An American Family History

Henry Collins and his wife, Ann, married about 1627 in Stepney Parish, London, Middlesex County, England. They lived on Tatcliff Highway in the parish of Stepney in the eastern part of the city of London.

Their older children were born in England. Their births were registered at St. Dunstan Church.

Their first child may have been Ann Collins who was christened on August 31, 1628 at St. Dunstan's. The Parish Register of St. Dunstan's recorded the burial of Ann Collens, daughter of Henry, on September 5, 1628.

Henry Collins, Jr. was born on October 29, 1629. John Collins was born on January 14, 1631. Margery Collins Williams was born on November 6, 1633. 

The young family immigrated to America on the Abigail in 1635. Henry was 29, Anne was 30, Henry, Jr. was five, John was three and Margery was one when they made the voyage. They came with four servants.

They settled in Lynn where they lived on Essex Street.

Hannah Collins Ingersoll was born in 1636. 

In 1637 Henry was chosen to help lay out the town.

Benjamin Collins was born about 1638. That year, Henry was granted “upland and meadow, 80 acres, and ten" from the town of Lynn. At a Court of Assistants held at Boston September 4, 1638, Henry was fined five shillings for not appearing when he was called to serve on the Grand Jury

Joseph Collins was born about 1640. Mary Collins Johnson was born about 1642.

In March, 1661, Henry Collins and John Hathorne were accused of not laying out 40 acres for William Longley. Longley won the case, but in March, 1662, the town marshall, Robert Lord, said he went to Lynn to serve the papers to satisfy the judgment, but Henry didn't have anything to attach and would not go to prison. John Hathorne would not help arrest Henry and came to his aid. Henry testified that when the marshall

had levied his execution and asked for assistance, he turned to deponent who had no hat upon his head and said that they had better go into the house because it was very cold weather.

Robert Burges said that Henry had said the marshall could seize some cattle and his son's colt. The marshall was not sure who owned the stock, but took it anyway.

Edward Ierson said Henry told the Marshall that the debt was not his and that he should go and take the common. He said

here is the Towne Common before my dore, take that for your satisfaction.

In March, 1663 John Mansfield said that at a church meeting at Mr. Whiting's house, John Hathorne charged William Longley with bearing false witness against Henry Collins.

Henry Collins served as selectman in Lynn in 1666.

In 1667 he was constable for the Town of Lynn.

In 1668, he was a member of the grand jury of Salem Court.

In June, 1670, Henry, was involved in a case against Edward Richards. Richards assaulted the selectmen of Lynn on the town common which he claimed as his own.

On 25 June 1672, Henry signed a petition condemming John Hathorne for selling alcohol to the indigenous people.

Henry took the Oath of Allegiance to the King at the Quarterly Court Meeting in November, 1678.

Henry died February 20, 1686/87 and Ann in 1691 in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Ralph and Thankful Shepherd and their children and Henry and Ann Collins and their children came to America together on the Abigail. She arrived in Boston about October 8, 1635. The passengers were infected with smallpox.