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I (Marty Grant) don't know how I'm related to Robert Collins. I am sure he is somehow related to my ancestor Jonah Collins (c1774).
Robert Collins was born 23 Jan 1829 (per tombstone) in Marion Dist, SC.
According to W.W. Sellers, Robert Collins was a son of John Collins, who was a grandson of Thomas Collins. He was mistaken about John being a grandson, he was actually Thomas's son.
If Sellers is correct, (and he seems to be), then Robert is a son of John Collins (c1798) and Chloe ---. I've not seen any direct evidence proving that Robert was John's son, but he does fit, and in this case I trust that Sellers was right.
Here is what Sellers wrote about Robert Collins (anything in brackets [...] was added by me for clarification):
COLLINS. "John Collins, the grandson [son] of old Thomas, was the father of the late Sheriff Robert Collins, and of his brothers, the late Stephen T. Collins and Samuel Collins; John may have had other sons and, perhaps, daughters, not known to the writer. Don't know who Samuel Collins married; or anything of the children (if he had any ) of Solomon Collins. ...
Robert Collins, the Sheriff, married a Miss Powell of North Carolina, and had and raised a family of three sons and perhaps daughters. Of the three sons, Barney, the eldest married a Miss Wall, sister of George Wall of Marion; they have a family already mentioned among the Walls. John the next son died a young man at Marion whilst his father was Sheriff. Sydney the youngest son, married someone to the writer unknown and has gone out of sight don't know what has become a them.
Sheriff Collins the father died some years ago. The writer will here relate the circumstances under which he became Sheriff: in May 1867, during the reconstruction period, Neill C. McDuffie, who was then Sheriff, resigned the office and the fact of his resignation was not known at Marion to the public for two weeks, and became known in the following manner: the writer one day received a letter from Gov. James L. Orr, announcing the fact, and saying that if we can get some man who could take the "iron-clad oath," well-suited to the office, that he thought he could get General Canby to appoint him, and urged that we intend to at once, lest General Canby might appoint some objectionable negro or some carpetbagger. I immediately showed the letter to Hon. A. Q. McDuffie, Judge Wilcox and others. It was agreed among us that Robert Collins was the man, that he was fit for the office, having been a deputy for several years, and that he can take the required oath, as it was known to us that he was opposed to the war. I saw Mr. Collins that evening and opened the matter to him; he said he can take the oath and would accept the office if he could give the required bond, and asked me to wait a reply to the governor until the next day, when he would let me know whether he would except for not. The next day he saw me in said he could give the bond and would except the position. I immediately replied accordingly to the governor, and in a few days the appointment came from General Canby through the Governor ; and thus Robert Collins was made and became Sheriff of the county. At the first general election after the Constitution of 1868, Collins was a candidate for Sheriff, and was elected for four years more, and served until his term expired; he made an excellent Sheriff, and especially in those troublesome times, but was not "Radical" enough to get the nomination of the dominant party for a second term. Daniel F. Berry received a radical nomination, and General Elly Godbold, the Democratic nomination in 1872. The latter was elected to was counted out and Berry was counted in as was the case with all others at that election." ("A History of Marion County, South Carolina", 1902, by W. W. Sellers, Esq, Page 512-516)
Robert would have been about 2 years old for the 1830 census, so he ought to be enumerated in the "under 5 age group (born ca 1825/30). Several Collins families were in Marion that year with apparent sons that age, but most are already positively identified. Of those who were unidentified, William S. Collins (c1792) had one and John Collins (c1798) had one.
Robert would have been about 12 years old by the 1840 census, so he should be enumerated in the 10-14 age group (born ca 1825/30). John Collins (c1798) had a son that age.
Robert Collins married Elizabeth --- ca 1840/46 in Marion Dist, SC. Sellers stated she was a Powell, and that is supported by a Powell living with them in 1860, perhaps a sibling of hers.
Robert Collins and family were listed on the 1850 census in Marion County next door to his parents John and Chloe, and also next door to brother Samuel Collins (c1830).
1850 MARION DIST, SC Page 65B House/Family # 970/ 975 - Twp COLLINS ROBERT 22 M W FARMER 500 MARION 1827/1828 COLLINS ELIZABETH 21 F W MARION 1828/1829 COLLINS BARNEY 4 M W MARION 1845/1846 COLLINS JOHN 2 M W MARION 1847/1848
In 1860, Robert Collins and family were listed in Marion District. Jane Powell, age 21 was with them. She was also born in NC, just like Robert's wife Elizabeth, perhaps she was her sister? No Collins families were nearby. Robert was listed as a Deputy Sheriff.
