Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Benjamin Mosely Collins Papers #3533-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Alternate Form of Material

Microfilm copy of reminiscences (filmed 1961) available.

• Reel 1: Reminiscences

Acquisitions Information

Received from Charles Tucker of Warrenton, N.C., in May 1961. The original manuscript, from which the microfilm copy and typed transcription in this collection were made, was returned to Ann Collins of Ridgeway, N.C. Addition received from Stephen W. Raper of Rocky Mount, N.C., in January 2003 (Acc. 99407).

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• Arrington family.
• Collins, Benjamin Mosely, 1840-1913.
• Collins, Michael, 1778-1856.
• Collins family.
• Confederate States of America. Army--Military life.
• Confederate States of America. Army--Officers--Biography.
• Confederate States of America. Army. North Carolina Regiment, 12th.
• Confederate States of America. Army of Northern Virginia.
• Estates (Law)--North Carolina--History--19th century.
• Family--North Carolina--Social life and customs.
• Norfolk (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Plantation owners--North Carolina.
• Real property--North Carolina--History--19th century.
• Slave lists--North Carolina.
• Slavery--North Carolina.
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives, Confederate.
• Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives, Confederate.

Benjamin Mosely Collins was born 18 August 1840, to Mary Ann Cottrell and Michael Collins, at Pleasant Hill, a family plantation near Ridgeway, Warren County, N.C. During the Civil War he served as a captain in the Confederate Army. In 1878 he married Mary "Molly" W. Plummer, the granddaughter of Kemp Plummer, and with her had six children. They all resided at Pleasant Hill until their deaths, his on 8 March 1913. His father, Michael Collins, was born 16 May 1778, to Elizabeth Collins and Michael Collins. He was a planter, slave owner, and mill owner. In addition to Pleasant Hill, he owned Ridgeway Mills and about 150 acres at Ridgeway, Warren County, N.C.; a 370 acre plantation at Aspen Grove in Rockingham County, N.C.; and the Nutbush Mill and about 700 acres on Nutbush Creek in Vance County, N.C. He married Elizabeth Drake and with her had five children. After Elizabeth died, he married Mary Ann Cottrell and with her had eight children, including Benjamin Mosely Collins. Michael Collins died in 1856.

The collection consists of a microfilm copy and typed transcription of the reminiscences of Benjamin Mosely Collins (1840-1913) describing his experiences during the Civil War as a captain in the 12th North Carolina Regiment, serving in the Norfolk, Va., area until 1862, and with the Army of Northern Virginia from 1862 to 1865. Also included are inventories documenting the sale of slaves, real estate, and perishable property from the estate of his father, Michael Collins (1778-1856), a planter, slave owner, and mill owner with assets in Rockingham County, N.C.; Vance County, N.C.; and Warren County, N.C. There is some genealogical material relating to the Collins and Arrington families.

Microfilm (M-3533/1)