Thanks Rhonda and fellow researchers. I really appreciate the help. These Collins are a real mystery. As Rodney said they probably didn't want to be found. From what I do have on them I realize they were a mixed bloodline. Meredith, and his first son Bradley, were listed as "Mullato" and "fpc" on 1810 & 1820 records of Floyd Co. Ky. On the 1820 record Millie Johnson and their son is listed as "slaves" . I have not found any of the other children listed as such but oral family histrory says they were "Indian" , supposely from one of the SE Colonial tribes. Archibald was a "tanner of leather goods" William was blacksmith/silversmith/who operated a gristmill on Tug Fork along with his brother John W. and William Jr. In going backward to 1797 I find Meredith listed in Wilkes Co. NC on land adjoining Vardy Collins. Always felt there was a connection between the two but no proof. I have communicated for a long time with Jack Goins and agree with him that Meredith and Vardy were kin , probably first cousins, grandsons of old Thomas Collins of Flatt River. http://www.angelfire.com/wv2/dillon1944/old_thomas_collins.htm Brenda Collins Dillon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rhonda Robertson" <rsr@mounet.com> To: <VAWISE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 7:43 AM Subject: [VAWISE] Early Wise County > Brenda, > > Even though Wise County was not formed until 1856...it's first known > settlement was prior to 1790 when John English was living in what is present > day St. Paul. From that point on in the early Surveyor and Entry records > for Russell, then Lee, then Scott you find entries for numerous individuals > who were living within the bounds of present day Wise County. Even though > their births, deaths and listings on census and tax lists indicate the above > named counties they were actually within the bounds of Wise County and when > Wise was formed actually had not moved an inch from their orginal > settlements. > > I'm going to the Historical Society tonight and will check on this info for > you. Nancy Brown and Rochelle Robinson are going to a couple of Collins > cemeteries, by the way they lived on the Indian Creek and Birchfield > sections near Pound and we'll let you know if they find anything. > > Rhonda > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brenda Dillon" <bj04@mediaone.net> > To: <VAWISE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 7:30 AM > Subject: Re: [VAWISE] Jonathan Hayes > > > > Rhonda, > > Something you said in the listed posting made me stop and think. Meredith > > Collins was found on Russell Co. tax list as early as 1799 to 1809. He > then > > removed to Floyd Co. which later became Pike Co. Kentucky. > > > > Now...what you said " Even though John is listed in Russell Co., VA he > was > > probably living in the > > > same vicinity when it became Wise County." > > > > I have never in all my years of searching been able to find any record of > > this family other than the occasional tax list or census. No deeds, no > > marriage bonds, no birth records of his children. I have to admit that I > > have not really paid much attention to Wise County as he supposely left > > Russell Co. for Floyd Co. Is it possible I have been searching the wrong > > location? > > > > Would appreciate any info found on the following family: > > Meredith born 1760 Va ( RevWar 1776 Fincastle Co.) > > Mary "Polly" Holloway Collins born abt 1765-70 > > Bradley Collins born 1787 > > female Collins born bef 1795 (could be Amy/Anna) > > John W. Collins born 1797 > > Edward Collins born 1799 > > *Archibald Collins born 1800 > > *James Collins Born 1802 > > *female Collins > > *Reuben Collins > > *William Collins born 1806 > > > > * all supposely born Russell Co. Va. > > > > "Polly " Holloway Collins is a brickwall. She disappears off any records > > about 1812 and by 1815 Meredith is living with Millie Johnson and their > son > > Levi Merdy Johnson-Collins. Millie is listed in Pike Co. records as his > > common law wife. > > > > Would appreciate any information if any exsists. Have a good day. > > > > Brenda Collins Dillon > > http://www.angelfire.com/wv2/dillon1944/ > > > > > > >

