Thanks to all of you for responses re: Mahala Collins. I've learned the following: 1. There were alot of Mahala Collinses, so the name is fairly common ; 2. Some of you report it was used among the Melungeons; some info on a famous Tenn. bootlegger named Mahala Collins Mullins is available at the following sites: <A HREF="http://pluto.clinch.edu/appalachia/melungeon/">A Melungeon HomePage: Welcome!</A> (provides photos of Mahala's homestead) and <A HREF="http://pluto.clinch.edu/appalachia/melungeon/mah_story.htm">A Melunge on HomePage: Folk Tales # 1</A> ( a folk tale about Mahala); 3. Some of you informed me that Mahala is an Indian name for "woman"; is it a Cherokee name? Just for the record, there were two Mahalas in my line: Mahala Houston (b.1793); m. John Collins, 1807; d. 1882, Milton , Fla. and Mahala J. Collins, (daughter of W.D.J. Collins and Permelia Dixon), b. 1859, probably in Alabama; m. Wm. Taylor in 1897. Thanks again for the interest shown and information shared. Beth Lazenby, Texas