Levi and Nancy (Johnson) Collins lived in Logan,Boone, and Lincoln Counties of WV from 1840-1895. This article deals mainly with evidence about Levi’s parents. An article highlighting Levi’s and Nancy’s lives, and giving more of their descendants will be published in late 1989 in the History of Lincoln Counties of West Virginia According to family traditions ( Julis Collins Dotson , Spurlockville, WV) Levi was born a Mullins and raised by a Collins family, and he may have been part Cherokee.On the 1860 census of Boone Co. WV , his birthplace is given as Kentucky. Birthdates caluculate from the censuses are 1816-1815-1818 and 1815. Pike Co. Ky was formed from Floyd Co. in 1822. Court orders of Floyd Co. from 1810-1840 do not include any family binding out or other “adoptions” of a Mullins child by a Collins family. However, by matching roadwork court orders and a 1835 tax list to the census, some clues are turned up.On the 1835 tax list Levi and Archibald Collins are listed between James COOK and John CANTRELL. The only household having a “C” surname and listed between Cook and Cantrell on the 1830 census is that headed by AMY COLLINS.It includes one male Levi’s age(15-19) A June court order named several men who were to locate a road to pass around the farms of William Collins and Jack Mullins. By matching the named men to the 1830 census, it is apparent that William Collins farm was occupied by the Amy Collins household. Next door was the John Mullins Sr. household. Court orders from December 1829 and February 1833 also associates Archibald Collins with Amy Collins household. A Februry1823 court order associates John and William to this farm. NOTE: I believe Levi to be the last son of Meredith Collins and common law wife Milly Johnson. Per court order 1829 when Meredith and Milly had to show just cause why Merdy Johnson Collins should not be bound out. (Meredith Levi or Levi Meredith) Levi,Archibald,William and JOHN all children of Meredith Collins . Who is AMY? Amy could be one of the two unnamed daughters of Meredith.......possibly the widow of son Edward Collins who married a Amy or Anna Justice..........possibly the first wife of my JOHN that I have never been able to locate. Amy appears to be the head of household on the census of Pike Co. in 1830, Russell Co. Virginia in 1840, and back to Pike Co. in 1850, the latter yeilding her birthdate as 1796 and birthplace Virginia. William Collins, who owned the farm, was likely the William Collins known to be the son of Meredith b.1760 Va. a RevWar Vetran and d. in 1840-1 in Pike Co. KY. Meredith had two daughters, both names unknown. One daughter by second wife Polly HOLLOWAY was b. 1794-1800. Amy could have been her. He also had a son Archibald b. 1800 in Russell Co. Va.Meredith is also linked to Levi by name matches between Meredith’s and Levi’s sons, and by real estate transactions between Meredith’s son William and Levi. By matching the 1820 census (p37) with the 1830 census (p367-368) it appears that William Collins farm(Amy Collins household) was occupied by Harrison NEWSOME in 1820. In 1827Meredith Collins sold two 50 acre tracts to Harrison Newsome, one which included or was near the “Collins house” (deed book A p. 341-342, deed book A1, p. 1) Levi Collins and Nancy Johnson were married in Pike Co. on October 2, 1836. A roadwork court order can be interpreted to indicate that they lived with Meredith Collins September 1837. In October 1838 Meredith was declared a “poor person” and probably moved in with Richard P. Robinson. The last record left by Levi Collins in Pike Co. Ky is that 1837 court order NOTE: Does this mean that it was Levi Collins that had Meredith declared a poor man and a guardian appointed by the court? Levi’sfirst record in Logan Co. Va/WV is the 1840 census. Also appearing on the Logan co census for the first time was George Collins, whose “wife” was older than he. This was the same George Collins that lived near Meredith in 1830 Pike Co. KY, and who returned to Pike Co. KY in 1850, where his birthdate was revealed to be 1793 and his birthplace Virginia. His wife Elizabeth Right b. 1790 in Tennessee.