To better understand your Choctaw ancestor’s history, it’s essential to explore the Armstrong Rolls and their significance. The Armstrong Rolls document the provisions made for Choctaw individuals and families who chose to remain in their ancestral lands rather than relocate. According to the terms of the treaty, any Choctaw head of a family who wished to stay and become a citizen of the United States had six months to declare this intention to the Agent. Upon doing so, they were entitled to a reservation of 640 acres of land, marked by sectional survey lines. Additionally, unmarried children living with them were eligible for portions of land—half of that amount for those over ten years old and a quarter for those under ten, adjoining their parent’s location.
If the family resided on the land for five years after the treaty’s ratification, intending to become U.S. citizens, they would receive a grant in fee simple. This reservation was to include any existing improvements made by the head of the family. Importantly, those who claimed land under this treaty did not forfeit their Choctaw citizenship. However, if they chose to relocate, they would lose their entitlement to any portion of the Choctaw annuity. Understanding these details can provide valuable insight into your ancestor’s decisions and the historical context in which they lived.
Additional information:
- Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
- Letters and Correspondence Concerning the Armstrong Roll
- Understanding the Armstrong Rolls
Search the Armstrong Roll
Legend
Name = Name of Indians owning farm
Cult = Number of acres cultivated
Number = Entire number of the family
Over = Males over 16 years
Under = Males and females under 10 years
Locality = Locality of farms
Acres = Number of acres of farm
Remarks = General Remarks
District = District
