note from judy) this is not real helpful-but is what we come up against in
finding native american ancestry. If we go with just the history--the cave
and dodd familys were moved to texas as the settlers moved west and the
government also was moving native americans on those same years. Note below
the history of moving indian people from mississippi. note the 5 civilized
tribes --and note that the dawes papers are on line.
if any of you-allwyl, cousins has an itch to find some indian
ancestry--please scroll down to the end of this and check out some of the web
sites. also, rootsweb and some of the search engines has data also....we are
needing to know who the INDIAN chief was who sold land to john cave senior
and who married his daughter into the cave family.
Also, there are Rabon names on the dawes commission and choctaw alabama was
named for what? choctaw indians? And the rootsweb system has stated on the
choctaw co. website that most of the areas indian population was absorbed
into the white population and not moved west. (forceably). So, it is possible
that old jonathan dodd's wife was native--and it is probable that the cave
family (lucy ann's folks) had some native american marriages. Would be great
to know. HUH?
- ----------------------------------sincerely, judy
BIA Agency Records
The agency records may include individual history cards, marriage cards and
registers, vital records, sanitary records (of sickness, injured, births, and
deaths), and other records described in greater detail below. Most of the
records of the BIA agencies are at National Archives branches or the National
Archives.
You will need to know which agency served the tribe because most of the
records are arranged by agency. A handbook that can help you identify the
agencies is E. Kay Kirkham, Our Native Americans and Their Records of
Genealogical Value, 2 vols. (Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1980-84; FHL
book Ref 970.1 K635o).
A list of BIA agencies and the location of their records is in the Guide to
Genealogical Research in the National Archives (see the For Further Reading
section). For additional information see Edward E. Hill, Guide to Records in
the National Archives of the United States Relating to American Indians
(Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981; FHL book 970.1
H551g).
Other BIA Records
1830s to 1850s. The BIA began a policy of removing eastern Indian tribes to
areas west of the Mississippi River. For example, in 1838 and 1839, most
Cherokees were forcibly moved westward, in a migration known as the Trail of
Tears. There is no consolidated list of all the individuals removed. To
enforce removal policies, some valuable records were created. The National
Archives has some removal records, tribal census lists, muster rolls, and
enrollment records, particularly of the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee,
Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole). The Family History Library has
copies of some of these records on microfilm.
1850s to 1887. In these years, the government tried to confine each tribe to
a specific parcel of land called a reservation. Many tribes from throughout
the United States were removed to reservations in Indian Territory
(present-day Oklahoma).
This was accomplished through a series of treaties. Many of these treaties
required the government to make regular payments to the Indians, usually to
the heads of families. These payments were recorded on annuity rolls that
list the individual's name and often the age and sex of family members.
Annuity rolls from the 1840s to 1940 are at the National Archives. The Family
History Library has copies of some of these. They are sometimes included in
the records of individual agencies.
During this period, the BIA became concerned about educating the Indians. The
BIA periodically took school censuses from 1876 to the 1930s. They also kept
school reports of individual students from the 1870s to the present. Most of
these records are among the agency records at the National Archives branches.
Many are on microfilm and are available at the Family History Library.
1887 to 1930s. Major records created by the BIA during these years include:
Land allotment records. The government attempted to gradually
eliminate the reservations by providing land allotments to individual Indians
instead. Parcels of land were held in trust for each individual and his heirs
until he demonstrated his capability to administer the land as required by
government guidelines.
To obtain an allotment of land, the Indian filed an application that
documented his descent from the tribe. The family information in these
applications often dates back to the early 1800s. There is generally a final
roll for most tribes that lists the individuals who received approval for an
allotment. Finding an ancestor on these rolls is generally considered by the
BIA to be proof of Indian ancestry.
When an individual died or wanted to sell his allotment, all heirs had to be
identified and had to agree to the transfer. This family information was
recorded in an allotment register or a register of families. In later years,
some agencies replaced the registers with heirship records. These usually
include both the Indian and English names of the individual, his age or birth
date, and the names, ages, relationships, and allotment information about
many other family members. There are other related land allotment records,
such as plat maps and correspondence.
When the individual demonstrated his competency to administer the land
(according to the government guidelines), he received a patent. Most did not
receive the patent, and the land was redesignated as reservation land. As a
result, very few Indian reservations were completely eliminated.
The land allotment records from 1887 to about 1935 are at the National
Archives or the National Archives branches. Some records are at the local
agencies. The Family History Library has some of these records on microfilm.
Enrollment Records of the Five Civilized Tribes, 1896 to 1909.
Land allotments to the Five Civilized Tribes were based on enrollment records
created by the (Dawes) Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes. The Dawes
Commission had reviewed the applications for Indian citizenship and had
abstracted the information onto cards known as the Enrollments of the Five
Civilized Tribes: Dawes Commission, 1896-1909. These cards document over
101,000 Native Americans and include both approved and rejected applications.
Copies of the cards are on microfilm at the Family History Library (74 films
of packets; 12 films of records). These are listed in the Subject section of
the FHLC under the name of the tribe. The original applications are at the
National ArchivesFort Worth Branch (501 West Felix Street, P.O. Box 6216,
Fort Worth, TX 76115). The Family History Library is presently acquiring
microfilm copies of the applications.
A helpful guide and index to these records is Commission to the Five
Civilized Tribes, The Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five
Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, 2 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Government
Printing Office, [1907?]; FHL book 970.1 Un3c, film 908,372, item 2 and
962,366).
