Question about being a double Collins

[Carolyn1955]

The title seems a little strange for this topic, however, I was hoping someone would have some suggestions.

I've been researching my family tree for 24 years, most of my accomplishments have been in the last 4. I discovered that on my fathers side his g-grandfather was born John Collins, grandson to Amos Collins. When he returned from the Civil War he changed his name to John Davidson.

Several generations later my parents were married and had 8 children. My mother is a descendant from Solomon Collins and my dad a descendant from Solomon's brother John Collins.

The family story was that my parents were first cousins. But, I could not prove this in my family tree research until I found proof John Davidson was actually born John Collins in about 1843.

So now, Solomon Collins and John Collins are my grandfathers, one from my fathers side, the other from my mothers side. Confused yet?

I recently ordered an mtDNA for me, and understand I will need one for a brother or cousin to trace our Collins line. Any recommendations on tests that would connect both sides or is the test I'm taking the right one?

Thanks for reading this rather lengthy post! Carolyn

[Jim Honeychuck]

The title seems a little strange for this topic, however, I was hoping someone would have some suggestions.

I've been researching my family tree for 24 years, most of my accomplishments have been in the last 4. I discovered that on my fathers side his g-grandfather was born John Collins, grandson to Amos Collins. When he returned from the Civil War he changed his name to John Davidson.

Several generations later my parents were married and had 8 children. My mother is a descendant from Solomon Collins and my dad a descendant from Solomon's brother John Collins.

The family story was that my parents were first cousins. But, I could not prove this in my family tree research until I found proof John Davidson was actually born John Collins in about 1843.

So now, Solomon Collins and John Collins are my grandfathers, one from my fathers side, the other from my mothers side. Confused yet?

I recently ordered an mtDNA for me, and understand I will need one for a brother or cousin to trace our Collins line. Any recommendations on tests that would connect both sides or is the test I'm taking the right one?

Thanks for reading this rather lengthy post! Carolyn

Without sketching your family tree, let me just speak in general terms and say the only type of testing relevant to this research would be Y-DNA, and for that you need descendants in the direct male lines from Solomon and from John.

Looking several months ahead in your research, since the men were Irish, they probably have Y-DNA type R1b. That type is so frequent in Ireland that to assume two men are related you will need to test a lot of markers (67), as well as some SNPs which you can read about on the R1b threads.

Regards,
Jim
(not R1b)

[Carolyn1955]

Great advice!

Thank you very much, I've noted your information and will start making arrangements. Donors in the family will be easy to get so I'm glad to see this project of mine finally get off the ground.

[Carolyn1955]

This is the line from Amos Collins son

3rd Great Grandfather
Amos Collins
b: 1784 Virginia, USA
d: 1864

2nd Great Grandfather
John Gilbert Collins
b: 12 Aug 1812 Cambell County, Tn USA
d: 08 Nov 1891
Leslie County, Kentucky, USA

Great Grandfather
Solomon Collins
b: 03 Mar 1852
Clay County, Kentucky, USA
d: 14 Nov 1931
Clay County, Kentucky, USA

Grandfather
Eli Collins
b: 24 Nov 1883
d: 16 Mar 1963

Mother
Alice Collins
b: 25 Jan 1934
Leslie, Ky
d: Living

Self
Carolyn Davidson
b: 19 Mar 1955
Thousandsticks, Leslie, Ky, USA
d: Living

This is the same line as on my fathers side except my father descended from John Gilbert Collins son John Collins rather than Solomon Collins who were both brothers.

Thanks for your interest. I will start the process of collecting the DNA from the male side.

