Pittsylvania County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Photo Document.....Robert E. Lee Letter To Jim Collins-1868-Troutvill, VA June 1868 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: LARRY C. KNOWLES http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 April 24, 2013, 7:52 pm Source: LARRY C. KNOWLES Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/pittsylvania/photos/documents/robertel27nph.jpg Image file size: 155.6 Kb Robert E. Lee letter to Jim Collins-Troutville, VA-June 1868 Letter from a known soldier-R. E. Lee This letter from Robert E. Lee to Jim Collins was written in June 1868. Lee was then a retired revered soldier, and president of Washington College in Lexington, VA, where he was about to dedicate the new chapel. The letter was addressed to Mr. Collins at Troutville, VA. The nature of the text seems to indicate some close personal relationship between the two men. To date that association has not been established. His reference to “the gentlemen of my staff” seems to imply a college connection, but I initially believed it was Civil War related, as the owner of the letter-Mr. James A. Collins, had Civil War(captains)uniforms as well. Mr. Collins, originally of Rockingham Co. NC-now Rockbridge Co. VA, believed the letter was addressed to his grandfather. As lineage was confirmed, and other family facts gradually emerged, the uniforms proved to come from an entirely different “grandfather”-James A. Richardson of NC. And, the letter appeared to have likely come into the Collins family from an indirect collateral source-perhaps an uncle or nephew-(from whatever generation likely). See the brief text below. Additional family research follows that. __________________________________________________________________________ Text of letter from R. E. Lee-Lexington, VA to Mr. Jim Collins-Troutville, VA Lexington, VA June 1868 Mr. Jim Collins, Troutville, VA Dear Jim I do hope and pray that this letter finds you well. Hopefully you will soon be as well as ever, and we will all be rejoiced at your return of health. Please present my kindest regards to your family. The gentlemen of my staff unite with me in sincere wishes for your welfare and happiness. With great regard, Very truly yours R E Lee ___________________________________________ Collins Family facts: Research into James A. Collins’ family indicated that only his great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Collins(1816-1900+)could have been the letter recipient. But, in that case, the nickname “Jack” would have seemed more appropriate-not “Jim” Collins. Andrew J. Collins-age 35, was listed with his father, Andrew Collins(1767-1857)on the 1850 Campbell Co. VA census; with a sister Harriett, and perhaps their mother-or stepmother, Mary Collins. Andrew J. Collins married Susan Mitchell in Campbell Co. in 1851, and his family was listed in Pittsylvania Co. VA-on the censuses of 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900. No record of Civil War service has yet been found, or a direct link made to Troutville VA-(Botetourt Co.)-for this man! As Andrew Collins Sr. of Campbell Co. was probably married before 1800-and perhaps had more than one wife-(no marriages confirmed)-the possibility that a son “Jim”-(or grandson)-had received the letter is likely. Though not mentioned in the old man‘s will-(or yet located in 1860)-a James B. Collins-age 49; listed in 1850 in Campbell Co-on the “next page”-is a likely candidate. Only four children are mentioned in the will, dated October 18, 1842-two sons and two daughters. “James B.” Collins, and perhaps other older children, could have received earlier distributions from their father-and thus, may have not been included. Sons, Robert W. Collins-age 52-(listed in nearby Lynchburg-1850)-and Andrew J. Collins were named as co-executors. A single daughter, Harriett N. Collins, and a childless daughter, Susan B. Hensley were also named. As well as, Andrew’s then wife, Mary-(who appeared to be written over “Elizabeth” on the 1850 census). When the will was presented in January 1858-(Book 12, pg.1-Campbell Co.)