Surname Saturday: Hartley

Discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research.

Hartley

Hartley is a locational surname derived from the Old English 'Heort' (Hart) and 'Leah' (Wood or clearing). George W. Hartley is my 3rd great grandfather. His descendants testified in front of The Dawes Commission that he and his wife were part Native American. Most of their descendants remained in Texas.

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The numbering below follows the d'Aboville system. The first digit represents the order surnames make their first appearance on my ahnentafel. (I've emboldened the names of  my direct ancestors.)

16. George W. Hartley ( - 1835) married Eliza Beasley

16.1 Samuel Tillman Hartley (1830-1920) married (a) Margaret Rawls (1848-?) (b)
Nancy Virginia Rock (1853-1932)
16.2 Sarah Ann Hartley (1836-1898) married (a) Ebenezer Ophan Denyer (1828-1872) (b) George Willliam Foster
16.3 William Hartley (1844-)

16.1a.1 Caroline (Callie) Texanna Hartley (1866 – 1941) married Jesse Taylor
16.1a.2 Georgia Amelia Hartley (1870 – 1940) married Miles Phillips
16.1a.3 Robert Hilliard Hartley (1872 – ) married Margaret LNU
16.1a.4 Virginia Hartley (1874 – ) married Henry Schultz (1870-)
16.1a.5 Helena Senthliza Hartley (1875 –)
16.1a.6 Sophronia Hartley (1876 –) married James Cagle (1864- )
16.1a.7 Amie Hartley (1881 – )
16.1a.8 Samuel Hamler Hartley (1885 – 1964)
16.1b.1 Edna Hartley (1891-1973) married Manuel Taylor McCorkle (1887-1933)

16.2a Follow their descent at 8.2.3 
16.2b.1 Eliza Caroline Foster (1875-1916) married William T Reeves (1871-)
16.2b.2 George William Foster (1877-1957)
16.2b.3 Sarah Ann Foster (1878-1961) married William McCarty (1865-1953)

16.1a.3.1 Bessie Leanner Hartley (1896-)
16.1a.3.2 Youler May Hartley (1898- )
16.1a.3.3. Mantie Hartley (1901 - )
16.1a.4.1 Birdie Schultz (1890- )
16.1a.4.2 Callie Schultz (1891- )
16.1a.4.3 Julia Schultz (1897- )
16.1a.4.4 Richard Schultz (1899- )
16.1a.6.1 Hazel Cagle (1894- )
16.1a.6.2 Dessie Cagle (1898- )
16.1a.6.3 Flossie Cagle (1905- )
16.1a.6.4 Edna Cagle (1907- )
16.1a.6.5 Ruby Cagle (1911- )
16.1a.6.6 Otis Cagle (1915- )
16.1b.1.1 Clarence Taylor McCorkle (1923-1988)
16.1b.1.2 Grady McCorkle (1925-1990)

16.2b.1.1 Nora Alice Reeves (1893-1985)
16.2b.1.2 Ada Bell Reeves (1895-1948) married Riley Green Vann (1890-1949)
16.2b.1.3 James Allen Reeves (1897-)
16.2b.1.4 Lona Mae Reeves (1906-) married Galveston Clark Pittman
16.2b.3.1 Lillie May McCarty
16.2b.3.2 Ollie McCarty (1898-1973) married Oda LNU
16.2b.3.3 William Franklin McCarty (1900-1971) married Ola Dee McWhorter (1902-1980)
16.2b.3.4 Elizabeth Ann McCarty (1904-1996) married Oscar Marian McWhorter (1895-1981)

16.2b.3.2.1 Ruben McCarty (1918-1997)
16.2b.3.3.1 Pearl Louise McCarty (1926-2007)
16.2b.3.3.2 Joy Lynn McCarty (1942-1971)

My number is 16.2a.3.8.1.3

Amanuensis Monday: Dawes Commission - Caroline Taylor

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project back in February of 2009, and since then, many others have joined in on the meme.  Why do we transcribe?  I provide my three reasons in the linked post.  You may find others.  If you participate, feel free to leave a link to your post in the comments.

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This week, I continue with the application my maternal grandmother's aunts, uncles, and cousins made in 1900 to the Dawes Commission to be accepted as Mississippi Choctaws. (The numbers below are the numbers of their case files, and likely indicate the order in which they provided the testimony.) Previously I have transcribed the testimony given by

1. MCR 1050 - Samuel T Hartley – Nov 21, 1900 (Brother of my great great grandmother, Sarah Hartley Denyer Foster)
2. MCR 1051 - Robert Hartley - Nov 21, 1900 (Son of Samuel T Hartley) 
3. MCR 1052 - Virginia Shultz - Nov 21, 1900 (Daughter of Samuel T Hartley)
4. MCR 1053 - Sophronia Hartley Cagle - Nov 21, 1900 (Daughter of Samuel T Hartley) 
5. MCR 1054 - Melvin Elijah Van Every – Nov 21, 1900 (My great grandfather)
6. MCR 1055 - Samuel W Denyer - Nov 21, 1900 (Brother of my great grandmother, Margaret Denyer Van Every)
7. MCR 1069 - Eliza Caroline Foster Reeves – Nov 26, 1900 (Half-sister of my great grandmother)
8. MCR 5842 - Georgia Hartley Phillips – June 17, 1902 (Daughter of Samuel T Hartley)
9. MCR 5842 - Samuel T Hartley – June 17, 1902 

and the ultimate decision - July 11, 1902  (A rejection.)

Below is the testimony given by Caroline Taylor, a daughter of Samuel T Hartley, and a first cousin to my great grandmother, Margaret (Denyer) Van Every.  This concludes the testimony provided by my great grandfather, and his wife's family.

Amanuensis Monday: Dawes Commission - Virigina Shultz

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project back in February of 2009, and since then, many others have joined in on the meme.  Why do we transcribe?  I provide my three reasons in the linked post.  You may find others.  If you participate, feel free to leave a link to your post in the comments.

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This week, I continue with the application my maternal grandmother's aunts, uncles, and cousins made in 1900 to the Dawes Commission to be accepted as Mississippi Choctaws. (The numbers below are the numbers of their case files, and likely indicate the order in which they provided the testimony.) Previously I have transcribed the testimony given by

1. MCR 1050 - Samuel T Hartley – Nov 21, 1900 (Brother of my great great grandmother, Sarah Hartley Denyer Foster)
2. MCR 1051 - Robert Hartley - Nov 21, 1900 (Son of Samuel T Hartley)
3. MCR 1053 - Sophronia Hartley Cagle - Nov 21, 1900 (Daughter of Samuel T Hartley) 
4. MCR 1054 - Melvin Elijah Van Every – Nov 21, 1900 (My great grandfather)
5. MCR 1055 - Samuel W Denyer - Nov 21, 1900 (Brother of my great grandmother, Margaret Denyer Van Every)
6. MCR 1069 - Eliza Caroline Foster Reeves – Nov 26, 1900 (Half-sister of my great grandmother)
7. MCR 5842 - Georgia Hartley Phillips – June 17, 1902 (Daughter of Samuel T Hartley)
8. MCR 5842 - Samuel T Hartley – June 17, 1902 

and the ultimate decision - July 11, 1902  (A rejection.)

Below is the testimony given by Virginia Shultz, a daughter of Samuel T Hartley, and a first cousin to my great grandmother, Margaret (Denyer) Van Every

Amanuensis Monday: Dawes Commission - Robert Hartley

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project back in February of 2009, and since then, many others have joined in on the meme.  Why do we transcribe?  I provide my three reasons in the linked post.  You may find others.  If you participate, feel free to leave a link to your post in the comments.

