Buncombe County NcArchives Biographies.....Collins, Thompson 1785 - 1858 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dr. J. B. Turner lds1952@aol.com September 18, 2006, 10:40 pm Author: Dr. J. B. Turner, Dr. John F. Duckworth, et al. Thompson and Celia (Self) Collins were prominent among the chief pioneers of the N. GA Mountains, in Union Co., GA, entering the wild country in 1832, six years before the forced Cherokee removal. They had many friendly dealings with the Cherokee Indians before their sad exodus on the Trail of Tears. Thompson and Celia owned about 2,000 acres of what is considered the choicest land in the region, most of it in the beautiful Choestoe Valley. Most descendants of the native settlers of Choestoe and Arkaquah communitites descend in one way or another from the Collinses, many being noted for their great achievements. Celia was probably of the Self family living along Mills River in Buncombe Co., NC. In 2004 it was discovered that in 1824, Thompson bought two patents of land in Jefferson Co., AL, (Birmingham area), and in 1827 won a land lottery drawing for land in Muscogee Co., GA, (Columbus area), regions that were still wild frontier. There were several Collinses investing in land opportunities in frontier AL in 1824, some from NC and some from South GA; some of these may have been related to Thompson, but not all. It is difficult to imagine, however, that Thompson even visited those holdings, residing in the remote mountain area of Northeastern GA. But obviously he was in Jefferson Co., AL, and Muskogee Co., GA, long enough to conduct the necessary legal transactions for his land holdings there. And as discussed below, his father-in-law Francis Self was on the 1830 Census of Jefferson Co., AL. Many settlers of Eastern and Northeastern GA won land in the Muskogee County Lottery, but never lived there. It was distant and on the very edge of the wild frontier. 1820 CENSUS OF BUNCOMBE CO., NC: (PAGE 117:) Thomson Collins 300010-20010-0100 Notes from the research of Dr. John F. Duckworth: "The earliest known record of Thompson Collins in on 3 April 1809, when he sold 40 acres of land on a small branch of the west side of the French Broad River, near a Joseph Smith; and adjoining the properties of Daniel Garrett and Jakey Eliot. In 1810, he purchased 100 acres on a small branch of the Mills River. In 1813 he was granted 50 acres on McDowell's Creek on the west side of the French Broad River, near the property of a Charles Stewart. Thompson was in Habersham Co., GA, before 3 March 1824, the date he purchased 250 acres in the 4th District, from David L. Richardson. They joined the new Choestoe Baptist Church in Union Co., GA, on 13 August 1836, where they are now buried." Notes from "DESCENDANTS OF THOMPSON AND CELIA COLLINS," by Mayme C. Aydelotte: "Thompson Collins was reported to be of Irish Descent, and came to America from Ireland. [However, it has been traditionally said that he was born in Buncombe Co., NC.] The earliest records found for him are of land transactions made on Mills River, the French Broad River, and McDowell's Creek in Buncombe County, North Carolina in 1809, 1810, and 1813. These transactions are recorded at the courthouse in Asheville. In 1824 we find him in Habersham County, Georgia where his records at the courthouse in Clarkesville show that he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land in the fourth district of Habersham (now White) County. Here the family lived on lot #27 near the present route of the Russell Scenic Highway, before moving to the district of Choestoe in Union County in the early 1830's. Thompson must have been a shrewd business man, since the 1849-50-51 tax digest show he owned more than two thousand acres of land in Habersham, Lumpkin, and Union Counties, in Georgia. The Thompson Collins family made their home in the militia district of Choestoe in Union County near Choestoe Creek. Choestoe consists of several valleys nestled between two of Georgia's highest mountain peaks, Blood Mountain to the southwest and Brasstown Bald, to the northeast. On August 12, 1951, a Collins Reunion was held at the Choestoe Baptist Church with dinner on the ground. A meeting was held at the old Choestoe Cemetery where they dedicated a granite monument to