Koch Family Connections

Finally a breakthrough on Jonas Coke (I believe)!

Koch Family Connection #1

I kept getting DNA connections on Ancestry that I just could not find connections for.  Many of them had Merle COOK.  I even messaged one of the tree owners to be sure it was Cook and not Coke.  She was sure. 

I also kept getting Koch's.  So, I looked into the origins of the names, and then began searching.

I found that Koch's moved along to become Koch, Cook, Coke, Cooke, and more.  In some places one son's family moved ahead as Koch, while another son's was Cook.  Koch was a German name (like Brumbaugh), and had also immigrated into Pennsylvania.  

Then I started going back through the trees on Ancestry.  Not one of the connected trees had any documentation that Jonas Coke's wife Barbary was McGinnis.  It was listed.  But there was no evidence I could find.  I added a comment that if anyone could verify that information, please let me know.  So far, no replies.  

Koch Family Connection #2

It was on Find A Grave.  So, I contacted the manager of the FAG memorial and found that he was submitted that information but hadn't gotten any evidence.

"RE: Barbara Coke

This information came from someone sending an edit for her memorial. I have no idea of the accuracy of the edit."

In case you didn't know, volunteers enter the information on Find A Grave.  I, myself, am a volunteer and manage 316 memorials. - I only used the information I found on the stone's themselves, but users do ask to connect family members and add information.

Looking into it further, I saw that the possibility of Barbary being listed as a MCGINNIS was that another Coke married a McGinnis.  But, our Barbary had no proof of being McGinnis.

During one search I found a Jonas KOCH that had married Barbary WYMEN in the same location, a year before the birth of their first daughter.  !!  Then I looked through the information and found a Henry Koch in the area.  For a brief time I had this Henry listed as the father of Jonas, to see if I would get any clues.

Koch Family Connection #3

Then I started getting some ancestry connections!  Although Henry wasn't the father coming up, it was all the Koch line.  I have now gotten connections on the Koch line back to Nicholas.

Of course, this could be incorrect without documentation to prove it, but between the information I had found, and the connections to this in DNA results, I would say it has to be the correct family.

Finally... after all this time... I believe I have found the family of Jonas Koch!  Hopefully..... I am not wrong.  Still searching for the children's death certificates...    ;)

Captain Henry Anderson Family

A while back I posted about the Henry, Jacob, Josiah, and Jesse family.

Well, ultimately, I know this should be the correct family based on the DNA circles on Ancestry.com.  Although the thrulines all show Henry Cook as the father of our siblings.

I don't think they take into account that there were other unknown siblings, or the ages of the family members.  In the photo of siblings to the left, you can see Jacob was born when Henry Cook was three, Ruth when he was only six.  It makes no sense for it to be him.  But, he does fit nicely as the oldest brother.

The Dawes application in one place states that Aunt Nancy was "Robert Marion ANDERSON's" aunt.  Which could possibly be Nancy BALLEW , sister of Henry Cook's wife.   Again, making Henry Cook a sibling.  Margaret BALLEW, his wife, was undoubtedly Cherokee.  However, the only spouse I can find for that Aunt Nancy was a Montgomery, not an Anderson.

Then there's Nancy Anderson who married Francis BALLEW.  Who would certainly be Cherokee by marriage.  And, since it is Robert's aunt, Nancy should be a sibling of Jesse.  I have found a lot of stories and information, but not a sibling Nancy.  And, Francis and Nancy were not in Missouri.  But, it would make a whole lot of sense that if Henry Cook married Margaret, his sister Nancy married Margaret's brother Francis.

Nancy, Francis, and Margaret BALLEW's grandmother on one side was Diana LIGHTSKY, and on the other Charity LIGHTSKY.  Literally, both Indian Princesses.  Daughters of Chief Leyestisky, AKA Chief George Robert Lightsky.

