1. SOLOMON1 COLLINS was born Abt. 1799 in Buncombe Co., NC, and died Bef. 1880. He married GINCIE GOINS, daughter of JOSEPH GOINS and MILLIE LOVINS. She was born Abt. 1799 in Va or NC. Solomon apparently didnt migrate to Hawkins/Hancock Co until after 1820. He may have been the Solomon listed on the 1820 Buncombe Co., NC Census, though there were a few other Solomon Collinses in the area, including Claiborne Co, TN and Clay Co., KY, both of which contained populations of Melungeon descent.
Index for land entries for Solomon Collins:
Sims grant opened to claims between 1830 and 1840:
Solomon D. Collins-100 acres on Newman's Ridge-p. 10
Names on early warrant deeds & land papers (Grohse papers, Reel 3): Entry Book #1, Hawkins Co., TN:
S.D. Collins, #22, p. 10
Solomon Collins, 1, 169 Solomon's household was enumerated with 9 "fpc" in the 1830 Hawkins Co., TN Census. In all other censuses that I've seen he was counted as white.
Children of SOLOMON COLLINS and GINCIE GOINS are:
i. RICHARD2 COLLINS.
2. ii. MAHALA COLLINS, b. March 30, 1824, Hancock Co, TN; d. 1898, Hancock Co, TN.
iii. FRANKLIN COLLINS, b. Abt. 1825.
iv. SILAS COLLINS, b. Abt. 1827; d. March 24, 1863, Triune, TN; m. ORPHA COLLINS.
3. v. BAILEY COLLINS, b. Abt. 1828; d. September 22, 1908, Hancock Co, TN.
vi. ENOCH COLLINS, b. Abt. 1830.
vii. SOLOMON COLLINS, b. Abt. 1832; d. June 28, 1863, Nashville, TN. Solomon died during the Civil War. He was enlisted in the First Tennessee Calvary (Union). Burial: Nashville National Cem., Nashville, TN
viii. LETHIE COLLINS, b. Abt. 1835.
ix. ELIZABETH COLLINS, b. Abt. 1837; d. 1916, Hancock Co, TN; m. (1) THOMAS MOORE; m. (2) MCKINLEY COLLINS; b. Bef. 1827, Hancock Co, TN. The death index for Hancock County lists "Betty's" age as 67, but she would have been in her 80s, unless she was the daughter of the younger Solomon who died during the Civil War. But in that case, the younger Sol would have had to have been married to a Jincy, as Betty's parents were listed as Sol and Jincy.
MCKINLEY COLLINS: McKinley was in the Civil War, Co. E, 8th TN Cav (Union) from Sep. 23, 1863, to Jun 29, 1865. The Grohse papers suggest that he may have died from "Scoleosis from mines". Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN
x. SALLY COLLINS, b. Abt. 1839.
4. xi. AMELIA ANN COLLINS, b. Abt. 1843.
xii. THALOMAS COLLINS, b. Abt. 1831.
2. MAHALA2 COLLINS (SOLOMON1) was born March 30, 1824 in Hancock Co, TN, and died 1898 in Hancock Co, TN. She married JOHN MULLINS Abt. 1840 in Hancock Co, TN, son of JAMES MULLINS and CLARA MARTIN. He was born Abt. 1823 in Hancock Co, TN. Mahala is probably the most famous Melungeon individual. She was extremely obese, as a result of Elephantiasis, and was considered the best bootlegger in the Appalachians, though it is said that family members actually made the liquor (apple and peach brandy were their specialties), and she only sold it. One humorous event, that was actually documented, was when a judge sent a sheriff up the Ridge to arrest 'Haley'. Well, he could arrest her, but, because of her size, there was no way they could get her down the treacherous ridge. After giving up, the sheriff went back to the judge. When the judge asked him where she was, the sheriff replied, "She's catchable, but not fetchable". Mahala has become something of a folk heroine in the Southern Appalachians. Many stories and tales have been made up about her, many of them far-fetched and untrue. The following is an example, a song taken off of the internet, from Melungeon-L Rootsweb email list:
Ode to Aunt Haley
Lois Gilbert 1984
Aunt Haley, when she walked this warm sweet earth,
She said to her Kin folks then,
"I want to grow forever and spread my girth,
everywhere that man has been -
everywhere that man has been.
Chorus
Aunt Haley, she made the very best shine,
In her cabin on the side of the hill.
Folks would come around from the countyside,
For a dollar they could drink their fill.
For a dollar they could drink their fill.
Chorus
Well, the Sheriff come to take her in,
He busted up her still.
Aunt Haley sat grinning in her great big chair.
"You'll never get me offin this hill.
You'll never get me offin this hill."
Chorus
Aunt Haley, she weighed 500 pounds,
The Sheriff weighed 252,
He just walked out the door a shaking his head.
"Make you mountain dew.
Haley, make your mountain dew."
Chorus
Aunt Haley she died one cool spring night,
The coffin maker done the best he could.
He just took out his pencil and his measuring tape.
"Where will I get enough good dry wood?
Where will I get enough good dry wood?"
Chorus
Well, the road on the ridge is narrow and steep,
it's always slipping in.
Well, the road crew comes to fix it up.
They say, "Aunt Haley's still growing within.
Aunt Haley's still growing within."
CHORUS:
There's a big crooked mountain in East Tennessee.
