Melungeons; My Wayland's & Gibson's; and Excerpts from Dr. Carlson's PhD Dissertation
Updated: Oct 23, 2021
The Waylands, the Melungeons, and a Saponi Band of the Catawba Nation
My research has morphed from a study of the Gist’s to the Wayland’s. The Wayland’s lived in the first known Melungeon Community at Stony Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Scott County, Virginia. They lived on Copper Creek per early records. I believe the connection to the Melungeons is through the Gibson surname. Two known Melungeon-Gibson families were their closest neighbors in Southwestern Virginia.
LAND ENTRY BOOK 2 [20]; RUSSELL CO. VA; PAGE 101; entry dated Oct 4 1805; Nevil Wayland Jun-r enters fifty acres of land by virtue of part of a Land Office Treasury warrant No 1855 dated March 18th 1796 lying in Russell County on both sides of Copper Creek, beginning at a conditional line between John McClelan and James Gibson then running up the Creek on both sides for quantity entry dated Oct 23. He purchased 50 aces in what became Scott County, Virginia, in 1796.
Next door to my William Wayland in Lawrence County, Arkansas, 30 years later, there was a James Gibson family. There was a Humphrey Gibson in Virginia, associated with a man whose daughter according to his will was “Cusiah” Gibson, and Keziah was the wife of my Nevil Wayland Sr. Thirty years later, in Arkansas there was a Humphrey Gibson living near my Wayland’s, also in Lawrence County, Arkansas. There we other Gibson families in the area right next to my Wayland families.
Early Lawrence County, Arkansas Records
William Wayland [note: my direct ancestor], 1/2 appraised value
P 5 -- Tuesday, November 23, 1819 -- Thomas Griffith is authorized to keep a ferry at White River where James Akins now lives . . . He is allowed to charge the same rates . . .
Friday, November 26, 1819 -- William Wayland is appointed overseer of the second road of said township [Spring River Township]
P 10 -- Wednesday, third day of term, June 6, 1821 -- Jacob Flannery is appointed overseer of the first division in the place of William Wayland
Before Tuesday, January 15th, 1822 -- P 13 -- Samuel Crow is appointed overseer of the road leading from Davidsonville to White River, in the first road division of Strawberry Township in the place of William Wayland
P 21 -- Tuesday, the second day of term, 5 July 1825 -- Ordered that the following named persons be commissioned judges at the ensuing August election, to wit: Jesse Jeffrey, Henry Wayland, and Samuel D Gibson for Strawberry Township, and that the election, and that the election be held in the house of Jesse Jeffrey.
William Wayland, the youngest male of that generation of Wayland’s, mentioned above, was my direct ancestor. Notice the mention of White River. White River was the dividing line between Arkansas Territory and Indian Territory at that time, 1819. Henry Wayland (William’s eldest brother), Samuel D. Gibson, and Jesse Jeffrey are all mentioned in the same sentence. Jeffrey is a well-known Catawba surname associated with the Saponi, and Gibson is also associated with the same Saponi Band of the Catawba, as well as with the Melungeons of SW Virginia and NE Tennessee.
Stony Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Scott County, Virginia
In “Melungeons and Other Pioneer Families” by Jack Goins he says, on page 9; The word Melungin first appeared on a written record in the minutes of Stony Creek Church in 1813. Mr. Goins, who has researched the Melungeons longer than almost anyone, also states on the same page; The fathers of some of the Stony Creek Church Melungeons originally lived on the Pamunkey River in Virginia. Their ancient Indian Tribe must have been located in that neck of the woods, and it may have been the Saponia who was a Siouan tribe. Of all the Siouan tribes, the only one remaining today as federally recognized is the Catawba. There are several Siouan tribes that are state recognized.
Goins also mentions the minutes of the Stoney Creek Primitive Baptist Church. Those minutes can be found here -- http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/scott/church/stonycrk.txt
In introducing these minutes;
Fort Blackmore, Scott County Virginia
This copy of what is perhaps the first book of the Stony Creek Primitive Baptist Church, located on Stony creek, near Fort Blackmore, Scott County, Virginia, was in the possession of Mr. Scott Beatright of Colburn, Virginia, whose grandfather was once a Minister of this church. The book is written on paper and bound between covers made of home spun cloth. The handwriting is very good and the ink has lasted well. Copied August, 1966, by Emory L. Hamilton, Wise, Virginia, with a copy filed in the Archives of the Southwest Virginia Historical Society, at Clinch Valley College, Wise, Virginia and a copy sent to the Virginia State Library, Richmond, Virginia.