But here's another confusing part.  Nancy who married Francis was an Anderson, Henry who married Margaret was an Anderson.. but the information I am finding have them from two different Anderson lines.

Now, this is possible... but, seems more likely that the families were together and married.  Other trees on Ancestry are showing Nancy descended from James ANDERSON, but ours descended from Henry ANDERSON.  And, I see no place where these two lines meet.  It's going to take a lot more research because I have no proof either way, and I "lean" towards her being in our line.  But, I do have the Bilyeu line in the tree also, which is sometimes Ballew - and they are two different lines.  It can become quite confusing.

In most places, it states that Aunt Nancy was Jesse's aunt.  So, I am not 100% certain where Aunt Nancy fits, but I plan to go back through the testimonies and see if I can narrow down the facts a little better than I have.

Testimony of Andrew Smith

I do wonder if Alexander ANDERSON, could be the father of our group.  I wonder this because of the testimony given, and the way it was worded.  I've read that Henry Sr. had other children, and Andrew Smith states that he knew Alex Anderson and Nancy Anderson. 

This is the only place I've heard of Alex.  Why would he even mention Alex if it wasn't of importance to the family in the case?  Perhaps I should investigate into Andrew Smith's family and see who he was living near.

It would make sense that if he were speaking of the aunt of the children, that he would also address the name of the father.  "Yes, I knew Alex and Nancy Anderson", is how I see this.  I just can't find an Alex under Henry ... or anywhere else, YET.

Regardless of the path to get there, the line does seem to go to Captain Henry ANDERSON b. 1731 right now.  However, this is based off the combination of the DNA matches and those matches family trees.  If the matches have inaccurate information, the line is wrong. 

It does seem that some of the branches off Henry on ThruLines have more documentation, so therefore their trees are proven.  So, assuming they are proven, and DNA matches... would get around to ours 'must be' here somewhere.  For now, I 'assume' this is correct.  Which one of his son's, I am not sure of, but... much, much closer!

Independence Day ~ Remembering Our Patriots

For this Independence Day, I thought it would be nice to give tribute to some of our ancestors who fought for our freedom so many years ago.  If you ever get a chance, read some of the stories online!

To those listed, and those not....  

"Thank You for Your Service!!"

(this is NOT every Patriot in the family tree)

Happy Independence Day!!!

Connecting the Dots

Ever since the DNA results have come in, I have been working to connect all these cousins to my tree.  It has been a lot of work, and a lot of time, but VERY interesting!!

Now, Ancestry has created the new Thru Lines!  This is a great feature that has helped me connect many cousins to branches I never would've guessed from their trees.  However, users should beware ~ if someone else has an error in their tree, it can show up as a thruline.  

For example, I know from all the research I've done that Henry Cook ANDERSON is certainly not my Jesse's father.  However, EVERY other tree I find him on, has Henry Cook listed. 

Now, I would AGAIN mention that there was no way that the Henry Cook who went to Missouri was old enough to be the father of Jacob and Ruth, who we KNOW are Jesse's siblings.

The line of Josiah also has children with those names, but their spouses and families are documented, and are not the same families.  But, the idea here in this post was some of the craziness I encountered adding limbs this weekend. 

Ailey Jones Armstrong Watkins
okantee originally shared this on07 jul 2017

The craziness began looking to match up an Armstrong.  I found Ailey JONES (1st cousin 6x removed) who was first married to Royal ARMSTRONG, then second to William WATKINS (1st cousin 5x removed).

On my grandpa Anderson’s side is my 5th great-grandfather, Samuel WATKINS.  Also on my grandpa Anderson's side is my 6th great-grandfather Jacob GUM.

My 6th great-grandfather on my grandma Anderson's side is Mansfield JENKINS (b.1708).

LOL!  So.... here's where the fun is!

Samuel Watkins had sons John, Elijah, and James.  John had son's William and Isaac.  Son James, had son Lewis. 

