John Collins

Piedmont member Ed Hereford presented the biography of John Collins - a true American hero. John Collins was born on December 9, 1760 in Frederick County, Maryland. He served in the South Carolina Militia from May 10, 1776 to October 26, 1776 under Captain Robert McAfee and Colonel Neal. He was in a skirmish with the Indians on the Seneca River.
He re-enlisted for a second tour under the same officers. In his third tour, Patriot Collins served as a private in the Camden District and as a substitute in Captain Thomas Barron' s Company, commanded by Major Francis Ross where he was in the Battle of Briar Creek.
Next, he enlisted in Captain Benjamin Harden's Company of the North Carolina Militia
commanded by Colonel Charles McDowell. He served from September 1779 as Orderly Sergeant
under Captain John G. Lowman and Colonel Hampton. Immediately afterwards he was a Private,
Sergeant, and Sergeant Major under Captain John G. Lowman and Colonel Archibald Lyle. He was taken prisoner at the fall of Charleston, but later paroled. Collins went to Lincoln County, North Carolina where the Tories again captured him. He was sentenced to be hanged but escaped and joined the Militia.
He participated in the Battles of King's Mountain, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse and
Yorktown. He also served as an Adjutant Lieutenant in the Virginia Troops and a Captain in the South Carolina Militia and participated in the Battles of Orangeburg, Four Holes Bridge and Bacon's Bridge. He received a pension for his service.
Patriot Collins married Phebe Sailors on November 30, 1786 and settled in Acworth with his son, Daniel. Pioneer John Collins and his wife are noted as founders of Acworth's first Baptist church in 1840. The Collins home still sits as it has for more than 150 years, atop a small rise at 4591 Collins Avenue. The home is located in the Historic District, which is the only listing of this type in Acworth. Patriot Collins died on March 8, 1852 and is buried at Mars Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Acworth, Georgia. His son, Daniel, is also buried at Mars Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery and is mentioned in his pension application.