Search the Dawes Rolls 1898-1914

The Dawes Roll (Final Rolls) is a list of those members of the Five Civilized Tribes who removed to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) during the 1800's and were living there during the period of 1898-1914. If your Cherokee ancestor was in the East then you should use the Guion Miller Roll taken in 1906, or the Baker Roll taken in 1924. The Baker Roll is considered the final roll for the Eastern Cherokee Tribe.

If your ancestor was not living in Indian Territory during 1898-1914, they will not be listed on the Dawes Roll!!

Only those Indians who RECEIVED LAND under the provisions of the Dawes Act are listed. It also lists those Freedmen who received land allotments as provided for in the Dawes Act. These pages can be searched to discover the enrollee's name, age, sex, blood degree, type, census card number and roll number. Check the headings in each column. Type denotes whether the record is from a Dawes card.

Dawes is a list of those members of the Five Civilized Tribes who removed to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) during the 1800's and were living there during the above dates.

Search the Dawes Roll

The search below will allow you to find your ancestor in the Dawes Rolls. A partial search is allowed in the name fields, card and roll require exact matches. I suggest you start with first and last name, and then when you find a match you want to further investigate, click on the card link and that will show you the remaining family members who appear on the card with the individual.

The following letter guide was furnished by the National Archives. These letters can appear both on Type and Card number.

A – Adopted
AD- Adopted Delaware
BB – By Blood
D – Doubtful or denied
F – Freedman
FD – Freedman, doubtful or denied
FM – Freedman, minor
FRR – Freedman, rejected
IW – Intermarried White
MCR – Mississippi Choctaw Rejected
NR – Not Registered, Non Resident
O – Owner – at one time a slave
OS – Old Series* Old Settler
P – Parent

* Old Series – At one time this person had another card, and the information was transferred to a new card.


Collection


455 thoughts on “Search the Dawes Rolls 1898-1914”

  1. I am trying to find my great grandfather’s Indian heritage who lived in Kentucky, Andrew Jefferson Vaughn birth date Oct 25,1842.

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  2. Hello, I am trying to find info on my great great grandmother. I have little to go on because nobody seemed to know much. My great grandmother was Minnie Brown or Borne. She lived in Rhea County, Dayton Tennessee. Her mother was suppose to be Lina or Lynna
    Swan or Swann. My mother only has two cousins left and they are in their 90’s and they said they were always told that Lynna might have Cherokee in her. Maybe that is why we can not find anything on her and no DNA matches to her either. I am just trying to do my ancestry on her to find out info about her. I believe Lynna might have been born around 1850-1852 and passed away in 1890. I also believe Lynna might have been from Monroe County Tennessee. How can I find out if she was or wasn’t Cherokee? I have searched and searched and I can not get any info about her family or where she really came from. I did check with the Rhea County Courthouse archives to see if they might have any info on her living there since my great grandmother lived there and married my great grandfather there. No luck at all. I know on my great grandmother’s death certificate and her older sisters death certificate they have there mother’s name spelt different so everything has been hard to find. If anyone can help me I sure would appreciate it. Thanks

    Reply
    • I am not finding anything with the information provided. Approximately when was Minnie born? What was her husband’s name? When was he born? When did he die? You are not likely to find any link to Cherokee. The family lived in Tennessee at a time when the Cherokee had no presense there. You mentioned DNA tests. If you have taken one, that should tell you if there is Native ancestry.

      Reply
  3. I’m trying to find my great grandmothers roll # She spells her name different her name is Monnie ,Monia, or Monie Murriel or Merrell Berryman,Towler DOB 10/11/1891 in Fristoe,Benton,MO. DOD 05/13/1936 Texarkana,TX
    Her fathers name is James Walter Berryman DOB 09/11/1858 DOD 05/10/1945
    Her mom’s name is Susan Hannah White DOB 02/22/1864 DOD 07/18/1894

    I found on Census of Muskogee Tribe # 2520 or 1520. But I can’t find her on the Dawes Roll. Also I can’t find her birth or death certificate.
    Any help will be greatly appreciated,
    Donna

    Reply
    • I have absolutely no idea what Muscogee census you are referring, but the Monte Berryman Tobler was born in 1891, so the only Muscogee census conducted after that year is the one conducted by the Dawes commission. None of these people were Tribal citizens, so they wouldn’t be on the Dawes rolls. Monnie was born in Missouri, as were both her parents. They appear on several U.S. census and all are listed as white. James Berryman’s parents were born in Tennessee and Susan Hannah White’s parents were born in Missouri and Tennessee. Hanna died in 1894 and James moved into Indian Territory sometime after that with a new wife, Lottie Mcqueen, where James worked on a farm in the Chickasaw Nation. Most documents list her name as Monnie, including her gravestone. The exception being her death certificate, which listed her name as Monte. She died in Texarkansas, Arkansas, not Texas. She was buried in Texas. Her husband died three months later in Oklahoma. I didn’t find any documents on Monnie’s birth, but I did for her older brother Charles, which lists both parents as Americans.
      FYI, except for a few exceptions (non-Natives adopted into the Tribe and people who defrauded their way onto the Dawes rolls), no one on the Dawes rolls should be on a US census before 1900.
      I am assuming you had some sort of family lore about Monnie being Native. This is very common and almost always not true. There is absolutely nothing to suggest and Native ancestry at all.

      Reply
  4. My Grandfather James Lasiter was born in Roland area in 1920 my Grandma Eula Hearidge was born in Arkansas in 1919. I was told we have both Cherokee and Chactaw. But the Cherokee was on Grandmas side. I have records going back to Jothram “Joseph” Lasiter-1790 and William Henry (Hearidge) Herridge 1810. Would love some help trying to see if we do have Native Indian in our family

    Reply
    • I scoured through the ancestors of these two peoople and did not see anyone who was Cherokee or Choctaw. Be aware, if you find someone on a US census before 1900, they are not a Tribal citizen. You can try taking a DNA test to see if you have Native ancestry, but there is nothing in the records to suggest it.

