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I’m going to post here and hope someone can help. I saw a reference to Rogers being a Nansemond or Nottoway name and in particular, I’ve seen several references to Celia Rogers.
My 5th Great-Grandmother was Prudence Rogers. She was probably born around 1740 and was in Cumberland County, VA in the 1760s and 1770s when the “binding” of her children were recorded — Jane, Ann, Sarah, Elizabeth, Nathaniel and Ansel. I descend from Ansel.
By 1780s, they’ve moved to Campbell County and are living near Jenkins people also from Cumberland County. They purchase land. In 1793, the land is sold and presumably Prudence dies. Ansel winds up in Henry County, VA/Rockingham County, NC where he marries Fanny Gibson (daughter of Champ Gibson and Elizabeth Goins?).
They stay here through about 1810 when they move to Washington County, VA and finally just over the line to Sullivan County, TN by 1850. Ansel, born in 1766 dies between 1850-1860.
The family lives in the mountains of Washington County, VA/Sullivan County, TN near other “FPOC” including Beatties and Shavers and although some of Ansel’s descendents remained around Bristol, many others moved to such FPOC “havens” as Lawrence County, OH in the mid 1800s.
At least two of Ansel’s grandchildren attempted Cherokee benefits via Guion-Miller applications.
Does any of this ring familiar to anyone out here ?
Hi Gary,
I’m sorry I did not see this post earlier. Your Rogers line has some similarities to my wife’s line, and I’ll share what I know that is in common to her line.
First of all, I am sure you are referring to the Celia Rogers who was listed as a “Nansemond Indian” on the 1808 Nottoway Indian Census, and I’ll get back to her shortly.
My wife’s line also has a Prudence Rogers whose birthdate is not currently known, but she likely was born in the 1720-1740 timeframe. She was married to the William Rogers who left his will in Sussex Co., VA in 1769. According to the 1769 will, the children of this Prudence Rogers were William, Benjamin, and Priscilla. Although the children of my wife’s Prudence do not align to yours, I would not totally write-off that these lines may be kin based on your mention of the Jenkins, Goins, Gibson, and Champ (Champion) names. The Rogers’ family was once a hot topic here in Saponitown, and there are still many holes to fill in due to lost records. (I’m assuming you’ve scrubbed through the archives here.)
Going back, the William Rogers above was the son of Jacob Rogers (1702-1746) and Matilda West of Chowan Co., NC. West was a name associated with the Chowanoc Tribe. Jacob Rogers (1702-1746) was the son of Peter Rogers and Sisela (Cicelia) Rogers of Accomac Co., VA. (Wow, that name looks familiar!)
I suspect the “Nansemond” Celia Rogers is likely a descendant of Peter and Sisela, but I have found nothing to support that theory yet. The name Alexander is also prevalent in this line.
Running my wife’s line back towards the present, the name Cynthia Anne Rogers is used over and over throughout the generations living in the Currituck/Dare/Chowan, NC area. The Cynthia Anne Rogers who was born in 1843 was listed with her sister, Lovely as Cherokees in Emmet Starr’s 1921 book “History of the Cherokee Indians and their Legends and Folk Lores”, and were sent to live in the Oklahoma Indian Territory. Based on the records I’ve found, there is evidence to argue these Rogers lines have ties to the Chowanoc, Nansemond, Cheroenhaka (Nottoway), and Cherokee Tribes. So, your ancestors may not have been completely wrong in attempting a Guion-Miller Application. You may want to run your Rogers names against those in Emmet Starr’s book, which is available to view in “Google Books”.
Hopefully, this may stir a few thoughts for your research, good Luck!
Best Regards,
Four Cats
Hi, I just signed as a new member. I have Gibson/Curry family members from Bath/Albemarle counties Virginia.
We have just word past down through the years that we are tied in with an Indian tribe from Va. Not sure though,, I also have been looking into the Melungeon history. Any help or suggestions would be great. Thanks.
I also have Gibson/Curry family ties from Bath/Albemarle County area. Don’t know the ties to any Indian tribe though,,It was passed down that we did and our gene characteristics would support that.
