Jamie: Thanks for the response. I don't think there's any connection with our lines yet. It all depends on my mystery man, John Collins, and who his parents and siblings were, none of which I know. He married Mahala Houston in 1807; they settled in NC. for a while, and went to Jefferson Co. Ga. by 1825. They had six children: James W. b. 1812 (no further info); Nancy A. b. 1817;d.1838; Mary Elizabeth, b.1820, d.1838; Jane E. , b.1821(?). d. 1838; ( all of the girls are said to have died in a flu epidemic, perhaps in Ga.) William D.J. b.1823 NC.; m.Permelia Dixon of Ala.; d. 1893, Milton, Fla.( his full name was William Decatur Josepheus Andrew Houston Collins; no wonder they called him W.D.J.) Spencer Houston Collins, b.1825, Jefferson Co.Ga., m. Mary L. Clements of Ala.; d. 1907, Milton,Fla. My Collins line seems to have migrated from NC to Ga to Ala to West Florida, where most of my Collins relatives still live , primarily in the Pensacola, Crestview, Milton areas. My dad came to Texas in the 1920's. Thanks for the Mahala info. Beth Lazenby, Texas