      Reply
  5. I’ve been trying to locate my families role number. My grandpa was born in 1897 in indian territory and lived on the Chickasaw nation reservation in Oklahoma. We are not sure he even had one. Are there any resources to help prove we are Chickasaw?
    My grandpa was William Edgar Summers DOB: 09/11/1897

    Reply
    • I’m sorry. but William Edgar Summers was not Chickasaw. His mother was Rosa Hinsley Summers (1872-1963), from Texas. He was raised by his Grandparents, William Howard Hinsley (1836–1912) and Frances Ann Chambers (1852–1937). Rosa spent most of her life in a mental institution in Norman. It is unclear who William Edgar Summers father was. I can not find a reliable paper trail to positively identify him. It says on the 1900 census that he was born in Kentucky, so I know he was not Chickasaw. A couple of family trees list the father as James Williams Summers (1869-1929) from Kentucky, but I don’t see a paper trail verifying that. James Williams Summers was mullatto (mixed race black and white), so if you have taken a DNA test and have African DNA, this might be the source. Having mullato ancestors is a common source for family lore regarding Native ancestors. Again, I found no paper trail linking this person. All other family members are listed as white on U.S. census records.

      Reply
      • I posted too soon. William Edgar’s father was a white man named Roland Summers who worked as a farm labourer in the 1890s in the same town as the Hinsley’s moved to from Texas. I found the marriage license to Rosa.

      • Thank you so much Barb! My uncle has been researching for years but what he found was that he was born and lived on the Chickasaw reservation in OK. I did know about the mental institution. I just ordered a DNA test so will be interesting to see what shows up. I really appreciate your info. I have really enjoyed researching my ancestors.

  6. Hello,

    My name is Tracy. What if the spelling is wrong on a last name. How do I get help with proving that? I have a copy of my ancestors marriage license and looking at it I can see how it could get mistaken. Please help.

    Trac

    Reply
    • Vague question. You didn’t provide any information regarding your ancestor (name, date of birth/death, where they lived, etc …)

      Reply
  7. My father was born in 1936. Both of his parents died when he was 12. He was the oldest child. He took care of his siblings, 8 of them, all girls. A few years later the goverment discovered them and they were all separated. Some ran away. Some went to relatives in Fla, Ohio, California.??? My father’s name was John Cannon, as was his father’s and grandfathers’. Not sure how far back that goes. He died before he had time to find out more of his people, Cherokee and/ or Choctaw. I would greatly appreciate any information or assistance. Thank you for allowing me to post and I look forward to your reply . . .

    Reply
  8. I have been researching my grandfather; James Franklin Wright and just located eight matches on the Dawes Rolls.
    What is my next step and where do I go from here? I have a lot of information on my grandfather, as in dates, birth, death, marriage, draft registration, pictures and various other info.
    I think it would be wonderful to be able to put the puzzle together and find out he was Cherokee!
    Please respond to the provided contact information below.

    Thank you!
    Susie M.

    Reply
    • What is your grandfather’s birthdate? Death date? Where was he born? What was his spouse’s name? With this info I can determine if he was on the Dawes rolls.

      Reply
      • Hi Barb,
        Thanks for responding – Here’s some info: James Franklin Wright, my grandfather was
        born: July 10, 1894 in Cherokee Nations Kansas or Oklahoma.
        Died: March 4, 1919 in a coal mine accident at Carbon Coal Mine, Skidmore-Patterson Mine, east of Crowe #10, Turck, KS.
        Draft Registration: 1917-1918.
        His mother was: Effie Wright Born: Nov. 24, 1872 in Kansas and died Dec.22,1910.
        Married my grandmother: Garnett Gail Williams March 21,1915 and had my father James Franklin Wright Jr., on December 11, 1917.
        On my grandfathers death certificate it says: ‘Father Unknown’.
        and Mother: Effie Wright.
        I have original report of the death at the coal mine company. I also know there were other people in his family, a Hattie Wright
        and a Annie Wright who is also on the Dawes Roll. Not sure how they fit in. Any help on this would be appreciated!
        Thank you,
        Susie M.

      • Hey Barb or anyone that can help, I don’t want to be of no help this is like the first time i’ve even been able to dig into my family history. Obviously a lot of ppl get the possible stories of cherokee roots. It’s all a bit difficult between name changes, not knowing all the birth or death years. The summary for me would be that my grandmother had cherokee who was born in 1921 in Fostoria Lowndes alabama to John wesley moorer and Julia Belle Moorer, i believe Julia surname was bender. She was Born Lizzie Mae Moorer later changed her name to elizabeth and when she got married her name became Elizabeth Payton as she married Henry Payton Jr. For me it was confusing because I never knew she changed her name, it wasn’t until i came across the tree on familysearch.org and seeing the other relatives and then marriage licenses that i could confirm it was her. Her great grandmother , the mother of Julia Belle Moorer(bender) was supposedly cherokee or married an indian information over time is going to most likely get lost. The Parents of Julia Bell(e) bender/moorer is possibly James Bender and Lizzie king, and the parents of my great grandfather is Mary morgan and between Mary and possibly her mother catherine morgan. Sorry to just throw names at you, just really looking for more guidance so many things changed between hearign fostoria alabama wyndham alabama albany georgia its hard to really keep track also hearing people married each other family not really sure what that means, I’ve seen a picture of my great great or great great great grandma and it would seem possibly but I’m just curious, and thankful for any help.

      • Sorry to also add on the parents of Mary morgan are possibly Thomas Morgan and Catherine morgan surname possibly Christensen. so The original tree would go possibly my grandmother’s parents are (dad)John Wesley Moorer approx 1894-1967 , (mom) Julia Bell(e) Moorer/Bender. John Wesley moorer parents are Mary Morgan i can’t confirm spouse honestly , but mary mother is Catherine morgan possibly christensen and a thomas morgan, these names do show up on the dawes thomas morgan and catherine morgan, cherokee tribe. again sorry that i don’t have more.

    • Looks like you are conflating two different men named James Wright. Your grandfather lived his entire life in Kansas. He lived in Cherokee County for some time, but Cherokee County has nothing to do with Cherokee Nation. There are several counties in the country named Cherokee County. Your grandfather is not on the Dawes Rolls and there is nothing that suggests Cherokee ancestry.
      The James Wright you see on the Dawes Rolls was born around 1850 in Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. His 2nd wife was Hattie and one of his children was Annie. They all lived their entire lives in Indian Territory/Oklahoma and were Cherokee citizens. Sorry I couldn’t give you the answer you were looking for.
      As you probably surmised, your grandfather was born out of wedlock and his father is unknown; which is why he took his mother’s (Effie) last name. His mother married Leonard Allen in 1898 and they had three children, one of which died as an infant.

