HOUSECLEANING

 

A RESPONSE TO THE CHEAKOPE HARRIS LINE RESEARCH

From Geneaology.com I found a source and overview for some the “problems” entering family trees.  I am including this information so I can add annotations and additional information for research and clarity. Every tree is important – no matter the color, religion, or nationality – represented, but it also important that we build our trees brick by brick to make sure it stand strong and steady

“After you read the following excerpt from "Terrys" by Darryl Terry you should go to Google and type in the word "Cheepoake". The only place she seems to fit is as the first wife of William Terry, father of Miles.  Cheepoake Harris was a Cheraw, but when that tribe dissolved about 1730 most merged with the Catawbas, but some may have joined the Cherokees.

 [ITEM: There is little hard-evidence of this Cheepoake Harris being related to the William Terry of Botetourt Co., VA as a “first wife”.  A time line of the activities of William Terry in Botetourt co. shows little room for partnering and fathering two (or more children) who seem focused in Surry Co., NC. He was surveying in the county, serving as constable and buying land.   There are, however, Terry’s out of Halifax, Pittsylvania counties in VA  and NC who might better fit the timeline and the eventual DNA. That group has a large representation within the I-01 Haplogroup. So, that may be the better place to look.  A William Terry there was listed as doing service in the c1755 in the expedition against the Shawnee. See Virginia Militia 1651-1776. Crozier. 1954, pg. 47. He was a soldier under Capt. Joseph Fox under Lewis. He rec’d a bounty for his service in Pittsylvania Co., Marc 21m 1780. Same general location was a Joseph Terry a Sergt under Capt. Wm Philips under Col. Andrew Lewis, similar expedition in 1763. Pittsylvania Co Va rec’d land bounty 1780.]

“I'm a descendant of Isaac Terry and Hannah Horton through their son Isaac and grandson Issac Jr. Rebecca Terry, (b 1862) was my grandfather's sister and a daughter of Isaac Jr. She looked like an Indian and claimed to be Cherokee.”

[I live in Oklahoma and this is not an uncommon claim by people. No disrespect, I have such stories in other of my lines as well. They are, however, not unusual for people  a) seeking uniqueness, b) trying to explain away the odd looking people in the family who do not “fit” in time periods when skin color, hair color, and language were racially divisive aspects of human society, c) seeking to benefit in some manner (land, resources, access to the same) or, d) living with a story passed down through generations of storytellers who, because they are our sacred forebearers, could never ever tell a tall tale!  Finally, e) because they miss-remembered the whole thing and got the story confused themselves. Note that these stores often come a generation or two after the supposed ethnic family member has passed which supports mixed up memories.

The dark skin, hair, eyes, and other traits associated with Native Americans, could also be associated with African Americans, Hispanic and other cultural groups and have been. The Melungeon construct via DNA suggests all that is true with an emphasis on African and Native American roots. Another label used to explain away suspiciously darker looks in that racially abrasive time period was the term of “Black Irish” and “Black Dutch” and other labels.]

The following paragraphs by Darryl Terry (updated in March 2000) tell us a little of what was in some of the claims for Cherokee money filed by descendants of Miles Terry.

 Hannah Horton.

[Item: She was the wife of Miles Terry, married in Botetourt Co., VA 30 Jan 1782 with witnesses Isaac Taylor, Wm Johnson, Caleb Wallace and Susannah Handcock (Book 2, pg.18, Botetourt Co., Va Marriage Records).

“A Rumor is that Hannah's mother is to have been of Cherokee Indian descent. To date no proof can be found on this statement, but their daughter Annie Terry married a "Casebolt" and their son latter applied for a government payment as reparations to the Cherokee Indians in early 1900's.

See information under Annie Terry Casebolt (Miles Terry) This claim was denied but also serves to substantiate other rumors that Hannah was from Indian bloodlines. Given the temperament and resentment for Indians in that day, it would make sense why Miles would move from an area that is still historically a Terry basin of Roanoke VA.”

[ITEM: If life was so difficult for Native Americans and Hannah was one, then it is strange they married there with numerous witnesses. The year before Miles’ brother John Terry also married same place and he was packing up to move out toward Tennessee, Kentucky and eventually into southern Indiana. Perhaps he hoped to follow John?]

“The following claims further add credence to the Indian bloodline.

Lane Shannon Branham, a grandson on Cornelius and Annie Terry Estep, replied to correspondence regarding his Eastern Cherokee Application No. 31011, dated July 25, 1907, under the 1835-1836 and 1846 treaties, as transcribed below

Application No. 31011

Pound Gap WV 6/5/1908

-----

To Hon. Guion Miller

Special Commission Court Claims

Washington DC

Dear Sir:

In reply to within questions will say that I think the removal of my parents and grandparents from Kentucky to Virginia may have been the cause of not being enrolled (if they were not).

I claim Annie Terry Estep, who was a niece of John Ross, as my ancestor.

I think John Ross was a party to the treaties of 1835 and 1846.We pass as white and none of our ancestors were slaves that we know of.   The physical signs on the Indian are distinctly noticeable in our people.

My father and mother were living in Kanawha Co. VA (now W VA) near where I live. For further evidence in this, see affidavits of Loring D. Hill and others filed with the claim of Joseph R Hill (My nephew) of Lockwood, Nicholas Co, W Va. I was born in 1832 and remember my grandmother, Annie Terry and remember her resemblance to the Indians.

Yours Truly,

Lane S. Branham

(we moved from KY about the years 1826-1838)

In the remark section of his claim, Lane Branham stated: "I have frequently heard my mother and grandmother on my mother’s side(whose maiden name was Annie Terry) say that they were blood related to the Cherokee Indians as these Indians frequently camped near them when passing through that country.”

 

Other excerpts from other claims of relatives:

“Cornelius T Estep / Claim No. 44239

My grandmother Terry was said to be 1/2 Indian Cherokee.”

 

“Wilson McGraw /Claim No. 44207

Miles Terry, Annie Terry Estep's father's father was Miles Terry Sr., who was called Devil Jet and belonged to Chief John Ross Tribe of Cherokee Indians.”

 

“Ruby McGraw Vencill / Claim no. 44159

My great grandparents was Cornelius Estep and Annie (Terry) Estep's father's father was Miles Terry Sr., who was called Devil Jet and belonged to Chief John Ross Tribe of Cherokee Indians."

 

“Also in 1907 a Jesse Terry who was at this time seventy-four years old stated in an affidavit that Annie Terry Estep was a Cherokee Indian. This was the same Annie Terry who was Miles and Hannah's Daughter. The paper also stated that some Terrys had changed their last names prior to this to avoid being connected to the Cherokee Indians.”

“Note: Records indicate there was a Miles Terry Jr., son of Miles and Hannah Horton Terry, but he was a brother to Annie Terry. No research has yet revealed if Annie Terry was in fact a niece to Chief John Ross.

Ross's father was Scottish and his mother part Cherokee. Ross's first wife was Cherokee. If there was a kinship, likely Annie Terry may have been the niece of Ross by marriage.”

“ALL EASTERN CHEROKEE CLAIMS FILED BY VARIOUS ESTEP, BRANHAM, HILL, MCGRAW AND O'DELL ANCESTORS WERE REJECTED. In addition to "REJECTED", it was filed too late. The enrolling agent wrote "It does not appear that any ancestor ever enrolled but it does appear that applicants ancestors came from Kentucky to W VA in about 1835.They were therefore not living anywhere near the Cherokee domain and were not parties to the treaties of 1835-6 and 1846. Show no connection with the Cherokee tribe.”

[ITEM: Just to play Devil’s Advocate for a moment. Mere “Rejection” is not a statement of authentication or accuracy. Native Americans have been found to have been rejected in later research because the purposes of these rolls were not to track Native lines but were driven by purely economic and political reasons. People wanted what the government had “given” to the Native Americans in treaties land that now the non Native Americans coveted. Use the rejections as a guide but be aware were mistakes made.]

“Most of our ancestor's claim forms stated that "Devil Jet" belonged to Principle Chief, John Ross of the Eastern Branch of the Cherokee. Ross was born October 3, 1790 and died in 1866.From 1819 to 1826, Ross served as president of the National Council of the Cherokee and assumed his position as Principle Chief of the Eastern Cherokee in 1828. His Cherokee name was GU'WISGUWI'and in boyhood was known as TSAN'USDI, "LITTLE JOHN".”

[This is an example of the problem. Is it Cheepoake, Hannah or Miles who is the Native American? The role appears to be quite fluid in many trees. Here is where DNA will be saving light in untangling these lines and getting out from under the mess being made of many trees.]

“Continuing research has revealed Hannah Horton Terry was most likely Cherokee.”

[ITEM: What was the continuing research, source claims so others can follow your work, and prove it for themselves.]

“The Eastern Cherokee Claims that were filed no doubt represent a tradition that passed word of mouth for several generations. The claims, in part were somewhat contradictory. In reviewing the copies of the claims, it appears they were incorrectly filed through the descent of Miles "Devil Jet", as they should have been filed through the descent of Hannah Horton Terry. After her marriage, Hannah Horton, lived in the white man’s world and was never enrolled on any Indian census or lived on any designated Indian lands.”

[ITEM: While it is good to see the confusion and cross over aspect noted it is unfortunate so many never read this posting originally and have not answered its questions but merely added without thought, sources, or evidence.]

Source: https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/terry/6253/

 

Suggested Steps in the Miles and Hannah Horton Terry line research:

1.       All males in the line should have their DNA down and add their information to the building picture on places such as Family Tree DNA/ Terry Surname Project. That site already contains lines from eastern Virginia, NC, and SC etc. with the I-01 Haplogroup. Offspring of three sons of a presumed son of William and Rachel Manson Terry, John Terry who married Esther Brown, have had their DNA done as well and the results were I-02. Another line in Botetourt/Montgomery Co., Va of Jasper Terry/Mary Morrison and son Josiah and grandson Jasper Morrison Terry have all revealed a different Haplogroup of G-02. As you can see these are going to be tremendously valuable in sorting out all these people.

2.       Great strides are taking place in fine tuning the Native American DNA being found and this is an exciting time to be able to add to the body of knowledge and break down centuries of racial, social, and national stigma’s along the way. Each person, every family, is unique and valuable and it may be possible to teach a lesson to the globe that we human beings are not divided by our uniqueness but instead we celebrate both out distinct aspects as well as our shared ones.