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Greetings to my cousins/brothers/sisters on this forum!
I have recently started tracing my family’s “your g-grandmother was 1/2 Cherokee” legend. I didn’t quite find that to be true, but have found some possible native american connections and leads. Mostly, I come up with folks I just can’t seem to find info on, and I’m given to understand that lack of info plus family tradition indicates *possible* NA. Possibly several of the names on my “Mystery Ancestor” list will be quite familiar here… 🙂 I wonder how many others here may be searching for or know of connections I don’t have??
Anyway, here goes my list – and all of this is from the internet, with little or ususally NO documentation, so take it for what it is worth.
1. Elizabeth Mary “Betsy” b. c. 1735 Descendants claim she was a Feathers, a Cherokee Indian.
Married Richard Parsons, Born: 1730 at: Surrey or Wilkes County, North Carolina, Died: 21 FEB 1785 at: Pittsylvania Co Va.
Married: 1744 in NC
Notes: At least one website gives the parents of Elizabeth as John L. Feathers & Sarah Sherrett and another speculates she may have been a Spence. Apparently there are two Richard and Elizabeth Feathers Parsons. The older pair were born 1720 & 1725 and were married in Va. Their children were Hannah, Agness, George, Joseph, Sr, James, John, John, Samuel, William and Richard, Jr, Lydia and Joseph. My ancestors were born in 1730 & 1735 and married in NC. Their children were: James, Joseph, George, Jonathan, Mary, Tabitha, Milly and John.
2. Eva/Ava/Avy Nancy Gibson (born c. 1790-1795 in TN, died 1866 in Fairfield, Jefferson Co. (which may be in IA, WV or VA, depending on the source)
Married Samuel David Marion b.1790 in Va. d.1845
(from http://community-2.webtv.net/GinnyLee1/TheMarionFamilyofVa/page13.html:) Resided in Va., Claireborne & Hawkins Counties, Tenn., Edgar & Cole Counties, Ill., Mo., & Iowa he fought in war of 1812 Enlisted in East Tn. Militia under Bunch’s Regiment.4/27/1814 joined Capt. Dobbins Co. 6/3/1814 discharged as a Private, buried at Fort Madison, Lee County, Va.
Note: Lee co. VA & Hawkins/Claiborne co. TN are right on the VA/TN border and is the focus of Melungeon research as noted in other threads on this board.
3. Sarah E. Thompson (possible birth: 1827, Scott county VA)
Married William N. Marshall, b. c. 1822, Stokes co. NC
May not be same name couple that married April 1847 in Tipton, TN
Children:
Anna MARSHALL b: Abt 1850 in Lee Co, Virginia
Martha MARSHALL b: Abt 1852 in Lee Co, Virginia
Benjamin Franklin MARSHALL b: Abt 1854 in Lee Co, Virginia
Mary MARSHALL b: Abt 1856 in Proctor, Owsley Co, Kentucky
Alfred MARSHALL b: Abt 1859 in Proctor, Lee Co, Kentucky
Note: Could this be a daughter of William P. Thompson, born c. 1790 TN??
4. Mollie Gilbert, b. c. 1706,
married Thomas Noble in Prince George Co, Maryland.
(Thomas born in 1704 in New Mill, Banffshire, Scotland, Died March 3, 1762 in
Frederick, Maryland. )
Children: George Noble, Thomas Noble.
George Noble. Born ? in Prince George Co, Maryland. Died Sept 1800 in Frederick Co (now Clark Co) Maryland. Spouse: Mary Anne Alexander, the daughter of Gerald Alexander & Mary Dent.
Children: George Noble (see below), John LW, Mary Anne, Thomas, Alexander, Catherine.
5. Julie Winnie Saunders, b. c. 1755-1760, possibly Culpeper, VA (Have also seen birthplace listed as PA. Could Winnie be from the Welsh Wynne??)
Married George Noble. Born 1751 in Fairfax, VA. Died in Loundon Co, VA.
Parents: George Noble & Mary Anne Alexander.
Children: Nathan Noble, Enoch, Ethan, Mary, William, Patsy, Mollie, John.
So there is where I am at present in my research.
