N. C. Indian History

[Coharie Roy]

Here's a pretty good overview of the history of Indians in North Carolina. Although it's primarily an overview, it's nevertheless filled with specific details. (For example, it says that the surname, HARRIS is a familiar family name among the Catawba.)

It also has a good bibliography.
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hp/colonial/Nchr/Subjects/wetmore.htm

[Coharie Roy]

An "AN ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS OF NORTH CAROLINA" by John Brickell, Dublin, 1737.
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hp/colonial/Bookshelf/Natural/Indians1.htm

Long, but interesting. Especially, his account of "The Trading Girls." I wonder how many of our ancestors were the offspring of those "Trading Girls?"

[Linda]

I've heard some say that the "princess" title was actually a euphemism for a Native prostitute.

I think there was a huge cultural disconnect about "morals." Perhaps you've seen what I was writing some months back about William Byrd's "History of Drawing the Line." He travelled through the Piedmont and took full advantage of the mores about the sexual freedom of single women. They were free to dally with newcomers to the village, and a "bride price" (even if the "marriage" was just for an evening) was customary. The Euros saw this as prostitution. Since a headman or father would broker this "bride price" I've seen them referred to as "pimps."

I would imagine as those tribes were disrupted and fell apart that particular moré was really exploited. I've wondered, too, how many of the "white" Indians who crossed over into the mainstream economy so early on, had these kinds of origins. It would help to explain some of the secrecy. The stigma of the word bastard was pretty intense.

Thanks for the links. I'll put them in the pile of links I need to add to the main page.

[Brenda Collins Dillon]

Folks I was surfing the internet and discovered this very interesting site: http://www.webroots.org/library/usahist/anvtc000.html


A New Voyage to Carolina - Part 5 & 6

An ACCOUNT of the INDIANS of NORTH-CAROLINA

It goes into many different subjects. Here is just some of the titles:
*Indian Peaches
*Indian Tobacco
*Indians Dance of War.
*Dance of Peace
*Indian Cabins
*Indian FoodIndians
*Charity to Widows
*Indian Burial of their Dead
*Trading Girls
*Children go with the Women
*Indian Marriage
*Mats how made
*Baskets
*Nurse Children how
*Cradle
*Indians how named
*Indian Speech




------------------
Life is a Rainbow made up of Many Different Colors.....

[Linda]

I tried to figure out if there's more of Lawson's book in that link, than there is in the version that's on our main page. This got me to re-reading a chapter or two.

In this section Lawson stops at Sapona Town. I couldn't make out where it was. Does anybody know where Lawson was at this point in his journey?
http://saponitown.com/LawsonPartTen.htm

[Brenda Collins Dillon]

Linda,

Don't know if this will help but found it interesting myself. I took the information from the Rodgers Family site. http://rogers-ben.com/ftchiswell.htm

There is more details at the site.

Ft. Chiswell, the Lead Mines, and Gunpowder

According to "The VA Frontier, 1754-1763", p.114, Fort Chiswell was constructed in 1758 as a protection against the Cherokee Indians and was probably named after Col Chiswell who owned the lead mine in what is now AUSTINVILLE, Wythe Co, VA.

In 1763, Col Chiswell traveled to England to find experienced miners. He hired William Herbert to serve as superintendent of the mines. The miners were known as the Welsh miners. Source: Article titled "The Lead Mines of New River" by Mary B. Kegely.

It appears that this lead mines and the Fort played an important role early in the history of Fincastle Co and Montgomery Co during the colonial period and the Revolution. The lead production continued to be very important for Wythe Co, and the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Col John Chiswell, husband of Elizabeth, daughter of William Randolph, of Turkey Island, discovered in the 1757 the New River lead mines that later would become the Wythe Lead and Zinc Works. The site is now at Austinville, Wythe Co, VA. Fort Chiswell, some six miles to the north, was named for him. He killed a Scotch gentleman in 1766 for which he was to be tried but his suicide ended the matter.