Thompson and Celia Self, who were born in 1790 [most sources say 1785] in North Carolina near Asheville, were married in 1812, and came with their family as pioneers. They settled in Choestoe District in Union County in 1832 before the Indians had moved from the county. The first night they spent in the county, they camped in sight of an Indian village. Later they bought lands from the Indians and founded the Collins generation in Union County. The many descendants of this family have distinguished themselves through service in the fields of education, medicine, business, religion and politics." ADDITIONAL NOTES FROM DR. JOHN F. DUCKWORTH: Thompson bought 100 acres land on Mills River, Buncombe County (later Henderson County) Dec. 21, 1810. Other Collins were on Sandy Mush Creek, Beaver Dam Creek, Smith Mill Creek, McDowell Creek, Lees Mill Creek, On April 3 1809 Thompson Collins sold Jakey Elliott 40 acrea, West French Broad River. Francis and Job Self (Thompson's in-laws) bought land on Mills River in 1807, 1817, 1819. On November 22, 1820 Francis Self sells 176 acres on Mills River to William Brittian. (From: Buncombe County North Carolina, Index to Deeds 1783-1850, by. James E. Wooley) 1830 CENSUS NOTES: Thompson's father-in-law, Francis Self, was living in Jefferson Co., AL, on the 1830 Census. This is very significant, since Thompson Collins had two US land patents there in 1824. Did he live there, too, between 1824, and 1830 when he shows up on the Habersham Co., GA, census? (Francis Self also came to Habersham Co., GA, and later to Union Co., GA, as did Thompson and family.) MIGRATION SUMMARY: In 1820, Thompson was still in Buncombe Co., NC, as was his Grandfather-in-law Job Self. 1824: He gets that land in AL. Could possibly have lived there. 1830: He is in Cleveland, GA, (in Habersham Co.; the part that is now White Co.) Job Self (it was spelled Jobe in 1800 ) was in Franklin Co., NC, in 1800. I cannot find him in 1810. There are a couple of Jobs, but living too far away in VA to be him. In 1790, Job is in Franklin Co., NC. There is a Francis there also. THOMPSON IS LISTED ON THE FIRST LOCAL RECORDS OF UNION COUNTY: 1832 UNION COUNTY, GEORGIA LAND RECORDS 1834 UNION COUNTY, GEORGIA CENSUS ... (A special census under the Act of 1833 taken by William B. Gilliland and completed March 24, 1834). Choestoe District. Many Collins and Self descendants, and related families, still live in Choestoe where they have been prominent. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT / DESCRIPTION & LOCATION OF HIS 1824 LAND GRANTS IN ALABAMA: L A N D P A T E N T 1: ISSUE DATE: 4/14/1824 DOCUMENT #: 2066 [Land Office: Tuscaloosa] Aliquot Parts Sec/Blk Township Range Fract. Sec. Meridian State County(ies) E½NE 9/ 15-S 1-W No Huntsville AL Jefferson [ Accession/Serial #: AL0680__.014 ] [ BLM Serial #: AL NO S/N ] L A N D P A T E N T 2 : ISSUE DATE: 4/14/1824 DOCUMENT #: 2067 [Land Office: Tuscaloosa] Aliquot Parts Sec/Blk Township Range Fract. Sec. Meridian State County(ies) E½NE 22/ 15-S 1-W No Huntsville AL Jefferson [ Accession/Serial #: AL0680__.015 ] [ BLM Serial #: AL NO S/N ] POSSIBLE ANCESTRAL CLUES: The only other Collins in Buncombe Co. in 1820 was Solomon Collins, but if he is the Solomon Collins who married Edy Dickerson, then he is said to not be Thompson's father; partly because Thompson is not listed with Solomon and wife Edy's four known children, who with Solomon and Edy moved to TN. One source on Rootsweb.com claims Thompson Collins' father was Tom Franklin Collins, and his grandfather a Solomon Collins, based upon the following source, (but does not quote actual evidence from same): Title: The Heritage of Wilkes County, NC 1982 Author: The Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc Abbrev: The Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc Publication: The Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc. in corp, with Hunter Publishing Co. Winston-Salem, NC Abbrev: The Heritage of Wilkes County 1982 Additional Comments: Many researchers have spent decades attempting to determine Thompson's parents. ANy additional information would be greatly appreciated. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/buncombe/bios/collins11gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 9.2 Kb