AMinKY
Welcome Aminky. I just wanted to drop a quick note that the Gibson name is very important in Saponi ancestry, being one of just a half dozen that is documented to a tribal Saponi family. So . . . if you can trace that one back it may lead somewhere special.
Aminky,
The Gibson name is in my line also. Who were Eva’s parents? I tried to find her on Ancestry, but only came up with One World Tree info, which is not always correct. This is what it listed for eva though, b. 1792 Tippah, MS. d. 1866 Fairfield, Jefferson Co. WV. The spouse is the same, just the birth place is different. Here are some of my Gibson’s, see if any ring a bell; Isabelle (Ibby) Rosina Virginia Gibson (b. VA), John Gibson (b. NC) , George Gibson (b.NC), Martin Gibson (b. KY?). Welcome, there are many people here who are gifted in research and can help you find answers.
Shirley
That birthplace of Eva Gibson (Tippah, MS) is suspect — Tippah is a county formed in 1836 from the Chickasaw Cession, so when she was born, there was no MS and no Tippah keeping records. (It may have been a local Chickasaw place name, and the record could have been found in someone’s Bible — entered a good bit later than 1792.)
Eva’s husband had War of 1812 service and might conceivably have found her, as a 22 year old Chickasaw, if he went down the Mississippi with the Tennessee Volunteers to fight the Battle of New Orleans (8th of January, 1815, and it’s also a pretty good fiddle tune). But the records cited indicate that he was discharged before that. And 22 would be an old maid, in that culture.
Technically, there was also not a Tennessee for her to have been born in, 1790-95. It was still NC, or the Territory of the US Southwest of the River Ohio, in that time frame. But that’s more of a quibble; there were lots of people in what is now TN in 1790-95. The ones who had family Bibles, etc. lived in the northeastern part, or on the Cumberland (settlement centered on Nashville). There was a Spanish garrison at present Memphis; I think that was called the 4th Chickasaw Bluff. Anyway, most of the state was not then populated by literate Christians, of whatever ancestry. So if that’s where she was born, there is not likely to be any contemporary evidence of it. Which is not to say it didn’t happen; could be a pretty interesting story here, if you could somehow nail it down.
PappyDick,
Where do you find all your info? It is wonderful. I have seen that early census records only cover some states, and some only list heads of households, which can make searches difficult. Thanks for the clarification.
Shirley
Aminky,
The county seat of Jefferson Co., Iowa is Fairfield.
1850 Jefferson Co., Iowa Census; Locust Grove Twp; 14 Nov; p.411(overleaf); household 127:
Wm C. MARION; 24, male, – , farmer; $400; Va. (indexed ‘Jace Marion’ , 50)
Clarissa……….; 20, female, – , NC
Prissilla………..; 1/2 (?), f, – , NC
AVA MARION; 50, f, – , TENN
Martha……….; 18, f, – , Ill
Anna M……….; 1, f, – , Ill
……………………………………
1860 Jefferson Co., Ia Census; Polk Twp; 14 July; p.106; P.O. Abingdon, Ia; household 646:
William MARION; 34, m, – , farmer, $450, Va
Clarissa……….; 31, f, – , NC
Priscilla……….; 11 (?), f, – , Iowa
Frances………; 7 , f, – , Iowa
Colitta………..; 5, f, – , Iowa
Arvilla…………; 3, f, – , Iowa
Veley(?)………; 3/12, f, – , Iowa (could be “Veby” )
….
Bill
Thanks for the replies everyone –
Linda, it would be very exciting to be able to discover which Gibson line Ava comes from. My gut tells me she IS native american, at least partially. I think we can *probably* rule out an association with the Gibson family that founded Fort Gibson in nearby Lee co. VA. I suspect she is more likely associated with the Gibsons of Lee VA, Hawkins (etc) TN, and earlier in NC.
Shirley, I have NO idea as yet who Ava’s parents were, nor do I have names of any sibs.
Bill, thanks for posting those census records. The first indicates a birthdate of 1799-1800 – if that is correct, than I may have a TN census with Ava’s name after all. I will have to track down more census info for other locations if it is out there, and see if the age/dates are consistent. If we can revise the birthdate to 1800 there is a chance we can figure this mystery out. I’ll try to check this out this afternoon.