The church minutes begin with these words; A CHURCH BOOK FOR STONY CREEK CHURCH; NEVEL WAYLAND, CLERK FOR THE CHURCH. Church meeting held at Stony Creek. February the 21 day 1803 (Should be 1801). This is actually Nevil Wayland Jr. He is later found after 1815, in Lawrence County, Arkansas living with his brothers William and Henry. A fourth brother Francis arrived after 1820. I have a photo of Nevil’s son Jonathan in the previous blog entry. Also recall earlier blog posts mentioning Coeburn, Virginia and Fort Blackmore, wrt my Gist family. The above appears to imply that Nevil Jr was the writer of these minutes. It also says; April the 24 day 1802; Church meeting held on Stony Creek. Motion made by Brother Cocks for to petition Brother Flannary's church for him to attend us part of his time. By consent of the church Brother Wayland is to get a quire of paper for the use of the church. . . .
August the ____ (1806) . . . Henry Cock (also spelled Cocke in the church minutes) and Nevil Wayland is appointed by this church as clerk.
I had remembered it as saying they bought ink and paper for Nevil’s usage. It actually says Nevi was asked to purchase “a squire of paper” for the usage of the church. See how unreliable our memories or our own recollections can be? Anyhow, I have wondered if it was MY Nevil Wayland that wrote the word “melungins” in these minutes. Below, from the same website cited above, we have;
September the 26, 1813; Church sat in love. Brother Kilgore, Moderator. Then came forward Sister Kitchen and complained to the church against Susanna Stallard for saying she harbored them Melungins (Melungeons). Sister Sook said she was hurt with her for believing her child and not believing her, and she won't talk to her to get satisfaction, and both is "pigedish", one against the other.
Remember at the beginning of this report it said of the handwriting; The handwriting is very good and the ink has lasted well. It says Nevil Jr was clerk in 1801 and again in 1806. Was he still church clerk by 1813? Also note the usage of a word “pigedish” that has no meaning. Maybe it is “pig-[he]adish”? SO maybe this is a different person, as this handwriting is not as good as was earlier mentioned. The only way to know for sure is to look at the original document and see if the hand writing is the same.
The word “Wayland” is mentioned in these minutes 31 times! Obviously my direct family was members of this church. To compare, the surname “Gibson” is used 42 times. So our two surnames are very closely associated with this church, the first known Melungeon community documented in history. Evidence exists saying Nevil Wayland Sr’s. wife was a Gibson.
I’d like to report one more thing. When Nevil Wayland Senior died about the end of 1806, a list of his belongings was made, and that list still exists. One item was “tomahawk”. I did a little research and both the words “hatchet” and “axe” were in common usage. So these people knew the difference between a hatchet made by the English and a tomahawk in the possession of the American Indian. Nevil Sr. owned a tomahawk.
The origin of the term “Melungeon”
There are several theories today as to the origin of the name “Melungeon”. One theory states it comes from some ancient Turkish word. Another group of researchers believe it came from a Portuguese word. Some say there is an Angolan origin based out of Africa. But there is no record of Turkish, or Portuguese people emigrating to colonial Virginia or the Carolinas. Maybe few Portuguese ships did land in this region, but they also left on those ships. If a ship went aground, the most likely scenario is that a later ship came by to cart the surviving sailors back home. No early record exists of Portuguese sailors being left on American shores.
The Angolans is a different story. They have a VERY GOOD REASON to hide their identity. These Angolans would have undoubtedly been sold into slavery, once discovered. Their best option would have been to move in with the local Indians. However the people who later became Melungeons were tri-racial. Some of them were forced to say they had no Negro blood, before a court of law. Why would there be a memory of one Angolan word, Melungo (hard “g” sound), amongst them, that they change to “Melungeon” (soft “g”, sounds like “j”)? Why change the word ending from "go" to something sounding like "jeon"?
