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Growing up in Robeson County I always have identified with my Lumbee ancestry. But have always wondered about my father’s ancestry. He is from Roxboro and I have always been told that we are Blackfoot descendants, but have been unable to prove this to be true. His last name is Royster and it is very common in that area. If there is anyone who could help I would greatly appreciate it.:)
Hi Lumbeechic, Welcome.
Glad to help, but I’ll need more specific information.
If he was born BEFORE 1930, I would need to know his name and about when he was born.
If he was born after 1930, I would need his parents’ names.
A sibling’s name or two would always help to confirm we’ve found the correct person, in the event there is more than one person with the same name.
Bill
Thanks for trying to help me.
My fathers name is Alvin Bernard Royster. He was born in 1959 somwhere in Virginia. My grandfathers name is Charlie Lewis Royster born in 1922 somewhere in Virginia. And my grandmothers name was Margaret Elizabeth Royster(her maiden name as well) b.1924-d.1997 in New Jersey. My Greatgrandparents name was Etta Jane Whitt b.1894-d.1969 and William Mckinley Royster born in 1894. I don’t know when he died. I know that the Whitt family roots are traced back to the NC/VR borders, around the Virglinia, Virginia area. But have no clue about the Royster name. I have a aunt named Bessie Mae Royster born in 1947 and a Uncle named James Edward Royster b. 1948.
Thanks for the additional information.
Here is Charlie L. Royster’s family as listed on census records:
1930
PERSON Co., NC Census – Dist. 5, Holloway Twp.
16 April; Sheet 6A (same as p.81A, stamped on it), visit 91:
ROYSTER, William; Farmer, Owns Farm; 34, m’d@24; NC, NC, NC.
………….., Etta J.; wife, 35, m’d@25; NC, NC, NC.
………….., Roxana; dau, 9, NC.
………….., CHARLIE L.; son, 8, NC.*******
………….., Rosa; dau, 7, NC.
………….., Martha D.; dau, 5, NC.
………….., C.(?) S.; son, 3, NC.
………….., William W.; son, 1, NC.
HUGHES., Pattie; Sister; 65, Widowed; NC
WATTS…, Robert; Nephew; 20, NC.
(to explain: William Royster is a Farmer and owns his farm; he’s 34 yrs old and was married at age 24; he was born in N.C., his father was born in N.C. and his mother was born in N.C.
All relationships noted are to the Head of Household., i.e., “Pattie Hughes” is William Sr.’s “Sister”. Two previous census records indicate that Pattie was only 55 yrs old in 1930, not 65, see below)
(there could have been more children after 1930.)
……………….
From the Social Security Death Index:
William Royster
b. 1 Dec 1894
d. Sep 1967
SS# 244-42-9481 issued in NC.
Last address:
Henderson, NC 27536
(Vance Co., NC).
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1920
PERSON Co., NC Census – Dist 190 Holloway Twp – 30 January; Sheet 4A (p.4A);
Visit 61:
ROYSTER, Jim B.; Farm Laborer; 74, Widowed, NC, NC, NC.
………….., Pattie; dau; 45, Widowed, NC, NC, NC. (same as Pattie Hughes, above.)
Visit 63:
ROYSTER, KINLEY; Laborer Public Works; 24, NC, NC, NC.
………….., Etta; wife; 24, NC, NC, NC.
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1910
PERSON Co., NC Census – Dist 145 Holloway Twp; 2 & 3 May; Sheet 10A (p.154A); Visit 163:
ROYSTER, James B.; Farmer, 70; Widowed, NC, NC, NC.
………….., McCONLEY; son, 13, NC.*******
………….., Colter (?); son, 11, NC.
………….., Pattie; dau, 35, NC. (same as Pattie Hughes.)
(the spellings on census records are terrible.
“McConley” is “McKinley” – see next listing. James’s age is also overstated here, based on earlier census records.)
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The month and year of birth are listed on the 1900 census.
