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Hi, I’m looking for information on my great, great, grandfather. His name was T.J. Grant. He was listed on the 1880 census as “black” living in Warrenton Virginia. We always knew that our grandfather was Native American, however it wasnt untill recently that someone in our family took the time and effort to find him.
We have spent many hours researching and believe that, given the totality of the circumstances, he was Saponi.
He died when my great grandmother was very young. Family lore has it that he was killed for fathering a baby with a white woman. My grandfather told us this when he received some bad medical news and figured it was time to come clean on our family history.
We really want to know all that we can know about this man. We believe that he and my great, great, grandmother, Marcie White (Thornton) had this sort of forbidden love thing going. They had a child together, possibly by accident, who knows, and that child was my great grandmother (Rosa). My great, great, grandmother was subsequently raised by her grandparents, Francis and Mary White in Pittsylvania County, Va (near what is now Cross Roads Va.).
My Great grandmother, Rosa, was born August 3, 1889 in what we believe was High Peak Va (according to the death certificate, which actually says High Point, Va. which doesnt exist). Her death certificate list her father as T.J. Grant.
Lastly, my grandfather, my mother, and I all have been told that we have scar tissue and teeth structure typical to Native Americans. We also share B positive blood, apparently also common among Asians, Hasidic Jews and Native Americans. My grandfather has very strong physical charistics one would expect. Black hair, high cheek bones, olive complexion, dark eyes. So, also do my Mother and I to a lesser degree.
Thanks.
Falconbrother,
Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you will fit right in with the rest of us searching for the truth. I just wanted to note that there may not be a High Point Va. but there is a High Point NC. I have a aunt that lives there.
Brenda
Yes, actually, I also live in High Point. My aunt said that they were looking on an old, like 1900s map and that High Peak Va. looked to actually be High Point Va. I dont know this information first hand.
By the way, thanks for your reply. I have been very pleased at how friendly folks are here. 😀
Welcome.
I looked at the 1880 census for Warrenton and didn’t come up with a T. J. Grant. Could you tell me what township and page number you found him on? Bill
Here is what I have:
Theodolpheus J. Grant
Born to John & Cenderilla in Fauquier County, Centre District, Warrenton, Va. Listed as black.
I haven’t found any of them in 1870.
There is one possible that turned up….
Searching on first names, there was ONE Cinderella in 1870 Fauquier Co AND with the same naming sequence ( in caps below) in Centre Twp but with a different surname which shouldn’t necessarily be ignored since LUCAS is believed to be one line of Native descent ….
1870 Fauquier Co., Va; Centre Twp; 15 July; P.O.: Uppervile.
p.442A, at 154, 147:
LUCAS, CINDERELLA, 28, f, M, $0, $0, Va.****
” , JOHN, 6, m, B, Va.****
” , MARGARET, 2, f, B, Va(Maggie is a nickname for Margaret.)****
Freeman, Baptist (?), 35, m, M, Laborer, $0,$0, Va.
” , Cinderella, 6, f, B, Va.
” , Ann E., 4, f, B., Va.
” , Eliza, 68, f, B, – , $30, $0, Va (owns land.)
Howard, Thomas, 28, m, M, Laborer, $0, $0, Va.
As you know, the 1880 Fauquier Co Census listed:
Grant, John, 35.
CINDERELLA, 34.
JOHN, 14.
MAGGIE, 11.
Theodolphus, 8.
Richard H., 3.
Wm. A., 1.
…………………..
Can’t find anything else, sorry.
Bill
OK, kicking this one out agian. Mr. Childs last post was right on the money. I’m taking a shot in the dark hoping to find anyone who might be related or know more about the Grants and their status. This document list them as black. Given our history and physical appearance, etc.., I would say it’s more likely they were native.
Several members of my family have pitched in on this effort and it looks like TJ Grant is our grandfather (Theodolphus is a mouthful). We, just like everyone here, are looking for our roots.
Nice to see you posting again. Were you aware there’s been a lot of posting about the White surname this week? You know, that family tale may have more twists in it. Meaning, maybe your Whites weren’t altogether white themselves. There are legends in some of our families of people who sold their souls to the devil to pass for white. Considering that hefty price they wouldn’t take too kindly to an errant child throwing it all away.
Your family lore about this Ancestor being killed for fathering a child with a white female reminds me of the ridicule I’ve often heard from “real” Indians regarding the oft reported “Cherokee princess,” grandma. “Why” they wonder, “do us mixed bloods only ever have female ancestors?” All I can say is, how many Indian men do you think there were in the 19th c. or first half 20th even, running around with white woman, and living to tell the tale? Maybe it was different out west, but down here in the south, we all kind of know how that story ends, don’t we?
That reminds me, I almost posted something about Emmett Till last week. Maybe I should.
Bill, are you still planning on making it to the campout? Falcon brother, I see you live in the Piedmont Triad, Does that mean Raleigh-ish or Charlotte-ish. The campout is on Kerr Lake.
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