The Old Settlers Roll is a record from 1851 that lists Cherokee individuals who were already living in Oklahoma when the main body of the Cherokee Nation arrived in the winter of 1839, following the Treaty of New Echota (1835). These early residents, known as “Old Settlers,” Arkansas Cherokee, and Western Cherokee, made up approximately one-third of the Cherokee population, while the new arrivals comprised the remaining two-thirds. The 1851 payroll specifically lists Old Settlers—Cherokees who relocated to Indian Territory before December 1835—who were entitled to receive a per capita payment. A total of 3,273 individuals were enumerated on this roll, which is organized by Cherokee district and grouped by family. Some individuals who did not reside within the Cherokee Nation were listed as “Non-residents.” Each enrolled Old Settler received a payment of $270.95. However, the Old Settlers filed a protest against this amount. In response, the Supreme Court ruled that the original Old Settlers or their heirs would receive an additional $159.10 per share in the 1896 “Old Settler” payment.
Remember, your Cherokee ancestor would have needed to have been alive in 1851 and living in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1851 to be included in this roll.
Search the Old Settlers Roll
The Old Settlers may have been documented at various points in their traditional eastern lands and during their emigration West. If your ancestor does not appear in the Old Settlers Roll above, they may appear on one of the earlier lists, but have left the Indian Territory before 1851, or died.
- 1817 Cherokee Reservation Roll
A listing of 550 Cherokees claimants applying for a 640-acre tract in the East in lieu of removing to Arkansas. This was only good during their lifetime and then the property reverted back to the state. - 1819 Cherokee Reservation List
This specific roll is of a list of 146 heads of families entitled to reservations under the Treaty with the Cherokee of the 27th February, 1819. These reservations were in the East. - Cherokee Muster Rolls, 1834 – 1838
When Hernando de Soto arrived in the 1530s, he encountered the Cherokee, an Iroquoian-speaking tribe located in the southeastern United States. By the early 1800s, the Cherokee and other tribes had adopted European customs and were known as the “Five Civilized Tribes.” Federal policies led to the forced removal of the Cherokee in the 1830s, notably through the Indian Removal Act. The collection we call the Cherokee Muster Rolls from 1834-1838 document families during this tumultuous period, including those who emigrated and those who evaded removal.
My 4th great grandmother was Cherokee, Rebecca Walker born 1812 died Christian County Ky around 1880. It was said she was on the trial of tears, when she got sick as a child or young adult and was raised by a white family called Henderson ?, she married John Barbara (Bob) Henderson 12/27/1842 in Christian county KY his 4th wife, her marriage cert say Walker. I have alway been told her family were part of the Eastern Band that didnt go out west. those two stories are conflicting. Im trying to find info on her. My grandmother during a vaction in the Smoky mountains taked to some one at the reservation at that time said they found her recods but i cant find her i did find a Rebecca Walker that did go to Oklahoma but she was married and had children at the same time as my 4th g mother so that was not her. If any one can help or guide me to the right place it would be nice. i have searched all the cherokee census and found some walkers but dont know how to research them. if you email please put WALKER in Subject so i dont think it is junk mail
The Trail of Tears was 1838/39, so she would have been 26/27 years old at the time. Definitely not a child and would hardly be considered a young adult. The Cherokees did not leave their sick behind. Concerning the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians story, their members did not live in Kentucky.
How do you know this person was Cherokee? You have no paper trail connecting her to the Cherokee. She didn’t live in Cherokee Nation. Follow the evidence. Every census lists her as white. All of her children are listed as white in every census. There is nothing connecting her to the Cherokee.
I am struggling finding my Cherokee connection my family has always said we have. I have a pic of my 4 great grandmother, Mary Maggie Eubanks. Her married last name was Bradford. I have found her online but nothing tying her to Cherokee. Although she is definitely Indian from looking at the photo. She was born in 1858, she married William Pinkman Bradford. They had a son Lonnie Allen Bradford and a daughter who passed either as she was born or 6 days later and Mary passed around the same time. Her fathers name I think was Tarlton William Eubanks. They all lived in Arkansas and possibly Oklahoma. Lonnie had moved to Texas at one point and my mom said I met him when I was little. I have a lot more names & dates. What I wan’t to know are the ties to Cherokee. I have been look on rolls, trail of tears.
I’m looking for information on an ancestor rumored to be Cherokee. She was married to a Samuel Allen (d. 1842) and had a daughter named Jerusha Allen (1824-1899) in Meade, Kentucky. Does anyone know how I might find more information about her?
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Allen-37857
This is a link to Jerusha Allen profile on Wikitree.com . It was created by Angie Conner. Its not a whole lot of info but its a start. There is no charge for Wikitree. Its totally free.
Good luck in your searching!! : )
The Cherokees did not live in Kentucky
My maternal great grandmother was full Cherokee. She married my white great grandfather. Apparently, the family was ashamed of the Indian heritage, so didn’t speak about it. I’m 57 years old and am just finding out about my Indian heritage, as I was raised in foster homes my entire childhood, but my biological mother just died and information is surfacing. I feel overwhelmed tracking my GG down. I have her marriage license and certificate, a couple U.S. census listings, some info on my great grandfather, my grandmother and my mother. Not much….and nothing more on my great grandmother. I searched the Dawes and Baker rolls with her name. Nothing came up. This seems impossible.
Take a DNA test. Family lore is often inaccurate and anytime I hear the “ashamed to be Indian” stories I am immediately suspect. If your great grandparent was full blood Native, your DNA should show you are 1/8. If you want help doing research, you will need to supply names, birth dates (at least approx.), and where they lived.
DNA is only good for paternity. It will not show how indigenous you are or from what tribe.
@DC
Did I say it would identify the Tribe? “Only good for paternity”?!? You have no idea what you are talking about. If Amanda’s great grandmother was truly full Native, it will reflect that in a DNA test.
Amanda, the Dawes Roll applies to Cherokees living in Indian Territory before it became Oklahoma and the Baker Roll would apply to Eastern Cherokees in 1924. If your relative was not living in either of those locations, they will not be on the Roll and not an enrolled tribal member. Also you do have to know their married name at the time of enrollment. For instance my great grandma was married and her maiden name is not included, just her married name. My gg grandma was on her second marriage, so that is her last name on the roll.
I am interested in finding the Sutton- Lewis family. My Great Grandmother was Della Nellie Florence Sutton. She married John Willan Lewis and had a. Daughter named Ina Mary Lewis. That was my Grand mother. She married Glenn C.Adrian and had 9 children. All I can find out about Della was she married a cousin, John W. Lewis and they said” He was tall and straight and fit in the Terroritory”. Not sure what that meant?
There is loads of information on Ancestry regarding this family, including portraits. What is it that you are wanting to know?
FYI, you are posting in the “Old Settlers” forum which refers to Cherokee who voluntarily immigrated to Arkansas in the early 1800s.
Looking for Wally(Walter) Lewis and James Wesley Smith
I have a John Wesley Smyth(Smith) his wife Spicey Smyth(Smith) they are my grandfathers parents.I belive that Spicey’s maiden name was Knox she married agian and passed away as a Starnes.Through my family we go all the way back to the Tassels and many others.I also have Indian blood through the Rogers family.I hope this helps out in some way.
Looking for information about the Cherokee chief Oolooteka, also known as John Jolly.
My ancestor is supposed to be a member of the old settlers list, but lived in Texas, not Oklahoma. Would he be on the Dawes list? James Henry Smith born in Missouri 11/13/1824 and died in Texas in May of 1900. Is there anywhere online that you can access information without spending a bunch of money?
My great grandmother was Mary Jane Bridges . She married Fransis Smith Waldrope, my grand father. We were always told Mary Jane Bridges was part Cherokee Indian. Is there any information on this?
If your ancestor was born in Missouri 11/13/1824, they would not be on the Old Settlers roll or a Tribal citizen.
my grandmother name is parris my ancessters lived in tahlequah,going snake, an illinios district i need more in formation names robert r parris,malachci parris,watt parris , watt parris has a twin i think
I’m looking for johnson family. Jacob johnson was father of Rebecca Ann Johnson who married both Andrew Lane and Thomas Hamilton. My line comes through Mary Christina Lane who married George johnson and had daughter Rebecca Lucy Ann Carver. She married Fred Edwards Carver and had a son ernerst Burton carver. Ernest married tealia Wilson and had a son Jesse Lawrence carver who married Lorene Marie Benham. From there my mom and me.
I’m looking for a connection to the Cherokee Indian from my great grand mother Daisy Bell Dishman (Married: Hayes). Daisy Bell Dishman wore Cherokee Indian clothes commonly and lived in Jacksonville Illinois, where my mother Sandra Kay Hayes grew up. I checked the lineage and it goes all the way up to “The Great Eagle’s” daughter, where the (Peter’s son) Dishman’s integrated (John Dishman).
Thomas Jefferson Dishman and Kstsieieah (Kizzie) Doublehead (Great Eagle’s daughter, Cherokee Chief’s daughter)
Jefferson Dishman
Sinah Dishman
John W. Dishman (Father)
Burrell Tillman Dishman
Daisy Bell Dishman (married Hayes)
Porter Tillman Hayes (son)
Sandra Kay Hayes (my mother)
Note: I have a family tree showing an ancestry connection to Cherokee Indian heritage.
https://www.myheritage.com/site-family-tree-127398332/singleton
Christopher, you need to get in touch with Cherokee registration in Tahlequah
What on Earth is “Cherokee Indian clothes”?!?
I see many people listed on these rolls with the last name Keys. I am a Keys that originates from Virginia, Dahlgren and around about that area to be exact. How can I find out if these people are my relatives?
Hello Lynette, I’m descendant of the Cherokee Keys family and I can tell you they never lived in Virginia.
Lynette, Do your Keys happen to be from Georgia? My husband’s great-grandmother Susan Lura Keys from Elbert-Henry (?) County, Georgia. She supposedly had a brother named Jack or Josh who dressed in Indian clothing. Susan married William Henry Herriage/Harriage in Henry Co, GA in 1829. I have never been able to come up with any proof, parents’ names, etc.
Would appreciate any help on the Cherokee Keys. Thanks!!
Any relationship to Samuel Houston Keys.He adopted my grt Grandpa William Shotpouch.From the Chicota Oklahoma.Sams wife was SarH Macintosh.Related to the Doublehead s.
I have an ancestor, John Horton, b 1760 in Bucks, PA and Md Ann Greene,. Dau of Meshack Greene and Lucretia (Creasy) Franklin of SC. Creasy was thought to be Cherokee Indian. Anyone have any further info on this?
Seeking the name of a Narnee who died before 1851. She was living in the household of KeeKee Gunter. Can you help?’
Jim Bennett
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