Hi from Maine

[Rick]

Hi everyone. I was doing some family history investigation and came across some info about the Tutelo people when some were in the Susquehanna valley of Pennsylvania. I'll add that like others, we have family stories of Native American ancestors. The last person to seemingly know much about that history was my gGranfather, who told some stories to my Dad when he was a kid. My gGrandfather died in 1946, my Dad was 16 and as he told me, not really that interested at that time. My Grandmother's comments were, don't worry about it, we're Americans now. Anyway the places that were mentioned, Catawissa, Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre, and Mt. Top. is the area part of my Family was in for a long time. The family still has land in Mt. Top. In looking around at other related info, I found that some of the common family names matched up too, Watkins and Williams, also Moore is a name that is suppose to be from the Indian part of the family that I've had trouble tracing back past the 1780's. The Watkin's show up in Pa. in my family tree in the mid 1800's with no traceable background that I could find. The William's part go back to Allegany co., Md. in 1885, before that, nothing I can find. The Moore line goes back to 1780's in Pa., found nothing before then. I was not very familiar with the Tutelo and Saponi people, but the names and places match closer than anything I have uncovered before, So I'm trying to do some info. gathering. I'd given the ancestor trail in that part of the family up for cold and untraceable. I'm glad to find this site. It's good that people are keeping their heritage alive. Even if I don't find anything, I complement you all on what your doing here. Rick.

[jodyblonde]

Welcome to site Rick and good luck I'm from Kentucky, some Watkins and Moores here

[Clydene]

Rick:

I have an Ambrose Williams b. 1725-30 married to a Mary Moore. I'm stuck in Virginia. Ambrose had land on the Nottaway Circle track of the Nottaway Indian in 1749. Anything sound familiar. Also, let me know who your Williams Family is. Sharing info is the best way to make connections.

[Rick]

Clydene, Thanks for the reply. The Moore background and Williams' are not directly connected in my ancestry. The Moores by that time, if my info is correct were in Pa. The Williams were in western Maryland, at least that's where I first know of them. It's a double Williams, My ggrandmother Cassy was born on the boarder of Allegany and Garrett counties. Both her parents were Williams. Jane and John. No good info on them though. I know Williams is a Welsh name. This is from my Grandfathers side, they were told they were black welsh. My grandmothers side were told they were black dutch. In looking those terms up I found various definitions, but mostly meaning people of mixed racial or ethnic background that were trying to hide it. I have also found connections to the names Jennings and Bay, though it could be a mis spelling of Bayard. Again in the Susquehanna valley area of central Pa. I have found no direct connection to Va. At this point I doubt there are official records to clear this all up for me. People seem to have shown up out of nowhere all over that side of the family tree and I can never locate reliable birth or census info. Just an interesting family story that is lost in time I guess.