Guy, Pilkinton (Pilkin) Family

[trishron]

I have been trying to research my family history for almost 2 years now, seem to only hit block walls. I hope someone out there will be able to shine some light on my family.

Looking for Martha Guy, b. TN abt. 1849 (suppose to be Native American), d. 1910 or 1911. NOt sure, but I think Guy is her maiden name and may not have married but had a daughter by the name of Ellen Eveline Guy, b. NC abt. 1874. And in one of the census reports Martha was listed at Head and Ellen was Daughter and Elizabeth Guy was listed as Other. I think Elizabeth and Ellen were cousins. Betty as she was sometime called was b. NC5/29/1872, d. 1/15/1950.

I believe Betty Guy's father was Jim Guy, and mother was Brenda (Webb) Guy. Brenda ran off and left family when Betty was quite young.

Also looking for John McCoy Guy, b. 1892, d. 1988, his mother was Betty (Elizabeth) Guy (same Elizabeth Guy), father unknown

There was a George Buchanan Guy, b. 1879, that married Mary Lou Ketron (Catron) b. 1886.

Ellen Eveline Guy later married John Finley Pilkinton, name later changed to Pilkin.

I'm also trying to find proof of the Indian heritage of Martha, Ellen and Betty Guy.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Trish

[Linda]

Welcome Trish. Guy is a frequent name to come up around here. I'd say run a search on it, but it will choke on a three letter word. (I wonder if there's a way we can get around that.) It is, I believe, one of only half a dozen names that have been documented to tribal Saponi, so I would encourage you to keep at it. I'll copy this thread to the "Share Genealogy" section so it will get more notice from the genealogists hanging about.

[Bill Childs]

Trish,
The census I think you're referring to, 1880 Watauga Co., NC, shows Martha Guy with Ellen and Elizabeth as Dwelling # 124, Family 137 - Dwelling 124 being Martha's father. Several of his daughters with their children are living with him. The "relationship to head of household" field for Elizabeth is actually blank on the original census record.

1880 Watauga Co., NC Census; ED199 Laurel Creek Twp; 15 Jun; p.14B:
Dwelling # 124, Family 134 is:
GUY, Burl; W, m, 79, Farm Laborer, b. NC; Father & Mother b.Va.
....., Rachel; W, f, 64, Wife; Tn, NC, NC. (not Martha's mother)

124, 135;
Guy, Sally; W, f, 40, NC, Va, NC.
....., Mary; W, f, 14, dau, NC, NC, NC.

124, 136;
Guy, Rebecca; W, f, 36, NC, Va, NC
....., Caroline; W, f, 14, dau, NC, NC, NC

124, 137:
GUY, Martha; W, f, 31, Tn, Va, NC. *******
....., Ellen E., W, f, 6, dau, NC, Tn, Tn.
....., Elizabeth; W, f, 7, - , NC, Tn, NC.

125, 138:
Guy, L. C. H., W, m, 28, Farming; Tn, Tn, Tn.
....., Sarah A., W, f, 22, wife, NC, NC, NC.
....., Andrew J., W, m, 5, son, NC, Tn, NC
....., John H., W, m, 3, son, NC, Tn, NC.
....., Amanda, W, f, 1, dau, NC, Tn, NC.

130, 143:
Guy, Louisa; W, f, 37, Domestic Servant; Tn, Tn, Tn.
....., William; W, m, 16, Son, farm laborer; NC, NC, Tn.
....., Mary; W, f, 31; Sister; Tn, Tn, Tn.

1870
Watauga Co., NC Census; Cove Creek Twp; 2 Sept; p.10:
68, 68:
GUY, Burrell; 70, m, W, Cooper, $0, $0, NC
....., Rebeca; 60, f, W, NC.
....., Sarah; 30, f, W, NC
....., Rachael; 27; f, W, NC
....., Anna; 26, w, W, Tenn
....., Harriet; 22, f, W, Tenn
....., Jesse; 21, m, W, Tenn
....., MARTHA; 19, f, W, NC******
....., Ellen; 14, f, W, Tenn
....., Enoch; 8, m, W, NC
....., Mary; 6, f, W, NC
....., Emaline; 6, f, W, NC
....., Elizabeth; 5, f, W, Tenn

