From: jtinkm@exis.net (john tinkham) To: rlang90547@aol.com I just found your web page on Choctaws. I am looking for information on my wife's grandmother's grandmother, who was a Choctaw. Her daughter was Frances Catherine Rowell, born Feb. 13, 1830 in Tennessee, probably in Lincoln County because there were some Rowells there and that county is next to the county of Frances's husband, Edward Rich of Franklin County. All I know of the father of Frances was that his name must have been Rowell too. The Choctaws lived in Mississippi then, and Mississippi and Tennessee were connected by the Natchez Trace, with much travel over that trail. So maybe Mr. Rowell was a missionary or trader who traveled between TN and MS, or maybe the Choctaw who married him was raised in a missionary school in TN. The Rich family was Methodist and there were missionaries in that family. So I have tried to investigate Methodist missionary schools but without success. I engaged a genealogist in Lincoln County but she couldn't help me much. I have also learned a lot about the Choctaw Indians in my research. Any suggestions on other ways to find out about this Choctaw woman who married a Mr. Rowell from TN before 1830? Dear John: I can't believe you ancestry parallels mine so exactly: tennessee, mississippi, missionaries,choctaw woman, etc. You have really done your homework. I have not figured out how to trace Indian ancestors before they intermarried with whites or were enrolled on government rolls. Once they got involved with the U.S. there are tons of records, but before, if they couldn't read or write English they are nearly impossible to trace. I wish I had answer but I don't. If you know that they settled in Indian Territory, Okla., I might be able to help you. but as far as the pre-removal mississippi days, it is an enigma. Have you read "Choctaws and Missionaries in Mississippi" by Clara Sue Kidwell? There are a lot of footnotes from which you might be able to get records. If you find an answer please share it with me. I will forward this to another list and to one who knows quite a bit about Missionaries in Mississippi/Louisiana who might be able to help you. Does anyone have an answer? Rusty Lang, rlang90547@aol.com Impson Mailing List administrator Impson Surname Board administrator Visit my website at: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~impson/index.htm <A HREF="http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~impson/">Click here: index.htm </A> Check out the Impson Surname Board at http://resources.rootsweb.com/surnames/i/m/IMPSON/ Subscribe to the Impson Mailing List at: IMPSON-L@rootsweb.com Researching: ADAMS, ANDERSON, BILLY, BOHANON, BURRIS, COLBERT, CUZALINA, DANENHOUR, ELLIS, FENNELL, FLETCHER, FOLSOM, FREENY, GARDNER, GULLY, HAMPTON, HARKINS, HEWITT, HULL, JONES, MACKEY, MURPHEY, ROBINSON, SISCO, TOAZ, and others.