***

This week, I continue with the application my maternal grandmother's aunts, uncles, and cousins made in 1900 to the Dawes Commission to be accepted as Mississippi Choctaws. Previously I have transcribed the testimony given by

1. MCR 1050 - Samuel T Hartley – Nov 21, 1900 (Brother of my great great grandmother, Sarah Hartley Denyer Foster)
2. MCR 1053 - Sophronia Hartley Cagle - Nov 21, 1900 (Daughter of Samuel T Hartley) 
3. MCR 1054 - Melvin Elijah Van Every – Nov 21, 1900 (My great grandfather)
4. MCR 1055 - Samuel W Denyer - Nov 21, 1900 (Brother of my great grandmother, Margaret Denyer Van Every)
5. MCR 1069 - Eliza Caroline Foster Reeves – Nov 26, 1900 (Half-sister of my great grandmother)
6. MCR 5842 - Georgia Hartley Phillips – June 17, 1902 (Daughter of Samuel T Hartley)
7. MCR 5842 - Samuel T Hartley – June 17, 1902 

and the ultimate decision - July 11, 1902  (A rejection.)

Below is the testimony given by Robert Hartley, a son of Samuel T Hartley, and a first cousin to my great grandmother, Margaret (Denyer) Van Every

Amanuensis Monday: Dawes Commission - Sophronia Cagle

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project back in February of 2009, and since then, many others have joined in on the meme.  Why do we transcribe?  I provide my three reasons in the linked post.  You may find others.  If you participate, feel free to leave a link to your post in the comments.

***

This week, I continue with the application my maternal grandmother's aunts, uncles, and cousins made in 1900 to the Dawes Commission to be accepted as Mississippi Choctaws. Previously I have transcribed the testimony given by

1. Samuel T Hartley – Nov 21, 1900 (Brother of my great great grandmother, Sarah Hartley Denyer Foster)
2. Melvin Elijah Van Every – Nov 21, 1900 (My great grandfather)
3. Samuel W Denyer - Nov 21, 1900 (Brother of my great grandmother, Margaret Denyer Van Every)
4. Eliza Caroline Foster Reeves – Nov 26, 1900 (Half-sister of my great grandmother)
5. Georgia Hartley Phillips – June 17, 1902 (Daughter of Samuel T Hartley)
6. Samuel T Hartley – June 17, 1902 

and the ultimate decision - July 11, 1902  (A rejection.)

Below is the testimony given by Sophronia Hartley Cagle, another daughter of Samuel T Hartley.

Breaking Down Brick Walls: Part Two

Part One

Two Mondays ago, I transcribed the decision letter written by The Dawes Commission concerning my Hartley ancestors.  This letter mentioned the parents of my second great grandmother, Sarah Hartley Denyer Foster, as provided in the testimony of her brother, Samuel:  George W Hartley and Eliza Beasley.  However, the letter also mentioned another possible mother - Ann Fisher.

It also appears that all of said applicants claim rights in the Choctaw lands under article fourteen of the treaty between the United States and the Choctaw Nation, concluded September twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and thirty, by reason of being descendants of one George W. Hartley, and from Eliza Hartley (nee Beasley) (or Ann Hartley nee Fisher) who are alleged to have been three quarter blood Choctaw Indians and to have resided in Mississippi in eighteen hundred and thirty.

I said in my notes that followed the transcription I would devote a post to this conundrum.   I also said that Ann Fisher's name appears in only one other location in the documents I downloaded from Footnote for all eight related applications. A genealogy chart that appeared in Samuel T Hartley's application, but with no indication where/who it came from.  (click on the below images to see a larger version)

Samuel T. Hartley clearly states in his testimony that his mother was Eliza.

One assumption that could be made is that if there was a second mother for George Hartley's children, Ann Fisher was likely the mother of Sarah.  But that would be an assumption.  It's also possible Samuel may have said his mother was Eliza, but later admitted in some document I don't have, that his mother was actually Ann.  Or perhaps this chart was drawn up by the commission, and Ann's name got added there accidentally by some strange unknown series of events.

Is there any evidence that might support the theory that Sarah's mother was Ann?  Any evidence that might suggest otherwise?  Yes, and Yes.

1) Sarah's full name at birth, as far as family records are concerned, was Sarah Ann Hartley.  (circumstantial, but shouldn't be ignored.)
2) Sarah's second daughter was named Eliza.  (also circumstantial, but shouldn't be ignored either.)

3) One might ask who was the older child -- Samuel or Sarah -- and whether there is any evidence of which wife/mother came first.

Let's take a look at the evidence provided by the census.  The first census of any use is 1850.  (Prior to 1850, only the head of the household was named.)

1850  Census

In Houston County, Texas, there is an Eliza Hartley (32) living with two sons, Samuel (18)  and William (6).  They are in the same household as the family of  "Elijah and Margaret Wheeler."  Samuel claims in his testimony to have been born in 1830, so this isn't too far off.  However, there is no Sarah.

There is a Sarah Hartley (14), in another Houston County, Texas household.  Working as a farmhand for Hardey and Sarah Ware.  Her birth year would be 1836.

1854

Sarah Hartley married Ebenezer Denyer (I have a copy of the marriage certificate)  There are no ages given.

1860 Census

Sarah is recorded as age 32.  Her birth year would be 1828.  (Her brother Samuel is in the same household, and is recorded as age 26.  This is the only census where Samuel is recorded as a younger age than Sarah.)

1870 Census

Sarah is recorded as age 30.  Ten years later, and she's 2 years younger!  But because of her husband, I know she's the same woman.

1872: Ebenezer Denyer dies
1874: Sarah marries George W. Foster

1880 Census

Sarah is recorded as age 44, putting her birth year back to 1836.  Her daughter Eliza Caroline Foster Reeves testifies to the Dawes Commission that Sarah was 66 years old when she died in 1898, suggesting she was born in 1832.

While her exact birth year is open to question, I am fairly certain that Sarah was younger than her brother Samuel.  If that is their mother, Eliza (Beasley) Hartley in Houston County, Texas in 1850.  And if Ann Fisher and Eliza Beasley were both wives of George Hartley, that means Ann was the first wife.  Of course, either Ann or Eliza could have been a mistress.

So this conundrum isn't solved.  If Ann Fisher's appearance in the Dawes Commission documents isn't a mistake, she could be the mother of either Samuel or Sarah.  Since her name doesn't appear in any of the testimony, and I have no idea how her name got introduced into the documents, I have recorded Eliza Beasley as the mother of all three children (including the William who appears in the 1850 census), and relegated Ann Fisher to the notes section of my database until I learn more about her.

Amanuensis Monday: The Dawes Commission Decision

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them. If you choose to join me in Amanuensis Monday and post your transcriptions, feel free to add a link to your post in the comments.

This week I return to the documents I began Amanuensis Monday with - back in February of 2009: The testimony given by my ancestral kin on their Choctaw ancestry.  Below is the official decision letter from the Dawes Commission.

Religion and Genealogy

Etiquette tells us to avoid discussion of Politics and Religion. However, a family historian's role is to research and tell the life stories of ancestors, and their collateral kin. Religion and Politics often play a central role in those life stories. Defenestration of the core beliefs our ancestors held goes against the entire purpose of our pursuit.

[Defenestration is the act of throwing someone or something out of a window. The term was coined around the time of two incidents in Prague Castle in the years 1419 and 1618. The first was politically-motivated, and the second was religiously motivated. So the word is appropriate for several reasons.]

I'll leave Politics for a different day. Today, I'd like to discuss religion, as today is Shavuot on the Jewish calendar - the holiday commemorating the handing down of the Torah on Mt. Sinai.

It's possible one or two readers, who know me and my family only through this blog, may have been slightly confused by combinations of blog posts which have hinted at an obvious diversity present in my ancestry that isn't present in every family. My paternal ancestry is Jewish as far back as anyone knows. My mother's paternal ancestry is Jewish as far back as anyone knows. My mother's maternal ancestry, however, contains Puritans, Mennonites, Methodists, Lutherans, Choctaws and Cherokee. [The last two are unproven, though I have no doubts from the testimony provided in front of The Dawes Commission, that my Hartley ancestors believed they had fairly recent Native American blood.]

