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Hi All,
There is a bit of a story that has come down from my mother’s side that came from our Tennessee heritage. The story states that there is “Tennessee BlackFoot” in our geneaology.
This confused me at first as I had no links to the Dakotas or Montana and I thought that that was where the Blackfoot Tribes were located.
Then recently I was fortunate enough to find a distant cousin that had the information that confirmed that two of my distant Grandparents were supposedly Blackfoot.
But, the following information shows that this woman is from Virginia.
Her name was Sally Ryon (Rion) and she was born in Mecklenberg, VA in 1732 and died in 1830. There was no information as to where she passed away. Although, I believe it was in the Flynn’s Cove area of the Cumberland Plateau. The following note comes from the GED file I received from my cousin.
“Alt. spelling: Rion. Native American (prob. Cherokee). WFT est. 1747-1830 Another source has her as Sally Rion.”
There is no other information for Sally as it is assumed that she was (as it states) Cherokee. However, Sally married a John Flinn. They had 7 children one of whom was Rebecca Flinn. Rebecca married a man that seemed to not exist and she kept the Flinn name. Which has lead to the speculation that Rebecca may have married a Cherokee (or perhaps one of her Grandmothers Saponi Relations). Rebecca had 4 children during her life to this man. One of whom was Richard “Red Fox” Flynn of Civil War Underground Railway fame.
From reading as much as I can on this subject it seems that the tribes of that part of Virginia would have still been (late 1600’s-early1700’s) Saponi/Tutelo rather than Cherokee. And, that perhaps due to her having moved into Cherokee Territory sometime after 1732; that was why it was assumed she was Cherokee.
Thanks for any help you all may be able to give me.
Vincit Veritas,
Derek L. Hastings
Welcome, Derek,
It sounds like you’ve done a lot of research on yours.
You’re probably aware that there are Ryans on the Dawes/Guion Miller Rolls: Alice, Calvin, Emmett, John & William H. (“Cherokee Roots”).
1730s Mecklenberg Co., Va is also of interest to me. My Carey/Cary, Traylor people came out of there and my Blankenships passed thru.
I haven’t ran across early Ryan/Rion/Rian or Flinn/Flynn, but it wouldn’t surprise me either. I’ll take a look and see what I can find, although my present resources are a mite slim for that time period.
What are some of your other surnames from that area and time period?
Are there other ancestors you suspect may be of Indian descent?
There’s seldom just one Indian in the haystack.
I just wanted to extend a warm welcome to you and invite you to join in ! I supect after thanksgiving more people will return to the forum.
Bill
Hi Bill,
Well, the GED file with the rest of the surnames is at my office, so I can’t give you most of them. I remember there are Bells in there.
I remember another name. Trammell. The record said that they were there during the VA Colony days in a small town named Amelia.
So on Monday (or sooner if I get into the office) I will check the other branches of the tree and see if there are any of your names.
Thanks for the warm welcome. I do appreciate that.
Vincit Veritas,
Derek L. Hastings
BINGO!!
Luke Flinn born 1790 Viriginia.
Father is John Flinn, Jr. one of the sons of John Flinn, Sr. And Sally Rion.
Luke’s mothers name was Mary (but I have no last name). Here are the notes on Mary from the GED file:
“Bob Cawly & John Flinn suggest that her name may have been “Betty” (Elizabeth).Another source has Sally Green.”
Mary was born in 1763 in Virginia and died 1837 in White County Tennessee. She is buried in the Flynn Cemetary in Flynn’s cove.
There is a huge amount in the GED file about John Flinn, Jr. Do you want a copy of the GED File?
Derek
Derek,
Yes, these were found in 1820 White Co, Tenn:
p.400, Benjamin Flinn = 110001 – 12110 – 0 – 0.
household contains:
1 male under 10.
1 male 10 to 15.
1 male 45 & over.
1 female under 10.
2 females 10 to 15.
1 female 16 to 25.
1 female 26 to 44.
