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Hi Beeleaf,
I found yet another book this week promoting the Corn and Rickman Family ties to the Occaneechi-Saponis.
In John S. Kessler and Donald B. Ball’s book “North from the mountains: a folk history of the Carmel Melungeon Settlements”, there is a section regarding the Occaneechi-Saponi family names starting on page 162. Referencing a thesis paper written by Forest Hazel in 1991, entitled “Occaneechi-Saponi Descendants in the Texas Community of the North Carolina Piedmont”, Kessler and Ball created a table on page 163 labelled “Distribution of Occaneechi Families by Surname in Trans-Appalacian Settlements”. This table shows the “Corn, Crone, Day, Dungee, Haithcock, Hayes, Jeffries, Jones, Keene, Lane, and Oxendine” families. The book also mentions John and Mary Rickman who were enumerated as “Blacks” in the 1850 Brush Creek, OH Census.
I also obtained a copy of Forest Hazel’s 1991 Thesis I mentioned above, entitled “Occaneechi-Saponi Descendants in the Texas Community of the North Carolina Piedmont”, which does not list any Rickmans, but does mention “Robert Brooks Corn and a descendant Ernest Jeffries (Corn)”. There are many references to the Burnette’s, which married into my Corn line, but I have not started any digging in this family yet.
Best Regards,
Four Cats
Just to clarify, it is not my thesis. It was actually an article written for Southern Indian Studies Journal in 1991. Some of the info contained therein should be amended based on further research done over the past several years.
The Corn name came in by intermarriage, specifically Robert Brooks Corn who married Jane/Jincy Jeffries in Greensville County, Va. Robert’s father was also named Robert Corn. One of their sons ended up in Greene Co. Ohio along with the Jeffries family near Cedarville. (Anderson Corn)
Robert B. Corn’s land lay in what is now Alamance County, along the Caswell County line and along what was once the main road from Yanceyville to Hillsborough. Initially a large family here, it has pretty much died out. The descendants who remain spell it Cohn, which was how the older folks here pronounced it.
Hi Forest,
Thanks for the clarification! I’m glad that you, and others have provided what information you have. The consensus of opinions is at least leaning towards there being some form of Native American interaction in this line.
Every time I look at information on this line, I see several John Corn’s born around 1786 who could have married Elizabeth Adams. And, there are as many interpretations on these lines as people posting them on the genealogy sites. This was the mess I had last year sorting out the Barnes lines who passed through Stokes County.
I’m currently looking at Paul Heinegg’s work on this line with Robert Brooks Corn, and his brother Julius. Julius had a son named John, who could also be a match, but not much else is said about him. If you have any info on Julius’ son John, please share.
On the Cohn name, I have also run across a few Cone families in the Guilford Co. area.
Best Regards,
Four Cats
I’m a little confused. There’s been talk about there being about a half dozen surnames that can be attributed to tribal Saponi, and Corn was one of the ones mentioned. Also, my understanding was that Jeffries, though a common name in this context, can’t be traced to a documented Saponi. So, the statement “The Corn name came in by intermarriage” to a Jeffries seems to be saying that the Saponi blood came in by way of the Jeffries. Maybe I’m just misunderstanding.
Hi Linda,
Nice to hear from you again!
This question was for Forest, but I’ll add my two cents (plus) here.
Robert Corn (1745 – 1816), who was likely born in St. James Parish, Lunenburg County, and who then moved to Mecklenburg and then Wake Counties was listed as “An Indian who was a veteran of both the French and Indian War and of the Revolutionary War”(Occaneechi-Saponi Tribe. http://www.occaneechi-saponi.org/history_2.html).
We’re not going to figure this out if no one takes a stab at it and gets some peer feedback, so here goes. I also found that a John Burns (Barnes) was living with Julius Corn in Wake Co. in 1790, who I believe was Brittain Barnes’ son (I’ll need to look into this some more).
I was able to assemble this DRAFT (please proceed with caution) Corn line last night, based on Census Data, Paul Heinegg’s research, the Gowen’s Research, and what is posted on the Occaneechi-Saponi Tribe site. Assuming all supporting information is correct regarding my Corn line, I can connect Frances Corn as a descendant of “Indian” Robert Corn (1745 – 1816) in the following fashion-
I.
