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Hello all,
My name is Jeremy and I am new to this forum. I am trying to research the Colbart/Colbert branch of my family. I have an ancestor Nathan Colbart who is exceedingly difficult to find in the census records. I think he was born around 1860 and has ties to VA. I believe his father is Nathaniel Colbert from VA.
Oral tradition tells me that this Grandfather was Blackfoot and that he was shot in a horse trade, leaving my g-g-grandfather (John Raymond Colbart) an orphan.
I would like to know more about this side of my family history, but i seem to come upon many dead ends.
I believe the Colbart/Colberts might be of Melungeon descent, as i have Behcet syndrome, a rare genetic disorder occuring mostly among Turkish people.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Jeremy
Colbert was a very prominent Chickasaw surname, and I think there was one of these mixed blood Colbert’s that went to live in Virginia. Do a google search for — “George Colbert” Chickasaw –and that should get you to them. Chickasaw were in N Ms, W Tn ands W Ky. They were known to cross the Mississippi and raid the Quapaw towns in Arkansas. They were always at war with the Choctaw and hated the French.
vance
Thanks for your reply Vance. I’m still searching.
I’m not sure how this fits, but I did find a Nathaniel Colbert in my search for George Colbert that you had suggested. Nathaniel was listed as a resident in the census report on ‘1855’ Choctaw Roll, Skullyvile Co., Choctaw Nation, IT, NOV/DEC 1856. It’s probably unlikely that he’s my line though. I need to do more checking to see if he moved East from the Choctaw Nation IT. If i can connect him to VA, I would be more inclined to accept it as true. I do believe I have a Grandfather named Nathaniel Colbert.
It’s interesting what you said about the Colberts hating the French. I remember my G-Grandmother’s cousin saying something about a Frenchman in our family long ago marrying a Blackfoot woman, and living with the Blackfoot. So who knows. That may be one of those romantic family legends, or it might be rooted in fact. Interesting to note though, is that my family on that side is very vocal about their dislike of the French. I was raised by my G Grandmother, and can remember my family saying nasty things about the French that I really find hard to understand. I don’t think they’ve ever known anyone from that part of the world.
I’m just becoming more and more intrigued by it all. Hopefully I can trace this line.
~Jeremy
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/greybird7/genealogy.html
The person creating the website above is trying to research the origin of the Chickasaw Colbert’s and says —
———————- quote —————-
According to COLBERT family tradition, a man named “James LOGAN” was the grandfather of James COLBERT. Given the similarity of names, plus the fact that Chickasaw traders lived at Quankey Creek, Occoneechee Neck and on Plumbtree Island, circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that this James LOGAN was indeed the grandfather of James Logan COLBERT.
Additional information on James LOGAN comes from F.B.KEGLEY in his book KEGLEY’S VIRGINIA FRONTIER. In it he describes some of the earliest settlers on “the southwest frontier below the mountains” in Virginia.
“On the south side of the James below the mountains the frontier at this time was represented by the Welsh settlement on the Mcherrin; Col.BYRD’s improvements on the Roanoke above Sandy Creek, including the three charming islands, Sapponi, Occoneechee and Totero; Major MUNFORD’s Quarter near-by; Col.BYRD’s Land of Eden on the Dan and Major MAYO’s Survey adjoining; Richard and William KENNON’s grant on Cub Creek which supplied farmsteads for John CALDWELL’s Presbyterian Colony…
“On the South eastern creeks were…Joseph COLSON at Major MUMFORD’s…and Peter MITCHELL, the highest inhabitant on Roanoke River, about six miles above the fork.Among the first to become settled on Cub Creek were John and William CALDWELL, James LOGAN…”(37)
—————- end of quote ————–
interesting . . . To fill in the gaps, there were many Chickasaw chiefs named “Colbert” who ewre prominent from about teh 1780s to the 1830s, approx. But the father of all of them was James Logan Colbert. According to the above, James Logan Colbert’s grandpa possibly was James Logan, and James Logan lived near the Tutelo, Saponi, and Occoneechee Island settlements.
Vance
The next few paragraphs on the website I just listed in the last post mentions the “Calvert” family. Bill, I believe you mentioned Colbert might be Calvert? It also mentions Polythress and Bolling that I have heard people talk about, and I also see the Wood surname (one I am researching).
I have ancestors that leased lands from a Belton?Benton Colbert in the 1890s in the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory, Oklahoma, many generations after the earlier people mentioned here. That is why I have heard of them and looked into them some. It is odd how some of the same families seemed to migrate together for generation after generation . . . or at least generations later we are rediscovering some of these things.
