Hey researchers. I know many of you think I have gone off the deep end with this but, I really do not care. I know the two of the Blankenship boys married girls with the last name Ross. I started to look up the Ross family and I am finding all kinds of interesting and wonderful things. I have not proven this YET but, this John Ross was only 1/8 Cherokee and I am hoping to make a connection with Francis and Elizabeth Ross. If anyone has any other information on this line please let me know. Sue B. Altice http://ngeorgia.com/people/ross.html John Ross, Principal Chief of the Cherokee from 1828 until his death in 1866 John Ross a North Georgia Notable Born:Turkeytown(near Center), Alabama, October 3, 1790 Died:Washington, D.C., August 1, 1866 Cherokee leader John Ross was the first and only elected chief of the Cherokee Nation from the time it was formed until his death in 1866. Highly regarded for his role in leading the fight against removal and leading his people to their exile in Oklahoma, controversy was his constant companion once the Georgia Cherokee arrived. Ross had a private tutor as a youth. Although only one-eighth Cherokee, Ross played Native American games and kept his Indian ties. Early in his life he was postmaster in Rossville, Ga. and a clerk in a trading firm. The town he founded as Rossville Landing grew much larger than it's namesake as Chattanooga, Tennessee. Growing up with the constant raids of whites and Indians, Ross witnessed much of the brutality on the early American frontier. The future Walker County was a hunting ground for both white and Cherokee raiding parties, strategically located midpoint between head of Coosa and Col. John Sevier's band of marauders from Tennessee. "Little John" served as a Lieutenant in the Creek War, fighting with many famous Americans including Sam Houston. When future president and Cherokee oppressor Andrew Jackson called the Battle of Horseshoe Bend "one of the great victories of the American frontier," losing 50 men while killing 500 Creek men, women, and children, John Ross penned the words. Ross was invaluable to Morovians who established a mission on the Federal Highway near present-day Brainerd, Tennessee. Serving as translator for the missionaries, just as he had for Return J. Miegs, Indian agent for the Cherokee, Ross acted as liaison between the missionaries, Miegs, and the tribal council. He proposed selling land to the Morovians for the school, a radical idea in a society that did not understand the concept. Ross was viewed as astute and likable, and frequently visited Washington. After the death of James Vann, Ross joined Charles Hicks, with whom he worked, and Major Ridge as a member of the Cherokee Triumvirate. During the trip to negotiate the Treaty of 1819 in Washington, D. C. he became recognized for his efforts. Ross, one of the richest men in North Georgia before 1838 had a number of ventures including a 200 acre farm and owned a number of slaves. He would not speak Cherokee in council because he felt his command of the language was weak. After the death of Charles Hicks, and others in the early 1820's, settlers believed that the Cherokee time was short. Ross and others decided to make legal moves to prevent the forced removal including organizing the Cherokee tribe as a nation, with its own Constitution, patterned after the Constitution of the United States of America. As president of the Constitutional Convention that convened in the summer of 1827 he was the obvious choice for Principal Chief in the first elections in 1828. He held this post until his death in 1866. Ridge, his close friend and ally, would serve the last years in Georgia as "counselor," for lack of a better word to describe the roll. Over the first 10 years of his rule he fought the white man not weapons but with words. As the encroachment of the settlers grew, he turned to the press to make his case. When the Land Lottery of 1832 divided Cherokee land among the whites he filed suit in the white man's courts and won, only to see the ruling go unenforced. His old friend Major Ridge and the Treaty Party signed away the Cherokee land in 1835. Ross got 16,000 signatures of Cherokees to show the party did not speak for a majority of the tribe, but Andrew Jackson forced the treaty through Congress. He lost his first wife, Quatie, on the "Trail Where They Cried," or as it is more commonly known, the Trail of Tears. After his forced departure from the State of Georgia, Ross was embroiled in a number of controversies. Internal and external conflict kept him busy for the rest of his life.

Earnie, Thanks for the address in Georgia and the name of the book by the Alabama people. The more references we have, the easier it is to sort people out. I have a copy of a manuscript written by the late Earnest J. Blankenship, Jr. in 1972. His descendant, Laurent Blankenship Roche of Lebanon, IN photocopied it for me. It contains records of the Southern Indiana Blankenship's who came after 1809. It is a treasure for those of us researching there, but tracing backwards, he hit the same brick walls as the rest of us. Pat T.