AMinKY
Aminky,
While I was doing some Gibson research I came across these names, I don’t know if they belong to your line, but you can check it out. I posted the link on the bottom, if you wish to view all (it’s a long list).
VALENTINE GIBSON b c1844 IN s/o Andrew Gibson & Rebecca ____ m 27 Aug. 1865 MARTHA J. CAREY b c1847 IN.
This family was living in Monroe Twp Del Co IN in 1880.
THE GIBSON CHILDREN:
1. Safrona b c1867
2. Evelina b c1868
3. Anda b c1870 (Mar 1868) m 17 Sep 1898 Anna McAllister b Jun 1868
4. Daniel b c1873
5. Elbert b c 1877
6. Ollie b c1879
G1411
BORTER GIBSON b c1868/9 IN s/o Garrett Gibson & Elizabeth Clements m 18 Mar 1891 MATILDA J. REYNOLDS
THE GIBSON CHILDREN:
1. Ray H. b c1893
2. Roy E. b c1894
3. Iva B. b c 1898
4. Earl L. b c1900
5. Ora A. b c1903
G522
ROBERT R. GIBSON s/o Taylor Gibson & Edith Amanda Tuttle m 7 Feb. 1870 MATILDA JANE PERRY
THE GIBSON CHILDREN:
1. Taylor H. b Feb. 1880 m 22 Nov. 1899 Emma Sailors
2. Franklin B m 17 Mar 1900 Sarah( Sadie) Horn
3. Iva b 1890
Rosa V. b 1902 Granddaughter
Emma b 1907 Granddaughter
http://homepage.mac.com/wkfisher1/Genealogical_Glean/Gibson.html
I am coming up with a few Ava Gibson/Ava Gipson hits, but most are a bit later than the one I’m looking for. Unless she married VERY young 😮 But now I am wondering if the Cherokee part was right after all, as I found this rather tantalizing tibbet:
United States of America
State of Oklahoma
County of Muskogee
Elizabeth Gibson Mullins
Be it remembered, that on this seventeenth day of December in the year of your Lord one thousand, nine hundred and seven, before me a notary public within and for the county and state aforesaid, personally appeared Elizabeth Mullins, of Muskogee, in said county, the applicant before the Special Commissioner of the Court of Claims for the Eastern Cherokee Enrollment, whose application is numbered 294, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say in relation to the above mentioned claim as follows:
My grandfather, Joe Gibson, also called “Fisher” Gibson, lived in Lee County, Virginia, and when the Indians were driven out of Virginia, he ran away from there, and settled in Eastern Tennessee, where my father, Keener Gibson, was born, and where my father lived during his whole life. There was no tribal district where we lived and no tribal rolls were kept there, and that is the reason that we lost our enrollment. The Indian people in that region and time were unlettered, and there was no one to insturct them in regard to keeping up their tribal relations. I have often heard my father say that he had land in the West if he was only able to go and get it. I was married in Tennessee and lived there until about five years ago, when I moved to texas, and i have never lived where I could be enrolled until since the Cherokee rolls were closed. My grandfather could not talk English, and spoke only the Cherokee language, and my father spoke both English and Cherokee.
Elizabeth Mullins Her Mark
17th day of december 1907
=================
Ruben Mullins
English Name: Ruben Mullins
Indian Name: Unknown
Residence: Muskogee
State: Indian Territory
Date and Place of Birth: February, 1855 Hancock County, Tenn.
By what right do you claim to share? If you claim through more than one relative living in 1851, set forth each claim separately: Through my grandfather (maternal) Solomon Collins (full-blood Cherokee)
Give names of your father and mother, and your mother’s name before marriage
Father –English name: John Mullins
Indian name: unknown
Mother–English name: Mahala Collins Mullins
Indian name: unknown
Where were they born?
Father: Hancock Co., Tenn.
Mother: Hancock Co., Tenn.
Where did they reside in 1851 if living at that time?
Father: Hancock Co., Tenn.
Mother: Hancock Co., Tenn.
Date of death of your father and mother
Father: Fall of 1900 Mother Sept. 1901
REMARKS:
Solomon Collins is said to crossed into Tennessee and married Jincy Goins, and settled there, because he was afraid the chief would kill him if he returned to the tribe.