Fort Chiswell was there by 1761 as it was mentioned in the affairs of a company of militia stationed at it. Hames City County has a record of payment to John Chiswell and company for lead and provisions in 1763. Andrew Lewis sent a detail there from Williamsburg in July 1776 to take delivery of a quantity of lead

The following was taken from "The Sinews of War, Revolutionary War Procurement", p. 23-24. "Probably the most critical single item for supply for American forces in the Revolution was gunpowder…….In addition, Congress brought two French experts over to instruct Americans in the manufacture of saltpeter and gunpowder. Individual states circulated instructions, offered subsidies for private manufacture, and established a number of public powder mills." See the fourth bullet below.

The following quotes are taken from the book, "William Preston and the Allegheny Patriots" by Patricai Givens Johnson, published 1976. This book is the first source I have found that gives documentation to gunpowder making in the area of the Lead Mines near Fort Chiswell. As you will see, gunpowder was produced in this area and based on the traditional stories about John (the Powder Maker) Rogers' powder making, I suspect we now know how he got his start at powder making. In the following quotes, I added


------------------
Life is a Rainbow made up of Many Different Colors.....

[Patty]

Linda, about the "princess" title......the idea has occurred to me that when native americans tried to explain to european settlers that women were to be treated with respect, the only concept that made any sense to the europeans was that of a "princess".

Could be why so many people have an "Indian Princess" in their history.

[kimmcarthur]

Hello Descendants of Saponi Town - Greentown - Lawrenceville, Virginia:
My name is KIM MCARTHUR, I am also a descendant of the "GREEN's" of Greentown-Lawrenceville, Vitginia in Brunswick County . . .


"MACK, VAN, & Nancy ( GAINES ) CALLIS" were from FREEMAN, VIRGINIA in Brunswick County . . .The "MOORE's" were their first cousins . . .

Gertrude (Powell) Green (She was Brown Skin) came from North Carolina on a Ferry and
then met Willie Green....Her mother was very Light skinned and her father dark skinned....
She mention to the Children that her parents were Watusi/Indians (Watusi 's are from Eastern Africa ) She said her father was very tall...Watusi's are very tall...

Her mother was probably Indian... & Her father was probably African & Indian
mixed....Because She was a Mixed Indian....


Please send me information about the "POWELL", "GAINES", & "CALLIS"


My Family Tree is below:


Fred & Polly (Jackson) Green
Great Great Great Grand Parents


Marcy & Lucy (Wyche) Green
Great Great Grand Parents

Willie & Gertrude (Powell) Green
Great Grand Parents

Van & Louise ( Green) Callis
Grand Parents

Fred & Sarah ( Callis) McArthur
Parents

Kim A. McArthur
(Myself)

______________________


Mack & Nancy (Gaines) Callis
Great Grand Parents

Van & Louise (Green) Callis
Grand Parents


Fred & Sarah (Callis) McArthur
Parent


Kim Mcarthur
(myself)


_______________

Thank you,


KIM MCARTHUR

[Linda]

Interesting, and rare, that an African tribe would be remembered. That story seems much older than any recent common knowledge about the Watusi. By that I mean, it looks like it's been in your family a lot longer than average southern country people would have been familiar with the term.

Also interesting you mention Powells. My second cousin has a Powell line he knows to be NDN, they were in Culpepper and Orange Counties. VA in the early 18th century. He sent me a photo of a cousin of his, who reminds me a lot of Greentown ladies I've seen. Their people ended up in Wisconsin.

The other names you mentioned aren't familiar to me. Maybe somebody else knows more.

[itconani]

Only to say that id agree with the Watusi comment. How did your family obtain this info, along with the color variations detailed? I was just thinking of some of the musters, rolls, census,etc materials weve all seen with the same.
Gaines is probably Goins related.
and of course if youre from Brunswick originally, green is related to greentown with the material present?

[Linda]

I hadn't thought of Gaines possibly being Goins. Sapon1, I know you're a Goins expert, have you seen this documented?

[kimmcarthur]

Hello:

My Great Aunt Olivia (my grandmother's sister) claims her mother descendants were of Watusi-Indian..and all her mother's people died along time ago...

