Do you figure they became palefaces by…

enumeration dates for the 1870 census? Is there even wonder that the task is daunting  when documenting family history given all the givens. There are obstacles like all the names associated with one person with a native american heritage, the misspellings of the names throughout documents, factions within families changing surnames over time. Further, there was the fact that in order to abide by white man’s law, you could not be in the state of Alabama and be a native american until 1964. No wonder that sometimes native americans would be documented to be ‘black dutch’ or ‘mulatto’ when the census takers required family information back in the early days of the census. For whatever reason, legal or otherwise, the ethnicity check box was left blank on some 1850 and 1860 census records, thus making documenting native family heritage even more difficult both legally and officially. This is the case with Chief George Colbert’s daughter, Nancy Catherine Colbert. On the 1850 and 1860 census records the ‘race’ section was left blank, but the 1870 census recorded her as ‘white.’ Not.

Nancy Catherine Colbert’s genealogy is quite remarkable as she was related to both Chief George Colbert and Chief Doublehead by blood. Doubly so, first  by blood and then by marriage of her father to her mother’s sister.

Chief Doublehead, the son of Chief Great Eagle and Woman Ani Wadi,  was born Birth 1744 in what is now Stearns, McCreary County, Kentucky. Doublehead was murdered 9 Aug 1807 at Hiwasee River, Cherokee, Washington, Tennessee, United States. He was known as Tal-tsu’ska’, Dsu-gwe-la-Delaware-gi and as Chuqualatague. His wives included Nannie Drumgoole, Kateeyeah Wilson, and Creat Prieber.

Chief Doublehead  married first to Nannie Drumgoole and married second to Katteyeah Wilson who was born about 1770. He married a third time to Creat Prieber or Priber around 1757 in Stearns, KY. Creat Prieber was the daughter of Christian Prieber and Clogoittah. She was born in Tellico Plains, TN, and died about  1790 in Stearns, McCreary County, Kentucky. The following lists include the wives and children of Chief Doublehead known; there are others reported, but this author has not proved them yet. Proven corrections would be welcome but should be accompanied with valid documentation.

Children of CHIEF DOUBLEHEAD and KATEEYEAH WILSON are:

Chief Doublehead and Creat Prieber were married about 1757 in Stearns, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Christian Gottilieb Prieber and  Clogoittah was born about 1740 in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. She died about 1790 in Stearns, McCreary, Kentucky. Chief Doublehead and Great Prieber had the following children:

 Chief Doublehead and Nannie (Nan-que-se, The Pain) Drumgoole had the following children:

 Chief Doublehead and Nannie (Nan-que-se, The Pain) Drumgoole were married about 1794. Nannie was daughter of Alexander Drumgoole and Nancy Augusta and was born about 1775. She died on 23 Jul 1850. Nannie is a story unto herself. Documenting her properly will warrant a future article.

The Cherokee Advocate, Aug 6, 1850, records the Obituary of Nancy Springston: Nancy Springston. Born c. 1775 – died July 23, 1850. Her four surviving children were at her side at the time of her death at the house of Anderson Springston. She also had 73 grandchildren.

A Springston descendant, John L. Springston,  provides additional information Nannie Drumgoole Doublehead on his Miller application:
The John L. Springston notes on his Miller Application:

Sir: My grandmother on my fathers side was named Nancy. She was a full blood Indian of the Cherokee Tribe. She had four sets of children, Springston, Foreman, Wilson and Doublehead and as I understand the case, she must have been enrolled in 1835,36. 1846 & 1833 or earlier than 1835. I want to find her name and her families by name. My grandfathers name was John. I think he had by his marriage to her three children – Anderson, my father, & Isaac & Edley Springston. My uncles by her Foreman marriage she had only one I am aware, his name was Jim or James Foreman. By her Doublehead marriage she had only one as far as I know, his name was Bird Doublehead. Her marriage to Wilson I am lost. She died prior to 1851 (this contradicts his other statement). Now as far as the Cherokee Indian record will show her I wish an examination thereof – my father Anderson Springston was born 10-13-1814 and I think Isaac was older than he – Edley I am unable to say.

