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I have a Parker issue…then again it seems many of us do.
I gathered info from trips to NC and then a couple years ago I got the big clues from an aunt. She told me that A great-great grandmother, Rebbeca Parker said she was a “Blackfoot”. At time she would also speak of Cherokee as well, but the family is definately well entrenched in the Guilford County, NC area. My G-G Grandmother lived with this aunt’s family in the 1900’s and told them these stories of being “Blackfoot”. Her husband was Thomas Swink. Her father was a Childs Alondo Parker married to a Mary “Polly” Howard. His father may have been a “Edward” Parker… I have little other info on the family other than that. I was hoping someone else may have some more info. I saw where a member “Magnolia” seems to have the same lineage. Any help would be great. I do have a couple of stories about this woman’s life that I can share as well. I would hate for these stories to dissappear with time.
Thanks in advance,
Kyle
Welcome Kyle. I trust you’ve seen our article at http://www.saponitown.com/Blackfoot.htm. It’s thought that the town name Saxapahaw is a corruption of the Tutelo words for ‘isi asepahiye’ which means ‘blackened foot.’ Not sure if Saxapahaw is in Alamance or Guilford county, but it’s all pretty much ground zero for the Saponi Blackfoot ID. The Parker name has come up before. Have you used our search feature on it?
Yes I have, Linda. I have found this site and forum to be of great help. Although sometimes it seems to create as many questions as it answers (LOL). But that is fine too. I am very interested in the heritage I appear to share with you and others, both here , and around the U.S. It is quite nice to find a group of people so intelligent and respectful as everyone seems to be here. I have visited this site many times in the past, but I would not post until I was as close to 100% sure I am a part the Saponi heritage as I could be. Now I am preparing to emerse myself in researching this culture. I have thought I was on the right track for some time, but only now am I beginning to feel that my info is correct enough to claim this culture as part of my heritage.
I also want to thank all of you here for all of the work and research you have done as well. I have used this site many times to check and recheck my facts.
Thanks again,
Kyle
Hi Kyle, This may not help, but I have traced my Parker linage to Amelia and Chesterfield in Virginia. I have a couple of those names in my run, but without dates, it is hard to see how they match up. AS for getting more questions, I think we all are having that scenario, at least the recent people.
One thing I think I am coming to understand is that there is not one single tribe known as Saponi/Blackfoot, etc. These were bands of people with common language, lifestyle, and interests that separated all along the way. I believe there are descendants from the Chesterfield location still in that area. Sappony Road is full of traditional Sappony names.
In the Halifax area, there are people with traditional names for their area. In Cumberland, the place is full of Saponni names.
In Ohio, there are many Saponi names in traditional areas.
But even the traditional names for these areas changed. The closer you get to the 1600’s the more Haifords, Parkers, Browns, and Perkins you get. The closer to the 1700’s you get, the more Collins, Goins, and etc you find, but the fewer Parkers and Perkins.
Just my theory, but I think I have something here.
As you might guess, I do not hold to the belief that the only true Saponi Indians are from the seven families. I believe that they comprise that tribe, but not the entire nation.
As for Parkers, look in the Louisa, Cumberland, Amelia, and Chesterfield areas. These are the settled areas where the Sapponies were moved from during the 1600’s to 1700’s.
Yeah, it’s hard to know who’s where and where’s who and especially hard the further you go back. Everytime I get to feeling I’m on the right track, I find myself on a side path wondering how the heck I got out here. I only want to claim a heritage that is truely mine, and not just say “Yep! It’s mine” without proving to myself that it is. I do feel I am following the right “path” and the area fits, just gotta get better at tracking through the genealogy wilderness. LOL. I believe I’m good until 1780’s with a ‘Edward Parker’ who may be from Halifax as you mentioned. But beyond that….who knows. Thanks for the tips. I’ll check some of those areas as well. Afterall, I didn’t expect to find my family back in VA, yet there they are?
Thanks again,
Kyle
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