If I talk about my ancestry, I could say it is 75% Jewish, and 25% a mixture of Christian and Native American religions. However, that is my ancestry. I, personally, am 100% Jewish. Just as I am 100% American, even though my non-Native American ancestry comes from all over Eastern and Western Europe. I had a small problem with the title of the genealogy series NBC recently imported from England (Who Do You Think You Are). I know who I am. I am interested in finding out more concerning my ancestors, but that won't change my identity.

How do I handle my diverse ancestry in my research?

How should I handle it?  I am equally interested in the tombstones of my second great grandfather, Moshe Leyb Cruvant (1857-1911), and my more distant ancestor, Barnabas Horton (1600-1680), despite their disparate beliefs.



Many of my ancestors of various religious faiths arrived in America, fleeing from religious persecution. Brothers Myndert (1636-1706) and Carsten Frederickse (1638-1688) helped found the first Lutheran church in Albany, New Netherland. Israel Swayze (1753-1844) hosted Methodist church meetings in his Beaverdams, Ontario home. Rev. Henry Rosenberger (1725-1809) was a Mennonite minister in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. While all of different religious faiths, religion played a central role in each of their lives.  Just as it does mine, though perhaps to a slightly less degree. 

In my Jewish family history research I wasn't too surprised when I uncovered a handful of variations on Sholom Aleichem's heartbreaking story of Tevye and his daughter, Chava - intermarriages that led to a severing of family ties. These occurred primarily among children of those who immigrated between 1880-1900. Later intermarriages didn't lead to the same result. What did surprise me was the discovery of a hint of something in the distant past of one branch of my maternal grandmother's tree.

At the end of his introduction to A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Henry Rosenberger of Franconia, Montgomery Co. Pa; Together with Historical and Biographical Sketches (1906) author, Rev. Abraham James Fretz, writes,

"Note. — There is no doubt that Henry Rosenberger, Sr., of Franconia. was the pioneer emigrant, and that he in common with other Mennonites fled from Germany on account of religious persecution. Of the earlier history of the family...we know nothing. We have seen Rosenbergers direct from Austria and Germany and one Rosenberg from Prussia. One of the former from Austria claimed to be of an old Austrian Rosenberger stock, and were Jews. The last mentioned Rosenberg, from Prussia, was also a Jew."

Fretz appears to have conducted a 'surname study' and interviewed anybody he could find with the Rosenberger name, doing his best to connect anyone he could. He may have been unable to connect these Jewish branches, but felt obliged to indicate they existed, and let the family draw their own conclusions. Any historical 'tribal ties', though, may be too far in the past for research to uncover.

Religion in general has long fascinated me.  In college I took several courses studying Eastern religions, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Native American theology.  Since I am confident nothing I find in my research will change my own beliefs, there is no reason for me to fear researching the beliefs of my ancestors.  On the contrary, learning 'what made them tick' helps me to better understand who they were.  In short, when I research my ancestors, I throw nothing out of the window.

Honoring Family Veterans

Below are names of ancestors, and their siblings, who I know served in the armed forces of their nation. I am including my Loyalist ancestors; their nation was Great Britain. The United States didn't exist yet. I am including my Confederate ancestors too, despite their desire to form a separate nation. I would include Revolutionary ancestors if I found some. I also include my great uncle, Mandell Newmark, who was killed in action, as today is also Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom and a few other nations.

Fifth Great Grandfathers
McGregory Van Every (1723-1786) Loyalist/Butler's Rangers
Michael Showers (1733-1796) Loyalist/Butler's Rangers

Fourth Great Grandfather
David Van Every (1757-1820) Loyalist/Butler's Rangers

Fifth Great Uncle
Benjamin Van Every (1759 - 1795) Loyalist/Butler's Rangers

Second Great Grandfather
Ebenezer Denyer (1828-1872) (Confederate Army)

Third Great Uncles
Samuel T Hartley (1830-1920) (Confederate Army)

Great Grandfather
Samuel Deutsch (1861-1938) (Franz Josef's Austro-Hungarian Army)

Grandfathers
Melvin L Newmark (1912-1992), WWII
Martin J Deutsch (1907-1991), WWII

Great Uncles
Jerry Deutsch (1909-1950), WWII
Allen Deutsch (1914-1988), WWII
Harold Newmark (1915-2003), WWII
Mandell Newmark (1923-1945), WWII
Bernard Feinstin (1913-1968), WWII
Seymour Feinstein (1917-1999), WWII

Uncle
Stevan J Newmark (1942-1997) Army Reserves

Tombstone Tuesday: Samuel Tillman Hartley 1830-1920

Samuel Tillman Hartley was the brother of my second great grandmother, Sarah Ann (Hartley) Denyer.

His tombstone says he was born in 1825, however in 1900 and 1902 he testified in front of the Dawes Commission that he was born on March 14, 1830.

He died on October 19, 1920, at the age of 90, and is buried in the Confederate Section of the Texas State Cemetery, having served in Company C of the Trans-Mississippi Army.

While the tombstone (and his death certificate) only provide his initials, with no information about parents or children, his second wife, Nannie Virginia, is buried next to him.

Samuel and Margaret (RAWLS) Hartley had eight children: Robert, Sophronia, Virginia, Caroline, Georgia, Amie, Samuel and Edward. All eight are mentioned in his 1900 Dawes Commission testimony, with the five eldest giving additional testimony of their own.

(photograph by Joel H. Hutto. Used with permission. Find A Grave memorial)

SNGF: Time Travel

Randy at Genea-Musings for his weekly Saturday Night Genealogy Fun asks us to travel in time.

1) Let's go time traveling: Decide what year and what place you would love to visit as a time traveler. Who would you like to see in their environment? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?

2) Tell us about it. Write a blog post, or make a comment to this post, or on Facebook, or in Genealogy Wise.

So many choices.

Option 1)

Travel back in time to 1850. My great-great grandmother Sarah Ann Hartley was about 16 years old, and according to the census, I believe she is a helping hand for Sarah and Hardy Ware in Houston County, Texas. Her mother, Eliza, and brothers William and Samuel are in a different Houston household, along with a Wheeler family. I'd like to interview Eliza: "Tell me everything you know about your parents, and your late husband George's parents." Maybe Eliza can help me get the facts of our Native American ancestry straight. By 1900 when they were standing in front of the Dawes commission, Eliza's son Samuel, and several grandchildren, were mightily confused. Sarah passed away in 1898.

[I'd travel back in time to when both Eliza and George were alive, but my knowledge of where they were when is confused, so I might get the settings incorrect.]

Option 2)

Travel back in time to 1890 Losice, Poland. Great great grandparents Morris and Belle Blatt should still be married with two infants: Blanche and Anna. [I'll need an interpreter who understands both Yiddish and English for this trip.] Since I can only ask one of them the question, I'll ask Belle to tell me everything she knows about her parents and Morris's parents.

Family lore, directly from her daughters, says Belle's maiden name was Wyman. Her daughter Blanche also married a Wyman. Research has found *a* Morris Blatt in Losice who married a Chaia Beila Boksern. The middle name is close enough to Belle, but it is doubtful her daughters would have confused the surname, especially since one of them married a Wyman, resulting in the obvious family jokes. However, one of Belle's granddaughters thinks Morris was Belle's second husband, making it possible Boksern was her first married name. Hopefully Belle/Beila can straighten this out.

If the research found the correct Morris Blatt, it tracks the Blatt line back several more generations.

There are more people I'd interview, but choosing one from my maternal and one from my paternal lineage seems like a fair place to stop.