D. L. Blankenship's book "the Georgia Blankenship was available from his widow Myra E. Blankenship, 120 Cornwallis Way, Fayetteville, Ga 30214 Phone 770-460-6539. I say was since I got my copy at least four years ago. Another Blankenship Book is BLANKENSHIP, Roots, History and Legends of Alabama by Bruce & Grace Blankenship. Grace's address was 190 Olive Dr, Tuscumbia, Al 35674 PH 205 NOw 256-381-3760 Earnie Patricia A Torrance <editor-patter@juno.com> wrote: Dear Misty, I don't know if you are referring to these books, but here is a list of books about Blankenship families. Some of them are still for sale and I found them listed on some Blankenship Web page. Otherwise you can ask for them through interlibrary loan. 1. Col Leslie C. Blankinship (his spelling), "Blankenship Family History" is the first book I read which gave some good family groups and records and most people have read it. 2. Gayle K. Blankenship, "Blankenship Ancestors". I have not seen it, but plan to get a copy. 3. Betty Carson published two volumes of Blankenship records. They may no longer be available for sale, but you can get them through Interlibrary loan. 4. Mr. D. L. Blankenship of Sharpsburg, Georgia 30277 wrote a very good book in which he studied some of the original records used by Col. Leslie and came up with some different conclusions. His line in mainly in Georgia. It is well worth getting, also. Other than these books, I have mentioned the book "Southern Indians" by Robert S. Cotterill, U of OK Press, 1954. It is the story of the civilized tribes before removal and is really helpful to anyone thinking about Cherokee intermarriages. It is available through interlibrary loan also. I hope one is the book you are looking for. Pat T. ==== BLANKENSHIP Mailing List ==== http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/p/i/c/Elva-M-Picklesimer/ Here you can find descendants of Rachel BLANKENSHIP.

It's the Dinuab War Album of 1944. Don't know about names being posted.

Blankenships were early pioneers to Andrew Co., coming from Cumberland Co. KY around 1840. Bought land first in Rochester Twp., later Nodaway and Jefferson Twps. Covered wagon trip from KY included three generations of Blankenships, along with KY neighbors: Foster, Jackman, Carroll, Merrit, Tindle & McClaren. William Blankenship b. VA bet. 1754-1760. Moved to Iredell Co., NC c. 1798, to Cumberland Co., KY 1805. First wife Patsey died in KY. 2nd wife, Mary Ann, buried with him in Greenwick Cem. According to tombstone, he was 105 when he died Dec 1859, 4 months after Mary Ann. Coleman Hargrove Blankenship, son of William, was b. c. 1803 in NC. First wife in KY had three children who came to MO: Granville (1826, moved to AR), Louise (1827) m. Charles Weibling, Thompson H (1828) in Civil War. He farmed in Andrew Co. and Doniphan Co., KS and m. Viania [sic] Carroll in 1855. Thompson d. 1908 >From second m., Margaret Regal or Ragle, Coleman had 12 children: Adeline (28 Aug 1834) m. 1 Preston Merrit 1850, he d. cholera; m2. John Warner, 23 Nov 1852. Silvester (1838) m. Sarah E. McLaine. Patsey, (c. 1840) m1. William McClaren, m2. Dr. John T. Lewis of Columbus KS; she died 1901 William Calvin (1843, Civil War vet) m. Priscilla Burnside Lemuel (1844) Rowan E. (1845) Rachel (1846) Nancy (1847) Major McDonald (1848) m. Esther Baggett, moved Benton Co. AR, d. 1894 Albrady (1849) m. Jacob Miller in Wathena KS Coleman Jr. (1850) m. Polly Long Shelby (1851) After 1880, Coleman went to live with son Thompson in Doniphan Co., KS, but wife was on 1900 Andrew Co. census.

