Does anyone kow who the Martha Carmack is that is mentioned below as
marrying Rake Riddle? Also, of her Cherokee heritage?
Thanks,
Dale
Source: ALWINSTO-L(a)rootsweb.com
From: ASTEELMAGNOLIA(a)webtv.net
Subject: Re: ALWINSTO-D Digest V03 #20
The Riddle Family of Sipsey
Written by Rickey Butch Walker
In this riddle of the Riddle family, the following is an explanation to
the story of this mysterious Indian fail's beginning in the Warrior
Mountains of Bankhead National Forest.
Early in the 1800's with the threat of removal ot the west
affecting many Indian people, the Warrior Mountains provided protective
refuge in the vast expanse of hills, canyon, bluffs, and coves scattered
across the Sipsey portion of the eastern wilderness.
Sipsey Indian Land
Indian claims to the land were acquired from 1814 through 1816 but
numerous treaties made and broken by the US Government. During this time
of turmoil,Johnson" Rake"Riddle, a full blooded Cherokee Indian, Made
his home near the rough country of Sipsey River. His folks settled near
the present day Lawrence - Winston county lines on the upper portion of
the Sipsey River.
It is not real clear if other family members also settled in
Sipsey county with Rake Riddle, but it is certain that a number of
Indian and mixed blood indian families settled in the same place. It
appears that Rake probably married a mixed blood Indian woman (Martha
Carmack) because all of their children were considered to be Cherokee
Indians.
Pigeon Roost to King Cove
From a couple of mile south of the present day lawrence County line
where Davis creek flows into Sipsey River at a cove known as Pigeon
Roost, to the upper portion of Sipsey River at King cove. the Riddle
Family made their land claims to the Warrior Mountsains.
The Riddle Cherokees hid out in the coves deep in the upper
Sipsey River portion of the Warrior Mountains to avoid removal west.
Most of the Riddles and their descendants that inhabit
Lawrence and Winston counties today are direct descendants of Cherokee
Indians.
Old timers say that some member of the Riddle family were actually
moved west on the Trail of Tears in 1838. According to one family
legend, soldiers came to remove the Riddle Cherokees from their eastern
homelands. A fight ensued, with the killing of some soldiers and the
capture of at least one Riddle who was the brother of Rake. He
eventually escaped the forced removal and made his way back to the
protective coves along the Sipsey.
Rake Riddle was my GGGgrandfather,his son Thomas Riddle being my
GGrandfather,and Thomas daughter Rosie Riddle-DeFoor was my grandmother.
I would love to learn of my Spears side of the family .It has been told
I have Indian descendants on this side too.
Judy Spears-Hinterschied