      Reply
      • Hi Barb,
        Thanks for the reply. I know for sure there was a Hattie Wright in the family. How she might be related to James Wright Jr., I don’t know. But thank you again for searching ~ still a mystery!
        Susie M.

  9. My great great grandmother was full blood Cherokee, and my great grandmother was half. They were from Durant, Oklahoma. Will I need to provide all of my maternal sides birth certificate’s leading up to her, or just one of their birth certificates if they’re registered in Dawes?

    Reply
  10. I am trying to help my mother get registered for a card, she was adopted in 1962. The adoption was closed but her father was is known and we have the DNA to prove it we also have the adoption records but no father is listed because he was married and had a family of his own. I know he lived on the land so she qualifies by being “1 away” I also know that I can follow the lineage back on the Dawes scroll. My question is what type of documentation do I need to provide to help her. I am also not located in Oklahoma if that makes a difference. Then if she is recognized does that mean her children and grandchildren will also? Any pointers will help, Thanks

    Reply
    • Call the citizenship office of the tribe in question and give them all the specifics of the situation. I suspect because the link to the Dawes roll is not listed on the birth certificate, you are out of luck. But perhaps there is a way to amend the birth certificate and have the father added. You might need to talk to a family attorney about that possibility.

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      • Thank you, I will call and see what they say. I know there is one living daughter and she actually works for the tribal nation in question but it is my understanding she does not want to recognize my mother. I may be wrong on that. I hope that I am.

  11. I am not looking for tribal citizenship but more to understand and respect my family history and ancestors. My situation is complex and have run into a lot of dead ends. I was told my grandmother was Lucille Hilburn and her dad was James Hilburn born in 1878 in Whilteville, NC. According to my family Lucille was 1/2 Cherokee. I am not able to find anything on her dad, James. I was adopted and when I found my birth family very little was known from that side of the family. Any thoughts to find his parents to see if there is a Cherokee connection would be helpful as I am not able to get any additional info from my family and run into a lot of dead ends on ancestry.com and other geneological sites.

    Ty.

    Reply
  12. Hello,
    I was adopted in 1965 in a closed adoption. I recently obtained my original birth certificate providing my mother’s name. That along with an Ancestry DNA test shows Elmer Allen to be my Great Grandfather. Am I eligible to register on the rolls? What about my children and grandchildren? Thank you.
    Cherokee Allen Elmer H 4 M 1/64 2730 23520 BB

    Reply
  13. I am attempting to apply for my card however, I have a few questions.

    I was able to locate my Great Grandmothers Roll and card number under Chickasaw Dawes, however I am unable to locate anything about her Death, which means I can’t locate how to request her Death Certificate. How would I continue?
            Josephine Walker ( Flemming)
            Card # 424
            Tribe and roll # Freedom #1729

    I believe I found my Great Grandfather, however I also was told he was buried on our family Farm in Kansas. How would I go about trying to locate his death certificate?
            Francis (Frank) Flemming –> spelled Fleming in most of all his records.
            Card # 4986
            Roll Number is listed as NR ( I am not sure what that means) Choctaw Nation

    Would it be best to register under my Great Grandmother since I have all of her information or what is my best way of doing this?

    I understand that living in Washington I would not have any special rights or anything here, however, i have children who I would like to have registered as our Family History and our Native History is very important to us. I am very proud to be Native, and I would like to make sure my Children learn and know more about their Ancestors also

    Reply
    • Francis “Frank” Flemming, is said to be the son of John Flemming and Rachel Reed and he married Josephine “Josie” Walker in 1918. He is not the same Frank Flemming who appears with his mother Laura in Wynnewood, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1898 and is found on Card #4986 for the Choctaw Nation. That Frank’s father was named Henry Flemming and was born about 1889.

      Josephine “Josie” Walker who married Francis “Frank” Fleming is said to be the daughter of George Washington Walker and Catherine “Katie” (Harris) Walker. The Final Rolls were an enumeration of the tribes in Indian Territory which in 1898 was confined to what we now know as Oklahoma. Your ancestor, Josephine appears to have lived in Kansas at the time of the 1900 census and is not the same Josephine Walker on the final rolls. Josephine Walker on census card 424 of the Freedmen Roll for the Chickasaw Nation was 9 years old in 1898, so born about 1889. She is the daughter of Joseph Walker and Lizzie Wade and married Jesse James Williams in 1905 in Carter, Oklahoma.

      Reply
  14. I’ve located my great grandmother (Clara Johnson #972) and my great great grandparents (Fog & Harriet Johnson #’s 970 & 971 on card #366). I’m not sure if Amie & Jack Pack, listed on the same card, are parents of Fog or Harriet. How can I get clarification? Also, where can I locate birth and death years for Jack, Amie, Fog & Harriet?

    Reply
    • Harriet Johnson appears to be the daughter of Jack and Annie Pack. Jack and Annie are not on the rolls, because they died before they were concluded. I can’t locate birth or death years for Jack, Annie, Fog, or Harriet. Jack and Annie died sometime before 1895 and Fog and Harriet died sometime after 1900. Based on the 1900 census, Fog’s birth year was 1844 and Harriet’s was 1863.

      Reply
      • Thank you so much for the clarification Barb. I’m a beginner and researching ancestors comes with its challenges. Any tips for going even further back and finding Jack and Annie’s parents? I was able to locate, I think, Fog’s parents (Eliza E. & Johnson Rowe). Thanks again for lending your expertise.

    • I would be shocked if there was any sort of paper trail regarding Jack and Annie’s parentage. There is very little documentation on slaves, before emancipation. It has to be the greatest challenge, geneology wise. Good luck!

