James Collins (c1792) and Jane --- of Marion Co, SC

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I (Marty Grant) don't know how I'm related to James Collins. I am sure he is somehow related to my ancestor Jonah Collins (c1774).

James Collins was born ca 1791/1792 in Georgetown Dist, SC (now Marion Co, SC).

James is a proven son of Jonathan and Sarah (---) Collins as named in Jonathan's estate record (mixed in with Jonah Collins (1774) Estate record).

W. W. Sellers mentioned James in his book. Here is what he wrote (anything in brackets [...] was added by me):

COLLINS. "... Of the two brothers, old Collins, Thomas and Jonah, the latter became the progenitor of the Collins below Marion and Pee Dee Island Collins; don't know much about them.

There were two or three brothers, descendants of old Jonah, to wit: William, James and Jonah, these were either sons of old Jonah or grandsons. William Collins was the father of Mrs. Valentine Rowell; he may have had other daughters and sons, of whom nothing is known.

James Collins was the mediate or immediate progenitor of Benjamin Collins of the Pee Dee Islands; he may have had other descendants." ("A History of Marion County, South Carolina", 1902, by W. W. Sellers, Esq, Pages 512-516)

Mr. Sellers was correct in that James was the father of Benjamin Collins of the Pee Dee Islands.

James would have been about 8 years old by the time of the 1800 census, so he should be enumerated in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1790/1800). Jonathan Collins did have two apparent sons that age with him.

For the 1810 census, James would have been about 18 years old, so he should be enumerated in the 16-25 age group (born ca 1784/94). His mother Sarah was listed with one apparent son that age in 1810.

There was an "E. James Collins" on the 1820 census in Marion, who was close to the right age to be this James, but I don't know if it is him or not. He had an apparent wife (or sister) with him, but no children listed. I think this is probably him, mainly because I don't know who else it could be. I don't know if the "E" represents an initial, or if it was listed as a title or for some other reason. This census entry shows James slightly younger than the other census records give, but I suspect it is him anyway. I don't think the lady with him was his wife, but possibly an unmarried sister instead. I could be wrong though.

1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census) 

1820 Marion Dist, SC pg 56 E. James Collins 000100-00100
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 16-25       (1794-1804)	James COLLINS (1791/92) s/o Jonathan
1 Female(s) 16-25     (1794-1804)	Wife? Sister?

James was not listed on the 1830 census. He would have been about 38 years old for that census, but I think he was living with his brother William Collins (c1800) who did have an "extra" male age 30-39 (born ca 1790/1800) with him in 1830.

James Collins was not listed on the 1840 census either. He would have been about 48 years old. His brother William Collins (c1800) had a male James's age with him in 1840 (age 40-49, born ca 1790/1800)

James Collins was 50 or older when he married Mary Jane --- around ca 1840/43 in Marion Dist, SC. I don't know if this was his first marriage or not. I don't know what Jane's maiden name was. Sellers didn't mention her. There was a 16 year old Prudence Jones with the family in 1850, perhaps she is a sister of Jane, thus making her maiden name "Jones". More research is needed though to prove or disprove that theory.

James Collins and family were listed on the 1850 census in Marion County just 4 houses from his brother William Collins.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1850 MARION DIST, SC Page 2B    House/Family #   27/  28

COLLINS JAMES         50 M W FARMER                1000 MARION               1799/1800
COLLINS JANE          21 F W                            MARION               1828/1829
COLLINS BENJAMIN       7 M W                            MARION               1842/1843
JONES PRUDENCE        16 F W                            MARION               1833/1834

For the 1860 census, James and family were still in Marion District. They were somewhat near several other Collins families.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1860 MARION DIST, SC Page 130B  House/Family # 2017/1987 -- MARION Twp  MARION P.O.

