Judy, I do not know if I can help you with your direct line of Collins- Ontario, Canada. But, I have a family of Collins that came from Ireland with Peter Robinson in circa 1828 from a place called Armagh, Ireland and settled in Ops township in Victoria Co, Ontario, Canada. They were the Arthur Collins Family. I was able to obtain this information from the Libaraian in Lindsay , Ontario she is a decendent of this family. I was able to add my information to it. so there is at least two sides of it, Arthur Collins married Briget Hartnett, they had a son named Thomas ( only child listed) married Briget Lehaneboth were born in Ireland, I do not have a birth for Thomas only death date 1840 and birth and death for Briget 1796-1890 she died in Emily Township, Ontario, Canada. They have five children Mary Arthur Patrick Ellen 1835-1913 Catherine 1838-1914 Both Ellen and Catherine Married into The Milloy Family also from Emily Township, Victoria Co. Ontario, Canada I have not information on any Collins moving to California. If you think any of this is similar to what you may know I will send it to you. Let me know what you think Penny Peak