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Hello everyone,
I just moved this message from the Crafts Forum. I hope I’m in the Genealogy Forum this time.
My name is Dan and this is my first attempt at posting messages so feel free to let me know if i’m not following the correct protocol. I live in Southampton County, Virginia where I grew up and my father’s family has lived since the mid 1600s. My mother is from Northampton County, North Carolina.
Last july my wife (who is Creek) and I visited the Chereonhaka powwow (my first) and I decided to look for my NA roots that were rumored to be on both sides of my family. So far, in the census records, everyone is listed as white. I had a DNA test which if it is accurate, confirms that there is much more NDN in the family than I thought. My mom had a DNA test too which shows she is part NA and by simple math shows my dad had alot of Indian blood. In retrospect, he looked indian with darker skin and straight black hair.
I had assumed that since my family has lived in this area for hundreds of years that I am probably Chereonhaka/Nottoway, Meherrin, Tuscarora or possibly Chowan but I believe that I read in one posting that some of the Saponi moved to Northampton Co too.
The only person that the family agrees is Indian, through oral tradition, is my great grandmother. Here name was Cordelia Nelson. On one site she was listed as Cordelia Jackson Nelson but I haven’t seen that in the records. Her father was John Nelson and he was listed as John Jackson Nelson at that site. The records show that John Nelson (born @ 1805) married Sally Johnson (born @ 1822) in 1841 but later in each census she is listed as Sarah, not Sally. I assume it’s the same person since Cordelia is also listed as Adelia and Delia. But that’s all the info I can find on that side of the family. I hope someone may recognize the name’s.
On my father’s side, he said he thought his GM was half Indian. Her maiden name was Lula E. (Alma) Gray. To save time the rest of the names I have are Benjamin J. Gray and Martha Barrett. Bennett Barrett and Edith Phillips. Richard Gray and Louise Bryant, Jordan Barrett and Elizabeth English, Benjamin Gray and Sylvia Millicent Massengale, Ephraim Bryant and Nancy Beale.
Again, I hope someone recognizes a name.
Thanks,
Dan
Hi, Dan, Welcome.
Your John Nelson is probably the son of John and Charlotte Coleson Nelson. Sarah ( “Sally” was the nickname for Sarah in those days) Johnson’s bondsman when she marr’d John Nelson was William C. Johnson (the index “cut-off” the ‘on’ on his name) . I’m still sorting them out.
The reason John Nelson’s family may have been hard to locate is that his parents died early and many of his family took off in the 1820s for Greene and Clinton Counties, Ohio.
Bill
Bill,
Thanks. I’m looking for those names now on Ancestry.com. Also, my father’s father’s mother was Martha Johnson and she was born in 1841. I mention her because of the name Johnson. She is listed in the 1850 census in Southampton County and it shows her mother to be Mary Johnson who was born @ 1815. The 1850 census shows them living in the St. Lukes Parish. The Nottoway Reservation was also in this Parish according to Walt “Red Hawk” Brown, Chief of the Chereonhaka and he says this could be an important clue. It’s unusual though that the head of the household is Parker Vick who is 5 years younger than Mary Johnson. He is shown in the 1870 Hertford North Carolina census as being married to or living with a Sallie, not Mary. But the interesting thing is he is listed as white but it looks like the “W” was corrected from an “M’ or Mulatto. That’s all the info I could find on her but if you or anyone else recognizes their names, please let me know. I would love to associate a name with a specific tribe.
Again, many thanks,
Dan
LoneWolf,
I am a Gray descendent too. I have some info on this famiy if you’d like it. They were from the part of Surry County that is now Southampton County. So if you are looking for them before Southampton became a County look in Surry. They once lived in Charles City County too. Thomas Gray the first here came in 1608 he is an Ancient Planter he survived the Massacre of Good Friday 1622 by hiding on an island in the James River so the story goes. I have heard he was warned by friendly indians. There are Turner/Grays that are members of the Cheroenhaka tribe. Good searching to you. It does appear many more of my lost relatives are appearing on Saponitown. It seems to me the Nottoway People are coming out of the woodwork by leaps and bounds. This is good very good!
Linda
Linda,
Thanks for the information. I really appreciate the story on Thomas Gray and the Massacre or Good Friday. Hopefully I can tie him into my family tree. So as you can imagine, I would love to have any information you have on the Gray family. I guess the best way is to email it to me? Also, do you know where the Nottoways entered the Gray family or is Gray a Nottoway surname?
Dan
Bill,
This is the information that I have. From talking to family members I am pretty sure the following is very close to being correct.
Lula E. (Alma) Gray was born @ 1865 and Married Walter Drake 2-16-1886. Her parents were Benjamin J. Gray, b. @1830, and Martha Barrett, born @ 1835. They were married in Oct. 1853.
The following information came from Ancestry.com or the LDS site.
Benjamin J. Gray’s father was Richard Gray, b. 1808/10. His mother was Louise M. Bryant, b. 1810/12.
Martha R. Barrett’s father was Bennett Barrett, b. @1809. Her mother was Edith Phillips, b. sept 1808. Married 8-18-1827.
Richard Gray’s father was Benjamin Gray, b. bet 1740/50. His mother, Sylvia Millicent Massengale, b. ?
Louise M. Bryant’s father was Ephraim Bryant, death abt 1812.
Bennett Barrett’s parents were Jordan Barrett and Elizabeth English. I don’t have any other information on them.
Edith Phillips father was John Phillips. I don’t have any other info on him. Edith Phillips’ mother is unknown.
Benjamin Gray’s father was Benjamin Gray Sr., death before 12-11-1766. His mother’s name was Catherine ?
That’s all the information I have on them and I’m not sure how accurate it is. I do know that Lula E. (Alma) Gray’s father, Benjamin J. Gray lived in Southampton County, Virginia, near the town of Newsoms. I’m not sure if they all lived in Southampton County.
