Hi All - This was on the TNMailing List - Thought I would share it with you -- it could apply to other states as well ---- >>>I'm not sure how many of yall knew this but I think its worth knowing, at least to me, it may explain alot of things... Until the year 1925 in the state of Virginia you were NOT allowed to claim ANY Native ancestry on any legal documents or papers. Example : Not allowed to put "indian" on birth certificates OR on census' !!! ALSO !! If you were White & married an Indain your marrage was not even aknowledged by the state-- Hence NO marrage records!!! AND you or your family was NOT listed on the census!!!!! So to a reasercher, your family or person does not exist!!! LOL Dont yah just love America!!!!! LOL Thought others may need to know this,and that it would explain some brick walls for some ! It has also been brought to my attension that this may be the case in = other states --