I do hope I haven't posted this already recently! (Senior moments flowing >together to become Senior weeks, month, years, lately!) Just thought it >might intrigue you as it does me. >>From CHEROKEE BY BLOOD. Benjamin F. Payne. MISC TEST p. 557 (found in vol. >2 after #5450) >My name is Benjamin F. Payne. I am 77 years old. I was born in Monroe Co., >and have always lived here. I knew Allen F. Graves (#16361), also Calvin C. >Linderman (#35631). Calvin C. Linderman and Allen F. Graves are cousins and >I am the uncle of both. Allen Graves claimed Indian blood through his mother >Mahala M. Newman before marriage. Charlotte Payne was the grandmother of >Allen Graves and she was my sister. Mahala Payne was the daughter of Sim >Newman who married Charlotte Payne. I claim my Indian blood through my >mother, Jane Payne, who was a Walls before marriage. My mother was born in >Habersham Co. GA. I have heard her say that she was 67 years old before she >died in 1863. She was married in 1811. In 1835 her name was Payne. She was >living in Monroe Co. Tenn. in 1835, and in 1851 she was living in the 5th >district of Cherokee Co. N.C. I reckon she was about three-fourths Indian. >My father bit off Sol Leaves ear in about 1834 and as this was a penitentiary >offence he led a secluded life for some time. My mother was living in Battle >Creek Monroe Co. She stayed at home with the family. They had the idea that >they would have to be moved west if they enrolled and she did not care to do >that while my father was gone. In 1851 he lived in Cherokee County. I never >heard any reason why they were not enrolled in 1851. It had been so long >before the Indians were paid off. I did not make a claim to payment in 1851. >My mother did not make any claim to payment. SIGNED Benjamin "X"F. Payne, >Madisonville, Tenn. Jun 26, 1908. >Joy Perry > >