Before we all get into an argument about the merits of Andrew Jackson, and other TN leaders of the age, we have to face the fact that, ALMOST ALL of OUR ANCESTORS in early TN were in fact responsible for the death and displacement of Native Americans. It was a violent time in history. If an ancestor was not directly involved, then they were most likely supportive of the efforts of the Militia groups formed to take actions against the Native Americans. Much as we regret it now, that was the prevailing attitude and belief system of that time and place. Even the churches supported this attitude and preacher's sermons of the time were anti Native American. When North Carolina gave out the Land Grants to the surviving soldiers of the Revolution, it was expected that the new settlers would "take care of the Indian problems" in the western areas. Did the Native Americans attack and murder the foreign settlers? Of course they fought against the invasion of their home lands. Would it have been better if both sides could have found a way to peacefully co-exist? Of course it would have been, but, alas, that is not our history. If you have an ancestor on the early Militia Rolls of TN (pre War of 1812), then he was "fighting the Indians". Most of my own ancestors arrived in middle TN with NC Land Grants. They killed Native Americans and most of them brought Slaves with them. It is a part of my ancestry that saddens me but it is the truth. Isn't finding the TRUTH what genealogy is all about? We just have to accept our ancestors as a product of their time and place. We all see messages from researchers today who are looking for a link to a Native American who married into their family. Well if you are looking for that "link", you need to accept some facts. First in many places it was illegal for a "white" to marry an "Indian", and if it wasn't illegal, then most preachers would refuse to officiate at such a union. You most likely will never find a marriage record. And if your ancestry contains such a union, then the couple, and their children and grandchildren, would have been subjected to much suffering from the prejudice and discrimination of their neighbors. -------------------------------------------------------------- Think you know everything about your ancestors? Suggestions for Interesting Research: 1. Check the 1820, 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules to see if, and/or, how many Slaves your ancestors owned. Note how many of those Slaves were Mulatto (i. e. had one white parent) 2. Check the Wills of your ancestors to see how they "disposed" of their Slaves after their deaths (broke up families, sold children away from mothers, freed certain Slaves, etc). 3. Check Deed records of the county to see how often your ancestor bought and sold, or hired out, Slaves during his lifetime. For example, one of my ancestors owned several Slaves. In his Will he specifically states what was to happen to each one, i. e. sell, give to my oldest son, etc. One of his Slaves was a young girl, about 13, named Sal. In his Will, he stated that when Sal starting having children, then Sal's 1st child was to go to his oldest daughter, Sal's 2nd child was to go to his middle daughter, and Sal's 3rd child was to go to his youngest daughter, etc. Note these were children not yet conceived or born!!! He believed that he owned Sal's children even after he was dead and long gone!!!. That is an attitude that I find incomprehensible, but it is the truth of my ancestry. (Thank God his Will was written just prior to the Civil War so Sal's children were probably not taken from her) IF YOU have a PROBLEM with the sentiments and opinions I have expressed above, CONTACT me directly, OFF LINE at [email protected] Kathleen Hill Redondo Beach, CA Direct Descendant of 13 Soldiers of the Revolution granted land in Middle TN ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 3:52 PM Subject: Re: [TNDAVIDS] Family Mystery > Not single handedly. He was bowing to pressure from Georgians who > realized > that "there was gold in them thar hills." > > Joyce Stark Blocker > > > > ************************************** See what's free at > http://www.aol.com. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >