Thompson Smith Collins1
b. 5 July 1850, d. 16 March 1917
Last Edited=3 Mar 2017
- Relationship
- 2nd great-grandfather of Joseph Michael Flint
Thompson Smith Collins also went by the name of Tomp.1 He was born on 5 July 1850 at Union County, Georgia.2,3 He was the son of Francis Collins and Rutha Nix.2
On 30 June 1860 Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated in the household of Francis Collins on the 1860 U. S. census for Choestoe Post Office, Union County, Georgia as Thompson Collins, 10 years old, birthplace of Georgia. Also enumerated in the household were Rutha Nix, Sarah Collins, Elizabeth Collins, William Dallas Collins, James R P Collins, John Cathey Collins, Francis Jasper Collins and Mary Ann Collins.4
A Marriage License was granted to Thompson Smith Collins and Susan Jane Cook on 20 October 1869 at Union County, Georgia.5
Thompson Smith Collins married Susan Jane Cook, daughter of Jonathan Cook and Rebecca Jackson, on 21 October 1869 Aydelotte in her Collins descendants book gives the license date as the marriage date at Union County, Georgia.5,1
On 15 June 1870 Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated in the household of Rutha Nix on the 1870 U. S. census for Union County, Georgia as Thompson Collins, 19 years old, birthplace of Georgia, occupation of Farm Laborer. Month married, if married in Census yearOct. Also enumerated in the household were James R P Collins, John Cathey Collins, Francis Jasper Collins, Mary Ann Collins, Jane Malinda Collins, Achibald Benjamin Collins and Susan Jane Cook.6
Zell Miller In his book The Mountains Within Me recounts the following story about his great uncle Thompson Collins.
When I was a boy my grandmother May Collins Flint, a grand daughter of Thompson Collins, told me a similar story. My memory is that she did not tell me which of her relatives was involved in the arrest for moonshining. I do remember her talking about "uncles" being involved. These may be the two men who ran off into the woods. I also remember her saying that he was sent to Sing Sing prision in New York. This was in retalitation for him not telling who the other men were. Apprently such prison terms were usally served closer to home.8
Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated on 14 June 1880 as head of household on the 1880 U. S. census for Choestoe District (834), Union County, Georgia as Thomas Collins, 30 years old, Married, birthplace of Georgia, occupation of Farmer. Father born in Georgia. Mother born in Georgia.. Also enumerated in the household were Susan Jane Cook, James Monroe Collins, William Virgil Collins and Joseph Gordon Collins.9
Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated on 11 June 1900 as head of household on the 1900 U. S. census for Choestoe District, Union County, Georgia as Thompson S Collins, 49 years old, Head, married for 28 years, Born July 1850 in Georgia, occupation of Farmer, 0 Months Unemployed, Could read, Could write, Could speak English. owned a Farm which was Free and Clear. Father born in Georgia. Mother born in Georgia.. Also enumerated in the household were Susan Jane Cook, Francis Thurman Collins and John Sullivan.10
Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated on 16 April 1910 as head of household on the 1910 U. S. census for Militia District 834 Choestoe, Union County, Georgia as Tompson S Collins, 59 years old, Head, married for 40 years, birthplace of Georgia, occupation of Farmer in the General Farming industry, working on own account. Could read. Could write. owned a Farm which was Free and Clear. Father born in North Carolina. Mother born in South Carolina.. Also enumerated in the household were Susan Jane Cook and Francis Thurman Collins.11
Thompson Smith Collins died on 16 March 1917 at age 66.3,1
Thompson Smith Collins was buried at Old Choestoe Cemetery, Union County, Georgia, Epitaph: "The Poor Man's Friend"
.3,1
On 30 June 1860 Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated in the household of Francis Collins on the 1860 U. S. census for Choestoe Post Office, Union County, Georgia as Thompson Collins, 10 years old, birthplace of Georgia. Also enumerated in the household were Rutha Nix, Sarah Collins, Elizabeth Collins, William Dallas Collins, James R P Collins, John Cathey Collins, Francis Jasper Collins and Mary Ann Collins.4
A Marriage License was granted to Thompson Smith Collins and Susan Jane Cook on 20 October 1869 at Union County, Georgia.5
Thompson Smith Collins married Susan Jane Cook, daughter of Jonathan Cook and Rebecca Jackson, on 21 October 1869 Aydelotte in her Collins descendants book gives the license date as the marriage date at Union County, Georgia.5,1
On 15 June 1870 Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated in the household of Rutha Nix on the 1870 U. S. census for Union County, Georgia as Thompson Collins, 19 years old, birthplace of Georgia, occupation of Farm Laborer. Month married, if married in Census yearOct. Also enumerated in the household were James R P Collins, John Cathey Collins, Francis Jasper Collins, Mary Ann Collins, Jane Malinda Collins, Achibald Benjamin Collins and Susan Jane Cook.6
Zell Miller In his book The Mountains Within Me recounts the following story about his great uncle Thompson Collins.
Once about 1875, two men he knew came to "Tomp's" house and offered to hire him to take his mules and pull their loaded wagon to the top of Tesnatee Gap. Their mules just weren't up to such a haul. The bargain was struck and "Tomp" hitched his team up and the three started out.
Before they reached the Gap, Federal Revenue Agents suddenly appeared in the road. The two men jumped off the waggon and into the woods.The wagon was loaded with moonshine liquor, and the agents offered not to make charges against "Tomp" if he would tell them the other names. His response was "Never."
