My ggg-grandparents were Moses McLEMORE (1787-1857) and Nancy (Vinnie) BATISTE (1794-1868). Evidence indicates that Nancy was a full-blood Choctaw of Mississippi. Moses was b. in SC, but moved to Giles Co., TN, and then to Wayne Co., MS, in 1815. He owned land in Perry, Jones, and Copiah Co MS. He served in the War of 1812 with the West Tennessee Militia. He died in Copiah Co MS. Nancy was probably b. in MS. At least one census record says SC, but there is no evidence to support the existence of a Batiste family in SC. Nancy and Moses married in about 1814-1815, and I suspect they met while Moses was serving in the War of 1812. Various family traditions say that Nancy's grandchildren were 1/4 Indian, and the early Choctaw Indian rolls for Mississippi show Indian families using the surname of "Batiste" (various spellings). One tradition is as follows: “In 1918 my parents, my brother and I lived near my Uncle Lillard Coleman and his wife, Alwilda, who was part Indian. At that time I was 8 years old. I recall their talking about my g-g-grandparents, the McLemores. Alwilda said Nancy Vinnie Batiste was the daughter of an Indian Chief in MS. Nothing was written down, so I only have what I remember hearing.” Also, it has always been said that my grandmother, Sallie (Fairchild) Smith, was part Indian. Her parents were first cousins and both were grandchildren of Moses and Nancy. The 1931 Armstrong Roll of Choctaws (in Mississippi), Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, RG 75 (film 1033993) has the following "Batiste" entries: BATTIESE, no acreage, 2 in family, near Capt I. Folsom, in Capt Folsom's Company, under Chief ---?---. BATTIECE, William, 3 acres, 7 in family, 2 males over 16, 2 persons under 10, on Shobatti Creek (E. Side), in Capt. Tamapiyubbia's Company (Shobatti Creed, W-side), under Chief Netachachi (Chief of the Southern District, with land on e-side Patkachi Creek). BAPTEN, Isaac, no acreage, 3 in family, 1 male over 16, 1 person under 10, on Old Natchez Trace, in Tom Leflore's Company, under Capt. Durant (Indian), under Chief Greenwood Lefore (Indian). BATIEST, Benjamin, on Chickasaway River. BATIEST, Winney, on Chickasaway River. That is all I know about my Indian ancestry. If anyone can tell me more about the Batiste family, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Merritt D. Mullen Ridgecrest, CA mmullen8014@mchsi.com