Person County Indians

Submitted by Jack Goins

IN SEARCH OF KINFOLKS LEFT BEHIND.

In the April Newsletter I wrote about our need to research some areas where our ancestors lived prior to migrating to the Clinch River Valley beginning in 1795. When a large group of our Melungeon Progenitors left The Pamunkey River area of Louisa and Hanover County, Virginia they migrated to the Flat River which at that time was Granville County, North Carolina. This research is about the Flat River area and the people who lived here and the ones who stayed. Person County, North Carolina is bounded on the north by Virginia, on the south by Durham and Orange counties, on the west by Caswell, and on the east by Granville. My wife and I visited the Flat River area in Person County, North Carolina in 1997 and took the pictures that are in my books of the Flat River and the Flat River Primitive Baptist Church established in 1750. This area in Person County was then Granville County, became Orange in 1752. This was the location of the Melungeon Progenitors after selling their land in Louisa County, Virginia they migrated to this area and lived here for at least 17 years (1749-1767), they were sometimes enumerated as mulatto on land records and also on a 1755 tax list.

In this area there is a tribe of Indians and I wrote about them in the first chapter of my book, Melungeons Footprints From the Past. In the Person County Indian Group, a school census taken in November 1936, listed 346 persons in the community representing 76 families and the families averaged 6 to 8 children. (2-May 1937 Louise V. Nunn-A comparison of the social situation of two Isolated Indian Groups in Northern North Carolina. Submitted in partial requirements for a degree of Master of Arts, Columbia University, New York, New York-.80 pages.)

Who were the 76 families of Person County Indians and who are they today ?
Newspaper Article - 1948 THE INDIANS OF PERSON COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA, HISTORY OF A PROUD AND HANDSOME TRIBE OF INDIANS NEAR ROXBORO MAY BE CONNECTED WITH LOST COLONY MYSTERY; ABOUT 70 FAMILIES LIVE IN EXTENDED FARMING COMMUNITY

By Tom MacCaughelty
Durham Morning Herald, March 21, 1948

“As Indians, they never have been positively identified. Can they be, as their tradition holds, the long sought descendants of the friendly Indians who received the colonists of John White? Strangely enough, among the approximately 350 people in the scattered farming community, only six family names are represented: Johnson, Martin, Coleman, Epps, Stewart (also spelled Stuart), and Shepherd. Stranger still, three of these names correspond closely with those among the list of Lost Colonists: Johnson, Coleman, and Martyn. But theirs are common English names long familiar in North Carolina, and intermarriage with the proximity to whites would be expected to extend such names among them. (A seventh prominent name among this group is Tally.) As far back as anyone knows, these people have displayed the manners and customs of white settlers, but in this they don't differ from identified Indians.”

29 March 2003 – Courier-Times

State House OKs request from
Indians of Person County to change official name to ‘Sappony’

The Indians of Person County has been recognized under North Carolina law as the "Sappony" tribe. after the House passed a bill effecting a formal name change for the Indians of Person County, who have been officially known by that name for the past 90 years.

Caswell County was formed from the Northern part of Orange County, North Carolina in 1777 it included part of the Flat River, it was bounded on the North by Pittsylvania & Halifax Counties, Virginia. From looking at land and tax records John Collins on the Rocky Branch was still there.

1777 list Paul Collins 1 Martin Collins 1 Middleston Collins 1, Obadiah Collins 1, John Collins 1

Most of the Flat River Collins began migrated to the New River area in 1767, both John Collins Sr. & Jr. were on the 1771 tax list of Fincastle County, Virginia.

Person County was formed from Caswell County in 1791 and the Flat River was in the new county. I didn’t find any Collins on the 1800 census of Person County but did find an old Thomas Gibson, Edward Goin a family of 4 free colored, Enoch? Goin 7 free colored, Allen Goan 7 free colored. Johnson is the most popular surname on the census and is also a name among the Person County Indians.

