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Kenpaski Miwaki family!
I was wondering if anyone had any specific information on the migration of Tuscaroran/ Saponi into Pennsylvania. As I am sure many of you know, many Tuscarora & Saponi were captured and illegally sold as slaves in the state of Pennsylvania, and as far the West Indies…
In particular, I am curious to learn more about the second wave of migration of Tuscaroran/ Saponi descendants into Pennsylvania. As we know, during the primary migration, many Tuscarora moved into Pennsylvania, and later into New York in the 1800s… However, there seems to have been another migration in terms of Tuscaroran/ Saponi descendants to that same region. The founders of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, including the former Chief, the late great Jesse W. Richardson, migrated to Pennsylvania in the mid-1900’s. Ironically, my g-grandfather, Junious Justice Qualls (b. 1869, Brinkleyville, Halifax, NC) temporarily moved to Pennsylvania for work during the same time… I am sure economics and opportunities, or the lack thereof, played a role, but it would be interesting to note and find more information.
On another note, I received something very special from the Executive Director of the NC Commission of Indian Affairs–validation. The current Executive Director is the son of the former Chief, the late great Jesse W. Richardson. We corresponded via email and he said he was “very” familiar with my family history, surnames, and connection to the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe. Sometimes it is not Tribal enrollment we seek, even if we believe it is just. Sometimes all we need is validation.
Natives never needed “paper” to consider themselves family… & nothing can stop us from loving and learning from each other…
Billahuk!
Jogdelog BlackCoyote,
It is encouraging to hear you are finding connections and validation from members of the Haliwa-Saponi. Personally I am not very interested in seeking recognition from State of Federal authorities. For me it only matters that my family know who our cousins are. I don’t care what the government that has a long and contiuing history of trying to keep our people down thinks.
I can’t offer much to the Pennsylvania connection you mention here yet, but I can tell you I have considered the same thing myself several times. The Tuscarora – Saponi relationship seems a hard one to figure – they were at war at one time but then later both joined the Five Nations – the Tuscarora joining made it the Six Nations and the Tutelo-Saponi merging with the Cayuga. So at some point they must have abandoned much of their past differences.
So many of my ancestors came through PA and there is clearly more to our story than we currently know. My mother wrote a book for our family about 30 years ago that looked at our PA Drybread (Druckenbrod/Truckenbrodt) line. With all the discoveries we have made in 2014 through research and DNA we are working together to try and remake it into a book we can share with others – a ‘Drybreads of Indiana’ – modeled after Rick Haithcock’s ‘Haithcocks of Ohio’ book. Our Drybreads all came from early 1700s PA and have kept going back to the PA/ Finger Lake region of NY every generation since.
When I named my first daughter Ava – I had thoughts of the actress Ava Gardner – she was of Tuscaroran descent.
I’m hopeful that after a trip to search Courthouse records and with six months to compile 30 years of research – that we might have more answers about PA connections.
Kenpaski Miwaki brother!
Jogdelog Big Marc!
Thanks for always coming through with informative information… It’s great to have a cousin like you so dedicated to piecing our Native history together… It’s such a labourous process I know… Weaving together oral histories, Census information, and other official historical data…
I agree with you 100% in terms of not interested in seeking State or Federal recognition for our Native heritage… At one time, I thought it was necessary… But it is so much more a spiritual-cultural journey, instead of a linear one that leads to one source of validation… I can’t wait to see what else you uncover in terms of the Saponi & PA migrations that seem to have been continuous… even if sporadic over time…
Ava Gardner was a beautiful actress… I had no idea she was of Tuscaroran descent…
On another note, I wonder if our Gates, White, or Jones lines are intertwined… Thanks cousin!
Billahuk!
MarcSnelling;37333 wrote: Jogdelog BlackCoyote,
It is encouraging to hear you are finding connections and validation from members of the Haliwa-Saponi. Personally I am not very interested in seeking recognition from State of Federal authorities. For me it only matters that my family know who our cousins are. I don’t care what the government that has a long and contiuing history of trying to keep our people down thinks.
I can’t offer much to the Pennsylvania connection you mention here yet, but I can tell you I have considered the same thing myself several times. The Tuscarora – Saponi relationship seems a hard one to figure – they were at war at one time but then later both joined the Five Nations – the Tuscarora joining made it the Six Nations and the Tutelo-Saponi merging with the Cayuga. So at some point they must have abandoned much of their past differences.
So many of my ancestors came through PA and there is clearly more to our story than we currently know. My mother wrote a book for our family about 30 years ago that looked at our PA Drybread (Druckenbrod/Truckenbrodt) line. With all the discoveries we have made in 2014 through research and DNA we are working together to try and remake it into a book we can share with others – a ‘Drybreads of Indiana’ – modeled after Rick Haithcock’s ‘Haithcocks of Ohio’ book. Our Drybreads all came from early 1700s PA and have kept going back to the PA/ Finger Lake region of NY every generation since.
When I named my first daughter Ava – I had thoughts of the actress Ava Gardner – she was of Tuscaroran descent.
I’m hopeful that after a trip to search Courthouse records and with six months to compile 30 years of research – that we might have more answers about PA connections.
Kenpaski Miwaki brother!
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