Collins Family Mysteries

I have more information to add but want to see if I can get people to see this first.

After weeks of research I have discovered the following:

• Amos Collins

a) He is the father of Sarah (Collins) Stephenson is listed in the Quaker books as the son of Benjamin and Mary Collins!! I think this is now the Parents/Grandparents!! Nothing more is given on them besides their names unfortunately. b) His will lists children Isaac, Amos (who needs to be cared for), Elizabeth (Collins) Brewer, Sarah (Collins) Stephenson, Anne (Collins) Broom. This further solidifies the tie to Sarah who is mentioned in the 2 wills. Also I think it precludes him from being the father of the 3 Grandchildren who I do not know who their parents are otherwise he would have mentioned them because they were all 3 still alive at the time.

• Isaac Collins (married twice to widows with children)

a) He was listed as the son of Benjamin and Mary Collins!! Further link to these 2 but again no further information on them. b) He was located geographically close to his sister Elizabeth Collins in Deptford so I believe he has to be the brother as the only other Isaac I run across in the area is the famous printer whose family is well documented. c) His wife's first will mentions Isaac and the children of her first marriage but another telling point is that she lists her "friend" Edmund Brewer one of the administrators. I believe this to be the same Edmund Brewer who married Amos Collins' daughter Elizabeth!! d) Note - at this time after plentiful searches I can not find his will in 1826, however I see an index to it I am unable to tie/figure out where the document is?

Mary Collins born unknown and died April 11, 1816 left this will (abstract form):

1815, Apr. 1. Collins, Mary, of Evesham Twsp., Burlington Co., singlewoman; will of. To Mary Stratton*, $100, bed and bedding, 6 pewter plates, 6 teaspoons. To Sibil Shinn, $100, bed and bedding, looking glass, china set, 6 tablespoons. To Barzillai Collins, $100 and large Bible. To Jesse Collins, $50. To Sarah Sepenson (I believe this should be Stephenson), $50. To Mercey Collins, case of drawers. To Sarah Stackhouse. quilt, bedding and pine table. Brother, Jonathan Collins, $50. To Daniel B. Stratton*, silver watch. To Elisha Collins, chest. "Two sisters, and Mary Stratton* and Sibil Shinn, my clothing equally among the four." Rest of personal estate to be divided between Mary Stratton*, Barzillai Collins, Sibil Shinn. Executors cousins, Caleb Stratton*, Barzillai Collins. Witnesses John R. Sleeper, Lydia Sleeper. Proved Apr. 26, 1816. (*All part of the Family of Caleb and Mary Strattan and their son Daniel B. Strattan)

What we learn from this will: 1) Mary (Collins) Strattan is a cousin based on this: a) Caleb Strattan is mentioned as a cousin and it appears this Mary has never married so it must be in reference to Caleb's wife Mary being a cousin. b) Daniel B. Strattan is the son of Caleb and Mary Strattan our direct ancestor who receives something which further cements the connection here. 2) Mary Collin's immediate family is identified as such: a) Jonathan Collins is a brother. This must be another Jonathan then the one who is a brother to her aunt Elizabeth Collins? b) Mary has 2 sisters but Mary Strattan and Sybil Shinn are not one of them. c) Since she mentions Barzilla as a cousin we know that Edward and Jane Collins are not her parents as I have traced him to those parents. I think we now are learning a bit more about her Aunt Jane! d) Since she mentions Caleb/Mary Strattan as a cousin we know they cannot share the same parents. 3) Barzilla Collins is a cousin who I found as a son of Jane Collins (who was married to another Collins and would be Mary's Aunt per Elizabeth Collins will). 4) Sarah Stackhouse who is a niece to Elizabeth is mentioned again here unrelated in context but we know from the other will she is either a sister or a cousin. Since Mary doesn't mention sister directly I am assuming she is a cousin, but that could be wrong and Sarah could be one of the sisters? 5) Other possible relations are: a) Sybil Shinn who is also mentioned in Elizabeth Collins will. b) Jesse Collins - do not know who he is so far. c) Sarah Sepenson who I believe is Sarah Stephenson who I located as the daughter of Amos Collins. Amos has children with similar names to the family so I believe him to be an uncle to this Mary Collins but he is dead by this date. Note that Sarah only gets $50 like her brother Jonathan, so she could possibly be considered in his generation maybe and possibly one of the sisters maybe? d) Mercey Collins (I believe this is the daughter of Jonathan Collins her Uncle) e) Elisha Collins - do not know who she/he is

So in summary the Collins family now looks like: Unknown Collins parents

• Elizabeth Collins born 1743 - 1817 (unmarried no children)
• Jane Collins ? - 1817+ (married to an Edward Johnston Collins) had a son Barzillai Collins (cousin to above Mary)
• Jonathan Collins 1762(came from family tree so not sure on accuracy)? - 1817+ (I now believe married to Mary Coles) had a daughter Elizabeth Collins and Mercy Collins (who married a Jesse Leonard in 1817)
• Isaac Collins (I believe I found him, he is not the famous printer Isaac Collins of the area but another Isaac Collins) 1742 - 1826 had 2 wives but no children identified in records so far. First married to the widow Sarah (Collins) Bates who already had several children by John Bates. Second married to widow Keziah (Kinsey) Chew who also had several children before the marriage. It is my thought that he did not have children.
• Amos Collins (I think we can tie him now as a sibling to the above) 1745? - 1812. He is the father of Sarah (Collins) Stevenson.

Grandchildren unassigned to a parent so far: Mary Collins and her 2 sisters and brother Jonathan Collins Mary (Collins) Strattan Sarah (Collins) Stackhouse

Elizabeth Collins born 1743 in location unknown died February 4, 1817. She left a will which stated:

Will of Elizabeth Collins I Elizabeth Collins of the township of Deptford, in the county Gloucester, in the state of New Jersey, single woman, being weak and much indisposed of in body, but of sound disposing mind and memory do this twenty sixth day of the eighth month (called August) in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen 1816 make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say First I order all my just debts, and funeral charges to be paid by my herein after named executor Second I give and bequeath unto Sibyl Shinn daughter of John Collins deceased, my case of drawers Thirdly I give and bequeath unto Sarah Stackhouse my niece my set of china now in her care Fourthly I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Collins daughter of Jonathan Collins my bed and bedding Fifthly I give and bequeath unto my sister Jane Collins and Mary Strattan my niece all my wearing apparel to be divided between them share and share alike Sixthly the remainder of my property I order it to be divided into 5 equal parts and 2 of the five parts thereof I give and bequeath unto my brother Isaac Collins and 2 of the said five parts I give and bequeath unto my brother Jonathan Collins and the last and fifth part I give and bequeath unto my sister Jane Collins And lastly I nominate, constitute and appoint my dear brother Jonathan Collins executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I thee aforesaid Elizabeth Collins have hear unto set my hand and seal dated the same day and year first above written. Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared by the said Elizabeth Collins, as and for her last will and testament in the presence us witness present Elizabeth Collins, Mark Jennings, Stephen Sims

Furthermore the court documents after the will stated:

Stephen Sims one of the subscribing witnesses to the written will being duly affirmed according to law upon his solemn affirmation saiths that he saw Elizabeth Collins the testator therein named, signed and sealed the same that he heard her publish, pronounce and declare the within writing to be his last will and testaments and at the doing thereof the said testatrix was of sound and disposing mind and memory as far as this affirmant knows, and as he verily believes and that Mark Jennings the other subscribing evidence was present at the same time and signed his name thereto as a witness to the said will together with this affirmants in the presence of the said testatrix.

Affirmed, subscribed at Woodbury the 28th day of February AD 1817 before Jacob Glover, Stephen Sims

Jonathan Collins sole executor in the within will named being duly affirmed according to law upon his solemn affirmation saith that the within testament contains the true last will and testaments of Elizabeth Collins the testatrix therein named. So far as he knows and as he verily believes that he will and truly perform the same by paying first the debts said deceased and then the legacies therein specified so as the goods, chattels and credits of said deceased can thereunto enter and that he will make and exhibit a true and perfect inventory of all singular the goods, chattels, credits paid deceased as have or shall hereafter come to his hands and possession or to the possession of any other person or known for his use (hard to make out?) Affirmed Subscribed February 28, 1817 Jacob Glover, Jonathan Collins

Stephen Sims one of the appraisers of the within Inventory being duly affirmed according to law saith that the goods, chattels and credits in the within Inventory set down and specified were by him appraised according to this list and true Republic rates and values after the best of this affirmants shall and understanding and that John Bates the other appraiser whose name is thereunto subscribed was present at the same time and consents in all things to the doing thereof and that they appraised all things brought to their own for appraisements.

Jonathan Collins Executor of the last will and testament of Elizabeth Collins late of the County of Gloucester deceased being duly affirmed according to law upon his solemn affirmation saith that the within writing contains a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of said so far as have come to the knowledge and possession of this affirmant or to the possession of any other person or persons for his use. Affirmed and subscribed at Woodbury the 28th day of February in AD 1817 Jonathan Collins, Jacob Glover

A true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights and credits of Elizabeth Collins late of the County of Gloucester deceased, made by us whose names are hereunto subscribed the fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord 1817 Wearing apparel $26.50 Case of Drawers (crossed off) Cash ten dollars at Caleb Strattan $10.00 Note against Isaac Stephenson $100.00 Drawers $10 Table $1.00 Stand $11.00 Bed and bedding and same stand $25 Bedstead and Cord $1.00 Looking Glass $1 China $0.50 $1.50 $175 Appraised by us the day and year above written John Bates Stephen Sims

So what we can assume from this is:

What we learn from this will: 1) Mary (Collins) Strattan is a niece of this Elizabeth Collins. This means her father or mother would be a sibling of Elizabeth Collins. I believe this to be my ancestor Mary Strattan because: a) Mary was living in New Jersey at that time. b) Mary's husband Caleb Strattan is mentioned getting $10. 2) Sarah Stackhouse (presumably a Collins maiden name) is a niece of Elizabeth so her father or mother must be a sibling to Elizabeth Collins. I believe I have located her as the Sarah Collins who married Henry Stackhouse in 1806 the son of Samuel Stackhouse. Unfortunately I am unable to determine who her father is at this time. 3) She has the following siblings who are: a) Jane Collins still alive on 8/26/1816 b) Jonathan Collins still alive on 2/28/1817 c) Isaac Collins still alive on 8/26/1816 4) Her brother Jonathan has a daughter Elizabeth Collins who is unmarried as of 8/26/1817 5) Other possible relations but not mentioned specifically if they are are: a) Sybil Shinn daughter of John Collins. So if related that would make John Collins a sibling to Elizabeth. b) Mark Jennings is a witness c) Stephen Sims is a witness d) Jacob Glover was probably the Judge and unrelated I think e) Stephen Bates is an appraiser and could be related? Probably not related? f) John Bates is actually on the appraisal - he is probably the John Bates married to Abigail Strattan and son of John Bates and Sarah Collins. This Sarah Collins seems to be along another Collins line though? g) Isaac Stephenson has a note against him. He is the husband of Sarah Collins who is a daughter of Amos Collins

So in Summary Unknown Father and Mother Collins with children Elizabeth Collins Jonathan Collins Isaac Collins Jane Collins and grandchildren Mary (Collins) Strattan Sarah (Collins) Stackhouse