Hi Tk,
I am not an expert on the Gibson or Curry surnames, but I’ve seen both associated with Native Americans over time. There was a Walter Gibson listed as a “Tuscarora Chieftan” in Deed Book M (1777) in Bertie, NC when the remnant of the tribe sold off the last parts of the Indian Woods Reservation. I am a descendant of Billie Mitchell, who was listed on the same document (http://www.coastalcarolinaindians.com/research/tuscarora/Bertie_Deed_Book_M.htm).
If you are interested in finding out if you have some Native Roots, I would suggest starting with your parents and run your family trees back using Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. As you encounter new surnames in your lines, try “Googling” something like “Gibson Native American Surname” which may reveal some clues. If you are truly lucky, you may find a document that lists one of your ancestors as a Native American. I can tell you that this will be a time consuming task, but documenting your family tree will help support whatever you find. I have spent over three years on this task, but I have been blessed knowing that I have ties to the Cheroenhaka and Tuscarora Tribes who frequented Eastern VA/NC.
Best Regards,
Four Cats
Welcome, TKnauss, to our forum. The Gibson name has come up many times here. I’m sure you’ll have plenty to occupy yourself with searching on that name and reading all the posts. One of our original members, who’s now passed on, wrote an article on her research.
http://www.saponitown.com/brenda-collins-dillon/buck-gibson.htm
I believe Gibson is one of the few names that can be documented to tribal Saponi. I wish I could put my fingers on the source material. A little time with the search feature should turn it up.
If your family has noticeable physical traits after so many generations, it’s quite likely you’re just scratching the surface with the Gibson line. Where there’s one, there’s generally many. Mixed bloods married other mixed bloods we find quite often.
Gary, did you look up those Guion/Miller applications and see what they wrote about their family? I hear they are a treasure trove of information.
Four Cats, have you connected with any Cheroenhaka? I know they’re quite open to taking in new members. If you need some contact info, email or pm me and I’ll send you some info.
well I have a few wild theories about a few of these surnames anyone want to speculate with me about how they might be related?
Hi Linda,
Nice to run into you again here! Yes, my wife and I are members of the Archeological Society of VA, and know Chief Walt Brown and some of the other members from this association. I am in their Turner line, and my wife is in their Rogers line. Quite a coincidence for us, discovering we have an inter-tribal marriage today.
Thanks for checking!
Four Cats
I am looking for Gibson and Goins data. I live in SW VA. I know Rodgers of SW VA. I’m knew and still learning this site. Also, researching Melungeons and Tri-racial groups of SE USA.
FIRST I DO NOT BELIEVE IN those ‘ MELUNGEONS” or maybe even “portugese”
first I personally believe it is really about something else .
I believe it is what our ancestors tried very hard to tell us and pass down .
but not only did science not get it and has ever since accused them of being anything but what they were , but mostly neither do we believe them .
I left a bunch of links you can search
“alleg” for the links to the real clues …
not just slanty eyes like science has built most of it’s theories on.
I believe’ goins’ are connected to “going snake” this in indian is spelled many ways in indian in many tribes also…
you might want to search the words and follows leads around these terms and variations on spellings etc. , among many tribes and places this is used during the end of the 1700 and start of the 1800’s.
when you get some ideas we can talk ok!
Nannanae,
Thanks for writing. I guess it would be impolite but that is just plain nuts. The Melungeons were Portuguese as they said, but more important they were Berber/Amaizgh. That is, they were Moslums. The Moors of N. Africa.
I believe most of the people thinking they are Indian descent are really Berber/Amazigh. I have tons of conclusive evidence. I see the female Celia Rogers . You know Celia is Spanish? If you will look at your ancestors in the 1850-60 US NC census in Halifax and adjacent counties, you will see many Spanish/Portuguese names. Not Indian names. You will also see blue and blue/green eyes and wavy/curly hair and the men will have body hair, chest and legs. These are not Indian phenotypes. Goins may come from the Portuguese name Gonez. They sound very much alike.
One of the pockets of these Berber is NE NC like Halifax Co, and a few VA border counties. The same is true of the Lumbees of NC. Also, the Guineas of WV and all the “Melungeons”.
Thanks.
@swvawired how can you say that indians can not have body hair you are calling like 85% indians not real and all the people in halifax are not of portuguese my famliy are indian my family last name is evans redcross and bear which are all sapoin names and there are accounts of my family moveing north and out west with other indian i would like it if you would stop say people from halifax are portuguese until you can porve it
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