Carolyn

[Jim Honeychuck]

3rd Great Grandfather
Amos Collins
b: 1784 Virginia, USA
d: 1864

2nd Great Grandfather
John Gilbert Collins
b: 12 Aug 1812 Cambell County, Tn USA
d: 08 Nov 1891
Leslie County, Kentucky, USA

Great Grandfather
Solomon Collins
b: 03 Mar 1852
Clay County, Kentucky, USA
d: 14 Nov 1931
Clay County, Kentucky, USA

Grandfather
Eli Collins
b: 24 Nov 1883
d: 16 Mar 1963

Mother
Alice Collins
b: 25 Jan 1934
Leslie, Ky
d: Living

Self
Carolyn Davidson
b: 19 Mar 1955
Thousandsticks, Leslie, Ky, USA
d: Living

This is the same line as on my fathers side except my father descended from John Gilbert Collins son John Collins rather than Solomon Collins who were both brothers.

Thanks for your interest. I will start the process of collecting the DNA from the male side.

Carolyn

Looks like I guessed wrong, and it will be R1a: http://www.ysearch.org/lastname_view...wuid=SVWHJ&p=0

I don't know what R1a is doing in Ireland. Vikings maybe. There's probably a thread on that.

Good luck in your research.
Jim

[Jim Honeychuck]

Looks like I guessed wrong, and it will be R1a: http://www.ysearch.org/lastname_view...wuid=SVWHJ&p=0

I don't know what R1a is doing in Ireland. Vikings maybe. There's probably a thread on that.

Good luck in your research.
Jim

Those aren't Irish given names, are they. The family was probably English or Scots-Irish.

http://www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk/Surnames.aspx

Regards,
jim

[spruithean]

Its post like these

The title seems a little strange for this topic, however, I was hoping someone would have some suggestions.

I've been researching my family tree for 24 years, most of my accomplishments have been in the last 4. I discovered that on my fathers side his g-grandfather was born John Collins, grandson to Amos Collins. When he returned from the Civil War he changed his name to John Davidson.

Several generations later my parents were married and had 8 children. My mother is a descendant from Solomon Collins and my dad a descendant from Solomon's brother John Collins.

The family story was that my parents were first cousins. But, I could not prove this in my family tree research until I found proof John Davidson was actually born John Collins in about 1843.

So now, Solomon Collins and John Collins are my grandfathers, one from my fathers side, the other from my mothers side. Confused yet?

I recently ordered an mtDNA for me, and understand I will need one for a brother or cousin to trace our Collins line. Any recommendations on tests that would connect both sides or is the test I'm taking the right one?

Thanks for reading this rather lengthy post! Carolyn

Its posts like these that make genealogy so interesting.... and the genetic side as well.....

But yes Jim's suggestions are great.... It would be really fascinating to see how it would pan out.....

Good luck,
spruithean

[Carolyn1955]

Yes, it really does make it interesting and exciting

After 24 years of researching the Collins family on my mothers side, I was totally shocked to find out that the same line was on my fathers side as well.

The interesting part is what happens when relatives change their last name and generations later, their descendants marry. Well... none of us were born with 3 legs! And, it certainly didn't affect my learning capability although I will admit I am the first of the entire line that has earned 3 College degree's after leaving the backwoods and hills of Thousandsticks, Kentucky where I was born and Amos lived and died.

I visited his grave over Memorial Day and met many of our relatives. I am most curious now that I have seen the Collins in my line listed as Black, White, Indian, Blank and Melungeon in Census records and Civil War documents among just some of the historical data I have collected.

I have read many articles of Virginia, Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky pioneers who married cousins, etc. For my research, the most confusing part has been that it seems like our line began with Amos Collins and no website or researcher I have contacted so far can shed light on any relatives before Amos.

Thanks to all who participated in this thread. Yes, it's what makes Genealogy and Genetic research so much fun!

Carolyn

[rucksack]

Gee, and I thought it was a drink order.

[Carolyn1955]

Maybe

Gee, and I thought it was a drink order.

Maybe... However, you did give me an idea! At least my thread got your attention

[Jim Barrett]

The family story was that my parents were first cousins. But, I could not prove this in my family tree research until I found proof John Davidson was actually born John Collins in about 1843.
Carolyn

If I counted the generations correctly your parents would have been third cousins. Nice story!