Who were the parents of Horatio N. Collins b. 1823 NY?

Question

A familysearch profile has Horatio Collins' parents being Sylvester Collins and Betsy Glasgow who were both born in NY and later moved to the same city in Michigan where Horatio lived. But other than that, there are several problems with the parentage claim. 

Biographies of a couple Sylvester and Betsy's sons enumerate the siblings with Horatio not being counted. Charles S. Collins is said to be the oldest child. Indeed, Horatio would have been born 9 years before they were married. 

Also from census records, Horatio had both of his parents being born in Connecticut, not New York. 

Can anyone locate birth records for Horatio?

Comments

Death record has a different date than on the profile and yet another birth place - Pennsylvania.  https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH24-JJ2

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Thanks Kerry, I saw that and believe that is likely to be the more reliable date. Although the record indicates 72 years, 8 mo. and 14 days for his age on Sun, 10 Mar 1895, which also changes his birthday to 24-26 Jun 1822. 

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If the original death date was taken from his headstone on FindAGrave, I'd definitely trust the death record you located over that.  That headstone seems quite modern and likely made years after his death.  

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Found multiple DNA matches having an Lucinda/Luranda Collins b. 1764 as an ancestor. Lucinda's father was https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KHZT-M6D

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Interesting since Cyprian was from Connecticut.  Unfortunately, he was born 100 years before Horatio.  That's a lot of branches to try to follow.  Ideally you'd find a closer match.  No other candidates have popped up on MyHeritage or Ancestry?  I really hate trying to do DNA matching on common names; I usually don't even  try because it just wastes so much time.

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Parents are indeed Sylvester Collins and Betsy Jane Glasgow. Have 3 DNA matches to ancestors of their documented daughters Ophelia S. Collins and 3 to ancestors of Sarah E. Collins.

Edit: Sylvester apparently a half brother.

Answer 1

I do see that the place of birth reflects Ohio on the following 2 Death Certificates (via Ancestry Sharable Links) for his son Eli & his daughter Mattie.

Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952:
https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/21730967?h=ae5602

Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952:
https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/21731103?h=405de2

I hope this was helpful in locating additional information... :-)

Good Luck!

~Brian Kerr

Comments

Thanks Brian. I tend to think that the first-hand reporting of Horatio's birth location would be more reliable, esp if it's been consistently reported during his lifetime (Age 27, NY; Age 37, NY; Age 46, NY; Age 57 NY). But, since we don't have his actual birth records yet, he could have actually been born in Ohio.  

I see there were several Collins families who moved from New York to both Michigan and Ohio during that same time period. Apparently word got out that there was good farmland in those areas.

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It was my pleasure to help you in some way... :-P

I've encountered individuals who had a few birth locations reflected on various records.

Sometimes I've even encountered stuff like a wrong name, various spellings, slightly different locations, etc... and ended up figuring out that it was because a majority of those are from other family members/informants who weren't sure or didn't know some specific details.

I'm not stating that this is the case for you, but just a little food for thought... :-)

~Brian Kerr

Answer 2

I just found the Will of Sylvester Collins and Betsey the wife mentioned, there was no Horatio mentioned in his Will written at the age of 81. Michigan

Sylvester 1806-1893 Betsey 1807-1896. Sons and daughters-George W, Norman R, Charles, Eli, Ophelia, Libbie, Esther

Can't find anything more at this time to locate more on Horatio--This is what I could find so far

https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/21735882?h=896395&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url

--Lori

Comments

Thanks Lori, Would you have a link for the will of Sylvester Collins?

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Sure Mike,

Sylvester Collins 1893

Page 1 

https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/21738295?h=e1097b&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url

Page 2

https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/21738306?h=8c1ffb&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url

Page 3

https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/21738313?h=7cdeaa&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url

Page 4

https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/21738321?h=cc1dd5&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url

Michigan, Wills and Probate Records, 1784-1980 

Probate Date	28 Dec 1893
Probate Place	Hillsdale, Michigan, USA
Inferred Death Year	Abt 1893
Inferred Death Place	Michigan, USA
Case Number	2442 Author: Michigan. Probate Court (Hillsdale County); Probate Place: Hillsdale, Michigan Original data:Michigan County, District and Probate Courts. ---Lori