Father
– Unknown ???? – ????
Mother
– Unknown ???? – ????
Children
– Robert Corn 1745 – 1816
– Likely born in St. James Parish, Lunenburg County, moved to Mecklenburg and then Wake
– Listed as “An Indian who was a veteran of both the French and Indian War and of the Revolutionary War” (2)
– Lucy Corn 1758 – ????
– Bess 1762 – ????
A “poor child” bound apprentice in Chesterfield County on 4 February 1763 [Orders 1759-67, 386] (1)
– Joe 1764 – ????
– “Registered in Petersburg on 25 August 1794: a dark brown Mulatto man, five feet six inches high, thirty years old, born free and raised in Chesterfield County [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 88]. He was taxable in Chesterfield County from 1791 to 1805 [PPTL, 1786-1811, frames 82, 444, 482, 519, 557, 596]” (1)
(1. Paul Heinegg. http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/)
(2. Occaneechi-Saponi Tribe. http://www.occaneechi-saponi.org/history_2.html)
II.
Father
– Robert Corn 1745 – 1816
– Likely born in St. James Parish, Lunenburg County, moved to Mecklenburg, then Wake
– “An Indian who was a veteran of both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War” (1)
– Married Priscilla (Prissey) Wiggins later on December 12, 1802 in Wake County (2)
Mother
– Unknown ???? – ????
Children
– Julius Corn 1763 – < April 02, 1817
– Born in Mecklenburg County, VA
– Head of a Wake County household of 3 “other free” in 1790, and 7 in 1800 (2)
– Listed as Julus Corn in 1790 with 3 FPCs, and John Burns and Solomon Roberts listed as white (3)
– Hissey ? 1765 – ????
– Married William Stuard <1790 in Mecklenburg County
– Justin ~1770 – ????
– Robert Brooks Corn ~1772 – ????
– Married Jane Jeffries in 1795 in Greensville County (1)
– Rebecca ???? – ????
– Married Josiah Mitchell on February 23, 1798 in Wake County
(1. Occaneechi-Saponi Tribe. http://www.occaneechi-saponi.org/history_2.html)
(2. Paul Heinegg. http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/)
(3. Gowen Research Foundation. http://bz.llano.net/gowen/dud/manuscript/Gowenms097.htm)
III.
Father
– Julius Corn 1763 – < April 02, 1817
– Born in Mecklenburg County, VA
– “Listed in the Mecklenburg County household of Robert Corn in 1784; Taxable in his own household in 1787 and 1788 [Personal Tax List 1782-1805, frames 79, 189, 235] and was also taxable on a free tithe and a horse in Brunswick County, Virginia, in 1787 [Schreiner-Yantis, 1787 Census, 537]” (1)
– Head of a Wake County household of 3 “other free” in 1790, and 7 in 1800 (1)
– Listed as Julus Corn in 1790 with 3 FPCs, and John Burns and Solomon Roberts listed as white (2)
Mother
– Unknown ???? – ????
Children
– John Corn 1788 – June 27, 1856
– Born in Brunswick County, VA, Married 13 Jul 1809 and died in Patrick County, VA
– Henry >1794 – ????
– Willis Taborn ???? – ????
– Caty ???? – ????
– Berry ???? – ????
– Married Fanny Curtis Anderson on May 11, 1837 in Guilford County
– Peggy ???? – ????
– Married Barnabus Scott on March 21, 1829 in Wake County
(1. Paul Heinegg. http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/)
(2. Gowen Research Foundation. http://bz.llano.net/gowen/dud/manuscript/Gowenms097.htm)
IV.
Father
– John Corn 1788 – June 27, 1856
– Born in Brunswick County, VA, Married 13 Jul 1809 and died in Patrick County, VA.
Mother
– Elizabeth “Betsy” Adams 1789 – 1877
– Daughter of Richard and Molly Adams, died in Patrick County, VA
Children
– Samuel Corn 1810 – ????
– Born in Patrick County, died in Stokes, married October 11, 1831 in Floyd County, VA
– Mary Corn 1811 – ????