Richard Skaggs b. 1744 had several children:  Benjamin, Shadrack, Meshack, Abednego, Henry, Rhoda, Sarah, and James.

Ailey Jones had daughters from her first marriage to Royal named Mary E., and Eliza Jane Armstrong. 

Mary E., married Nelson Watkins, son of Lewis.  And, Eliza Jane, married Isaac Watkins, son of John and uncle by marriage.  ~ lots of 'add someone already in tree'.  But, then there's more. 

Ailey Jones is the daughter of Lydia Gum and John Jones.  Lydia is the daughter of Jacob Gum, and her first husband was Shadrack SKAGGS. 

Jacob Gum's other daughter Sarah had a daughter also named Lydia, who married Elijah Watkins, Samuel's son.  Sarah’s first husband was Meshack SKAGGS.

Nancy HALE (Sarah Hale's sister - wife of our Jesse Anderson) was married to James SKAGGS.

Then while adding information, I saw there was a Silas JENKINS on one of Robert Armstrong's censuses (Robert is the son of Ailey). Hmmm..... Robert married Lucinda Jenkins.  Lucinda Jenkins is a cousin through Mansfield JENKINS.  Mansfield-Jesse-Joel-John-Lucinda.  Ancestry does not have all these connections updated yet, so I am not sure of the new ranks.

A couple other bits that I have not gotten into yet:

1.  Samuel Watkins mother was Mary Jones.  Any relation to John Jones, Lydia Gum's husband??  Probably, but I haven't found it yet.

2.  William Watkins daughter Nancy Watkins BELL passed away without any children. 
Her estate was taken care of by Royal Watkins, her first cousin.  There is an entire list of heirs - many names I have not seen in trees yet.  Looks like the adventure of a lifetime trying to connect all those dots!

I now have a ridiculous tree of over 15,000.  Way too many, but I'm afraid to split it up, especially after days like the one I just had.  I would be afraid that I would miss a connection.  

It is interesting to me that these families have been connected for so many generations, and nobody probably even knew it.  How could anyone know that these connections that began with someone born in 1708 would trickle down and mix on both sides into the children of Robert E. Anderson, and Pearl E. Coke 200 years later.  

How cool is that??!!!

So, if you're interested.... I've added a little tree section below.  It also includes the Bells, but I have not yet figured in all the Jones family....

Note2:  Simpson Montgomery m. Sally Skaggs m. Sarah Gum dau. Lydia Montgomery

Surprise!! Results Are In!!

Well, the DNA results came back.  According to my current DNA profile, compared to all the millions already on file - I have 0% Native American Blood!  Yep, guess I am just a wannabe after-all.



So, there you have it... right? 

I wish it were that simple.  Just because I show no Native American blood, still does not mean my family line, is NOT Native American.  We only get so much DNA passed on through generations, and if there are no matches on file to compare with, and etc. etc. etc. 

What I do show as my genetic regions:

But, for me, for now... I'm going to be looking for history under the assumption that we are not Cherokee by blood.  I understand where my family was born and raised.  What they have always been told.  What they believe.  And, if it had been me, born and raised in Cherokee Territory, had generations of family there, I too would believe it to be fact.  However, in today's world, we don't have to accept tradition as fact.  We can find answers.  And, we will!

So....  there you have it.  Searching the rolls will be on hold as I look in new directions.

(But don't worry, I still intend to find 'Aunt Nancy' and the cousin connection to Maxwell Chambers.)

Cherokee Nation ~ Outtalucker

I had read a letter a while back "Courtesy of David Cornsilk, Cherokee Nation" and the comments that followed.

I was seriously surprised at some of the reactions to his words.

I am an Outtalucker. I know this. My family was denied by the Dawes commission, and appeals, all the way to the Supreme Court. But, so what?