A Startling Discovery

I received some valuable information from Sappony tribesman Stuart who told me there was a Rolen Collins who hung out with the Person County Indians at Woodsdale, late 1800s. Stuart also told me several from their group migrated to Hawkins County, Tennessee, including his great grandfather Thomas Stewart who married Eliza Epps daughter of Peter Epps, others in this group with the Stewarts were Johnson,Shepherds, Epps and Martin. He also told me many from this group are buried in the Jaynes/Shepherd Cemetery near Rogersville. I found it listed in our cemetery books at the archive. It is located off Hwy 66 on the Webb Road in the Choptack Community near Rogersville, Tennessee. I found the cemetery and took this picture Tuesday September 7, 2010.

Thirty nine people are buried here, five in unmarked graves. 5 Shephard, 7 Stuart, 3 Martin. They migrated to Hawkins County area in 1800s, their headstones are their witness that they died in Hawkins County: John H. Stuart b 7 April 1865, died 11 June 1898; Eliza R. Stuart born 16 March 1826, died 21 May 1893.

In my conversation with the caretaker of this cemetery, a Martin, was not aware of the Indian connection, but he did tell me years ago when the cemetery began, the land was owned by a Shephard family. I need to find someone in this area who knows about their ancient Person County Indian Ancestors.
http://www.ncperson.org/high_plains.htm#web_site

Like their website reads the Person County Indians now Sappony have never been positively identified. And their school was equally financed by Virginia and North Carolina. The first school was built on Green Martins land in 1888 and the cemetery in Hawkins County is run by a Martin 122 years later. I don’t find a connection or association between this mysterious group and the Melungeons except for the fact they lived on the same land around the Flat River in 1750. Maybe the answer to some of this will come from the Hawkins County descendants as this research continues.

Jack Goins

MHS Second Annual Conference

Melungeon Historical Society
Second Annual Conference
Saturday June 19th & Sunday June 20, 2010
Sneedville High School, Sneedville, TN.

9:30 am: Registration welcome committee; Becky Nelson, Johnnie Rhea, Penny Ferguson, Tamara Hogshead. No admission charge we ask for a reasonable donation.

9:45 am: Jack Goins MHS President. Introductions. Also attention to the displays, some to be auctioned off later.

10:00 am: Mayor Greg Marion to welcome the Melungeon Historical Society to Sneedville.

10:20 am: Dr. Scott Collins-Foremost Melungeon researcher who has shared with others his research for over 40 years.

11:15 am: Kathy James-Were there many Gibson (Collins) lines, or were they all related?"

Noon-lunch break.

1:00 pm: Dr Richard Carlson Jr. Presentation “Who’s your People.” Questions and answer session after presentation.

2: 30 pm: Roberta Estes Core Melungeon DNA Advisor, all you need to know about the various DNA test, including the latest “Family Finder”. Questions and answer session.

Vice-president Penny Ferguson and MHS Board Member Elizabeth Bunch Smiddy will have a table set up to administer DNA tests and answer any questions you may have on the various DNA tests, through Family Tree DNA.

Sunday June 20, conference schedule.

10;00 am: Registration welcome committee; Becky Nelson, Johnnie Rhea, Penny Ferguson, Tamara Hogshead. Donations requested.

10:15 am: Board member Johnnie Rhea will hold a genealogy discussion and will have her family display set up for all to view. A panel discussion, questions from audience on everything arranging from genealogy to DNA. MHS board members who are present will form this panel. Our present MHS board members are; Becky Nelson, Beverly Walker, Roberta Estes, Dennis Maggard, Janet Crain, Dr. Jill Florence Lackey, Jack Goins, Joy King, Tamara Hogshead, Kathy James, Kevin Mullins, Penny Ferguson, Elizabeth Smiddy, Tari Adams, Cleland Thorpe, Wayne Winkler.

11:00 Jack Goins A few words about the latest Stony Creek Church minute books 1,2 and 3, which will be shown.

11:15 am: Bob Davis will set up his display depicting his Melungeon Grandparents and give a presentation on them.

Noon. Lunch Break

1:00 pm: Kevin Mullins a descendant of the Newmans Ridge Mullins family gives a presentation on the legendary Mahala Mullins.

