Family Group Sheet
NameJesse Collins
BirthJan 1843, Letcher Co., Kentucky
Death20 Sep 1912, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Marriageabt 1868, Kentucky
SpouseSarah J. Robinson
Birthabt 1846, Kentucky
Death3 Apr 1912, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Children
SpouseWilliam Henderson Bragg
Birth1 May 1873, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death1 Dec 1939, Bluestone, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseLouis Alexander “Allie” Law , Half 2C4R
SpouseEllen A. Kidd
4 FAbby Collins
SpouseNicholas Traylor
5 FIda Collins
Birthabt 1889, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseWilliam Monteville Kidd
Notes for Jesse Collins
His death certificate records Jesse Collins, age 69, birthdate unknown, born in Letcher Co., Ky, died 20 Sep 1912 in Rowan Co., Ky, widower, parents names and birthplaces not known, cause of death tuberculosis, informant John Day, Morehead, Ky, burial in Purvis graveyard.
His gravestone is undated, but contains the service inscription “Col 14 Ky Cav”
His gravestone is undated, but contains the service inscription “Col 14 Ky Cav”
Notes for Sarah J. Robinson
Her death certificate records Sarah Collins, age 66, born 1847 in Wolfe Co., Ky, died 3 Apr 1913 in Hilda, Rowan Co., Ky, married, father Robinson, born in Kentucky, mother’s maiden name do not know, born in Ky, cause of death unknown, informant Luther Keyes, burial in Purvis graveyard.
Census Notes for Jesse & Sarah J. (Family)
1870 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Cross Roads precinct, enumerated 29 June, lists on p. 8 as family #50:
Collins, Jesse, 27, farm laborer; Sarah, 22; Wilgordia, 7/12. All born in Kentucky.
1880 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 1 June, lists on p. 12 as family #93/95:
Collins, Jesse, 35, works on farm; Sarah, 26, wife; William, 9, son; Mahala J., 8, dau; James M., 6, son; Lilly, 3, dau; Abbey, 1, dau. All born Ky Ky Ky.
In later records, there is a Zourdah Collins who lists her parents as Jesse Collins and Sarah Roberson, with her birthdate variously as either Nov 1871 or Nov 1872. There are two main possibilities: (1) she is the child listed as William here, incorrectly listed as a son, or (2) she is the daughter listed as Mahala J. here, with Zourdah/Jourdah being her middle name. (It was common to use J and Z almost interchangeably in names such as Zerilda/Jerilda or Jourdah/Zourdah.) If she is really “William”, then she is probably also the daughter listed as Wilgordia in 1870, with her birthdate in later records being late by two or three years, since a daughter named Willa Zourdia or Wiljordia might be nicknamed Willie, causing the mistake in gender.
I have not found any later records for either a son William or a daughter Mahala, which would be one way to discriminate between the two options. For now, I am not going to attempt to resolve the question, and will just enter her as Zourdah with these comments.
Collins, Jesse, 27, farm laborer; Sarah, 22; Wilgordia, 7/12. All born in Kentucky.
1880 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 1 June, lists on p. 12 as family #93/95:
Collins, Jesse, 35, works on farm; Sarah, 26, wife; William, 9, son; Mahala J., 8, dau; James M., 6, son; Lilly, 3, dau; Abbey, 1, dau. All born Ky Ky Ky.
In later records, there is a Zourdah Collins who lists her parents as Jesse Collins and Sarah Roberson, with her birthdate variously as either Nov 1871 or Nov 1872. There are two main possibilities: (1) she is the child listed as William here, incorrectly listed as a son, or (2) she is the daughter listed as Mahala J. here, with Zourdah/Jourdah being her middle name. (It was common to use J and Z almost interchangeably in names such as Zerilda/Jerilda or Jourdah/Zourdah.) If she is really “William”, then she is probably also the daughter listed as Wilgordia in 1870, with her birthdate in later records being late by two or three years, since a daughter named Willa Zourdia or Wiljordia might be nicknamed Willie, causing the mistake in gender.
I have not found any later records for either a son William or a daughter Mahala, which would be one way to discriminate between the two options. For now, I am not going to attempt to resolve the question, and will just enter her as Zourdah with these comments.