I'm curious about these "mixed bloodlines". Does that mean African...Indian...European?? Is Mulatto the same as Melungeon?? I have an article from a few years ago (from our local paper, Hampton Roads VA) about the "mystery of the *dark people* (Melungeon) of VA, NC and TN : ~~"The earliest French explorers in the 1690's encountered them, like apparitions, among the virgin hills of western NC...dark-skinned, black-haired farmers with decidedly European features. In broken Elizabethan English, they identified themselves as *Portyghee*.~~ It goes on to mention places like Newman's Ridge, Hancock Co TN...Coeburn Mountain VA...Wise Co and so on. But the article doesn't really clear up *WHO* they were and/or *WHERE* they truly were from. These people often listed as *slaves* or *person's of color* in records. We believe that (at least some of ) my husband's maternal family (Ellison, Branham, Meade...) descended from these people and I'm curious to find out more info! Erin McCleaf-Bolling mccleaf_bolling@hotmail.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brenda Dillon" <bj04@mediaone.net> To: <VAWISE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 9:02 AM Subject: Re: [VAWISE] Early Wise County > Thanks Rhonda and fellow researchers. I really appreciate the help. These > Collins are a real mystery. As Rodney said they probably didn't want to be > found. From what I do have on them I realize they were a mixed bloodline. > Meredith, and his first son Bradley, were listed as "Mullato" and "fpc" .........................

Erin, You pose a question that has facinated and perplexed historians for centuries. Many books have been written about the mystery and varying opinions (often strongly held ones) are presented. Dr. Brent Kennedy formerly with UVa. Wise has done extensive research and written at least a couple of books on the topic that are facinating. He has also visited the region from which many of the melungeons may have originated, participated in medical and genetic studies (he himself is a melungeon), etc. I would recommend one of them to you. A short answer, that many people hold as at least partially true is as follows: 1586 - Sir Francis Drake sets off several hundred Turkish and other Muslim sailors (on Roanoke Island.) that he had freed from the jails of the Spanish settlement at Cartegena in the Caribean) ( The original Melungeons) 1587 - The English over-run the Spanish settlement of Santa Elena (Beaufort, S.Car.) Many Iberian settlers (Portuguese and Spanish) are abandoned or otherwise cut off and left to survive in the wilderness. ( The second major source of Melungeons) The only fact that is know for certain is that they were/are here and obviously came from somewhere. Hope this helps (a little) Danny Dixon

Thank you, Danny, for your insight (Rdvsc@aol.com too!). Dr. Kennedy was mentioned in the article I have...I'll have to check out his books. It's all very interesting to me. I've been working on my own genealogy for a while now, and being from Gettysburg, most discussions tend to lead back to that battle. It's nice to read about something different (and mysterious) for a change!! Erin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Danny Dixon" <danny@mounet.com> To: <VAWISE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 3:01 PM Subject: Re: [VAWISE] Mixed bloodlines (was Early Wise County) > Erin, > > You pose a question that has facinated and perplexed historians for > centuries. Many books have been written about the mystery and varying > opinions (often strongly held ones) are presented. Dr. Brent Kennedy > formerly with UVa. Wise has done extensive research and written at least a > couple of books on the topic that are facinating. He has also visited the > region from which many of the melungeons may have originated, participated > in medical and genetic studies (he himself is a melungeon), etc. I would > recommend one of them to you. A short answer, that many people hold as at > least partially true is as follows: > > 1586 - Sir Francis Drake sets off several hundred Turkish and other Muslim > sailors (on Roanoke Island.) that he had freed from the jails of the Spanish > settlement at Cartegena in the Caribean) ( The original Melungeons) > > 1587 - The English over-run the Spanish settlement of Santa Elena (Beaufort, > S.Car.) Many Iberian settlers (Portuguese and Spanish) are abandoned or > otherwise cut off and left to survive in the wilderness. ( The second major > source of Melungeons) > > The only fact that is know for certain is that they were/are here and > obviously came from somewhere. > > Hope this helps (a little) > > Danny Dixon

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

For more information on Melungeons, find and buy a copy of the book "The Melungeons" by N. Brent Kennedy. I have a copy and it is very interesting. Many may disagree with his theories but it is thoroughly written. David Attride