Alabama Archives – Page 7 of 34

Natchez, Mobilians, Chatots, Thomez and Tensas

History of Alabama and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period

In 1718, the French West India Company sent, from Rochelle, eight hundred colonists to Louisiana. Among them was a Frenchman of intelligence and high standing, named Le Page Du Pratz, who was appointed superintendent of the public plantations. After a residence of sixteen years in this country, he returned to France, and published an interesting work upon Louisiana. 1721: Du Pratz was often at Mobile, and about the period found living, in that vicinity, a few small tribes of Indians, whom we will now describe. The Chatots were a very small tribe, who composed a town of forty huts, adjoining … Read more

Creek Burial Customs

The Creeks had burial customs resembling those of the Chickasaw, and, in some instances, deposited the remains of their dead beneath the floors of their habitations. To quote from Bartram: ” The Muscogulges bury their deceased in the earth. They dig a four-square deep pit under the cabin or couch which the deceased lay on, in his house, lining the grave with Cypress bark, where they place the corpse in a sitting posture, as if it were alive; depositing with him his gun, tomahawk, pipe, and such other matters as he had the greatest value for in his life time.” … Read more

An Account of the McGillivray Family, The Revolutionary War

War had now raged between the mother country and her colonies of North America for more than three years. It had become fierce and sanguinary along the Atlantic. But the people of West Florida, whose government was composed chiefly of military dependencies, had hitherto enjoyed peace. They were mostly loyal subjects of the King. But now, even in this remote region, the contest began to be felt. The Creek Indians were relied upon, mainly, by the British authorities, to harass the Whig inhabitants of Georgia and Carolina. They had stationed at Hickory Ground, the site of the lower suburbs of … Read more

The Cherokee Nation

It has been seen that De Soto passed over a portion of the country of these Indians in the territory which embraces Northern Georgia. The name Cherokee is derived from Chera, fire; and the Prophets of this nation were called Cherataghe, men of divine fire. The first that we hear of the Cherokees, after the Spanish invasion, is their connection with the early British settlers of Virginia. A powerful and extensive nation, they even had settlements upon the Appomattox River, and were allied by blood with the Powhattan tribe. The Virginians drove them from that place, and they retreated to … Read more

The Chickasaw Nation

The Chickasaws, although at the period of a small nation, were once numerous, and their language was spoken by many tribes in the Western States. They were the fiercest, most insolent, haughty and cruel people among the Southern Indians. They had proved their bravery and intrepidity in constant wars. In 1541, they attacked the camp of De Soto in a most furious midnight assault, threw his army into dismay, killed some of his soldiers, destroyed all his baggage, and burnt up the town in which he was quartered. In 1736, they whipped the French under Bienville, who had invaded their … Read more

The Choctaw Nation

It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader that the Chickasaws were living in the upper part of Mississippi when De Soto invaded it, and that they fought him with great courage. Now, as to the Choctaws, according to tradition, came with them into this country, and were a portion of the same family; it is reasonable to suppose that the Pafallayas, the brave allies of Tuscaloosa, were the Choctaws— especially when taken in connection with the collateral evidence in our possession. Period unknown: The tradition of the migration of the Chickasaws and Choctaws from the Mexican empire has been preserved … Read more

The Creek Nation

The Creek woman was short in stature, but well formed. Her cheeks were rather high, but her features were generally regular and pretty. Her brow was high and arched, her eyes large, black and languishing, expressive of modesty and diffidence. Her feet and hands were small, and the latter exquisitely shaped. 1780: The warrior was larger than the ordinary race of Europeans, often above six feet in height, but was invariably well formed, erect in his carriage, and graceful in every movement. They were proud, haughty and arrogant; brave and valiant in war; ambitious of conquest; restless, and perpetually exercising … Read more

The Migration of Alabama and Muscogee Indians East

It has been seen that the Indians living in that part of Alabama through which De Soto passed, were the Coosas, inhabiting the territory embraced in the present counties of Benton, Talladega, Coosa, and a portion of Cherokee; the Tallases, living upon the Tallapoosa and its tributary streams; the Mobilians extending from near the present city of Montgomery to the commercial emporium which now bears their name; the Pafallayas or Choctaws, inhabiting the territory of the modern counties of Green, Marengo, Tuscaloosa, Sumpter and Pickens; and, in the present State of Mississippi, the Chickasaws, in the valley of the Yalobusha; … Read more

The Indians of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi

The Indians of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi were so similar in form, mode of living and general habits, in the time of De Soto and of others who succeeded him in penetrating these wilds, that they will all be treated, on the pages of this chapter, as one people. The color was like that of the Indians of our day. The males were admirably proportioned, athletic, active and graceful in their movements, and possessed open and manly countenances. The females, not inferior in form, were smaller, and many of them beautiful. No ugly or ill-formed Indians were seen, except … Read more

Wilford Longhair Taylor’s Testimony

Wilford “Longhair” Taylor Tribal Chief MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians Testimony Before the Committee on Resources Unites States House of Representatives Hearing on the Federal recognition and acknowledgement process by the Bureau of Indian Affairs March 31, 2004 Mr. Chairman and committee members: good morning. My name is Wilford “Longhair” Taylor and I am the elected tribal chief of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. Thank you for granting me the opportunity to testify on the federal recognition and acknowledgement process by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The Choctaw Indians of Mobile and Washington Counties, Alabama (MOWA) are the … Read more