Thompson Collins was charged with possessing "unstamped Barrels" and sent to New York to prison. A couple of years went by, and the family did not hear from him. Many thought he was dead. Then one day he came walking into his front yard in Choestoe. He had walked every step of the way from New York. He told his wife, "I've slept in many a fence corner and cut many a stick of wood for food. If ever a stranger comes by he is welcome to sleep in our house and share my food."7
Before they reached the Gap, Federal Revenue Agents suddenly appeared in the road. The two men jumped off the waggon and into the woods.The wagon was loaded with moonshine liquor, and the agents offered not to make charges against "Tomp" if he would tell them the other names. His response was "Never."
Thompson Collins was charged with possessing "unstamped Barrels" and sent to New York to prison. A couple of years went by, and the family did not hear from him. Many thought he was dead. Then one day he came walking into his front yard in Choestoe. He had walked every step of the way from New York. He told his wife, "I've slept in many a fence corner and cut many a stick of wood for food. If ever a stranger comes by he is welcome to sleep in our house and share my food."7
When I was a boy my grandmother May Collins Flint, a grand daughter of Thompson Collins, told me a similar story. My memory is that she did not tell me which of her relatives was involved in the arrest for moonshining. I do remember her talking about "uncles" being involved. These may be the two men who ran off into the woods. I also remember her saying that he was sent to Sing Sing prision in New York. This was in retalitation for him not telling who the other men were. Apprently such prison terms were usally served closer to home.8
Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated on 14 June 1880 as head of household on the 1880 U. S. census for Choestoe District (834), Union County, Georgia as Thomas Collins, 30 years old, Married, birthplace of Georgia, occupation of Farmer. Father born in Georgia. Mother born in Georgia.. Also enumerated in the household were Susan Jane Cook, James Monroe Collins, William Virgil Collins and Joseph Gordon Collins.9
Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated on 11 June 1900 as head of household on the 1900 U. S. census for Choestoe District, Union County, Georgia as Thompson S Collins, 49 years old, Head, married for 28 years, Born July 1850 in Georgia, occupation of Farmer, 0 Months Unemployed, Could read, Could write, Could speak English. owned a Farm which was Free and Clear. Father born in Georgia. Mother born in Georgia.. Also enumerated in the household were Susan Jane Cook, Francis Thurman Collins and John Sullivan.10
Thompson Smith Collins was enumerated on 16 April 1910 as head of household on the 1910 U. S. census for Militia District 834 Choestoe, Union County, Georgia as Tompson S Collins, 59 years old, Head, married for 40 years, birthplace of Georgia, occupation of Farmer in the General Farming industry, working on own account. Could read. Could write. owned a Farm which was Free and Clear. Father born in North Carolina. Mother born in South Carolina.. Also enumerated in the household were Susan Jane Cook and Francis Thurman Collins.11
Thompson Smith Collins died on 16 March 1917 at age 66.3,1
Thompson Smith Collins was buried at Old Choestoe Cemetery, Union County, Georgia, Epitaph: "The Poor Man's Friend"
.3,1Children of Thompson Smith Collins and Susan Jane Cook
- James Monroe Collins+1 b. 16 Jan 1871, d. 30 Jun 1954
- William Virgil Collins+1 b. 26 Mar 1874, d. 6 Sep 1944
- Joseph Gordon Collins1 b. 25 Mar 1876, d. 10 Jul 1958
- Avory Cordelia Collins1 b. 16 Nov 1880, d. Oct 1886
- Charles Luther Collins1 b. 3 Nov 1882, d. 10 Jan 1900
- Mary Rebecca Collins1 b. 11 Sep 1886, d. 3 Nov 1886
- Francis Thurman Collins+1 b. 2 Feb 1890
Citations
- Mayme C. Aydelotie, Descendents of Thompson and Celia Collins, Revised Edition (Fairburn, Georgia: Mayme Collins Aydelotie, 1972), 29; My Grandmother's copy with her hand written notes, May Collins Flint Papers, privately held by Joseph M Flint, Seattle, King County, Washington.
- Mayme C. Aydelotie, Descendents of Thompson and Celia Collins, 12.
- Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com: 29 May 2014), memorial page for Thompson Smith Collins 1850-1917, Find A Grave Memorial no. 11052295, Creator:Chuck Garland, Photo Chris Smith and Kimberly, accessed 29 May 2014, citing Old Choestoe Cemetery, Union County, Georgia.
- 1860 U. S. census, Union County, Georgia, population schedule, Not Stated, Choestoe Post Office, p. 36 (written), dwelling 250, family 247, Frank Collins; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 07 Oct 2012); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, Roll 136.
- Union County, Gerogia, Marriage Record, 2A: 186, Thompson Collins and Jane Cook; index and images, "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950", FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org/, path 0366323 (005190954) -> Image 116 : accessed 30 May2014); citing Union, Georgia, United States; FHL microfilm 366323.
- 1870 U. S. census, Union County, Georgia, population schedule, Subdivision 126, Blairsville Post Office, p. 31 (written) p. 16 (stamped), dwelling 228, family 228, Ruth Collins; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 30 May 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M593, Roll 179.
- Zell Miller, The Mountains Within Me (Atlanta, Georgia: Cherokewe Publishing Company, 1985), 14.
- Joseph M Flint, "Personal Recollections,."
- 1880 U. S. census, Union County, Georgia, population schedule, Choestoe District (834), Enumeration District 181, p. 21 (written), dwelling 194, family 195, Thomas Collins; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 21 Oct 2012); citing NARA microfilm publication T9, Roll 169.
- 1900 U. S. census, Union County, Georgia, Choestoe District, Enumeration District 125, p. 7A (written) p. 257 (stamped), dwelling 110, family 110, Thompson S Collins; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 29 May 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, Roll 225.
- 1910 U. S. census, Union County, Georgia, Militia District 834 Choestoe, Enumeration District 149, p. 2B (written), dwelling 33, family 34, Tompson S Collins; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 29 May 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, Roll 209.