Clan Ursula

In 1902 Samuel Tillman Hartley testified in front of The Dawes Commission that his mother was half-Choctaw and half-Cherokee. His sister was my great-great grandmother, on my maternal mtDNA line. Assuming Samuel was correct about his mother, and assuming he had the same mother as his sister, an mtDNA test of myself or my mother should have placed us in a Native American haplogroup.

Alas, it didn't. My mother's test came back this week, and we are in Haplogroup U5. (Clan Ursula)

Haplogroup U5 and its subclades U5a and U5b form the highest population concentrations in the far north, in Sami, Finns, and Estonians, but it is spread widely at lower levels throughout Europe. This distribution, and the age of the haplogroup, indicate individuals from this haplogroup were part the initial expansion tracking the retreat of ice sheets from Europe.

Haplogroup U5 is found also in small frequencies and at much lower diversity in the Near East and parts of Africa, suggesting back-migration of people from northern Europe to the south.

Haplogroup U5, with its own multiple lineages nested within, is the oldest European-specific haplogroup, and its origin dates to approximately 50,000 years ago. Most likely arising in the Near East, and spreading into Europe in a very early expansion, the presence of haplogroup U5 in Europe pre-dates the expansion of agriculture in Europe...Interestingly, individuals with haplogroup U5 and U5a may have been come in contact with Neandertals living in Europe at the time. 11% of modern day Europeans share this origin.

Nothing is wrong with being in this haplogroup, but we had hoped to confirm our Native American ancestry. It appears that Samuel and Sarah Hartley's mother wasn't 100% Native American. How much was she is uncertain.

With some research, I might be able to find a Y-DNA descendant of Sarah's brother to test the Hartley line. However, Samuel thought his father, George Hartley, was 1/2 Choctaw. If that meant George's parents included one full-blood Native American, that almost always meant the mother. Still, I think I would be interested in finding out his ancestry. Of course, even if I am able to find a direct male descendant, I don't know if I will be able to convince him to take the DNA test.

According to FamilyTreeDNA - they know of three matches for both HyperVariable Regions 1 & 2. They make it clear this doesn't mean they are necessarily closely related, and the common ancestor could be as much as 50 generations back, since mtDNA changes so slowly. However, they do provide contact information. The three recorded their origin as England, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Of course, there is no assurance that they were correct with the origin.

This leads me back to thinking about the names given to my great grandmother, Margaret Jane McAlpin Monteroy Denyer. The daughter of Sarah Hartley and Ebenezer Denyer, family names weren't uncommon as middle names in the Denyer line. However, the names could equally have come from fellow soldiers Ebenezer fought with during the Civil War - or elsewhere. I wouldn't mind having McAlpin lineage, though.

Amanuensis Monday: Dawes Commission - Samuel Tillman Hartley - 1902

I continue transcribing the testimony given in front of The Dawes Commission by Hartley kin in 1902. Continuing from where the last post left off, Georgia Phillips was excused as a witness, and her father Samuel Tillman Hartley was called to testify.

---

Samuel T. Hartley called as a witness after being first duly sworn testifies as follows

Examination by the Commission

Q. What is your name? A. Samuel T. Hartley.
Q. What is your age? A. I am going on seventy-three.
Q. What is your post office address? A. Caney, Indian Territory.
Q. What is your occupation? A. Farming.
Q. Where were you born? A. In Mississippi, in Choctaw County.
Q. Are you an applicant before the Commission to be identified as a Mississippi Choctaw? A. Yes, sir; I have been here.
Q. Made application to be identified as a Mississippi Choctaw? A. Yes, sir.
Q. As Samuel T. Hartley? A. Yes, sir.

The case of Samuel T. Hartley M.C.R. 1050, is here referred to as the application made by this witness for identification as a Mississippi Choctaw.

Q. Are you acquainted with Georgia Phillips? A. Yes, sir.
Q. What relation to you? A. My child.
Q. Your daughter? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you want to testify now in reference to her application made today? A. Yes, sir.

Examination by attorney B.S. Johnson

Q. How much Indian blood do you claim? A. I have been claiming about three-quarters.
Q. What was your father’s name? A. George W. Hartley.
Q. Is he the part you claim through or your mother? A. My father.
Q. How much Indian blood did he have? A. He was a half.
Q. What was his wife’s name? A. Eliza.
Q. How much Indian blood did she have? A. She had one-half.
Q. You claim three-quarters? A. Yes, sir.
Q. What tribe of Indians did he belong to? A. Choctaw.
Q. What Choctaws? A. Mississippi Choctaws.
Q. When was you born? A. In 1830. March 14, in 1830.
Q. In 1830? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You know anything about the treaty of 1830 made at Dancing Rabbit Creek between the Indians and the United States government by which the Indians were removed to the Indian Territory; some of them? A. I don’t recollect it.
Q. Have you heard of it? A. Yes; I heard of it.
Q. How long did you remain in Mississippi after 1830; how old were you when you left there? A. Five years old.
Q. Where did your father move to? A. To Arkansas.
Q. In what year? A. He came there…let me see…thirty-five.
Q. Did he own any land or property of any description priot to 1830 that you know of? A. Not that I know of sir.
Q. Did he ever apply to William Ward, Indian Agent, or any one else for the purpose of taking land and remaining in Mississippi? A. No, not that I know of.
Q. Did he ever receive any scrip under which he located land in any of the public lands in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, or any of these states for public lands subsequent to 1830? A. Not that I know of.
Q. Did he ever own any land in these states? A. I don’t know of any.
Q. Where did he die? A. In Arkansas, in Little Rock.
Q. Ever own any land in Little Rock, Arkansas or any where else? A. No, sir.
Q. Not that you know of? A. Not that I know of.
Q. Could he talk the Choctaw language? A. Yes, sir.
Q. He could speak it? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Ever hear him converse with members of the tribe? A. Yes; I did; I remember it just like a dream. I use to speak it myself.
Q. How old were you when he died? A. I was near five years old.
Q. Did your mother succeed him? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did your father or mother or any other old person who is now dead tell you that you had Indian blood or did they ever tell you anything about your Indian blood? A. My mother told me many times.
Q. What did she tell you? A. She said my father was half Choctaw and that she was half Choctaw and half Cherokee.
Q. She was half Choctaw and half Cherokee? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And your father was a Choctaw? A. Yes father was a Choctaw.
Q. Did she ever tell you of her wish or he or both of them of coming to the West and taking land here? A. No, sir.
Q. Ever claim that she had any right here in the Territory or anywhere else? A. Not that I know of.
Q. Was she ashamed of her Choctaw blood? A. Not that I know of.
Q. Did she ever tell you not to claim it? A. No, sir.

