I would be interested in (Pierce) letter from Dr. John Torrey to Z. Collins in 1818 and the Cellar holes that you spoke of.
The letter was from Dr. John Torrey, a botanist from Philly, to his collegue Zaccheus Collins in Philly, who was probably no direct relation to the Collins family in the area:
"Some places called Taverns that we put up at were not fit for an Arab. At a place called the Ten-Mile Hollow, or Hell Hollow, we expected to sleep in the woods, for it was with difficulty that we persuaded them to take us in. This was the most miserable place we ever saw, they were too poor to use candles. No butter, no sugar, etc. A little soup stuff which I believe they called rye bread, but which was half sawdust, and a little warm water and molasses were all we had for breakfast. For supper I could no see what we had for we ate in the dark."
This was referring to the Charleytown tavern in the area. The reference to "Hell Hollow" was an insult originating with Torrey--I haven't found it documented anywhere else. Apparantly, the botanist didn't know the difference between a jug tavern and an actual tavern and thought the former was used to house guests.
Concerning the cellar holes, there are three of them in a clearing off of what was once part of Old Dover Road. There's a bit of debate whether or not they really are cellar holes. We still need to run a detector on them to settle the matter.
I have also been curious about the cemetery which I have never been to. Many of you have and know the location and names of people who have been buried there. I know our direct line is not buried there but several of the people who use to live/work there were. I also have a partial list but only from what Polly Miller had written in her book and there seems to be others that she was not aware of. Now I know there were 1 or 2 of you doing some research on the people buried there. I am into genealogy and found it interesting what was posted. I would like to know if anybody has more names than Zebulon Collins, Sr. his wife Rebecca, and 4 of their 5 children who died of diphtheria; Richard & Eliz. Akins, Applegate, R.A. Garthwaite, Bransons & Harvey Croft.
Ms. Miller was referencing a letter written by Mrs. Margaret Britton in which she quotes her uncle Jim Branson concerning Hollow Field. The list itself is not accurate:
* Zebulon Collins Sr. and his wife Rebecca (called "Beccy") Collins; four of five of their children who died of diptheria.
* Zeb Collins who was Jim Branson's uncle
* Richard Collins, Jim Branson's grandfather
* Joseph Branson, Jim's grandfather on his father's side
* Marie Branson, Jim's grandfather on his father's side.
* Harvey Craft Sr. who died in 1887 and was the last to be buried.
* Additional names were Austen, Akins, Applegate, and R.A. Garthwaite.
Concerning Zeb Sr. and Rebecca's children, there were six of them and chances are most of them didn't die of diptheria. Four of them weren't even buried in Hollow Field.
I would like to know how to get to the cemetery. I have a general idea but couldn't find it when I was out there. My husband and I live about 15 minutes from there.
I should be down there sometime in the next few weekends. If you want, I'll make copies of my notes concerning Dover Forge, Hollow Field, etc. and show you guys where it's located.
--Tom