– Drucilla (Priscilla) Corn* 1817 – ????
– Elizabeth “Betsy” Corn* 1818 – ????
– Sarah A Corn 1820 – ????
– Phoebe Corn* 1822 – ????
– Joshua C Corn ~1825 – ????
– John A Corn 1826 – ????
– Born in Snow Creek Township, Stokes Co., NC.
– Richard C Corn* 16 Mar 1829 – 29 Mar 1891
– Died in Patrick Co., VA
* Born in Patrick Co., VA.
(1. Free Inhabitants 1850 Patrick County Federal Census)
V.
Father
– Samuel Corn 1810 – ????
– Born in Patrick County, VA, married October 11, 1831 in Floyd County, VA
Mother
– Mary Polly Carter 1810 – ????
– Born in VA
Children
– Frances E. Corn 1832 – ????
– Born in Patrick Co. VA, married Richard Sanford Barnes
– Sarah Ann “Sally” Corn 1834 – ????
– John A Corn 1836 – ????
– Mary Jane Corn 1838 – ????
– Jesse A Corn 15 Feb 1841 – 4 Oct 1908
– Joshua A “Isaham” Corn* 1842 – ????
– Jackson Corn 1843 – ????
– Samuel Monroe Corn* 1845 – ????
– James H Corn* 1847 – ????
– Stanford Corn* 1852 – ????
– George Corn* 1854 – ????
* Born in Stokes Co., NC.
(1. Free Inhabitants 1850 Snow Creek, Stokes, NC Federal Census)
Best Regards,
Four Cats
I was talking about how the Corn name came into the present day Occaneechi community community in NC.
In point of fact, there is no actual evidence that I am aware of that Robert Corn was an Indian; I will suggest that the website be amended to reflect that.
Hi Forest,
I am truly sorry that I have that effect on web pages at times. I also had the same thing happen on another tribe’s page last year. I respectfully ask why would you remove history if it’s true? Most of us Native Americans just have our Oracles, or oral family histories, and the few scraps of information we have now will likely be gone when we’re gone.
This Corn line still has some decent documentation to support it, along with plenty of theories and books to boot. I hate to see this discussion abandoned so soon.
The information you question is on the second page of your “History” page (http://www.occaneechi-saponi.org/history_2.html) in the third paragraph from the bottom, which reads-
“Another important early family in Little Texas was that of Robert Brooks Corn, the son of Robert Corn, an Indian who was a veteran of both the French and Indian War and of the Revolutionary War. Robert Brooks Corn was married in 1795 in Greensville County to Jane Jeffries, moving about 1800 to Wake County, North Carolina with his father and their extended family. After his father’s death in 1816, Robert Brooks Corn moved his family to Little Texas, where three of his wife’s siblings, John, Drury and Littleton Jeffries, along with numerous cousins, were already established.”
Best Regards, but a little sad…
Four Cats
Hi Four Cats,
In my opinion, there is a decent possibility that Robert Brooks Corn WAS of Indian or part-Indian ancestry. The historical section however, states it as a fact, when the reality is the best we can do is state that he was identified as a “Free Person of Color” in various records. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to qualify the existing statement, since we do want to note the Corn surname on the page, rather than removing it. We really need to go through that whole history section and revise and update it; it is probably going on 10 years old (at least) now and is out of date.
Have a good night
Forest
Hi everyone!
Have been out of sorts and then very busy lately.
One of our members here has gotten, I believe, very adept at genealogy research. Here is her website on Rootsweb. See the Corn info. The line of Samuel Corn and Mary “Polly” Carter stops there. The researcher’s line was of the Charles Madison Allen and also Elizabeth Allen and to the Shelton lines. It was Charles Madison Shelton’s photo that the face was cut out of by a family member because he looked “native”. In addition, there are supposed to be Native American ties on the Adams side of Elizabeth Adams..mother Mary Martin. I thought Allen was one of the names tied to Burnett, Etc. Anyway, getting sidetracked. Here is the link:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=whattagroup&id=I2626
saj
Hi Sue,
I’ve visited this Corn Web site as well, which does have quite a bit of info on the Adams and Corns. I also have an Adams line from this area, but hit a brick wall last year and moved onto other lines. I may pick it back up again soon.
