[Linda]

Bess Veney wrote (thread moved from History section)

Barry, Linda and rest of the FCSO. You are probably aware of Goodwin Cooper and his family of Mecklenburg County that were Native Americans and at least part Eastern Siouan. In case you don’t have this info, I pass this on at this time. Most often this family appears as Mulattos in the census records (1850 for example under name “Goodin Cooper). But in the 1860 census, where he and the family are living in Clarksville, Goodwin is identified as an Indian.

Mecklenburg County: M653 Roll1362 page211; 31/August/1860

470/469

Cooper, Goodwin 58 M Ind VA

Cooper, Rebeca 40 F M VA

“ , Caroline 15 F M

“ , Saml 13 M M

“ , Berry 11 M M

“ , Edgar 9 M M

“ , Mary 8 F M

“ , Lilley 6 F M

“ , Chelsey 4 M M

“ , Mary 2 F M

Goodwin was born in VA about 1802 and married Rebecca Ann Pettiford on 7/August/1844 in Mecklenburg County. Oral history and location indicate that Pettyford/Pettiford surname name is Sapony along with Cooper. I took notice of the Cooper surname many years back when I was researching the Viney/Veny family of Gallia County, Ohio. These Vineys appear in Va. Court records as being “desendents of an indian women in the female line”. A Nancy Viney married a Daniel Cooper, in Gallia county sometime before 1855 (I’l dig up the exact date for you, later). If you come across a Daniel Cooper or any Vineys in Mecklenburg records let me know.

Bess Veney

[Linda]

No, I wasn’t aware of them. Thanks so much. I wasn’t aware there were any notations of Indian folks in Mecklenburg records. We’ll have to browse around in 1860 census for Mecklenburg and see if we can find any other similar racial designation. There must have been an unusual census taker that year. As usual, you’ve found something good.

Thanks!

[Saponi 1]

I have also run into individuals enumerated as Indian–this was a surprise but it also shows what we have been saying.

1860 Slave Census–Can be viewed on Ancestry.com

Key Words, VA, HALIFAX, INDIAN

55 Female Indian Harrison M Oliver Nothern District, Halifax, Virginia

19 Female Indian Robert Jennings Nothern District, Halifax, Virginia

56 Female Indian Thomas S Williams Nothern District, Halifax, Virginia

30 Male Indian John Cardin Nothern District, Halifax, Virginia

[Linda]

Very interesting. Have you used those keywords on any other southside counties?

[Author]

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