Jeremiah was born to Joshua and Naomi Collins probably in the late 1750's. Only slightly younger than his brother Barnabas, the two became the best of friends growing up. While Barnabas was the calm, practical elder son, Jeremiah had an irrepressible love of life. As different as they were, they both learned to despise their aunt Abigail's religious fanaticism.
It was 1790 when Barnabas returned from Martinique to announce his engagement to Josette duPres. jeremiah was thrilled for his brother, excitedly waiting to meet his brother's fiancee - much more excited than he was to meet his own. His father expected him to marry a distant cousin, Millicent Collins. When she arrived with more luggage than a small freighter could carry, and an ego to match, Jeremiah was fed up enough to finally stand up to his overbearing father, though it did little good. Unfortunate, since he was already smitten with the mysterious Victoria Winters, even though he had good-natured competition from his friend Peter Bradford.
But soon he began having strange, passionate dreams about Josette. His guilt over his unearthly attraction to her drove him to distraction. Little did he know he was under the influence of a love spell cast by the wicked Angelique. Unable to resist the witch's magic, Jeremiah and Josette succumbed to their induced passions. Unaware they had been observed, the couple ran off and were married that evening. Barnabas, angered by the seeming betrayal of the two people he loved the most, insulted and attacked Jeremiah and Josette. Forced to demand satisfaction from his brother, Jeremiah and Barnabas prepared for a duel.
Unknown to Jeremiah, history had already recorded his death of a "firearms accident" in the Collins Family History Victoria had brought with her from the future. She warned Barnabas, who took steps to make sure his brother would not die by removing the lead ball from his gun. But Jeremiah's death was part of Angelique's plan. It was she who magically fired the lead ball that ended Jeremiah's life.
And still the witch would not let him rest in peace. When Barnabas still rejected her, Angelique raised Jeremiah as a zombie and sent him after the mourning Josette, ordering him to throw her off Widow's Hill. In death, however, Jeremiah found himself able to resist her magic as he couldn't in life. At Barnabas' urging, he put Josette safely down, and was even able to saying Angelique's name, warning Barnabas of her evil, before throwing himself off the cliff. By all accounts, Jeremiah was finally able to return to darkness and rest in peace.
