John Collins of Surry County

Probably not the husband of Elizabeth Seward or Margaret Collins

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN COLLINS

http://shaybo-therisingtide.blogspot.com/2011/08/descendants-of-joh...

Generation No. 2

3. John2 Collins (John1) was born Abt. 1590 in Maidstone, Kent Co., England, and died July 15, 1686 in Essex Co., VA (Source: Anst File#: SKJ1-BH & 1Z8D-WZ5.).

He married (1) Unknown Bef. 1615 in Maidstone, Kent Co., England (Source: LDS.). She was born Abt. 1595 in England, and died Abt. 1635 in England. He married (2) Elizabeth Caufield Aft. 1654 in Chippoakes Parish, Surry Co., VA, daughter of William Caufield and Dorcas Unknown. She was born Abt. 1630 in Chippoakes Parish, Surry Co., VA, and died Bef. 1684 in King and Queen or Essex Co., VA. He married (3) Margaret Weeks April 1684 in Essex Co., VA (Source: LDS.), daughter of Abraham Weeks. She was born Abt. 1660 in Isle of Wight Co., VA (Source: LDS.).

Child of John Collins and Unknown is:

• + 5 i. William3 Collins, born Abt. 1615 in Maidstone, Kent Co., England; died Bef. October 10, 1687 in Isle of Wight Co., VA. Married unknown.

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Notes

on John Collins Sr (1569-1644), John Collins Jr (1590-1686) and William Collins (1615-1686)

John Collins Sr. was created hereditary Keeper of the Gaol for Maidstone by King Charles I in 1631. This was a titled position with property rights. The title passed to John Collins Jr. upon the death of John Collins Sr in 1644.

All three Collins men had been supporters of King Charles I. The antagonism against King Charles was very strong in the 1630s and 1640s, making the Collins men very anxious. William Collins emigrated to Virginia on 15 May 1635 aboard the ship Plaine Joane. When King Charles was executed by Parliament in 1649, John Collins Jr realized he was in serious danger. John Collins Jr left England sometime before 2 Oct 1655 and joined his son William in Virginia.

for John Collins

In 1644, John inherited the title Keeper of the Gaol of Maidstone. He also inherited the gaol house and had charge of all its prisoners. This title had been granted to his father by King Charles I by letters patent dated February 27, 1631. This inheritance gave John a position of power and influence that he could pass on to his heirs.

John was a strong supporter of King Charles. After Parliament overthrew and executed Charles, the group that supported him sought safety in Virginia. John Collins left England and came to Virginia sometime before October 2, 1655, when George Frizell and Thomas Moore received land for transporting him to Virginia. It would seem likely that John fled to America before, or soon after, the execution as payment for passage often occurred many years later. John settled in Lawne's Creek Parish, Surry Co., VA. This parish was named for Christopher Lawne, who settled at the mouth of the creek in 1619.

John Collins of Maidstone was granted life rights as keeper of the Gael of Maidstone, which he passed on to his son John Jr. in his will. "The right was granted by King Charles 1st". It was a position of power and influence. John Collins Jr. came to Virginia Colony in 1655, twenty years after his son William. He came after King Charles 1st. had been executed bysupporters of Parliment. As an adherent of the King, John jr. sought safety in Virginia, and was known as one of the group called Cavaliers. The family held positions of importance and were prosperous land owners in Virginia.John Collins Jr. came to Surry Co. VA, and soon after his arrival he married Elizabeth Caufield. so his first wife, mother of William, must have died before he left England. Elizabeth was the daughter of William and Dorcus Caufield, and William Caufield had sponsored John'spassage from England. Elizabeth had one brother, Captain Robert Caufield, who is listed as the only heir in her parent's will. When John Jr. died, his will recorded in Surry County listed only one child, William who had come to Virginia in 1635.

• ISLE OF WIGHT CO. VA Formed 1634, original Shire;
• ESSEX CO. VA Formed 1692 from Old Rappahannock
• Spotsylvania formed 1720-1 from Essex, King & Queen, King William
• In 1635, Isle of Wright Virginia -- at the age of 20, William Collins (1615-1687), arrived in Virginia, with his paternal uncle, age 34, also named William Collins (1601-. The two landed on 15 May 1635, on the HMS "Plain Joan," Richard Buckam, Master.[1]
• 1648-1649 Reportedly John Jr and other Collins Family immigrated to Virginia during or after the Battle of Maidstone

Comments

• 1. No one knows when the John Collins who settled in colonial Surry County, Virginia arrived in the colonies. No one knows which of the several John Collins recorded as immigrants to colonial Virginia settled in Surry County. No one can state with certainty who his ancestors were. To assume he was the John Collins of Maidstone, England is conjecture.
• 2. The wife of John Collins of Surry County was not Elizabeth Caufield. His spouse remains unknown.
• 3. In his will John Collins identified "my dear son John Collins." No recorded documents associate him with a William Collins regardless of location in Virginia.

That's it for my notes. Comments and suggested correction and additions are solicited.

Bob Carney Williamsburg, VA

References

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Caufield-24
• Reportedly John Collins was friendly with Elizabeth Caufield’s father: William - both were English Royalists in the early stages of the Civil War). John owned land in Lawnes Creek, Surry VA; and Southwark Parish, Surry VA. [1]. From the will of (Brother) Robert Caufield we find John Collins and wife Elizabeth mentioned; Will dated January 2 1691; proved January 19, 1691; Surry County Va p 446[1]
• [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89066037243&view=1up&seq=34 p.4-p7 ; History and Genealogy of the Collins Family of Caroline County, Va: And Related Families, 1569-1954; Collins, Herbert Ridgeway; Dietz Press, 1954 - Caroline County (Va.) - 222 pages
• "Genealogies of VA Families" by John Boddie V.1 Surry Will BK 4, pg. 240, and Bk. 5 pp. 186, 275 (Robert)
• "Colonial Surry" by John Boddie Surry Order Bk. 1, pg. 235 (William)
• Prewitt, Richard A. The Collins Book: Joseph Collins and Lucy Marchbanks, their descendants. < PDF >
• Descendants of John Collins I < PDF > “The first two generations are very questionable and are in dispute by many. They are placed here only a guide to do additional research, to prove or disprove.”