Up, Down, Side to Side

Side to Side

Just a quick post today. I am still working on the Collins family, especially the children of James T. Collins. 

Wondering what the title Side to Side is all about? Just an observation, when exploring into the family history, the focus is usually a straight line back in time. Currently we are encouraged to research the FAN; family, associates and neighbors. AND what have I discovered? Going side to side; looking at cousins, aunts, uncles and others, I run into another branch of my family that I have researched. 

One example is the Collins family. Seraphna is married to a Leonard. Her brother's son is married to a member of the West family...  I knew that there were many times that the families intermarried but I am discovering more incidents of it.  

I have also discovered how my nephew and his buddy are actually related, distantly through James T. Collins. 

Sharing these discoveries with my mother usually leads me off in another direction and a new discovery. Yesterday it was a discovery about Iva and Swannie... and Seraphna and her brother's children... 

I love doing this research! Exciting and challenging at times but so much satisfaction knocking down walls and finding out who is on the other side.

Had an opportunity to sit down with cousin Gerald the other afternoon, sharing research and family stories! Loved every minute of it!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hopefully I will have more discoveries to share soon!

Pattie

James T. Collins and Children part three

William G. Collins

Son of James T. Collins and Mariah Cope

William was born April 3, 1850.

In the 1850 Census we see him listed as under one year old.

January 23, 1873 he married Anna Stone.

Anna was the daughter of William Stone, deceased, and Mrs Louis Bartholomew. Note that one of the witnesses was D.B. Pearce, our very own Doctor Buck Pearce. Anna was only 17 and William was 23 years old.

In the 1900 Census William G. Collins and Anna have created a big family.

There are seven sons; Oliver, Willie, Herbert, Eugene, Orvis, Walter, and James. There are two daughters; Carrie and Pattie. However, Anna states that there are eleven children. So two older children must have left home by the time of the 1900 census.

Ida and Susie are not listed on this census.

Information on the children:

1. Oliver (AKA Ollie) Collins born November 18, 1873 married Geneva Mays on March 17, 1901, Died May 28, 1934
2. Ida Collins born 1874/75, married J.R. Gupton on February 3, 1897
3. Susie Collins born November 30, 1876, married Nathaniel Clarence Rowland on March 27, 1898, Died September 17, 1971
4. Willis (Willie) Collins born Jan 27, 1879, married Mary Elizabeth (Bettie) Shearin on January 20, 1904, Died January 7, 1932.
5. Herbert Clyde Collins born March 26, 1881, married Maud Sturdivant on April 19, 1905, Died on March 30, 1965
6. Eugene Claud Collins born August 25, 1883, married Anne Strickland on May 3, 1913, Died February 20, 1938
7. Carrie Bell Collins born July 25, 1886, married Walter Luther Wheeless on September 23, 1908, Died December 15, 1978
8. Pattie Collins born February 3, 1888, married Robert Strickland on December 2, 1908, Died November 20, 1973
9. Orris Dunn Collins born December 20, 1890, Died February 14 1984
10. Walter Cleveland Collins born November 18, 1892, Died April 29, 1984
11. James Early W. Collins born December 12, 1894, married Mattie Collins on May 16, 1915, Died June 8, 1968

Several of the children are buried with their parents in the William G. Collins Family Cemetery on the side of Earlie Collins Road.

Some of the headstones:

Walter and Orris never married.

Checking the News

In the FRANKLIN TIMES

March 6, 1891

William serves on jury

October 7, 1898

January 20, 1905

Family Visits

September 14, 1906

Sad News

On a Happier Note

I hope you have enjoyed the story of William G. Collins and his family.

Next up; Ann Collins

Thanks for stopping by!!

Pattie

James T. Collins and Children part two

James K. Collins

Son of James T. Collins and Mariah Cope

James K. Collins' story is one that lacks certain documents but from the documents I have found, this is his story. 

James was born October 20, 1847 and died April 6, 1926. This information was taken from his headstone and death certificate. 

From his daughter, Ida Collins Pearce's death certificate we know that he and  Ann Priscilla Lancaster were her parents.

I have not found a marriage document for James and Ann. I also have not found a death certificate for Ann. So, I will continue to search. However I have found the following document that points to a different situation. This is the marriage certificate for Sidney Collins, son of James K. Collins and Puss Tucker, both living.

Raises some questions....

In the 1880 Census, James is 32 years old and living on his own. His occupation is farmer and miller. 

I found a marriage certificate for James and Alice Gossett who were married February 8, 1888.

At the time of the marriage James was 39 and Alice was only 20 years old. It must not have been a match made in heaven because shortly we find this running in the Franklin Times.

In the 1900 Census he is living with Ida, his daughter, and his marital status is single.

In 1910 James is living with his brother Peter and James is listed as married.

Then in 1920 he is living with his nephew and is listed as a widower.

James was buried in the Davis Family Cemetery. 

This is the story of James K. Collins through the paper trail. Although there are documents that have not been found, I will continue to search for answers to the questions raised.

Tomorrow's blog will be about William G. Collins, another son of James and Mariah Collins.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie