Colonel William Ward was appointed United States agent to register Choctaw Indians according to Article 14 of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, September 1830. The treaty was ratified February 24, 1831 and the six month time limit for those wishing to remain ended August 24, 1831. The registration procedure resulted in numerous “contingent claims” by members of the Choctaw Nation.
Ward was not the best record keeper and in many instances even refused to register those wishing to register. Letters like the follow where received by the war department
Hon. LEWIS CASS, Washington.
The registers I received from Washington are deficient as regards the citizens or five years’ claims, as I find no such claims alluded to in any part of said registers. These claims are under the 14th article of the treaty. If there is any such register, I should like to know it. There are many complaints of the defects of the one furnished by Col. Ward.
Respectfully, G. W. M.
Extract of a letter front George W. Martin to Secretary of War, dated
Columbus, November 19, 1833.
Register of Choctaw Names as entered by the agent previous to the 24th of August 1831, who wish to become citizens according to the provisions of the late treaty of 1839. This a combined list of names and information for several sources. Items marked with [ ] or ( ) are from different lists.
April 15, 1831
Moore, John, Children: 4 under 10, 3 over 10, White man, Indian wife.
May 7, 1831
Iklanabee, Children: 0 under 10, 3 over 10, Indian man.
Oniatamba, Children: 0 under 10, 3 over 10, Indian man
Byington, Samuel, Children: none, Indian man.
Alavache, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 19, Indian woman.
Jinkens, Jack, (Jack Jinkins), Children: 3 under 10, 0 over 10, Indian man, (Oknoxoby Creek.)
Cobb, Samuel, Children: 4 (5) under 10, 1 (5) over 10, Indian half breed, (Pearl River)
Pickens, James, (James Pickins), Children: 4 (6) under 10, 2 (3) over 10, Indian half breed, (Pearl River)
Pickens, John (John Pickins) Children: 1 under 10, 0 over 10, Indian half breed, (Pearl River).
May 20, 1831
Hardaway, Hartwell, Children: 3 under 10, 4 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Hashookwah Creek).
May 23, 1831
Garvin, Henry, Children: 1 under 10, 0 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Chickasaway River).
Murphey, George (George Murpha), Children: 4 under 10, 1 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Chickasawhay River).
Ryley, Partick, [Patrick Reyley], Children: 2 under 10, 1 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Yazoo River), (May 26, 1831).
Christy, William, Children: 4 under 10, 4 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Six Towns).
June 13, 1831
Brashears, Alexander, Children: 3 [5] (6) under 10, 2 (3) over 10, Indian half breed, [Half blood Creek], (Suckenacha Creek).
Hancock, Robert, Children: 3 under 10, 2 (5) over 10, Indian half breed, [Half blood Choctaw], (Tombigbee River).
Kerney, Arthur, [Arthur Carney], Children: 2 under 10, 1 over 10, Indian Half-breed, (Tombigbee River).
Beemes, Betsey, Children: none, Half-breed woman, (Tombigbee River).
McGilvery, Robert, (Robert McGilbray), Children: 2 under 10, 1 over 10, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Walker, John, Children: 3 under 10, 4 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Tombigbee River).
Brashears, Deleley, (Delila Brashears), Children: 3 under 10, 3 over 10, Half-breed woman, (Tombigbee River).
Brashears, Zadock, Children: 2 under 10, 1 [0] over 10, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Brashears, Turner, Jr., Children: none, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Stanton, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Tombigbee River).
James, Adam, Children: 4 under 10, 0 over 10, White man, Indian Wife, (Sand Creek).
Johnston, Stanmore H., Children: None, (Tombigbee River).
Brashears, Racheal, Children: 1 under 10, 0 over 10, Half-breed woman, (Tombigbee River).
Howell, Caleb, [Calvan Howell], Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Tombigbee River).
June 14, 1831
Foster, William, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, Half-breed, (Mississippi River).
Otemansha, (Oteimansah Foster), Children: none, Indian Woman, (Black Creek). [See note below.]
June 16, 1831.
Note: Otemansha above registered on June 16, 1831, error above.
Foster, James, Children: 3 under 10, 0 over 10, Half-breed man, (Black Creek).
Foster, Hugh, Children: 4 under 10, 0 over 10, Half-breed man, (Mississippi River).
June 18, 1831.
Tom, Jim, Children: 4 (2) [2] under 10, 0 over 10, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Ohoyan, (Ohoyan Tom), Children: 4 under 10, 0 [3] over 10, Half-breed woman, (Tombigbee River).
June 21, 1831.
Buchannon, Charles, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Tombigbee River).
June 25, 1831.
Johnston, Henry, Children: none, White man, Indian wife.
[Johnson, Nancy, Children: none, Half-breed woman], (Chickasawhay River).
Bryant, Lewis, Children: 3 under 10, 2 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Chickasawhay River ).
July 2, 1831
Pateworth, Henry, [Henry Pebworth], Children: 4 under 10, 2 over 10, White man, Indian Wife, (Tombigbee River). (June 30, 1831).
July 5, 1831
Jones, John, (John Jones, Sr.), Children: 0 under 10, 1 (2) over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Tombigbee River).