2:00 Summing it all up.

Washington DC Early Records

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Recently there have been several messages relating to a slave, Luke Goins, of the Harpers Ferry area. While reviewing some records of Washington, DC, I came across the following:

http://www.historydc.org/pdf/DCemancipation.pdf

This document (placed on the web by the Washington DC Historical Society) relates to the emancipation of slaves in Washington, DC - and the calculation of their value by a commission set up for that purpose. This value was to be paid to the former owners (or their heirs) as compensation for the emancipation of their slaves. Some 966 petitions for compensation were filed by former owners; these petitions named some 3,100 former slaves. The majority of these claims (909) were allowed; the others were fully or partially disallowed.

Three of the slaves named were surnamed GOINS:

Malinda Goins, valued at $350.40

Rose Goins, valued at $350.40

and

George Goins, valued at $328.50

These slaves were three of the seven named by petitioner Milton Garrett, acting on his own behalf and on behalf of an estate (W. C. Caldwell, Sarah Caldwell, John H. Caldwell, A. M. Caldwell, et al). Milton Garrett is claimant 130 (see page 23).

Milton Garrett was a prosperous merchant of Washington, DC - but was originally of Harpers Ferry. Born 06 April 1813, Milton was the eldest son of Johnson and Mary (Doyle) Garrett of Harpers Ferry (and, later, Bolivar). Milton married Mary L. Caldwell about 09 November 1839 (date of license issued at Frederick county, MD). In adulthood, Milton moved to Washington; his brother, Mortimore (a blacksmith), moved to Georgetown; and his youngest sister, Mary Arnett Garrett, married Dr. John Ben Johnson of Alexandria, VA (just across the Potomac from DC).

At the 1860 census of Washington, DC (Series M653, Roll 102, page 384) - i.e. two years before the emancipation claims - the household of Milton Garrett includes his wife, Mary (nee' Caldwell) and their children. Also in the household are Melinda (no surname given, ae 40) and Rose (ae 6); George (Goins) is not in the Garrett household, however.

Given the Harpers Ferry roots of Milton Garrett, it seems probable that Malinda, Rose and George Goins were related in some manner to Luke Goins of Harpers Ferry.

I hope this will provide some useful additional information about your GOINS family.

Richard Irwin

gen-roots@comcast.net

Indian Territory, Cherokee Nation

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Looking for others to submit records for Indian Territory that they would like to share.

Partial List

1900 Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory Township 22 District 26

Dwelling 98, Family 99
Goins, J.W. 1840 60 married 35 years NC NC NC
Goins, Lucy Ann Aug 1843 57 14 children born 10 living NC NC NC
Goins, Evander Mar 1874 26 NC
Goins, Franklin 1876 24 NC
Goins, Lincoy (son) 1878 22 NC
Goins, John B. 1882 18 NC
Goins, Dolly E. Apr 1885 15 NC
Goins, Becky Ann July 1887 13 NC
Goins, Mattie L. Feb 1889 11 NC

Dwelling 125, Family 126
Goins, Thomas Nov. 1871 28 NC NC NC
Goins, Lizzie Sep 1873 26 4 children born 4 living AR MO MO
Goins, Susan Sep 1894 5 IT
Goins, Nivin Aug 1895 4 IT
Goins, Johny Nov 1898 1 IT
Goins, Laura Dec 1899 6 months IT

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Becky Goins married Day McGahey  July 1903    They both were from Echo.

Echo does not exist today. It was covered by water when Grand Lake was filled. 
This is from the book "Heritage of the Hills, a Delaware County History:
Echo was a small village about five miles west of the present Grove, on
the west side of Grand River near the toll bridge.


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From the RLDS cards submitted by Cindy Green

Ordained as a Teacher on Apr 1, 1906 Near Grove, Delaware Co., OK by J. D. Kelley

Baptised Aug 8, 1897 by T. J. Sheppard

GOINS, John W.

   Birth:   March 1831

John W. Goins was baptized a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on 8 August 1897 by T. J. Sheppard. He was ordained a teacher on 1 April 1906 by J. D. Kelley. He attended the Lamanite, Oklahoma Branch.

