Collins, George W.

Resident of Hamiton, MI; served with the Mich 4th Cav, Co C; died at Murfreesboro, TN, 1863.

George Collins was the brother of David Collins, who was Lieutenant-Governor at Hobart from 1803-1810.

Daughter of Captain Charles Proctor, Maria Proctor married David Collins in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1777. David sailed with the First Fleet to Botany Bay in 1788, leaving Maria in England until he returned in 1797. She helped him abridge and edit his Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, and appears to have written at least one novel of her own. He returned to the colonies as Lieutenant-Governor at Hobart from 1803 until his death in 1810. Maria had spoken of joining him, but could not leave her ailing mother. They had a daughter who died in infancy. Maria spent most of her life trying to make ends meet and moved several times in the early 1800s to save money. She was indefatigable in chasing up her husband's English business, particularly his pay, though he was absent from her for long periods.