Daniels, Jacob, [Jacob Dannels], Children: 4 under 10, 0 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Tombigbee River).
Lebrush, Matthew, [Matthew Labrouse], Children: none, White man, Indian wife, (Tombigbee River)., [Lived on Military road].
Durant, Luceve, (Lewis Durant), [Linew Durant], Children, 0 under 10, 2 (1) over 10, Half-breed man, (Big Black River). (July 18, 1831).
Hall, William, Children: 4 under 10, 3 over 10, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Pinson, Betsey, Children: 2 under 10, 1 over 10, Half-breed woman, (Tombigbee River).
Lightfoot, William, (William Litefoot), Children: 3 under 10, 0 over 10, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Parress, Anthony, (Anthony Parris), Children: 3 under 10, 0 over 10, White man, Indian Wife, (Tombigbee River).
Roberson, Lewis, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, White man, Indian wife, (Tombigbee River).
Collins, Lyman C., Children: none, Indian man, (Tombigbee River).
July 8, 1831
Tom, Jack (Colored man), Children: 4 under 10, 0 over 10, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Carr, Henry T., Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, (Oknoxoby Creek).
July 11, 1831.
Johnson, George, Children: 4 under 10, 3 over 10, (Chickasawhay River.)
July 18, 1831.
Jones, Tennessee, Children: 3 under 10, 0 over 10, (Oknoxoby Creek.)
Pier Durant, Children: 2 under 10, 4 over 10, (Big Black River.)
Karnes, James, Children: 4 under 10, 4 over 10, (Big Black River.)
Durant, Rosease, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, (Big Black River.)
Taylor, William, White Man, Children: 3 under 10, 1 over 10, (Big Black River.)
Payton, Joe, Children: 0 under 10, 1 over 10, (Big Black River.)
Durant, Fisher, Children: none, (Big Black River.)
Kearns, Peggy, Children: none, (Big Black River.)
July 26, 1831.
Pitchlyn, Sophiah, (Sophia Pitchlyan), Children: 1 under 10, 3 over 10, Half-breed woman, (Tombigbee River).
Jockalonah, Children: 0 under 10, 2 over 10, (Tombigbee River).
August 3, 1831.
Wall, Noah, Children: 2 under 10, 2 over 10, White man, Indian wife.
August 4, 1831.
Wade, Ennes, White man, Children: 4 under 10, 0 over 10, (Yellobushah Creek.)
Allen, Samuel A., White man, Children: 1 under 10, 0 over 10, (Yellobushah Creek)
August 13, 1831.
Grayham, Suhanna [Susannah Grayham], Children: 0 under 10, 1 over 10, Half-breed woman.
Lewellyar, Ann V., [Ann V. Lewellyan], Children: 0 under 10, 1 over 10, Half-breed woman.
August 17, 1831.
Buckles, Betsey, Children: 5 under 10, 3 over 10, (Tombigbee River).
August 17, 1831.
Hoolbatubbe, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, (Leaf River.)
Hoshaloobba, Children: 3 under 10, 2 over 10, (Leaf River).
Muckatonah, Children: 1 under 10, 2 over 10, (Leaf River.)
Chaffatokechia, Children: none, (Hashookwah Creek.)
McGilvery, John, (John McGilbray), Children: 2 under 10, 3 (4) over 10, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Gordon, McGilbray, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, (Tombigbee River).
McGilvery, Turner, (Turner McGilbray), Children 2 (1) under 10, 0 over 10, Half-breed man, (Tombigbee River).
Leader, Little, Children: 2 under 10, 3 over 10, Indian Man.
Hotah, Children: 1 under 10, 1 over 10, Indian man.
Eyatubbee, Children: 2 under 10, 0 9over 10, Indian man.
Hiatubbee, Children: 1 under 10, 0 over 10, Indian man.
Onakawbee [Onahambe], Children: 3 under 10, 1 over 10, Indian man.
Oganhotonah, Children: 2 under 10, 1 over 10, Indian woman.
Tusononsha, Children: 2 under 10, 0 over 10, Indian Woman.
Anokaetubbee, Children: 3 under 10, 0 over 10, Indian man.
Salahma, Children: 3 under 10, 2 over 10, Indian man.
Tamintubbee, [Ianimtubbee], Children: none, Indian man.
Noatimah, Children: 2 under 10, 2 over 10, Indian Woman.
Anolah, Children: 3 under 10, 2 over 10, Indian woman.
Ispia, Children: 3 under 10, 2 over 10, Indian woman.
Tuwaytucha, [Funagtucha], Children: 3 under 10, 3 over 10, Indian woman.
Nawahhona, Children: 2 under 10, 3 over 10, Indian Woman.
Note: The following are out of order by error:
June 27, 1831.
John Countee, Children: 1 under 10, 0 over 10, (Yazoo River.)
June 29, 1831.
[Moncrief, Sampson, Children: 3 under 10, 1 over 10, White Man, Indian wife,] (Tombigbee River).
“I do certify that the foregoing persons did apply to me as agent to have their names registered to remain five years and become citizens of the States before the 24th (August) 1831.”
W. Ward, U.S. Agt.W.
[box]Source: National Archives, Microfilm Roll #170 and American State Papers, Volume 8, Public lands, Page 689.[/box]
