You can test for Native American heritage by doing a DNA test (www.familytreedna.com<http://www.familytreedna.com/>), though it is expensive. I too had heard rumors about my family having Cherokee blood, but father nor mother knew of any connection, despite a picture of my great grandmother in a "squaw" dress, looking very Native American. The DNA test showed me as having a very high probability ~8% Native American blood. I grew up near Fort Smith Arkansas, in an area that was near the end of the trail of tears. As a young boy, my brother and I used to roam freshly plowed fields and pick up spear and arrowheads, grinding stones, tomahawk heads, pottery and the like. Stephen Pile, descendent of Coonrod Pile. ----- Original Message ----- From: JamesSmee@aol.com<mailto:JamesSmee@aol.com> To: PYLE-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:PYLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 9:36 PM Subject: [PYLE] PILES American Indian Heritage I think this is a new topic that might generate some interest: I believe I descend from Francis PILES (died c1727 Prince George's County MD). We believe my researcher friend Carolyn WETZEL also descends from Francis PILES. I think our best guess is that we branch off from each other possibly after (Thomas) Richard PILES (c1729-died 1800s NC), a grandson of Francis, but this is far from clear. Regardless, we have both heard from different sources a hint that somewhere in our PILES ancestry there is some American Indian heritage. We have nothing specific, just this casual murmur to that effect (from one of my reseacher contacts; from two independent contacts of Carolyn's). Seems like something that has survived, barely, in oral history. Personally, I don't know of any likely candidate for this distinction in my direct PILES line (but would be honored if that were the case). My question to our Lists is: Has anyone else heard anything to hint of American Indian ancestry in their PILES/PYLES/PYLE line? Best wishes to the Lists. I'm still listening and searching. Jim Smee Pittsburgh PA ==== PYLE Mailing List ==== All genealogy discussion lists can be found at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html<http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html> Copyright 2004-Poster retains copyright