Mordecai Collins

Biography
Mordecai Collins was born about 1755 to Edward Collins Sr and Jane Jones. In his father's will Mordecai had the following bequest, "Item: I give to my son Mordicai my negro man named Peter to him and his heirs."

Mordecia Collins and Susannah Robertson, both of Louisa, were married 6 Nov 1790. The wedding was performed and recorded by the Rev. Douglas, a “traveling minister” from Goochland Parish.

Mordecai Collins passed away about 1844.

Children
The following children are named in the Will of Mardaci Collins. Note some were born prior to his 1790 marriage to Susannah Robertson and therefore may have a different mother.

William B Collins b 1787
James R Collins b before 1790
John G Collins b aft 1790

Dillard W Collins b aft 1790
Ann Eliza Collins b 1792 m Monroe Neal Heaston
Nimrod R Collins b 1797
Drucilla Collins b 1807 m Lewis Heaston
(see profile of wife for reasons the first two sons are likely her step-sons)

Will
Will of Mordaci Collins (transcribed)

In the name of God, I Mordaci Collins of Orange County Va., do hereby make constitute and publish this my last will and testament - Item 1st I desire that my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and my graveyard inclosed - Item 2nd - I desire all my landed estate the Grave Yard excepted, be sold upon such terms as my executor hereafter named shall think best and out of the proceeds my debts paid. Item 3rd - I have advanced to my son Dillard Collins three hundred and fifty dollars, to my son James R Collins four hundred and fifty dollars, to my son Nimrod Collins seven hundred and sixty five dollars, to my daughter Ann Eliza Heaston four hundred and sixty five dollars, to my daughter Drucilla Heaston four hundred and sixty five dollars, which several advancements I desire shall be brought into my estte upon the principal of Hotchpot (?) in our act of distributions and then for my Negroes amd all my estate to be divided equally into seven parts. I give one part unto my son Dillard Collins and ___ unto my son James R. Collins, one part to my son Nimrod Collins and one part to my son William (B?) Collins, one part to my daughter Ann Eliza Heaston and one part to my daughter Drucilla Heaston, one part to Susan Ann Collins infant and only daughter of my son John Collins deceased, to be held in trust by Robert Collins until she marries or becomes of age, and if she should die before she marries or becomes of age, I desire that her part shall be equally divided among the rest of my children. Item 4th - I desire that the part given to William (B) Collins shall remain in the hands of Robert Collins until said William or his heirs call for the same, but if the said William Collins or his heirs do not call in four years after my death then his part is to be divided as the balance of my estate - Item 5th - I desire my executor to advertise for said William B. Collins in some paper published in Missouri for six months and pay the cost out of my estate, the advertisement to be made as soon as convenient after my death - Item 6th - I desire that my Negro woman Coatna shall go to my daughter Ann Eliza Heaston at valuation and my Negro woman Nancy to my daughter Drucilla Heastin likewise at valuation - Item 7th - I desire that my Negroes shall be divided round those geting lots of greatest value ___ the difference - Lastly I appoint Robert Collins son of Lewis Collins my executor of this my last will and testament given under my hand and seal this the 11th day of April 1844.

his

Signed sealed and acknowledged Mordica X Collins

mark ( seal )

in the presents of Benjamin ___ Dunn

Lewis D. Collins

John Dunn

Thos. Woolfolk

At a quarterly court held for the County of Orange at the courthouse on Monday the 27th of May 1844- This last will and testament of Mordica Collins deceased with codicil thereto annexed was proved by the oaths of Benjamin ___ Dunn, Lewis D. Collins and Thomas Woolfolk witnesses there to and ordered to be recorded - And on the motion of Robert Collins the executor therin named who made oath thereto according to law and together with Lewis D. Collins and Thomas Woolfolk his securities, entered into and acknowleded a bond in the penalty of ten thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs -certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form. Mordecai Collins The Douglas Register Mordecai Collins Previous slideNext slide Hide Details

Donald Perryman originally shared this transcription on 23 Feb 2012 .

Sources
Virginia Select Marriages [1]

Guardian bond for Susan Ann Collins, daughter of John G Collins, granddaughter of Mordecai Collins, and signed by cousin Edward Robertson. Found on Ancestry.com in "Missouri, Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988", page no. 139. [2]

Will of Edward Collins, Senior in Will Book 5, pages 253-4. Also cited in "Will Abstracts of Orange Co. 1821-1838; by Sparacio, pages 6 & 143.

JAMES MADISON'S PLANTATION (1790-1801). Although James Madison did not formally inherit Montpelier until after his father's death in 1801, he was active in its management at least as early as the 1790s due to his father's declining health (Miller 1990, p. 43; Brant 1970, p. 289; Rutland 1987, p. 92). While several Montpelier account books from the late-eighteenth century remain missing (Miller 1990, p. 21-22), excerpts of a 1790 list of instructions from James Madison to the overseers of the various plantation quarters provides an insightful, if not also enigmatic, portrait of plantation life and of the variety of uses to which specific tree species were employed throughout the plantation: Mordecai Collins To have the stable made of the best white oak logs in the Tobo. [Tobacco] pens as soon as possible, the intervals of the logs to be stopped with slabs or straw or both. . . To run a fence to enclose the whole meadow; and at the upper end towards Mr. C. C. to run it at the top or on the hill side as may be most convenient in hailing the rails. . . To treat the Negroes with all the humanity and kindness consistent with their necessary subordination and work. . . Sawney To clear as much ground as possible along the road and adjoining the field towards Capt: Merry's. . . To plant about 200 apple Trees either before Christmas or very early in the Spring, in the little field on the top of the Mountain: beginning with the Tobacco ground, and going on to the best part of the old field adjoining. . . Lewis Collins To have the Chestnut logs for the principal Stable cut and hailed that they may be ready to be put up whenever he is at leisure. Js. Coleman will shew the place and the manner in which they are to be got. . . To get timber from three or more wagons and three Carts. If he should have time and my father be willing he may work up the seasoned timber belonging to my father, to be replaced with the stock here directed to be laid in: or may season the timber he gets by putting it in the lofts of the Negro Cabbins. . . To get, if there be leisure from more urgent things, 4 or five thousand shingles to be ready for the granary or other uses. (Madison 1981, p. 302-304) By this time, an additional quarter, named Sawney's, overseen by the

