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My ancestor, Fereby Benton who married William Vaughan about 1771 was born somewhere in North Carolina or Tennessee. They lived in Virginia, around Russell County. She was supposedly the daughter of a Fereby Looney and a _____ Benton. I think ____ Benton was one of the sons of Lazarus Benton of North Carolina. Fereby was said to have been Cherokee and so far none of her descendants have been able to find any Indian blood. Could she have been from another tribe?
DNA tests on her Mitrochondrial DNA (through a descendant) shows common northern European DNA, so probably her mother wasn’t Indian. She died in Madison County Arkansas in May of 1850. She was born somewhere between 1745 and 1755. The Death Schedule for Madison County claims her age at 105 years old, but we think this was off.
Any suggestions?
Eddie Davis
Hello well, first I’d ditch the DNA stuff, and go with your own families history. My g-grandmas sisters married into the Vaughn family from Iowa and then moved to Kentucky where they probably had moved from earlier.
Hang in there and I’m happy to see you here.
Tom
Thanks, Tom, we haven’t ruled out anything, believe me. I have a group of over 130 descendants that are searching for the truth. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren tried in the 1880s to gain Cherokee citizenship and we have all of the files from this, but in all they are vague and tried to tie in to Chief John Looney claiming Fereby was his granddaughter, when in truth, Chief Looney was not old enough to have even been her father by the time she was born.
There was a large Benton family in Northern North Carolina that we believe was her family. Epaphroditus Benton was the founder of this line and he is mentioned as BAINTON instead of BENTON in “A History of the Dividing Line Between Virginia and North Carolina” which is on-line. I suspect Epa. Benton was Fereby’s grand or great-grandfather.
The Indian stories have bounced around my family for years, how she was a “Cherokee Princess” and how William was a trader with the Cherokee and married her. In truth, William Vaughan was a frontiersman who probably was a Long Hunter. We also think that Cornelius Roberts, who was killed by Indians in what is now Scott County, VA, was his brother-in-law, as Neal’s wife Mary was said to have been a Benton. As far as I know there is no tradition of Indian blood in the Roberts family, however.
Anyway, I wonder if there is anyway to find out early (1750-1772) Saponi or other tribes’ records or mention of these tribes by whites. Or is information scarce, like it is with Cherokee records, which I’ve spent years trying to find?
Eddie Davis
Good Lord, the Cherokee must have ten times more info than we have on the Saponi. There are only half a dozen surnames for sure connected with the Saponi, there’s never been a tribal roll (unless some groups have started one up in the 20th century). Records? Records? Did you say records? Just kidding.
Iam not too sure about the Roberts family, I do know that it is very big and was classed as FPC very early by NC and probably VA.
The Roberts folks arre found with many of our people that moved around and I do see them in Indiana w/ many of my families names so, I’d keep checking.!!
Eddie,
There’s plenty of ROBERTS of Indian descent, including myself.
There are ROBERTS among the Tuscarora but I doubt Cornelius Roberts’ line were Tuscarora – more likely to have been Eastern Sioux or Meherrin. Since most of the people living around him were of Indian descent/or heavily connected, and his daughter did marry a RIDDLE identified on records as an “Indian”, and there is a tradition in this line of being of Indian descent, it is reasonable to conclude that either he or his wife (or both) were also of Indian descent.
Brenda has more info on the RIDDLE connection.
My theory on the rejected Cherokee applications where so many were identified as “Indian”, but “not Cherokee”, is that most of those rejected, were from Va/NC remnant nations and bands, which by then were scattered all over the landscape and had been for a hundred years or more.
It’s been estimated by professional genealogists that 90 percent of records prior to 1790 have been destroyed so records of individual Indian persons are rare indeed for that early period.
Bill
Eddie,
If you use the “search” function in the upper right, there are 5 or 6 threads other than yours for “Vaughn” – where there’s one mixed line, there will be others.
Bill
howdy Eddie —
I have links to the Looney’s. My great great grandparents, David B. Brown and Hariet [Guess] Brown, raised 3 orphans as well as their own 4 kids. One of those orphans was a girl, Nancy Looney, b. 1844. Census records say b. Alabama, but on 1850 census and 1860 census they were in Arkansas. Chief John Looney died in 1846, 2 years after Nancy’s birth, but we have no evidence Nancy was his child. We have never discovered who her parents were.
We used to think Hariet’s mother was a Looney but I have since given up on that.
I have researched thie history of the Chickamauga quite a lot, and I have pretty much concluded that many people who think they were Cherokee but were not living in the Cherokee Nation areas (ie — SW Va, E Ky, W Va, NW NC, NE Tn), were probably Tuscarora, Saponi, Catawba, or perhaps others. They probably fought against the Chickamauga in fact. I have talked to Cherokee historians and this is what they think as well.
But there is always that “link” to the Cherokee, not proven but obviously some connection . . . in many of these families. Tantilizing and frustrating at the same time.
Good luck in your searches.
vance
ps — you mentioned 2 other things I am interested in —
1. you said your ancestor was in Russell County, Va. What years was this? Have you looked for them in the tax records online, of Russell County? They have a lot of material. I also have ancestors in lower Russell County, Va from 1797 to 1815.