Nancy, my said grandma had two brothers and two sisters as I was informed by my father & mother both and I ask as to who her census shows they were – if possible – as to claim on them. I cannot be any to certain, or not enough to swear to positive. I ask for such information as is possible from the rolls showing them so I can apply with a certainty.

They were all emigrants and resided in Delaware District Cherokee Nation West and I think in Tennessee East – not far from Gunters Landing on the Tennessee River. It is my desire to apply for all possible where (the rest is illegible). This is signed 10-8-1906.

—–

In another letter he states that she had two brothers and two sisters,

Another letter states:
“Nan-que-se, my grandmother Nancy Springston’s niece — Nancy in same family, the relation bore to each I do not know– also, Isaac, sister of my grandmother Nancy –Che-ne-lern-ky — relationship only as fixed by the relationship existing between the named emigrants (Danielle Schijvijnck, RootsWeb).

Another bit of interesting data on Chief Doublehead from a lodger on the Reserve, Catherine Spencer. This comes from annotations of James Raymond Hicks’  Cherokee Lineages, updated August 29, 2004.  Jim’s annotations of Emmet Starr’s work, based on materials in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. are a wonderful resource if you are a descendant of one of the lineages Starr traced. Unlike others who have set out to update Starr’s work, Jim is very respectful of the former’s research and simply adds relevant material and well- supported speculations about discrepancies.The [ ]  mean that the text is transcribed as read:

 “Came Catherine Spencer and makes oath that she lived at the house of Doublehead the Chief when he was killed which was many years ago, she thinks it was about 27 years ago, and that she lived in his family about 12 years. Applicant is the niece of Old Doublehead, and is the only daughter and child of E-yah-chu-tlee, a brother of Doublehead, and Chau-e-u-kah is her mother, and was then a grown woman about 19 years old; and affiant states that the following described property was there and belonged to Doublehead the Chief when he was killed – to wit,

One negro man named Andrew about 21 years old, very likely $1000.00 One young negro man named Joe a Race Rider, very smart $650.00 One mullatto boy named Ben, 16 years old $600.00 one brother of his named George, 14 years old $550.00 one negro boy named Jacob about 15 years old $550.00 -$2350.00

one negro man named Riddle about 22 years old 800,00 one negro woman named Phebe about 25 or 6 years old $500.00 and her four children, the oldest 10 & youngest 2 years old at $200 each on an average is $800.00 one negro woman named Mary or Polly about 23 years old $500.00 with her two children – $350.00

Austin, a man between thirty & 40 years old $600.00 and his wife Magon about 30 years old, a house woman, good cook, washer & Ironer $600.00 with five children the oldest a boy 12 years old & ranging from him down to the youngest about 2 years old, all worth on an average $200 each –$1000.00 This man and woman came by the death of the applicants father to the Old Chief Doublehead with this affiant when she was moved to his [quarters] after the death of her father, and from this man and woman these 5 children were raised and all these seven negros were [once] the right of this applicant but affiant does not know where it is now — affiant declares most solemnly on her oath that she never sold them to any body nor been paid one dollar for them–

all of the above described negroes were there before the Georgia negroes were brought there, & applicant states that a white man named Chisholm was gone to Georgia to collect money due Old Doublehead when he was killed & shortly after that Chisholm returned with nine grown negroes from Georgia and left them there as a part of Doubleheads property and said he got those nine negroes in place of the money due unto Doublehead – affiant and the other Cherakees [evidently?] then took these nine negroes and put them in the negro cabins with the other negroes and provided for them as for the other negroes of Doublehead and they remained there as a part of his estate untill taken off by the white men; five of these Georgia negroes were men worth $700 each — ?,00 and the other four women worth $500 each -$2000.00 all stout able negroes and well grown, the names not recalled nor the ages –

