John Mullins, Jr. was the son of Revolutionary John Mullins. Holly Creek John's mother's name is unproven with some descendants claiming Jennie Bailey while others claim Mollie Brandon. The Dickenson County descendants generally claim Jennie Bailey as Holly Creek Johns mother.
"Holly Creek" John was born about 1785 in Yancy County, North Carolina, and died September 19, 1859 in present day Clintwood, Dickenson County Virginia. According to granddaughter Nancy Mullins, John died in the field while he was setting up tops. He married OLLIE COX (b. ? d. 22 Jan 1876) about 1809 in Yancy County, North Carolina, a daughter of DAVID COX. Later in life John, was known as "Holly Creek John" in recognition of his being the first permanent settler on Holly Creek now known as Clintwood in Dickenson County, Virginia.
In 1810, John and Ollie were living on the north side of the Toe River in what was then Burke County, North Carolina. In 1819, they sold 200 acres that Ollie had inherited to James Bailey. Between 1820 and 1830, John traveled extensively in East Kentucky, East Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia on hunting expeditions. During these years, he visited his brother, James "Dr. Jim" Mullins who was living in Southwest Virginia. While there, John laid claim to a parcel of land in the western section of Russell County (now Dickenson County), Virginia.
In the spring of 1829, John Mullins along with his daughter, Mary, and sons, David and Solomon, traveled to Holly Creek where they found a deserted cabin and began clearing land for gardens. Family tradition says John returned to North Carolina for the rest of the family leaving Mary and the boys alone in the cabin. While their father was gone, the boys went to visit family in Kentucky leaving Mary, then age 14 or 15 alone. The area was wild at this time, and tradition says bears, wolves, and painters (panthers or wildcats) roamed around the cabin at night. Family tradition further states that a big harricane (hurricane) or snow storm (according to some) came up and prevented Johns return for a prolonged period of time ranging from 2 weeks to several months. For this reason, Mary is honored as the first Pioneer Lady of Dickenson County. John eventually brought Ollie and all of their children except Kizzie (who had married Lewis Cook and remained in North Carolina) to Holly Creek.
According to granddaughter Nancy Mullins, the Mullins was mixed with the Indians. I have heard it said that Grandpa John was about one-fourth Indian. John and his brothers, Solomon and Dr. Jim, had a reputation for making counterfeit money. This claim of Indian ancestry (which has not been verified), reputation for metalworking, migration from North Carolina to Southwest Virginia, and swarthy appearance have led many to conclude that John and his descendants were of Melungeon heritage.
Late in his life, Revolutionary John Mullins joined his son's household on Holly Creek and is buried in Dickenson County.
JOHN "HOLLY CREEK" MULLINS (JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) Children of JOHN MULLINS and OLIVE COX are:
DAVID MULLINS , SR. (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born April 06, 1810 in Yancey Co., North Carolina, and died June 29, 1888. He married RUTHA BUCHANAN. David and his family are listed on the 1850 Russell County, Virginia Census.
Children of DAVID MULLINS and RUTHA BUCHANAN are:
ELIZABETH "KIZZIE" MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born Abt. 1812. She married LEWIS COOK in North Carolina. Kizzie and her family remained in North Carolina and it is unlikely that she saw her parents after they moved to Southwest Virginia although they did exchange letters throughout their lifetime.
Children of ELIZABETH MULLINS and LEWIS COOK are:
VIRGINIA JANE "JENNIE" MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born Abt. 1814, and died Bef. 1889. She married her cousin, PETER MULLINS, son of SOLOMON MULLINS and SARAH CATHEY.
Peter lived for a while on the head of Brush Creek, near Clintwood and later moved to Logan County, WV. He was living there on November 23, 1860 when he and Jane Mullins executed a deed to John P. Chase for Jane's one-twelfth interest in the real estate of her father, John Mullins.
Children of VIRGINIA MULLINS and PETER MULLINS are:
MARY J. MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born May 15, 1815 in North Carolina, and died October 06, 1893 in Clintwood, Dickenson Co.Virginia. She married JOHN JACKSON FLEMING January 31, 1833 in Pike Co., KY, son of ROBERT FLEMING and ELIZABETH STUMBAUGH.