Signature
Ruben Mullins His Mark
8th day of November 1906
==============================
Kizziah Gibson
Residence; Gulleltt Kentucy
Aunt of 31695 and claims throught the same source
[31695 is Christina Cole, daughter of Hezekiah Gibson]
How old are you [1837] born in Tennessee
Are you married No
To what tribe of Indians does he or she belong? Cherokee
Father and Mother; Bryson Gibson and Fannie Gibson
Where were they born?
Father; in Virginia or Tenn
Mother; ” ”
Where did they reside in 1851 Don’t know [Hezekiah/Kiah Gibsons
application says they lived in Morgan Co., Ky.]
Father died 1865
Mother died 1867
Brothers and sisters
Tyra Gibson
Polly Gibson
Dice Gibson
Alex Gibson
Betty Gibson
Ava Gibson
Burl Gibson
Kiah Gibson
State English and Indian names of your grandparents
Thomas Gibson
Polly Gibson
============
Still nothing certain for me here. Shirley, I think I may have come across references to John Gibson and George Gibson born in NC – do you have dates for them?
AMinKY
Aminky,
I see the Mullins name often when searching for Gibson’s, seems the families were closely associated, as they were with the Looney’s, Bunch, Colllins’s, etc. Here is what I have on George, he was b. 1813 Perry, KY, d. 186? Buchanan, VA. John (m.Hulda Thomas)was b. 1836 NC, d.? George’s father was Martin (m.Eleanor ?), b.1775 NC, I believe his father was Archibald (m.Vashti Cole) b. 1750 NC, and his father was possibly Thomas b. 1720, d. 1802. I would appreciate any info you come across.
Shirley
Just a note, there is also the Cherokee story in my Gibson family, I am not sure where it came from. My father said his grandmother’s mother or her mother was taken to Ardmore, I can find no documentaion to back this story. One more thing, he said his grandmother Celia Baldwin Shortridge (mother:Ibby Gibson) always spoke of a Felistie. I don’t know if she was related to the Gibson’s, my dad brings her name up often, she must have been important to my GGrandmother.
Shirley
Aminky,
Here is another case for the Cherokee myth:
Chief Attakullakulla:
“As a result of a great battle with the Spanish, six soldiers were spared. Over a period of time they achieved a degree of freedom, took Cherokee wives, and adapted their lifestyles as best they could. When the Cherokee began alliances with other European visitors, including the French and English, the descendants of the Latin soldiers were banished into ‘the upper reaches of the Pellissippi’ to an area known today as the Clinch Mountains, along the Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia borders.”
Taken from ~James Mooney, **Myths of the Cherokee**, originally published in the 19th Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, in 1900, & republished in 1995 by Dover Publications, Inc, NY.
I have to believe that there was much contact between NDNs and colonists, and that much intermingling went on. I think of my family; my father is far too dark, and is continually asked by local NDNs what tribe he’s from. To have only had NDN blood from a GGGGrandfather seems unlikely.
Shirley
aminky,
Some additional info:
1860 Decatur Co., Iowa Census; New Buda Twp (and P.O) , 14 July; p.89; household 616:
George GOBLE, 35, m, – , Miller, $300, $100, Va.
Rebecca J….., 29, f, – , Ill
Mary C………, 9, f, – , Iowa
Eliza A………., 8, f, – , Iowa
Susannah J…., 4, f, – , Iowa
John W………., 2, m, – , Iowa
AVA MARION, 69, f, – , Va.
I’m still looking at the Samuel Merion/Marion’s of Lee Co., Va, but there’s no specific lead yet.
Bill
Aminky,
I’ve found a listing in the 1860 Lee CO. VA Census for a Z. or B. S. Gibson, house #49, family #52, age 31, merchant, real estate $4500.00, personals $8500.00, born Lee Co. VA. This guy is a rich man by 1860 standards. My William Thompson family are neighbors in house 45.
Next, a Chiny Gibson, age 16, born in Owsley Co, KY, living with Chadwell and Sarah Britton in house #115, family #123.
I’m still searching for more GIbsons in Lee Co. VA
Jim
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