2. DNA tests — they are only helpful if your ancestor was a male descended from a male descended from a male, et cetera, for the Y-chromosome test, and for a female descended from a female, et cetera, for the Mt-dna test. Which test did yall take. You said you had 130 people in the family looking for this material. Have yall tried finding someone amongst that 130 who might fit that criteria, back to the person yall think was Indian?
Vance and all,
This Vaughan/Benton family is one of the most throughly researched lines out there, I think. We have at least 3 books on William and Fereby and a dozen articles as well, but sadly when it comes to proving Fereby’s ancestry, it is always “I don’t know”.
William and Fereby’s time line (that is known) looks like this:
Will first shows up in Fincastle County in 1772. He is on a list of tithables the following year for the New River area of Fincastle and is on Capt. Herbert’s militia list. In 1774 he is now in newly formed Montgomery County and in Dunmore’s War he is in Capt. Looney’s company (and yes, I’ve checked to see if Fereby was related to this Capt. Looney and so far I’ve not found anything). In Capt. Looney’s company was also Cornelius Roberts and Lieut. Daniel Boone.
In Fincastle County, Virginia, Plot Book A, Record of Surveys, page 124:
WILLIAM VAUGHAN, 80 acres, part of the Loyal Company grant, on the waters of Elk Creek, a branch of the New River, beginning at the foot of a hill. December 12, 1774.
(On the same page, Lazarus Benton was listed, having 116 acres on both sides of Elk Creek, on December 12, 1774). Lazarus is the primary candidate for Fereby’s grandfather or father.
For the time frame of the Rev. War, William is not shown on records, but then:
William Vaughan was in the Elk Creek District of Montgomery County,Virginia in 1782 (later Grayson County, Virginia). In 1771, Titus Benton settled here, and this may have been Fereby’s relative.
A listing of the militia from Montgomery County, Virginia from September 6, 1782, Elk Creek District reveals some familiar names:
William Walling, Lieutenant.
John Walling (2 men with this name)
James Roberts
John Roberts
Cornelius Roberts (who had a wife named Mary Benton, possibly Fereby’s kin.)
WILLIAM VAUN (VAUGHAN)
Russell County Land Grants and Surveys, Surveyors Book 1, #86 shows William received two Treasury Warrents, dated March 11, 1782 and April 4, 1782 for 187 acres plus 59 acres of land on the north side of the Clinch River. According to the property description, this land was at the foot of the north side of Clinch Mountain. Other land surveys refer to Cedar Creek as being “at the foot of the north side of Clinch Mountain”.
William purchased an additional 70 acres on the north side of Little Cedar Creek from John Van Pelt on June 20, 1791 (Russell County Land Grants and Surveys, #123).
From 1783-1797 William was living in Russell County, Virginia. He received a tract of land #1 6637 on May 29, 1783, which was for 400 acres. A second grant was received on August 13, 1794 .
On October 24, 1797, the land in Russell County was sold, but apparently William used an agent to sell it, as he was no longer living there.
Was in Russell County, Virginia by 1790. settled on south side of Clinch River on Little Cedar Creek.
Deeds (from “Russell County, Virginia, Deed Book 2 1795-1798:):
VAUGHN DEED TO WATTS, p. 44
22 Feb 1797: Indenture between William Vaughn & Fereby, his wife and John Watts (all of Russell County]…50 pounds…70 acres…granted to said William Vaughn…patent bearing date 20 Jun 1790…in Russell County on Little Cedar Creek a branch of Clinch River and Bounded:…bank of said creek…
Sig: William (his X mark) Vaughn, Fereby (her X mark) Vaughn
Wit: (None)
Acknowledged/Recorded: January Count, 1797
… Fereby, his wife being privily examined…
VAUGHAN DEED TO WALLIS, p. 45
22 Feb 1797: Indenture between William Vaughn and Fereby, his wife and Benjamin Wallis (all of Russell County)…65 Pounds…70 acres…granted to the said William Vaughn…in Russell County on Little Cedar Creek the the (sic) waters of Clinch River it being part of a tract of land granted to the said William Vaughn…patent bearing date 16 May 1793 & Bounded:…bank of Little Cedar Creek…up the creek…Conditional line made and agreed Upon Between said William Vaughan & Robert Rutherford
Sig: William (his X mark) Vaughan, Fereby (her X mark) Vaughan
Wit: (None)
Acknowledged/Recorded: January Court 1797
…Fereby, his wife being privily examined…
These two deeds are the first mention of Fereby by name, but we know they were married from at least 1772 when their oldest son Thomas was born.
From 1797-1814 William was living in Hawkins County, Tennessee. On August 15, 1797 he bought land from William McClean (250 acres) on the North side of Clinch Mountain on Little War Creek in Hawkins County.
On April 15, 1800, William sold 100 acres to John Helton. Helton resold the land to John and Nancy (Callicott) Vaughan, who’s son James married Martha Vaughan, William’s daughter.