Even before his father died, James Madison, Jr. was involved in running a portion of the plantation. A letter to his father gives instructions for his overseers, and also provides a glimpse of how the enslaved were fed [original spellings retained]:

Mordecai Collins

To chuse out one of the Milch Cows for his own use, and let the rest be milked for the Negroes. To keep the Negroes supplied with meal to be kept in a barrel apart for themselves: the barrel now there holding 13 pecks to be filled 3 time every two weeks. To receive from Sawney's [Sawney was an enslaved overseer] 400 lb. of Pork for himself; one half the remainder to be for the Negroes at B. [Black] Meadow, as was the case last year.

Cty. Lou, Book: 8, Page: 250, Judith Robertson, Type: , Date: 14-Mar-1831 Sale of Judith Robertson, dec'd. Rec. 14 Mar 1831 purchasers Claibourne Graves, Richard McGehee, Lewis Hasten, Zenith Robertson, Edward Robertson, James O. Baker, Richard Robertson, Mordicai Collins, Mordicai Robertson, Thos. Woolfolk, Wm. Tyman, John Graves $397.11 cash paid Dr. John A. Smith, 2 gal. whiskey for sale provided by G. Atkins, paid Capt. Thos. Jones for auctioneering.

Mordecai Collins on Find a Grave.
See also
Excerpts, letter from Madison, Jr. to Madison, Sr. November 22, 1790
1820 United States Federal Census Name Mordicai Collins Home in 1820 (City, County, State) Orange, Virginia Enumeration Date August 7, 1820 Free White Persons - Males - Under 10 1 Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18 1 Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 1 Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over 1 Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15 1 Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25 1 Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over 1 Slaves - Males - Under 14 1 Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25 1 Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44 2 Slaves - Males - 45 and over 1 Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25 4 Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture 6 Free White Persons - Under 16 2 Free White Persons - Over 25 2 Total Free White Persons 6 Total Slaves 9 Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other 15 CLOSE SLL

1830 United States Federal Census Name Mordean Collins Home in 1830 (City, County, State) Orange, Virginia Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 1 Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 1 Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59 1 Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 1 Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69 1 Slaves - Males - Under 10 2 Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23 1 Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35 3 Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99 1 Slaves - Females - Under 10 3 Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23 2 Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35 1 Free White Persons - Under 20 1 Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 2 Total Free White Persons 5 Total Slaves 13 Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) 18 CLOSE SLL

1840 United States Federal Census Name Mordies Collins Home in 1840 (City, County, State) Orange, Virginia Birth Year abt 1770 Age 70 Free White Persons - Males - 70 thru 79 1 Slaves - Males - Under 10 6 Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35 1 Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54 2 Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35 1 Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54 1 Persons Employed in Agriculture 9 No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write 1 Total Free White Persons 1 Total Slaves 11 Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves 12 SLL

Virginia Marriages to 1800 Detail Marriage of Mordecai Collins and Susannah Robertson Web Address search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=eamva&rank=1& new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsfn=Mordecai&gsfn_x=NP_NN_NIC &gsln=Collins&_82000000-gpid=23634&_82000000_PInfo=8-|165239 3|2|3245|49|1817|23634|&_82000000__ftp=Louisa%2c+Louisa%2c+V irginia%2c+USA&uidh=lv2&pcat=34&fh=0&h=23508&recoff=1+3+15+1 6+53+65 Source Information Title Virginia Marriages to 1800 Repository Information Name Ancestry.com Address http://www.Ancestry.com SLL

Virginia, Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800 Name Mardicai Collins Spouse Susanna Robertson Marriage Date 6 Nov 1790 Marriage Location Louisa County, Virginia Household Members Name Age Mardicai Collins Susanna Robertson SLL

Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 Name Mordecai Collins Gender Male Marriage Date 06 Nov 1790 Marriage Place Louisa, Virginia Spouse Susanna Robertson FHL Film Number 32190 Reference ID 52 Household Members Name Age Susanna Robertson Mordecai Collins SLL

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Name Mordecai Collins Birth Date 1766 Death Date 1844 Death Place United States of America Cemetery Has Bio? N URL http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119424733&ref... CLOSE SLL

International, Find A Grave Index for Select Locations, 1300s- Current Name Mordecai Collins Birth Date 1766 Death Date 1844 Death Place United States of America Cemetery Has Bio? N Spouse Susannah Collins Children Ann Eliza Heaston URL http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119424733&ref... CLOSE SLL

Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current Name Mordecai Collins Birth Date 1766 Death Date 1844 Death Place United States of America Cemetery Has Bio? N Spouse Susannah Collins Children Ann Eliza Heaston URL http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119424733&ref... SLL

Ancestry Family Trees (may be inaccurate.) SLL

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• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: May 4 2022, 14:36:18 UTC

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• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 4 2022, 15:11:00 UTC