1860
Watauga Co., NC Census; Cove Creek District; 4 Aug; p.48;
416, 308:
Burrel GUY, 59, m, - , Farmer, $0, $100, NC
Rebecca, 50, f, - , NC
Sally, 22, f, NC
Elizabeth, 21, f, NC
Rachel, 18, f, NC
Anna, 16, f, NC
Harriett, 14, f, NC
Jesse, 12, m, NC
Samuel, 10, m, NC
MARTHA, 8, f, NC******
James, 7, m, NC
Elender, 4, f, NC
David, 2 months, m, NC
George W. TAYLOR, 24, m, - , day laborer, NC

1850
Johnson Co., Tenn Census; Civil District 6; 2 Oct; p.34:
2, 2:
Burrel GUY, 49, m, - , farmer, $0, NC
Rebecca, 39, f, - , Tenn
Sarah, 11, f, NC
Elizabeth, 10, f, NC
Rachael, 9, f, NC
Anna, 7, f, NC
Harriet, 5, f, NC
Jesse, 3, m, NC
Samuel, 2, m, Tenn
MARTHA, 1 month, f, Tenn ******

next door is Burrel's purported twin brother:
3, 3:
John GUY, 49, m, - , Wheelwright, $0, NC
Sarah E. Guy, 52, f, - , Va.
Mary M. Guy, 16, f, Tenn
Mary J. HENLEY, 26, f, Tenn
Sarah E. Henley, 9, f, Tenn
Elizabeth Henley , 7, f, Tenn
Cassandra Henley, 4, f, Tenn
Mary J. Henley, 1, f, Tenn

The year may be incorrect on the Johnson Co., Tn Marriage Index, but because Rebecca was there in 1850, she is most likely to be Martha's mother.
"Burrel Guy m'd Rebecca Greer, 20 Oct 1852, Johnson Co., Tn"

(Rebecca is purported to be the dau of James Greer, b. 17 Sep 1783 Wilkes Co, NC; and Mary Hampton, b. ? , but I was unable to find anything that would make me feel warm and fuzzy about it.)
(James Greer may be the son or brother of Aquilla Greer)

Burrell and John Guy are purported to be the sons of Enoch Guy, b. abt. 1768, and Sarah Burrell, b. ?

1850 Carter Co., Tenn Census; Civil District 6; 28 Nov; p.204;
59, 59:
Samuel GUY, 23, m, - , farming, $0, Va.
Harriet Guy, 33, f, - , NC
Elizabeth Guy, 25, f, - , T??
ENOCH GUY, 82, m, - , T?? (birth state very smudged)

Various family info lists Enoch Guy as b. Md or Va or Tenn - but I could not determine his place of birth. He was on the 1840 Carter Co., Tn Census.
Bill

[trishron]

Bill,

You are a so wonderful! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! All the info you sent me coincides with what I was putting together, except I didn't understand how the census worked, and that was the home of Martha's father.

Now I just have to figure out where Martha, Ellen and Betty went from there. But at least I know for sure who her siblings were, and other family members. Maybe now I can also begin to track down if she is American Indian.

I just don't know how to thank you enough!

You are a Blessing,

Trish

[Bill Childs]

Well, in 1920, John F. and Evelyn Pilkinton, with children Charlie, Louise, Bessie, Alfred & Minnie Bell, were in McDowell Co., WVa. (do you recognize these kids and location? ), and I suspect, based on records uncollaborated, that Elizabeth was yet in Watauga Co., NC.
I haven't found Martha in 1900, but suspect she may have remarried and was still in Watauga Co., NC.
Bill

[trishron]

Yes, John F. Pilkinton and Evelyn (Eveline) are my great grandparents, and children are my great Uncles and great Aunts.

I think Elizabeth got married to someone by the name of "Price", but I thought she would be living with the Pilkinton family.

I don't know if Martha ever married?

In the 1930 Census, Maiden Springs District, Tazewell, VA I have Bettie E. Price living with Eveline Pilkins, as cousin.

And in a 1910 Census, Cove Creek, Watauga N.C. I found a Martha Guy as a servant for William and Gemina Icenhauer, but can't figure if she is my Great Great Grandmother. And one family above I find Harriett Guy, maybe Martha's sister?

My grandfather is James Benjamin Pilkins (I believe Ellen Eveline Guy's first child). But I can't find him as a child in the Census records. He was suppose to have been born in Hickory, NC. abt.1890. I've checked under Guy and Pilkin. I only find him as a married man with children.

Thank you again for all of your research for me. You are a real life saver. Thank you so very much! All your help is greatly appreciated.

Trish

[Bill Childs]

The following may truely appear to be off the wall, but it appears to me that there are a couple of more kids not mentioned to-date.. put your thinking cap on here and critique this as called for, but I think you may want to explore this more, if you haven't already....

On the 1930 Mingo Co., WV Census, living next door to Ben Pilkins, 37, b. abt. 1893 Va, & wife Mary Pilkens & 8 children, is a John Pilkins, 32, b.abt. 1898 Va., and wife Martha, 30, b. Va., & son Charlie, 11, b. Va. plus 3 other children.

On the 1920 McDowell Co., WV Census, 4 houses away from John Pilkens, 21, b. 1899 NC, and wife Martha, 19, b. Va, with son Charles, 2 months old, b. Va., is
Will. M. Pilkinton, 23, b. abt.1897 NC, with wife Polly (common nichname for Mary), 19, b. Tn, and dau Maggie, 7 months, b. Va.
.... And John F. and Evelyn Pilkinton, the purported parents of Ben, were also living in 1920 McDowell, WV....

When one puts this together with your info, I come up with a postulus of John F. and Evelyn's children not on the 1920 Census:
James Benjamin, b. abt. 1890/3 Va
William M., b. abt. 1897 NC
John, b. abt 1899, NC/Va (consistent with Saxon naming traditions still pre-eminent in 19th & 20th century Appalachia... the third son would be named after his father).

The above is a working hypothesis on my part, but I don't 'believe' in such coincidences as the data detailed above when it's coupled in this way:
On the 1860 Watauga Co, NC, where we find Ellen Evelyn Guy to begin with, there is the household of Samuel Pilkenton, 34, b. NC (forget that John F. 's father is supposedly b. England per the 1920 Census) and this Samuel has an 8 yr old son named John F. Pilkenton ( I never believed his age on the 1920 McDowell Census because it could never be confirmed) and another son of Samuel is named William M.... and brothers often named their sons after their own brothers.... sure, this is a multiple-coincidence....
and a truly difficuft line to ferret and the above doesn't-prove-a-thing, but it does bear some additional attention due to "too many" coincidences.

And then, living in Samuel's 1860 household is a
Hannah LUNSFORD, 66, f, W, Weaver, NC ---
go figure... or use the 'search' button on the upper right side of the message border to search this surname.

This is as yet a developing line of research with no clearly proven result, but since you seem to have access to some census records, this might provide some small help in finding the people you're looking for.
Bill

[mkdotson]

125, 138:
Guy, L. C. H., W, m, 28, Farming; Tn, Tn, Tn.
....., Sarah A., W, f, 22, wife, NC, NC, NC.
....., Andrew J., W, m, 5, son, NC, Tn, NC
....., John H., W, m, 3, son, NC, Tn, NC.
....., Amanda, W, f, 1, dau, NC, Tn, NC.

next door is Burrel's purported twin brother:
3, 3:
John GUY, 49, m, - , Wheelwright, $0, NC
Sarah E. Guy, 52, f, - , Va.
Mary M. Guy, 16, f, Tenn
Mary J. HENLEY, 26, f, Tenn
Sarah E. Henley, 9, f, Tenn
Elizabeth Henley , 7, f, Tenn
Cassandra Henley, 4, f, Tenn
Mary J. Henley, 1, f, Tenn

The year may be incorrect on the Johnson Co., Tn Marriage Index, but because Rebecca was there in 1850, she is most likely to be Martha's mother.
"Burrel Guy m'd Rebecca Greer, 20 Oct 1852, Johnson Co., Tn"

(Rebecca is purported to be the dau of James Greer, b. 17 Sep 1783 Wilkes Co, NC; and Mary Hampton, b. ? , but I was unable to find anything that would make me feel warm and fuzzy about it.)
(James Greer may be the son or brother of Aquilla Greer)

Burrell and John Guy are purported to be the sons of Enoch Guy, b. abt. 1768, and Sarah Burrell, b. ?

