Becky, here's a place for you to start: http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/i/c/James-R-Hicks-VA/BOOK-0001/0018-0046.html#IND38875REF24 scroll down to Julia Hildebrand who married Alnor Blaylock. His parents are listed as your John Henry and Florence Strickland Bourland. I'll be happt to pull the Miller and Dawes applications listed for Julia to see if they will help with your search. They may or may not. There is a contact name on Jim's entry, but it may not be good any more. This is an old entry. Jim Hicks' work isn't perfect, but it's a great place to start out. I would say from this entry and just a quick look around that this is where the Cherokee connection comes in, by this marriage Susan >