1900
PERSON Co., NC Census – Dist 76 Holloway Twp; 12 June; Sheet 10B; Visit 170:
ROYSTER, James B.; Day Lab’r, Farm; Mar 1846, 54, W’d, NC,NC,NC
………….., Narcissas; Step-dau; Sep 1878, 21, NC.
………….., Rebecca; dau; Mar 1880, 20, NC.
………….., Isaac; Step-son; Jun 1885, 15, NC.
………….., James E.; son; Oct 1886, 13, NC.
………….., Laura; dau; Jan 1889, 11, NC.
………….., — ? — ; son; Sep 1893, 6, NC. (name illegible)
………….., McKINLEY; son; Dec 1896, 3, NC.*******
………….., — ? — ; son; Mar(?) 1899, 1, NC. (name illegible)
I think James’s middle name “may” be Berry, as recorded on an earlier census record, but I have some work to do on that. James appears to have outlived several wives. I’ll attempt to recover their names.
=============================================
Etta Jane Whitt’s family as listed on census records:
1910
PERSON Co., NC Census – Dist 145 Holloway Twp; 13 May; Sheet 16A (p.165A); Visit 280:
WHITT, George; Farmer, Rents; 43; m’d 1, 17 yrs; NC, NC, NC.
………., Roxey; wife; 34; m’d 1, 17 yrs, 8/7; NC, NC, NC.
………., ETTA; dau, 16, NC.*******
………., John; son, 13, NC.
………., Mary; dau, 10, NC.
………., William; son, 6, NC.
………., Talmage; son, 3, NC.
………., Bedford S.; son, 3, NC.
………., Joseph L.; son, 1, NC.
(The “m’d 1, 17 yrs” = married one time for 17 yrs.)
(The “8/7” for Roxey = Has had 8 childrren, 7 are still living.)
———————————————————————-
The month and year of birth are listed on the 1900 census.
1900
PERSON Co., NC Census – Dist 76 Holloway Twp; 18 June; Sheet 15B (p.83B); Visit 261:
WHITT, George; Blacksmith; July 1869, 30, m’d 7 yrs; Va, Va, Va.
………., Roxy; Wife; Oct 1875, 24, m’d 7 yrs, 5/4, NC, NC, NC.
………., ETTA; dau; Mar 1894, 6, NC, Va, NC.
………., John(?); son, ———, 3, NC, Va, NC. (mostly illegible.)
………., Mary (?); dau, ——–, — , NC, Va, NC. (mostly illegible.)
Next Door, at Visit 262:
WHITT, George Sam; May (?) 1813, 87, Va, Va, Va.
………., —————-; —————-, –, 3/2; Va, Va, Va. (illegible)
(I think George, b. 1813, is Etta’s grandfather, but have a little work to do to prove it.)
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Some of the census records are in pretty bad shape, and this particular series is worse. I have a candidate for Etta’s grandparents at an earlier time, living in Halifax Co., Va.
If you have any questions about any notations I’ve used, please email me for clarification.
Bill
Margaret Elizabeth Royster, b.1924, may be the 6 yr old “Mamie”, dau of Fannie Royster, on the 1930 Person Co., NC census for Holloway Twp, but I have no idea how to prove that.
Bill
Ok this is what I could gather about my grandmother (Magaret Elizabeth Royster). She was born on Dec. 29, 1924 in Long Branch NJ. to Burl and Christine Royster. From my understanding there are two sets of kids. I don’t know if grandma was from the 1st or second set. “Mamie” may possibly be my grandma sister who they call “Mae”, Mae Cunningham. But Grandma has 4 sisters Hazel Pelham fo Montclair, NJ., Daisy Flippen of Orange, NJ., Mae Cunnigham of Roxboro and Jessie Brooks of Stovall, NC. I got all this from her obituary so I don’t know if these people are living or dead. And she also had two brothers.
As for Etta Jane Whitt I know her mother’s name was Roxie Pulley. And Roxie Pulley’s parents was Lewis Pulley and Matilda.
And Etta Jane Whitt grandfather was George Whitt Sr. and grandmother was Mary Wilson (I don’t know if they were married).
Hope this will help a little more. Thank you so much it means alot to me.
This seems to be the best I can do for your Grandmother Margaret Royster.
I did not find any Roysters in NJ that even came close and not knowing the source of your information about New Jersey, I looked down in NC.
1930
Granville Co., NC Census – Dist. 8, Oak Hill Twp; 11 April; Sheet 7A; visit 118:
SMITH, Edd; Farmer, Owns farm; m, 55, m@22; NC, NC, NC.
………., CHRISTIE; wife, f, 38, m@29; NC, NC, NC. ****
………., Shirley; son, male, 17, NC, NC, NC.
ROYSTER, HAZEL; Step-dau; f, 8, NC, NC, NC.****
…………., Charlie; Step-son; m, 7, NC, NC, NC.
…………., MARGARET; Step-dau; f, 6, NC, NC, NC.*******
If this is your Christine, Hazel and Margaret, then Mae and Jessie would have been born after 1930, making them SMITHs.
I’ll “pick this apart” anyway….
On the 1920 census, Edd Smith’s wife was “Anie”, age 49.
On the 1930 census, Edd’s being 1st married at age 22 would refer to his marriage to Anie.
So, Christie’s being married 1st at age 29 would be her Royster marriage that probably ocurred around 1921 making her single on the 1920 census or possibly listed as a Royster. I didn’t come up with anyone in Granville Co., NC in 1920 with the first name of Christie or Chris or Christine, of any surname, that would have been born close enough to 1892 to identify as your Christine.
Bill
—Continued—
—Continued—
I can only confirm your PULLEY and WHITT information.
PULLEY:
1880
Person Co., NC Census; Dist. 208 Holloway Twp; 18 June; p.239C; visit 278:
PULLEY, Lewis; male, 42, Farmer, m’d; Va, Va, Va.*******
……….., Matilda; female, 41, wife, m’d, NC, NC, NC.*******
……….., Martha; f, 18, dau, NC.
……….., Josephine; f, 16, dau, NC.
……….., Peter; m, 11, son, NC.
……….., Sarah; f, 9, dau, NC.
……….., ROXY; f, 4, dau, NC.*******
———————————————————————
1870
Person Co., NC Census; Holloway Twp; 6 Sept; visit 144:
PULLEY, Lewis; 30, m, Farmer, $0, Va.
……….., Tilda; 25, f, NC.
……….., Martha; 8, f, NC.
……….., Joseph; 6, m, NC.
……….., Lewis; 4, m, NC.
……….., Peter; 2, m, NC.
———————————————————————-
WHITT:
1880
Halifax Co., NC; Dist 116 Eastern End of Black Walnut Twp; 26 June; p.58B; visit 509:
WHITT, George; 60, Farmer, Va, Va, Va.*******
………., Mary; 40, wife, Va, Va, Va.*******
………., Missouri; 16, dau, Va.
………., George Jr.; 14, son, Va.******* (Etta’s father)
………., Jane; 12, dau, Va.
………., Robert; 10, dau, Va.
———————————————————————–
1870
Halifax Co., NC; Hyco Twp; 23 Aug; p.84; visit 612:
WHITT, George; 48, m, Farmer, $0, Va.*******
………., Mary; 42, f, Va.*******
………., Emily; 11, f, Va.
………., Missouri; 8, f, Va.
………., Jane; 5, f, Va.
………., George; 3, m, Va.*******
………., Robert; 1, m, Va.
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I didn’t find any of them in 1860.
Bill
Hello Lumbeechick, welcome to our forum. I’m wondering if Whitt might be a variant of White. Richard Haithcock lists White as a name he’s found in Saponi families. The Saponi Siouan are the people I believe the Blackfoot ID is a marker for. I don’t know if you’ve seen the article at http://www.saponitown.com/blackfoot.htm. It’s most of what we know about that.
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