1850 Carter Co., Tenn Census; Civil District 6; 28 Nov; p.204;
59, 59:
Samuel GUY, 23, m, - , farming, $0, Va.
Harriet Guy, 33, f, - , NC
Elizabeth Guy, 25, f, - , T??
ENOCH GUY, 82, m, - , T?? (birth state very smudged)

Various family info lists Enoch Guy as b. Md or Va or Tenn - but I could not determine his place of birth. He was on the 1840 Carter Co., Tn Census.
Bill[/QUOTE]


Hi Bill John Guy would be my 3rd great-grandfather. If you have additional information on his parents, etc. I would be interested.

Thank you,
Melanie Dotson :)

[Bill Childs]

Melanie,
I haven't found anything before Enoch Guy and Sarah Burrell. Due to both surnames, I've got a few more referrences to check, yet.
Bill

[saj]

Bill,
This was on genforum. Shows an Enoch Guy back to Loudon co Va.
http://genforum.genealogy.com/guy/messages/1630.html
May be helpful. Saj

[trishron]

Thanks to everyone that has been sending me info on my "Guy/Pilkinton/Pilkins" Family.

You have given me some great leads, I keep trying different avenues, but still can't connect all the dots.

The whole Pilkenton/Pilkinton family you found is my family! You are really great! And I have tried to trace Lundsford, but again hit a deadend.

But, again, I still can't find any definite info on the birth of my grandfather, James Benjamin Pilkinton/Pilkins. I even tried to look him up under the last name of Guy. Any ideas?

Thank you all for everything!

Trish

[mkdotson]

Melanie,
I haven't found anything before Enoch Guy and Sarah Burrell. Due to both surnames, I've got a few more referrences to check, yet.
Bill


Thank you Bill please. I have tried for years to connect this family.

:)

[PappyDick]

I knew a Pilkington family from Lascassas, in Rutherford Co. TN; they were there by 1880, I'm fairly sure. And of course we all pronounce it Pilkinton. The guy I knew well was named Elbert F. Pilkington, aka "Uncle Pete." Anyway, it might be useful for you to do any digitized, electronic search under that spelling -- not that they would be far apart, if you just search alphabetized indices.

These Pilkingtons were on good terms with the eastern Cherokee folks in E. Tennessee; never heard that they were kin, but it's not my family, so I wouldn't have, necessarily. Some months ago I mentioned an instrument called a "mouth bow," on a Crafts thread started by Dovelady. The person who showed me how to make those, about 1967 or thereabouts, was Uncle Pete Pilkington. He had learned it from Cherokees, he said, probably in the 1890s.

[crowwoman]

Trish,
The census I think you're referring to, 1880 Watauga Co., NC, shows Martha Guy with Ellen and Elizabeth as Dwelling # 124, Family 137 - Dwelling 124 being Martha's father. Several of his daughters with their children are living with him. The "relationship to head of household" field for Elizabeth is actually blank on the original census record.

1880 Watauga Co., NC Census; ED199 Laurel Creek Twp; 15 Jun; p.14B:
Dwelling # 124, Family 134 is:
GUY, Burl; W, m, 79, Farm Laborer, b. NC; Father & Mother b.Va.
....., Rachel; W, f, 64, Wife; Tn, NC, NC. (not Martha's mother)

124, 135;
Guy, Sally; W, f, 40, NC, Va, NC.
....., Mary; W, f, 14, dau, NC, NC, NC.

124, 136;
Guy, Rebecca; W, f, 36, NC, Va, NC
....., Caroline; W, f, 14, dau, NC, NC, NC

124, 137:
GUY, Martha; W, f, 31, Tn, Va, NC. *******
....., Ellen E., W, f, 6, dau, NC, Tn, Tn.
....., Elizabeth; W, f, 7, - , NC, Tn, NC.

125, 138:
Guy, L. C. H., W, m, 28, Farming; Tn, Tn, Tn.
....., Sarah A., W, f, 22, wife, NC, NC, NC.
....., Andrew J., W, m, 5, son, NC, Tn, NC
....., John H., W, m, 3, son, NC, Tn, NC.
....., Amanda, W, f, 1, dau, NC, Tn, NC.

130, 143:
Guy, Louisa; W, f, 37, Domestic Servant; Tn, Tn, Tn.
....., William; W, m, 16, Son, farm laborer; NC, NC, Tn.
....., Mary; W, f, 31; Sister; Tn, Tn, Tn.

