the 27 Day of Dissember, 1749, I, John Collins of Bartee County, in the Province of North Carolina, Being sick and weake in body, but of Perfect mind and memory, thanks be unto God, therefore calling unto mind the mortality of the Body, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye, do make and ordain this my last will and testement, that is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my sole into the hands of God that gave itt, and my Boddy I recommend to ye Earth to be bured in a decent christan Burell, at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate, warewith itt hath pleased God to bless me in this lifffe I give, demise and dispose of in the following manner and form:

Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my Son, William Collins, all that tract of land lying on Casshi River, a plantation purched of Jonathan Standlye containing two hundred Eakers, to him and his hears and asigns for ever, and a pare of Iron pot Racks.

Eitom. I give to my Granson, John Collins, a bras kitell, to him and his hears for ever.

Eitom. I give to my two Sons, John and David Collins, each of them a Bible.

Eitom, I give and bequeath unto my Son, Joseph Collins, a Plantation lying the north side of Guy hall Swamp, purtered of hardy Keele, containing one hundred and fifty Eakers at the beginnin, End to him and to his Ears and asigns for Ever, all so, I give him my Cooper Tools and two Ews and Lambs, an a Cow and Calfe.

Eitom. I give and bequeath unto my Son, Mikell Collins, my Surva that lys on Red bud containg three hundred Eakers, to him and his Ears for ever. Also, I give him a neagro Boy named Robin, and if my said Son should die without hears of his body, then I give the Neagro to my Son Jessee and to his Ears. all so, I give to Son Mikell a black Warnut table, and a Cow and Calfe and a puter dish, except two Days in weak for my Wife.

Eitom. I give and bequeath unto my Son, Demsee Collins, a plantation that henry Ballentin formerly lived on, parte of the tracte of land that I bote of Hardy Keele, lying on Gie hall Swamp by at the lower Ende of the said lane Contain one hundred and fifty Eakers to him and to his Ears and signs for ever.

Also, I give him an Ovel Table, mad of Maple. also, I give him Cow and Calf, and a puter dish, and a neagro man called toney, to him and his Ears for Ever, an in Case my said Sone should die before he hath anny lawfull Ears, then this Neagro I give to my Son Joseph, an to his Ears, two days every weak to worke for my Wife duering life.

Eitem. I give and beques to my Son, Jesse Collins, my Plantasion I now live on with three hundred Eakers of Land, to him an his Ears an asigns for Ever. Also, I give him a Case with fifteen botells, an feather Bed and furnetude, an two Cows an Calves, an puter dish to him and his Ears for Ever.

Eitem. I give and bequeth to my Son, Absolum Collins, two hundred and forty sever Eakers of land, part of the survaye that I now live on, beginning on the deep Branch an so runing to the head line, itt tis the Eastard side of my plantasion, and so to the patine line for breath. All so, I Give him a neagro garl, named Venus, and in case my said son should dye befor he Come to age of twenty one years, then I give this negro to my Son Jessee. I Give the first Child this negro girl bring, if itt live tell one yeare old to my Son Jessee. I all so give my son, absalom a feather bed and furnetude, an a Cow an Calfe, a bel, metell morter and pessel, and a puuter dish an my Sorell Mare.

Etem. I Give and bequeth to my well beloved Wife a fether Bed and furnetude, and my horse and hur Sadle, one Pott, two basens and dishes two, and a Chist to Shee and hur Ears for ever, and two days worke of my two neagro fellows du life.

Eitem. All the Remainder of my Estate within and without, that is after my Just debt is fully satefide and paide, I give to my Wife and six Sons, William, Joseph, mikell, Demsee, Jessee an absalom, to be Eacally devid among them all, and my Will and desier is that my Estat shall lie in the hands of my Executors tell the youngest come to the Eage Eighteen years, and not be be sold but to have thare Estate as they come to age of Eighteen years. I doe apint my well beloved Wife and my Sone Mikell to be, I Leave my whole and Sole Exectricks and Exector, and I do Reyke, disanull and disalow of all other Wills made by me or in my name, Ratefying and confirming this to be my lasy Will and testament.

In Witness whareof I have hereunto set my hand and Seale, interline before asined.

John Collins (L. S.)

Moses Hill

Jethro Rountree

Edenhouse, 18th March 1752.

This Day Moses Hill & Jethro Rountree, the two Sunscribing Evidences of the last Will & Testament ofJohn Collins, appeared before me & made Oath that they saw the Testator Sign, Seal & Deliver the same as and for His last Will & Testament, and that at the signing thereof He was of sound & disposing mand & memory. At the same time Michael Collins & Mary Collins, Executors appointed by the said Will qualified themselves as Executors by taking the Oath appointed by Law for that Purpose. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ https://sites.google.com/site/gilstrapandersongenealogy/home/paternal-gilstrap-lines/collins?pli=1
2. ↑ Bertie County North Carolina Will Abstracts Collins, John December 27 1749 ONLINE http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie/wills/wl9collins.txt

• John William Collins 1691 – 1 February 1752 • LRTD-VJQ