Valentine Collins

 This is what I have personally found for Valentine Collins (Mulengeon) Okay so Wilkes County, North Carolina wasn't formed until 1778...So it is not possible for Valentine Collins to be born in Wilkes County!!!!! Or is it??????

{Per Wikipedia}

The county was formed on April 20, 1778 by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly of 1778 from parts of Surry County and Washington District (now Washington County, Tennessee). The first session of the county court was held in John Brown's house near what is today Brown's Ford. The act creating the county became effective on February 15, 1778, and the county celebrates its anniversary as February 15. Wilkes County was named for the English political radical John Wilkes, who lost his position as Lord Mayor of the City of London due to his support for the colonists during the American Revolution.

If he was born in the surrounding area of what in 1778 became Wilkes then he had to have been born in {Washington District or Surry County} either one will work but just not Wilkes!!!

Valentine Collins

**Listed in 1790 Census, Wilkes County, North Carolina**

Vol Collins 1-0-2
1 free white male 16 & up
0 free white females under 16
2 free white females


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Valentine is found on the Wilkes County Tax List, 1797 listed as owning 50 acres and 1 pole. Also listed in this record is a "Martin Gipson".  I think this is the same Martin Gipson/Gibson that is Dicey's Brother.  Record can be found here.....https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-X312-X?i=217&cat=1689329

Ashe County was created from Wilkes County in 1799.... From Wikipedia....The North Carolina legislature created Ashe County in late 1799 with an area of 977 square miles (2,530 km2).  


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So...Here are the adjacent counties to Wilkes...Lookie here...Ashe County, North Carolina where Valentine, Vardy Collins are both listed in the 1800 census...Adjacent counties are as follows:

Alexander County (south)
Alleghany County (north)
Ashe County (northwest)
Caldwell County (southwest)
Iredell County (southeast)
Surry County (northeast)
Watauga County (west)
Yadkin County (east)

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However it is very possible and extremely probable that Valentine Collins, Ambrose Collins, Vardy Collins and Thomas Collins never moved...the County lines were moved.  Ashe County, North Carolina was developed in 1799.  

***Wikipedia*** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashe_County,_North_Carolina

"In the 1780s, Ashe County was a part of the self-declared "State of Franklin", within the boundaries of its Washington County. The "State of Franklin" marked the beginnings of the State of Tennessee. The North Carolina legislature created Ashe County in late 1799 with an area of 977 square miles (2,530 km2). Many family surnames noted in the 1800 Ashe County Census, Blevins, Hart, Bare, Barker, Stamper, Miller, Burkett, Gambill, Baldwin, and Ballou as a sample, are still present today. "

"Ashe County is located in extreme northwestern North Carolina. The county is bordered by two states: Virginia on the north; and Tennessee to the west."

Valentine Collins, Vardy Collins, and Thomas Collins are all listed in a book "Ashe County A History" by Aurthur R. Fletcher and this book can be found on www.familysearch.org and downloaded for free.

North Carolina

• In 1800 Valentine Collins is living in Morgan Twp., Ashe County, North Carolina. Vardery, Thomas and Ambrose Collins also. All listed as FPC  (Free Persons of Color)

****1800 Census of Morgan, Ashe County, North Carolina****

Valentine Collins Household is listed as 00000-00000-6
Ambrose Collins Household is listed as 00000-00000-4
Vardy Collins Household is listed as 00000-00000-4
Thomas Collins Household is listed as 00000-00000-7

The last # is listed in the column that states "All other persons except Indians not taxed".
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By 1801 we find Valentine over the border in Virginia in the Stony Creek Baptist Church minutes.....

In 1801 and then again in 1803 he is listed in the Minute Books for the Stony Creek Baptist Church which is in what is now Scott County, Virginia.  But before that it was.....from Wikipedia..."Scott County was formed by an act of the General Assembly on November 24, 1814, from parts of Washington, Lee, and Russell Counties" .

Stony Creek Baptist Church Minute Books

*Church Meeting December 1801

Comfort Osborn received but not baptised.  Nancy Gibson received by letter.  Valentine
Collins received by experience and baptised.  David Cox received by experience and
baptised.  Ellender Nelson rec'd by experience and baptised.  James Stanfield received
by experience and baptised.  Betsy Burton, Mary Stanfield, Susannah Marshall, David Cocks,
Margaret Carter received and baptised.
 

*April the 23 day 1803

Church meeting held at Stony Creek.  Brother Culberson and Brother Thomas
Marshel is to site Brother Giles Lea to appear at the next church meeting.  
Henry Leath laid over till next meeting.  Brother Charles Gibson and wife obtain
a letter of dismission.  Brother Valentine Collins and wife to receive a letter
of dismission.  Dismissed in order.  Brother John Brickey, Moderator.


"Stony Creek Baptist Church
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jenny Stilwell - jstill@midohio.net
Stony Creek Baptist Church
Minute Books
1801 - 1811
1811 - 1814
Fort Blackmore
Scott County Virginia
This copy of what is perhaps the first book of the Stony Creek Primitive Baptist Church, located on Stony creek, near Fort Blackmore, Scott County, Virginia, was in the possession of Mr. Scott Beatright of Colburn, Virginia, whose grandfather was once a Minister of this church.
The book is written on paper and bound between covers made of home spun cloth. The
handwriting is very good and the ink has lasted well.
Copied August, 1966, by Emory L. Hamilton, Wise, Virginia, with a copy filed in
the Archives of the Southwest Virginia Historical Society, at Clinch Valley College,
Wise, Virginia and a copy sent to the Virginia State Library, Richmond, Virginia."