I’ve been digging into the Corns a bit more, and found one more item that may be of interest to you and Forest. The Dew’s are tied into my Barnes line, and I found a reference to a deed to Thomas Dew where he was “granted 450 acres for transporting nine persons: George Speevy, William Broughton, Robert leming, Samuel Jeffery, Henry Brown, John Corne, and Elizabeth Tockwook around 1643”. The John Corn and Samuel Jeffery together caught my eye.
There was also a John Corn in the Carlisle School with no tribe listed, and I’m seen some information on a John Corn being an “Indian Preacher” a bit farther west in Cherokee Country (http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/whitfield/history/other/gms191chapterv.txt). I’m curious if any Corns ever attended the Brafferton School, as I’ve not found much information on it.
Best Regards,
Four Cats
Hi Four Cats,
I have seen a list of the scholars who attended the Brafferton School. It may or may not be a complete listing. Many of the names are traceable to the Pamunkey or Mattaponi of Virginia. The only student of direct interest to me was Will Jeffries, who attended from 1736-1742. His tribe was not given, as was the case for the other students on the list I saw. I don’t recall any Corns on the list.
There may well be other records that give tribal affiliations, but I am not aware of them.
Forest
Hi Forest,
Thanks for the input!
Quickly jumping back to our discussion on 12/21, I would be very hesitant to say that Robert Brooks Corn was not Native American, based on working the Burnett line down through Sanders Burnett and his son, Abner this evening. A bit of a stretch, but it does support what we all believe about him.
I also noticed a Margaret Nelia Frances Duck in this line, and I’ll make a note to see if it’s anyone in my wife’s line. My wife descends from the Cook-Duck family over in Surry Co., with the notorious Bluford Duck as a G-G-G-G Uncle.
Best Regards,
Four Cats
In response to Four Cats’ genealogical info:
first off, hi 2nd (or so) cousin! I’m also a great-grandchild of Everett Bert Barnes (via Emory “don’t call me Emory” Gene/bobcat). I started looking into our family tree when I was ten as part of a school project (much more in depth than what was required, because I was an odd child who found these things interesting). I hate to admit it, but some info that’s conflicting online may be my fault, as I was young and replayed things as true that I found without realizing that hey, people don’t always research their information and just repost things they find that have a matching name. I apologize, and I have tried to correct info/verify sources through the years.
that being said, I’m amazed you’ve gotten anywhere with John Barnes. I have tried finding info on his lineage, but everything I find seems to have conflicting info. I’m interested about the info you found that john is the son of Stanford Barnes and Frances corn. I found this info once, and everything seems to fit, except that this John Barnes is also claimed to be the one who married virginia linton of brooke county wv.
John and Virginia linton Barnes had a child that died as late as 1898. http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_bcdetail.aspx?Id=2588495
this John Barnes can’t be the same one who married malissa creed, but I can’t be sure he’s Stanford and Frances’ son. Oddly enough, the age and occupation fit, so it is quite a coincidence.
Another branch inch im curious about is the info on Lizzie Mitchell. When I was ten, my source of info was a cassette from my great-uncle Clyde Barnes, who stated that Lizzie was the daughter of sallie beavers and wm Harvey Mitchell, and that sallie was the daughter of David Karl and Rhoda pruett beavers. He also stated that Rhoda was full Cherokee. I have no idea where each source of information came from, just that some of it was passed down via oral history. I can say it was recorded around the late 80’s, so at least we know the internet didn’t provide any of the info (lol). The only info I have on Rhoda is her marriage, listing only her mother, Sarah Pruitt. No information on a father anywhere. However, I do have a photo of sallie and Rhoda. There is absolutely no mistaking that Rhoda is Native American, although a photo can’t verify tribe or “full-blood” status, for lack of a better term.
I would love to be able to compare info and share photos with you if you’re interested. The John Barnes mystery has driven me nuts, as has the Rhoda pruett one. I was a kid who spent ridiculous hours in the library with microfilms, so to finally solve it would be amazing!
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