Have you considered they might have been Melungeons? Collins is one of their most common surnames. I've gathered from my reading that there was a lot of prejudice against them some places in the south once the Census began classifying them as "free persons of color." I know there are persons on this group better qualified than I to address the issue with regard to counties of origin, etc. Hal Amick At 08:11 AM 2/9/98 -0700, Ruth A. Collins wrote: >I was born in Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky. The older >relatives back there were very secretive about our heritage... before >they passed away. They would say "leave the dead rest in peace" or "if >you find what you are looking for, you won't be happy with what you >find". >