Sanders/Saunders is a common Cherokee name, but then, it's a common name in a lot of communities. What is the connection with MD? >I have just received a copy of a newspaper article written in 1923, about >how my ancestor, Elias Sanders was from the Plumer Indian Tribe. >The article says that the indian tribe was extinct by 1923. > >There are letters written to and from a Congressman Brand (who I believe was >a Congressman for Hartwell, Georgia) and the Office of Indian Affairs about >my ancestor's descendants and their claim of the govt taking away some or >all of their land. I am waiting for the film of this as the copy that was >sent to me was not very clear. > >Of course I want to find out all that I can about this. There has been so >much speculation on my family having indian blood and since this is the >first so called "evidence", I would like to find out all that I can. >Problem. I don't know where to start. Someone suggested BIA, someone else >said I might could find the letter's to the Congressman on file somewhere. >I am open to any and all suggestions. I know (at least I've not found >anything) we are not on any rolls as my family was living as whites. From >tradition, Elias father was some type of European and his mother is said to >be 1/2 Cherokee, 1/2 Shawnee. We've all heard stories about how he might >have lived with his mother's family and lived in both lifestyles, in his younger days. All speculation at this point but I do feel that there has to be something there.