They call it Neuman's Ridge.
Aunt Haley lies buried in her big pine box.
Each day there's more of that ridge.
Each day there's more of that ridge.
Sometimes it's hard to distinguish truth from fiction. When Haley died, it is said that they had to build a coffin around her bed (or out of her bed), and take her out of a space in the wall, where they were about to build a chimney. I've heard that this was untrue, but I'm not sure. She's buried in a family plot near their cabin, which, until recently (2000), stood up on Newman's Ridge. It was moved off of the Ridge, down to the Vardy Valley, where it was renovated. Burial: Newmans Ridge, Hancock Co., TN
JOHN MULLINS: They lived on Newman's Ridge above Vardy, in Hancock Co., TN. They had a house that was burnt down by Confederate raiders, ca.1863, who came looking for 2 of their sons, probably Larkin and Jim, and 1 son-in-law, Howard Collins, Union soldiers that were home on leave. The story goes as follows:
Howard Collins' wife, Jane Mullins, saw the bushwackers coming up the Ridge, and screamed to her husband, who picked up his gun and took a shot at them. They fell back a little to size up the situation. Meanwhile, the Mullins boys escaped over a low bluff. The raiders came to the bluff, but didn't get to get a shot off. Howard Collins sprained or broke a finger while escaping, but they got a shot off at the raiders, and got safely away.The sons escaped, but the house was burned, along with most of their possesions. They let the family take their burning bed clothes, but fire broke out in them again. A light blanket of snow was on the ground, and the children were barefooted. Old John was so mad, he loaded up a muzzle with about all it could hold. Then, as the raiders were leaving through the Blackwater Valley below them, he fired at them from the bluff. But, in his anger, he left the ramrod in the gun, and loaded it so heavily, it burst at the end of the muzzle. The ramrod, however, flew all the way accross the valley, and stuck in a rail fence, near where the Becky Hurley house was, a short distance west of Vardy Church.
I've read somewhere (unfortunately, I cannot find these notes) that John Mullins was something of a 'Johnny Appleseed', and planted many apple trees in the areas surrounding the Cumberland Gap (VA, TN, KY, poss. NC), but I don't know how true that is, as I've only read that once.
Children of MAHALA COLLINS and JOHN MULLINS are:
5. i. JANE3 MULLINS, b. 1841, Hancock Co, TN; d. January 10, 1913, Hancock Co, TN.
6. ii. SALLY MULLINS, b. 1842, Hancock Co, TN; d. Abt. 1924, Hancock Co, TN.
7. iii. LARKIN MULLINS, b. 1844; d. 1915, Hancock Co, TN.
iv. JIM MULLINS, b. 1846.
v. MILLIE MULLINS, b. 1846. Described by the Will Grohse Files as "Queer - never married". The 1860 Hancock Co Census listed her as being "fitified".
vi. BURTON MULLINS, b. 1847; d. Bef. 1865, Camp Nelson, KY. Burton may have been an adopted son of John and Mahala. According to the Grohse Papers, Burton was a Union soldier, and died at Camp Nelson, KY.
8. vii. ELBE MULLINS, b. 1848.
viii. RICHARD MULLINS, b. 1850. According to the Grohse Papers, Richard was murdered somewhere out west (poss. Oklahoma)
ix. JEREMIAH MULLINS, b. 1853.
9. x. MARY ANN MULLINS, b. 1854, Hancock Co, TN; d. October 1937, Hancock Co, TN.
10. xi. JOHN MULLINS, b. 1855.
11. xii. REUBEN MULLINS, b. 1856, Hancock Co, TN; d. June 13, 1930, Muskogee, OK.
xiii. OLLIE MULLINS, b. 1858, Hancock Co, TN; d. September 1882, Hancock Co, TN; m. OLIVE MISER, February 12, 1880, Hancock Co, TN; b. Aft. 1856, Hancock Co, TN; d. Abt. 1895. Ollie was killed in a gun duel with Grant Jarvis (sheriff?) on the Main Street of Sneedville in late 1882.
12. xiv. CALVIN MULLINS, b. 1860, Hancock Co, TN.
3. BAILEY2 COLLINS (SOLOMON1) was born Abt. 1828, and died September 22, 1908 in Hancock Co, TN. He married MELISSA RHEA. Bailey was a Civil War vetran, enlisted in the 1st TN CAV Co. A (Union).
Children of BAILEY COLLINS and MELISSA RHEA are:
13. i. LEE HAM3 COLLINS.
14. ii. AMANDA JANE COLLINS.
iii. SALLY COLLINS
iv. WILLIE COLLINS.
v. LIZZIE COLLINS.
vi. COMODORE COLLINS.
vii. LANDON COLLINS.
viii. MARY ANN COLLINS, m. (1) ? SIZEMORE; m. (2) ? LEWIS.
ix. SOLOMON COLLINS.
4. AMELIA ANN2 COLLINS (SOLOMON1) was born Abt. 1843. She married HAMILTON MISER March 20, 1875 in Hancock Co, TN, son of WILSON MISER and MARGARET COLLINS. He was born Abt. 1853 in Hancock Co, TN, and died 1908 in Hancock Co, TN.