When I looked it up, I found out that Watusi's were from
East Africa . . .

Most Slaves came from West Africa . . .

My Great Aunt & My Grandmother, said her mother's father was very very tall ...
So when I read up on Watusi's, I learned that they were very very tall people...

Many people in my family who have that "gene" are very very tall..

My brother Wendell & my cousin Keith are very very tall....

_______________________

Now the "CALLIS" ....

on the website
http://genforum.genealogy.com/callis/messages/238.html

and
http://genforum.genealogy.com/callis/messages/241.html

I located African-American "CALLIS" who were looking for there descendants of Lawrenceville, VA

SANDY & DAVID CALLIS...

Sandy was very aware of the "Callis" being mixed ... They are "Tri-Racial" . . . .

Also, David Callis , who Claims to live in Philadelphia mention that he had relatives also in Lawrenceville, VA....
_______________________

My Grandfather, Van Callis was of Caucasian, Indian (Cherokee)& African-American mixture . . .
Brown Skinned with Coarse Hair...

The Classification of his race was African-American
_______________________

My Grandfather Van Callis relatives moved up north (NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA & WASHINGTON, DC)before I was born & before my Grandmother married him ...

I attended my Grandfather's sister's funeral in Philadelphia in the late 60's or early 70's...

After My Grandfather got out of the Military he worked in New Jersey before he moved back to the south and met my Grandmother, Louise(Green) Callis and got married...

Today, I emailed
Sandy & David Callis...


Hopefully I will hear from them...

[Linda]

Let us know if you do.

[kimmcarthur]

Linda,

Since I lost my job due to the WTC (World Trade Center) tragedy...
(I worked a few blocks from the WTC)

I can truly say, with so much idle time while looking for a new job,
I really enjoy this website....


Daily, I spend hours at Rutgers University Library in New Jersey
reading data on the subject "Genealogy"
as well as other subjects. . . .
(I'm an over 17 years - Alumni of Rutgers University)


___________________________

Now regards to the name "Gaines"...I am sure the spelling is "Gaines".


I was told by my Great Aunt Olivia -
(my Grandmother, Louise (Green) Callis sister)
that one of the Gaines married her cousin....

I was told by my Aunt Lois -
(my mother, Sarah (Callis)McArthur, sister )
that my Great Grandmother, Nancy (Gaines) Callis was known by the "Green's" for making very good wine...

Everyone (Kin & Non-Kin)) called her "Aunt Nancy"...

During her early years, she was the "Belle" of Brunswick County -
Great respect was given to her throughout Brunswick County....

I was told by my Grandmother, Louise (Green)Callis
that the "Moore's" & Kelly's (Charsie & Ruth Kelly)
were Nancy (Gaines) Callis'
son, Van Callis first cousins . . .

My Great Grand Parents - Mack & Nancy(Gaines) Callis were from "Freeman, Virginia in Brunswick County...


I was told by reliable resource that the "Gaines" were given a large amount of land . . .And they lost most of it . . . .

I heard these stories over & over again...

I never met my Great Grand Parents people. . .

[kimmcarthur]

Maybe these names might ring a bell to someone ....

These are all of Van & Louise (Green) Callis Children . . .

They all grew up in Lawrenceville, VA -
(Greentown)in Brunswick County ...
The old house is probably still standing in 'Greentown ( It was in 1992 )....

They all attended Brunswick High School in Lawrenceville, VA. . .

And also, they are the cousins of the Kelly's & Moore's. . .

___________________________________

Ella(Rose) (callis) Baxter - lives in NJ


Lois (callis) Morgan - lives in NY


Jasper Callis - lives in NJ


Frank Callis - (decease)


Sarah (Otis) (Callis) McArthur -
{MY MOTHER} (decease)


Stanley Callis - lives in VA.


______________________________


I know somone knows them . . .