— quote —
The Calverts of Plumbtree Island
While investigating the TURBEVILLEs, COLSONs, and LONGs, it was discovered that the family of Joseph CALVERT (pronounced kahl/vert) also lived on Plumbtree Island and owned property on the Occoneechee Neck. Deed records strongly suggest that Joseph CALVERT and Joseph COLSON were either partners and/or related to one another. On 20 March 1721 both bought property on the Morattuck River from Thomas WHITMELL, an Indian trader.(39) COLSON’s land was on the north side of the Morattuck (Roanoke) River near the TURBEVILLE’s: “…Thomas WHITMILL…to Joseph COLESON…100 acres on the north side of Morattock River, joining the spring branch, the Double branch, TURBEWILL’s branch and the river. Wit:William MAULE, William GRAY…” CALVERT, on the other hand, bought land on Plumbtree Island: “…Thomas WHITMILL…to Joseph CALVERT…385 acres…”(40)
The lands bought by COLSON< CALVERT, and TURBEVILLE on the north side of the Morratuck(Roanoke) River were near an Indian path leading to the courthouse in Brunswick County, Virginia, and to the plantation of Major Robert MUMFORD[MUNFORD].
Major Robert Mumfors and the Families of Plumbtree Island
Further research revealed that the TURBEVILLEs, COLSONs, and CALVERTs worked for Major Robert MUMFORD of Brunswick County, Virginia, and with Thomas WHITMELL. Major MUMFORD was a large land speculator and the descendant of an Indian trading family. The MUMFORDs had traded alongside men like Abraham WOOD, Benjamin HARRISON, Robert BOLLING, William BYRD I, Peter POYTHRESS, and Robert HICKS since the late 1600s.(42)
— end of quote —
Well Vance, I missed this post ’til now, and it took me a couple of days to verifiy – no dishonor intended – as you understand it. I don’t always read every new post on every Forum Topic.
I’ll see how far I can dig into this and post whatever I can find – not that it might be anything you haven’t found.
Bill
http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/greybird7/genealogy.html
Thanks Bill — everything I wrote between the words “quote ” and “end of quote” is found on the website above.
Bill, any dishonor might come only if I posted something that can’t be verified, and noone challenges it. 🙂 So don’t worry about that with me. This is research, and there are ethical ways to do research, and those ethics demand verification of source matrerial, et cetera. I try to differentiate between “fact” and “supposition”, between “educated guesses” and “plain nonsense”. Sometimes I am wrong but too blind or bull headed to see it. If I don’t do it right, please let me know. 🙂
All I found was historical documentation that listed names, locations and dates, but this is not detailed lists of families and genealogies. So you might find a lot I don’t know how to come up with. When it comes to genealogy — you are the best.
Thanks for lookin’ into it.
vance
Note — James Logan Colbert was the father to the famous half-blood Chickasaw Colbert Brothers, chiefs of the Chickasaw (George (Chickasaw Chief George Colbert married 2 of Doublehead’s daughters near Muscle Shoals, in NW Alabama, died Fort Towson, Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma in 1839. Descendants of George and Doublehead’s daughters are enrolled as Chickasaw), Levi, James, William (who led 300
Chickasaw Warriors at Horseshoe Bend . . .)). James Logan Colbert’s grandpa is thought to be James Logan — one of the
original “Occoneechi traders” from near the settlements of
Occoneechi, Tutelo, Saponi, and Susquehanna Islands on Roanoke River (I believe it is — if I have the wrong river someone please correct me)in Virginia. He might have had mixed Saponi/Tutelo blood), but that is speculation.
Altho James Logan Colbert was not Chickasaw, he let Chickasaw
Warriors against the Spanish after they had annihilated the Natchez Indians on the Mississippi River.
Info at the link below is interesting reading . . .
================
http://www.nps.gov/arpo/colbert/contents.htm
Special History Report: The Colbert Raid
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
I. INTERPRETING THE COLBERT RAID
A. Background
B. Recommendations
II. ARKANSAS POST AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
A. War Comes to the Lower Mississippi Valley
1. The Post in the Mid-l760s
2. France and Spain Enter the War
3. The Relocation of Arkansas Post
4. Spain Seizes a Number of British Settlements
B. The Spanish Defeat the Natchez Rebellion
1. The Natchez Rebels Capture Fort Panmure
2. The Spanish Strike Back
3. The Spanish Move Against the Leaders of the Revolt
C. Captain Colbert Intervenes
1. Enter Capt. James Logan Colbert
2. Arkansas Post Braces for an Attack
a. Hard Times on the Arkansas
b. The Spanish Erect a Stockade
c. De Villiers Reinforces His Garrison
d. Fifth Column Activities at Arkansas Post
3. Captain Colbert Strikes
a. The Spring of 1782 Brings Heavy Traffic on the Mississippi
b. The Attack on Pourré’s Bateau
c. Captain Colbert and His Men Capture Labadie’s Bateau
d. An Alarm Rouses the British
e. The Captors Divide the Loot
f. The British Talk Too Much
g. Labadie Describes Captain Colbert
h. Labadie Keeps His Eyes Open
i. Other Successes Scored by the Rebel Blockade
j. Colbert Releases Some of the Prisoners
k. Labadie Travels to St. Louis by way of Arkansas Post
4. The Spanish Counterattack
a. Acting-Governor Miró Outlines a Course of Action.