HAMILTON MISER: From Will Grohse Papers; "Thrifty, having no children they saved more than many of their neighbors, so got ahead financially." Cause of Death: TB
Children of AMELIA COLLINS and HAMILTON MISER are:
i. LUCY3 MISER.
ii. WILLIAM FRANK MISER, b. November 15, 1876, Hancock Co, TN; d. January 08, 1947; m. DOCIA COLLINS; b. January 10, 1867, Hancock Co, TN; d. March 19, 1936, Hancock Co, TN. From Will Grohse Papers; "Thrifty, having no children they saved more than many of their neighbors, so got ahead financially." Cause of Death: TB
DOCIA COLLINS: Described in Will Grohse Papers; "Jolly, fleshy, desided, dark and showing strongly Indian blood." Docia helped Will Grohse and Rev. Arthur Taylor compile much of the info that is used on these Hancock Co families.
15. iii. LOGAN MISER, b. October 12, 1878, Hancock Co, TN; d. July 11, 1939, Hancock Co, TN.
iv. KITTY MISER, b. Abt. 1881, Hancock Co, TN; d. 1918, Hancock Co, TN; m. ALBERT GIBSON.
v. CLAY MISER, b. January 02, 1883, Hancock Co, TN; d. November 02, 1928, Hancock Co, TN; m. CARRIE COLLINS, Bef. 1908; b. March 24, 1873, Hancock Co, TN; d. January 15, 1940, Hancock Co, TN. The Grohse Papers also say that Clay died on 11/12/1925; burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: Liver diease.
CARRIE COLLINS: "Inclined to be slighter than her sisters." - WGP Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: old age.
5. JANE3 MULLINS (MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born 1841 in Hancock Co, TN, and died January 10, 1913 in Hancock Co, TN. She married HOWARD COLLINS Bef. 1862 in Hancock Co, TN, son of SIMEON COLLINS and FRANKIE BUNCH. He was born Abt. 1836 in Hancock Co, TN, and died February 17, 1906 in Hancock Co, TN. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: old age.
HOWARD COLLINS: In the Will Grohse Papers, Howard was described as "a forceful, strong, character, tho obstinate; influential, fairly well to do.Pvt. Co. E, 2nd TN Cav (Inf?). The Special Census of Civil War Vaterans stated that he suffered from chronic diarrhea". Howard would not vouch for his brother-in-law, Wilson Miser's, service in the Civil War, thus depriving Wilson of getting a pension. He was known as "Big Howard". Another description from the WGP; " 6 ft 1 in tall, dark, black eyes and hair, farmer. A forceful character, strong, determined, fleshy. Sentenced to hang for a killing at his watermill. Later pardoned. Was operator of watermill on Blackwater Creek." "All the Howard Collins children show marked strains of Indian in them." Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: old age
Children of JANE MULLINS and HOWARD COLLINS are:
i. LAMBERT4 COLLINS, b. Abt. 1860, Hancock Co, TN; d. April 1870, Hancock Co, TN. Lambert was killed when a wagon ran over him in 1870. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN;
16. ii. MONROE COLLINS, b. April 04, 1865, Hancock Co, TN; d. June 25, 1913, St. Marks Hospital, Murray, UT.
iii. DOCIA COLLINS, b. January 10, 1867, Hancock Co, TN; d. March 19, 1936, Hancock Co, TN; m. WILLIAM FRANK MISER; b. November 15, 1876, Hancock Co, TN; d. January 08, 1947. Described in Will Grohse Papers; "Jolly, fleshy, desided, dark and showing strongly Indian blood." Docia helped Will Grohse and Rev. Arthur Taylor compile much of the info that is used on these Hancock Co families.
WILLIAM FRANK MISER: From Will Grohse Papers; "Thrifty, having no children they saved more than many of their neighbors, so got ahead financially." Cause of Death: TB.
17. iv. CORAH COLLINS, b. December 08, 1868, Hancock Co, TN; d. Abt. 1902, Coatesville, Ind?.
18. v. KYRIE COLLINS, b. March 13, 1870, Hancock Co, TN.
19. vi. CARRIE COLLINS, b. March 24, 1873, Hancock Co, TN; d. January 15, 1940, Hancock Co, TN.
vii. MONLACE COLLINS, b. September 28, 1875, Hancock Co, TN; d. January 03, 1932, Hancock Co, TN. From the Will Grohse Papers - "...died while loading tobacco 1/1/1932. Store keeper and ran a water mill on Mulberry. Kept store with Noah Collins a while on Blackwater. Fairly large man, pleasant." Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN
viii. LAURA COLLINS, b. July 14, 1877, Hancock Co, TN; d. April 24, 1952, Hancock Co, TN. Cause of Death: old age.
6. SALLY3 MULLINS (MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born 1842 in Hancock Co, TN, and died Abt. 1924 in Hancock Co, TN. She married GILBERT DAVIDSON Bet. 1865 - 1867 in Hancock Co, TN.
GILBERT DAVIDSON: Gib and Sally lived on Newman's Ridge, above Vardy, at the old homeplace of John & Mahala MULLINS.
Children of SALLY MULLINS and GILBERT DAVIDSON are:
20. i. WILLIE4 DAVIDSON, b. Abt. 1867.
ii. SARAH DAVIDSON, b. Abt. 1869, Hancock Co, TN; d. TX; m. CAINEY COLLINS.
CAINEY COLLINS: Cainey and Sarah were said to have moved to TX.
iii. CORNELIA DAVIDSON, b. Abt. 1871; m. LEMMIE GIBSON. Lemmie and Nelia were believed to have moved to Lee Co., VA.
iv. LAURA DAVIDSON, b. Abt. 1873; m. RICHARD GIBSON. Moved to TX.
v. MATTIE DAVIDSON, b. Abt. 1875; m. ORVIN HORTON. Mattie and Orvin lived on Briar Creek.
21. vi. ELIZA DAVIDSON, b. Abt. 1876.
22. vii. MONROE DAVIDSON, b. Abt. 1877.
7. LARKIN3 MULLINS (MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born 1844, and died 1915 in Hancock Co, TN. He married SARAH COLLINS September 09, 1875 in Hancock Co, TN, daughter of SIMEON COLLINS and FRANKIE BUNCH. She was born June 12, 1832 in Hancock Co, TN?, and died March 14, 1920 in Hancock Co, TN.Larkin and "Aunt Toney" lived on the upper part of Blackwater Valley, near Mulberry Gap Road, in Hancock Co, TN. Larkin was a Union soldier during the Civil War (Pvt. Co. I, 8th TN Cav). Larkin was supposedly named Samuel, but they called him Larkin to distinguish him from the other Samuel Mullins.
SARAH COLLINS: "Aunt Toney" was very religious, and would easily shout and sing when at church or at meetings at home. After "Aunt Toney's" 1st husband, Shep Gibson, died in the Civil Warm she married Larkin Mullins, another Civil War Vet. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; Cause of Death: old age.
Children of LARKIN MULLINS and SARAH COLLINS are:
23. i. WILLIAM4 MULLINS, b. Hancock Co, TN.
24. ii. ANDREW JACKSON MULLINS, b. October 01, 1870, Hancock Co, TN; d. November 13, 1920, Hancock Co, TN.
8. ELBE3 MULLINS (MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born 1848. He married (1) NANCE GIBSON July 20, 1871 in Hancock Co, TN. He married (2) ELIZA SEALS Abt. 1878 in Hancock Co, TN. Elbe and Eliza lived on the Panther's Creek side of Newman's Ridge. I believe the following article from the Morristown Gazette is refering to this Elbe/Eli;
Morristown Gazette July 20, 1877; Hancock
Eli Mullens, who had been in the moonshine whiskey business in Hancock County, and who last January received a year sentence to the Albany penetentiary, has just been pardoned by Pres. Cleveland on the grounds that he has ten children, and tht his wife had sold a pint of brandy.
Children of ELBE MULLINS and NANCE GIBSON are:
25. i. HOWARD4 MULLINS, b. Abt. 1871, Hancock Co, TN; d. August 1972, Hancock Co, TN.
26. ii. WILLIE MULLINS, b. Abt. 1872.
27. iii. LATHEM MULLINS, b. Abt. 1873; d. April 24, 1958.
iv. ALICE MULLINS, b. Abt. 1874. Alice married "her employer's husband".
v. KINLEY MULLINS, b. Abt. 1875.
vi. CHARLIE MULLINS, b. Abt. 1876.
vii. THOMAS MULLINS, b. Abt. 1878. According to Elaine Hatch, a descendant of Nance Gibson and Madison Mullins, Thomas killed his step-brother, Keener Mullins, and was sent to the penitentiary.
Children of ELBE MULLINS and ELIZA SEALS are:
viii. JOHNNY4 MULLINS, b. Abt. 1880.
ix. ROSIE MULLINS, b. Abt. 1882.
x. MAHALA MULLINS, b. Abt. 1884.
9. MARY ANN3 MULLINS (MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born 1854 in Hancock Co, TN, and died October 1937 in Hancock Co, TN. She married (1) GEORGE H ROBERTS. She married (2) APP MINOR. She married (3) HAINES MISER February 20, 1879 in Hancock Co, TN, son of WILSON MISER and MARGARET COLLINS. He was born Abt. 1855. She may have been m. to Rev. George ROBERTS, according to IGI archives, and possibly m. a third time. She supposedly had son George before she met Haines. Mary Ann helped raise her niece, Hattie MULLINS, daughter of brother Calvin. Cause of Death: old age
Child of MARY MULLINS and HAINES MISER is:
i. GEORGE4 MULLINS. George was drinking and tried to take a girl from Tony MITCHELL near Clinch River, when they were coming from Church. He stepped on Tony's heels, and Tony turned around and shot and killed him.
10. JOHN3 MULLINS (MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born 1855. He married (1) MAGGIE LOVINS. He married (2) JULIA ANN GIBSON February 26, 1877 in Hancock Co, TN, daughter of SAM RHEA and SALLY GIBSON.
Child of JOHN MULLINS and JULIA GIBSON is:
i. JOHN WAYMAN4 MULLINS.
11. REUBEN3 MULLINS (MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born 1856 in Hancock Co, TN, and died June 13, 1930 in Muskogee, OK. He married ELIZABETH GIBSON in Hancock Co, TN, daughter of KEENER GIBSON and BETTY ?. They lived on Newman's Ridge, but later moved west, (Colorado, then Muskogee, OK).
Children of REUBEN MULLINS and ELIZABETH GIBSON are:
i. LONZO4 MULLINS.
ii. JEROME MULLINS.
iii. MAMIE MULLINS.
iv. DORA MULLINS.
v. WENT MULLINS.
vi. DAUGHERTY MULLINS.
vii. ISAAC MULLINS, d. OK?; m. SARA BUSBY, Muskogee, OK.
12. CALVIN3 MULLINS (MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born 1860 in Hancock Co, TN. He married (1) FRANCIS MARTIN October 08, 1883 in Hancock Co, TN. He married (2) COOSE LAWSON Abt. 1886 in Hancock Co, TN. Calvin was described as 'A fine looking man with resolute look, regular features, slight beard.' I believe all of Calvin's children were with Coose. Calvin is buried in Mullins cemetary (Little Black Cemetary) "on the old George Swiney place on Newman's Ridge". Burial: Little Black Cem., Hancock Co., TN
Child of CALVIN MULLINS and COOSE LAWSON is:
i. HATTIE4 MULLINS, b. February 18, 1887, Hancock Co, TN; d. September 30, 1970, FL; m. ROBERT BALES. Hattie may have lived to an old age, and lived in FL after splitting with Bob. Hattie was raised mostly by her Aunt Mary Ann (MULLINS) MISER.
ROBERT BALES: Robert was born on 27 Oct 1860. Hattie and Bob lived on Blackwater. Bob was a merchant. He served in the 2nd Inf. in the Phillipines during the Spanish American War period. Apparently, he and Hattie split, Bob moving to Medora or Clear Springs, Indiana, where he died, and Hattie ending up in Fla.
13. LEE HAM3 COLLINS (BAILEY2, SOLOMON1) He married CARRIE COLLINS, daughter of HOWARD COLLINS and JANE MULLINS. She was born March 24, 1873 in Hancock Co, TN, and died January 15, 1940 in Hancock Co, TN.
CARRIE COLLINS: "Inclined to be slighter than her sisters." - WGP Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: old age.
Children of LEE COLLINS and CARRIE COLLINS are:
i. BERTHA4 COLLINS.
28. ii. DORA COLLINS, b. November 22, 1892, Hancock Co, TN; d. May 07, 1982.
14. AMANDA JANE3 COLLINS (BAILEY2, SOLOMON1) She married JOHN JOHNSON September 07, 1879 in Hancock Co, TN.
Children of AMANDA COLLINS and JOHN JOHNSON are:
i. CARRIE4 JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1880.
ii. FRANKLIN JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1882, TN; d. May 11, 1956, Knoxville, TN.
iii. ADA C JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1883.
iv. DAISEY JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1885.
v. SUSAN JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1888.
vi. WILLIAM S JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1890.
vii. MARY J JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1892.
viii. AMOS JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1894.
ix. BAILEY JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1895.
x. MINNIE MYRTLE JOHNSON, b. 1898, Hancock Co, TN; d. September 14, 1962, Kingsport, TN; m. WILLIAM MCKINLY VAUGHN.
xi. EMMA JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1900.
xii. GEORGE ALLEN JOHNSON, b. 1903; d. January 09, 1903, Hancock Co, TN.
15. LOGAN3 MISER (AMELIA ANN2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born October 12, 1878 in Hancock Co, TN, and died July 11, 1939 in Hancock Co, TN. He married NANCY COLLINS August 25, 1898 in Hancock Co, TN, daughter of BATY COLLINS and CYNTHIA COLLINS. She was born August 15, 1881 in Hancock Co, TN, and died December 06, 1961 in Sparta, Ill. "Logan was medium tall, thin, blue-eyed, but fairly dark." (WGP) Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: TB.
NANCY COLLINS: Nancy was described as "medium tall, fleshy, light or red complexioned, plenty of brown hair, grey eyes". (WGP). She died in Sparta, Ill while on a visit, from a stroke and diabetes. Cause of Death: Diabetes
Logan and Nancy spent the first 11 years of their married life with Logan's uncle, Frank Collins, at his farm on top of Newman's Ridge.
Children of LOGAN MISER and NANCY COLLINS are:
i. CHESTER LOGAN4 MISER, b. March 10, 1924; d. December 16, 1925, Hancock Co, TN. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: measles
ii. GRACE LOIS MISER, b. July 30, 1899, Hancock Co, TN; m. ARTHUR TAYLOR, September 15, 1917; d. November 01, 1949, Swanwick, Ill.
ARTHUR TAYLOR: Rev. Taylor was a graduate of Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnatti, OH, and was a Presbyterian minister. When in Hancock Co, Taylor compiled a genealogical study of many Melungeon families, which is where much of this information comes from. He was killed by a large truck in front of his home at Swanwick, IL on Nov. 1, 1949.
iii. LILIAN MARGARET MISER, b. April 08, 1901, Hancock Co, TN; d. November 08, 1973, Hancock Co, TN; m. WILLIAM PAUL GROHSE, October 10, 1931, Hancock Co, TN.
iv. ROY BROUTOM MISER, b. December 19, 1902, Hancock Co, TN; m. LEONA TUDOR, November 25, 1926.
v. MAE THOMPSON MISER, b. February 22, 1905, Hancock Co, TN; m. (1) BENJAMEN WELCH; m. (2) PETER KNOKE, November 19, 1929.
vi. OPPIE NEALSON MISER, b. Abt. 1907.