There were 30 head of cows & calves worth $12.00 each –$360.00 and about 100 head of fine stock cattle, big sturdy [heifers] all worth 5 to 8 dollars each $650.00 one fine stud horse at home worth as the people said $700.00 and one other stud horse at South West Point said by the people to be worth $1000.00 and there were 8 other fine mares and geldings bought of Rik-e-ti-yah, John Christy’s mother, worth $100 each –$800.00 and nine other head of common [draw?] horses [ruous?] and colts worth about 50 or 60 dollars each, say 55 on an average $495.00 and [five good eail?] horses called first rate & worth $500.00. Doublehead paid a fine negro named Mary for the 8 bought of John Christy’s mother with a view to increase his stock of horses, and that negro was not any of thoses housed here – this John Christy has gone to Sekausas.

50 head of sows & pigs & shoots and small stock hogs running about the house $3.00 each –$150.00 one hundred head of large hogs running out in the woods worth $5.00 is –$500.00
4 large first rate beds & bedding & bedsteads worth $40 each –$160.00
6 [windsor?] chairs at 2.00 each 12.00
12 common du .50 cts 6.00
1 case of bottles & liquor –10.00
4 doz plates –4.00
8 dishes, all large –6.00
2 good tables –8.00
1 fine du –1.50
2 large pots –10.00
3 large ovens –9.00
2 smaller pots –2.00
1 dinner pot –2.00
1 brass kettle, common size 2.50
1 tea kettle –1.50
3 pair of iron fire dogs 4.50
1 saddle & bridle & brace of pistols
a good saddle part worn =15.00
the pistols first rate with a case & working 30.00

[Prince] according to her best [yu agrement] of the value of such articles of property & affiant states that Doublehead had a store there and a white man named Phillips was the clerk and [rate for ach] and the Cherokee people came there daily and bought goods for cash and Phillips refused to sell goods on a credit to the Cherokees. it was a comendable stock worth about two or three thousand dollars, and Doublehead told affiant just before he was killed that he had three thousand dollars in a trunk in the store room – – affiant saw large quantities of money in Phillips hands but cannot state how much as she never counted it; affiant did not know of her uncle buying any thing after that time and thinks there would have been as much as more than $3000 cash on hand- affiant admits it to be true that she does not know so well about the store and the money because Phillips the white man had the entire IOU that of it when Doublehead was died and and did not show the money any more and did not communicate the situation of it to affiant – that year a white man named Samuel [Llebarrinan alrevceed] for Doublehead and was making a good crop and [anocianally] all the big negroes [icraekill] out. — The [Observer] quit there [loan] after Doublehead was killed — Bird Doublehead and his brother were sent to school and boarding at the [Clarks] and Peggy Peggy and Sucunnah and [Fley] will [aff aho] None of the children of Doublehead were there nor does affiant recollect of their comming there — they were all very young. Bird was the aldest & many years younger than this affiant and no claims came through to protect their rights or secure their property –[lit surrued] that after their father was killed by his people that the children were also endangered by the nation –this affiant [averried] and managed as well as she could do.