By the Commission:

Q. You claim how much Choctaw blood? A. I guess I am about three-eighths.
Q. You claimed three-quarters little while ago? A. I claim about three-eighths.
Q. What did you mean when you said you claimed three-quarters? A. I mean the Cherokee blood.
Q. You don’t mean three-quarters Choctaw? A. No, sir; not three-quarters Choctaw.
Q. Don’t you know that it is very essential for you to know what you claim? A. I know it is.
Q. I want you to know? A. I will know if I can.
Q. You don’t claim three-quarters Choctaw blood? A. No, I don’t.
Q. How much do you claim? A. I suppose one-quarter.
Q. You said three-eighths a little while ago? A. I was speaking about my mother.
Q. Why don’t you think about this. Now you look here; you can’t take things back. If you say three-quarters, three-eighths and than one-fourth, you have done one of two things; you have committed perjury or else you don’t know what you are talking about? A. I reckon likely I don’t know what I am talking about.
Q. You look like a white man; you don’t look like an Indian? A. I guess my father was a Choctaw.
Q. How do you known you are a Choctaw? A. I have always heard; I have heard my mother say; I claimed it the way it came from my mother and father both I had three-quarters.
Q. You are testifying now in reference to your daughter’s application; your daughter’s name is Georgia Phillips; she says that she claims three-quarters Choctaw blood because you claim three-quarters; now do you claim three-quarters? A. I would have to bring claim three-quarters if I bring in my Cherokee blood.
Q. If you brought in your Cherokee blood? A. Yes, sir.
Q. I don’t want you to bring in your Cherokee blood? A. It would be one-quarter.
Q. That is what you claimed when you came before the Commission? A. Yes, sir.
Q. How do you know you have one-quarter Choctaw blood? A. What my mother as told me and my witness that knowed me.
Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors comply with article fourteen of the treaty of 1830? A. No, sir. I don’t know.
Q. Do you know anything about article fourteen of that treaty? A. No, sir; I don’t.
Q. Do you know anything about the treaty of 1830? A. I don’t know sir.
Q. Do you know anything about Colonel William Ward the United States Indian Agent? A. No, sir; I don’t.
Q. Do you know when the treaty of 1830 was signed? A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know when it was ratified? A. No, sir; I don’t.
Q. Do you know whether the Mississippi Choctaw Indians who stayed in Mississippi after the treaty of 1830 was ratified were required to go before the United States Indian Agent and register under him or not within six months after the treaty was ratified? A. No, sir; I don’t know it; I was small then.
Q. How old are you now? A. I am going on seventy-three.
Q. Where were you born? A. Mississippi Choctaw County.
Q. You never heard anything about that treaty? A. No, sir; I have no education at all.

Witness excused...

G. Rosenwinkel being duly sworn on his oath states that as stenographer to the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes he reported in full all the proceedings had in the above entitled cause on June 17, 1902, and that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct transcript of his stenographic notes in said cause on said date of June 1902.

[Signature of G. Rosenwinkel]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 12 day of July 1902.

[Signature of Guy L. Emerson]
Notary Public.

---

Emphasis of questions added to increase readability

He does seem relatively consistent on what his parents claimed. When he drops his response for himself from three-fourths (Indian blood) to one-fourth (Choctaw blood), he should have dropped it to one-half. But it appears he was focusing on his father being one-half, and forgot to include his mother's half in the equation as well.

I find these testimonies fascinating - beyond a source of names and dates of ancestral cousins. Several times the Commission points out that no one in the family 'looks' Native American. It occurs to me that George W. Hartley died when his children were young, and their knowledge of him would come almost entirely from their mother. She might have claimed he was half-Choctaw when he was actually less than that. She appears to have claimed to be all Native American though, half Choctaw and half Cherokee. Apparently those who testified didn't inherit those genes. I don't have a photograph of my second great grandmother Sarah Hartley Denyer, who died in 1898, and didn't get a chance to testify. I have no idea what she looked like.

Amanuensis Monday: Dawes Commission - Georgia Phillips

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Last week I posted the Dawes Commission testimonies of Samuel Tillman Hartley, Melvin Elijah Van Every (for his wife Margaret Jane Denyer) and Eliza Caroline Reeves from November of 1900.

There were eight related testimonies in November of 1900, but the other five didn't present new information (beyond the names and ages of the children of those testifying).

In 1902 Samuel T Hartley returned with another daughter. In October I mentioned the difficulty they had with fractions. While both of these testimonies appear in the case file of the daughter, Georgia Phillips, I will separate them into two posts.

Excerpt:
Q. Do you claim under article fourteen of the treaty of 1830? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you understand that article? A. No, sir.

That one word, 'No,' had a wonderful result. The Commission began to explain it to her. Sure, there are places online to look it up, but below it appears in their words.

---

Department of the Interior
Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes.
Muskogee, I.T. June 17, 1902.

In the matter of the application for identification as Mississippi Choctaws of Georgia Phillips, for herself and her two minor children, Hester and Raby Phillips.

B.S. Johnson, attorney for applicants.

Georgia Phillips being first duly sworn testifies as follows:

Examination by the Commission

Q. What is your name? A. Georgia Phillips.
Q. What is your age? A. Thirty-three.
Q. What is your post office? A. Caney.
Q. Indian Territory? A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long have you lived at Caney? A. About two months I reckon.
Q. Where did you live before this? A. In Eastern Texas.
Q. Where were you born? A. In Texas.
Q. Always lived in Texas until you came to the Territory? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where did you live in Texas most of the time? A. In San Saba County.
Q. Is your father living? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is your mother living? A. No, sir.
Q. What is your father’s name? A. Sam Hartley.
Q. What was your mother’s name? A. Margaret Ralls.
Q. That was her maiden name? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Her name is Hartley now? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You claim through which parent father or mother? A. My father.
Q. How much Choctaw blood do you claim? A. My father claims to be three-quarters.
Q. You claim how much; would you be one-half of that or three-eighths? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You claim three-eights then? A. He claims three-quarters.
Q. Three-eights is one-half of three-quarters you think, is that right? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Has your father ever been recognized in any way or enrolled as a member of the Choctaw tribe of Indians by the Choctaw tribal authorities or the United States authorities in Indian Territory? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Has he been made an Indian? A. Yes, a year ago last ---

By Mr. Johnson:

Q. You mean he applied a year ago? A. Yes; he just applied.
Q. He has never been enrolled? A. No, sir.

By the Commission:

Q. He made application to be identified as a Mississippi Choctaw a year ago; did he not? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Have you proof of the marriage of your father and mother with you now? A. No, sir.
Q. You know whether it has been filed in the case of your father Sam Hartley, to be identified as a Mississippi Choctaw? A. Yes, sir.
Q. It has been filed in your father’s application? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now would you like to refer to the application made by your father Sam Hartley and the records made in that case have it made a part of your own application? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Samuel T. Hartley is what relation to you? A. My father.
Q. Robert H. Hartley is what relation? A. My brother.
Q. Virginia Schultz? A. My sister.
Q. Sophronia Cagle? A. My sister.
Q. Caroline Taylor? A. My sister.
Q. Maggie J Van? A. My Cousin. [ed. Van Every]
Q. Samuel W. Denyer? A. Cousin.
Q. Elijah Reeeves? A. Cousin. [ed. Eliza]
Q. These have all made application have they not to be identified as Mississippi Choctaws? A. Yes, sir.

Reference is here made in this application made by Georgia Phillips to M.C.R. 1050, being the application of her father Samuel T. Hartley, et al., and in which reference is made to the above cases.

Q. Are you married? A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is your husband’s name? A. Miles Phillips.
Q. Is he living? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is he a white man or Indian? A. White man, American.
Q. You make no claim for him? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you any minor children you want to make application for? A. I have two.
Q. What is the name of the oldest? A. Hester.
Q. Hester Phillips? A. Yes, sir.
Q. How old is Hester? A. Twelve years old.
Q. What is the name of the next? A. Raby.
Q. R-a-b-y? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Boy? A. Yes, sir.
Q. How old is Raby? A. Five years old.
Q. Is that all the children you have? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is your name or the names of your children on any of the tribal rolls of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory? A. No, sir.
Q. Is Miles Phillips the father of these two children? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Are you the mother? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Are you and your husband living together at your home? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Have you or your husband ever been married before you married each other? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you ever made application for citizenship in the Choctaw Nation to the Choctaw tribal authorities in Indian Territory for yourself and children? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you ever made application for citizenship in the Choctaw Nation for yourself and children to the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes under the act of Congress of June 10, 1896? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you ever before this time made application for citizenship in the Choctaw Nation for yourself and children by going before either the Choctaw tribal authorities or the United States authorities in Indian Territory? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you ever been admitted to citizenship with your children, in the Choctaw Nation by either the Choctaw tribal authorities, the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, or the United States Court in Indian Territory? A. No, sir.
Q. Do you now come before the Commission to identify yourself and your children as Mississippi Choctaws? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you claim under article fourteen of the treaty of 1830? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you understand that article? A. No, sir.

