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Hi! I am new to the forum, and very gald to have found Saponitown. I found out just recently that my Dads Grandads name was Jacob Jeffries. I was always told that my Grandmothers unmarried name was Davis (which it was), but that was because Jacob was adopted by a Davis family in Axton (Henry County), VA. The Axton farm – right off of route 58 is still the family homeplace. It was originally a log house, later covered with siding, and is now in disrepair(no one has lived in it since my Grandmother passed on). It was also used as lodging for soldiers in the civil war. My aunt has found letters that were hidden in the walls – I think from that time period (I would love to read them). Jacob (Jake) Jeffries real family came through Axton on a wagon sometime right before the 1880 census and dropped Jake off at the Davis farm to be adopted by them (changed his name to Davis). They continued on from there and dropped off 3 more children somewhere else. The other 3 children were Thomas Jeffries, born 1871 (9 years old at the time of the census), William Jeffries, born 1877 (3 years old), Rebecca Jeffries (born 1879 (1 year old) – Jake was born in 1880 and was 1 month old. They were listed as “white” on the census. The census was from Martinsville, VA – a few miles away. Jakes fathers name was also Jacob Jeffries, born in North Carolina in 1835, and his mother was Hattie Jeffries, born in North Carolina in1857. On the census Hattie was listed as “keeping house” and Jacob, the father was listed as “a ditcher”. There was another person listed in the household with them- Ruth Gravely, a black “domestic servant”, born in 1857 (same age as Hattie). All were stated to have been born in Virginia except for the parents. My aunt (Dads sister) vaguely remembers the word Saponi being metioned when she was a child. She, my Dad and the other siblings called him Uncle Jake, instead of Grandfather. Where he originally came from was always kept a secret, and his adoption was never spoken of. She remembers him as a “smallish dark man with a mustache”. My Dad talked a little about him, always fond memories, as if he was a nice man. The mystery I am trying to solve is- where in North Carolina were Jacob and Hattie from? They arent on any NC records that I have been able to find. Why did they have to adopt out all of their children? What became of Ruth Gravely? Where did Jacob and Hattie go from Martinsville (I cant find death records anywhere)? Were they Saponi? Both of my parents are deceased as are my Dads 2 brothers. I spoke with my other aunt, my Dads oldest sister and she didnt seem to remember alot about Jake. I know Jake married Addie McDaniel. I think my Grandmother favored her in looks, as did my Dad, and Me. I have always been told about my Cherokee heritage on my Mothers side of the family (I am 1 of 3 light haired, lighter skinned cousins out of about 40 dark haired, dark skinned ones). My Mom used to say “you got the eyes and cheekbones of the Cherokee, but your skin is too light, you look sick, who’s kid are you?” (at which point she would try to rub darker makeup on my face! -Ha, Ha- I was 9 years old), I loved my Mother lots(a wonderful sweet lady- beautiful dark hair, and a round face with sort of slanted eyes like mine). I am now learning alot about Cherokee traditions and stories from my Moms youngest sister. Well thanks if you were able to read this lengthy story. If anyone can shed any light on my “Jeffries” family, I would be grateful. Surnames in my geneology: Goad (Gourd), Martin, Jeffries, Edwards, McDaniel, Stanley, Noonkester
Hi there….
I just googled Jacob Jeffries and got this… maybe an earlier relative.. if you are lucky.. lots of suggestions as to what happened to Jeffries Saponi on this site.. They say most went to Texas. Hope it helps. be sure to go to the last paragraph.
John Lawson, who visited the Occaneechi in 1701, gives us what is …In 1818 (after the community moved to Alamance County), Jacob Jeffries’s will, on file in the North Carolina Archives, was witnessed by David Haithcock, …
http://www.ibiblio.org/dig/html/split/report47b.html – 21k – Cached – Similar pages – Note this
Janette
Janette, Hi and thanks again. After looking further I’ve found that the “Texas” Community was actually in North Carolina. I’m not sure why it was called that. I’ll have more time for research later next week. By the way, we have Edwards in common. The ones that I know (my moms Dad and his family) have been from Martinsville and Basset, VA.
Gee ya never know what you are going to learn… My Grandmother always said there was land and money for her in Boston… Grandpa would not let her claim it. come to find out it was Boston VA. None of the family had any idea. Now Texas in NC… what do ya know. That makes me wonder when they said various relatives were removed to Texas if they could have ment NC. Keep me posted and i will look up which ones were “removed” to Texas. Really that is where i am from so guess it could be both.
