Edward Collins Sr. (abt. 1728 - abt. 1818)

Born about 1728 in Spotsylvania County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (Jones) Collins — married 1750 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1818 at about age 90 in Orange County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Edward Collins son of Susannah (Cook) and John Collins, Sr.

Birth Estimate 1728 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Alternate surname spellings found include Collins, Cullins, Collings.

Edward Collins married about 1745 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia Jane Jones, daughter of Mary and James Jones ^[1] See section on Property Records and Family Relationships in profile of father in law James Jones.

Children c1747-1782

1. John Collins
2. James Collins, m: first Sarah Harvie and [Burton-2230|Lucy Burton]] 26 Aug 1793 in Orange County, Virginia
3. Edward Collins, Jr. (1757-1814) m: Ann Collins 24 May 1781 in Orange County, Virginia and Eleanor Fairbern about 1790 in Rockingham County, Virginia
4. Richard T. Collins
5. Mordicai Collins m: Susannah Robertson 6 Nov 1790 Louisa County, Virginia
6. Lewis Dillard Collins m Elizabeth Williams 24 Dec 1792 in Orange County, Virginia
7. Jane Collins {1771-1814) m James Crask in 1796, son of John Crask Sr 1729–1785 and Sarah Martha Marks 1743–1792
8. Mary Collins m:John Landrum 7 Feb 1794 in Orange Co Virginia
9. [Collins-14481|Elizabeth Collins]] m. Richard Robertson 23 Sep 1799 in Orange County, Virginia

Timeline

In 1757 he was a security for Joseph's Will. (Joseph who? can you link him?)

He made his last Will on 02 Aug 1814.

On 24 Aug 1818 his Will was in the probate court of Orange County, Virginia, USA. ^[2]

Will

In the name of God amen, I, Edward Collins of the county of Orange, being weak in body but sound mind and memory, am declaring that I wish to make this my last Will and testament revoking all other before made. First, I recommend my body to the dust ... and my soul to God that gave it and the estate that I have pleased him ... I give and bequeath in the following manner ... Item: I give my son, John, my negro woman, Irene (difficult to read), and her increase from this time to him and his heirs.

Item: I give to my 'son, James, my negro woman named Sarah and one girl child named Fanny, to be equally divided at his death between all his children by his second wife together with the increase of the said negro.

Item: I give to my son Edward's children which he had by his last wife my negro man Charles to be sold and the money equally divided.

Item: I give to my son Richard T. Collins, my negro man Larkin, to be divided among his children.

Item: I give to my son Mordicai, my negro man named Peter, to him and his heirs.

item: I give to my son Lewis D. Collins, my negro man named Daniel to him and his heirs.

Item: I give to my daughter Jane Crask, my negro woman Meill (Nell?), together with her increase during her life, and at her death the said negro and her children to be sold and the money fully divided among all her children.

Item: I give my daughter 'Mary Landrum, my negro Nancy and her increase during her life, and at her death the said negro and her increase to be sold and the money fairly divided among all her children.

Item: I give to my daughter Elizabeth Robertson, my negro woman named Shortob (hard to read) together with her increase to her and her heirs.

Item: I give to my beloved wife, Jane Collins, all the balance of my estate real and personal during her life and at her death my will is it be sold for acuait of twelve month and the money arsing therefrom to be divided among all my aforementioned legatees in the same manner that I have given them their present legacies.

I constitute and appoint my son, Lewis D. Collins and my friend Thomas Ellis and George Morris, my exors to execute this my last Will and testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of August 1814.

Signature and seal: Edward Collins

Witnesses: Charles Flanagan, Mary Carter, Icabod Mallery.

Proved at a court held in the county of Orange 24 August 1818. ^[3]

Applys to son Edward ...

1822 Inventory and appraisal of the property belonging to the estate of Edward Collins, deceased, 1st Sep 1822.... etc. ...appraisers returned to court 27 August 1838 ... the proceeds of the said were devised to Edward Collins children by his last wife and which have paid to them ... etc. ... (copy of original on file)

Some people get confused with the term last wife. The same as 'I have a Ford now but my last car was a Buick'. In this case, it means the wife of his son Edward before his present wife Eleanor, which is Ann. In his Will, Edward refers to James's children by his second wife ^[4]

Timeline

1751/10/01 John Robinson gave land to his grandson, William Collins. Later William Collins of South Farnham Parish, Essex County, Virginia sold for 5 shillings curr., 200 acres of land in St.George Parish (part of a tract granted John Robinson) to James Haley of St.Thomas Parish, Orange County, Virginia with witnesses: Edward Collins, Lewis Collins, John (X) Collins. Elizabeth, wife of William Collins acknowledged her dower, etc.

1752 Anthony and Amy Garnett of Spotsylvania County, Virginia to Edward Collins, planter, 200 acres. Witnesses: Nicholas Jones, Lancelot Warren, Wm. Howard.

1753 Edward was witness to Will of Elizabeth Allen.

1759 John Clayton, Jr. to Wm. Gholston, 250 acres part in Spotsylvania County and part in Orange County, Virginia. Witnesses: Wm. Robinson, Edward Herndon, Jr., John Robertson, and Edward Collins.

1763 Edward Collins witnessed a deed of gift from Wm. Hutcheson and Ruth, to their son, John Hutcheson, Jr.

1764 John and Ann Pitts to Paul McClary. Witnesses: Edward and John Collins, Wm. Nelson.

1764+ Edward Collins also served as a witness on several other deeds between 1764 and the years that followed - too numerous to list.