The treaty of 1830 was made between the United States government and the Choctaw Indians at a place in Mississippi called Dancing Rabbit Creek. It was made between the United States government and the Choctaw Indians on the 27th day of September 1830 for the purpose of effecting the removal, as far as practicable, of all the Choctaw Indians, who lived in the old Choctaw Nation, East of the Mississippi River, to the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. Before the treaty was signed it became known that a good many Choctaw Indians would not go to the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory under the treat with the other Indians, and in order to protect the interest of those Indians who stayed back there in the old Choctaw Nation article fourteen was put into the treaty. The treaty was then signed and afterwards on the 24th day of February 1831 it was ratified. Article fourteen reads, as follows:

“Each Choctaw head of a family being desirous to remain and become a citizen of the States, shall be permitted to do so, by signifying his intention to the Agent within six months from the ratification of this treaty and he or she shall thereupon be entitled to a reservation of one section of six hundred and forty acres of land to be bounded by sectional lines of survey; in like manner shall be entitled to one-half that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over ten years of age to adjoin the location of the parent. If they reside upon said lands intending to become citizens of the States for five years after the ratification of this treaty in that case a grant in fee simple shall issue; said reservation shall include the present improvement of the head of the family or a portion of it. Persons who claim under this article shall not lose the privilege of a Choctaw citizen but if they ever remove are not to be entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity.”

Q. You understand that don’t you? A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is the name of the ancestor through whom you claim your right to be identified as a Mississippi Choctaw; whom do you claim through? A. George W. Hartley.
Q. What relation was he to you? A. Grandfather.
Q. How much Choctaw blood did he have? A. I don’t know.
Q. Did he live in the old Choctaw Nation in Mississippi or Alabama? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where did he live? A. I can’t tell you only what I have been taught by my parents.
Q. Have you been taught that he lived in Mississippi or Alabama? A. Mississippi.
Q. In 1830? A. I don’t know.
Q. That is seventy-two years ago; don’t you know? A. No, sir.
Q. Can you give me the name of any Choctaw ancestor who did live in Mississippi or Alabama in the old Choctaw Nation in the year 1830 and was the head of a family there then? A. No, sir; I don’t know a great deal only what I have been taught.
Q. What have you been taught about your Choctaw ancestors? A. I have been taught I had Indian blood.
Q. How much Indian Choctaw blood have you been taught you had? A. I can’t understand and explain anything.
Q. You can’t understand what relation George W. Hartley is to you?

By Mr. Johnson:

Q. How much Indian blood did George W. Hartley have; one-half or one-fourth? A. One-fourth.
Q. Then your father would have one-half of that or one-eighth; aint that right? A. Yes, sir; that is right.
Q. What would you have then if your father had one-eighth; you would have one-half of that or one-sixteenth? A. Yes, sir.

By the Commission:

Q. You claim one-sixteenth? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Well a while ago you claimed three-eighths? A. I can’t remember anything.

By Mr. Johnson:

Q. Your grandfather had one-half; did your grandmother have any? A. Yes, sir.
Q. How much one-fourth or one-half? A. I don’t know what she was.

By the Commission:

Q. A little while ago you claimed three-eighth; now you claim one-sixteenth; do you really know how much you do claim? A. No, sir; I reckon not, if my father claims three-quarters – I told you I don’t know. My father claims three-quarters.

By Mr. Johnson:

Q. You claim one-sixteenth or more; you don’t know? A. No, sir; I don’t.

By the Commission:

Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors own any land or claim any in Mississippi or Alabama under article fourteen of the treaty of 1830? A. I don’t know.
Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors within six months from the ratification of the treaty of 1830 go to the United States Indian Agent Colonel Ward and tell him they wanted to stay in Mississippi, take land there and become citizens of the States? A. I don’t know.
Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors own any improvements or claim any in Mississippi or Alabama in the old Choctaw nation in the year 1830? A. I can’t tell you; I don’t know.
Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors go from that old Choctaw Nation East of the Mississippi River to the Choctaw Nation Indian Territory with the other Indians between 1834 and 1838 or forty? A. I don’t know.

In 1837 under an act of Congress approved March 3rd of that year and in 1842 under an act of Congress approved August 23rd of that year two Commissions were appointed to go to Mississippi and her claimants under article fourteen of the treaty of 1830. The reason why these two Commissions were appointed was because of the complaints of many Choctaw Indians who stayed back there in the old Choctaw Nation in Mississippi and Alabama after the treaty of 1830 was ratified who refused to go to the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. Now these Indians were required, if they wanted to take advantage of the provisions of article fourteen of that treaty, to go to the United States Indian Agent, whose name was Colonel Ward and tell him they wanted to stay in Mississippi, take land there and become citizens of the States. A great many Choctaw Indians did this who names Colonel Ward failed to register upon his list known as Ward’s register,. His neglect to do so caused a good any Indians who had land in the old Choctaw Nation upon which they had improvements to lose both; both the land and the improvements were taken from them and sold at its public land sales. This caused so many complaints among the Choctaw Indians that these two Commissions were appointed.

Q. Do you know whether any of your Choctaw ancestors went before either of these two Commissions and claimed benefits as Choctaw Indians under that article of that treaty? A. No, sir; I don’t know.
Q. Did any of your Choctaw ancestors receive any scrip from the government or certificates as we would call them now, which scrip entitled them to select land either in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, or Arkansas? A. I don’t know.

This scrip was issued under the act of Congress of August 23rd, 1842, and was issued to those Indians who proved their claims under article fourteen of the treaty of 1830 and also proved that they had land in the old Choctaw nation which the government had taken from them and sold at its public land sales.

Q. Do you speak the Choctaw language? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you any evidence you want to introduce now in support of this claim? A. None except my father.
Q. You want to introduce your father as a witness in this case? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Except his testimony, have you any evidence you want to present? A. No, sir.
Q. Would you like until the first of July in which to present other testimony? A. Yes, sir.

This applicant will have until July first, 1902, in which to present other testimony in support of this application.

This applicant has the appearance and physical characteristics of being descended from white parentage. Brown hair; blue eyes; medium fair complexion, and somewhat tanned from the sun. She has no knowledge of the Choctaw language and no knowledge of compliance on the part of his ancestors with any of the provisions of article fourteen of the treaty of 1830

Witness excused…

Amanuensis Monday: Dawes Commission - Eliza Caroline Reeves

Below is the testimony of Eliza Caroline (Foster) Reeves, the daughter of Sarah Ann Hartley and her second husband, George Foster. She was the half-sister of Margaret Jane (Denyer) Van Every.

Department of the Interior.
Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes.
Muskogee, I.T. November 26, 1900.

In the matter of the application of Eliza C. Reeves for the identification of herself and her three minor children as Mississippi Choctaws.