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/scott/church/stonycrk.txt?fbclid=IwAR1oX3xK-1NYLiTVfUew8_ghd14_-EARhddF7JdHn2-MVK4HsZgzWM7qqSQ

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A little History and Geography about Scott County, Virginia....
Scott County, Virginia taken from Wikipedia.....................

History
The early settlers found evidence of a former native village at the mouth of Stony Creek on the Clinch river.
Thomas McCulloch was the first white settler within the county, in 1769. Daniel Boone commanded several forts located here in 1774 during Dunmore's War, and several more were built in successive years. Even so, the Chickamauga Cherokee leader Bob Benge remained active in the area throughout this time, during the Cherokee–American wars, up until he was killed in 1794. By the times houses were built in the 1790s, the largely Scots-Irish population had increased by reason of its situation along the Wilderness Road. After Scott County was formed in 1814, the first court took place in 1815, and the first public schools in 1870.

Geography
Fall foliage at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 539 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 536 square miles (1,390 km2) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) (0.6%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Wise County - north
Russell County - northeast
Washington County - east
Sullivan County, Tennessee - southeast
Hawkins County, Tennessee - south
Hancock County, Tennessee - southwest
Lee County - west
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But between 1803 and 1816 he has purchased several pieces of land in Tennessee. One of which is in Warren County, Tennessee next to Reuben Gibson...https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/3658/images/41659_290519-00319?pId=1582

Warren County was established 26 November 1807 from part of White County. Early records may be found under White County. County seat: McMinnville.  (Information taken from Family Search . Org. )

 
So here we are again with him crossing "State Lines"....Because Hawkins and Hancock County Tennessee is where we find him next....listed in 1816....


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Tennessee

• 24 April 1816--- by Tenn. Grant No, 3770 Absalom Looney received 150 acres; also 45 acres on north side of Clinch River where Valentine Collins formerly lived.
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By 1820 he is listed in the Floyd County, Kentucky Census...as follows:

Kentucky

• 1820 Floyd County, Kentucky Census

***Valentine is listed as having 6 FPC in household.  No ages are listed***

***1820 Census, Floyd County, Kentucky***

Valentine Collins 1820 Census Floyd County, Kentucky...I have found the ages for the people that were in his household....

9 free colored males under 14 (born 1806-1820)
  1 of these would be David Collins b. 1807
  1 of these would be Otary Collins b. 1816


3 free male colored age 14-26 (born 1794- 1806)
   1 of these is Joshua Collins b. 1805

1 free colored male age 45 and up (born before 1775)
   This would be Valentine b. abt 1768

8 free colored females under 14 (born 1806-1820)
  1 of these would be Margaret Collins b. 1809

1 free colored female age 14-26 (born 1794-1806)
   This would be Obediah or Obediance Collins b. 1804

1 free colored female age 26-45 (born 1775 - 1794)
 

1 free colored female age 45 and up (born before 1775)
  This could be Valentine's wife possibly Dicey b. about 1763

Or at least I am HOPING that this is correct.

There were ten Collins families on the 1820 census. Valentine, Bradley, and Meredith were the only Collins' listed as FPC. Adam Burchfield was living between Valentine and Martin Gibson. Martin Gibson is thought to be the same Martin Gibson born about 1776 in Orange Co, North Carolina. He was bound to James Carrington in 1784 along with sisters Dicey and Susannah. Dicey may be the wife of Valentine Collins. 

Here is the link to Dicey Gibson and Martin Gibson being bound to James Carrington.... https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS35-4SSC-J?cat=474816

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• 1830 Floyd County, Kentucky census Valentine Collins is living next door to William Cole who is reported to have married Obediah (Biddy) Collins, daughter of Valentine.

***1830 Census, Floyd County, Kentucky page #49 of microfilm .pdf***

1 male under age 5 (b. 1825-1830)
1 male age 5 to 10 (b. 1820-1825)
1 male age 10 to 15 (b. 1815-1820)
1 male age 20 to 30 (b. 1800-1810)
1 male age 60 to 70 (b. 1760-1770)
1 female under 5 (b. 1825-1830)
4 females age 5 to 10 (b. 1820-1825)
1 female age 15 to 20 (b. 1810-1815)
1 female age 50 to 60 (b. 1770-1780)
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• Collins, Valentine

Acres: 100 Book: F-2

Survey Date: 10- 1-1833

County: Morgan

WaterCourse: Newcomb Fk Page:

Township: Range:

***Reference***

THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS Volume 1Part 1 page 512
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***1840 Census we find Valentine Collins in what is now Morgan County (Formerly Floyd), Kentucky (pg 326)***

Valentine Collins
Head
ages 60-70 (Born 1770-1780)
with him are these people listed
1 female age 50-60 (Born 1780-1790)
1 female age 40-50 ( Born 1790 - 1800)
2 female ages 15 -20 (Born 1820-1825)
1 female age 10-15 (Born 1825-1830)
1 male age 5-10 (Born 1830-1835)
2 males under 5 (Born 1835-1840)

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• 1844 2nd Sat Jul 13th; Met at meeting house. Bro. Samuel Smith, Mod. We give Bro. Valentine Collins and Sister Dicy Collins their letters of dismission.

***Reference***
STONE COAL CHURCH MINUTES. Part Four" (Contributed by Fred Vanderpool, Hippo, KY) in The Journal of the MAGOFFIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 23, Summer 2001, No. 2, page 57.

I personally do not think that Valentine and Dicey passed in Morgan County, Kentucky.  They received their letters of dismission...meaning...what exactly?