   Source:   RLDS Deceased Files

      Lamanite, Oklahoma, RLDS Branch Records

Harrison County, MS Early Records

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Letter of Recommendation submitted by Pamela DeRensis

Letter is for Lizzia (also known as Elizabeth, Eliza, Ellizie Beth, Lizy) Goins Spivey cir. 1900 near Gulfport/Biloxi area. Lizzia was the daughter of William Silas Goins from Moore County, NC and Direna Brewer from Little River, Cumberland County, NC.

Lizzia and her husband, George Max Spivey, resided in Escambia County Alabama in 1900. Lizzia died 3 days after giving birth to her last child, Clarence, in Ocala, FL.

Wool Market Miss
Letter of Recomendation

Dear Bretherens
This is to certify that Sister Lizy Spivey is in full fellowship with Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church and we Recomend her worthy of your confidence and Esteem And when connected with any Baptist Church her connection cease with us after you Notify us yours in Christ Rev. R L Fletcher
C. M. Jackson Clerk

Mislabeling

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Article submitted by Pamela DeRensis and posted with permission.

While searching my own “Goins” roots, I’ve come across many instances where persons wishing to quickly validate themselves as “Indian” are clueless about the mislabeling of Southeastern Indians in our early history. American Indians particularly in this part of our country have notoriously been mislabeled as African, Black Dutch, Colored, Freed Persons of Color, Mulatto, Melungeon, Multi-racial, Portuguese, Tri-racial isolates, and probably even more identifiers that I’m not familiar with. Additionally, I might add that we are in most cases we are labeled by the feds as “non-federally recognized” Indians. These labels have come from anthropologists, genealogists, and state and federal government officials who often believed that there were no “Indians” left in the Southeastern part of our country after their removal to the West. I will also add that in some cases Indian people gave in, and or accepted such labels in fear of being removed from their homes and livelihoods. These Indian people often hid in the mountains or the swamps to avoid their suppressors.

Many people searching for their Indian ancestor are not familiar with the term “eugenics,” and the on-going lingering effect it has had on American Indian people. Eugenics according to Wikipedia, “is the study and practice of selective breeding applied to humans, with the aim of improving the species.” Some have labeled it “documentary genocide.” While the Eugenics movement was worldwide, I’m just focusing on what occurred here in the USA.

In the early part of the 20th century, Walter A. Plecker, a public health officer, became the first registrar of Virginia’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. He believed, that American Indians had been “mongrelized” with the African American population. In 1924, the state passed “The Racial Integrity Act,” recognizing only two races, “white” and “colored.” Plecker believed that “colored” people were trying to pass as Indians, and he went about reclassifying Indians as such. Plecker did many things to implement his “pure white” is best polices including altering the birth certificates of Indians in the state of Virginia and forcing them to note themselves as “colored!” To this day, the Virginia tribes are struggling to achieve well deserved federal recognition and are having difficulties with documenting their ancestry due to Plecker’s policies. In 1997, then Governor George Allen repudiated Plecker’s policies and implemented a law through which Virginia Indians could receive corrected birth certificates, free of charge!

Walter Plecker was not the only high level official to spread lasting harmful actions on American Indian people in the South. In 1935, as the Lumbee Tribe of Indians in North Carolina continued their quest for federal recognition, the U.S. Department of the Interior sent an anthropologist named Dr. Carl C. Seltzer to take physical data on Indians applying for federal recognition of one-half or more Indian blood. This is many years after they we were state recognized as Indian people. Seltzer ‘s techniques included analysis of head shape and measurements, skin pigmentation, hair, ears, nose, lips, teeth, and blood type measurements. Out of approximately 12,400 Indians in 1935, only, 209 persons applied to be part of the study. Of that 209, only 22 met the test! They became known as the “Original 22.” This was ludicrous to say the least and the study came to be invalid.