Now about Edwards. Are yours in your possible Native American Linage? I have not done anything with mine. I have focused on the ones I was pretty sure were NA Let me know. Guess that post served some purpose.
Janette
Hi, I am here. I saw that you have Martin as one of your lines, and so do I., The only thing is, I can’t get past her. But anyway, I am just only begining. So I guess, What I am saying iits a start and I so much want to connect with my ndn root, Anyway when you get back that far in history its kinda hard to find documentation. Peace– Greydove~~
But, don’t give up. It will all come in time. Hang in there ,. just keep searching kiddo!!!! ( it get’s better with time:~) Greydove 😀
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Hey Janette!! I’d like to compare notes with you sometime. Anyway, I saw you were on line as am I and I was thinkin?? why not connect ?? So give me a holler sometime, cause after all, you and Beeleaf were the only 2 that ackowledged me in the first of my posts, however I was on Tehuahs thread, and I felt bad that I felt like I took hers over and I know I didn’t but she hasn’t been back in’ to post since then Oh well, that’s the way it goes, I guess, Tesheuah~~~~~Where are You? Take care Janette and have very Merry Christmas and a blessed & Happy New Year!!:)l
South Boston, VA, is just down the road from me, west on 58. It has the nearest Wal-mart, about 30 miles. If you had family there, Janette, it may indicate ties to the Person county Indians (now calling themselves Saponny) which is the next county over.
“Little Texas” is the Hillsborough, NC community. The Occoneechee were seen by Lawson in Hillsborough in 1701, but it’s only speculation that the Indian descended people living there in modern times descend from them. I’m fine with people claiming the likeliest possibility, as long as that courtesy is reciprocated, but it doesn’t seem to work that way.
What do you know about your Smiths, Janette?
Hi Linda, Graydove and all,
Linda it was you that suggested that the land etc my grandmother talked about was the Boston in your neck of the woods. I must research it one day. One more time make a plan for my long hoped for trip to meet you and the local folks while doing more in depth research. All of this is so interesting. My Grandmothers letter was from the BIA. My 91 year old aunt and my Dad read the letter. Grandpa destroyed it just like the enrollment papers.
Linda what is the differance between Saponny and our Saponi???? I know i know nothing but maybe you can clarify for all of us. The possible NC family connections to this area would be Love, Howell, maybe Smith and probably a few more that i dont have last names for the women.
About the Smith group. This is a recent find. Most of the researchers including family thought the Sterlin Phillip Hamblen’s ( my great grandfather)mother was Mallory/Mallery Pennix. Mallory was the first wife of Daniel Woodson Holland Hamblen. With a lot more digging i found that Daniel was married 4 times and that Stearling Phillip was with his last wife who was at least 30 years his junior. So here is how it goes : in reverse order..
Sterling Phillip Hamblen
Mother: Martha Phillips Smith
7 April 1822
B. Prince Edward?Nottoway VA
D. Limestone Al
Parents:
Rev. Sterling Smith—————-Owen Smith———-Richard Smith
B. 26 July 1776 VA B.1759 VA B?
D.abt. 1826 ? D. 1890 ? D?
Spouce: Spouce:
Martha’s Mother: Katurah Hawkins Elizabeth Clemet
Mary Harwell Phillips Abt. 1750 B.
B. 18 Oct. Nottoway, Prince Edward Co D.
D. 3 Dec. 1868 TN some say VA
(Have found nothing more on
Phillips yet)
Tried to compress the space hope you all can follow my strange system.
It is obvious this parantage is correct.. all you have to do is see the names and tell where my Great Grandfathers came from.
Now we still have to connect the dots. I do believe there is some Native American or mixed lines here some place.
The family story is that when my family was chased out of TN by the KKK they were mostly after my great grandfather. Three brothers and my grandfather ( between 8 and 11 years old) rode horsebact to Texas without stopping. Daniel Woodson Holland Hamblen (Sterling Phillip Hamblens father) took the women, children and elderly folk by oxen and wagon to AL.They met up with the decendents of the Love, Howell and other Creek/Saponi in Limestone AL. Grandpa was born in 1876 so you can do the math on the year they were chased out of TN.
Margaret Jane McGee was married to Stearling Phillip but she rode in the wagons. They did not meet up again for two years. She died or passed away shortly after arrival. some say child birth… some say she left for Indian Territory with another man. There is a Margaret McGee listed as Chickasaw. I dont know.
