My Passage Through Time: Peter Collins

Peter Collins

My 4x great grandfather

Peter Collins was born in 1784 in Franklin County, North Carolina. We know that his father was James Collins, the Revolutionary War soldier. However, the identity of his mother is unknown. Because Temperance did not include him in the list of children on her application for widow's benefits or her will, most researcher believe that there was an earlier wife. No records of this marriage have been found.

UPDATE: Peter's mother was Priscilla Smart, the daughter of Peter Smart. Peter Smart left his grandson his land in Franklin County. His will was recorded in Chatham County.

James came to Franklin/Bute County, North Carolina from Isle of Wight, Virginia. Unfortunately this is a burned county and most of the earlier records have been lost. But, no one is giving up, we all continue to search.

Peter was married to Patience. Online trees have her as Vinson and McKinney but there is no documentation on her maiden name. From Peter's will, we know his wife's first name was Patience.

Peter and Patience had four children:

Josiah Collins born in 1805, determined from the 1850 and 1860 Census) he was married to Frances/Fanny Vincent on 10 Jan 1827. On the 1850 Census they are listed with their 10 children.
Martha Collins born 1810, however the census records list her age inconsistently. In 1850 her age is 35, in 1860 her age is 40, in 1870 her age is 60 and in 1880 her age is still 60. Martha married Joseph Redding Bobbitt, the bond was issued 12 Jan 1841. Joseph died at the Battle of Richmond during the Civil War. They had four children.
Priscilla Collins was born 2 Aug 1812. She married Green B. Carr 31 Jan 1842 in Franklin County, North Carolina. Green and Priscilla moved to Sparta Georgia. They had four children but only two are listed in Green's will, so I assume that they passed away earlier. Priscilla passed away 3 Apr 1853. Green passed away 23 Feb 1899. In his will he left 2,624 acres to his two children in 9 separate "Places". Priscilla and Green are buried in the Carr Family Cemetery in Sparta, Georgia.
James T. Collins was born 1813 and is my 3x great grandfather and his story was covered previously.

Peter passed away 26 Apr 1817 in Franklin County, North Carolina. He appointed his father the executor of his will. He also leaves instructions that his lands are to be divided between his children.

This is Peter's will: