Private Collins

John Collins is listed as a 'Private' in his pension application and that was largely the rank with which he served throughout the war.  At times, he also filled the rolls of higher ranks on a few alarms.  However, I think these were probably temporary promotions and he ended the war a Private.  Hence, when I was looking for John in MA Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, I accidentally passed over his actual entry more than once:

"Collins, John.  Corporal, Capt. David Wheeler's co., Col. John Brown's detachment of militia stationed at Fort Ann; enlisted June 30, 1777; discharged July 21, 1777; service, 22 days; roll sworn to at Lanesborough; also, Private, Capt. Daniel Brown's co.; marched from Lanesborough to Meloomscuyck Aug. 14, 1777, on an alarm; service, 6 days; certificate on reverse of roll states that Capt. Brown and company were in service 27 days and were then dismissed by Col. Benjamin Simonds; also, same co., marched from Lanesborough to Pawlet Sept. 5, 1777, on an alarm; service, 27 days."

Sources:

1. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War: A Compilation from the Archives, 17 Volumes (Boston: Wright and Potter Printing Co., State Printers, 1897), Vol. 3, p. 822.

2. "Revolutionary War Pensions." digital images, fold3 (http://www.fold3.com : accessed 9 February 2012); John Collins, pension no. S.10486; imaged from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, microfilm publication M804 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives [n.d.]), no roll number cited.