Looking for help [Archive] - Saponitown Forum

missvee40

03-26-2002, 11:02 PM

I am researching information on my family tree. I am trying to find out which of my great grandparents was blackfoot. My grandfather boasted about being one for as long as I can remember, but no one in my family can seem to tell me if his mother or father was the indian (or both). Does anyone have any information on the the names CATES and PETTIFORD. My grandfather was born in Granville County (maybe Oxford) and he then moved to Person county (Roxboro). His name was Graham Pettiford. His father's name was Gene Pettiford (which he changed to James Cates -- LLLLOOOONNNNNGGGG STORY) and my grandfather's mother's name was Celia Cates. Please if anyone can help I would be truely greatful. Our 2nd family reunion is coming up this summer and I am trying to connect the dots.

Thanks
Veronica

Linda

03-27-2002, 12:03 AM

Pettiford is on the list of SE American Indian Family surnames as Saponi. Person county and Granville county are noted for their Saponi populations (as in Person County Indians). So if the frequent coincidence of Saponi heritage and Blackfoot ID is what's going on here, I'd say it's your grandfather.

He's certainly the likely candidate for being the NDN. Though, don't rule out the momma. I started out with my maernal grandmother's line wondering which one was NDN descended, now I wonder which one isn't. There's a few I can see got off of boats, but the rest . . .?

Somebody else was just mentioning Pettifords, or was that just you on the Other Blackfoot list?

I've got some distant cousins by marriage who originate in Granville. We hooked up with them all the way in Vernon County, WI. I wonder what connection we might find along those lines.

stacey.23

12-22-2005, 03:34 AM

Hi Veronica,

I, too, have a Celia CATES. She is my 4th great-grandmother. She was born abt 1802 in Jefferson Co., TN. Her parents are Richard CATES and Elizabeth THARPE, both born in Virginia. Celia CATES married John TURNER in 1820 in Jefferson Co., TN. John TURNER was born 1801 in either NC or SC.

Stacey

missvee40

12-23-2005, 10:07 AM

Thank you Stacey for the response. Unfortunately, I can only go as far back as my great grandmother. Therefore, the relationship could definitely be there.

I do not know where my great-grandmother was born and she could very well be related to your Celia Cates. I will have to do some more digging.

Again, thanks for the information.

Miss Vee

Bill Childs

12-27-2005, 12:59 AM

Hi, Veronica,
Was Graham's wife's name Annie, and did they move to around Roxboro and have children Australia, Christibell & Ardellia by 1930?
This Graham's family lived in Flat River Twp of Person County since at least 1900, and probably since the 1880s.
This Graham's mother Celia was born about 1857-1860, with the 1900 Person County census listing her as born February 1860.
Bill

missvee40

12-27-2005, 01:57 AM

Hello Bill,

You can't imagine how excited I am. The information you supplied is without a doubt, my grandfather's family. Yes, my grandmother's name was Annie and Australia, Christobell and Ardelia are my Aunt and Uncle. Unfortunately, Australia and Ardelia have passed away, but Christobell is still with us and there are three other children -- Linzie, Arcelia and Sarah (my mom). How did you find out this information and where can I get my hands on the 1900 census? Does this census give any NDN information on my great-grandmother? Any information you can supply and advice on how to move foreward with more research would be greatly appreciated. My mom is so excited, I hope we can sleep tonight.

I eagerly await your response.

:) Veronica

Bill Childs

12-27-2005, 02:41 AM

Veronica,
Here are some census records. In this time period, Native people were rarely listed as such on census records in the southeast.

The reason it took so long to post this is because of the extreme differences their ages are reported on various census records.
It's undoubtedly the same family grouping since you can identify the names on the 1930 census.

1930
Person Co., NC Census; ED9 Roxboro Twp; 29 April; Sheet 9B; Family # 155:
PETTIFORD, Graham; Head; 32; born NC. Farmer.
................., Annie; wife, 33; born NC.
................., Australia; son, 8, NC
................., Christibell; dau, 5, NC
................., Ardellia; dau, 2, NC.
................., Robert; Brother, 25, NC.

(Graham and Annie's fathers and mothers were also born NC.
The relationship indicated, is to the 'Head of household')

1920
Person Co., NC Census; ED189 Flat River Twp; 3 Jan; Sheet 1A; Fm# 7:
PETTIFORD, Celie; Head; female; 60, widow, NC, NC, NC.
................., GRAHAM; son, 21, NC. *******
................., Robert; son, 20, marr'd; NC.
................., Luther; son, 19, NC.
................., Lula; dau, 17, NC.
................., Rosa; dau-in-law, 22, NC.
DIXON, Ruth; Servant, 7, NC
..........., Annie; Servant, 21, NC.
PETTIFORD, Mable; Grand-dau, 2, NC.