1870
Watauga Co., NC Census; Cove Creek Twp; 2 Sept; p.10:
68, 68:
GUY, Burrell; 70, m, W, Cooper, $0, $0, NC
....., Rebeca; 60, f, W, NC.
....., Sarah; 30, f, W, NC
....., Rachael; 27; f, W, NC
....., Anna; 26, w, W, Tenn
....., Harriet; 22, f, W, Tenn
....., Jesse; 21, m, W, Tenn
....., MARTHA; 19, f, W, NC******
....., Ellen; 14, f, W, Tenn
....., Enoch; 8, m, W, NC
....., Mary; 6, f, W, NC
....., Emaline; 6, f, W, NC
....., Elizabeth; 5, f, W, Tenn

1860
Watauga Co., NC Census; Cove Creek District; 4 Aug; p.48;
416, 308:
Burrel GUY, 59, m, - , Farmer, $0, $100, NC
Rebecca, 50, f, - , NC
Sally, 22, f, NC
Elizabeth, 21, f, NC
Rachel, 18, f, NC
Anna, 16, f, NC
Harriett, 14, f, NC
Jesse, 12, m, NC
Samuel, 10, m, NC
MARTHA, 8, f, NC******
James, 7, m, NC
Elender, 4, f, NC
David, 2 months, m, NC
George W. TAYLOR, 24, m, - , day laborer, NC

1850
Johnson Co., Tenn Census; Civil District 6; 2 Oct; p.34:
2, 2:
Burrel GUY, 49, m, - , farmer, $0, NC
Rebecca, 39, f, - , Tenn
Sarah, 11, f, NC
Elizabeth, 10, f, NC
Rachael, 9, f, NC
Anna, 7, f, NC
Harriet, 5, f, NC
Jesse, 3, m, NC
Samuel, 2, m, Tenn
MARTHA, 1 month, f, Tenn ******

next door is Burrel's purported twin brother:
3, 3:
John GUY, 49, m, - , Wheelwright, $0, NC
Sarah E. Guy, 52, f, - , Va.
Mary M. Guy, 16, f, Tenn
Mary J. HENLEY, 26, f, Tenn
Sarah E. Henley, 9, f, Tenn
Elizabeth Henley , 7, f, Tenn
Cassandra Henley, 4, f, Tenn
Mary J. Henley, 1, f, Tenn

The year may be incorrect on the Johnson Co., Tn Marriage Index, but because Rebecca was there in 1850, she is most likely to be Martha's mother.
"Burrel Guy m'd Rebecca Greer, 20 Oct 1852, Johnson Co., Tn"

(Rebecca is purported to be the dau of James Greer, b. 17 Sep 1783 Wilkes Co, NC; and Mary Hampton, b. ? , but I was unable to find anything that would make me feel warm and fuzzy about it.)
(James Greer may be the son or brother of Aquilla Greer)

Burrell and John Guy are purported to be the sons of Enoch Guy, b. abt. 1768, and Sarah Burrell, b. ?

1850 Carter Co., Tenn Census; Civil District 6; 28 Nov; p.204;
59, 59:
Samuel GUY, 23, m, - , farming, $0, Va.
Harriet Guy, 33, f, - , NC
Elizabeth Guy, 25, f, - , T??
ENOCH GUY, 82, m, - , T?? (birth state very smudged)

Various family info lists Enoch Guy as b. Md or Va or Tenn - but I could not determine his place of birth. He was on the 1840 Carter Co., Tn Census.
Bill
With all the names common to the names in my Gay family tree I wonder if these are spelled wrong or transcribed wrong. My GGGGrandfather Henry Gay was listed in the census records as Guy in 1820 Ky. Perry County. Just a thought!

[saj]

crowwomen,
Are you related to the Gay family in Nash co NC?
Any of this look familiar?
And see the Bowden/Howard addition of Bass and Gay?
http://home.att.net/~unab22/gay.htm
Sue J

[crowwoman]

I am related to two sets of Gay's William Gay m Margaret Walkup in Va. and just hit brick walls going backward from these..Henry Gay m Margaret Russell. We think in Tennesse then moved to Kentucky, Perry County. The latter Gay is my GGGGrandfather. We keep hoping to find a postive connection to one of the Gay brothers who came to this country from Ireland. It is very difficult to prove anything on these families. With Henry and Margaret Russell Gay forward Elijah Gay m Mary Baker GGGrandparents, Russell Lewis Gay m Elizabeth Williams Great Grandparents..their daughter Nancy Ann Gay married William Parker my grand parents. Doesn't answer your question but puts us in tune..William Gay m Margaret Walkup died in about 1770-80 and she married William Hamilton this takes us back to my father's side of the family.

[Linda]

Is that a family story about two brothers from Ireland?

I find it interesting that Guys with Indian blood are documented in Wautaga county. My girls (who we adopted) are from there from a tri-racial community with a prominent surname of Goins. So now it looks like there were Bass and Guys there too. Very interesting.

[quest for facts]

Hey the Gay's lived near my folks in Wilson County.

[trishron]

You state that the Guy's with Indian blood are documented in Wautaga County. How do we find the documentation? I keep trying to get proof but to no avail. My ancesters are from that area and they appear to be Native American, I was originally told Cherokee.

Thank you,

Patricia

[saj]

There is on the Familytree dna project for the Gay surname..alternate spellings of Gaye and Guy.
Interesting...Saj

[Linda]

You are the proof. You report your Gay/Guy ancestor was Indian in Wautaga county. That's as good as it gets 99% of the time.

[trishron]

I was looking for clear documentation on the Indian Blood. I spoke with the Cherokee nation and without proof of bloodline and connection directly to me they are not willing to help me search records.

Trish

[Linda]

If your Indian blood is Piedmont Siouan, you won't find any clear documentation. As I've said, there are only a half dozen names documented to the tribal Saponi, and I think the only folks I've come across who can trace clearly by way of legal documentation to any of those few folks aren't particularly interested in it.

There's a huge tribe of VERY Indian people, who've lived in isolation in the same spot together for 200 years, near old tribal lands (Haliwa Saponi) who can't get federal recognition because they can't clearly document their lineage. They can't because those records were deliberately NOT created or kept.

It just doesn't exist. So does that mean we're supposed to continue to allow our Ancestors to be forgotten? They don't matter because some British colonials found it to be in their own interests to marginalize them? This is THEIR country. They make the rules, not some 19th century BIA fatcats. If your Ancestors have been whispering in your ear, you don't need anybody else's validation to listen.

Dont worry about it if the Cherokee won't help you. I doubt they have anything for you. The word Cherokee was used generically for a century to describe any "friendly," "civilized" Indians east of the Mississippi. If they don't find anything familiar in your family tree, we do.

Your Ancestors aren't extinct. They can't be, because you're here.

[trishron]

Thank you Linda regarding no help from the Cherokee Nation.

Would the Catawba and Blackfoot Indians be included in the Saponi Tribe, as different relatives have mentioned them also.

Do you know which particular Indian tribes were around the TN and NC areas?

Thank you,

Trish

[Linda]

You can see my theories about the Blackfoot ID being a marker for Saponi (Piedmont siouan) ancestry here, www.saponitown.com/Blackfoot.htm. There's a lot of dovetailing between Saponi descendants and the Catawba. It is noted historically that the remnants bands at Fort Christanna (Brunswick County, VA) stayed with the Catawba in SC for a year or two, then moved away. The Catawba are from Siouan stock that has been on the east coast longer than the Saponi group, and apparently there were cultural differences that divided people. But, it seems apparent that once the tribe had been marginalized historically from Virginia, there were people who remained in the south (not going to Six Nations as many did) who became more allied with the Catawba. Some who migrated to Ohio who are traced to Saponi families, were identifying themselves as Catawba in more recent times. My theory is that, since the Catawba were still here as a tribe, the related tribes like the Saponi identified themselves with them.

Get in touch with Felicia. She's a Guy and a Blackfoot. Her family's lived in Mecklenburg for as far back as can be traced.

[trishron]

Crowwomen

No, I'm not related to the Gay family of Nast Co. NC, Sorry.

Trish

[crowwoman]

There is on the Familytree dna project for the Gay surname..alternate spellings of Gaye and Guy.
Interesting...Saj Lee Gay is my cousin and is a part of the DNA project you are speaking of. Several of our line has taken the test and are related to the Irish Gay family and no there were 4 brothers who came from Ireland and now we think we may be descended from James Gay family. No written proof there either.
I joined the Accohannock Tribe in Maryland. As someone said before, My Ancestors have whispered to me. That is good enough for me. Also since I posted originally on this forum we have discovered that William Parker (Judge) my GGrandfather was also native linked. His mother was Zelphia Cornett m Alfred Parker and her parents were Roger Cornett m to Charlotte Callahan.