Greetings Fellow Researchers, I am new to this list and thought I would introduce myself. My name is Brenda Collins Dillon. I live in Massachusetts far away from my Appalachian beginnings. I have been doing family history for over 25 years and have placed most of my information along with other researchers on a web site for all to use for their personal use( no collecting materials for profit). My site is "Appalachian Mountain Families" which has hundreds of surnames but a special interest in the COLLINS Clan, Native American, and Melungeon Research. URL is http://members.xoom.com/Appalachian/index.htm ( all lower case but the A) My earliest COLLINS is Meredith Collins b. 1760 Virginia. At age 16 he joined the REVWAR along with three other Collins men, George,David,and Lewis Collins. They entered in Fincastle Co 1776 ( I believe in 1776 Fincastle took in what is today Grayson & part of Washigton Co.) I discovered this record in Christianburg ,Va. These four Collins men stayed close together from 1776-1796 when they all surface on the Wilkes Co. tax list. They also served durning the 1780's in the Montgomery Co. militia under osburn & Cox. These men show up on tax list and census list as mullato and FPC ( free person of Color) After years of research we developed what we call a COLLINS TIMELINE that shows these men with other Collins always living in the same locations. We believe the four we are interested in are the grandsons of Old Thomas Collins who had sons, Thomas Jr, John, Samuel, George, Benjamin, and Charles. They are in the Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes County area durning the 1780's & 90's. Meredith Collins had a first family in NC. His first wife is unknown but could be Bradley related since his first son b. 1786 was named Bradley COLLINS Meredith is spelled a variety of ways( Meredith, Merdy, Meridia, Meriday, Maryadh, Merridah ) Rumor has him related to the well known Melungeon Vardy Collins of Newman's Ridge TN. Meredith moved into Russell Co. Va, then Pike Co. Ky. He had a second family w/ Polly HOLLOWAY and after her death ( 1812) he took a common law wife, Milly JOHNSON. He died in Pike Co. KY 1841.Ch. Bradley, John W, Edward, Archibald, Reuben, James, William, Merdy and 2 unnamed daughters.( possibley Lucinda and Amy Collins) I would love to find the name of first wife and pinpoint where they were living. Also his parentage. If anybody has anything in their research of deeds, land grands, wills, in this area that tie into these Collins I would very much appreciate the help. Brenda Collins Dillon........aka Bj