1910
Person Co., NC Census; ED144 Flat River Twp; 7 May; Sheet 16B; Fm# 287:
PETTIFORD, Ceilie; Farmer, female, 53; Widow; 6 children, 5 living, born NC.
................., Link; son, 19, NC.
................., GRAHAM, son, 17, NC.*******
................., Robt; son, 15, NC.
................., (illegible), son, 13, NC (should be Luther)
................., Lula; dau, 12, NC

1900
Person Co., NC Census; ED75 Flat River Twp; 27 June; Sheet 14A; Fm# 257:
PETIFORD, J. I.; farmer, male, (born) May 1860, 40, m'd 18 yrs, NC
..............., Celisa; wife, Feb 1860, 40, m'd 18, 10 children, 6 living,
..............., Jonah; son, May 1884, 16, NC
..............., Frank; son, Jan 1886, 14, NC.
..............., GRAHAM; son, May 1888, 12, NC *******
..............., Robt; son, Apr 1890, 10, NC.
..............., Lucy; dau, Jan 1892, 8, NC.
..............., M. L.; dau, May 1894, 6, NC
JOHNSON, Lilly; boarder; Apr 1880, 20, NC.

There are several other Pettiford families in the immediate area in 1900 that are probably closely related and I'm still checking them out as they are there in 1880, also.
Bill

missvee40

12-27-2005, 06:09 PM

Bill,

You are the greatest. These are without a doubt, my family members. I can identify each name contained in this census information. When my mom read your post she was elated. This gives me a great head start on researching my ancestory further. All I knew was that my great grandparents names were Celia and James and had no birthdates or anything. You don't know how happy this makes me.

I appreciate all your information and would be greatful for anything else you can supply. Searching for ancestors is a totally new thing for me and I had no idea where to start. This really gives me hope.

I am truly greatful to you.

Veronica

paulajohn

05-23-2009, 11:53 PM

stacey.23

05-26-2009, 06:59 PM

Stacey, are you still there? My 3g grandmother was Celia Cates b. 1802 TN.

Paula Stewart

Hi Paula,

Yes, I am still here. That is neat. Which line do you descend from them? My 3rd Great-Grandfather is John and Celia's son, Radford Turner.

Stacey

Linda

05-26-2009, 10:08 PM

So what degree of cousins does that make you? What part of the country has your branch of the family settled in, Paula?

paulajohn

05-27-2009, 03:41 PM

Hi Stacey, I'm so glad you are still there.

I descend from John & Celia Turner > Perry & Martha [Johns]> Mary & Albert C. Helms > Bessie Mae Helms & Herbert C Taylor > Dad > Me.

That makes us 4th cousins, once removed.

Mary Turner d. c1891 [Howard? Grant? co.] IN. I can't find anything on her death or burial. Albert then put his daughters Nellie, b. 1886 and Bessie, b.1888 out for adoption, left his two boys with family and moved to Oregon to start over.

Getting past the point of adoption has taken me12 years. All we knew was that grandma thought she was adopted by friends of her birth family. I even had conflicting birth counties for her in Indiana.

So now we have our Turner link, have you found an American Indian link? We were supposed to have indian blood and not very far back. Mary Turner is the only branch left that it could be in, if any of the tale is correct.

Paula in California

stacey.23

05-28-2009, 04:16 PM

Hi Paula,

Perry is one of them that I lost track of. I have him in the 1850 and 1860 census records and a marriage in 1861 in Grant Co. to Martha Johns and after that nothing.

Mary Turner d. c1891 [Howard? Grant? co.] IN. I can't find anything on her death or burial.

I live in Howard County. Howard County started keeping death records in 1882, but the records are kind of 'spotty'. The majority of them that I have looked for weren't recorded. Most of the death records are 'hit and miss' until early 1900's when the state has them. Your best bet would be to look for a cemetery transcription/record. I can look for you the next time I go to the library, but it will probably be closer to the end of summer since we are in the middle of baseball season right now.

So now we have our Turner link, have you found an American Indian link?

I just asked my dad and he said he didn't know anything about the Turner's being Indian. It doesn't mean they aren't. The only line I was told was Indian is my Jones family, but i have my suspicions about a couple of others (Maddox & Davis).

What was the story you were told? I have a biography done on one of Celia's brothers and it states the Cates and Tharpe lines were English and German. On the Turner side, I haven't gotten any further back than John Turner, born 1801 in either NC or SC. (John is buried in a cemetery about 15 miles from my home that I am in the process of indexing right now.)

Stacey

stacey.23

05-28-2009, 04:18 PM

Forgot to mention that John and Celia's son, Radford Turner, married Ann "Eliza" Summers, which ties into Greydove's Summers family. See link below, starting at the 3rd post down (#123)...

http://www.saponitown.com/forum/showthread.php?p=30110

Greydove

05-29-2009, 01:06 AM