Hi Pat, Thank you for the listing! I didn't know any BLANKENSHIP books exsisted. I noticed someone inquiring about a book, and that peaked my curiosity. I will definitely look into them! Misty Wright http://communities.msn.com/BlankenshipGenealogy (Researching: Adkins (Shannon CO,Texas Co, MO, Finally, Riverside Co, CA), Blankenship (Texas CO, MO), Bradley (NC then Fulton, CO, AR), Caste/Easte (Crawford and Dent Co, MO), Gatewood (Fayette CO,IL then to MO), Madison (Jackson CO, MO), Matherson, McCaslin, Montgomery (Izard CO/Fulton CO,AR), Moore (Fulton CO, AR), Neal (Fulton CO, AR), Smith (MS then Dent CO, Mo then Texas Co, MO) Stricklin (Crawford Co, MO then Dent CO, MO)

Hi researchers, I am the one that sent the information in on the Blankenship's in CA. As for a BOOK, I do not know anything about a book. Maybe in one of the website it talked about the book "Trail of Tears" but that is a book about the Cherokees and tells of what the Indians went through. I think I did include the HTTP for the website I was using for that information. I am sure if a book is mentioned it will be on that website. Again I must tell you all that this is not my line of Blankenships and I am not really researching this line. I was looking for information on the William Blankenship that married Elizabeth. William was son of Ralph and Elizabeth, and grandson of Ralph and Martha. While looking for information I ran across this information and wanted to share it with all of you just in case some of you could use it. The Http's are: 1870 Census of Tulare County, California http://cpl.cagenweb.com/tulare/tulcen1870.htm Search the California USGenWeb Project Web Pages http://www.cagenweb.com/#search California Pioneer Project Biographies Surname Index - Bg-Bl http://cpl.cagenweb.com/cplbiosbg.htm Descendants of William Blankenship http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/c/o/n/E-geraldine-J-Conrad/GENE5-0001.htm l I hope this helps some of you with your search. Happy hunting, Sue B. Altice

Pat, I agree with you on this one. I think that is the reason I'm hitting walls too. I don't know for sure about Cherokee in my Blankenship line(wouldn't surprise me) but on the old maps, the areas they lived in(MO) are clearly marked Indian land. Another line I'm researching( FRIEND ,husbands maternal great grandmother) we know was full blood Osage, those that married non Indians seemed to stay put, the others moved on to OK. So my theory is; if they could pass for white or at least had a white spouse, they somehow avoided being forced off their land. Sure makes proving Indian heritage difficult, as most did not stay on membership rolls tribal records. Also makes other research difficult, just searching Census Indian was not documented on same records. Laura -----Original Message----- From: Patricia A Torrance [SMTP:editor-patter@juno.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 8:18 AM To: BLANKENSHIP-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BLANKENSHIP] Blankenship & Cherokee Dear Sue, I'm just kidding about forming an offshoot group. As for finding records to prove any illegitimate offspring: There won't be any! They were very careful to hide any Indian heritage in those years. Indians were not allowed to testify in court, and if they owned property it could be confiscated. If they could hide their heritage, they certainly did. It was very risky for them in the early 1800s. Even in this generation people in Oklahoma experience a lot of discrimination. Pat

Dear Misty, I don't know if you are referring to these books, but here is a list of books about Blankenship families. Some of them are still for sale and I found them listed on some Blankenship Web page. Otherwise you can ask for them through interlibrary loan. 1. Col Leslie C. Blankinship (his spelling), "Blankenship Family History" is the first book I read which gave some good family groups and records and most people have read it. 2. Gayle K. Blankenship, "Blankenship Ancestors". I have not seen it, but plan to get a copy. 3. Betty Carson published two volumes of Blankenship records. They may no longer be available for sale, but you can get them through Interlibrary loan. 4. Mr. D. L. Blankenship of Sharpsburg, Georgia 30277 wrote a very good book in which he studied some of the original records used by Col. Leslie and came up with some different conclusions. His line in mainly in Georgia. It is well worth getting, also. Other than these books, I have mentioned the book "Southern Indians" by Robert S. Cotterill, U of OK Press, 1954. It is the story of the civilized tribes before removal and is really helpful to anyone thinking about Cherokee intermarriages. It is available through interlibrary loan also. I hope one is the book you are looking for. Pat T.

