The Library of Virginia

[Tom]

Although I have not seen all the records listed here or any of them without a comprehensive search many of the here look to be a real interest in some meaningful research.
"Indian Virginians"
A resource guide.

http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/notes/IndianVirginians.pdf

[Wachinika]

(Just bringing this forward to bury a commercial posting that snuck through)

[Linda]

Thanks, Wachinika, I had a feeling Anifort was bogus. More than half the new registrations are spammers. It's a real pain trying to weed through them all.

[CJallan]

I'm not a spammer, but I don't really belong here, as I don't have Indian heritage.

I joined to ask a question about doing research, but then after reading messages here, I realized they were pretty specific to your own areas, so I never did ask my question.

Which was... were white people counted in any census taken in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma?

My grandmother was born in the Cherokee Nation, near Tahlequah, when her father was there to help build the courthouse in 1869. (As far as they knew, she told me, the first white child to be born in what later became Oklahoma.)

Her father either died or deserted a few years later, and we don't have his given name... that's what I'm trying to find.

Her mother was listed as a widow on the 1880 Census, and her father is not mentioned.

My grandmother's name is there, on the 1880 Census, with a birthplace of the Cherokee Nation, while the birthplaces of brothers and sisters before and after her are in Texas... so that part checks out.

I haven't been able to find the family listed anywhere else, but I don't really know how or where to look. I'm not very proficient at this... I'm just Googling what's easily available on the Internet.

I'm thinking that if there was some kind of count during the time the courthouse was being built, my grandfather's name might be on it.

My grandfather's last name was "Riley", and that's all I know.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

CJ

[Dan Akin]

Of course, you will have to research your family and document each and every generation, but some of the Cherokee Rileys are descendants of Chief Doublehead. You should turn to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma for assistance. I understand David Cornsilk is doing genealogy for pay, and I think he is really good. Just a suggestion. White people were included in the Dawes Roll. Citizenship in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is not based on race but on citizenship in a nation.
Dan.

[CJallan]

Ok, thanks very much, Dan.

CJ

[Clydene]

Are you sure your Rileys don't have Indian Heritage???

My Elizabeth Risner married Cherokee Rufus Riley and they lived first in the Choctaw Nation but moved to Nowata in the Cherokee Nation. Lots of Native Americans in what is now Oklahoma did live in Texas or go back and forth across the Red River. What are your ancestors full names. I have lots of Rileys. Clydene

[CJallan]

Are you sure your Rileys don't have Indian Heritage???

My Elizabeth Risner married Cherokee Rufus Riley and they lived first in the Choctaw Nation but moved to Nowata in the Cherokee Nation. Lots of Native Americans in what is now Oklahoma did live in Texas or go back and forth across the Red River. What are your ancestors full names. I have lots of Rileys. Clydene

No, I’m not at all sure that my Great Grandfather Riley was not Indian. I don’t think so, but it’s certainly possible.

My Grandmother told me that she was born in the Cherokee Nation in 1869, while her family was there because her father was working on the courthouse. She said she was, “as far as we knew, the first white child born in the <st1><st1>:placename w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1>:placename> <st1>:placetype w:st="on">Territory</st1>:placetype></st1>”.

I don’t know her father’s given name or anything else about him for sure.

I’m starting from here:

First Name Unknown surname: Riley Birth Year: Unknown Birthplace: MO
Wife Sarah Marguerite FREEMAN born 1838 LA

An older relative said that she “thought” he was buried near Alma Ok.

The 1880 Census shows my Great Grandmother to be a widow and does not mention my Great Grandfather’s name.

I found a note written by an older relative that said he did not die but disappeared, and re-appeared years later, after his wife had died and the children were grown.

I don’t have the dates or places, but the note went like this:

“Razz went to get him and called the other children to come see him, but due to the excitement and/or stress of the journey, he died before morning and no one but Razz got to see him.”

His wife and children are shown on 1880 Census as follows:

Sarah M. Riley Widow head of household LA

Children:
Josephine RILEY 1865 TX
William A. RILEY 1867 AR
Ruth Annie RILEY 1869 Cherokee Nation (My grandmother)
Thomas M. RILEY 1872 TX
Erasmus W. RILEY 1874 TX was called "Razz" as an adult, info from a letter I found
Silus E. RILEY 1876 TX

I don’t know anything more about any of them except my grandmother.

Any clues or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks for getting in touch!

CJ Allan

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[techteach]

The "first white child" born in the county my folks went to after WV does not look white in the pictures we have seen of her. I don't think I would trust that phrase.

Techteach

[CJallan]

It is just used to identify a time period... nothing to trust or distrust.