Sue, Am copying here a transcription of the Jefferson Co Court Records, showing John Murrell becoming Guardian of John Mothershead, son of deceased Clifton Mothershead. John was only 6 at the time... I don't know if the laws of that time would have allowed him to chose to adopt the Mothershead name or not, but my opinion is that I don't think they would have (you couldn't choose your own guardian until you were 14, I would think the same rule might apply). Please note, when you have a chance to look at the Census records from the late 1800s, there are _several_ "miscellaneous" Mothershead children/young adults of various ages living with families who have different surnames. It's not clear why they are living with the other families; some of those young people are old enough that I think it would be possible that they could have changed their name. Jo Ann http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jcat2/ New Email: jp_miller01@yahoo.com --transcription of court record-- Know all men by these present; That we John Murrell as principal, and Orson Baker and Archer Cheatham as securities, as held and firmly bound unto the State of Missouri, in the full and just sum of four hundred dollars, lawful money of the United States, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, to and for the use of John Mothershead a minor hereafter named and mentioned. The condition here of is such, That whereas John Murrell above named, has, at the October term 1840 of the County Court for the county of Jefferson, been appointed guardian of the above named John Mothershead a minor of the age of nine years, heir of C. Mothershead; now if the said John Murrell above bounden shall well, truly and faithfully discharge the duties of his office, as guardian aforesaid, according to law, then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and virtue. Dated and sealed at Hillsboro this twenty fifth day of January, 1841. John Murrell Orson Baker Archer Cheatham Recorded Jany 26th 1841 Jno L. Mathews Recorder ---end transcription--- --original message--- > To the mailing lists for Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington Counties: > > A few days I posted a Query regarding the Thomas MOTHERSHEAD family. > Thomas was born about 1869, and appears to be a brother of my ggrandfather > George Mothershead, born in 1866 (both in Jefferson County). However, > there were very different stories about the origins of Thomas's (and > therefore George's) father John Mothershead--was John Mothershead descended > from Clifton MOTHERSHEAD or was he an Indian who adopted the MOTHERSHEAD > name? Since John MOTHERSHEAD is my gggrandfather, I have a strong interest > in figuring this out! (Was there one John MH or two? Indian or not? Which > is mine?) > > The main people furnishing information are as follows: First, Sue Cooley > of Franklin County (to which the Thomas MOTHERSHEAD family moved). I will > indicate her inputs. Second, there is JoAnne's website about Clifton > MOTHERSHEAD's descendants (Jefferson County). This can be found at > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com~jcat2/clifdesc.htm, and if I say > "the Website," that's what I mean. This website is very well documented, > although I have not checked most of the original source materials myself. > Lastly, Lloyd Carter of the Jefferson County mailing list furnished ALL the > census information, unless I indicate otherwise. > > I am including the Washington County mailing list because that is where > Thomas MOTHERSHEAD's daughter Pearl L. MOTHERSHEAD was residing at the time > of her marriage to John W. BURNETT in 1920, and other members of the family > may either be there or have been there. > > Here is the information furnished by Sue Cooley: > > John Mothershead's birth name was Blackhorse Pakaki according to my > records. Much as newly-freed slaves were required to take a last name, > Blackhorse, in order to buy land, also had to choose a white surname and > the name he chose was Mothershead. Perhaps he had a friend or someone he > admired by that name (perhaps one of your ancestors). It is said that he > led a wagon train to CA and walked back alone, that he scouted for General > Sterling Price in his Civil War march across MO (Confederate), and that he > helped delay Union General Nathaniel Lyon by burning a few strategic > bridges. > > Also, I have his wife as Ann, nee Murrell. The children of John and Ann > were Charles, George, Thomas and Louis L. Mothershead. There were also two > daughters. One, by the name of Patty, married a Walls, but my source could > not recall the other girl's name. > > I hope this helps. > > Sue Cooley > Franklin County Coordinator > Missouri USGenWeb Project >