Affiant states that as soon as the news came that Doublehead was killed Phillips shut up the store and kept it shut up and quit selling goods — The crop was continued working by the negroes the others [heuinep] of Doublehead went on untill towards fall when four white men came there and stayed four or five days, — these white men talked to Phillips a good long time and they seemed to be counselling together but affiant could not understand them — these white men after talked to the negroes and after about four days councelling the white men asked affiant and her Aunts & [Soney] Thau-ti-ne – all Doublehead and Wah-hatch a brother of Doublehead to [guerite] a [loam] and these one of the white man named Black proposed that all the negroes and horses and cattle and hogs and all the removable property should be taken care off for the children of Old Doublehead this Black was the man with whom Bird Doublehead had been and was there boording at whoal – It was asked by the whites whether this should be done or not and none of the Cherokees countered to it, but Phillips the store keeper gave his consent to it and he went off with the three white men and they carried all the goods boxes and trunks and all belongings to the store (off with them) and all the above described articles of property and negroes, and cattle and horses and hogs [t&] off with them and they [neuii] ande paid for [norletuiua] any more — one of the negroes named Andrew who could speak and understand both English & Cherokee stated to affiant that he understood what the white men said and he told this affiant that these white men were not [meaning] to save the negroes and the other property for the children of Doublehead and that they were [meaning] to get it all for their own use and fixing to steal it and that if the white men did act so with the property he Andrew would run away and come back to the nation again. The other negroes seemed to be concerned that these white men would take them to where Bird Doublehead was and went cheerfully and the negroes assisted the white men in collecting the stock and loading up the waggon and one of the negroes drove off the team and the plantation was left without any human beeing on it but her aunts and Wah-ha-ti-hi It was the understanding with all the Indians that the children were to have all this property at last. Wah-ha-ti-hi got some Indians to [aprint hein] and they gathered the crops and put it away and no more white men came there to [couriett] for the goods of the heirs of Old Doublehead, and this affiant and her two Aunts [Sorrey & Ks-ti-e-ie-ah Doublehead and Wah-ha-ti-hi [mode urea it thermires] — Black and these other white men did not say that Doublehead owed them money, but only said that the property should be taken care of for the use of his heirs and this affiant and other [kinfolks] did not consent [uren] to that for this affiant these thoughts are known at the time that this affiant and the other Cherokees could have taken as good care of it as these friendly white men could do.”

Swarn to transcribed
before me this 8th June 1838
[Leirniz Lieiculf]
Commissioner

her
Catherine X Spencer mark (Reprinted by Jim Hicks)

So, Chief Doublehead seems to have been extremely well off. His children did not benefit from his death as his material goods were carted off by a few white men. Chief Doublehead’s double son-in-law, Chief and Colonel George Colbert, excelled at wealth building as well. Chief George Colbert’s sons, Major William Colbert, Colonel George Colbert, and Major James Colbert led 350 Chickasaw braves to join Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orléans. Jackson’s troops crossing the Tennessee River at Colbert’s Ferry were charged 50 cents for a foot soldier and a dollar for a hose and its rider. Chief Colbert was noted to have made $20,000 a year from running his ferry. The Lane, Goodloe, Pride and Rutland familiesof Colbert County  have a history of being friends with Colbert’s wife and sons; the Lanes still own the land where Chief Colbert’s house was located. He was said to be the first native american millionaire as he amassed great wealth from trade and his ferry on the Tennessee River.

George Colbert married Chief Doubleheads daughters, Sa-Li-Tsi Saleechie Tuscahootie  and Du-S-Gi-A-Hu-Te Doublehead. Saleechie was born at Echota Village in what is now Monroe County, Alabama and died at the Indian Nation in Cherokee, Oklahoma. 

Saleechie and George Colbert were married in 1807. They had the following children: George Colbert 1785 – 1879, Levitia Hettie Colbert 1790 – 1860, Pitman Colbert 1797 – 1853, Samuel B Colbert 1797 – 1853, Susan Colbert 1798 – 1818, Jane Colbert 1800 – 1827, John Colbert 1800 – 1832, Nancy Colbert 1805 – 1878, William Colbert 1805 – 1870, George Colbert 1809 – 1879, Susan Sukey Colbert 1810 – 1860, Sarah Colbert 1815 – 1855, John Colbert 1818 – 1834 and Vicy Colbert 1818 – 1846.

To this point, no children have been discovered for Du-S-Gi-A-Hu-Te Doublehead and George Colbert. It is possible that some of the children listed above are hers, but research does not lead to that as a probability.

Some further notes on George and Saleechie Colbert follow: 

George Colbert, or Tootemastubbe, was perhaps the most prepossessing of the Colbert brothers in appearance and manners. He was supposedly opposed to innovation, and an enemy to education, missions and whiskey. He lived on Wolf creek four miles south of Booneville. Shullachie, or Saleechie, was the name of his wife. She lived where Tupelo is now. He had two sons, Pit-man and George, and one daughter, Vicy. He “was illiterate but had some influence and stood tolerably fair; talked very common English. His son, Pitman, had a very fair education.” George Colbert himself moved to the West.