Children of MARY MULLINS and JOHN FLEMING are:
ISAAC MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born April 12, 1817 in Yancy Co., NC, and died October 18, 1886. He married ELIZABETH "BETSEY" MULLINS, daughter of AMBROSE MULLINS and NANCY MULLINS. Isaac and his family are listed on the 1850 Russell County, Virginia Census.
Children of ISAAC MULLINS and ELIZABETH MULLINS are:
SOLOMON MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born April 06, 1818 in NC, and died November 08, 1886. He married ELIZABETH HALL 1838, daughter of ALEX HALL and POLLY SHEPHERD. Solomon and his family are listed on the 1850 Russell County, Virginia Census.
Children of SOLOMON MULLINS and ELIZABETH HALL are:
Amanda Jane Reedy was born on 10 Feb 1847 in Grayson County, VA. She died on 30 Nov 1926 in Dickenson County, VA. Both Solomon and Amanda are buried in Mullins Cemetery, Dickenson County, Virginia. Solomon served two years with the confederate army during the Civil War. He was with Company A of the 51st regiment.
JAMES MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born February 12, 1821 in Yancy Co., NC, and died December 24, 1878 in ?. He married ELIZABETH WRIGHT, daughter of JONATHAN WRIGHT and MARY BAILEY.
Child of JAMES MULLINS and ELIZABETH WRIGHT is:
HANNAH MINERVA "NERVA" MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born Abt. 1824 in Ashe Co.North Carolina. She married PHILIP FLEMING July 05, 1838 in Pike Co., KY, son of ROBERT FLEMING and ELIZABETH STUMBAUGH.
Children of HANNAH MULLINS and PHILIP FLEMING are:
JOHN HENRY MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born November 22, 1825 in NC, and died December 17, 1902. He married MARY ANNE "POLLY" BENTLEY Abt. 1847 in Virginia.
Children of JOHN MULLINS and MARY BENTLEY are:
Ethan Allen Smith served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War under Colonel Prentiss. He was a charter member of the Clintwood Missionary Baptist Church. Allen and Jennie moved from Dickenson Co., VA to Pritchard, WV where they bought a farm on Grayson Creek and lived out the remainder of their lives. According to son, John Tivis Smith, Allen and Jennie first settled at the Ed Baker Place just after their marriage. They later sold this property to Harrison Johnson and Johnny Baker and moved to Pritchard, West Virginia. Della Smith and her husband, Columbus Kilgore, moved to Pritchard and her parents followed.
HARMON MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born Abt. 1826 in Virginia, and died April 03, 1860 in Dickenson Co. VA. He married DICEY KEEL November 14, 1846 in Letcher Co., KY, daughter of HARDING KEEL and SUSAN TOOTLE.
Children of HARMON MULLINS and DICEY KEEL are:
OLLIE MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born February 05, 1832 in NC, and died February 10, 1910 in ?. She married ELI VANOVER March 02, 1848 in Letcher Co., KY, son of CORNELIUS VANOVER and SARAH HILL.
Eli and Ollie lived at the Fair Grounds in present day Clintwood, Virginia. Eli served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and was wounded in the arm at the Cranesnest Battle.
Children of OLLIE MULLINS and ELI VANOVER are:
HAZEL "HAZY" ANN MULLINS (JOHN "HOLLY CREEK JOHN" MULLINS, JOHN "REVOLUTIONARY JOHN" MULLINS) was born May 16, 1834 in Russell Co.Virginia, and died December 12, 1902. She married JACOB YATES.
Children of HAZEL MULLINS and JACOB YATES are:
This work may be referenced as "A Short History of Holly Creek John Mullins of Dickenson County, Virginia" compiled and edited by Martha M. Short, 214 Richmond Ave. #B, Rural Retreat, Virginia 24368, 1999.
Although every effort has been made to present accurate information this document may contain mistakes or data that is questionable or unproven, therefore, it is strongly advised by the compiler that researchers only use this data as a beginning reference. This information is periodically updated, edited, corrected, and changed as new information comes to light. Please feel free to notify me of any discrepancies that you find in the data or if you have additional information for inclusion in this website.
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Descendants of Dr. Jim Mullins
Descendants of Counterfeiting Solomon Mullins
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