------------------
KIM MCARTHUR

[kimmcarthur]

* * * REVISED* REVISED * REVISED* * *

"Afrrican-American -Callis"

THE MOST FAMOUS CALLIS' & KELLY'S ARE:

(The founders of the first African-American Fraternity . . .
http://orgs.sa.ucsb.edu/apa1906/jewels.htm

"HENRY ARTHUR CALLIS"

(married Paul Lawrence Dunbar's Ex-Wife)

"Mrs. Paul Lawrence Dunbar became the first wife of Jewel Henry Arthur Callis and wrote the words to the Delta National Hymn"
http://www.deltasigmatheta.com/alphaluv.htm

_________________


"GEORGE BIDDLE KELLY"

(The first African American engineer registered in the state of New York)

____________________________

Maybe these not so famous names might ring a bell to someone ....

These are all of Van & Louise (Green) Callis Children . . .

They all grew up in Lawrenceville, VA -
(Greentown)in Brunswick County ...
The old house is probably still standing in 'Greentown ( It was in 1992 )....

They all attended Brunswick High School in Lawrenceville, VA. . .

And also, they are the cousins of the Kelly's & Moore's. . .

___________________________________

Ella(Rose) (callis) Baxter - lives in NJ


Lois (callis) Morgan - lives in NY


Jasper Callis - lives in NJ


Frank Callis - (decease)


Sarah (Otis) (Callis) McArthur -
{MY MOTHER} (decease)


Stanley Callis - lives in VA.


MACK (McArthur) Callis lives in NC or SC


______________________________


I know somone knows them . . .




------------------
KIM MCARTHUR

[kimmcarthur]

Since I am a descendant of the "Callis", the research of information might be of genealogy importance . . .


______________
http://genforum.genealogy.com/callis/messages/237.html

A Sandy Callis is looking for African-American Callis' from
Emporia, Lawrenceville, Dolphin? area of Virginia.
She wants to confirm whether there is a Bi-Racial heritage.

She also mention a Channel(Kelly) Callis . . .

Kelly is probably the name of Channel Callis' mother's maid name . . .

_______________________

The Kelly's are relatives of the "Callis' "

_______________________

The "Callis" of Lawrenceville-Greentown & Emporia-Greenville
are "Tri-Racial" - Caucasian, Indian & African-American . . .

______________________

Richard Kelley, the Son of George Biddle Kelley
(Founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity),


migrated from Virginia as a fugitive slave during the Civil War.


Some documents spell George Biddle Kelley last name as "Kelly" . . .

As a "fugitive slave" who migrated , Many Slaves would slightly
changed the spelling of their last name...
______________________

The name "Kelley"


Spelling variations include: Kelly, Kellie, O'Kelly, and others.

---------

Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were:

Brian Kelly purchased land in Virginia in 1635 . . .

(This would be the Master's Descendant)

______________________

The Rev. Henry Jesse Callis, son of Henry Arthur Callis
(Founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity)
was born in 1858 in Matthews County, Virginia.

______________________


My Grandfather, Van Callis' father - Mack Callis was a slave . . .

He was freed early, he was an Overseer for the Master . . .

______________________

My Grandfather's people had an very early start migrating
to the North. . . .

______________________

I was told that "Fred Green" my Great Great Great Grandfather
own slaves . . .

The "Green's" were into the Slave-Trade Business . . .

_____________________

The "Green's" left trails behind while exporting
slaves from Africa. . .
http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll

This map is of 'Greenville, Liberia - Africa

_____________________

This is just the being of my research . . .

------------------
KIM MCARTHUR

[kimmcarthur]

During the 1800's many of the slaves of the Green's and/or their associates were freed and given an option of either going North or going to a "Safe Place" in Africa ...LIBERIA....
_________________________
http://www.monstermap.com/africa/liberia/greenville/

A map of Greenville, Liberia - Africa

______________________

Liberian Letters from Virginia Ex-Slaves to their former "Master's"
http://etext.virginia.edu/subjects/liberia/index.html

_______________________
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam003.html

Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809-1876), a wealthy Monrovia merchant who had emigrated in 1829 from Petersburg, Virginia, became the first black ACS governor of Liberia in 1841. . . .