COLLINS JAMES         68 M W FARMER            1500  4000 SC                   1791/1792
COLLINS JANE          40 F W                              SC                   1819/1820
COLLINS BENJAMIN      17 M W FARM LABOR                   SC                   1842/1843
HATCHER ROBERT        14 M M                              SC                   1845/1846

James Collins made his Will on 28 Jan 1870 in Marion Co, SC. He named his wife "Mary Jane" and "Joseph R. Collins" (Joseph Benjamin Collins, his son). Witnesses were Joseph Martin, M. Martin and Levi Legett. The Will was proven 5 Sep 1870, so James had died by then. (Probate Roll # 1311, published in "Probate Records, Marion County, South Carolina Volume III", by Lucille Utley, Danny Smith, 1985).

I would have expected to find widow Mary Jane on the 1870 census, but did not find her listed. Son Joseph Benjamin Collins was married by then, and was listed in 1870 in Legette Township. There was a Mary J. Collins next door to Joseph in 1870, but she was only 38, so unless that age is a mistake, it couldn't be his mother. However, I'll include the listing here just in case it is her. If it is her, who was John Collins, aged 12 living with her?

1870 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1870 MARION CO, SC Page 142   House/Family #   51/  51--LEGETTE Twp MARION CH P.O.

COLLINS MARY J        38 F W KEEPING HOUSE          125   365 SC              1831/1832
COLLINS JOHN          12 M W                                  SC              1857/1858

Mary J. Collins was listed on the 1880 census in Legette Township next door to son Joseph B. Collins. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Children

It seems that James and Jane only had one child, per the 1850 and 1860 census.

Joseph Benjamin Collins (c1843) 

Joseph Benjamin Collins was born ca 1842/43 in Marion District, SC. He was home with his parents for the 1850 and 1860 census.

I found a Civil War record for "Benjamin J. Collins" who enlisted as a Private in Gregg's Battery, Co. D, Manigault's Battalion Artillery. I believe this is Joseph Benjamin, though it could be the other Joseph Benjamin Collins (c1837) son of Joseph Collins (c1810) (A History of Marion County, South Carolina by W.W. Sellers, 1902 page 616).

Benjamin married Mary E. --- ca 1867/68 in Marion Dist, SC. I don't know her maiden name.

They were listed on the 1870 census in Legette Township, next door to his widowed mother.

1870 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1870 MARION CO, SC Page 142   House/Family #   50/  50--LEGETTE Twp MARION CH P.O.

COLLINS JOSEPH B      25 M W FARMER                           SC              1844/1845
COLLINS MARY E        21 F W                                  SC              1848/1849
COLLINS JOSEPH ANNA    2 F W                                  SC              1867/1868

Joseph B. Collins was listed on the 1880 census in Legette Township next door to his widowed mother. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Researcher List

Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):

Register Report

1. James1 Collins , born 1791/92 in Georgetown Dist, SC (now Marion Co, SC); died 1870 in Marion Co, SC, son of Jonathan Collins  and Sarah (---) .  He married in 1840/43 in Marion Dist, SC Mary Jane (---) , born 1819/20 in Marion Dist, SC; died aft 1880 in Marion Co, SC.

 

      Children of James Collins and Mary Jane (---) were as follows:

+    2          i      Joseph Benjamin2 Collins Pvt , born 1842/43 in Marion Dist, SC; died aft 1880 in Marion Co, SC.  He married Mary E (---) .

 

Generation 2

 

2. Joseph Benjamin2 Collins Pvt  (James1), born 1842/43 in Marion Dist, SC; died aft 1880 in Marion Co, SC.  He married in 1867/68 in Marion Co, SC Mary E (---) , born 1848/49 in Marion Dist, SC.

 

      Children of Joseph Benjamin Collins Pvt and Mary E (---) were as follows:

      3          i      Josephanna C3 Collins , born 1867/68 in Marion Co, SC.

      4          ii      Murphy3 Collins , born 1870/71 in Marion Co, SC.

      5          iii      Pet3 Collins , born 1872/73 in Marion Co, SC.

      6          iv      Joseph3 Collins , born 1874/75 in Marion Co, SC.

      7          v      Isadora L3 Collins , born 1876/77 in Marion Co, SC.

      8          vi      Benjamin3 Collins , born Jul 1879 in Marion Co, SC.

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