Indian Census Rolls, 1885 to 1940. Beginning in 1885, BIA agencies
were requested to take annual censuses of the reservations they served. They
did not always comply, but the existing records are a good source for tracing
Indian ancestry. The rolls usually give the Indian or English name (or both),
sex, age, and relationship to the head of the household. They may list births
and deaths in the previous year. Only a few census rolls were submitted for
the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma.
The Indian census rolls are at the National Archives and many are on
microfilm at the Family History Library (692 films, arranged by agency). They
are listed in the FHLC under UNITED STATES - NATIVE RACES.
Indian Census Rolls, 1885 to 1940. Beginning in 1885, BIA agencies
were requested to take annual censuses of the reservations they served. They
did not always comply, but the existing records are a good source for tracing
Indian ancestry. The rolls usually give the Indian or English name (or both),
sex, age, and relationship to the head of the household. They may list births
and deaths in the previous year. Only a few census rolls were submitted for
the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma.
The Indian census rolls are at the National Archives and many are on
microfilm at the Family History Library (692 films, arranged by agency). They
are listed in the FHLC under UNITED STATES - NATIVE RACES.
Court Records
Some Indians appealed to a court of claims for compensation for land taken
from them. The U.S. Court of Claims primarily handled these cases.
A major collection of these records is the Eastern Cherokee Applications of
the U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1909 (348 films, index on FHL film 378,594).
These records were created in the early 1900s by Guion Miller, who evaluated
applications submitted by individuals for compensation from the government
for lands taken from the Eastern Cherokees in the 1830s. Applicants had to
document their lineage back to an Eastern Cherokee living in the 1830s. Over
45,000 applications identify approximately 100,000 Cherokees living about
1910. These are listed in the Subject section of the FHLC under CHEROKEES and
INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA - NORTH CAROLINA.
Tribal Council Records, 1934 to Present
Since the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, some tribal councils have kept
vital records of the tribal members, similar to state vital records. To
locate tribal offices, contact either the BIA area office or the local agency
office. Addresses are listed in volume two of Kirkham, Our Native Americans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. GENEALOGY WEB SITES
http://www.cris.com/~nlthomas/genea.html
Genealogy Information
Consumer Information Catalog:
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/catalog.htm
Where to write for Vital Records: (Found under misc. on main link above.)
gopher://gopher.gsa.gov:70/00/staff/pa/cic/misc/vital.txt
Cherokee Cousins: Cherokee Genealogy, Language, Culture! Are you trying to
verify your Cherokee ancestry? If so, Cherokee Cousins may be able to help
you.
http://www.powersource.com/powersource/cousins/default.html
Cherokee Genealogy Books
http://www.powersource.com/powersource/cousins/books.html
Genealogy's Most Wanted: On these pages you will find the Surnames and all
known and available information on a person that is "MOST WANTED"!
http://www.citynet.net/mostwanted/
My Home Page: By Jerry Wright Jordan
http://www.netcom.com/~jjordan2/my_pages.html
Cherokee by Blood Beginning Cherokee Research
http://www.netcom.com/~jjordan2/cher.html
Terri Morre:
Genealogy Information
http://members.tripod.com/~TMOOREINTULSA/
Baldridge Family Historical Society and Newletter
http://204.181.197.48:80/baldridgereunion/
Oklahoma Research and News: From the Sooner State - GENEALOGY RESEARCH,
FILES, BOOKS, AND OKIE NEWS
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/2542/
The USGenWeb Project:
An organized effort to organize the genealogy materials on the Internet.
http://www.usgenweb.com/
Dayna's Southern Genealogy Page: This site is intended to be a good starting
point for those searching for their Southern Heritage.
http://www.texoma.com/~mmcmullen/welcome.html
On-Line Source for Five Civilized Tribes Information The National Archives
has just implemented an on-line finding aid that will help users find
information
relating to the Applications for the Five Civilized Tribes.
http://www.cris.com/~bobsie/gene/nara.htm
Southwest Oklahoma Genealogy Society: The society is located in Lawton
(Comanche County), OK and covers the counties of Beckham, Caddo, Comanche,
Cotton, Custer,
Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Stephens and Tillman.
http://www.sirinet.net/~lgarris/swogs/
Genealogy Online - Santa Cruz, California: Provides links to genealogical
collections, software and vendors as well as to other resources often sought
after by genealogists, such as libraries, universities, historical
collections, government and more.
http://genealogy.emcee.com/welcome.html
Cherokee Reasearch Information:
Suggestions in helping to find your roots in the Cherokee Nation! (The first
section could apply to any Nation!)
special/cherosch.htm
The National Archives Information Server: Genealogy Holdings - Microfilm
Catalogs
http://gopher.nara.gov:70/1/genealog/holdings
Native American Genealogy: Many paths to help you in your search!
http://members.aol.com/bbbenge/front.html
Genealogy Help
http://members.aol.com/bbbenge/genhelp.html
Descendants of Nanye'hi (aka Nancy Ward)
http://members.aol.com/bbbenge/nancyward.html
The Genealogy Home Page: Genealogy Help, Guides, Libraries, Maps, Geography,
Deeds & Photography, Newsgroups, Mailing Lists and more!
http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/genealogy.html
Genealogy Listservs, Newsgroups, and Special Homepages: Search engine
provided!
http://www.eskimo.com/~chance
Everton's Genealogical Helper
http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/soc.genealogy.misc.html
Genealogy on the Internet: This is the path to the genealogy discussion
listserv and soc.groups. Read the FAQs and learn how to sign up to the
listserv and access genealogy information over the Internet.
http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/soc.genealogy.misc.html
Spike Gritz Native Genealogy Page
http://members.aol.com/spikegritz/mw44/roots.htm
Onda's Favorite site:
http://home.earthlink.net/~middleton/topten.html