-only Andrew J. Collins acted as executor. In Campbell Co. Andrew Collins(Sr.)was listed as “father” on two marriage records: Nancy Collins m. William Sims-1818, and Louisa Collins m. William Morris-1826. In December 1850, Harriett N. Collins married widower Robert Blankenship in Campbell Co. The first positive Collins connection to Botetourt Co. was made through her sister Susan’s marriage to Jeremiah Hensley there- 1837. The couple was later found on the 1850 & 1860 Campbell Co. censuses. A later more tantalizing discovery was-very likely another brother, John D. Collins, who had married Nancy Peery(Perry?)-in Botetourt Co. in June 1833. Listed on the 1850 Botetourt census-age 47, John D. Collin’s family included- among others, these children: Andrew J., Harriett N., Susan E., and Mary J. E. Collins. The first three were obvious possible sibling namesakes; the fourth the identical likely duplicate of a niece, the eldest daughter of “brother” Andrew J. Collins of Pittsylvania Co. The John D. Collins family soon moved to adjoining Washington Co. Mary married Robert Thomas Hamett there in February 1857. A daughter Frances married there twice; Thomas J. Saurbier-1862, and Andrew F. Brooks-1883. A younger son, George Washington Collins also married there-Frances Shaffer in January 1875. He died in Lawrence Co. TN in 1922. _________________________________________________________________ Proven lineage of letter owner James A. Collins: 1) Father: Andrew Jackson Collins(1899-1987)-born Pittsylvania Co. VA-died Rockingham NC 2) Grandfather: Alexander Adron* Collins(1852-1910+)-born Campbell Co. VA-died Pittsylvania Co. VA-(no death date found) 3) Great Grandfather: Andrew Jackson Collins(1816-1900+)-likely born in Campbell Co. VA-died Pittsylvania Co. VA-(no death date found) 4) 2nd Great Grandfather: Andrew Collins(1767-1857)-born VA(?)-died Campbell Co. VA-1857, will probated January 1858. * Might indicate entry error or misspelling of Adrian or Aaron? ____________________________________________________________________________ Additional facts on the Andrew J. Collins(1899-1900+)family-(Pittsylvania Co. VA): Andrew and Susan(Mitchell)Collins were listed with their children on the 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses in Pittsylvania Co. VA. In 1870 Jennie James-age 17, was listed with the family. No relationship has been found-was she perhaps a niece? Widowed-Andrew J. Collins was found in the household of eldest son Alexander A. Collins in 1900. No dates of death for he and Susan have been found, or place(s)of burial located. Nephew Lyell Collins-age 9 was also listed. He was the son of Isaac Newton and Sally B.(?)Collins. Lyell was listed with his uncle Samuel R. Collins on the 1910 and 1920 censuses. Joseph P. Collins, perhaps an older brother, was listed with an aunt and uncle, Mary J.(Collins)and Richard H. Penticost, in Tennessee in Henderson Co.-1900, and Shelby Co.-1910. The couple’s daughter Althea Penticost was born in VA in Feb. 1880. Isaac Newton Collins had died about 1896. His daughter, Grace N. Collins, was listed with her mother Sallie on the 1900 and 1910 censuses-(the latter in the household of N. S. and Polly Jarretty). Grace Collins married Henry B. McCormick in April 1917. On July 24, 1916 Alex A. Collins purchased lots 32 & 33(Elm & Fir)in Green Hill Cemetery in Danville VA, no doubt for the burial of a son Lloyd-(Eland?)-age 10, a deaf-mute, who had been killed by a train. It seems likely that Alexander is also buried there. In 1920 he was listed in the household of his brother, Samuel R. Collins. It appears that he and wife Mary had divorced. She had married Dewey-(David?)-Allen on Dec. 19, 1919, and was listed with David Allen, and her youngest children; Clifford, Brooks, and Annie Collins, in the household of Luther Peterson on the 1920 Pittsylvania Co. VA census. Mary (Collins)Allen died January 25, 1923. Though listed as Mary Collins, Green Hill Cemetery records indicate her burial in the plot noted above. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/pittsylvania/photos/documents/robertel27nph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/vafiles/ File size: 8.6 Kb