Below is a bio from the History of Delaware by Scharf. Theophilus was a son of John Collins, Governor of Delaware. (Not my line though.) Captain John Collins purchased "Collins Forge" on Gravelly branch (Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex County) from Seth Griffith and William E Hitch on April 17, 1794 He soon after erected a mill and built a forge near Coverdale's Crossroads and bought other land adjoining. In 1798, he was in possession of 1465 acres of good land and 1168 acres of swamp and 14 slaves. He died in 1804 and his property was divided - 350 acres of land and 250 acres of swamp, mill pond and 1/3 of mill to John Collins, Esq., afterwards governor. 696 acres of land to Sarah Collins his widow. 300 acres of upland and 167 acres of swamp, and 1/3 of his mill to his son Robert Collins. 137 acres of land and 100 acres of swamp to the heirs of his daughter Nancy Polk. About 1812, John Collins, Esq. built a charcoal forge. Collins was elected governor in 1821 and died in April 1822. The forge passed to his son, Theophilus, who continued it until 1850 and then abandoned the forge. He continued the grist mill until his death. This was sold a few years ago by John Collins, son of Theophilus to William Downing of Delmar. (History of Delaware, Scharf, Vol II, p. 1300) Frank --- Rose Lowther <[email protected]> wrote: > According to the research posted on the internet, > Theophilus Collins and > Mary Ann Elliot were married 17 June 1839. They had > at least two sons: > > William Turpin Collins (16 June 1845 - 31 Jan 1882) > John Meshack Collins (18 June 1853 - ??) > > The couple is listed as being of Baltimore, > Maryland, and also from > Sussex, Delaware. > > I'm looking for descendants of William and John for > the Collins DNA > study. > > > Thanks, > Rose Collins Lowther > > > ==== COLLINS Mailing List ==== > Need list assistance? Please contact: Barbara V. > Byrd at: [email protected] > List Admin for COLLINS-L and COLLINS-D > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com