      Reply
  15. I have a paper trail that I would like to get confirmed please. If correct I will put me as Oconastota being 8x grandfather of mine. Ironicly I only live maybe 5-7 miles from his grave near Citico.
    I will try to explain. I am starting to get lost with a Mary Jane Townson. Deeper I find (if I am correct), Thomas Birdchopper (maybe Chief Richard Fox?) Years maybe 1788-1853 and possible Dawes Roll #3468. I have him married to Anna Taylor (1/2 Cherokee). This should be 6 generations from myself. Before Birdchopper could be Ani’ Wa’Ya (1724-1770)
    Please help if possible! WADO!

    Reply
    • What paper trail do you have? Your comment is very confusing and you haven’t provided any sort of paper trail, just some random names. No one you mentioned would be on the Dawes Rolls, so I don’t understand why you mentioned it. There is a ton of misinfotmation out there and very little paper record. Oconastota only had one known child, a son named Tukeesee. Little is known about his family beyond that. I would be incredibly suspect if your are getting more than that, as previously said, there is a ton of misinformation.

      Reply
  16. Hello, I am looking for information as I’ve heard tale on both sides of my family that we have Native American (Cherokee specifically) heritage. I am, of course, taking this all with a grain of salt because I know the way things go in family stories and lore. However, in my search, I located my several times great grandfather Minyard Harris Gibson. I’ve found several indications that he was adopted after being born to a Lucy Fields Harris Mccoy. He was adopted by Uriah Gibson sometime after his birth. I’m curious if there’s any way to find out more information on Minyard and if I actually do have some Cherokee ancestry. Thank you for any information

    Reply
    • Going to need a lot more information (location, dates, family members, etc …) I did find a Minyard Harris who was born in North Carolina in 1790. If that is the person you are referring, I would be curious to know how you would know he was adopted and who the birth mother was.

      Reply
      • I’m taking all the information I’ve found in my searches with the knowledge that I have no definitive proof of any of it. I know that Minyard Harris was adopted by Uriah Gibson and his wife Margaret Sparks Gibson. He eventually married a Rachel Wallis. I’ve found records of his grandson claiming Native descent, but it states that there wasn’t enough evidence to give what he was looking for at the time. Minyard’s name is sometimes spelled Miniard on records as well as his surname being Gipson at times.

  17. I have located my ancestors on the Dawes roll. I am curious, however, what “Kinnison” and “Afton” mean, as these are written in the Misc scention next to their names?

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    • I can tell you that Jennings and Afton were towns with a post office in Cherokee Nation in what is now Craig County. Afton is still here, Kinnison is long gone. I have no idea why they are listed under ‘misc’ on jere. I looked through their Dawes packet and both lived in Henson in the Sequioyah district, nowhere near Kinnison or Afton which were in Northern Cherokee Nation. Henson was in South Cherokee Nation. I wouldn’t put much importance to it.

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  18. Joseph raincrow is my 6th great grandpa, I’m trying to search through can someone help me. His father was Fuve Kingfisher and his mother was Ne-Ye-Mea

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      • Yes I’ve traced that back. Through family records and ancestry. Its been very helpful. I was wondering if someone could give me information on him. I know he walked in the trail of tears. But that is about the extent of what I’ve found.

    • Going to need more than just a name. Where did this person live? What is the approximate year of birth or death? Why do you think she was full “blooded Cherokee”? Have your children taken a DNA test? If their Great Grandmother was full blood Native, they would all be around 1/8th.

      Reply
  19. My great great grandmother is thought to be a Cherokee Indian that passed through Arkansas on the trail of tears. As legend has it she broke away from the march at age 14 and married my GG grandfather Albert Thatcher. They had 1 son my grandfather. Official records say she was Alta Rainbolt Thatcher (1897-1979). Over the years we have tried to prove our heritage but she does not exist on paper until death. Any help is greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    • The Cherokee were forcibly removed to Indian Territory in 1838/1839. If your Great Grandmother was born in 1897, she couldn’t possibly have been on the Trail of Tears. Not even her parents could have been on the Trail of Tears.
      Alta Rainbolt was born in Hattieville, AR in 1897. Her parents were William Harrison Rainbolt and Rebecca Ann Dixon, both of whom were born in Arkansas. They were in Arkansas for several generations before. There are census records for all and they are all listed as white.
      Family lore about an ancestor being Native is very common and 9 out of 10 times it’s Cherokee. It’s an odd phenomenon.

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  20. Seeking Help Tracing Cherokee Ancestry – Estelle Melvin / Estellar Jones

    Hello, my name is Devon Petway, and I’m researching my maternal ancestry to confirm my connection to a possible Cherokee ancestor for the purpose of applying for a CDIB and Cherokee Nation citizenship.

    My great-grandmother’s name was Estelle Melvin, and she may have later gone by Estelle or Estellar Jones. Family history and early research suggest she was ½ Cherokee, and I believe she may be listed on the Dawes Roll under the name Estelle Jones, Roll #32122, Census Card #10791.

    My maternal line is as follows:
    • Me: Devon Petway
    • My mother: Jovan Marie Jones
    • My grandmother: Estellar Jones (married name)
    • My great-grandmother: Estelle Melvin (aka Estelle/Estellar Jones)

    I’m seeking help from anyone who might be connected to this family line or who has access to supporting documentation (birth, death, or marriage records) that can help me trace this line clearly for enrollment with the Cherokee Nation.

    If you have any information, please feel free to comment or reach out to me at [email protected].

    Thank you so much for any help—wado (thanks), and blessings to everyone doing this work.

    Reply
    • The Estelle Jones on the Dawes Rolls was born in 1900 in Indian territory. Her parents were James and Lettie Jones. She marries Oscar Lesley and died in Shawnee, OK in 1942. Your grandmother was born in 1932 in Ohio to Lillie Bascom Melvin and Estelle Hayes Melvin. None of these people were Cherokee.

      Reply
    • What are you wanting to know? Ned Christie was born in 1892 to George and Lucy Christie in Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. George’s parents were Arch and Katie Christie and Lucy’s parents were William and Betsy Young. All we’re Cherokee citizens. Ned was married twice. First wife was Annie Adair (also Cherokee). They had a son, Wattt (Waco).
      His second wife was Laura Sawney (Cherokee). They had four children; Squash (Joe), Jennie (Virginia), Lucy, and Lizzie.
      What else did you want to know?