______________________


Liberia is a West Africa nation originally founded by freed slaves from the American South between 1820 and 1865 . . .
http://www.mrdowling.com/610-liberia.html

_____________________

The Tri- Racial Mix is of Caucasian,
Saponi Indian, & Liberian-African
as well as others . . . .



------------------
KIM MCARTHUR

[kimmcarthur]

Below is a list of Freed Slaves of the Green's and/or their associates with the last name "Green" , etc . . .
that returned to Liberia, Africa from Virginia as well as from other Southern States. . .
http://dpls.dacc.wisc.edu/Liberia/pdfs/emigrant3e.pdf

____________________

For those who are researching Powell's, Walker's , Johnson"s, etc . . . and come to a stand still of information, you might want to research List of Freed Slaves that returned to Africa. . . I am almost sure that some of these Freed Slaves descendants have migrated throughout Africa today . . .

__________________

_________________



------------------
KIM MCARTHUR

[kimmcarthur]

The below information is of genealogy importance . . . .
Members who were Associated with
Indians (Saponi) that migrated
south to Mississippi . . .

______________________

In the early days Mulatto was a common name label for people who were mixed with Caucasian, Indian, & African. . .
Members who were Tri-Racial in Greenville, Mississippi . . .
______________________

GREENVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
http://www.greenville.ms.us/community/facts/history.html
"This area is one of the country's most significant sites of prehistoric
Indian culture. Thousands of years ago, mound building Indians lived here, utilizing the Mississippi River and its tributaries as a trade link for a continuing habitation. "

__________________________

In 1838, the Mississippi Colonization Society established a settlement , called Greenville, at the mouth of the river in Liberia - Africa. . . .
_________________________
http://www.monstermap.com/africa/liberia/greenville/

A map of Greenville, Liberia - Africa
_________________________

Many sect-Groups associated with the Green's , Today & during the early days were Baptist, Quakers, & Jewish . . .
___________________________

The Quakers were part of the Underground Railroad . . .
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________

("Roberts" is a Green's surname)
___________________________

JOSEPH JENKINS ROBERTS -

VIRGINIA'S NINTH PRESIDENT:


Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Most of us know that there were eight presidents from Virginia.
Did you say nine?
What about the famous Norfolkian who was president?
An anthology on President Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809-1876).
Virginia's "ninth president" was a mulatto born in Norfolk, Va., and served six terms as president. He was also the first Black American to be governor of a commonwealth.
_________________________

This is of Genealogy importance in American-African history, based on information that include the American
Colonization Society, and the settlement and founding of the Liberian Republic.
___________________________

Many surnames in my family tree were returned to Liberia - Africa . . .
___________________________

The above are all necessary to complete an accurate genealogy research project . . .

For My Family Tree . . .
___________________________

------------------
KIM MCARTHUR

[PappyDick]

I'm a new contributor, but have been reading this forum for a few months.

I'm responding to the fifth message in this thread, in which Linda asked (in February 2002) where Lawson was, when he stopped at the Saponi town in 1701.

The best evidence for this and similar questions -- and it differs widely from most of the older literature -- is in Alan V. Briceland, Westward from Virginia: The Exploration of the Virginia-Carolina Frontier, 1650-1710 (Charlottesville: U of VA Press, 1987). Briceland has compared the early explorers' journals and reports with USGS topo maps (most of them in the highly detailed 7.5 minute size). These, of course, weren't available to nineteenth century researchers, on whose work a lot of erroneous historical markers, etc. are based. He also walked over much of the referenced terrain, in many cases in the company of local hunters, game wardens, park rangers and the like.

Anyway, in 1701 Lawson found the Saponi just below the Forks of the Yadkin River, on the east side, in or very near present Salisbury NC. They had been there about twenty years, having been forced to abandon their older site by raiding Iroquois federation members (probably Senecas). Before 1681 the main Saponi town was on an 80-foot bluff on the NE side of Staunton River, a bit west of present Charlotte Courthouse, VA. They had a secondary town, including the chief's residence, about eight miles south and on the west side of the Staunton R. at the mouth of Roanoke Creek.

All of this was a good long while before Ft. Christanna, and the merging of various unrelated (or distantly related) groups into a more generic sort of "Saponi." The towns of those other groups (Tutelo, Occaneechee and many others) are also located in Briceland's study, if any trader happened upon them during the 17th century.

It is possible to argue with a few of Briceland's assumptions, and a few of the conclusions that logically follow them; but one would have to be extremely well informed to do so, and I don't really recommend it. However, if you do want to argue (do him the courtesy of reading his book, first), he's a professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University.

[Responding to a response:] Briceland's book is out of print. It is of course found in many libraries, but often as a reference work that doesn't circulate. I got my circulating copy from the Virginiana collection of the Fairfax County (VA) Library. The computerized catalog of this system says it doesn't circulate -- but one copy does; you might want to mention that, if you fill out an Interlibrary Loan slip.

Of course, it won't circulate until I return it.

[This message has been edited by PappyDick (edited 09-30-2002).]

[Brenda Collins Dillon]

PappyDick:

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for the response above. Do you know if the book you spoke of is still in print and available?

Brenda


------------------
Life is a Rainbow made up of Many Different Colors.....

[Patty]

That is really fascinating. Thank you for sharing PappyDick.

[sammarroq]

I'm a new contributor, but have been reading this forum for a few months.

I'm responding to the fifth message in this thread, in which Linda asked (in February 2002) where Lawson was, when he stopped at the Saponi town in 1701.

The best evidence for this and similar questions -- and it differs widely from most of the older literature -- is in Alan V. Briceland, Westward from Virginia: The Exploration of the Virginia-Carolina Frontier, 1650-1710 (Charlottesville: U of VA Press, 1987). Briceland has compared the early explorers' journals and reports with USGS topo maps (most of them in the highly detailed 7.5 minute size). These, of course, weren't available to nineteenth century researchers, on whose work a lot of erroneous historical markers, etc. are based. He also walked over much of the referenced terrain, in many cases in the company of local hunters, game wardens, park rangers and the like.

Anyway, in 1701 Lawson found the Saponi just below the Forks of the Yadkin River, on the east side, in or very near present Salisbury NC. They had been there about twenty years, having been forced to abandon their older site by raiding Iroquois federation members (probably Senecas). Before 1681 the main Saponi town was on an 80-foot bluff on the NE side of Staunton River, a bit west of present Charlotte Courthouse, VA. They had a secondary town, including the chief's residence, about eight miles south and on the west side of the Staunton R. at the mouth of Roanoke Creek.

All of this was a good long while before Ft. Christanna, and the merging of various unrelated (or distantly related) groups into a more generic sort of "Saponi." The towns of those other groups (Tutelo, Occaneechee and many others) are also located in Briceland's study, if any trader happened upon them during the 17th century.

It is possible to argue with a few of Briceland's assumptions, and a few of the conclusions that logically follow them; but one would have to be extremely well informed to do so, and I don't really recommend it. However, if you do want to argue (do him the courtesy of reading his book, first), he's a professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University.

[Responding to a response:] Briceland's book is out of print. It is of course found in many libraries, but often as a reference work that doesn't circulate. I got my circulating copy from the Virginiana collection of the Fairfax County (VA) Library. The computerized catalog of this system says it doesn't circulate -- but one copy does; you might want to mention that, if you fill out an Interlibrary Loan slip.

Of course, it won't circulate until I return it.

[This message has been edited by PappyDick (edited 09-30-2002).]

Thought I'd bring this one back...one of Pappy's wonderful contributions:)

[Linda]

Before 1681 the main Saponi town was on an 80-foot bluff on the NE side of Staunton River, a bit west of present Charlotte Courthouse, VA. They had a secondary town, including the chief's residence, about eight miles south and on the west side of the Staunton R. at the mouth of Roanoke Creek.

We live near there, Felicia and I have gone on trips trying to catch a vibe. We canoed from Staunton River State park down to the spot where the Roanoke converges with the Staunton River.