The best explanation for the origin of the word comes from the French verb “melanger” meaning “to mix” and “malungeon” which is first person plural of that verb, and it means “we mix”. This is an EXACT spelling, not an approximation or something a little similar – it is exact. And there were French Huguenots living in the area (http://www.huguenotsociety.org/history_new2.htm) where it states; Prior to the Revolution, there were about eight hundred thousand Huguenots in France. In the face of horrible persecution, approximately five hundred and fifty thousand of them recanted their faith. During the next twenty years, it is estimated that about a quarter of a million Huguenots left France. Many fled to friendly neighboring countries such as Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands and parts of Belgium. Others escaped to England and Ireland from where they embarked for the West Indies and British North America, especially to the Carolinas, Virginia, New York and New England. Some eventually migrated as far as South Africa. . . .
The Huguenot Society of South Carolina was founded in 1885 by their descendants in order to honor and perpetuate the memory of these French Protestant men, women and children.
Please note that the Siouan tribes lived in the Carolinas and Virginia, the same states mentioned as locations where the French Huguenots (Protestants) settled in America. So we can document French speakers to the regions where these mixed-race families came from, and Melungeon is a French word meaning “we mix”. There is no Turkish, or Angolan word meaning “we mix” that is similar to the French word. And since the Portuguese and French languages are both of Latin origin, they have many words that are very similar. But we have no corresponding Portuguese Society of South Carolina that can document Portuguese settlers back to the time of the original Melungeon forebears, as is the case with the French Huguenots.
I hope my family photos help dispel the lies that the Melungeons contained no American Indian element. At least some of us did. I can’t speak for other families, but I know mine had American Indian blood, proven by an autosomal DNA test. We have rumors of Indian blood down three lines (Brown, Gist, and Wayland), well, these things are supporting evidence.
In the future, I hope to quote from a Ph. D. dissertation, some of the writngs that helped get a band of the Saponi state recognized, recent reports related to the y-chromosome DNA testing, others who have written about the Melungeons, records of the Eastern Siouan tribes, and others I have probably forgotten about. When I look at my computer, I suspect I'll find a few things and say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about that!" It happens all the time.
Wayland Connection to the Melungeon Gibson's
I was told the following in an email. The person emailing me was a Melungeon Gibson researcher, and first suggested my Kezziah might be the same Keziah/Cusiah mentioned below--
“If your Kezziah is a Gibson she is likely the daughter of Thomas and Mary Gibson of Henry County, Virginia. The Champ Gibson [below] moved to Rockingham Co., NC and some of his descendants are found in Hawkins Co., Tenn.
HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Will Book ? pp30-31
Dated 3 January 1780
Probated 23 March 1780
To my loving wife Marey Gibson and my daughter Cuzziah Gibson my whole estate.
Thomas (x) Gibson
Zackeriah King, Joel Gibson and Lambert Dotson executors. 23 March 1780. Exhibited by Joel Gibson who gave bond with Lambeth Dodson and Champain Gibson as his securities.
I think...but can not prove... that the Humphrey (see below) name came from Moses Humphrey who married to Frances Gibson, daughter of Thomas Gibson d. 1734 in Hanover Co., Va. Francis Gibson Humphrey was the sister of Valentine Gibson:
SURRY CO. NC TAX LISTS 1771 (alpha)
Jacob Gibson
William Gibson
Humphrey Gibson 1 [also 1772]
Valentine Gibson 3
James Shepherd 1
This should read, "Lewis Humphrey married to Francis Gibson". Moses Humphrey is the one that had land on Newman's Ridge Hawkins Co., TN, Deed Book 11, p. 273. James Johnson to Vardeman Collins, Registered 27 May 1825. 25 February 1825. Each of Hawkins Co., TN. $400. 75 acres situated on Blackwater Creek, part of a 300-acre tract entered by said Johnson & Moses Humphreys, beg. at a white oak and hickory on Vardeman Collins' line.” – end of email --
This same person later emiled me the following;
I have always pondered why the (1) clerk at the church, if he was Nevil Wayland, would write the words, 'harboring them Melungins' -- His mother who is almost positively Kezziah GIBSON and her mother Mary GIBSON (2), both from Meluneon Gibson families were members of this church...
This just never made sense to me -- but then after reviewing the minutes it dawned on me. Wayland probably didn't write it, William Brickey did.