Win. Henry Gates is authority for the following statement:

“My father, William Gates, went to McNairy county, Tenn., and bought the running gear for two six-horse wagons, sold them to Colbert, and the latter moved to the nation in them.”Edwin G. Thomas says:

“In 1836 I attended the land sales at Pontotoc. The first night in the nation I stayed at Saleechie (or Shullechie) Colbert’s four miles west of where Tupelo now stands. She was a woman well-fixed up, had a good house, and gave good fare.”The author of Cotton Gin Port and Gaines’ Trace, in the Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, VII., 269 appears to be mistaken as to Selitia Colbert being “one of the wives of Levi Colbert.

In 1821 Alexander Dugger first became acquainted with the Indians at Cotton Gin. George Colbert lived near Harrisburg, in what is now Lee county, on a place afterward owned by Shannon. Pitman Colbert lived with his father on the same place. They were very wealthy, working 140 hands; had a large farm near Colbert’s Ferry in Alabama. Vicy Colbert was an educated woman, and wealthy, as wealth was counted in those days. She owned three sections of land, all of which Colonel Doxey sold to Wm. Duncan for $13,000. She lived south of the old Chickasaw King, though she lived for a while in the Cherry creek neighborhood. She went west with the Indians .(http://www.natchezbelle.org/ahgp-ms/chiefs/chiefs1.htm)

Martha Ann Hargett who married Robert Duncan (source: Elizabeth D. Pearson material; “History of AL and Dictionary of AL Biography” by Thomas M. Owens, Vol. III; pg. 516-9.) and Mary Hargett who married John Duncan, is related to George and Saleechie Colbert. The father of John Duncan, William Duncan, married Vicy Colbert, daughter of Genl. Chief George Colbert of Muscle Shoals, AL, and his wife, Saleechie, daughter of “Chief Doublehead”, Lauderdale Co. AL. (source: “The Morketts Anne (Duncan) Smallwood Lineage” from notebooks of Kay D. Hampton). (http://www.elvisandhistory.com/hargett.html).

George and Saleechie’s daughter Nancy Colbert 1805 in Buncombe, North Carolina and died in 1875 or 1878 in Colbert, Alabama. Nancy Catherine Colbert married Hezekiah Tharp in 1830 in Franklin County, Alabama.  Hezekiah Tharp lived 1795 – 1873. Hezekiah and Nancy Colbert Tharp had a large family of children:  Hulda Caroline Tharp 1828 – 1914, Robert F Tharp 1830 – 1878, Thomas F Tharp 1836, Martin Tharp 1837 – 1864, Elizabeth Tharp 1838 – 1860, Permelia A Tharp 1841 –  ,Nancy Catherine Tharp 1842 – 1939, Hezekiah Tharp 1842 – 1864, Presley Tharp 1844 – 1892, Rufus Tharp 1847 –  ,Lancey Tharp? 1850 –  , James Tharp 1850 –  , and Reece Tharp 1855 – 1921. It is through the Chief George Colbert’s many relatives and through these children that a large number of Shoals people are related to this historic figures. A family that was in the territory before statehood or thereabouts would likely be related in some form or another.

