PEE DEE Petition
Drowning Creek Pee Dee River Petition with Collins
This is information that needs to be looked at and carefully followed
in the records because if these Collins that are listed are the same or
from the same family then we would have a direct record of their stay in
the Catawba nation at the Pee Dee River settlement on Drowning Creek.
Is it possible to link the George Collins with the George Collins that
arrived in 1767 in Montgomery County at the Peach Bottom Lands and is
the David Collins that is listed here possibly the David Collins in the
New River area? Or... could this be David Collins 1750's father another
David Collins? If that were the case then George could have been David
Collins 1750's uncle.
This is from Joanne Pezzullo:
1793. Ordered that a wagon road be opened up from Blair and Dickey
Furnace to the county line and that William Austin, Lazarus Denny,
Charles Denny, and Thomas Kenweather do view the ground proposed for the
said road from the furnace to the ground where the courthouse is to be
erected from thence to the forge, from thence to William Jennings',
Joseph Hill, Nathaniel Pope, James Cock and William Williams, wagoner,
do view said ground from Jennings to the county line, where said road
crosses Greasy Creek... That Aaron Collins, Andrew Cock, Reubin Dalton
and John Robinson being first sworn, or any three of them, do view the
grounds proposed and make report of the conveniences and inconveniences
that will result from opening of the same as well to individuals, as to
the publick and make report of the same to the next court... (This road
was largely in what is now Carroll County).
August 27,
1794. A wagon road from the courthouse across New River to George
Martin's and that Jonathan Collins open the same. A wagon road from the
courthouse to Fisher's Gap. A wagon road from the courthouse crossing
the river at Colonel Swift's to the Mouth of Elk Creek. View road that
leads from the road that leads to William Jennings to Tobias Phillips'
at the Montgomery line. A wagon road to be opened from the furnace to
the Carolina line toward Fisher's Gap, going through an old field of
George Reeves's - twenty-five or thirty poles. James Summer, surveyor
for the road from Peach Bottom Creek to the junction of said road to
where it joins the Island Ford road, proceed thence to the line.
22 Mar 1794 Grayson Co., VA
``Grayson Co., VA, Land Plat Book, Mar. 22, 1794. "John COX, asee of P.
GAINS asee of James NEWELL asee of William HARRISON asee of Julius
RUCKER by virtue of a certificate from the principal surveyor of Lee
County of a part of a land office treasury warrant for 13300 acres No.
19689 & dated the 2nd day of Oct. 1783 as for Susannah COLLINS
enters 300 acres of land on the waters of H. Creek the waters of the
North Fork of New River beginning on the N. Carolina line & running
so as to include his improvement for quantity."
First two are
from Grayson County Road Orders found at Jeff Weaver's New River site.
These two on Susannah are from Grayson County, Virginia - Land Plat
Book 1 1793-1794 also at Jeff Weaver's site.
Here is a good map
I found while looking for Fisher's Gap -- this is a cemetery in Surry
County but if you position it halfway many of the place names are there.
Mouth of Wilson is where Jim Callahan says Vardy was born.
http://www.cemeterycensus.net/
.883389&cem=FISHERS_GAP_CHURCH
March 21 Susannah Collins, asee of P. Gains asee of James Newell asee
of William Harrison asee of Julius Rucker by virtue of a certificate
from the principal surveyor of Lee County of a part of a land office
treasury warrant for 13300 acres No. 19689 & dated the 2nd day of
Oct. 1783 enters 150 acres of land on the waters of Elk Creek & on
the east side of Point Lookout beginning & running so as to include
her improvement for quantity.
March 22 John Cox, asee of P.
Gains asee of James Newell asee of William Harrison asee of Julius
Rucker by virtue of a certificate from the principal surveyor of Lee
County of a part of a land office treasury warrant for 13300 acres No.
19689 & dated the 2nd day of Oct. 1783 as for Susannah Collins
enters 300 acres of land on the waters of H. Creek the waters of the
North Fork of New River beginning on the N. Carolina line & running
so as to include his improvement for quantity
Andrew Baker -- Believe I sent these first records already
On 29 Apr 1788 the Wilkes County Court ordered a road jury be named to
view the road a new road through Thomas Dicksons on New River instead of
present road. These men were probably all neighbors and some probably
related to each other: David Smith, John Boyd, Leven Cole, John
Anderson, Alexander Johnson, Ambrous Collens, James Sparks, Andrew
Baker, James Baker, William Scott, John Parmely, Ephraim Parmely,
Alexander Smith, George Baker, James Bunyard and John Read. (Wilkes Co,
NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes
1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)
On 23
Jan 1787 a road crew was named for the road from James Bakers on New
River to Franklins Road: Martin Gambill, David Richardson, William
Richardson, Cannaday Richardson, James Williamson, John Fips, Moses
Toliver, Jesse Toliver, Zachariah Wells, Ephraim Osborn, David Smith,
Alexander Smith, Alexander Johnson, William Scott, William Collens and
Morris Baker. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North
Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O.
Absher.)
Surry County was formed from Rowan County in 1771 and
this included the area where James Baker lived. Wilkes County was formed
in 1777 from Surry County and included the area where James Baker lived
Rowan County Tax - 1759 David Smith. William Calliom, Thomas Poston, Samuel Reed, William Read
This was in 1767 or 1768. This time he encountered another problem. In
Andrew's long absence, Dr. Thomas Walker, a surveyor for the Loyal Land
Company, had staked and claimed the "Peach Tree Bottom" track, for his
employers. He had to now purchase 1000 acres of his original claim
before he could resettle on it again. It seems that it just wasn't meant
to be. The following year, he was once again forced out by the Indians
and back to his old settlement. One might wonder why Andrew
was so
determined to settle this particular track land. The answer lay in what
was on and in the land, more so, than the land itself. For you see, one
of the largest iron ore deposits in this area was discovered on this
land. I think Andrew Baker, and at least one of his sons, were involved
in the Iron business. His son James Baker and he built several larger
iron furnaces along Cranberry Creek, a tributary of the south branch of
New River. The remains of some of these old Iron Furnaces can be seen
even today. They were at their peek of production during the
Revolutionary War.” 195.
The John Cox, Ephraim Osborne and John
Hashe families accompanied Baker on his return in 1765, Cox settling
opposite Baker. George Collins and George Reeves from Drury's Bluff
below Richmond arrived at Peach Bottom in 1767. Baker soon sold land
to Jeremiah Harrison, James Mulkey and James, John and Samuel Blevins.
The Hashes located where Bridle Creek enters the New. The Osbornes
located between Bridle and Saddle Creek opposite the Bakers. 196
• 1755 Andrew Baker appears as a chain carrier for Marmaduke Kimbrough in Orange Co. NC.197
• 1755 Andrew Baker appears in court in September in a petition vs. John Bumpass198
John Bumpas agt Andrew Baker: Petition: On Petition of John Bumpas
against Andrew Baker Defendant for four pounds thirteen shillings and
six pence Virginia Money said to be due up on Account. The dame day came
the Plaintiff by his Attorney and the Defendant failing to appear
although duly summmon’d and served with a Copy of the Plaintiffs
Petition &c account. The Plaintiff proved his Demand to be just
& true by his own Oath. Therefore Plaintiff recover against the
Defendant his Damages aforesaid in form aforesaid and his Costs by him
in that behalf expended. Judgment £4:13:6, Clerk 1:1:11
• May 16, 1757 Andrew Baker appears on a land warrant in Orange Co. NC Little Barton Creek, on south side of
Neuse River)199
• 1758 Andrew Baker appears on a list to clear and maintain roads.200
• 1758 Andrew Baker appears in court in September of 1758 in a case vs. Michael Synnot.201
Michael Synnot agt. Andrew Baker: Case, And the Defendant by his
Attorney Comes and Defends the fource and injury when and whre &c
and saith that he did not Assume in manner and form as the Plaintiff
against hat Declared and of this he puts himself upon the Country and
the Defendant (sic) Likewise Therefore let a Jury come agreeable to act
of Assembly to Recognize &c. The same Day came the Parties by their
Attorneys whereupon came also a Jury towit: &c. who being elected
trued and sworn the truth to speak upon the issue Joined up their oath
do say that the Defendant did assume in manner and form as the
Plaintiff against him hath Declared and do assess his Damages to Two
pounds Seven Shillings and four pence Proclamation Money therefore it is
the Opinion of the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the
Defendant his Damages aforesaid in form aforesaid and his Costs by him
in that behalf expended.
• 1750-1765 Andrew Baker settles on a tract of land in what is now Ashe Co. NC along the drains of the New River202
• June 19, 1760 Andrew Baker appears on a land warrant in Orange Co. NC (on a drain of Kemp's Br., waters of the
Neuse)203
• 1761. Elisha Lawrence late of Rowan to Andrew Baker for £32 proclamation money 450A on Grassy Bottom Creek
granted by Granville 25 Dec. 1761. 4 March 1763. Jacob Lash, Edwd. Hughes. Rowan Co.204
• March 5, 1763 Andrew Baker appears on a land deed (450 acres Elisha Lawrance to Andrew Baker, Rowan County
NC) 205
• 176? Doc. Andrew Baker handles estate of Douglas Baker dec. in Prince Edward Co. Virginia. 206
• 1764 Andrew Baker appears in Procession returns in Prince Edward Co. Virginia. 207
• 1765 Andrew Baker returns to his tract of land on the South Fork (of the New River). 208
In 1765 or 1768 Andrew Baker settled and made an improvement on land under the Loyal Company now in Grayson County.
Several years afterwards he sold to Jeremiah Harrison, who also removed to and lived on the land for some time, and sold to
James Mulkey, who settled and lived on the land and then sold to James Blevins, father of orator John Blevins, 1772. James
then moved to the land, where he resided until his death, in 1801. 209
http://crossedbrushstudio.com/
Volume7.pdf
In 1754 it was reported to the Governor of North Carolina there were
fifty families called a 'mixt crew' residing on the Drowning Creek . The
report made to the Governor stated 'there were no Indians' in the area.
Records show that at least some of these families would later become
known as Melungeons, Redbones and Lumbee Indians.
One of these
families was Spencer Boltons who was born 1735 on the Pee Dee River
and is found on the petition below. His son Solomon Bolton is found in
Hamilton County, Tennessee where his descendants are found in court
records where he, as well as the Perkins, Shoemake, Goins, Manley and
Mournings, were described as Spanish or Portuguese and called
Melungeons.
Lewis Shepherd who represented the family in court wrote in 'A Romance of the Melungeons:'
''South Carolina had a law taxing free Negroes so much per capita, and a
determined effort was made to collect this of them. But it was shown
in evidence on the trial of this case that they always successfully
resisted the payment of this tax, as they proved that they were not
Negroes. Because of their treatment, they left South Carolina at an
early day and wandered across the mountains to Hancock county, East
Tennessee; in fact, the majority of the people of that country are
“Melungeons,:” or allied to them in some way. A few families of them
drifted away from Hancock into the other counties of east Tennessee and
now and then into the mountainous section of Middle Tennessee."
Excerpts from the trial can be found here.
South Carolina Petition 1794
To the honorable, the Representatives of So Carolina
The Petition of the people of colour of the state aforesaid who are
under the act entitled an "Act for imposing a pole tax on all free
Negroes, Mustees, and Mulatoes,"
most humbly sheweth
that whereas we your humble petitioners having the honor of being your
citizens, as also free and willing to advance for the support of
government anything that might not be prejudiced to us, it being well
known that we have not been backward on our part, in performing any
other public duties that hath fell in the compass of our knowledge
We therefore being sensibly grieved our present situation, also having
frequently discovered the many distresses occasioned by your act
imposing the pole tax, such as widows with large families, & women
scarcely able to support themselves, being frequently followed &
payment extorted by your tax gatherers--
The considerations on
our part hath occasioned us to give you this trouble, requesting your
autherate body to repeal an act so truly mortifying to your distressed
petitioners-- for which favor your petitioners will ever acknowledge
& devoutly pray ---
Isaac Linager
Isaac Mitchell
Jonathon Price
Nathan Price
Richard Evins
Nathaniel Cumboe
George Collins
William Turner [his mark]
Thomas Hulin
Spencer Bolton [his mark]
William Swett [his mark]
Solomon Bolton [his mark]
James Shewmake [his mark]
John Turner Jr [his mark]
Solomon Shewmake [his mark]
Sampson Shewmake [his mark]
Thomas Shewmake Jun [his mark]
Thomas Shewmake Sen [his mark]
John Shewmake [his mark]
James Shewmake [his mark]
David Collins
Thomas Collins
John Turner Sen [his mark]
Mildred Turner [her mark]
Jenelayer {?} Turner [her mark]
Catherine Turner [her mark]
Elias Hulin
Cudworth Oxendine
Archmack Ocendine
Peter Colder [his mark]
Moses Colder [his mark]
Delley Gibson
Drusilla Gibson
George McCloud
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
In Justice to your petitioners as above, we whose particular knowledge
of their situation hath induced us to request in their favor the benefit
of a repeal, provided your honorable and deliberate body can then it
best to do............
In 1809, the state legislature renamed Drowning Creek the Lumber River, after the area's major industry.
These are some of my questions about this information. We really need
to start checking on the Jones County, North Carolina
Collinses...because there are only two possible routes that our
Collinses took to get to the New River area. They either came from the
Orange County/Louisa County area along with Old Thomas Collins and that
group of Saponi...or they came from this Drowning Creek/Lumber River
settlement. This is the place that became the area of the present day
Lumbee.
Is it possible that Old Thomas Collins of Flatt
River is the son of one of the Collins listed on these Drowning Creek
petitions, David, George, Thomas...was Elisha there too?
Further is it possible that Samuel Collins the supposed son of Old
Thomas Collins may actually have been Old Thomas Collins brother
instead?
I'm extremly curious about anything else you may know
about the Drowning Creek Collinses and whether or not these Collinses
may have been the generation previous to Old Thomas Collins of Flatt
River and or David Collins 1750?
If the David Collins on the
Drowning Creek was old enough to have been David Collins 1750's father
then that would be an interesting development.
Drowning Creek Pee Dee River Petition with Collins
This is information that needs to be looked at and carefully followed in the records because if these Collins that are listed are the same or from the same family then we would have a direct record of their stay in the Catawba nation at the Pee Dee River settlement on Drowning Creek. Is it possible to link the George Collins with the George Collins that arrived in 1767 in Montgomery County at the Peach Bottom Lands and is the David Collins that is listed here possibly the David Collins in the New River area? Or... could this be David Collins 1750's father another David Collins? If that were the case then George could have been David Collins 1750's uncle.
This is from Joanne Pezzullo:
1793. Ordered that a wagon road be opened up from Blair and Dickey Furnace to the county line and that William Austin, Lazarus Denny, Charles Denny, and Thomas Kenweather do view the ground proposed for the said road from the furnace to the ground where the courthouse is to be erected from thence to the forge, from thence to William Jennings', Joseph Hill, Nathaniel Pope, James Cock and William Williams, wagoner, do view said ground from Jennings to the county line, where said road crosses Greasy Creek... That Aaron Collins, Andrew Cock, Reubin Dalton and John Robinson being first sworn, or any three of them, do view the grounds proposed and make report of the conveniences and inconveniences that will result from opening of the same as well to individuals, as to the publick and make report of the same to the next court... (This road was largely in what is now Carroll County).
August 27, 1794. A wagon road from the courthouse across New River to George Martin's and that Jonathan Collins open the same. A wagon road from the courthouse to Fisher's Gap. A wagon road from the courthouse crossing the river at Colonel Swift's to the Mouth of Elk Creek. View road that leads from the road that leads to William Jennings to Tobias Phillips' at the Montgomery line. A wagon road to be opened from the furnace to the Carolina line toward Fisher's Gap, going through an old field of George Reeves's - twenty-five or thirty poles. James Summer, surveyor for the road from Peach Bottom Creek to the junction of said road to where it joins the Island Ford road, proceed thence to the line.