vii. WALTER NEALSON MISER, b. November 25, 1909, Hancock Co, TN; d. August 06, 1964, Litchfield, Ill; m. DORA CANDLE, Abt. 1931, Chester, Ill.
viii. EDITH MISER, b. April 03, 1911, Hancock Co, TN; m. (1) EDGAR ROTH, Chester, Ill; m. (2) CLYDE RADFORD.
ix. ERNEST RANDALL MISER, b. July 09, 1913, Hancock Co, TN; d. February 23, 1954; m. PEARL TRENT, August 24, 1933, Hancock Co, TN?.
x. CLARIBEL GARRON MISER, b. November 07, 1915, Hancock Co, TN; m. DANIEL BOONE HORTON, Aft. 1931. Dan was a Spanish-American War Vet.
xi. GLADYS RECTOR MISER, b. March 13, 1918, Hancock Co, TN; m. RUDOLPH FEEGLE, Chester, Ill.
xii. CARL MISER, b. June 06, 1920; d. March 03, 1921. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: measles.
xiii. FLORENCE MARIE MISER, b. May 06, 1921, Hancock Co, TN; d. June 14, 1936, Hancock Co, TN?; m. HENRY FORD WILLIAMS.
xiv. CECIL RANKIN MISER, b. January 15, 1928, Hancock Co, TN; m. POLLY HORTON, November 03, 1948, Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN.
16. MONROE4 COLLINS (JANE3 MULLINS, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born April 04, 1865 in Hancock Co, TN, and died June 25, 1913 in St. Marks Hospital, Murray, UT. He married ELIZABETH ANN DAVIES in Salt Lake City, UT. Monroe (under the name William James Collins) served in The Spanish American War. Enlisted 5-5-1898 Utah Light Artillery Battery B. Burial: Murray City Cem., Murray, UT; burial: Murray City Cem., Murray, UT
Children of MONROE COLLINS and ELIZABETH DAVIES are:
i. HOWARD MONROE5 COLLINS, b. June 01, 1902, Murray, UT; d. April 19, 1976, Murray, UT; m. PRISCILLA HARRIET YATES, October 06, 1926, Lehi, UT. Burial: Murray City Cem., Murray, UT
ii. ORVAL COLLINS, b. August 07, 1905, Murray, UT; d. June 13, 1912, Murray, UT. Orval was run over by a train and had his legs cut off while trying to hop on the train. Burial: Murray City Cem., Murray, UT.
iii. ELVIRA COLLINS, b. November 20, 1908, Murray, UT; d. December 17, 1988, Murray, UT. Described in the Will Grohse Papers; "...pretty, dark haired, inclined to be thin as a child..." Burial: Murray City Cem., Murray, UT.
iv. HARVEY COLLINS, b. April 11, 1914, Murray, UT; d. December 14, 1992, Murray, UT. Harvey had no children.
17. CORAH4 COLLINS (JANE3 MULLINS, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born December 08, 1868 in Hancock Co, TN, and died Abt. 1902 in Coatesville, Ind?. She married (1) BOYD STEWART. She married (2) LUCAS COLLINS November 20, 1886 in Hancock Co, TN, son of ELCANA COLLINS and MINERVA GOODMAN. He was born Aft. 1855 in Hancock Co, TN, and died 1900. She married (3) ELMER STEWART Aft. 1901.
Children of CORAH COLLINS and LUCAS COLLINS are:
i. BOYD5 COLLINS.
ii. JOHN COLLINS.
iii. MACK COLLINS.
iv. PAIGE COLLINS.
v. RILLY COLLINS.
vi. PEARL COLLINS, b. Aft. 1886.
18. KYRIE4 COLLINS [JANE (3) MULLINS, MAHALA (2) COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born March 13, 1870 in Hancock Co, TN. She married TENNESSEE GOINS February 15, 1893 in Hancock Co, TN, son of LYDIA ? "Shorter, slighter than her sister Docia" - WGP. "Kyrie Collins Goins showed Indian blood strongly. After her son Mathias was killed, Kyrie's whole personality changed. She was mad at everybody, particularly any of the Presbyterians.
"Tennessee and Kyrie were divorced, and she was remarried to an 80-year-old man from Knoxville. Following the death of her son, she was never right in her mind afterward. At times she would do some bad things, such as the time she urinated on one of the girls of the community. She was sentenced to 60 days in jail for this. She served about half of the sentence. She would publicly curse anyone who showed friendship for the Wardell Collins family." - Rev. Arthur Taylor "He was a farmer-carpenter, light complexioned, fairly tall, heavy shoulders, prominent nose. He was inclined to play very mean tricks on anyone he came in contact with, especially Mr. and Mrs. George Allen Johnson. - Rev. Arthur Taylor.
Tennessee and Kyrie were later divorced. Cause of Death: Phlebitis & old age.
Children of KYRIE COLLINS and TENNESSEE GOINS are:
i. FLORA5 GOINS, b. February 12, 1893; d. October 31, 1960, St. Charles, VA; m. LUTHER DAVIDSON; d. April 06, 1938, Hancock Co, TN. Flora died on Halloween night, about 1960, according to William P. Grohse. "Some boys scared her, and she fell over dead. She was fair, had blue eyes and black hair."
