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m. Abt 1730
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Facts and Events
birth parents: Unknown Collins and Unknown GEN: Thomas Collins was the 6th "President" of Deleware. He served in that capacity from October 26, 1786 until his death in 1789. History of Belmont Hall: Belmont Hall is on the Pearmau tract and is now the home of Mrs. C. E. Peterson. It was formerly owned by Governor Thomas Collins, who purchased it May 24, 1771, from John Moore. It descended, at his death, to his son, Dr. Win. Collins, and was by him sold, January 3, 1827, to John Clark, who left it to his granddaughter, Mrs. Carrie E. Peterson, into whose possession it came in 18b'7. The house is one of the oldest in the county and was built in 1753. When Governor Collins moved into it he improved it. The grounds are beautifully laid out, and it is probably the finest home in the county. Thomas Collins was high sheriff of Kent County in 1767, governor in 1787, '88, '89, four years a member of the council, and brigadier-general of the militia from 1776 to 1783, and Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He organized and maintained at his own expense a brigade during the Revolution, and died March 29, 1789. During the war a sentinel was posted on the observatory and was shot by a British scout. In the fire-place of the old house, Ebenezer Cloak's wife and the wife of Governor Collins moulded bullets for the American soldiers. Ebenezer Cloak Was a great-grandfather of the present proprietor. In 1776 he fitted out a privateer, the boat was chased aground by a British Man-of-War, and Cloak captured and confined in an English prison, where he died. The story is current that during the life-time of Governor Collins the Delaware Legislature met at the hall. This is an error, for the reason that it was not until May 4, 1792, three years after the death of Governor Collins, that the Legislature met in Smyrna. It was on that date that, owing toi difficulty with the county authorities, the Legislature adjoined to meet at the house of Thomas Hale, who kept the hotel now known as the Smyrna House. Thomas Collins, on April 1, 1767, took out a warrant for four hundred and seventy acres of land called " Gloster," where he then lived, on the south side of Dawson's Branch. The property was originally warranted December 13, 1677, to George Morton. He also purchased "Elk Home" and "Coventry" tracts adjoining, the latter having been originally granted to John Hillyard, March 15, 1680. Collins was sheriff at the time of the purchase of '• Gloster." The old house in which he lived stood until 1831, when it was replaced by a large frame structure. In the rear of the house about two hundred yards is the cemetery of the Collins family, where the Governor is buried. These tracts are now owned by Miss Julia Ann Collins and Mrs. Dr. B. S. Goatee (great-granddaughters of Governor Collins), Mrs. Carrie Cavender, Thomas Denny and the Alexander Peterson heirs. "Sheerness," a tract east and northeast of "Gloster," lying between Dawson's and Sheernejs' branches of old Duck Creek, contained two hundred and twenty acres and was warranted to Peter Baucom November 9, 1680, and by George Morton as his administrator, was sold to Robert French, who left it by will to his wife, Elizabeth, who married Dr. John Finney, of New Castle. Their son, David, October 18, 1760, conveyed it to Thomas Collins, and it is now owned by John Mustard, of Smyrna. History of Delaware : 1609-1888: Local history By John Thomas Scharf Records not imported into INDI (individual) Gramps ID I0691: Empty note ignored Line 8484: 2 NOTE Tag recognized but not supported Line 8485: 2 _SCBK Y Tag recognized but not supported Line 8487: 2 _TYPE PHOTO Tag recognized but not supported Line 8488: 2 _SSHOW Y |
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