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and private communication with
Coburn Williams
Presley Dollins, son to Elizabeth and Richard Dollins
born 9 July 1751 in Orange County Virginia
died between 1836 and 1840 in Lincoln County Tennesee
aged between 85 and 89 years
burried probably in Lincoln County, Tennessee near Bellville
married in the 1770s in Albermarle County, Virginia to
Ruth Alexander, daughter to Jane and Hugh Alexander
born-date unknown
died probably between 1810 and 1812
aged-unknown
buried-probably in Albermarle County, Virginia
Children (Joel certain others presumed)
1. David, 1775-1779
2. John (?)
3. Talisferro, 1780
4. Joel, 8 Jan 1784
5. Hugh 5 March 1800
6. several daughters
BIOGRAPHY
Presley Dollins was born 9 July 1751 in Orange County Virginia. He moved with his family to Albermarle County before 1761 and eventually succeeded to the land purchased by his father in 1761. (the land purchased in 1773 was willed to John and William). He married Ruth Alexander and raised a large family.
On June 7 1832, Congress passed a bill providing for the pensions of veterans of the Revolutionery war. On 23 October 1832 in Fayettesville, Tennesee, Presley Dollins filed the following petition for a pension based on his service during the Revolutionary War. In part it reads:
"State of Tennessee on this 23rd day of October in Lincoln County in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before Abner Steed, Jesse Daniel and Samuel Buchanan, gentlemen justices of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for Lincoln County now sitting Presley Dollins, a resident of the County of Lincoln and the state of Tennessee, aged 81 years who first being duly sworn according to law doth on oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832 that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, that in the spring of the year 1779 he was drafted for the term of two months to assist in bringing the Burgoyne prisoners from Charlottesville to the barracks in Albermarle County, Virginia. A man by the name of Allhuler (?) was Captain at Charlottesville after the prisoners were received. At the barracks he was commanded by Captain Miller. Daniel Harvey was his colonel. He continued to guard the prisoners until his time expired and he was discharged by Capt. Miller. In the year 1781 he was drafted again for the term of two months. His captain was James Woods. A man by the name of Richardson was colonel of the fifth(?) regiment of Virginia Militia to which the applicant belonged. The Brigade was commanded by General Nelson. They marched to Richmond and through different parts of the state of Virginia after the British. Some times the British would run them and at other times they would make the British retreat. After his term of service expired he was discharged about seven miles below Louisa Court (HD?) in the state of Virginia. This applicant did not receive any written discharge for this term.
On the 28th day of July 1781 he was again drafted for a term of two months. Major John Mortin lead the squad from Albermarle County Virginia to Mobbins Hills on James River in the same state where they joined the great army commanded by General Nelson and did not remain there long before this applicant was detached from the great army and commanded by strange officers. He does not know any of their names except Col Matthews who commanded a regiment at Duncastle about 12 miles above Williamsburg in Virginia. He stayed at Duncastle some days when he was taken sick and sent to the hospital at Williamsburg. He remained there a short time and his term of service expired and he was discharged by a written discharge from General George Washington who at that time was commander in chief of the American army. He has since lost it and also the discharge he received from Capt. Miller he has lost. He was born in Orange County, Virginia on the 9th day of July 1751. He believes he has always had a record of his age taken from his father's bible until some few years ago. He thinks he lost it at all the dificult time he was called into service. He was living in Albermarle County, State of Virginia, and has lived there since the war until about twenty years ago he moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee where he now lives.
(Author's note: his final discharge about 28 Sept 1781 coincides with the beginning of the siege of Yorktown, the final battle of note inthe Revolutionary war. George Washington would have been in or near Williamsburg at this time.)
Presley Dollins was granted a sum of $50 upon entering the pension rolls and a semi-annual pension of $10 thereafter.
Most of Presley's children emmigrated to Lincoln County, Tennesee between 1800 and 1810. His wife Ruth was alive in 1810 but died before 1820, probably between 1810 and 1812. Presley then moved, about 1812, to Lincoln County, to spend his remaining years among his children and grandchildren. According to census data, he spent his declining years with a widowed daughter. He died between 1836 and 1840, and is probably buried in Lincoln County, Tennessee. His son, David, moved on to Illinois about 1820. Joel, Hugh and Taliaferro married and raised large families in Tennessee.
Also (Dollins Research Continued in a letter to my mother)
Andrew Alexander's g grandparents were Richard Dollins and his wife Elizabeth (maiden name unknown).
Richard Dollins was born in early 1700s in England. He and a brother Presley sailed from a port in Wales to America in 1732. Richard first settled in Goochland Co, (Near Buchangham Co, VA around 1740. Moved to Orange County and later to Albermarle Co, VA in 1761. He purchased land from William Wood on headwaters of Mechum's River. In 1773, purchased additional land from Samuel Stockton onthe Virginia Spring Branch, Mechum's River. At the time of his death he owned approximately 1000 acres of Virginia land. He died ned testa? 1774 Virginia. Elizabeth was living in 1784.
Their children were:
Ann b. c. 1740s
John b. c. 1740s Abermarle Co, Virginia d. 1787 testam?
wife Elizabeth Dollins (believed to be first cousin)
William b. in 1740s d 1783 rec'd land in Ky. wife, daughter of Hugh Alexander
Presley b. 9 July 1751 came to Lincoln Co, wife. Ruth Alexander.
Mary Polly Armstrong, wife Joel Dollins was born in Lincoln Co. Tenn July 1796 and they were supposed to have lived here the rest of their lives.
She was the daughter of Thomas Armstrong, who was also a soldier of the American Revolution and his wife (I know but I can't find it right now).
Thomas was born about 1755
m?
died April 1849
Hugh Alexander left a will in Albermarle Co, Virginia. He could be Ruth's father it might be worth your investigation.
Your Andrew A. Dollins may have been married twice. Do you know? Was Anna Malinda Harbison.
Sarah J. Armstrong was no doubt a granddaughter of Thomas Armstrong of Rev. War.