Can someone tell me what you book has been refered to on the list and if the index of names that are included in the book has been posted? Thanks Misty Wright http://communities.msn.com/BlankenshipGenealogy (Researching: Adkins (Shannon CO,Texas Co, MO, Finally, Riverside Co, CA), Blankenship (Texas CO, MO), Bradley (NC then Fulton, CO, AR), Caste/Easte (Crawford and Dent Co, MO), Gatewood (Fayette CO,IL then to MO), Madison (Jackson CO, MO), Matherson, McCaslin, Montgomery (Izard CO/Fulton CO,AR), Moore (Fulton CO, AR), Neal (Fulton CO, AR), Smith (MS then Dent CO, Mo then Texas Co, MO) Stricklin (Crawford Co, MO then Dent CO, MO)

In a message dated 11/1/2000 8:04:27 AM Eastern Standard Time, editor-patter@juno.com writes: << Back to the real world. The best clues are probably found in the people who lived and traveled with them. You just have to beat the bushes for those records. Pat >> Hi Pat, You are a very smart person. That is exactely what I am doing with my line of Blankenship's. My line so far seems to have traveled with the Saunders, Dillions, Plymales and some of the Hudson family. I am looking into these families in hopes that I will find something out about my Blankenship line. Sue

Could you give me some more info on this book? It looks like my mother, father & grandparents are listed in it. Is there a way to preview it to see if it is real relatives? Thanks for sharing.

To all: Guess we could all go to Oklahoma City this Saturday and have DNA drawn by the LDS church. Might be able to join those members of Thomas Jefferson & Susan Hemming. LOL "For more info write to the Molecular Genealogy Research Group, 788 Widtsoe Bldg., Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84620 or email Hal Pierce at <halngwen@juno.com>. Additional information is also available onthe internet at <http://molecular-genealogy.byu.edu/> Al info & data to this study will be stored in locked file and secure computers without internet or network access and maintained by the Molecular Genealogy Research Group: _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

Dear Jacque and Sue, -- As long as we are getting silly about this, just imagine what would happen if they got DNA testing down to an exact science and could just take blood samples and tell us who are ancestors were? Wow! No more eyestrain looking at those old census records. This could be a plot for a Science Fiction film, or at the very least an "All in the Family" episode! Back to the real world. The best clues are probably found in the people who lived and traveled with them. You just have to beat the bushes for those records. Pat