b. Miró Negotiates with Colbert
c. Colonel Cruzat Intimidates the Chickasaws
d. Lieutenant de Villars Sends a Patrol to Chickasaw Bluffs .
e. Governor Gálvez Releases the Natchez Rebels
D. Captain Colbert Raids Arkansas Post
1. Colbert’s Band Renews its Attacks on Shipping
2. Captain Dubreuil Takes Command
3. Arkansas Post Prepares for an Attack
a. Colonel Miró Seeks to Calm Dubreuil’s Fears
b. Chief Angaska Returns from Patrol
c. The Situation Gets Worse
d. Chief Angaska Leaves on Another Patrol
4. The April 17, 1783, Raid
a. Colbert’s Flotilla Moves Against Arkansas Post
b. The Raiders Surprise and Sweep the Habitant Coast
c. The Partisans Invest the Fort
d. A Sortie Routs the Partisans
e. The Recoil from Arkansas Post
f. Acting-Governor Miró Corresponds with Colbert
g. Colbert’s Flotilla Suffers a Defeat
h. Death Interrupts the Colbert-Miró Correspondence
III. PHYSICAL SETTING
A. Natural Features
1. Arkansas River
2. Configuration of Terrain
3. Soil
4. Trees and Forest
5. General Character of Ground and Cover in Relation to Season of
Year
6. Weather and Time of Day
B. Man-made Features
1. Relative Positions of Principal Features
a. Habitant Coast
b. The Village
c. Fort Carlos III
d. Village Architecture
e. Fort Carlos III
(1) The Stockade
(2) Bastions
(3) Embrasures
(4) Storehouses, Barracks, and Officers’ Quarters
(5) Powder Magazine
(6) Cannons, Swivel Guns, and Ordnance Stores
C. Human Figures
1. Spanish Forces
a. Numbers and Composition
b. Uniforms Worn by the Soldiers
(1) Coat, Vest, and Breeches
(2) Hat
(3) Leggings and Shoes
(4) Stock and Shirt
c. Arms and Accoutrements
(1) Muskets and Bayonets
(2) Cross-Belting and Cartridge Boxes
d. Captain Dubreuil’s Uniform and Accoutrements
e. Illustrations
f. Physical Appearance of Captain Dubreuil and Sergeant Pastor
2. The Quapaw
3. Colbert’s Partisans
a. Numbers and Composition
b. Dress Worn and Arms Carried by the Chickasaws and Mixed Bloods
(1) Breechclouts
(2) Shirts or Blankets
(3) Leggings
(4) Moccasins
(5) Bags and Purses
(6) Manner of Dressing Hair
(7) Ear Ornaments
(8) Waist Bands
(9) Leg Ornaments
(10) Use of Grease
(11) Body Paint
(12) Speck’s Summary of a Yuchi
(13) Contemporary Illustrations
(14) Arms and Accoutrements
c. Garb Worn by the Whites and Blacks
d. Arms and Accoutrements Carried by the Whites and Blacks
e. Physical Description of Captain Colbert
f. Illustrations
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Plate I. Section and elevation of the Fort Carlos III stockade
Plate II. Uniforms of the Spanish Louisiana Regiment, 1779-81
link below says —
http://gcclearn.gcc.cc.va.us/SITEHISTORY/sp171213.htm
(first link in the above post) —
(Age 36) Responding to a call for help from the North Carolina colony to the south, including Baron von Graffenreid’s settlers at New Bern on the Neuse River, Spotswood repels an attack of the Tuscarora Indians by organizing an expedition of overwhelming strength. This show of strength forces many tribes, especially the SAPONI INDIANS, to join the government’s side in a treaty of friendship. This treaty will later serve against the Indian tribes organized by the French (who are colonizing up and down the Mississippi River).
end of quote
===================
I am mentioning it here because it mentions Saponi being organized eventually, against the French. Then it mentions the French organizing on the Mississippi River.
If as is recorded, James Logan Colbert’s grandpa was James Logan the trader, and since he ended up organizing the Chickasaw against the Spanish in 1783, perhaps it was in this earlier time frame that Saponi traders ended up in the Chicksaw Nation and became the “Chickasaw Traders” on the Mississipi River.
vance
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