[NAgal]

Hi everyone I’m so glad I found this forum So here are my brick walls:

First: Lewis WADKINS born somewhere in NC 1817 according to census records. Lewis eventually lands in Talbot Co., GA and marries Elizabeth HALES in 1832 they are found on the 1850 census. Their son Lewis WADKINS(Jr) is born in 1833 marries a Nancy MARTIN and are found on the 1860 census in Harris Co., GA. Lewis(Jr) dies in the civil war and one of his documents lists him as “white” but with “swarthy” skin.

I’m looking for more info on where Lewis Sr. was born in NC and I’ve been unable to identify him, sibs and parents.

Second: I can not find Nancy MARTIN or her family prior to the above 1860 census, after Lewis dies she marries a Wilson Culberson/Culverson who is listed as “mulatto” on 2 census records but is later listed as white when they move to another county.

Third: Nancy and Lewis had several children one was Martha Ann (Mattie) WADKINS born 12/2/1853 she is my grgr gran. In early 1871 Martha concieved and gave birth to a male child out of wedlock on 12/5/1871 she named him Charles Howard ROWELL. Family rumor was rampent about who his father was, Martha never told anyone even when she was in failing health and when asked she said “it’s none of your damned business”. LOL funny but sad that she felt compelled to hide this info. It is also a family rumor that the ROWELL surname was “gifted” to Martha to legitimize Charles. Martha doesn’t re-appear on any census record until 1900 when she is married and Charles is an adult and married himself. The 1900 Census is the first time I find Charles on any census record.

Several years ago I treated myself to an ethnology DNA test that comes up 1/4 indian. I’m female and my suspected indian ancestry jumps the sex line several times and I can’t find any direct male decendents so far. I belive these families must have been of mixed blood as they seemed to marry other mixed bloods even thought most of the time they are listed as white.

I would love to learn my tribal heritage(s), for years as a child, I asked my parents if we had indian blood and it was always denied even though I was mistaken often with my dark eyes, hair and skin. Anyone that might have known are long gone.

Again I’m thrilled to be here and hope to learn much from you all.

[Tonio]

I’m not the person you’d want to ask when it comes to DNA testing lol, but I’ll tell you what I know. It ain’t much but hopefully it can help you. A lot of families that were mixed like that (My family included in some lines) mingled, married, n whatever else with people that looked like them. Living in distant communities with other mixed race people. Now there are reports of some mixed families “passing” into the European-American communities. I can’t speak for your family, but if this sounds familure within your own family, then you now understand what went on, if you didn’t already. I guess that’s it for me haha! Good luck 🙂

[daniel_bingamon]

Have you tried other spellings like Watkins?

[NAgal]

Yes I’ve been trying both spellings of Wadkins/Watkins…no luck yet!

Thanks tho.

Before I did the DNA testing I did quite a bit of reserch about it and I have a science background so the only test I could do was the ethnology test as I can find no direct male decendents.

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