Before you do that, I recommend "Legacy". I have in the past used: Family History, Family Tree Maker, Ultimate Family Tree, Reunion, and Generations. Legacy beat them all hands down. You can download a complete working copy from their web site for evaluation. It limits you to 50 people but you can see how well it works. Then if you want it give them a credit card number or send them the money and they will e-mail you the unlock code and then send you the CD plus ref. book. They have an on going list that you can participate in and the developers interact with the list. They give you all the help you need free, and as you discuss things you think might be beneficial, they sometimes agree and add it to the prog. You can continually download any new enhancements and improvements free of charge. The developers are continually on line and open minded for improvements. Roger ----- Original Message ----- From: Byron Blankenship <bkblank@home.com> To: <BLANKENSHIP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 2:54 PM Subject: [BLANKENSHIP] Master Genealogist Software? > Not Blankenship Related, but..... > > I currently use "Family Tree Maker" and am thinking of going to "Master Genealogist" software....any comments? > > > Byron K. Blankenship > > Researching: > Blankenship (OK, AL, AR, ), Bicknell (OK, AL, TN, VA, PA), Woodam (OK, AL), Jones (AL), Coxwell, Graves (AL), Handley, Dean, Hoskins, Cash (VA), Walker (VA), Landrum (TN), Walker (VA) > Christensen (OR, Denmark), Petersen (OR, Denmark), Sorenson (Denmark), Therkilsen/Thrlkensen/Tarkildsen (Denmark) > Gifford (Alberta, ID, Utah), Moreland (OR, KS), Petereson, Mahaffe (ID, PA) Thompson (Denmark), Reed (KS), Gensler (PA), Newton, Jensen, Pointer, Rector, Swartz, Shribner, Wing, Bowerman > Lewis (OR, IA), Jones (OR, MT, Wales) > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <BKAYMEL@aol.com> > To: <BLANKENSHIP-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2000 5:29 AM > Subject: [BLANKENSHIP] On-line Gen research > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Patsy H Weikart <qmgen@juno.com> > > To: <WVPIONEERS-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2000 8:32 PM > > Subject: [WVPioneers] Interesting article on researching on-line. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Genealogy in Time > > > > > > The November 2000 issue of TIME DIGITAL has a great cover story about > > > doing > > > on-line genealogy research. Author Curtis Rist describes his somewhat > > > naive > > > introduction to on-line genealogy. He groped around a bit, probably like > > > millions of > > > others. However, as a staff writer for Time, he had an option that many > > > beginners do not have: he could ask for assistance from experts. He did > > > so. > > > In the article he frequently quotes Elizabeth Shown Mills, editor of the > > > National Genealogical Society Quarterly and president of the American > > > Society > > > of Genealogists, and David > > > Lambert, a reference librarian with the New England Historic Genealogical > > > > > > Society in Boston. He also mentions a number of other people who helped > > > his > > > efforts. > > > > > > At the beginning of the article, Mr. Rist describes his first on-line > > > search, > > > where he uncovered all sorts of potential relatives living in upper-class > > > > > > communities. Rist writes, "The only problem is, of course, that all of > > > this > > > is a fiction. Without regard to > > > nettlesome documents such as birth certificates and marriage records, I > > > simply typed the family name into a few Internet search engines, did a > > > search > > > of records on some paid genealogy web sites .... - and voilà, an instant > > > heritage. I don't have any proof of my connection to these far-flung > > > Rists, > > > but neither do most people who trace their roots on-line." > > > > > > He also quotes David Lambert: "There used to be companies that would send > > > you > > > postcards in the mail saying, 'We have the family tree for all your > > > relatives > > > in the county; just send $29.95.' And what you would end up with was > > > essentially a glorified telephone directory," he says. "Well, essentially > > > > > > these glorified phone books have now migrated to the World Wide Web." > > > > > > Rist describes some of the Web sites and the sellers of CD-ROM disks > > > containing millions of names that seem to promise instant genealogy by > > > saying, "...they're giving people exactly what they want: easy-to-access > > > information, such as marriage listings and ship-passenger registries, > > > without > > > worrying much about details like verification." > > > > > > Rist goes on to describe how to do genealogy properly. He encourages > > > people > > > to use these same on-line resources, but to use them as clues, not as > > > facts. > > > He tells why these mass sources are not useable in their present form and > > > > > > then encourages the reader to find the truth. He does advise people to > > > use > > > on-line resources, but also cautions them to always double-check > > > everything. > > > > > > You have to read this article. If you have a friend or neighbor or > > > relative > > > who is just starting to research a family tree, make sure you also tell > > > him > > > or her to read it. Go to: > > > > > > http://www.time.com/time/digital/feature/0,2955,56764,00.html > > > > > > ==== BLANKENSHIP Mailing List ==== > > Check out Jack Woodward's wesite: http://members.tripod.com/jdwoodward > > > > > ==== BLANKENSHIP Mailing List ==== > Checkout the Blankenship webring at www.webring.com and Jacque Reynold's Genealogy Homepage at http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/r/e/y/Jacque-P-Reynolds/index.html - Nice job! >

Dear Sue, I'm just kidding about forming an offshoot group. As for finding records to prove any illigitimate offspring: There won't be any! They were very careful to hide any Indian heritage in those years. Indians were not allowed to testify in court, and if they owned property it could be confiscated. If they could hide their heritage, they certainly did. It was very risky for them in the early 1800s. Even in this generation people in Oklahoma experience a lot of discrimination. Pat

In a message dated 10/31/2000 6:37:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, piper-casey@citynet.net writes: << Before you do that, I recommend "Legacy". I have in the past used: Family History, Family Tree Maker, Ultimate Family Tree, Reunion, and Generations. Legacy beat them all hands down. You can download a complete working copy from their web site for evaluation. It limits you to 50 people but you can see how well it works. Then if you want it give them a credit card number or send them the money and they will e-mail you the unlock code and then send you the CD plus ref. book. They have an on going list that you can participate in and the developers interact with the list. They give you all the help you need free, and as you discuss things you think might be beneficial, they sometimes agree and add it to the prog. You can continually download any new enhancements and improvements free of charge. The developers are continually on line and open minded for improvements. Roger >> Hi researchers, PLEASE, please share the website for downloading this program. It sounds very easy to use and I think I might try it. Sue B. Altice

