Where can I obtain a copy of the Cherokee Supreme Court records? This is the first I've heard about them. I've been tracking a Cherokee named Betsey from North Carolina (Caswell County) who was a slave and lived with a Thomas Pattillo Bigelow (who owned 2,000 slaves) and bore him 12 children from North Carolina and doesn't show up in any other census but shows up in his Will and in various Court appearances defending her share of his estate in the 1870's. Maybe she might be mentioned in these documents. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Wren" <mdw2654@bellsouth.net> To: <CherokeeGene-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 7:44 PM Subject: [CherokeeGeneCommunity] Quadroon Explanation & Isaac Tucker >I think the terms Mullato, Quadroon, Octaroon, Mestizo, Mustee, etc. all >came out of the Colonial French & Spanish culture to show blood degree. >For some reason, I can't remember where I read it, that anyone with less >than 1/16 of African blood could not be enslaved. Not sure where I read >that or if that is correct. > > The name mentioned below, Isaac Tucker, does have an interesting story. > The following is from the Record Book of the Cherokee Supreme Court in > 1833. All the spelling is as it is in the original. > > > [Page 92] > Cherokee Nation} > North Carolina } > This will certify that we the under sind Cherokees were Residents of the > Nation at the time that a white man and an Indian Trader who had a > Cherokee > woman for his wife but who by his usage of her in Beating and other wise > mis > treating of her when in a State of pregnancy died the clan or tribe to > whom > she belonged determined to kill the said white man by name of Sam Dent who > to appease them and Satis fy said Tribe of clan went off to Augusta in > Georgia and did them purchase a Female slave by the name of molley and > brought Female unto the cherokee and did offer her to the clans > Rennumeration of the wrongs he had done, a Town council of Talk was then > had > at chota old Town on Tennessee River and the Said Female was then and and > these Received by D Clan and by the authorities agreeable to the indian > Law > and usage in the place of the murdered wife of the said Sam Dent and has > be > her self and descendants been one since. Recognized by Said nation or > clan > as a cherokee the said moley and her descendants now whoes > [Page 93] > the only descendants of said molley had been and are claimed to be the > property of one Molley Hightower who has come into the Said nation and set > up claim by Bill of Sale for Said Tom Dend to Hightowers Father who was > also > an Indian Trader and who ser___ many year near the Decendants of Said and > Tom advo___ set up any claim to the said descendants that the present > Petitioner Chunestuta alias Isaac Tucker and his mother Chickwas wor ume > off > in these by force mentioned natives as we have ever be considered . The > court and authorities of the Cherokee Nation as also we the subscribers > members of the same clan ask and require of our council and hem me for > assistance and for coucil to resist this oppressive and illegal wrong > attempted to be preacised on our Brother and sister by the Hightower in > Moving(?) into slavery Two of whom have ever been and considered native > cherokees we feel that the attempt is one of Cruel greavance to us and ask > of you Honable bodies Redress in the Protection and defense of the Two a > bove mentioned mem bers of our clan and your petitioner will ever > prosper(?) > &&c > The Doctor > Cha nes te ta alias Isaac Tucker his X mark > Chickaw ne molly her X mark > Charles Buffington > The old thigh his X mark > Bucks Horn his X mark > Chicked indian man > [Page 94] > This day appeared before me Daniel McCoy one of the Judges of the supreme > court of the Cherokee Nation the Big Half Breed Jno Watts the tiger and > the white Path who being duly Sworn and Saith that to the best of their > knowledge and be lief that the mother of Edward & Isaac Tucker molley was > Surrendered and delivered up when a girl Some time previous to the > revotutconary war by a white man named Saml Bend to the authorities of the > Cherokee nation for certain important consideration & that said Molly was > then emancipated & adopted into the Clan Composing the Deer family > agreeably > to the then existing custom & usage of said nation, & since that time she > has continued in the Anton & enjoyed the liberty of freedom & that her two > sons Edward & Isaac Tucker were born at the beloved Town called Echota on > the Tennessee River & has ever been free & resided in this Nation > Sworn to & subscribed to before me at Red Clay this 18th Octr 1833 > Danl McCoy, J S Court > > Signed > Big Half Breed his X mark > Jno Watts his X mark > Tiger his X mark > > [Page 95] > I certify that the above to be a correct copy of the original handed to > the > said Isaac Tucker > Charles Vann > Clerk Supreme Court > 18th Oct 1833 > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Preston Washington" <prestonw@ncaddkc.org> > To: <CherokeeGene-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 5:45 PM > Subject: RE: [CherokeeGeneCommunity] Quadroon Explanation > > >> .........all are listed as Quadroons. I looked it up and the dictionary >> says they were 1/4 black.........can anyone explain any of these? >> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >> >> The dictionary is probably referencing the meaning of *Quadroons* as it >> was applied in the *deep* south. On the 1835 Cherokee Census it probably >> meant a Cherokee mixed with anything but African, Spaniard, or Catawba >> blood. >> >> Those Africans possessing Cherokee blood are listed, per my >> interpretation, as Mixed Negroes. >> >> For example: on page 28, #442, Isaac TUCKER is listed as head of a >> family of 9 total Cherokees. The break down is as follows: >> >> 3= Full Blood >> >> 6=Mixed Negroes >> >> There are 82 individuals so identified on the 1835 Cherokee Census. Only >> the Cherokees have a blood quantum listed. I'm sure that a number of >> the enumerated 1,592 African slaves possessed Cherokee or other Indian >> blood, but we'll never know how many. >> >> Hope this helps. >> Preston >> >> ______________________________ > > > > ==== CherokeeGene Mailing List ==== > This list is for Genealogy related conversations > Your supporting website http://www.wvi.com/~wb/Cherokee1.html > Please Good manors and no flaming others > For Culture, ridges; bumps; skin tones; or Language lessons Please visit > CHEROKEE-L-request@rootsweb.com > You can also find what you need search the archives > or to get off this list via web site below > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Ethnic-Native/CherokeeGene.html > Listowner = CherokeeGene-admin@rootsweb.com > >