1787 Edward Collins was executor for Will of his brother-in-law, Benjamin Davis.

1794 Edward Collins was guardian to children of Benjamin Davis, viz: James, Lewis, Benjamin, Elijah, Richard, and Acy. Security: Edward Herndon, Jr.

1814 Will of Edward Collins named the following children: sons John, James, Edward, Richard T., Mordecai, Lewis D. and daughters Mary Landrum and Elizabeth Robertson; ... to my beloved wife, Jane Collins, all the balance of my estate; ... appoint son Lewis D. Collins and friends Thomas Ellis and George Morris to execute this my last Will and testament; ... this 2nd day of August 1814. (signature) Edward Collins; Witnesses: Charles Flanagan, Mary Carter, Ichabod Mallory.

1818/08/24 At a court held ... Lewis D. Collins with Yelverton Cowherd and Thomas Woolfork, his securities. George Morris with Wm. T. Burrus and Joseph Clark, his securities.

1822/09/01 Inventory and appraisal of the property belonging to the estate of Edward Collins, deceased; value: $5043 with $860 outstanding; executor: Lewis D. Collins; appraisers: Richard Rawlings, Claibourn Graves, Wm. Stevens: returned to court: 25 Nov 1822; estate of Edward Collins, deceased, to Lewis D. Collins and George Morris, executors; $909 amount of sale of Charles, the proceeds of the sale of whom were devised to Edward Collins' children by his last wife and which have paid to them.

1838/08/27 At court held (in margin: account settled ... allowed five percent commission ... due each legatee $807.74.

Research Notes

Son of Susannah (Cook) and John Collins had previously shown WikiTree grandparents as Joseph Collins, Sr. and Catherine Robertson. This has been revised to show the line from Edward to John Collins, and John's father is recorded as Joseph Collins who married Susannah Lewis. [Edward son of John is named in Joseph's Will]

William Robertson is the supposed son of Joseph Robertson (Uncle of Edward) ... any proof that he may be another son of Edward Jones? or spouse Elizabeth Bashaw (daughter of Peter Bashaw and Mary Warner) ?

John and his wife appeared to have had at least five sons, Henry, Edward, John, Richard, and Francis. ^[5] All ended up in Jefferson County, Tennessee, USA. -- Inaccurate - sons Henry and Francis presumed to be sons of

"John Collins had settled on land in the vicinity of Moorefield, before 1748". ^[6] In the Diary of George Washington, he stated that he had spent the night with John Collins on 09 April 1748, and as John Collins was a cousin of Washington through the Lewis family, this would not have been so unusual.

Indenture on 06 Oct 1778 between John Butler and his wife Ann ... 206 acres on branch called Laurence's Lick ... near line of John Collins and Edward Collins ... ^[7] [likely sons John (A632) and Edward].

Sources

1. ↑ Will Abstract p32 Spotsylvania County Records 1721-1800; Will book E p 203; for James Jones which named daughter, Jane Collings
2. ↑ Orange County, Virginia Wills citing Will Book#5 p253-4 for Will of Edward Collins, Sr. which named 9 children; dated: 02 Aug 1814; proved: 24 Aug 1818 Orange County, Virginia; Executors: son Lewis D. Collins and my friend Thomas Ellis and George Morris
3. ↑ Orange County, Virginia Wills & Probate citing Will Book#5 pages 253-254 for Will of Edward Collins, Sr., dated: 02 Aug 1814; probated: 24 Aug 1818
4. ↑ Will Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia 1821-1838; by Sparacio p6, 143
5. ↑ "History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley" by J. E. Norris, p63 refers to John Collins.
6. ↑ "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" v11 p227
7. ↑ Orange County, Virginia Deed book#17 p88-91

• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR4X-VY9), Lewis Dillard Collins and Elizabeth Williams 24 Dec 1792 in Orange, Virginia
• Elizabeth Collins and Richard Robertson married 23 Sep 1799 in Orange County in Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800
• Virginia Marriages 1785-1940 database, provided by FamilySearch for Mary Collins, father Edward Collins married John Landrum, m: 7 Feb 1794 in Orange Co VA, FHL Film 33031, ref ID P34
• Spotsylvania County Records
• "Collins Book" by Richard A. Prewitt; most complete sourced and consolidated info located for early Collins families (vs Isle of Wright) Thomas (b: 1707) p4 #A62, son of #A6
• Sourced descendants report for John Collins b 1569 in Maidston, Kent County England
• Will of Edward Collins posted by Gene Johnson on 07 Feb 2012 on ancestry.com
• Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 on ancestry.com citing "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia" 1745-1800 by Lyman Chalkley; with extractions from the Original Court Records of Augusta County; Genealogical Publishing Company of Baltimore, MD
• Virginia County Records by William Armstrong Crozier & Southern Book Company pub 1955; Will abstracts; land; marriages, etc.
• Southern Campaign Transcriptions by Will Graves with Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters]
• Geni family tree for Pedigree of Barack Obama to Mary (Collins) Landrum
• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR4X-G7S : 29 January 2020), Jane Hollins in entry for James Crask, 1796. [Hollis vs Collina; 25 Apr
• James Crash and Jane Collins, 1796 in Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1700-1850 List of Marriages in Orange County contributed by W. W. Scott

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profiles Collins-1813 & Collins-1822 were created on 07 Aug 2011 by Dolores M. Pringle through the import of Gedcom ONE for WikiTree.ged