If you are a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) or SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) through your lineage from Vines Collier, your may owe your membership to the efforts of Jena Cuthbert (J. C.) Collier and his son, Durward Cuthbert (D. C.). In the 1920s, their research in Collier genealogy had found evidence that Vines Collier served in the Brunswick County, Virginia Militia as an Ensign in 1758, during the French and Indian War. But what did their ancestor do during the American Revolution? Researchers they hired continued to come up empty handed until they enlisted the assistance of Dr. J. D. Eggleston. Wikipedia tells us this about Dr. Eggleston:
Joseph DuPuy Eggleston II (November 13, 1867 – March 15, 1953) was an American educator, the seventh president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and the 27th president of Hampden-Sydney College. Eggleston also served as a public school teacher and administrator and as the chief of the Division of Rural Education for the United States Bureau of Education.
It is uncleared how D.C and J.C were able to secure the efforts of such a prominent educator for the purposes of this research. Regardless, it paid off because on March 8, 1928, Dr. Eggleston penned this note to them. It simply reads “I have found Rev. service of Vines Collier in some loose papers in Va. State Library.”
1928_03_08_Note J D Eggleston to JCCD. C. and his father were no doubt ecstatic. Here is D. C.’s response.
1928_03_12_Ltr DCC to J D EgglestonDr. Eggleston was requested to obtain and provide photostatic copies of the evidence (see the February 28, 2015 CHF post “More Roots and In Search of a Patriot”). I believe the following images, from the papers of J. C. Collier, are those photostatic copies. They show Vines Collier supported the American Revolution by furnishing supplies, thus earning him the distinction of “Patriot”.
The following images were scanned from a large, rolled photostatic copy. The large copy could only be scanned in total by overlapping the scanned area. It should be apparent that the central portion is on both left and right images.
The strip on the extreme left reads
A Return of the proceedings of County Court of Brunswick
Under the Act instituted “An Act for adjusting Claims for Property
impressed or taken for the public service”
beef supply combo
Line 15 shows on Certificate dated Oct. 20 Vines Collier was compensated £ 10. 18. 9 for providing 1050 pounds of beef to the Revolutionary Cause. Notes Charles Collier is listed on line 12.
In the following image, the right hand strip is a receipt for the beef and it states
Brunswick Co (?) hereby certifis that I have received
of Vines Collier three beef cattle adjudged to weigh one
Thousan and fifty pounds Including the fifth quarter
given under my hand this 20th day of October 1781
Chas Edmond (?)
1050 beef (?) 13-2-6 (?)
A little research tells me the”fifth quarter” refers to the entrails.
The left hand strip reads as the one in the above image. The center portion of the image documents Vines Collier’s contribution of a black mare to the Revolution, for which he was granted £ 80, horses obviously being more valuable than cattle.
mare combo redMy transcription is:
19th (probably February) Vines Collier claim for one black Mare impressed
by Daniel Ragan as above was considered. It
appeared she was about 4 years old – about 4
feet 9 or 10 inches high – got by Oscar out of Janus
Mare & well formed. The Court valued her to 80.0.0
Be sure to use the “zoom” feature for a close up view of the above documents.
Here is a link if you wish to view or download high resolution copies of the photographic images.