If you go to this link and scroll down to picosearch and type in Collins a number of pages will come up. http://www.historical-melungeons.com/index.html Particlularly interesting are the articles by Dromgoole There is, perhaps, no more satisfactory method of illustrating this peculiar race, it's origin and blood, than by the familiar tree. Old Vardy Collins, then, must be regarded as the body, or main stem, in this state, at all events. It is only of very late years the Melungeons have been classed as families. Originally they were tribes, afterward clans and at last families. From Old Vardy the first tribe took it's first name Collins. Others who followed Vardy took the Collins name also. Old Benjamin Collins, one of the pioneers, was older than Vardy, but came to Tennessee a trifle later. He had quite a large family of children, among them Edmond, Mileyton, Marler, Harry, Andrew, Zeke, Jordon. From Jordan Collins descended Calloway Collins who is still living today and from whom I obtained some valuable information. But.....go back a step. Benjamin Collins was known as old Ben, and became the head of the Ben's tribe. Old Solomon Collins was the head of Sol's tribe. The race was increasing so rapidly, by emigration and otherwise, that it became necessary to adopt other names than Collins. They fell ,curiously enough, upon the first or Christian name of the head of a large family connection or tribe. Emigrants arriving attached themselves as they chose to the several tribes. After a while, with an eye to brevity, doubtless, the word "tribe" was dropped from ordinary, everyday use. The "Bens" the "Sols" meant the Ben and Sols Tribes. It appeared that no tribe was ever called for Old Vary, although as long as he lived he was recognized as head and leader of the entire people. http://www.historical-melungeons.com/wad.html -----Original Message----- From: Donna B <kydjcb@yahoo.com> To: collins <collins@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wed, Sep 14, 2011 4:30 pm Subject: Re: [COLLINS] Melungeon Does anyone have information on the Benjamin line? Donna ---- Original Message ----- rom: "kyroots@aol.com" <kyroots@aol.com> o: collins@rootsweb.com c: ent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 12:10 PM ubject: Re: [COLLINS] Melungeon here are a number of Collins families that appear to have been 'called' elungeon at one time or another. DNA has shown most of them appear to be nrelated as far as Collins but possibly belonging to same Native Tribes at one oint. There is no proof that I have found to date that shows any of these ollins families 'mated' with slaves, were freed, runaway, etc. One line appears to descend from the line out of Louisa Co., Va., to Orange o., Wilkes, Rowan, NC and then to East Tennessee. Another line which may be onsidered Melungeon are the Thomas and George found in the 1794 petition in eorgetown, or Marion Co., SC. They may be the same Collins family found in ilson Co., or Bells Bend, Tenn. Another line appears to be Benjamin Collins, unrelated to the Virginia Collins ine that also appears in East Tennessee. If you scroll down this page to PICOSEARCH and type in Collins there is a lot of nfo ttp://www.historical-melungeons.com/index.html Joanne ----Original Message----- rom: rtcollins <rtcollins@cox.net> o: Collins List <Collins-L@rootsweb.com> ent: Wed, Sep 14, 2011 1:13 am ubject: [COLLINS] Melungeon have a question I was wondering if anyone has an answer to. After doing much search I am still confused about which lines are considered Melungeon and ich lines are not. Are the descendants of Vardy the only Melungeons or are all e Collins that came from Virginia in the 1700's, through North Carolina nsidered Melungeons as well? 've also seen lists by Paul Heineg with Collins from North Carolina listed as latto and am wondering if these are the same Collins from Virginia. hanks for any clarification. SURE YOU CHECK ALL OF YOUR SUBJECTS ----------------------------- unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to COLLINS-request@rootsweb.com ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of e message BE SURE YOU CHECK ALL OF YOUR SUBJECTS ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to COLLINS-request@rootsweb.com ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of he message E SURE YOU CHECK ALL OF YOUR SUBJECTS ------------------------------ o unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to COLLINS-request@rootsweb.com ith the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of he message

Hi,   I'm looking for information on my Grandfather William Lyle Collins, he served in the Rainbow Division of WWI and also his uncle's family, Michael Collins.  I have information on Michael but would like information on the rest of his family.  I also would like to correspond with anyone related to this Collins line.   Thanks! Kathleen Romanovich