Benjamin Collins, Sr.

Update May 2018

page 49 of http://jogg.info/pages/72/files/Estes.pdf (the Estes study of Melungeons)

Vardemon Navarrh Collins Y DNA is R1a1, German / Slavic.

Benjamin Collins identified as Y DNA haplogroup E1b1a7a, sub Saharan. He cannot have had the same father as Vardy. Disconnected from James Navarrah Henry Collins as son.

Was he a son of Valentine Collins?

http://www.historical-melungeons.com/meltree.html

Old Benjamin Collins, one of the pioneers, was older than Vardy, but came to Tennessee a trifle later. He had quite a large family of children, among them Edmond, Mileyton, Marler, Harry, Andrew, Zeke, Jordon. From Jordan Collins descended Calloway Collins who is still living today and from whom I obtained some valuable information. But.....go back a step. Benjamin Collins was known as old Ben, and became the head of the Ben's tribe. Old Solomon Collins was the head of Sol's tribe. The race was increasing so rapidly, by emigration and otherwise, that it became necessary to adopt other names than Collins. They fell ,curiously enough, upon the first or Christian name of the head of a large family connection or tribe. Emigrants arriving attached themselves as they chose to the several tribes. After a while, with an eye to brevity, doubtless, the word "tribe" was dropped from ordinary, everyday use. The "Bens" the "Sols" meant the Ben and Sols Tribes. It appeared that no tribe was ever called for Old Vary, although as long as he lived he was recognized as head and leader of the entire people.

The Collins tribe multiplied more and more; it became necessary to have names, and a most peculiar method was hit upon for obtaining them. Ben Collins children were distinguished from the children of Sol and Vary by prefixing the Christian name either of the father or mother to the Christian name of the child. For instance; Edmund Ben, Singleton Ben; Andrew Ben; Zeke Ben, meant that Edmund Singleton, Andrew, and Zeke were the sons of Ben Collins. Singleton Mitch; Levi Mitch, and Morris Mitch , meant that these men were the sons of Mitchel Collins. In the next generation there was a Jordan Ben who married Abbie Sol, had a son, who is called ( he is still living, as before stated) Calloway Abby for his mother. The wife before marriage takes her father's Christian name; after marriage that of her husband. Calloway 's wife, for instance, is Ann Collaway. It is not known, and cannot by any possibility be ascertained at what precise period other races appeared among the Collins.