Penny, I have also heard this. Also from several book it said that the Melungeons were first living in Virginia as Indians and that they stole/took up the Collins name. Many of the Colonials couldn't pronouce the Indian names and encouraged them to take English names. Our family oral history speaks of such a name change. In the late 1600's to early 1700's there was a commissioner of Indian affairs that worked with Governor Spottswood who's name was John Collins. I believe this is where the Indian Collins /Melungeons took the name. Teaching in the Fort Christianna school was also a man by the name of Charles Griffin. I believe many borrowed his name as he was a man held in very high asteem and liked by the Indians. They usually took a name of somebody they looked up to. Orange Co. Virginia 1742 court case where 26 Saponi Indians were brought before the court and charged with stealing of hogs and setting the woods on fire. One of the 26 was John Collins and another Charles Griffin. Because the records say the origional Charles Griffin was a whiteman that was hired to teach the Indian children and the 26 were listed as Saponi I believe this proves the fact that these names had been adopted. NOW....this is not to say that the commissioner nor the teacher didn't take a Indian wife and these two named in the court case could have been their sons. {At a Court held for Orange County on 27 January 1742 [1743 NS]. Thursday, the xxviith day of January MDCCXLIII. p. 309: "Alexander Machartoon, John Bowling, Manincassa, Capt. Tom, Isaac, Harry, Blind Tom, Foolish Jack, Charles Griffin, John Collins, Little Jack, Indians being brought before the Court by precept under the hands & seals of Wm Russell & Edward Spencer, Gent, for terrifying one Lawrence Strother & on suspicion of stealing hoggs . . . ." pp. 309-312. The above put up security individually. It was ordered that their guns be taken from them till they are ready to depart out of this county, "they having declared their intentions to the Court to depart this colony within a week" (Orange Co., VA, Order Book 3, 1741-1743, 309). Orange Co., VA, Microfilm Reel 31, VA State Archives. } ----- Original Message ----- From: "Penny Ferguson" <pferguso@sun-spot.com> To: <VAWISE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 5:09 PM Subject: [VAWISE] Vardy Collins > I'm just jumping in here, but have heard Jack Goins say Vardy Collins was > named from his mother's maiden name > Vardiman, proven by a Vardimen descendant. Carroll Goyne. > Penny in KY > >