      Reply
      • You can contact the Cherokee Citizenship office for specifics. But you will have to prove lineage to someone on the Dawes Rolls, I.e. birth/death certificates. How are you related to this person? Were either of your parents enrolled citizens? Grandparents?

  21. I need help understanding all of this. I have my heritage traced back to Francis Watts (1695 Stafford VA-1754 Craven NC)

    Reply
    • No idea who that is, but this forum is about the Dawes Rolls. The Dawes Roll (Final Rolls) is a list of those members of the Five Civilized Tribes who were removed to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) during the 1800’s and were living there during the period of 1898-1914.

      Reply
    • Going to need more information; where did he live, year of birth/death, parents/spouse/children’s names, etc … The more information, the more reliable the search.

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  22. I’m trying to find info on a 3rd great grandmother, who’s mother was orphaned and taken in by a German family in SW MI– St. Joseph/Sherwood MI area. Further research shows back in the late 1700’s, there were mixed NA camps along the St. Joseph river in that area. I’ve written churches in the area, with no response. I’ve tried to find info on adoptions with zero luck. I’m a centrist, meaning that those that claim NA in my family, I want proof and not hear say as many have gone by. Utilizing Gedmatch along with a different DNA test, I show Cherokee within my top five populations. A 1C1R relative, my father’s full first cousin, showed both Shawnee and Cherokee within his top eight populations. I link using Gedmatch closest to those with confirmed Cherokee lines/holds a tribal card from the TN/GA areas. This 4th great grandmother, that was “orphaned”, eventually had two children with one of the sons of the family. My 3rd great grandmother — Lucy Clater B1818-D1904– who married Abraham Ward. I am guessing my 4th great grandmother was born in the late 1790’s. Some descendants, whom hold tribal cards mind you, state this 4t great grandmother belonged to the Pokogan Potawatomie tribe, but again my DNA test showed “Cherokee”. So the million dollar question again would be “who’s her mother”? Then about adoptions since no paperwork shows her mother such as BC/DC or a marriage certificate for Lucy Clater to Abraham Ward indicating her parents. I’m just seeking info on how to find her info and what paperwork there is has been changed regarding Lucy Clater. Thanks

    Reply
    • DNA tests are not going to list a Tribe. If your DNA test is doing that, ignore it and take one from a reputable company. I recommend Ancestry.

      Reply
  23. Card # 3243 type- P
    I was wondering if the Lucy Sizemore listed here is my ancestor. If so, I would love any information you could give me.
    Her approximate birth and death dates are listed below, as well as birth a d death place.
    28 Jan 1890 Leslie Co., KY, USA

    D:15 May 1931 Hazard, Perry, Kentucky, USA

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • No. The Dawes Rolls are a census of Tribal citizens of the Muscogee Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Tribes, who resided in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). Your ancestor in Kentucky would not be a citizen.

      Reply
  24. My Great Grandfather has a card that states “Official Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood”. I realize there is some contraversy reguarding the Chickamauga Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri. However, I am trying to figure out specifics. We have no idea what he put as his lineage but there are also some blurred lines lost in time. His Roll # states NMC in the 1600 range. I am not finding him. Am I looking in the wrong place??? I am so confused..

    Reply
    • You are going to have to give some information, if you want any help. What was your great grandfather’s name? Where did he live and birth/death dates would be extremely helpful, even if approximates. You say you have his CDIB card, but you don’t say what it says. It should list his blood quantum and Tribe. The Chickamauga are not a federally recognized Tribe, so I wouldn’t think they could get CDIB cards. You refer to a roll number. What roll #? What are you talking about? 1600 range? Where are you getting all of this?

      Reply
  25. Looking for a James Brownlow “J.B.” DAME who married 2nd wife Maggie DUNCAN B. 1877 Arkansas. This lady seems to be a ghost, all I have is a BC with her listed as mother of George Robert DAME b. 08JAN1901 Paris, Arkansas d. Bellflower, CA
    And marriage license for DAME/DUNCAN marr. 23DEC1900 Logan County, Arkansas

    Claiming Cherokee

    Any info would be greatly appreciated!

    Reply
  26. Hello, I’m looking for some answers or help on how to find or locate my lineage to The Cherokee Tribe. I was adopted at birth but have remained in contact with my birth family. I know both sides (my mother and fathers) have huge part Cherokee in them. How do I get any further information about my lineage or possible relations or the process to figure it out?

    -Thank you!

    Reply
    • The simple answer is from your family. When you say both parents have “huge part Cherokee in them”, are you saying they are Cherokee citizens? If they are not, what do you base your claim? If you are asking about how to build a family tree, you start with your parents and work backward. If you are wanting help, you will have to provide names, dates, and locations of those you do know.

      Reply
  27. I found my great grandmother Choctaw Williams Rosie 7 F 42743 MCR3833 MCR but i do not understand, my children were also natives of oklahoma born in 2020 and 2022 in oklahoma city I am also a cherokee decendant of my maternal grandfather or apachee not sure could you guys help. My great grandmother rosie williams passed in 2012- Choctaw Williams Rosie 7 F 42743 MCR3833 MCR

    Reply
    • I believe the “MCR” stands for Mississippi Choctaw Rejected. Over two thousand people applied in Mississippi and around half were rejected because they could not prove Choctaw lineage. You said your grandmother died in 2012, was she 110 years or older? Only those alive around 1900, would be on the Dawes roll.

      Reply
  28. Hi all. I was told by my mother growing up that she and her mother were both part Cherokee. My grandmother’s name was Lettie Pace (passed in 2011) and her father was John Pace (passed in the late 60s, I think.)Jr. I believe his father and grandfather were both named John.) There is a John Pace listed on the rolls (card 2494) but I am estranged from that side of the family and have no means of really learning any more about my family history. Any ideas would be appreciated.

    Reply
    • There is a James Pace on the rolls, no John. It’s a moot point as Lettie (Leddie) and her parents and their parents lived and died in Louisiana and would not be on the Dawes rolls and most likely had no Cherokee lineage.

      Reply
  29. I am looking Charles Meyers, my great grandfather. I believe card 1019 possibly, but not sure. His son was Charles George Meyers Jr. (My Grandfather), his son was Charles Clinton Meyers (My father). Louisiana, Kansas, and Colorado are my census record locations. I can answer any questions you may have.