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Dan
Whoa LoneWolf my Grays come from the same area. How ya doing cousin? LOL I would say with almost certainty you belong to Thomas Gray as well. Hold on to your hat cuz cause boy do I have some stuff to tell you. Ever hear of Chillingham Castle in Northumberland England? This is were our Grays are from and the Castle is still in the family today. It is the home of the Earl Gray and has been since the 1100’s. They came from Normandy with William the Conqueror. They are English nobility. Ever heard of Lady Jane Gray Queen of England for 9 days? She was of our family to. This family married into the Plantenganant Dynasty with regularity. It is said Thomas Gray sailed his own ship over here but who really knows for sure. What I do know is he is not listed on any ship coming over and he arrived in 1608 which put some truth to the possibility of sailing his own ship over. To my knowledge Gray is not a core Nottoway name but they did however marry into the Nottoway. It is my understanding when this happened they usually took the loved from the reservation life which at that time was not good.
Thomas Gray and an unknown wife had a son named Captain William Gray he was born in James City Cty in 1648. He married Elizabeth Jarrett and they had a daughter named Faith Gray. She married William Ruffin and they moved to Northampton CTY NC and this is my line of descent.
If you ever visit the Tower of London it will probably be very moving for you as it was for me. Many of our Gray ancestors lost their heads there. In fact the tour guide mentioned Lady Jane Gray and how regally she walked to the block it sent chills through me. It’s no wonder Thomas left there for the New World.
It is noted in history he was a man of means here in America. It is stated he made regular trips across he ocean to England but they settled here permanantly. There are alot of records on this family probably because of their status, they should not be hard for you to trace. But if they came from Newsums you are part of our Grays I have no doubt of that. Oh and by the way welcome to the clan of folks with roots in Southampton. By the way it was a Gray who took Nat Turners confession in 1831. And he started his insurrection from woods on the Nottoway Reservation:mad: shame on him. His actions did not help our People. If you want to know more I can supply it. From history of the Grays to history of the Nottoway.
Linda
oh the Grays were owners in the Virginia Company and members of the House of Burgess like I said there is ALOT of information on them going way back. I”ll check and see who your Benjamin father was.
Linda
Hi Dan!
And Linda! Look at this!
Before I put the link on…maybe you’ve seen this one before…see Ann Newsom married to William Hilliard? Father is Major Isaac Hilliard born June 28 1739 married Leah Crafford. Hilliards are in deeds shown here. These Hilliards connect to the Hunts and Jeremiah Hilliard married Elizabeth Pottle. Her second marriage was Simon Jeffreys. Son Osborn and Daughter Elizabeth. I am pretty confused after looking at all of this but the deeds are great.
Dan, see any connections?
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=clucas&id=I09440
Sue J
Sue,
I knew the Crafford and Newsome were among our family members but never really looked into the Hilliard. Thanks! This is my maternal grandfathers family. They were all over Southampton Cty and my maternal grandmothers folks were in the northern parts of the county. We had folks in Courtland (Jerusalem), Newsums, on Lightwood Swamp, Stony Creek, Lawnes Parish, St. Lukes Parish, Nottoway Parish. I can’t even remember all of the places right now LOL ALL in Southampton of today. I have alot from Nansemond Cty. too
Linda
Linda,
I guess what I was trying to say is these Hilliards are the same that tie into My Hunts. The Amaryllis Hunt is daughter of John Hunt and Mary Jeffreys…John is a son of Memucan Hunt and Mary Wade. Hunt is one of my direct lines. We may get closer to being cousins yet!!!;) 🙂 see Nathaniel Macon Hunt as well. same line.
and others there.
I had hoped you would find it helpful.
Sue J
P.S. Sorry about your recent losses.
Linda,
Hello cousin! I’m speechless. I have been registered with Saponitown for 10 days and I already have evidence that I am descended from the Cheroenhaka/Nottoway and in the family with the Queen of England. This kind of information on one’s family is priceless. I have already read a little on Lady Jane Gray. I have alot more research to do.
Thank you so much,
Dan
Sue J,
Thank you for the link. I didn’t recognize any names except you mentioned the surname Hunt. About 1701, Thomas Drake (1675 – 1758) on my father’s side married Ann Griffin (1682- 1778). She was the daughter of Owen Griffin and Mary Hunt. All of these lived in Southampton Cty. Chief Walt Brown said that the surname Hunt was associated with the Nottoway but I haven’t found anything on her yet. Anyway, I’ll have to study these names more. The records are pretty good back until about 1850 but before that I haven’t had much success.
Again thank you for the information,
Dan
Sue,
I’d like it if we turned out to be cousins. You know when I was home last weekend I just stood there on that land were I grew up and where so many generations before me had stood and grown up. I realized then that Edgecombe County NC is a different sort of place. I looked to the northeast and realized I was just 60 miles from Southampton County Virginia home of the Nottoway. I looked to the northwest and realized I was just 40 miles from the home of the Haliwa Saponi. I looked due east and realized I was 1 mile from were 3 trunks of arrowheads and hatchets had been found. I thought my God this must have been hunting grounds. The people of Edgecombe County are a different sort too most of the county is off the beaten track so strangers are not common there. People speak freely of indian heritage. They speak of family often those who have left the area and those that have walked on. There is alot of history in that place I call home. The ground is “warm” and envelopes the soul. The people of Edgecombe County are descendents of probably every tribe in the area. If you look south and know where members of your family headed you realize your blood probably runs through the veins of many Lumbees. Strangers are looked at with suspicion. It is a tight knit place. A place that changes very little. The biggest change is a generation dying and another coming of age but each generation knows it’s story and it’s history.
Linda
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