& no others.
p.416, John Flinn = 010101 – 01111 – 0 – 0.
household contains:
1 male 10 to 15.
1 male 16 to 25.
1 male 45 & over. (could be Jr or Sr.)
1 female 10 to 15.
1 female 16 to 25.
1 female 26 to 44.
1 female 45 & over.
p.422, Luke Flinn = 100100 – 00100 – 0 – 0.
household contains:
1 male under 10.
1 male 16 to 25.
1 female 16 to 25.
In 1800, It looks like this group was in Surry Co, NC, next to the Va-NC border. The Yadkin River forms the southern boundary of this county. This wasn’t technically “Cherokee Country” by then, altho they were probably around. This is next door to then Henry Co, Va (later Patrick Co from where several Blackfoot I.D.’d peoples’ ancestor have also been found), and Surry is only 4 counties west of Person Co., NC.
p.653 :
John Flinn = 30010 – 10100 – 0 – 0.
Mary Flinn = 22200 – 11110 – 0 – 0.
John’s household contains:
3 males under 10.
1 male 26 to 44.
1 female under 10.
1 female 16 to 25.
Mary’s household contains:
2 males under 10.
2 males 10 to 15.
2 males 16 to 25.
1 female under 10.
1 female 10 to 15.
1 female 16 to 25.
1 female 26 to 44.
On the previous page, p.652, there is a
Linn Flinn = 23001 – 01001 – 0 – 0.
household contains:
2 males under 10.
3 males 10 to 15.
1 male 45 & over.
1 female 10 to 15.
1 female 45 & over.
who may also be related to John Flinn.
There is a Thomas Flinn in 1790 Stokes Co, next door to, and created from Surry Co., NC, and he may also be related:
Thomas Flinn = 12100.
household contains:
1 male over 16.
2 males under 16.
1 female
0 other free.
0 slaves.
Re: Sally Ryon,
you stated “she was born in Mecklenberg, VA in 1732…”
In 1732, the area that comprised Mecklenberg Co., Va, was in Brunswick Co., Va., Mecklenberg having not been created until 1764/5, from Lunenberg Co., which was created in 1745/6 from Brunswick Co. (“1745/6” are the old/new form calendar dates.)
But Brunswick was “just” formed in 1732, so any record of Ryons would be in the parent counties of Brunswick which were Prince George, Surry & Isle of Wight or in the records of the London Indian Company that I would love to get my hands on, so far without success, but who knows?
So, she was from an area of 1732 Brunswick Co., Va., which is one county west of Brunswick now, and this area is now the next county north of Granville Co., NC.
Dreaminghawk has deep roots in the area of Granville & Person Counties, NC, as do others on this forum. Some of that data is posted under “Meadows” and “Groves” on the “Share Genealogy” section of the forum.
I have some books coming in (soon, I hope) for Brunswick Co. records and for its earlier parent counties and I’ll check them when they come in.
Otherwise, haven’t found any Ryons or Flinns in that greater area in that or earlier times under any/all spelling variations.
Because you’re looking for John Flinn and Sally Ryon’s origins, I don’t think I need the GED file because it sounds like it has nothing on their earlier origins, correct me if I’m wrong there.
Bill
Hi Bill,
Wow. Your knowledge of those counties and their approximate locations at the times we are discussing is invaluable. So thank you for the time you are spending on this.
The GED file is very large and takes the Flinn’s back to Ireland on many threads. And, it includes many copious notes about many of the individuals.
To be truthful with you, I really haven’t taken the time to explore the many branches of the Flinn Family GED file. But, from what I have read there are many references to Military Time served and homes bought, built, inherited, etc. Which makes the Flinn’s pretty interesting, when you consider that there is copious information on both sides of the Tree upstream and downstream and almost nothing on Sally or Mary Rion’s husband. The lack of information is almost as if the family was ashamed of these people. Which leads me to believe that they were indeed Native American.
Sincerely,
Derek
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