1860 MARION DIST, SC Page 18B House/Family # 272/ 270 -- MARION Twp MARION CH P.O. COLLINS ROBERT 31 M W DEPT SHERIFF 1000 400 SC 1828/1829 COLLINS E 35 F W NC 1824/1825 COLLINS BARNABUS 13 M W SC 1846/1847 COLLINS J McQ 11 M W SC 1848/1849 COLLINS ANN 9 F W SC 1850/1851 COLLINS ABI 5 F W SC 1854/1855 COLLINS R C 2 M W SC 1857/1858 COLLINS J E 1 F W SC 1858/1859 POWELL JANE 21 F W NC 1838/1839
As Sellers mentioned, Robert became Sheriff of Marion County in 1868, and served until 1872. ("A History of Marion County, South Carolina", 1902, by W. W. Sellers, Esq, Page 565)
For the 1870 census, Robert Collins and family were found in Marion Township. He was listed as Sheriff of Marion County. Seburn John Walter Collins (1858) was living with him. He is a cousin of some degree, a grandson of William S. Collins (c1792).
1870 MARION CO, SC Page 200B House/Family # 423/ 442--MARION (PART 2) Twp MARION P.O. COLLINS ROBERT 41 M W SHERIFF OF MARION CO 6000 3463 SC 1828/1829 COLLINS ELIZABETH 45 F W SC 1824/1825 COLLINS ABIE 15 F W SC 1854/1855 COLLINS ROBERT CHARL 13 M W SC 1856/1857 COLLINS ELIZABETH J 11 F W SC 1858/1859 COLLINS ALBERT S J 9 M W SC 1860/1861 COLLINS LAURA G 7 F W SC 1862/1863 COLLINS JOHN WALTER 13 M W SC 1856/1857
Robert Collins and family were in Reaves Township in 1880. He was no longer Sheriff by this time. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.
Robert Collins died on 2 Mar 1891 and Elizabeth died on 21 Dec 1905. They are buried at Tranquil Cemetery in Marion County.
Robert Collins and wife Elizabeth had at least 7 children, as proven by the 1850 through 1880 census records. See report section below for more information on them.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. Sheriff Robert1 Collins, born 23 Jan 1829 in Marion Dist, SC; died 2 Mar 1891 in Marion Co, SC, son of John Collins and Chloe (---). He married in 1840/46 in Marion Dist, SC Elizabeth Powell, born 1828/29 in NC; died 21 Dec 1905 in Marion Co, SC.
Children of Sheriff Robert Collins and Elizabeth Powell were as follows:
+ 2 i Barnabus P2 Collins Pvt, born 1845/46 in Marion Dist, SC. He married Charlotte Amanda Wall.
+ 3 ii John McQueen2 Collins, born 13 Feb 1849 in Marion Dist, SC; died 15 Jun 1870 in Marion Co, SC. He married Mary J (---).
4 iii Ann2 Collins, born 1850/51 in Marion Dist, SC; died aft 1860 in Marion Co, SC.
5 iv Robert Charles2 Collins, born 1857/58 in Marion Dist, SC.
6 v J Elizabeth2 Collins, born 1858/59 in Marion Dist, SC.
7 vi Albert Sydney J2 Collins, born 1863/64 in Marion Dist, SC.
8 vii Laura G2 Collins, born 1864/65 in Marion Dist, SC.
Generation 2
2. Barnabus P2 Collins Pvt (Robert1), born 1845/46 in Marion Dist, SC. He married bef 1870 in Marion Co, SC Charlotte Amanda Wall, born 1846/47 in Marion Dist, SC, daughter of Washington Wall and (---) Vaught.
Children of Barnabus P Collins Pvt and Charlotte Amanda Wall were as follows:
9 i John3 Collins, born 1870/71 in Marion Co, SC.
10 ii Minnie3 Collins, born 1872/73 in Marion Co, SC.
11 iii Artist3 Collins, born 1876/77 in Marion Co, SC.
12 iv Sidney3 Collins, born Apr 1880 in Marion Co, SC.
3. John McQueen2 Collins (Robert1), born 13 Feb 1849 in Marion Dist, SC; died 15 Jun 1870 in Marion Co, SC. He married in 1860/68 in Marion Dist, SC Mary J (---), born 1845/46 in Marion Dist, SC.
Children of John McQueen Collins and Mary J (---) were as follows:
13 i Robert W3 Collins, born 1867/68 in Marion Dist, SC.
14 ii (---)3 Collins, born 1868/69 in Marion Co, SC.
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