An American Family History

John, second son of Henry and Ann Collins, was born in London, England, January 14, 1631 (O. S.) and was lost by shipwreck with his son John in 1679. In a list of names returned of Quakers in Lynn for the year 1703 appear the names of Samuel Collins, Samuel Collins Jr. and John Collins. The estate of John Collins was valued at £365 is. 6d. and letters of administration were granted to the widow, June, 1680.

John Collins married, at Lynn, Massachusetts, Abigail Johnson, daughter of Richard Johnson. "Richard Johnson came over in 1630 and lived with Sir Richard Saltonstall at Watertown. He was admitted freeman in 1637. He came to Lynn the same year and settled as a farmer on the eastern end of the commons. He died in 1666, aged 54."

Abigail Collins married (second) March 3, 1681, Thomas Farrar. The children of John and Abigail Collins were sixteen, twelve of whom survived him. Mary (died young), John (died young), Samuel, Abigail, John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Mary, Daniel, Nathaniel, Hannah, Sarah, Lois, Alice and William (John), next mentioned.

Attested in Salem court 30:4:1680, by Abigail Collens, who was appointed administratrix of her husband's estate and an agreement being presented to the court, of the widow and all persons concerned, as also with the approval of the eldest son, it was allowed and confirmed.

John Collins of Lynn who died, intestate, having been cast away at sea, and leaving a wife and twelve children, the widow with her relations, judging it most meet, desired Abigail Collins, Samuel Collins, Joseph Collins, Andrew Mansfield, Henry Collins, sr., and Henri Collins, jr., to divide his estate, which they have done as follows: to the widdow all the moveable estate, both stocke & store within dores and without as her free estate, 11 Hi. 1Is. 6d., which being taken out of the sum of the inventorye, the houses, Lands & medow remain to be disposed, which amount to 253li. 10s., of which, one third part to the widow during her life, and the other two thirds to the two eldest sons, Samuell and Joseph Collins, equally, as they come to age. Samuell having a good trade as a gunsmith, maketh up to him his double portion; and this to be understood the widow to have the use of the whole estate until the two said sons come of age, and then to have only her thirds, and at her death the whole estate to the two sons, they to pay to each of their brothers and sisters, namely, Benjamine, Daniell, Nathaniell and John, Elizabeth, Marye, Hannah, Loes and Alice Collins, ten pounds in current pay, as they come to age, their sister Abigaile Townsend having already received her portion. If any of the children should die before they come of age, then their portion equally to the surviving children, also that Samuell and Joseph Collins are not to leave their mother, but to live with her and carry on her business for her upon the consideration of their having the housing and lands as abovesaid, the house and lands to stand bound for the payment of the children's portions.

The eldest son giving his consent to the above agreement in the Salem court 30: 4:1680, it was allowed and confirmed. Essex County Quarterly Court Files, vol. 33, leaves 100, 101.