22 Mar 1794 Grayson Co., VA
``Grayson Co., VA, Land Plat Book, Mar. 22, 1794. "John COX, asee of P. GAINS asee of James NEWELL asee of William HARRISON asee of Julius RUCKER by virtue of a certificate from the principal surveyor of Lee County of a part of a land office treasury warrant for 13300 acres No. 19689 & dated the 2nd day of Oct. 1783 as for Susannah COLLINS enters 300 acres of land on the waters of H. Creek the waters of the North Fork of New River beginning on the N. Carolina line & running so as to include his improvement for quantity."
First two are from Grayson County Road Orders found at Jeff Weaver's New River site. These two on Susannah are from Grayson County, Virginia - Land Plat Book 1 1793-1794 also at Jeff Weaver's site.
Here is a good map I found while looking for Fisher's Gap -- this is a cemetery in Surry County but if you position it halfway many of the place names are there. Mouth of Wilson is where Jim Callahan says Vardy was born.
http://www.cemeterycensus.net/
.883389&cem=FISHERS_GAP_CHURCH
March 21 Susannah Collins, asee of P. Gains asee of James Newell asee of William Harrison asee of Julius Rucker by virtue of a certificate from the principal surveyor of Lee County of a part of a land office treasury warrant for 13300 acres No. 19689 & dated the 2nd day of Oct. 1783 enters 150 acres of land on the waters of Elk Creek & on the east side of Point Lookout beginning & running so as to include her improvement for quantity.
March 22 John Cox, asee of P. Gains asee of James Newell asee of William Harrison asee of Julius Rucker by virtue of a certificate from the principal surveyor of Lee County of a part of a land office treasury warrant for 13300 acres No. 19689 & dated the 2nd day of Oct. 1783 as for Susannah Collins enters 300 acres of land on the waters of H. Creek the waters of the North Fork of New River beginning on the N. Carolina line & running so as to include his improvement for quantity
Andrew Baker -- Believe I sent these first records already
On 29 Apr 1788 the Wilkes County Court ordered a road jury be named to view the road a new road through Thomas Dicksons on New River instead of present road. These men were probably all neighbors and some probably related to each other: David Smith, John Boyd, Leven Cole, John Anderson, Alexander Johnson, Ambrous Collens, James Sparks, Andrew Baker, James Baker, William Scott, John Parmely, Ephraim Parmely, Alexander Smith, George Baker, James Bunyard and John Read. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)
On 23 Jan 1787 a road crew was named for the road from James Bakers on New River to Franklins Road: Martin Gambill, David Richardson, William Richardson, Cannaday Richardson, James Williamson, John Fips, Moses Toliver, Jesse Toliver, Zachariah Wells, Ephraim Osborn, David Smith, Alexander Smith, Alexander Johnson, William Scott, William Collens and Morris Baker. (Wilkes Co, NC Court Minutes from Wilkes County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1778-1788 Volumes 1 & 11 by Mrs. W. O. Absher.)
Surry County was formed from Rowan County in 1771 and this included the area where James Baker lived. Wilkes County was formed in 1777 from Surry County and included the area where James Baker lived
Rowan County Tax - 1759 David Smith. William Calliom, Thomas Poston, Samuel Reed, William Read
This was in 1767 or 1768. This time he encountered another problem. In Andrew's long absence, Dr. Thomas Walker, a surveyor for the Loyal Land Company, had staked and claimed the "Peach Tree Bottom" track, for his employers. He had to now purchase 1000 acres of his original claim before he could resettle on it again. It seems that it just wasn't meant to be. The following year, he was once again forced out by the Indians and back to his old settlement. One might wonder why Andrew
was so determined to settle this particular track land. The answer lay in what was on and in the land, more so, than the land itself. For you see, one of the largest iron ore deposits in this area was discovered on this land. I think Andrew Baker, and at least one of his sons, were involved in the Iron business. His son James Baker and he built several larger iron furnaces along Cranberry Creek, a tributary of the south branch of New River. The remains of some of these old Iron Furnaces can be seen even today. They were at their peek of production during the Revolutionary War.” 195.
The John Cox, Ephraim Osborne and John Hashe families accompanied Baker on his return in 1765, Cox settling opposite Baker. George Collins and George Reeves from Drury's Bluff below Richmond arrived at Peach Bottom in 1767. Baker soon sold land to Jeremiah Harrison, James Mulkey and James, John and Samuel Blevins. The Hashes located where Bridle Creek enters the New. The Osbornes located between Bridle and Saddle Creek opposite the Bakers. 196
• 1755 Andrew Baker appears as a chain carrier for Marmaduke Kimbrough in Orange Co. NC.197
• 1755 Andrew Baker appears in court in September in a petition vs. John Bumpass198
John Bumpas agt Andrew Baker: Petition: On Petition of John Bumpas against Andrew Baker Defendant for four pounds thirteen shillings and six pence Virginia Money said to be due up on Account. The dame day came the Plaintiff by his Attorney and the Defendant failing to appear although duly summmon’d and served with a Copy of the Plaintiffs Petition &c account. The Plaintiff proved his Demand to be just & true by his own Oath. Therefore Plaintiff recover against the Defendant his Damages aforesaid in form aforesaid and his Costs by him in that behalf expended. Judgment £4:13:6, Clerk 1:1:11
• May 16, 1757 Andrew Baker appears on a land warrant in Orange Co. NC Little Barton Creek, on south side of
Neuse River)199
• 1758 Andrew Baker appears on a list to clear and maintain roads.200
• 1758 Andrew Baker appears in court in September of 1758 in a case vs. Michael Synnot.201
Michael Synnot agt. Andrew Baker: Case, And the Defendant by his Attorney Comes and Defends the fource and injury when and whre &c and saith that he did not Assume in manner and form as the Plaintiff against hat Declared and of this he puts himself upon the Country and the Defendant (sic) Likewise Therefore let a Jury come agreeable to act of Assembly to Recognize &c. The same Day came the Parties by their Attorneys whereupon came also a Jury towit: &c. who being elected
trued and sworn the truth to speak upon the issue Joined up their oath do say that the Defendant did assume in manner and form as the Plaintiff against him hath Declared and do assess his Damages to Two pounds Seven Shillings and four pence Proclamation Money therefore it is the Opinion of the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the Defendant his Damages aforesaid in form aforesaid and his Costs by him in that behalf expended.
• 1750-1765 Andrew Baker settles on a tract of land in what is now Ashe Co. NC along the drains of the New River202
• June 19, 1760 Andrew Baker appears on a land warrant in Orange Co. NC (on a drain of Kemp's Br., waters of the
Neuse)203
• 1761. Elisha Lawrence late of Rowan to Andrew Baker for £32 proclamation money 450A on Grassy Bottom Creek
granted by Granville 25 Dec. 1761. 4 March 1763. Jacob Lash, Edwd. Hughes. Rowan Co.204
• March 5, 1763 Andrew Baker appears on a land deed (450 acres Elisha Lawrance to Andrew Baker, Rowan County
NC) 205
• 176? Doc. Andrew Baker handles estate of Douglas Baker dec. in Prince Edward Co. Virginia. 206
• 1764 Andrew Baker appears in Procession returns in Prince Edward Co. Virginia. 207
• 1765 Andrew Baker returns to his tract of land on the South Fork (of the New River). 208
In 1765 or 1768 Andrew Baker settled and made an improvement on land under the Loyal Company now in Grayson County.
Several years afterwards he sold to Jeremiah Harrison, who also removed to and lived on the land for some time, and sold to
James Mulkey, who settled and lived on the land and then sold to James Blevins, father of orator John Blevins, 1772. James
then moved to the land, where he resided until his death, in 1801. 209
http://crossedbrushstudio.com/
Volume7.pdf
In 1754 it was reported to the Governor of North Carolina there were fifty families called a 'mixt crew' residing on the Drowning Creek . The report made to the Governor stated 'there were no Indians' in the area. Records show that at least some of these families would later become known as Melungeons, Redbones and Lumbee Indians.
One of these families was Spencer Boltons who was born 1735 on the Pee Dee River and is found on the petition below. His son Solomon Bolton is found in Hamilton County, Tennessee where his descendants are found in court records where he, as well as the Perkins, Shoemake, Goins, Manley and Mournings, were described as Spanish or Portuguese and called Melungeons.
Lewis Shepherd who represented the family in court wrote in 'A Romance of the Melungeons:'
''South Carolina had a law taxing free Negroes so much per capita, and a determined effort was made to collect this of them. But it was shown in evidence on the trial of this case that they always successfully resisted the payment of this tax, as they proved that they were not Negroes. Because of their treatment, they left South Carolina at an early day and wandered across the mountains to Hancock county, East Tennessee; in fact, the majority of the people of that country are “Melungeons,:” or allied to them in some way. A few families of them drifted away from Hancock into the other counties of east Tennessee and now and then into the mountainous section of Middle Tennessee." Excerpts from the trial can be found here.
South Carolina Petition 1794
To the honorable, the Representatives of So Carolina
The Petition of the people of colour of the state aforesaid who are under the act entitled an "Act for imposing a pole tax on all free Negroes, Mustees, and Mulatoes,"
most humbly sheweth
that whereas we your humble petitioners having the honor of being your citizens, as also free and willing to advance for the support of government anything that might not be prejudiced to us, it being well known that we have not been backward on our part, in performing any other public duties that hath fell in the compass of our knowledge
We therefore being sensibly grieved our present situation, also having frequently discovered the many distresses occasioned by your act imposing the pole tax, such as widows with large families, & women scarcely able to support themselves, being frequently followed & payment extorted by your tax gatherers--
The considerations on our part hath occasioned us to give you this trouble, requesting your autherate body to repeal an act so truly mortifying to your distressed petitioners-- for which favor your petitioners will ever acknowledge & devoutly pray ---
Isaac Linager
Isaac Mitchell
Jonathon Price
Nathan Price
Richard Evins
Nathaniel Cumboe
George Collins
William Turner [his mark]
Thomas Hulin
Spencer Bolton [his mark]
William Swett [his mark]
Solomon Bolton [his mark]
James Shewmake [his mark]
John Turner Jr [his mark]
Solomon Shewmake [his mark]
Sampson Shewmake [his mark]
Thomas Shewmake Jun [his mark]
Thomas Shewmake Sen [his mark]
John Shewmake [his mark]
James Shewmake [his mark]
David Collins
Thomas Collins
John Turner Sen [his mark]
Mildred Turner [her mark]
Jenelayer {?} Turner [her mark]
Catherine Turner [her mark]
Elias Hulin
Cudworth Oxendine
Archmack Ocendine
Peter Colder [his mark]
Moses Colder [his mark]
Delley Gibson
Drusilla Gibson
George McCloud
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
In Justice to your petitioners as above, we whose particular knowledge of their situation hath induced us to request in their favor the benefit of a repeal, provided your honorable and deliberate body can then it best to do............
In 1809, the state legislature renamed Drowning Creek the Lumber River, after the area's major industry.
These are some of my questions about this information. We really need to start checking on the Jones County, North Carolina Collinses...because there are only two possible routes that our Collinses took to get to the New River area. They either came from the Orange County/Louisa County area along with Old Thomas Collins and that group of Saponi...or they came from this Drowning Creek/Lumber River settlement. This is the place that became the area of the present day Lumbee.
Is it possible that Old Thomas Collins of Flatt River is the son of one of the Collins listed on these Drowning Creek petitions, David, George, Thomas...was Elisha there too?
Further is it possible that Samuel Collins the supposed son of Old Thomas Collins may actually have been Old Thomas Collins brother instead?
I'm extremly curious about anything else you may know about the Drowning Creek Collinses and whether or not these Collinses may have been the generation previous to Old Thomas Collins of Flatt River and or David Collins 1750?
If the David Collins on the Drowning Creek was old enough to have been David Collins 1750's father then that would be an interesting development.
No comments:
Post a Comment