LUTHER DAVIDSON: Luther Davidson died of pneumonia April 6, 1938, and his brother Hobert Davidson also died of pneumonia on the same day. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN
ii. MOLLIE GOINS, b. July 20, 1895.
iii. JULIA GOINS, b. June 1897.
iv. MATHIAS GOINS, b. November 1900; d. 1932, Hancock Co, TN. Was shot and killed by Wardell Collins, according to the Grohse Papers. Cause of Death: shot to death
v. LILLIE GOINS, b. Abt. 1902. Lillie was killed in a car accident, according to the Grohse Papers. Cause of Death: car wreck.
19. CARRIE4 COLLINS (JANE3 MULLINS, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born March 24, 1873 in Hancock Co, TN, and died January 15, 1940 in Hancock Co, TN. She married (1) LEE HAM COLLINS, son of BAILEY COLLINS and MELISSA RHEA. She married (2) CLAY MISER Bef. 1908, son of HAMILTON MISER and AMELIA COLLINS. He was born January 02, 1883 in Hancock Co, TN, and died November 02, 1928 in Hancock Co, TN. "Inclined to be slighter than her sisters." - WGP. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: old age.
CLAY MISER: The Grohse Papers also say that Clay died on 11/12/1925. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN; cause of Death: Liver diease.
Children are listed above under (13) Lee Ham Collins.
20. WILLIE4 DAVIDSON (SALLY3 MULLINS, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born Abt. 1867. He married (1) NANCE GIBSON, daughter of KEENER GIBSON and BETTY ?. He married (2) LINDY MOORE.
Children of WILLIE DAVIDSON and NANCE GIBSON are:
i. HOBERT5 DAVIDSON, d. April 06, 1938, Hancock Co, TN; m. SALLY JOHNSON. Hobert died the same day as his brother Luther.
SALLY JOHNSON: Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN.
ii. LUTHER DAVIDSON, d. April 06, 1938, Hancock Co, TN; Stepchild; m. FLORA GOINS; b. February 12, 1893; d. October 31, 1960, St. Charles, VA. Luther Davidson died of pneumonia April 6, 1938, and his brother Hobert Davidson also died of pneumonia on the same day. Burial: Vardy Cem., Hancock Co., TN
FLORA GOINS: Flora died on Halloween night, about 1960, according to William P. Grohse. "Some boys scared her, and she fell over dead. She was fair, had blue eyes and black hair."
21. ELIZA4 DAVIDSON [SALLY (3) MULLINS, MAHALA (2) COLLINS, SOLOMON (1)] was born Abt. 1876. She married (1) ARTHUR ROBERTS, son of GEORGE ROBERTS and FRANCIS COLLINS. She married (2) ? SMITH.
Child of ELIZA DAVIDSON and ? SMITH is:
i. GOLDIE5 SMITH.
ii. DANA5 DAVIDSON.
22. MONROE4 DAVIDSON (SALLY3 MULLINS, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born Abt. 1877. He married ? in KY.
Child of MONROE DAVIDSON and ? is:
i. BURTON5 DAVIDSON. Fought in WWI.
23. WILLIAM (4) MULLINS [LARKIN (3), MAHALA (2) COLLINS, SOLOMON (1)] was born in Hancock Co, TN. He married ETHIE COLLINS, daughter of ARDELL COLLINS and SARAH COLLINS. William was killed when a log rolled over him.
Children of WILLIAM MULLINS and ETHIE COLLINS are:
i. CONNECTICUT5 MULLINS.
ii. HASSIE MULLINS.
24. ANDREW JACKSON4 MULLINS (LARKIN3, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born October 01, 1870 in Hancock Co, TN, and died November 13, 1920 in Hancock Co, TN. He married ALICE MULLINS Abt. 1905 in TN01, daughter of JEREMIAH MULLINS and OLIVE MISER. She was born June 27, 1887 in VA, and died October 13, 1962 in Harrogate, Claiborne Co., TN. Andrew was shot and killed. Cause of Death: gunshot
Children of ANDREW MULLINS and ALICE MULLINS are:
i. MATTIELEE5 MULLINS, b. June 27, 1906, Hancock Co, TN; d. January 15, 1996, Harrogate, Claiborne Co., TN; m. (1) PAUL MAPLES; m. (2) WILLIAM BOLINGER.
ii. WILLIAM HENRY MULLINS, b. Abt. 1908, Hancock Co, TN; d. January 15, 1998, Harrogate, Claiborne Co., TN.
iii. NOLA MAE MULLINS, b. January 01, 1910, Hancock Co, TN; d. April 04, 1999, Harrogate, Claiborne Co., TN.
iv. BONNIE GOLDIE MULLINS, b. February 07, 1912, Hancock Co, TN; d. April 18, 1982, Toledo, OH; m. WOODROW FOWLER, October 16, 1937, Monroe, MI; b. October 29, 1912, Harrogate, Claiborne Co., TN; d. October 21, 1993, Leesburg, Lake Co., FL.
v. LUTHER POE MULLINS, b. December 10, 1915, Hancock Co, TN; d. April 27, 1948, Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN; m. DELLA COSBY, April 08, 1939.
vi. OLEN QUINTEN MULLINS, b. July 20, 1920, Hancock Co, TN; d. September 06, 1984, Toledo, OH.
vii. MARY LEE MULLINS, b. June 21, 1921, Harrogate, Claiborne Co., TN; m. FLOYD PANTHER, December 26, 1953, Flat Rock, Monroe Co., MI.
25. HOWARD4 MULLINS (ELBE3, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born Abt. 1871 in Hancock Co, TN, and died August 1972 in Hancock Co, TN. He married BERTHA ?. Howard was said to have been over 110 yrs old when he died. The Knoxville News Sentinel did an amusing story on him. Here is an excerpt;
Knoxville News-Sentinel; April 24, 1972; By Willard Yarbrough.
SNEEDVILLE, Teen. (AP)--Spring air was nippy along Blackwater Creek in Vardy Valley. So chilly, in fact, that Howard Mullins lifted his hands with palms exposed to coal-fed flames of the open fire.Such delicate hands, calloused from 100 winters spent in isolated hill country--where necessities of life long since have become luxuries to a mysterious people to whom Mullins belongs. He is one of the last of the Mulungeons, oldest of them all in Hancock County, which has been home for them for 200 years. Those left--in Snake Hollow, Blackwater, Vardy and Mulberry--are few in number. Most have left the hills. They seek jobs in cities far and near.
Back at Howard Mullins' open fire, Mrs. Mullins, 72, said she never heard the word until five years ago when she read a book about Melungeons. These hill people, now intermixed with non-Melungeon mates, simply know it's a bad word which their white neighbors once used to frighten their children: "Better be good or the Melungeons will get you."
"How has Grandpap Mullins lived to be 100? "He was drunk most of his life," she said. "That might have helped preserve him. He quit drinking 20 years ago, but there were many times I'd have to take the mule and sled and find him passed out drunk up a hollow."
"We both chew tobacco. I do because I don't want to smell his breath," she said, point to her now-blind husband as he chewed, at the [unreadable]
" (Will) Grohse, a German who settled in Vadry because he married a girl who is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Vardy Collins, said the 1880. Census listed Howard Collins' age at that time as 7. If so, that would make him 99, not 110. But Mullins says he's relative, reported he had learned that Vardy Collins' wife was known as "Spanish Peggy." (snip)
BERTHA ?: Excerpts from the 1972 Knoxville News-Sentinel article;
" Mrs. Howard Mullins remembered the Depression when she obtained a WPA job at the courthouse here as charwoman.
"I walked eight miles across Newman's Ridge to Sneedville everyday," she lived next door to Howard Mullins, whom she later married. "Howard would fire up his still and I'd build up my fire under my washpot. I guess I'd wash three or four times a week, or pretent to, and hang my clothes on the line to hide Howard's still from sight."
"We both chew tobacco. I do because I don't want to smell his breath," she said, pointing to her now-blind husband as he chewed, at the [unreadable]"
Child of HOWARD MULLINS and BERTHA ? is:
i. BURKETT5 MULLINS, b. 1890, Hancock Co, TN; d. October 1977, Hancock Co, TN; m. FRANCIS COLLINS. Burkett was a member of the Hancock County Court for 42 years.
26. WILLIE4 MULLINS (ELBE3, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born Abt. 1872. He married HESTA MULLINS, daughter of WALLACE MULLINS and MARGARET MULLINS. She was born 1872.
Children of WILLIE MULLINS and HESTA MULLINS are:
i. MAUD5 MULLINS, m. CROFF COLLINS; d. 1925. Croff and Maude lived near Pennington Gap, In Lee Co, VA. They had several children. Croff was shot and killed, after drunkingly throwing rocks at a man's house. The man ordered him away, but he refused, so he shot him. This happened in 1925.
ii. QUINNEY MULLINS.
27. LATHEM4 MULLINS (ELBE3, MAHALA2 COLLINS, SOLOMON1) was born Abt. 1873, and died April 24, 1958. He married (1) ELIZA MASSENGILL. He married (2) SARAH GIBSON.
Children of LATHEM MULLINS and ELIZA MASSENGILL are:
i. FRANK5 MULLINS, m. VIOLA BUTTRY. Lived in MD.
ii. DRURY MULLINS, m. STELLA BURDINE.
iii. OLIVER MULLINS.
iv. SARAH MULLINS, m. BOB MISER. Sarah left Bob and ran away, No one knows where.
BOB MISER: Bob was married to Patsy first. After she died, he married Sarah Mullins.
28. DORA4 COLLINS (LEE HAM3, BAILEY2, SOLOMON1) was born November 22, 1892 in Hancock Co, TN, and died May 07, 1982. She married GROVER MULLINS, son of JEREMIAH MULLINS and OLIVE MISER. He was born June 03, 1888 in Hancock Co, TN.
Children of DORA COLLINS and GROVER MULLINS are:
i. JOSEPHINE5 MULLINS, m. JERRY STALTS.
ii. NAOMI CONSTANCE MULLINS, m. THOMAS CHANNING THOMPSON.
iii. FRED MULLINS.
iv. JASPER MULLINS, b. March 06, 1911; m. MARGARET MULLINS.
v. ROSALIE MULLINS, b. January 01, 1916; m. MARTIN GLACIER.
vi. HAZEL MULLINS, b. April 05, 1918.
vii. ARTELLA MULLINS, b. January 08, 1921; m. ROBERT LEE.
viii. CHESTER F MULLINS, b. 1923; d. 1945.
ix. LEONA MULLINS, b. April 11, 1925; m. ? ROCK.