On March 1st, 1801 in Hawkins County, Tennessee, William Vaughan sold land to John Helton on the north side of Clinch Mountain on a branch of the Little War Creek beginning at the mouth of Buck spring. Witnesses were Absalom Looney (son of Robert Looney??) and James Cope. The land was on the Hawkins and Hancock Counties line.
On a1810 Tax List for Capt. John Looney’s Company is listed:
Looney, John lands:300, 1 White Pole
Looney, Absalum Esq.: lands 640 1 White Pole 1 Black Pole
Vaughn, William:100 lands 1 White Pole
Vaughn, John:100 lands 1 White Pole
On the 1812 Tax List for Capt. John Looney’s Company is listed:
Vaughn, William Senior 100 land
Vaughn, John 100 land 1 White Pole
Vaughn, William Junior 1 White Pole
This covers the VA and TN part of their lives. I have to get to work, so I can’t post more, but I will respond to the DNA question. We have tested three descendants. One is a direct female from female from female (on back) descendant of Fereby to see if her Mitrochondrial DNA matched Native American. It didn’t,b ut all that proves is that Fereby’s mother wasn’t 100% Cherokee or any tribe of Indian.
The other two tests are still out now. They are Y-Chromosome tests on a descendant of William Vaughan (direct male) and John Vaughan, who was probably his brother.
Eddie Davis
Do any of you recognize a Benjamin and/or John W Vaughn (probably brothers) who married Nancy and Permelia Ray (sisters) in Indiana in 1860 and 1861? I’m researching my Ray line, which I think may be eastern Blackfoot. And, Nancy and Permelia are “side-branches” of my direct line.
Sorry if this should have been its own posting. But, I thought I would ask, with all the Vaughn info in this post.
Welcome to the forum, Phil,
No problem. We can always re-post it.
Where did they live/marry in Indiana?
Why do you think they were Eastern Blackfoot?
Bill
My grandfather’s grandmother said she was Blackfoot. My grandfather is still alive and remembers visiting & living with her when he was a kid. But, other than saying that she was Blackfoot, they did not talk about it. So, that’s about all I’ve got to go on, other than some less reliable stories about her practicing native healing, etc.
Her name was Charlotte Ray. Her parents were Lucinda Reynolds and John Ray. And, John’s parents were Sismond (aka Sisgismond, Sismand, and Siomond on various census records) Ray and Charlotte Roe. Sismond was born in Estill Co., KY. But, he married in Decatur Co., IN and lived in Jefferson Co., Bartholomew Co., and Sullivan Co., IN between 1825 and 1880.
In addition to John, Sismond and Charlotte had at least 4 daughters, Nancy, Permelia, Elizabeth and Sarah Ann. Nancy & Permelia both married Vaughns (Benjamin and John) in Bartholomew Co., IN. Elizabeth married a William Murphy, also in Bartholomew Co., IN in 1860. And, I think Sarah Ann married a George Childers in Louisville, KY in 1855. Sarah and George later moved to Kansas.
I don’t know much about the Roe or Reynolds families yet. I’m not sure which one (or one’s) were the Blackfoot link. But, the Ray migration path seems like it fits the other stories I’ve seen on this board.
Phil
Phil,
The “Jefferson County” you referred to, was in 1850 Kentucky – able to follow them out (that’s why it makes sense that Sarah married in 1855 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY) – sorry for not posting this info but will post asap. The RAY name as mixed-Indian in very early Watauga settlement, TENN (came from VA), is familiar (from “Tennessee Cousins” by Worth S. Ray) and have some data but haven’t cross-checked for connection to your RAY’s.
Vaughn’s were tougher.
Bill
Bill,
Thank you so much for your efforts. I really appreciate it.
Sorry to hear about your arm/hand. I hope you are starting to feel better now.
I’ve seen the area on the Indiana side of the river referred to as part of Louisville in early records. So, it makes since that it was once part of KY. My wife and I took a vacation to the area last year, in part looking for information on the Ray line. We found several deed records for Sismond buying and selling property in Milton Township, which is just east of Louisville on the IN side of the river. This is where he was living when several of his children were born. One of Sismond’s sons, William Ray, established himself in Louisville and became somewhat prominent. I’ve seen a couple of short historical articles about him.
I am very interested to learn more about the Watauga settlement and the “Tennessee Cousins” book. I checked my local library, and they don’t seem to have that book. And, I did a quick internet search for the Watauga settlement. I found a lot of references to it. But I have not found a good site specifically about that settlement yet.
Please let me know if you are able to connect my Ray’s to the ones you referred to. The “mixed-indian” reference for the Ray name is interesting, even if a clear connection isn’t obvious. If they both came from the same areas and went to the same areas at about the same time, they could still be related.
Thanks again,
Phil
Bill, I just noticed you mentioning the RIDDLE family, they from Orange Co VA? My great grandma was a RIDDELL, her side of the family supposibly has Indian ancestry as well, but I don’t know which line. This family came from Scotland to Orange Co VA in 1700, they married into the NEAL, POWELL, and RIDDLE (a cousin?) families before heading off to Kentucky after 1807. Wondering if Riddle is from the same family as Riddell, one of my Riddell cousins did a DNA test, but is still looking for a Riddle to compare it to.
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