The said Eliza C. Reeves, being duly sworn, was examined by the Commission, and testified as follows:

Q. What is your name? A. Eliza C. Reeves.
Q. What is your age? A. Twenty-six.
Q. What is your post office address? A. Lytton Springs, Caldwell County, Texas.
Q. Are you a resident of the State of Texas? A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long have you live in Texas? A. I was born and raised in Texas.
Q. You never maintained a residence anywhere else? A. No, sir.
Q. How much Choctaw blood do you claim? A. One eighth.
Q. What is your father’s name? A. George Foster.
Q. Is your father living? A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is your mother’s name? A. Sarah Ann Foster.
Q. Is she living? A. No, sir.
Q. Through which one of your parents do you claim your Choctaw blood? A. My mother.
Q. Was your mother’s name ever on any of the tribal rolls of the Choctaw Nation? A. No, sir.
Q. Was your mother ever recognized as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation by the tribal authorities of the Choctaw Nation? A. No, sir.
Q. Did you ever make application to the Choctaw tribal authorities for citizenship in the Choctaw Nation? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you ever been recognized by the Choctaw tribal authorities by any official act of their National council as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation? A. No, sir; I never was.
Q. Did you, or did any one in your behalf, in 1896, make application to this commission for citizenship in the Choctaw nation under the Act of Congress of June 10th, 1896? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you ever been admitted to citizenship in the Choctaw Nation by a judgment of the United States Courts in the Indian Territory on appeal from the decision of the Choctaw tribal authorities or the decision of this Commission? A. No, sir.
Q. Have you ever prior to this time made any application to either the Choctaw tribal authorities or to the authorities of the United States for either citizenship or enrollment as a Choctaw? A. No, sir.
Q. This is your first application of any description? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You are now making application for identification as a Mississippi Choctaw? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Why do you believe you are entitled to be identified by this Commission as a Choctaw Indian entitled to rights in the Choctaw lands under the provisions of the 14th article of the treaty of 1830? A. Well, I was taught it on my mother’s side.
Q. You were taught you were entitled to benefits under the 14th article of the treaty of 1830? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You are making your claim solely under the provisions of the treaty of 1830? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did any of your ancestors ever comply with the provisions of the 14th article of the treaty of 1830? A. No, sir.
Q. What was the name of your ancestor or ancestors who were recognized members of the Choctaw tribe of Indians in Mississippi in 1830 at the time the treaty was entered in to between the United States and the Choctaw Indians? A. George W. Hartley.
Q. What relation was he to you? A. My grandfather.
Q. You are a direct lineal descendant of his? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Have you any evidence of the fact that he was a recognized member of the Choctaw tribe of Indians in Mississippi in 1830? A. No, sir.
Q. What do you know about George W. Hartley’s residence in Mississippi and recognition as a Choctaw Indian? A. I don’t know anything.
Q. Do you know when he left Mississippi? A. No, sir.
Q. Do you know whether he died there? A. Yes, sir; I believe he did. I don’t know for certain.
Q. When did your mother leave Mississippi? A. She left when she was a child.
Q. How old would she be if she were living now? A. She was sixty-six when she died. She has been dead two years.
Q. Did she come west with the Choctaw Indians when they removed from Mississippi? A. Her mother and her came to this country.
Q. To what country? A. To Texas at the time, I think.
Q. Did any of your ancestors signify to the United States Indian Agent of the Choctaw Indians in Mississippi their intention to remain and become citizens of the State of Mississippi within six months after the ratification of the treaty of 1830? A. No, I don’t know anything about that.
Q. Did any of your ancestors ever receive or claim any land in Mississippi as beneficiaries under the 14th article of the treaty of 1830? A. No, not that I know of. I don’t know.
Q. Do you make any claim by reason of any other treaty stipulations entered into between the United States and the Choctaw tribe of Indians? A. No, sir.
Q. Are you married? A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is your husband’s name? A. William T. Reeves.
Q. Are you making any claim for him? A. No, sir.
Q. Is he a white man? A. Yes, sir.
Q. He has never made a claim to Indian citizenship by blood? A. No, sir.
Q. Where did you marry him? A. Buda, Texas.
Q. When? A. November 17th, 1892.
Q. Have you any children? A. Three.
Q. Do you want to make application for your children? A. Yes.
Q. What are the names and ages of your children? A. Nora Alice.
Q. How old is she? A. Six years old.
Q. The next one? A. Ada B. Reeves.
Q. How old is Ada? A. She is five. She has turned five years now.
Q. What is the next one? A. James Allen Reeves.
Q. How old is James Allen? A. Three.
Q. Is that all? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Are you the mother of these children? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is William T. Reeves their father? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Are you living with your husband? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Are the children living with you? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is there any additional statement you desire to make in support of this application? A. No, sir.
Q. Is there any written evidence you desire to offer in support of your application or the application you make on behalf of your three children?

Mr. L.P. Hudson (Counsel for applicant.) The attorney for applicant here asks leave to file written evidence in support of this claim within fifteen days from this date.
By the Commission: Permission is granted the attorney for the applicant to file written evidence in support of this application, provided the same is offered for filing with the Commission within fifteen days from this date.

Examination --- by Mr. L.P. Hudson.

Q. You say you live in Texas. Is it your intention to remove to the Indian Territory in the near future for the purpose of making your home here? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You are a grand daughter of George W. Hartley, are you? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And George W. Hartley was the father of your mother and also of Samuel D. Hartley? A. Yes, sir; they were brother and sister.
Q. You are expecting to use the evidence in the case of Samuel D. Hartley in your care, are you? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And you have relied upon Samuel D. Hartley looking up your matter for you? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You know nothing of this matter except what you have been told? A. No, sir; that is all.

By the Commission: The decision of the Commission as to your application and the application you make on behalf of your three minor children for identification as Mississippi Choctaws will be mailed to you in writing in the near future to your present post office address.

The undersigned, Wm. S. Wellshear, being duly sworn, upon his oath states that he reported in full all proceedings had in this application for identification, and that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of his stenographic notes thereof.

[Signature of Wm. S. Wellshear]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of November, 1900

[Signature of Guy L. Emerson, Notary Public]

---

Emphasis added to questions for readability

Eliza says her mother was 66 when she died two years prior, this would suggest Sarah Hartley was born in 1832, and would have been born in Mississippi. Most census records indicate she was born about 1836, in which case she would likely have been born in Arkansas, as Samuel T Hartley's testimony indicated the Hartley family stopped in Little Rock.

Eliza's reference to Texas as a different country is humorous, but possibly correct. Texas was annexed and became a state in 1845. It's not clear exactly when the Hartley family left Arkansas and entered Texas - sometime between 1835 and 1850.

Research indicates Eliza had a brother George W Foster, Jr., and a sister Sarah Ann Foster. Neither appear to have testified in front of the Dawes Commission.

Amanuensis Monday: Dawes Commission - Samuel Tillman Hartley

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Apple has been transcribing a huge collection of letters for over six months, and her efforts are inspirational. Though not nearly as large a collection as hers, I have many letters and other documents I've scanned in that I wish to transcribe, as well as a handful of audiotapes, and I thought setting up a day of the week where I would post transcriptions might encourage me to do so.

Popular weekly blog memes include Wordless Wednesday, Tombstone Tuesday, and Friday Five. Alliteration seems to be a necessity, and as a poetry aficionado, it appeals to me as well. So, searching for an appropriate alliterative title, I decided to go with "Amanuensis Monday." It's a fairly obscure word, but fits my purpose. It also provides me with the weekend to prepare the posts.

Here's my first entry.

I am going to attempt to do this weekly, and others are welcome to participate. Feel free to leave a link to your transcription in the comments.

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Testimony delivered by Samuel T. Hartley in front of The Dawes Commission, 1900

Department of the Interior
Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes,
Muskogee, I.T. Nov. 21, 1900.

In the matter of the application for identification as Mississippi Choctaws of Samuel T. Hartley and his three minor children. Samuel T. Hartley being duly sworn by Acting Chairman Bixby, testified as follows:

Examination by the Commission.

