A little history lesson, please

Hi!

I am Cheryl Morris Sigmund, I am friends with Linda. She suggested I pick some brains around here, so here goes.

I am trying to find out if members of my family are of Saponi descent, and if so, are they descendants of the Saponi’s in Franklin, Warren or Halifax counties.

My Great grandmother’s name was Sarah Gupton. She was born in 1878, and died in 1964. I don’t know the exact dates. Her father was Wiley Gupton, born around 1850 and her mother was Lucy Gupton. They resided in Gold Mine within Franklin County. He may have died in Vandizer, Missouri, which is near “Morley” after 1870, but I am not certain of this.

Wiley’s dad was named Thomas Gupton, mother – Betsy. They had 12 children that I found in the Cook District Census taken on August 30, 1850. They were as follows:

William (20)

Arch(?) (18)

Anna(?) (17)

Tempy (16)

Martha(15)

James (13)

Mary (12)

Thomas (9)

Sally (7)

Matilda (5)

Wiley (3)

Caton or Laton (1)

My grandfathers name is James Franklin Morris, Sarah Gupton was his mother. He is living and resides in Henderson. His father was Thomas A. Morris, and he came to Henderson from an undisclosed place in Florida. He also had a sister, named Martha Jeanette who lived in the vicinity of the family, she is in a few of the family photos, and seemingly was a matriarch according to my grandfather and his memories. She died on August 10, 1943. Thomas married my great grandmother when she was widowed with daughter Vallie being the oldest, Helen Dawson, born in 1808, Lucy Alice. There was also a sister, Susie and son deceased at 1 or 2 on October 11, 1915, Elmo Thomas, then my grandfather, who was the baby. He was born October 15, 1920. I am not sure where the first family ended, whether it was Helen or Susie and then my grandfather came in. I do know he is a Morris. He was originally married to my mother’s mother, Ellen Daniel Miller, still living, born in March 1923 or 24, resides here in Richmond, and remarried a Blankenship. My grandfather then remarried Dorothy Forsythe. She died in 2004. My mother is Sheliah Diane (Morris), born August 1943. He also has a daughter, Susan from his second marriage. She was born in September 1963.

I don’t know what the married name of Sarah was after Gupton and before Morris.

Sarah had a brother that was a preacher, his name was Dawson Gupton. I don’t know about any other brothers or sisters, but there probably were others. My mother just remembers hearing about Preacher Dawson.

As I check with these two families listed above, they definately could intertwine, with the repetitive names, but I haven’t been able to go any further. I found some other information in cemetary listings, but I won’t go into details with any of that now, it may start to become too confusing.

If anyone would help me, or can place any of these folks, or have any census information, etc, I would like to know. I am trying to get my card with the Saponi tribe, my husband and children are already carded, and I would like to get proof enough to join them.

Thanks for your help!!!

Cheryl