Hello – new here

Well, Daniel….once again, welcome. Hope you find the answers you are seeking here.

Aho

Becky

Hello to all.

Being a new member of this forum I will begin by stating that I have been conducting genealogical research on all my family lines for the past 30 years. Just recently, a paternal “cousin” pointed me in the direction of a possible connection to the SAPONI Indian of Virginia – North Carolina (a tribal affiliation I didn’t know existed, nor ever heard of before).

My roots run deep in the earth from Virginia to North Carolina to east Tennessee. Foremost, I am a paternal BOLING [BOLLING] descendant — a “red” Bolling, I have been led to believe.

In addition to my Bolling connection I am descended from the Christopher1, Richard2, Christopher3, Nathaniel4, SEQUOYAH5 (George) GIST (et. al.) lines on my maternal side.

I have an admixture of Creek, Cherokee, and Melungeon heritage from both near, and distant, relations. I am connected to the Treadway (et. al.), Welch, Sizemore, Duncan, Collins, Mullins, Rogers, Thomas, Candler, Hawkins — and so many more — lines. [I have heard throughout my life that I am descended from a Lost Tribe of NC (not the book); Black Dutch (meaning Melungeon); Blackfoot (I always considered my elders to be joking because I am barefoot all the time).]

My BOLING ascendants, apparently from the Fort Christianna VA area, removed to Hillsboro, Rutherford Co NC area before branching out into the east TN area around Sevier, Blount, Anderson, Claiborne, Hawkins, & Hancock counties. My maternal lines came from the old Pittsylvania Co VA area to then Burke (now Madison) Co NC [and now Sullivan, Washington, Hawkins, Hancock, and Greene counties in TN].

My late husband was a RUSSELL from Pennington Gap VA area — a Cherokee.

I am most interested in learning all that I can about the SAPONI. I have searched the internet for as much information as it is possible to glean but that leaves a lot to be desired in finding whether my roots are truly SAPONI or not. I would like to know if there is someone (or more) who could recommend literature, books, historical references which I might consult in order to further conduct my research on the SAPONI which settled on the reservation in NC. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Until later — I remain — “lost”.

WurTeh

Wurteh, welcome. For your best sources on the history of the saponi peoples (which has become a rather generic term), first read the articles linked to the Saponitown homepage then start reading the “Share history” forum. There is no better source on the saponi and related peoples. “Share history” will link you to other sources, researchers, and literature available. (such as Richard Haithcock’s series.)

I don’t think you should consider yourself lost if you’re a Boling out of Brunswick county with an oral tradition of Blackfoot. That’s a good triangulation in my view, you can sit on real steady. The article at http://www.saponitown.com/Blackfoot.htm that Dreaminghawk mentioned is a condensation of most of our research on the subject. (Boling, BTW, is one of only six names that can be traced to tribal Saponi.)

Hi Wertuh,

If youre related to the Treadways from the Johnson City TN area, we may be cousins. That family I was told has an oral history of Indian descent, and my couisins are currently researching it.