Since I was a small child I was taught I was Cherokee. I was told my great great great grandmother walked the trail of tears.  It broke my heart.  But, I was a wannabe all my life. Therefore, I have spent a great deal of time looking for proof or denial of that. And, yes, I am one of those people who would say "well my family was just wrong...." but, the more I search, the more I find I am truly an Outtalucker.

My family tells me I am Cherokee. My aunts and uncles and grandparents were all born within Cherokee "territory". My family lived with the Cherokee Nation.  My Great Great Grandfather fought for years to be included on the Dawes Roll. We have testimony upon testimony that our family is Cherokee. They state that we are related by blood to known Cherokee families, with three of the direct relatives included on the rolls.  But, for some reason they did not meet the requirements at the time (although I'm not really sure why yet AND I even have Google!) ~ so we are outtaluck.  It just is how it is.

I STILL want to know my family lines. I STILL want to know where they fit in. I STILL want to know more about Cherokee culture. I STILL want to learn the Cherokee traditions and stories. I STILL want my children to know what the Cherokee people went through (and they do). It STILL matters to me and I STILL don't want people to forget.

My heart breaks for what the Cherokee people have endured, I cry reading about the history. Imagine being a girl, and hearing the terrible stories about their treatment and thinking your gr.gr.gr. grandmother was going through all that.  It is amazing how they have still endured, they are still a Nation, they are still a proud people. I have nothing but respect for the Cherokee people who are tribal members and keep the nation going.  

But, the fact remains that I cannot be included. No amount of whining or crying or complaining is going to remake history.  And, it is senseless to be mean or cruel to one another over decisions that were made many years ago. 

I can continue to learn their culture. I can learn their history. I can continue to try to trace my family back to the rolls of 1835. I can be sorry that I am an outtalucker.

I am proud to have any Cherokee blood at all (if I in fact do - and I will know for sure in a couple more months).  I am proud to be who I am.  I accept being an outtalucker. And, if that should change, that's great. If not, then that's okay too.  It doesn't change who I am or where I come from. 

I completely understand that the registered members of the Cherokee Nation are offended by people who just state they are Cherokee. I may not "like" that I cannot be accepted without proof, but I completely respect and understand that.

(And btw... it even offends me when I hear people say... I want to prove my Cherokee heritage for - a college scholarship.. for money.. for land.. for whatever. - I want to prove my Cherokee heritage because that is who I believe I am - that is my family. I've already graduated college, and I own my own land. I want to know more about where we came from, what did my grgrgr grandparents go through?  Who were their parents -that I cannot find?  Who is in the nation today am I related to?)

Maybe I understand it because even though I am a wannabe, I am also just an outtalucker.  ~at least for now. 

"unetlanvhi detsalasgesdi"    :)

The Capstone!!! ~ Forever Grateful ~

Could C.H. be Catherine Hale? F.H. - Flossy, Franklin or Francis? J.W. - a Wiseman? Sarah's second husband was William Wiseman. Jacob Workman??

It's been a while since I've been able to post or do any research, so I've been missing it quite a bit.  But, I was contacted by a wonderful person whom has made a wish a come true! I have gotten to see the Capstone of Haletown spring! "They have the large stone in storage that covered the spring and has several "H"'s engraved into it. It would be interesting to see that stone, and know that our family did that! Amazing"

John Norris, the grandson of Cliff Norris had contacted me after finding this blog.  His grandfather's efforts saved the capstone after it was buried under a road.  The capstone now sits forever outside the Bushwhacker Jail near the local museum. 

Cliff Norris was the last living person to reside in Haletown, Missouri.  His memories and his dedication to saving this piece of history are forever, deeply appreciated.  As are his grandson's efforts in finding people in search of Haletown and its history.

I have had thousands of visitors on my blog pages, so I really hope this finds its way to other people searching for the family that once lived in this little, nearly forgotten town. 

And, maybe... Cliff Norris has left us some clues to continue the search for Jesse Anderson and other people from the past...  Anybody know about the cemetery Cliff Norris mentions?  ;)