Fifth Generation

315. Elizabeth Leake Coleman was born on 6 May 1786. Elizabeth died on 2 August 1862.

Elizabeth Leake Coleman and Collin McKinney¹⁰⁹⁵ were married on 14 April 1805 in Lincoln Co., KY.¹⁰⁹⁵ Collin McKinney¹⁰⁹⁶, son of David McKinney and Mercy Blachly, was born on 17 April 1766 in New Jersey. Collin died in Grayson Co., TX on 8 September 1861.

"Collin McKinney (1766-1861) was born in New Jersey, the second of 10 children born to Daniel McKinney (1735-1809) and Mercy Blatchley [sic] (1745-1825). He married twice and had 10 children. Prior to 1824, his adult life was spent in Tennessee and Kentucky, where he owned a trading post and managed the vast Nashville estates of George W. Campbell, who had been appointed by President Madison as Minister to Russia.

"In 1824, Collin, with his brother, Daniel and their families, began the long trek down the Southwest Trail, first settling in Arkansas, believing themselves to be in Texas, later moving to present Bowie and Red River counties. On Aug. 4, 1830, Collin McKinney took the oath and signed the Register of the Wavell Red River Colony, Aug. 4, 1830 [sic].

"He became the close confidant of Benjamin Rush Milam, a fellow Kentuckian, and the first survey Milam ran from his new land office was for Collin McKinney in present Bowie County. Collin's youngest daughter, Elizabeth, married Milam's nephew, Jefferson Milam, a surveyor for Wavell County. In 1835, when Ben Milam journeyed to Moncolva, Mexico with the colonists' land petitions, he left his business and personal papers in care of his friend, Collin McKinney. (The original document signed by the Red River colonists each pledging $5 toward Milam's expenses is the McKinney-Milam Papers at the University of Texas at Arlington.) By December of that year, Santa Anna's invasion of Texas was well underway; the Red River Colony was asked to raise $200 to equip a company of riflemen to join Sam Houston's army.

"In January 1836, a mass meeting was held at Collin McKinney's plantation to elect five delegates to attend the general convention 300 miles away at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1, 1836. Collin, age 70, was the oldest elected delegate and was destined to outlive most of his colleagues. He traveled with Richard Ellis, who was elected president of the convention.

"Collin McKinney was one of five men to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, and as the oldest of the 59 signers, was presented the signing pen. He represented Red River settlements in four congresses of the Republic of Texas. During his 95 years, he was a planter, land surveyor, developer, merchant, deacon, lay preacher, politician and a citizen of eight different governments - born a subject of King George III of England; a citizen of the Thirteen colonies; a citizen of the United States; a citizen of Mexico; a citizen of the Provisional Government established by Texans in 1835; a citizen of the Texas Republic; after annexation, again a citizen of the U.S.; and when death came in 1861, it found him (against his will) a citizen of the Southern Confederacy.

"Along with his nephew, H. C. McKinney, he was active in establishment of the Disciples of Christ Church in his last home community. The Rev. G. Gates, a visiting minister from Indiana, in a letter to his church journal, wrote: 'Brother McKinney, an old disciple from Kentucky...noted for his integrity, hospitality and good works as a Christian, is the natural elder to preside over his flock...The old gentleman had a number of slaves who are, I believe, members of the church and love their master as they would a father.' Archibald Burton, a cousin back in Lincoln County, KY, wrote to Collin, "Collin McKinney, I want to see you more than any man alive." The town of McKinney and Collin County are name for this remarkable Texas Pioneer."

Marlyn Jones Cherry, 12154

Elizabeth Leake Coleman and Collin McKinney had the following children: