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?  ;)

Luke Hale ~ Cousin to Maxwell Chambers

Robert M. Anderson's mother was Sarah Hale. Sarah's father was Luke Hale (Hail) from Tennessee born about 1790, who later moved to Missouri.

Robert M.'s dawes application includes testimonies that state that Luke Hale is first cousin to Maxwell Chambers. (this would have to be Maxwell Chambers b. abt. 1793, married to Elise Sanders - Oo-kilh-lul-le) Other testimony, from witnesses who were part of the Cherokee Nation in 1893, stated that they knew these families to be related, but were unsure of how... just that they had been.

We do not know for certain who Luke's parents or wife were. Since he is first cousins with Maxwell Chambers, we may be able to determine his parentage from information Maxwell's family.

One possibility for Luke's father is Simeon Hale from Isle of Wight, who moved to southern Illinois. He did have a son named Luke. However, in the information contained in the Dawes application, Luke moved from Tennessee to Missouri, and there is no mention of living in Illinois. Maybe just an oversight, maybe it didn't happen.???? Maybe Simeon and his other children stayed in Illinois along the way, and Luke just kept going. But, seeing as how the testimony was given by Sarah's sister Nancy Hale, it seems "more likely than not" that she would have mentioned that. ??????

Sarah Hale did not meet Jesse until they arrived in Missouri, where she met "Jesse and his family". (from the testimony of her sister).

So, who are Luke Hale's parents and family?

We have a photo of Sarah Hale and she was said to be full blooded Cherokee. We have no proof of that fact, but looking at her photo, and the photo of her daughter - it is very likely that she was a high percentage of Cherokee.

Since we do not know who her mother was, it is possible that her mother was a Cherokee, and her father was in fact the son of Simeon. But, if family folk-lore is correct and Sarah was a full blooded Cherokee, then Luke would probably not have been Simeon's son. UNLESS maybe Simeon's wife Elizabeth was also using an English name but was Cherokee and that there was such a high percentage of Cherokee blood in Sarah, she was just assumed to be full-blooded.

The history I have read from Isle of Wight makes this a possibility since they were surrounded by different Indian tribes, some friendly with them, some not. But, we do not know.

Maybe somebody out there has an idea of how Maxwell Chambers parents are related to Luke's parents (their mother's are sisters? Luke's mother is a Chambers? Luke's mother is a Boyd?).

Thanks for reading! : )