In a message dated 10/31/2000 8:37:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, editor-patter@juno.com writes: << I think you have hit on something. My Blankenship line goes back to Rutherford County, North Carolina, but the trail is very murky back there. The names of my family in Southern Indiana mimic the names of the Blankenship's who moved to Tennessee and were attributed to Isham. I have found land records indicating that they lived among Cherokees. Since there were no marriage records and the Cherokee women owned the land, it is a real possibility that the children were given the father's last name but they didn't stay around after the Indians were removed by treaty. The book "Southern Indians" tells of removals many years before the Trail of Tears. My own ancestor, Mary Blankenship married James Chambers in Southern Indiana in 1809. They both moved west with others from Rutherford County, NC who were known to be half-bloods. The daughter of this couple eventually moved west to Arkansas and Oklahoma and was married at Ft. Gibson (which was at the end of the Trail of Tears) in 1838 to a soldier. The record of this marriage is in his military records. It looks like she may have considered herself a Cherokee, unless she had some other reason to go out there. I doubt if I will ever find the answer to who her father was. Isham and Lodowick look like the best candidates. It is not clear which of the many possible Blankenships in the same village were her siblings and which were cousins. So many of the Blankenships on this list have mentioned Cherokee relatives, so I'm betting on it. Now, I'm beginning to feel like Thomas Jefferson's descendants by Sally Hemmens. They knew they were Thomas's but were given the brush-off until the DNA tests! Maybe we should form an off-shoot group. The "Illegitimate Offsprings" or something :-) Pat T. >> Hi Pat, I really do think that a lot of the Blankenship history was lost because of white me (the Blankenship guys) marring into the Cherokee families. I know from all of the research I have done that the Indians did not keep records like the Quakers or the Churches did. We might get back to a point in history and we all may HIT the big brick wall. As for being The "Illegitimate Offsprings" or something :-), I would have to question that and see a lot of records before I would believe that. I am finding that most of the Blankenship men did marry the ladies that lived with. And here you will notice that I did say MOST. I know some that did not and that is OK also. Sue B. Altice

Dear Sue Altice, I think you have hit on something. My Blankenship line goes back to Rutherford County, North Carolina, but the trail is very murky back there. The names of my family in Southern Indiana mimic the names of the Blankenship's who moved to Tennessee and were attributed to Isham. I have found land records indicating that they lived among Cherokees. Since there were no marriage records and the Cherokee women owned the land, it is a real possibility that the children were given the father's last name but they didn't stay around after the Indians were removed by treaty. The book "Southern Indians" tells of removals many years before the Trail of Tears. My own ancestor, Mary Blankenship married James Chambers in Southern Indiana in 1809. They both moved west with others from Rutherford County, NC who were known to be half-bloods. The daughter of this couple eventually moved west to Arkansas and Oklahoma and was married at Ft. Gibson (which was at the end of the Trail of Tears) in 1838 to a soldier. The record of this marriage is in his military records. It looks like she may have considered herself a Cherokee, unless she had some other reason to go out there. I doubt if I will ever find the answer to who her father was. Isham and Lodowick look like the best candidates. It is not clear which of the many possible Blankenships in the same village were her siblings and which were cousins. So many of the Blankenships on this list have mentioned Cherokee relatives, so I'm betting on it. Now, I'm beginning to feel like Thomas Jefferson's descendants by Sally Hemmens. They knew they were Thomas's but were given the brush-off until the DNA tests! Maybe we should form an off-shoot group. The "Illegitimate Offsprings" or something :-) Pat T.

To Byron K Blankenship-I have Arkansas Blankenship lines.Granville and Major MacDonald(brothers) born in Andrew Co Mo.1840s.I have the Major line(he is my great grandfather.Married ester Baggett.NJ