Hello, I've been subscribed to this list for many months now but have never posted. I guess I've been afraid....of what I do not know. I've no proof of my Indian heritage and probably will never find it. Old family stories say....."they hid" But I'm here today to tell you what I know and maybe find someone else who knows also. James B/T Taylor was born about 1853/54 in Ritchie Co. WV to Elizabeth A. Overfield and james Taylor. His parents never married but his mother did record the birth in Ritchie Co. WV in March 1855...don't know why she waited....all documentation to date indicates the 1853/54 birth year. His mother named the father as James Taylor, a Farmer of Ritchie Co. James himself listed his parents on his first marriage record and listed them as: Elizabeth Overfield and james B. Taylor. James was raised by his maternal grandparents: Martin Overfield and Julia Ann Nutter. This is probably why he liked to use the name of Overfield instead of Taylor from time to time. I've no picture of James but do have pictures of some of his descendants and it is true they are indeed "something" My g-grandfather Walter Lewark Taylor, son of James, basically raised my own father from the time of about 7 years of age. Walter would tell my father stories of them being Indian....not just "oh by the way you are part Indian"....but real stories. The most of which my father can not remember...he just remembers being told. Walter would tell that he was Blackfoot...something I find hard to beleive given the location of VA and WV. A g-aunt much later, after Walter was gone, told me and my father, "oh no, Walter was Cherokee" It's anyones guess at this point. This g-aunt is gone now 2 years. Then a relative came along not that long ago that annouced that my g-grandmother, Ora Etta Mason, was full blooded Cherokee. This is something I find impossible to believe. I've traced the Mason family back to Germany. But, this relative, who is now 85 years, says she remembers it like yesterday. She was a young teenage girl when my grandfather came to her parents and asked to marry her sister. Before this permission he was asked to tell about his family. He told that his mother, Ora Etta Mason, was full Cherokee and that his father too, Walter Lewark Taylor, was a good amount of Indian. Walter Lewark Taylor, and his wife Ora Etta Mason and thier children do look Indian. Everything about them, the hair, the eyes, the color of thier skin, and the features. If anyone knows of this family I would appreciated hearing from you. Thank you Jag James B/T. Taylor b.abt. 1853/54 Ritchie Co.VA/WV to Elizabeth A. Overfield and james taylor. married 1871 to Lucy Ann Britton b.1848 Monongalia VA to John H.W. Britton and Rachel Ball. Children of James and Lucy are Cora Jane Taylor b.1872 died 1872 Marion Columbus Taylor b.1874 Stacey F. Taylor b.1876 Walter Lewark Taylor b.1877 Martin Porter Taylor b.1879 Lucy Britton Taylor died 1881 in Ritchie Co. WV to consumption. James remarried to Mary C. Bennington in Doddridge Co. WV in 1882 Children of James and Mary are: Orpha B. taylor b.abt. 1882 Addison Leroy Taylor b. 1883 William B. Taylor b. 1886 Sarah Ada Myrtle Taylor b. 1889 _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freeworld.excite.com