I’m saying all of this to reiterate to those searching not to be so quick to judge or accept the labeling of American Indian people as something other than “Indian.” And, I’m also saying to Indian people, not to be so quick to accept the labels forced upon us! There are many misinformation internet sites floating around out there about southeastern Indian people and need to be corrected. An example is the William Goyes (or Goings), an early Nacogdoches, Texas settler and businessman. The site says “he was born in Moore County, NC in 1794, the son of William Goings, a free mulatto and a white woman.” He was American Indian for heaven’s sake! I wrote the website I discovered it on and ask for it to be corrected. Also just recently, I requested a correction (and they did so) of a site labeling a legendary historical hero for my tribe (Henry Berry Lowrie) was mislabeled as a “The Black Robin Hood in the Civil War!”

Melungeons, Footprints from the Past, author Jack Goins

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Copyright © 2009 by Jack Harold Goins. Printed and bound in the United States of America. All Rights Reserved.

Front cover photo is Alice Minor
Back Cover photo is Vardy Valley from top of Newman Ridge.

Although the author, printer and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information contained in this book, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. Any slights of people, places, or organizations are unintentional.


In Melungeon Footprints From the Past, I present new evidence, found in court records and DNA (See DNA programs at http://www.jgoins.com/). This book revisits several events in my previous book Melungeons & Other Pioneer Families, published in 2000. On May 1, 2001, I received a Research Excellence Award from the East Tennessee Historical Society. In the summer of 1998, I began researching the Hawkins County Court Records stored in the basement of our 162 year old court house in Rogersville, Tennessee, and found several cases on the people who lived in Hancock County known as Melungeons. From those research days in the basement, I realized the old records needed to be restored. and was appointed Hawkins County Archivist in 2005 and with the help of several volunteers, we now have restored the old records and have a county archive. (Use this link to tour the Hawkins County Archives. hawkinscounty/tn.gov/index.)
This book represents a lifetime goal of putting into writing a true story about the lives of my pioneer families and also the lives and migration route of the people labeled Melungeon, where they came from, their parents, their bloodline, which is based upon their own testimony and backed by documented evidence, including DNA testing. Included is a brief autobiography of my first few years of this research journey, and of growing up on a farm with the hard times my parents had in the beginning of their marriage, but I would not trade places with anyone, because those times are precious memories.
I would like to acknowledge all the ones who helped make this book possible, many of whom are now deceased. The stories told to me in the early 1950's by my Grandfather Henry Harrison Goins and the great memory of my parents McKinley and Ona Arrington Goins, Eula Mae McNutt, aunts Bessie Arrington and Cornia Goins Lawson who gave me many stories of their childhood and to uncles, Hustler Lee Goins, William Wesley, Esley and Hezekiah (Car)Goins, for their stories about growing up in Fishers Valley and the life of my Great-Grandfather Hezekiah Goins, my cousins Jack C. Goins, Dewey Goins, Jim Goins, Lee Minor Garner, Elvie and Beulah Goins, Louise Adams, Joanne Pezzullo of Flat Rock, Michigan, Douglas and Pamela Lawson Jenkins, Virginia Willis Winstead, Sue Arrington Fitzgerald, all of Rogersville, Tennessee, Wayne Winkler of Jonesboro, Tennessee, my first cousin Jon Goins of Austin, Texas, David Jones of Ovideo, Florida, Mary Hill of Provo, Utah, Ron Blevins of West Point, Virginia, Joy King of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Wanda Aldridge of Dyer, Arkansas, Ruth Johnson of Kingsport, Tennessee.
Thanks to my co-administrators in the Melungeon, Goins and Minor DNA projects, Penny Ferguson of London, Kentucky, Janet Crain of Lampass, Texas, Katherine James of Spartanburg, South Carolina and Roberta Estes of Brighton, Michigan, and to my wife Betty for researching with me in the libraries, the many court houses, farms, creeks and rivers we visited in Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina in the research of this book.


This book may be bought now by emailing or writing Jack Goins.
Author's contact information:
Price $25.00
Jack Goins
270 Holston View Drive
Rogersville, TN 37857
(423) 272-7297
jgoins@usit.net