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[Lola]

I am searching for "supposed" Native American blood in my ancestry. The story in my family is that my Grandmother, Margaret M. Alley b. 1874 in Mercer County, MO was
part Cherokee. I have not been able to verity this.

Her father was Thomas Bonapart Alley b. 1836 in IN
His father was James Monroe Alley b. 1805 in VA
His father was Peter Alley b. 1782 in Washington County, VA
His father was Thomas Joseph Alley b. 1755 in Scott County, VA
His father was James L. Alley b. 1723 in Henrico County, VA
His father was Thomas A. Alley, Sr. b. 1690 in Henrico County, VA

(James had a daughter, Mary Polly Alley b. 1762 who was captured by indians in 1777 and escaped and returned home in 1788. I am assuming she was b. in VA, as other
siblings I have found to be born in VA. He also had a daughter, Frances (Fannie) Alley
b. 1750 in VA who was killed along with her children near Fort Blackmore in 1777 by indians. I don't know where Fort Blackmore was/is.)

I could sure use some help in determining just what Native American blood I have.

Thanks to anyone who may be able to point me in the right direction.

Lola

[Brenda Collins Dillon]

Lola, Welcome to the forum. I don't reconize the surname Alley but have heard of Fort Blackmore:

Fort Blackmore
(1774 - 1794), Fort Blackmore
A settlers' fort on the Wilderness Road, also known as John Blackmore's Fort. Located at the mouth of Stony Creek. This was the first permanent settlement (1771) in Scott County. The fort was unsuccessfully attacked by Indians several times.

Scott Co. is in the Western side of Virginia near the Tennessee border. The Long hunters were some of the first white men to enter this area. Good luck in your search.

Brenda

[Lola]

Thanks Brenda for the info on Fort Blackmore. I am hoping
to make some headway on this, as I have been searching
for over 30 years. The internet has sure helped in that
respect.

Thanks again,

Lola

[Linda]

Is the assumption that the captive lady had children by a marriage during her captivity? Or as it would have been called, her adoption?

Who was fighting in this war? It seems too late for our Eastern Siouan, they were well "pacified" by then, other than a few stout souls who ran off to Jospeh Brandt or Tecunseh. Who would have been waging war in Scott County, VA in 1777?

I have some intriguing emails from another lady with stories that may involve Scott County, VA. Her family settled there, but it's unclear where the stories with the Indians occured, perhaps at an earlier sojourn. I can dig that up if you'd like.

[Brenda Collins Dillon]

Linda, I would be interested in that also if it involves the Scott Co. Va. area. That is where Chief Redbird aka Arron Brock was suppose to be.......well that general area. He lived in Harlan Co. Ky just across the border.

Years ago when I first started my search I was told that Mary Roark was of Indian bloodline but when I contacted the libraries in Harlan Co. area and ask what tribes lived there in the late 1700 through mid 1800's I was told Kentucky didn't have any tribes......then why do we hear so many stories about the settlers and Indians there?

Brenda

[-cr21-]

She is probably thinking you refer to tribe in a traditional sense .. a recognized group with a traditional lifestyle and government. You may be able to ask about how many people were listed as Native in census'. Just an idea. Information like that has to be available somewhere.

[Lola]

Linda:

I have no idea if there was or was not an Indian war at the time of my ancestor's kidnapping. The source I show for that information is "Gene Alley, Alley Ancestors."

I guess I should go back to that source and see if I can find any more information.

This is the only reference to natives I have found, and then there is nothing to show that she had any children as a result of the kidnapping.

I think I shall go to the library and see if I can get the book.

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

Lola

[Linda]

There's a classic book I read as a girl, "Indian Captive, the Story of Mary Jemison" by Lois Lensky, that gives a fairly good feel for what captivity was like in those days It's still in print, I picked up a copy of it recently and it reads as good now as it did a million years ago in my girlhood. I believe Mary Jemison was captured about the same age as your Mary at about the same time. It's a true story based on interviews she gave in her old age. She had the opportunity to leave at about the same age as your Mary, but she decided to stay, since she had several children by that time and was attached to her adoptive family. She was Seneca.

If your ancestor lived there for eleven years, likely she wasn't a captive but an adoptee most of that time and was part of someone's family. Fort Blackmore I'm sure is in the history books. You should be able to find out a lot about what happened there and what tribes were raiding.

The Cherokee ID can be problematic. It seems that in the 19th century it was used sometimes to just signify "friendly Indian" or generically. Sometimes it turns out that other tribes are more likely, though being in the extreme southwestern part of the state, in the mountains, I wouldn't think Cherokee would be geographically unlikely. It shouldn't be hard to find out if they were still taking captives at that point.

The Seneca certainly were, and they were raiding in Virginia heavily.

[Lola]

Thanks, Linda, perhaps I will see if I can get the book.

Lola

[Dan Akin]

Lola;
You might check some of the Melungeon pages for info. on Indians around Fort Blackmore.
I can't verify this, but a group called "The Ramps" were supposed to live by Fort Blackmore. They were multiracial and I thought I read of Saponi descent. They had followed their white neighbors out of Va..
Lewis Green Sr. and his brother had been there and they were supposed to be of mixed descent and part of the Wautaga community (Watauga settlements, Nolichucky settlements and Carter's Valley settlements) and the old Washington county N.C. (now Tenn.)
In 1777 the attackers on these settlements were Cherokee and mostly Chickamauga Cherokee.
Dan.

[Linda]

You can get that book for as little as 90 cents used at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/0064461629/all/ref=sr_pb_a/104-0440739-3860723

[Lola]

Just want to say thanks to Brenda, Linda, -cr21- and Dan for all of the new avenues you have opened for me. I think this will keep me busy for quite some time.

I have printed out your responses and fully intend to delve into each and every one.

These forums are the greatest thing about the internet. I have met so many nice people who always seem willing to help in any way they can.

Again, my sincerest thanks to you all. If I run into problems, you can bet I will be back. In fact, I will be back regardless.

Lola in snowy Iowa

[Linda]

I'd love to hear more about that captive story. Keep us posted.

[itconani]

Another set of forts that are related in the line of defense in the American Revolution are : Ruddle's Station, Martin's Station, Boonsborough, and Bryant's Station. All of these are along the Kentucky river. These areas had large amounts of Shawnee present, as well as some Delaware. Cherokees and these two groups worked together when favorable, and some later removed together to OK. (as well as Seneca and Cayuga)

Shawnee presence in eastern KY is very valid, I dont know why anyone would say there were / are no indians there. Near Radford University, VA I worked on a dig several years ago that possessed trade pottery from KY that has been identified as Shawnee in origin - this of course is very much near this area being discussed and dated about 1660 +/- 30yrs.

[kimihsmiles]

I have a ton of information on your Alley's. Please feel free to contact me at kimihsmiles@yahoo.com

[Aubrey G. Cole]

Brenda;
If Harlan Co had no Indian Tribes as they stated wonder why there were so many Indian Mounds, One on main street that they tore appart to remove the Pottery, Flint Points and Knives etc also the skeltal remains, why was Quadrule Falls named that? Why do local people tell of the Quadrule Indians being there and were a peaceful TRIBE of people
my regards
Aubrey G Cole

P>S> that is where a lot of my people were born and raised