Their son, Robert F Tharp was born 11 May 1830 in Franklin, Alabama and died 12 Oct 1878 in Colbert, Alabama. He married Sarah Ann Prentice who was born 5 Jan 1839 in Marshall, Alabama and died 15 May 1904 in Colbert Heights, Colbert County, Alabama. The text of their marriage certificate is given as:

The state of Alabama Lauderdale County

To any Judge, Minister of the gospel or Justice of the Peace legally
authorized
You are hereby authorized and required to solemnize the rights of Matrimony
between Robert Tharp and Sarah Ann Prentice agreeable to the state in such
case made  and provided and a due return make to the Office of Probate for
the County aforesaid.
Given under my hand this 1st day of May 1858  W. T. Hawkins P. Judge
The rites of matrimony solemnized by me this 16th day of May 1858.  B. F.
Kursman, J. Peace

To this marriage were born the following children: James Orman Tharp 1853 – 1940, Martha E Tharp 1856 –  , Mary Jane Tharp 1861 – 1946, Safronia McClellan Tharp 1865 – 1919, Robert Tharp 1868 – 1914, Caldona Tharp 1870 – 1900, Mary Jane Tharp 1873 – 1880, Susan Evaline Tharp 1873 – 1961, William Coleman Tharp 1874 –  , and James Tharp 1877 –  .

Martha F Tharp born  1856 in Franklin County, Alabama  married James R Yocum  who was born 11 May 1830 in Franklin County and died 12 Oct 1878 in Colbert County, Alabama. They married 10 Nov 1871 in Colbert County, Alabama.  Their children were: Laura E. Yocum 1873 – 1890, Sarah A. Yocum 1875 –  , James R. Yocum 1877 –  , and Mary Julia Julie Yocum 1879 –  .

Martha Tharp Yocum and James R Yocum’s daughter Laura Yocum died sometime after 1890 probably in Franklin County, Alabama. Laura married on 13 Nov 1871 to William Houston “Bud” Fisher who was born in 1868 and died in 1909 in Franklin County, Alabama. Together they had Mary Florence Fisher who was born 15 Sep 1890 and died in June 1982  in Russellville, Franklin, Alabama.

Mary Florence Fisher James

 Mary Florence Fisher married Drewery Gerture James who was born 4 Nov 1889 and died 31 Mar 1981 in Russellville, Franklin, Alabama.They married 22 Dec 1907 in Russellville, Franklin County, Alabama. He was eighteen and she fifteen. The photo of Mary Florence James above is believed to have been made around the time of her wedding.They had the following children: Mary Lou James 1909 – 2000, Willie Mae James 1912 – 1986, Elizabeth Modena James 1915 – 1996, Maggie Irine Jones 1918 – , Warren Gamuel James 1921 – 2002, Kate James 1928 – , and Drewery Gerture “D G” James 1932 – 1962.Willie Mae James was born 18 Jan 1912 at Pleasant Site, Franklin, Alabama and died 7 Nov 1986 in Sheffield, Colbert, Alabama. She married Edward Osmond Crowell who was born 20 Feb 1905 in Rockwood, Franklin County, Alabama and died Jan 1975 in Rogersville, Lauderdale, Alabama. They had the following children: Edward Osmond Crowell 1928 – 1975, Jerry Trapp Crowell 1935 – 1982, and Donald Autry Crowell 1943 – 2002.Edward Osmond Crowell, Jr. was born 10 November 1928 in Russellville, Franklin County, Alabama. He died 17 November 1975 in Town Creek, Lawrence County, Alabama from complications of diabetes. He entered the Navy on December 7, 1947 and retired as a Disabled Veteran in 1950. He married in 16 January 1952 in Lawrence County, Alabama. His daughter is Joni Crowell. Family photos will follow:

Drewery Gerture James	Edward Osmond Crowell, Sr
Edward Osmond Crowell, Jr	Jerry Crowell
	Ed Crowell, Sr, Willie Mae James Crowell and Don Crowell 1950-1960s , Alabama Joni stated that “my father thought it was  crazy for a man to drive a pink car, but my grandmother like the pink color, so my grandfather bought it.”

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August 31, 2011 | Categories: Carolyn Murray Greer, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Native American Heritage, Remembering the Shoals | Tags: Carolyn Murray Greer, Chief Doublehead, Chief George Colbert, Crowell, Fisher, Hezekiah Tharp, Nancy Colbert Tharp, Remembering the Shoals, Saleechie Doublehead | 1 Comment