Q. What is your name? A. Samuel T. Hartley.
Q. What is your age? A. I am 70.
Q. What is your post-office address? A. Turnerville, Texas.
Q. Are you a resident of the state of Texas? A. Yes sir.
Q. How long have you resided in Texas? A. I have been in Texas about sixty years I reckon.
Q. Have you maintained a continuous residence in Texas for sixty years? A. Yes sir.
Q. Where did you live prior to that time? A. Mississippi.
Q. What part of Mississippi? A. Choctaw County.
Q. Were your people recognized members of the Choctaw tribe of Indians in Mississippi in 1830? A. My grandmother.
Q. Wasn’t your mother? A. Yes sir, my mother too.
Q. What is your mother’s name? A. Eliza Beasley.
Q. Is she living? A. No sir.
Q. What is your father’s name? A. George W. Hartley.
Q. That is your mother’s maiden name? A. Yes sir.
Q. Is your father living? A. No sir, he’s dead.
Q. Through which one of your parents do you claim your Choctaw blood? A. My father.
Q. How much Choctaw blood do you claim? A. One fourth.
Q. Was your father a recognized member of the Choctaw tribe of Indians in Mississippi in 1830? A. I don’t know, I reckon so.
Q. When did you leave Mississippi? A. I left Mississippi in ’35 I believe.
Q. Did your father come with you? A. Yes sir, come to Little Rock, Arkansas and died.
Q. Your father left Mississippi in 1835 then? A. Yes sir.
Q. Where did he start for? A. He started for Texas.
Q. Do you know anything about his possession in the state of Mississippi? A. No, I do not.
Q. Do you know whether he ever received any land in Mississippi as a beneficiary under the provisions of the 14th article of the treaty of 1830? A. I do not.
Q. That is the article of the treaty under which you are making your claim is it not? A. Yes sir.
Q. Did any of your ancestors ever comply with the provisions of that article of that treaty? A. Not as I know of anything about it.
Q. Why did your father leave Mississippi? A. Because he wanted to come to Texas.
Q. What did he want to come to Texas for? A. I do not know.
Q. Did he signify to the United States Indian Agent for the Choctaw Indians in Mississippi that the wanted to stay there and become a citizen of the states? A. I don’t know that.
Q. Did he remain there the five years as required by the provisions of that article of the treaty? A. I don’t know that.
Q. Did any of your ancestors ever receive or claim any land in Mississippi as beneficiaries under the provisions of the 14th article of the treaty of 1830? A. No sir, I don’t think they did.
Q. If your father was a recognized member of the Choctaw tribe of Indians in Mississippi in 1830 why did he not remove to the Indian territory with the other members of the tribe? A. I don’t know.
Q. What do you know about your father’s Choctaw Indian citizenship in Mississippi? A. I know my father was a one fourth Choctaw.
Q. Was any provisions ever made that you should receive any land in Mississippi under the provisions of the 14th article of the treaty of 1830? A. Not as I know of.
Q. When were you born? A. In 1830.
Q. What month? A. In March, the fourteenth.
Q. You were living on the 27th of September, 1830 were you not? A. I guess I was.
Q. You are aware of the fact that under the provisions of the 14th article of the Treaty of 1830 that you were entitled to certain considerations thereunder as a child? A. Yes sir.
Q. Did you ever receive any benefits under that article of that treaty? A. Never did.
Q. Are you making this claim under any other provisions of any other treaty between the United States and the Choctaw Indians? A. No sir.
Q. Are you married? A. Yes sir.
Q. What is your wife’s name? A. Nannie V. Hartley.
Q. Is she a white woman? A. Yes sir.
Q. Never made any claim to Indian citizenship by blood? A. No sir.
Q. Are you making any claim for her now? A. No sir.
Q. When did you marry her? A. In ’90.
Q. Where were you married to her? A. In Texas.
Q. Married in accordance with the laws of the state of Texas? A. Yes sir.
Q. Have you your marriage license and certificate? A. Yes sir.
Q. Have you them with you? A. No sir.
Q. It will be necessary for the Commission to be supplied with evidence of your marriage to your wife in the matter of the identification of your children. Have you any children under 21 years of age and unmarried for whom you desire to make application? A. Three.
Q. What are their names and ages? A. Ammie Hartley.
Q. How old is she? A. Nineteen.
Q. Who is the mother of Ammie Hartley? A. My first wife.
Q. What was her name? A. Margaret Hartley.
Q. Is she dead? A. Yes sir.
Q. Have you your marriage license and certificate to Margaret Hartley? A. Yes sir.
Q. It will be necessary for the Commission to be supplied with evidence of your marriage to your first wife in the matter of the application for the identification of this child. What are the names and ages of your other two children? A. Samuel H. Hartley. Sixteen.
Q. This same mother? A. Yes sir.
Q. The next one? A. By my second wife, Eddie R.
Q. How old is he? A. Ten years old.
Q. This child is by your second wife? A. Yes sir.
Q. These children all live with you at your home? A. Yes sir.
Q. You and your wife living together? A. Yes sir.
Q. Any additional statement you desire to make in support of this application? A. No sir.
Q. Is there any written evidence that you desire to offer the commission for consideration in support of this application?

Here attorney for applicant asks leave to file written evidence in support of this claim in 15 days from this date.

Permission is granted the attorney for the applicant to file written evidence in support of this application provided the same is offered for filing with this Commission within fifteen days from the date thereof.

By L.P. Hudson, attorney for the applicant.

Q. Mr. Hartley is it your intention to remove to the Indian Territory for the purpose of making a home here? A. Yes sir.
Q. And to do that in the near future? A. Yes sir.

By the Commission.

The decision of the Commission as to your application and the application you make on behalf of your three minor children for identification as Mississippi Choctaws will be mailed to you in writing sometime in the near future to your present post-office address.

Myra Young, having been first duly sworn upon her oath states that as stenographer to the Commission to the Five Civilized tribes she reported in full all the proceedings had in the above entitled cause on the 21st day of November, 1900, and that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct transcript of her stenographic notes of said proceedings on said date.

(signature of Myra Young)

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22nd day of November, 1900.

(signature of Guy L Emerson, Notary Public)

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Questions emphasized above to improve readability.

Samuel Tillman Hartley (burial info) was the brother of my second great grandmother, Sarah Ann (Hartley) Denyer. His first wife was Margaret Rawls, and his second wife was Nannie Virginia Rock (burial info).

I first blogged about discovering these records on Footnote back in September. As you can see, while there wasn't enough evidence for the Commission to recognize the family as Choctaws, there was still a lot of good genealogical information to be discovered within the testimony.

I am going to limit myself to items that are either public record, like the above, or were written by relatives who have been deceased at least fifty years. (Unless I receive permission otherwise from the author, if still alive, or their children.) In a post last September, Geneablogie explained the current death+70 restriction on unpublished works doesn't usually apply to pre-1976 works, though with works by family members I am going to proceed with caution.

The Happy Dance

The theme for the 65th Carnival of Genealogy: "The Happy Dance. The Joy of Genealogy. Almost everyone has experienced it. Tell us about the first time, or the last time, or the best time. What event, what document, what special find has caused you to stand up and cheer, to go crazy with joy?

One occasion I recall was when I received my maternal grandmother's "Official Personnel Folder" from the US Government. She had worked for the Post Office from 1921-1936. My maternal grandfather's OPF contained 50 pages of material from his career. My grandmother's 3. Her signed Oath of Office taken in 1921 was nice, but it's not my only copy of her signature. The document entitled "Report of Separation" didn't have a lot of useful information. It noted that her 'last date of pay' was Jan 21, 1937 - which was a fun coincidence since it was exactly 32 years before I was born.

It was the third document that caused the Happy Dance

A year by year accounting of her career, including her name changes in 1927 and 1929. At that point in my research, from letters she had saved from her father, I knew she had been planning to marry someone named Dale in 1927. I also knew from my mother that there had been one or two husbands prior to my grandfather. But we had no last name. After opening the package, I instantly called my mother to give her the information, which I then passed along to an aunt in an email.

Another happy dance occurred upon my discovery of testimony my maternal Hartley ancestors gave in front of the American Dawes Commission - backing up the family story that we have Choctaw ancestry.

On my paternal ancestry, I'd have to include my discovery that my second great grandfather Selig Feinstein had received a patent for improvements to a fire hydrant. At this point in my research this was confusing because I thought his career was limited to real estate and laundry. A week later I discovered he spent ten years as a shoer/blacksmith.