    Reply
    • No one with the name ‘Meyers’ is on the Dawes rolls. The Dawes rolls was a census of Tribal citizens living in Indian Territory (Eastern Oklahoma) around 1900. No one in the states you mentioned would be on the Dawes rolls. What is it that makes you think you have Native ancestry and why would you think they would be on the Dawes rolls?

      Reply
      • There is a Charles Meyers on the Dawes rolls listed, as Creek, and several other people with the surname Meyers of various tribes. This doesn’t mean it’s the same Charles Meyers though.

      • There is no ‘Charles Meyers’ on the Dawes rolls. The ‘Charles Meyers’ that shows up on this database is NOT on the Dawes Rolls. Not everyone listed on this database were included on the final rolls. If you are using this database, you will see that there is no roll # assigned to Charles. This Charles was a white man from New Jersey who was married to a Creek woman, Martha. They had two children, Joseph and Mabel.

  30. im currently reconstructing my grandmothers paper file tree after losing it after her passing. i only saw it once and apparently our connection was the “holt” line for cherokee tribe, as my grandmother told me. pearl holt is close to the age of a pearl holt on the familysearch mormon site, but im about stuck there… i didnt fill in the info thats on that site, someone far removed from this end of the family did but a lot of it lines up when looking closer to my branch by the looks of it. also, 3 generations of women would use pearl and/or holt as part of their name, allegedly, while the familysearch site only shows their legal name or family names. i dont know how i would go about confirming this using the rolls and their info as reference. feel free to reply, id appreciate all the help i could get, i really want to help finish the paperwork that she never got to complete.

    Reply
  31. My great great grandmother on both side of my family (it’s the same woman. So my dads great grandma is also my moms great grandma) was named Arminta Hammonds. From what my grandmother told me, was full blood Cherokee, and minta’s family came from Dickenson, Virginia in 1817. But that’s all the information I have, as everyone who could have answered any questions have unfortunately passed away. My cousin said she found out great great great great grandmother on the registry, but I can’t find anything.

    Reply
    • We would need to know more information than you have provided to help you. Do you know Arminta’s parents’ names? Do you know who she married? Dates, locations, anything beyond what you’ve provided?

      I can state that Hammonds do appear on the Final Rolls but they were Creeks and certainly did not come from the vicinity of Dickenson.

      Reply
  32. I have a great great grandmother who was supposedly Cherokee, named “Nancy Herron” on my dad’s side of the family, and also a great great great grandmother, also Cherokee, named “Martha Flanary Hickman” on my mom’s side. I don’t know anything except their names. How could I still go about searching them up for free? I plan to have a DNA test done within the next few months but until then, is there some way I can find a bit of info with just a name?

    Reply
    • Going to need more than just names. There are plenty of people across the country the last couple of hundred years with those names. Do you know where they lived? Do you know when they were born or died (even approximate dates)? Names of spouses or children? I always find it best to work backward from those you know for sure. What were the names of your grandparents and where did they live and their approximate birth/death dates?

      Reply
  33. -I am trying to research my ancestry and I have been told I have Indian in me. I am trying to find the evidence and I was hoping you might be able to help. This is what I have found: Nancy Kyshire Bridges 1780-1870 born NC she married Andrew Jackson 1764-1858 born in PA. Their daughter has direct lineage to me is Lora Louisa Jackson 1818-1903 born in TN, her daughter was Martha Jane Jackson 1849-1937 born in Missouri. Her daughter was Sara Frances Bloodsoe born in 1867 Missouri. Do you have records of any of these descendants? I believe these descendants have Cherokee heritage. Thank you so much for any help.

    Reply
    • Take a DNA test. Family lore about Native ancestry is very common and usually incorrect. You aren’t going to find any records of Cherokee from the 1700s. No Cherokee would be on a census or any other US government document. Avoid copying misinformation from family trees on Ancestry. People often just make stuff up or have no idea what they are doing. If you don’t have a paper trail to a Tribal citizen from the 1800s, only a DNA test would show Native ancestry.

      Reply
      • My current understanding of those tests, and DNA in general, however, is that you may have ancestry that does not show up in the test because it only show genes inherited by you. Your mother could show Cherokee, for example and you do not because you did not happen to inherit any of those particular genes.

        I’m guessing that means those genes won’t be getting to your children either, but I don’t actually think that’s necessarily so. There is much that is not understood. (I mean if they’re not there, they’re not there, but maybe they are and just not detected by a specific test or the way testing is being done right now…who knows?).

        Anyhow, my point was that folks who have family lore about being Cherokee or grandparents who were, etc. may find they don’t have the genetics, but that the grandparents were, in fact, Cherokee and through one of those freak biology type things, they themselves did not happen to receive any of those genes. It would still be disappointing to them, I’m sure, but again, there is much we still don’t understand about genetics. Also, genes are not the only thing we get from our forebears…folks pass down a lot more than that. (Odd example maybe, but I know my great-great-grandma climbed trees into old age and my kids and I are big tree-climbers…no, we do not happen to be literate monkeys, lol…so, if none of her DNA happened to show up in my kids but they’re still climbing trees…y’know?)

      • To Nick:
        DNA can be filtered out over time, but it takes many generations. If you are talking about a Great Grandparent or 2x Great Grandparent, it should show up. If you have an ancestor who was full blood Native in the last 6 or 7 generations, it will likely show up. With each succeeding generation past that, it will get more and more likely not to show up. The larger the data pool, the more reliable the DNA results. But when asking about something from the 1700s and there is no paper trail; a DNA test is the only option to see if there is any Native ancestry. Family lore is very unreliable, particularly when going that far back.

  34. I have found who I believe to be my great-great-great grandmother on the rolls under James Fannie Warren, but I do not see her daughter, my great-great grandmother Mary A B Warren. All I can find was that she was born in Indian Territory in 1890 and in the 1900 census she is listed with birthplace as Indian territory, but I can find nothing past that. I see two of Fannie’s children on the rolls. There are also two cards under her name, one with a D and one without. Which one would be accurate? Also, it seems as though Fannie’s roll card has her first name as her husband’s name, was this common?