Biography of John J. Jenness

John J. Jenness, a well-to-do farmer of Pittsfield, was born in this town, April 13, 1829, son of John and Ann P. (Tilton) Jenness. The family, which is of English origin, was first represented in America by three brothers who were early settlers of Rye Beach, N.H. John Jenness (first), grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Rye Beach, and reared to agricultural pursuits. When a young man, he settled in Pittsfield, and was afterward engaged in tilling the soil in this town until his death, which occurred when he was forty-four years old. He rendered substantial … Read more

Marshall County Alabama Cemetery Database

This database contains 47,000+ internments recorded in Marshall County from the 1960’s to present day. It encompasses 150 cemeteries throughout Marshall County and is an exhaustive recording of every known gravestone in the county at the time it was taken.

Choctaw Burial Customs

Thus the greater part of the southern country was claimed and occupied by tribes belonging to the Muskhogean group, who were first encountered by the Spanish explorers of the early sixteenth century, and who continued to occupy the region until removed during the first half of the nineteenth century. For three centuries they are known to have remained within the same limited area. On the west were the Choctaw, whose villages extended over a large part of the present State of Mississippi and eastward into Alabama. And to this tribe should undoubtedly be attributed the many burial mounds now encountered … Read more

Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers

Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers: Being a list of names, compiled from authentic sources, of soldiers of the American Revolution, who resided in the state of Alabama.

Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers – B Surnames

BACON, RICHARD, aged 73, and a resident of Madison County; private and commissary Virginia Continental Line; enrolled on December 31, 1832, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $73.33.-Revolutionary Pension Roll, in Vol. xiv, Sen. Doc. 514, 23rd Cong., 1st sess., 1833-34. BAGWELL, FREDERICK, a resident of Fayette County; private, particular service not shown; enrolled on August 20, 1835, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $50. Pension Book, State Branch Bank, Mobile. He resided in Fayette county, June 1, … Read more

Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers – A Surnames

ADAMS, BRYANT, a resident of Montgomery County; private, particular service not shown; enrolled on September 26, 1834, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $30; transferred to North Carolina, letter August 29, 1836.-Pension Book, State Branch Bank, Mobile. AGNEW, GEORGE, a resident of Lauderdale County; private in cavalry, particular service not shown; enrolled on September 29, 1836, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $25.-Pension Book, State Branch Bank, Mobile. ALEXANDER, , aged 98, resided in Mobile county, June 1, … Read more

Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers – C Surnames

CADENHEAD, JAMES, Sen., aged 98, resided in Pike County, June 1, 1840.-Census of Pensioners, 1841, p. 149. CAFFEY, JOHN. The Alabama Journal, Montgomery, August 28, 1826, contains the obituary of John Caffey : “Died, at his plantation, in the vicinity of Montgomery, on Saturday, the 19th, inst. (Aug. 19, 1826), of bilious fever, Mr. John Caffey, in seventy-fifth year of his age. “Mr. Caffey was born on the eastern shore of Maryland. At an early period of the revolution he enlisted under the command of Washington and La Fayette. After the struggle for independence was over he settled in Guilford … Read more

Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers – D Surnames

DAILY, OWEN, aged 76, resided in Monroe County, June 1, 1840.-Census of Pensioners, 1841, p. 149. DARBY, BENJAMIN, aged 86, and a resident of Clarke County; private S. C. Militia; enrolled on April 18, 1833, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $38.32; sums received to date of publication of list, $95.80.-Revolutionary Pension Roll, in Vol. xiv, Sen. Doc. 514, 23rd Cong., 1st sess., 1833-34. DARDEN, GEORGE, aged 71, and a resident of Tuscaloosa County; private Georgia Militia; enrolled on April 2, 1833, under act of Congress of June 7, … Read more

Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers – G Surnames

GALESPIE, DANIEL, aged 77, resided in Chambers County, June 1, 1840, with David Taylor.-Census of Pensioners, 1841, p. 149. GARISON, STEPHEN, aged 83, resided in Walker County, June 1, 1840, with Silas Garison.-Census of Pensioners, 1841, p. 150. GARNER, JOHN, age not given, a resident of Butler County; service not given because of the loss of papers by the burning of the office of the War Department, 1801 and 1814; enrolled on July 5, 1812; payment to date from January 29, 1812; annual allowance, $48; sums received to date of publication of list, $1,060.78; Acts Military establishment; transferred from Georgia … Read more

Alabama Revolutionary War Soldiers – F Surnames

FABER, WILLIAM, private, particular service not shown; enrolled on December 27, 1836; annual allowance, $100; no record of any payment having been made. Pension Book, State Branch Bank, Mobile. FAIR, BARNABAS, aged 76, and a resident of Tuscaloosa County; private N. C. Militia; enrolled on October 7, 1833, under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $80.-Revolutionary Pension Roll, in Vol. xiv, Sen. Doc. 514, 23rd Cong., 1st sess., 1833-34. FIELDS, BARTHOLOMEW, aged 79, resided in Dale County, June 1, 1840.-Census of Pensioners, 1841, p. 149. FILES, ADAM J., aged 78, … Read more