I just looked at Google maps, topo version, and the Staunton river doesn't flow near Charlotte Court House that I can see. It's the Roanoke that is up that way. I'm confused. I had luck contacting Dr. Briceland before. That book is wonderful. Get ahold of it. He makes so much sense of the scraps of historical evidence. It comes into focus.

I really want to know where that bluff is and where that chief's town was. We can find it, and Felicia will get her thing going on and we'll find out all we ever wanted to know. Can't call it historical research, but it will all be three dimensional. Or should I say six dimensional.

[beeleaf]

I just looked at Google maps, topo version, and the Staunton river doesn't flow near Charlotte Court House that I can see. It's the Roanoke that is up that way. I'm confused.

Linda, they are the same river. Different name in different areas.

[Linda]

Then what's the river that branches to the west?

[cherosage]

Hey guys, not sure if this is the place to ask but I have some new info and would like some help.

I am decended from Simeon Bethea. His mother was Ms. Lang: no one seems to know or remember her first name. Simeon was born in Chowan Co., NC (now Gates Co) about 1760. About 1771 he moved with his family to the Cheraw District, SC (now Marlboro Co) and settled between present towns of Tatum and McColl, SC below Beaver Dam Creek. About 1778 he moved to the Nashville area.

Does anyone have any info about this family and especially Ms Lang?

Thanks, Bob

[Dreaminghawk]

Then what's the river that branches to the west?

The Dan?

[saj]

This is informative.
http://www.oldhalifax.com/county/StauntonRiverTour.htm
Saj

[beeleaf]

Yep, could be the Dan (south of Charlotte Court House). You can see where it connects in this map:

http://www.bikeheartland.org/staunton-river-loop-map.html


Here is a neat map of how the whole river spreads out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:RoanokeRiverWatershed.png

Pretty cool how it connects the places where our families live(d).

[sammarroq]

We live near there, Felicia and I have gone on trips trying to catch a vibe. We canoed from Staunton River State park down to the spot where the Roanoke converges with the Staunton River.

I just looked at Google maps, topo version, and the Staunton river doesn't flow near Charlotte Court House that I can see. It's the Roanoke that is up that way. I'm confused. I had luck contacting Dr. Briceland before. That book is wonderful. Get ahold of it. He makes so much sense of the scraps of historical evidence. It comes into focus.

I really want to know where that bluff is and where that chief's town was. We can find it, and Felicia will get her thing going on and we'll find out all we ever wanted to know. Can't call it historical research, but it will all be three dimensional. Or should I say six dimensional.

I will see if I can get the book, thanks Linda.

Shirley

[Linda]

Pretty cool how it connects the places where our families live(d).

That's a deep statement. Sometimes when I pass over these rivers I wish I could travel down them in a boat. Those were the main thoroughfares, and the really interesting thing is that they haven't changed all that much. If you had lived there 300 years ago in a village along the banks and were still haunting the place, you would still recognize it. And if we travelled along there we'd be seeing what was the important part of the world back then. It's remained relatively intact.

Now the thoroughfares are our highways. Then the thoroughfares were the rivers. Everybody lived along the creeks. They were the waterworks and sanitation systems.

Of course a particular watershed would be the domain of a particular tribe. Makes perfect sense. And any man worth his salt would know which branch of the river to take to get where he was going.

[Linda]

Oh, I forgot to say, Briceland's book doesn't seem to be available at any of the online bookstores I checked. It was a scholarly publication, it should be in any university, or available by interlibrary loan.

[sammarroq]

Oh, I forgot to say, Briceland's book doesn't seem to be available at any of the online bookstores I checked. It was a scholarly publication, it should be in any university, or available by interlibrary loan.

Looks like the book may be hard to come by...I did find it listed at berea.edu...something more interesting is that they offer Appalachian study courses on line. How interesting they must be:) I got to meet my guncle freddy before he passed and he told me about when they would carry a barrel of sugar up the mountain to make shine...he said that when my dad first tasted it, he eyes rolled back in his head and he fell off the log, which he was sitting. They were hard times, but families and friends were a community, which gave them strength.

Here's the link for Berea, I would love to take these couses, but no time now.

http://www.berea.edu