    Reply
    • I think you have different “Fannie Warren’s” mixed up. James Fannie Warren was born as James Fannie Monroe. She intermarried with a non-Tribal citizen, Joseph Warren, and they had two children, John Henry and Willie Demoris. She and Joseph divorced and she and her two kids were living with her Father in-law in 1900. By 1910, she had married Henry French. John Henry moved to Idaho in 1918. By 1930, his Mom and sister had also moved to Idaho. I found another Fannie Warren around the same age, who was born in Texas and moved to Oklahoma around 1900.
      If you can give me more information regarding your tree, I can trace it and see where you went wrong. I would need the names of your Great Grandparents and GGreat Grandparents, as well as dates of birth (approximate is okay) and where they lived.

      Reply
  35. Hi. My Great Great Great Grandmother, Anna Chapel Rogers Lenoir is listed in the Rolls and then removed. She was the daughter of John and Sarah Rogers. They played a big part in the New Echota treaty. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Her daughter Mary Octavio Lenoir is still listed. Census card# 5457 Cherokee Roll By Blood#42743
    What information do I need to register myself. If it is even possible.

    Reply
    • Hi Johanna, The Cherokee enrollment process is handled entirely by the Cherokee Tribe themselves. A condition of enrollment is that your ancestor had to have been on the final Dawes Roll. The fact that Annie C. died in 1901 before the roll was completed and then was removed, will be difficult to overcome (I think). The enrollment process was not perfect and there are a lot of court cases subsequent to the final rolls in which individuals were either added later or stricken. You can access the tribal enrollment department for the Cherokee Tribe in Oklahoma here https://cherokee.org/all-services/tribal-registration/. There is both a number you can call, and an email you can use. I would reach out to them and please let me know what they say.

      Reply
    • This is a very interesting situation and a little more information would have been helpful. You didn’t mention which of Annie Lenoir’s children you were a descendant. It isn’t Mary, as she had no children. This is what I believe happened. Annie married an American white man, John Lenoir. When Cherokee Nation was removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s, Annie and John remained in Georgia and assimilated into American culture. The family were counted in the American census and were American citizens. By 1890, Annie was living with her unwed daughter Mary. A couple of Annie’s siblings had stayed in Cherokee Nation and been removed to Indian Territory. In the 1890s, Annie and her daughter Mary moved to the Chelsea area, where her brother Jackson lived. The rest of Annie’s children remained in the southeast. Technically, they should not have been added to the Dawes Rolls, because they became American citizens and remained in Georgia. They did not come to Indian Territory until after the Dawes Committee had already begun. But one way or another, because they had family there, they were both added to the rolls. Annie died in 1901, before her application was completed and she did not receive an allotment of land from the Tribal lands. Mary received her. Annie received a roll number, #13055. I assume you are descended from one of her children who remained in the southeast. I doubt you would be eligible for citizenship, for this reason. Call Cherokee Nation’s citizenship office and explain the situation and find out for sure. If they say you can enroll, you would need to prove lineage to Annie Lenoir. Which means birth certificates/death certificates going back several generations.

      Reply
    • CHEROKEE INDIANS MEMORIAL
      or
      JOHN ROGERS, Principal-Chief;
      AND

      Ho. OF REPs.

      JAMES CAREY and THOMAS L. RODGERS,
      Chiefs and head men, being members of a Committee on behalf of the Cherokee old settlers west of the Mississippi, for themselves and their people.

      APRIL 13, 1844.

      Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

      APRIL 17, 1844.

      Within this memorial documet you will see why some were added to the rolls and why some were removed. A lot of bias and attitudes between the the east and west cherokees. Those who chose not to walk the trail and stay where they were not counted, and no longer called a so called native or redman.

      Reply
  36. Hi There, Looking for more information on my 9th great grandmother Mary Deer of the Cherokee Deer Clan born in 1648 that has a daughter named Xuala with Chalaiwa in 1665. I would look forward to any info you have. I am not currently registered as part of the any Cherokee clan but would like more information on the ancestry.

    Reply
    • Hi Amber, unfortunately the genealogy you describe is made up. Sorry if you fell for the ruse of others. There were no records kept of Cherokees in the 1600’s… zilch, nada. So, any purported genealogy including those dates is made up.

      Reply
      • Yes, there is a lot of that on Ancestry. People blindly copy trees from other people and quite a lot of it is made up. Always follow a paper trail when doing genealogy. Don’t ever assume that other people’s trees are accurate.

  37. I am trying to find my husband’s Cherokee family connection so he can register as a tribal citizen. His great-grandmother was registered but when all the records were entered digitally into the computer system, they realized that they had given her the wrong person’s number. She was deceased and they canceled her children’s membership cards too. Her name was Mary Frances Jones (1889-1981) born in Arkansas. Mary’s mother was Winnia Adaline Wagnon. Born 9-9-1856 Harrison, MO; Died 1-30-1936 Bixby, OK. Winnia married James (Jim) Knox Polk Jones (part Indian) (1846-1910) on 10-26-1876 Arkansas. At some point Winnia remarried and when she died her last name was Hankins. She is listed on the US Census in 1930 as Winnie Hankins as Cherokee. That is about all I’ve been able to find. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    • Not sure where you got your information, but a lot of it is just not accurate. None of these people are on the Dawes rolls. If Mary Frances Jones once received a Tribal card, it would have had to have been through fraudulent means. James Knox Polk Jones is not on the Dawes rolls. It would seem that they moved into Indian Territory around 1899/1900. They were not Tribal citizens. No one received an allotment. They are listed as renters on the 1900 US census. In other words, they came into Indian Territory and rented land from a Tribal citizen. They are all listed on all census as white, including the 1930 census (Tribes are not a race and are not listed on a US census). Also, Cherokee citizens before 1900, would not be on the US census. Your husband is not eligible for Cherokee citizenship.

      Reply
    • I feel like I’ve heard my great grandma mention a couple of those same names at one time. I’m just here checking the site out I have always wanted to check my geneolgy for a native American connection. Just looking at my grandparents I can’t help but notice they extra special. I just lost my last one. They are in heaven now and I can’t wait to see them again

      Reply
  38. My great grandfather James Wilborn Mikles was born in Indian Territory Oklahoma August 26, 1894.
    My grandmother always told us that her father was Cherokee or part Cherokee. I can’t find any information to confirm this.

    Reply
    • I don’t see anything to confirm this either. He clearly wasn’t a Tribal citizen, as neither he nor his parents are on the Dawes Rolls. His parents were Josiah Archibald Michaels (born in 1852 in Bellfonte, AL) and Susan Jones (born about 1855 in Tennessee). They are all listed on the US census as white. At some point, they both had immigrated to the Fort Smith area in Arkansas and that is where they married in 1876. In the 1880s or ’90s, they moved across the border into Choctaw Nation, IT. They worked as sharecroppers, as the 1900 census shows them as renters.
      Family lore regarding Native ancestry is very common, especially in Oklahoma. It is usually not true. A DNA test will tell you if there is any Native ancestry, but if there was, it is from several generations back and likely through the Susie Jones line, as that has the least amount of information.

      Reply
    • When asking for genealogy help, please provide more information. Where did they live? Maiden names? Approximate birth and/or death dates? Other descendants?

      Reply
  39. Hi! I was given a list of ancestors and family members that are potentially ours, that belong on the list. I went through a situation of adoption, and was left several things and letters by my Cherokee father. We’ve done a ton of research but documents and certificates have been difficult to obtain. If you guys don’t have time to tell me about every single one I understand. Really, the information I’m looking for are kids these enrolled members have or parents if you guys are able to tell me this, or if there’s connections to the members enrolled listed below.
    – Samuel McKinney (there are two, one is 2046 and the other is 2678, on the Dawes Rolls) – birth date would be around 1850
    – Susie McKinney (5148) – Dawes Rolls – birth date would be around 1886
    – John Payne – Baker Rolls – birth date would be around 1879
    – Martha McKinney (4672) – Dawes Rolls – birth date would be 1858
    – Mary Moses (554) – Dawes Rolls – birth date would be around 1852
    – Alfred Payne (2373) – Dawes Rolls – birth date would be around 1857
    – Louisa Stringer – Guion Miller Rolls – birth date would be around 1861
    – Mary McKinney (3786), (22965) (4171) – Dawes Rolls -1812 is birthday
    – Mary Odell (10425) (10731) – Dawes Rolls -1829 is birthday

    Reply
    • Generally, when one builds a tree. one starts with the family that they know and work backward. It seems you want to check these random people and try to go forward and see if there is a connection. I looked at a few of these, the first two are Choctaw, the third is Creek. It really eats up a lot of time, particularly since I don’t know who I am looking for. If you know the names of your bio Dad and his parents, where they lived, and approximate birth or death year; that would be much easier to find descendants on the rolls.

      Reply
    • It looks like you found family names and found people on the rolls with the same name and want to know if they are the same person. I can quickly tell you the following:
      Samuel McKinney (2046 ) Choctaw born around 1895
      Samuel McKinney (2678) Choctaw born around 1847
      Susie McKinney (5148) Creek born around 1886
      Martha McKinney (4672) Choctaw born around 1851
      Mary Moses (554) Chickasaw Freedman (black) born around 1884
      Alfred Payne (2373) Seminole Freedman (black) born around 1889
      Mary McKinney (3786) Cherokee born around 1898
      Mary McKinney (22965) Inter-married white born around 1870
      Mary McKinney (4171) Cherokee born around 1895
      Mary Odell (10425) Cherokee born around 1888
      Mary Odell (10731) Choctaw born around 1855
      John Payne – Baker Rolls – None
      Louisa Stringer – Guion Miller Rolls – None

      This truly isn’t the way to do it. Yu build a tree and follow where it takes you. Where did your ancestors live?

      Reply
    • I can tell you that Mary Odell 10425 is my great great grandmother’s daughter. She is listed on the Dawes roll age 10 and as having died in 1900. I don’t recognize any of the other names on your list so I believe that particular Mary Odell is not related. If your Mary Odell was born in 1929 it’s highly unlikely she would be in the Dawes Roll unless listed in an application as an ancestor.

      Reply
  40. So if our Cherokee family members never lived in Oklahoma, they aren’t considered Cherokee by citizenship? And there’s no other way to obtain it other than them being on the Dawes Rolls? Our culture has been passed down through our family for generations and I intended to continue it.

    Reply
  41. My dads name was Robert Leeker. His mothers maiden name was Delores Cudney. Her grandfather was Irish and his wife was full Cherokee (Oklahoma I believe). I will keep digging, but I need to know more. Both my dad and Delores have Cherokee American Indian listed on their birth certificates.

    Reply
    • Always list dates (even approximate) for birth or death years and where these people lived. It makes it so much easier.
      Delores Cudney Kaufman was born October 31, 1926 to Wallace and Vera May Hiddleston Cudney in Olathe, Kansas. Wallace Cudney was born about 1902 in Kansas to Charles and Laura Russell Cudney.
      Charles Cudney was born in 1843 in Canada. Charles’ father, George was born in New York in 1803. His Mother, Francis Bedford, was born in Canada in 1808.
      Laura Russell was born in 1864 in Olathe, Kansas to James Porter Russell and Elizabeth Jane Wood Russell. James Porter Russell was born in Tennessee around 1829 to Matthew Armstrong Russell and Mary Jane Reed Russell, who were both also born in Tennessee. Elizabeth Jane Wood Russell was born about 1833 in Virginia to Jeremiah Bedford Wood and Martha Fragle Wood; both of who were born in Virginia.
      All of these people are listed as “white” on various census. I see no connection to the Cherokee Nation nor do I see any connection to Ireland this far back. It is odd that two separate generations have “Cherokee American Indian” written on their birth certificate. No one in my family has our Tribe affiliation written on our birth certificates. Where is this written? Could it have been written later or was it part of the original certificate?

      Reply
  42. My father’s father and sister are Cherokee Nation her name was rose Rinehart my family never told me

    Reply
    • Where did your Father and Aunt live and what were the birth/death years (or approximate). There is no one named “Rinehart” on the Dawes rolls. Without more information, I can’t say anymore.

      Reply
  43. I’m attempting to verify the information I have found on my ancestor. Her name is Jenni Vann, roll #28953, card # Cher BB 28952-28956. I have found an image and would like to verify it is authentic.

    Reply

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