There must have been a reason for the KKK to be chasing them… there was mixed blood or something to set it in motion. I know the farm land was rich and others wanted it but something smells of more than that.
I have found poems by an Owen Smith from the proper time period in the VA state Library. He was listed as Black. The mystery is starting to unravel maybe.
As you know Linda i have had very little time lately to do anything so a lot of all this has been hanging without attention. I cant wait to find out so if any see any connections would love to know more.
I did ask Vance Hawkins if he had Katura Hawkins in his family and so far he did not find anything on her.
Gradove, Glad Beeleaf and i gave you a good hello upon arrival. Sometimes i go to the site to get my mind off of the everyday stuff and shift before sleep. Glad it landed in a good way for you. I will be pleased to visit when ever and how ever i can.
The best to all,
Janette
Oh no, when i posted this then all the lines mushed together..
Katurah Hawkins is Spouce of Owen Smith
Elizabeth Clemet is Spouce to Richard Smith
Mary Harwell Phillips is Spouce to Rev. Sterling Smith
Sorry everyone.. Thought i was saving space… heck!
Janette
Greydove, Hi! My Martins are not going to be easy to trace back, so I guess I’ve sort of put it off. My Dads Dad was George Ed Martin -died in 1962 (pretty common name) from Henry county/ possibly earlier from Pittsylvania county. I only found out a couple of years before my Dad passed that Grandad Martin had been married before my Grandma and had 3 or 4 or 5 more children by the 1st marriage. He was a moonshiner and owned a mica mine, and was a pretty wild character! My fathers name was Renard Martin and I think I remember an aunt telling me that he was named after one of Grandads brothers. My Dad had a calm and humorous disposition, more like Grandma. I will let you know when I find out more about my Martins. Also to Linda–Thanks for letting me know about the Hillsborough community. When I get a chance I will do some research on Jeffries lineages in that area. I honestly dont know if my Jacobs will be from the Jacob Jeffries line in the article found by Janette, but it’s certainly a lead. Have a wonderful Christmas. I am away from my computer until about Tues. — Renae
Janette, My moms unmarried name was Edwards. Her father was John William Edwards, married to Lucy Evelyn Goad(Gourd) Edwards. Granddady Edwards was born April 2, 1909 in Carrol County, VA near Sylvania. His fathers name was, believe it or not, Davy Crocket Edwards. His mothers name was Mary Lee Smith Edwards. His paternal Grandparents were John Nuton (Newton?) Edwards and Delphia Ann Virginia Noonkester (or Nooncaster) Edwards.John and Delphias children were David Crocket, born-sept. 1881, James A.J., born -sept. 1879, Peter T., born-Feb. 1884, William A., born Jan. 1886, Henry L., born April 1888, Alexander C., born Aug. 1891, Andrew p., born May 1893, John R. N., born Mar. 1895, and Simon C., born Mar. 1900 – all of them born in Carroll County, VA. Wow – 9 boys! His Maternal Grandparents are John Henry Smith and Roda Ann White Smith. My Moms sister is doing alot of research of her Dads line. She is talking to relatives on her fathers side of the family. She said that they have told her of a possible NA connection, she is just not sure yet. I will let you know what she finds out. –Renae
Hi Renae and all,
Sure appreciate your filling me in. If there is any connection i do want to know. Will look up the info on Edwards in a while. (sometime tonight) I know i have very little but ya never know. Does not look like a connection to Smith yet but there is more to know and learn there.
You have a great Christmas. I am not going anywhere so will probably spend more time than usual with lookups ets. Do take care.
Janette
Hi again,
I only have one Edwards. Elizabeth
Elizabeth Edwards
B.1700 Baltimore Md.
D. 1734 Baltimore ,??Colorado Malova?? dont understand this addition to Baltimore. anyway
Spouce:
Jonathan Tipton II
B. 25 March 1699Anne Arundel Co Md
D. abt 1779
My Great Grandfather is
Phylander slay Tipton
B. 1828
There are 4 generations between ( i have that info if anyone wants it)
Tiptons are on the list as Indian Traders… Great grandpa fits that description as a trader, circut riding preacher and sometimes railroad man. He bought and sold land all the way from MD, VA ,GA,AL, TX, NM. He was married 5 times and all were Native American. Georgia Ann Savanna Howell Carr is my great grandmother. Her mother is a Love. We know that is a Saponi/Creek line.
Wish i know more about Elizabeth but i dont.
Janette
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