Greg: Mary Ann is thought by most Cagle researchers to have descended from John and Mary and yes, Charles was a brother of Mary Ann's. As to the custom of burial of the dead and it's origin, this probably is explained by the fact that the same language "Iroquoian" was shared by the Cayuga, Cherokee, Erie, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca and later included the Tuscarora. These were all thought to constitute the peoples of the Iroquois. The Shawnee were entirely a tribe apart from the Iroquoian and were considered more war like. The Iroquoian peoples were thought to have been mound builders; however, more recent research indicates the mounds found on previous indian lands predate the Iroquoian tribes. So, it could very well have been the custom of the Cherokee to bury their dead in limestone coffins. In fact, my own sainted mother was 1/4 Cherokee and her grandfather was buried in similar fashion here in Oklahoma. Now, maybe you can provide me with a little information. I show Felix Demonbruen with a date of birth of 1789, do you have his complete DOB? I have Mary Ann's marriage date as 27 May 1809 in Davidson County, TN. Does this agree with your information? I have the following children of this union: John Francis Demonbruen James Timothy Demonbruen William Carroll Demonbruen Do you have the dates of birth for these children? And, were these the only children of the union. I hope the informatio I have provided will aid you in your search. To my knowledge there were no Shawnee in North Carolina other than perhaps occasional raiding parties. Mary Ann was born, according to information I have gathered from others in Cabarrus County, NC in 1787 and died 6 May 1876 in Edmonton, Metcalf County, Kentucky. Lee Cagle Moore, OK On Tue, 20 Jul 1999 14:59:38 -0400 "Gregory L. Robbins" <hearing@gator.net> writes: >Dear Kin, > > I descend from Mary Ann Cagle b. c. 1788 in North Carolina. She >married Rev. Felix DeMunbrun b. 1789 in Tennessee. Our DeMunbrun >family >researchers have oral history that Mary Ann or perhaps her mother was >an >Indian. Several years ago a Cagle family association contacted our >family society and exchanged information. The Cagle data supported >ours. They stated Mary had an Indian mother. Mary was well versed >in >herbal remedies and was sought out by her neighbors for her skill as >healer and midwife. Some Cagle descendants state Mary's parents were >John Cagle, Sr. and Mary. Others state the father's name was Peter. >Charles Cagle who married Polly Demonbreun, sister of Felix, in 1810 >was >probably the brother of Mary Ann. > "As the story goes, the Cagle family, while living in N.C., took >in >a young Indian girl considered terminally ill by her native tribe, >later >to have the Indian girl marry one of the Cagle sons; thus Mary Ann >Cagle >Demonbreun may have learned her herb-doctoring form an Indian mother >or >grandmother." The tribe the girl came from was supposed to be >Cherokee. > > > One other interesting piece of information is Felix DeMunbrun was >buried on top of a knoll overlooking his home in Strawberry Valley; >the >present site of Mammoth Cave National Park. He is buried in a large >limestone tomb. Mary likely dictated her husband's burial. Some >Indians buried their dead under limestone tombs similar to Felix's. >In >The American West ect., by Alford is the following: > "The Chauvenons or Shawnee of Kentucky and Tennessee had >considerable intercourse with The Illinois Tribe - The Shawnee's >typical >stone graves being found in Southern Kentucky - Middle Tennessee and >Southern Illinois. "The graves are coffin-like structures with sides, >top, wall and bottoms formed of slabs of limestone or other flat rocks >joined together without cement... from seven to eight feet long and a >yard or so side..."" > > >High cheek bones and black hair have come down our line, (my nephew, >me, >my father, my gt. grandmother, etc.). I would like to trace this >Indian >ancestry. I realize documenting specific Native American ancestors >will >be unlikely, but I would like to find out where these Cagles were from >in North Carolina and get some idea if the tribe was Cherokee or some >other tribe (were Shawnee in North Carolina?). > > If anyone has any information or suggestions I would appreciate >hearing from them. > >Thank you, > >Greg > > >==== CAGLE Mailing List ==== > >Cagle Family Web Page >http://www.familyshoebox.com/family/CaglesGermanytoAmerica/ > ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.