Interestingly shortly after Brickey wrote 'harboring them Melungins' -- Nevil Wayland and his Melungeon Gibson mother left the area and moved to Arkansas. And who was William Brickey? A second generation French Huegenot. So the first use of the word was written by none other than a FRENCHMAN (1)
"After remaining there some time he married Elizabeth Cocke daughter of David Cocke and both him and his wife became members of the Baptist Church at Stony Creek from the time of its organization, which was organized in 1801. William Brickey **was Clerk and Deacon of the Church, most of the time up to his death. **"
THE STONY CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
As this is written the Minute Book of the Stony Creek Baptist Church lies on the desk before the writer. It is faded on account of age and much use. Some of its pages are missing, and some of those yet remaining are scarcely legible. The earliest legible date is August 26, 1815, but the church was organized in 1801. This date is shown in biographical sketches of two of its first members, William Brickey, Sr., and David L. Cocke. These sketches are to be found in the Minute Book of the Stony Creek Regular Baptist Association. According to this record William Brickey, Sr., was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, December 29, 1779, and became a member of this church at its organization in 1801. He was its first clerk, and one of its first deacons. He married Elizabeth Cox, a daughter of David Cox.
Joanne
– end of quote
I did an internet search for William Brickey and found the following;
https://www.geni.com/people/William-Brickey-Squire/6000000007340988253
"William Brickey", "Squire William Brickey"
Birthdate: December 29, 1779
Birthplace: Botetourt, Virginia, USA
Death: January 16, 1865 (85)
Stoney Creek, Scott, Virginia, USA
Place of Burial: Fort Blackmore, Scott County, Virginia
(from the same website )
And here is his great-grandfather
John "John" Jean Brickey (Bricquet).
Birthdate: December 20, 1640
Birthplace: Plumaugat, Côtes-d'Armor, Bretagne, France
Death: October 29, 1718 (77)
Place of Burial: Colonial Beach, Westmoreland County, VA,
I wrote her back telling her about the Gibson neighbors to our Waylands in Arkansas. There was a Humphrey Gibson, a James and a John Gibson next to some of our Waylands in Arkansas. There were a john and James Gibson also living next to us in Southwestern Virginia. There was a Humphrey Gibson who also lived in South Carolina, perhaps the same time our Nevil Wayland served there during the Revolutionary War, as a part of what was called “The Spartan Regiment”, also called “Roebuck's Regiment”. I have reported Thomas Gibson's Will, where he mentioned a daughter named Kezziah. Joanne replied –
The Humphrey Gibson you have found in Arkansas is 'almost positively' NOT the Humphrey Gibson in South Carolina as that Humphrey Gibson in SC was found murdered on July 4, 1809.
The Humphrey Gibson with your Kezziah in Arkansas very likely Humphrey Jr., son of Humphrey Gibson Sr., found first in Surry Co., NC., [with Joel Gibson who was witness to will of Kezziah Gibson's father] then to Washington Co., Tenn/NC and was one of the first settlers in Plattin Twp., Mo., and descendants found in Strawberry Twp, Lawrence Co., Ark.
The connection of these Gibsons along with John and James as the Wayland neighbors in Russell County make Kezziah 'almost positively' the daughter of Thomas and Mary Gibson. And almost positively proves that Nevil Wayland DID NOT write someone was 'harboring them Malungens' -- that's where MY research has led me.” – end of quote.
Well, we know some of our Wayland's also settled in Strawberry Township, Lawrence County, Arkansas, too. So descendants of Humphrey Gibson are found in Lawrence County, Arkansas, and his father, Humphrey Sr, is mentioned with respect to Thomas Gibson, who had a daughter named Keziah that is mentioned in his will. It is believed that researchers of Meulngeon say that Nevil Wayland Sr's wife, Keziah, is Keziah Gibson, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Gibson, a known Melungeon family.
My comments – Humphrey Gibson is on the Tax list from Strawberry Township, Lawrence Co, Ar, from 1832-1838. I had thought I'd seen something about him being in Lawrence County, Ar before Nevil arrived in 1815 -- maybe I am wrong about that.
1830 census has Humphrey Gibson in Cooper Co., Mo -- some neighbors surnames are Goodman, George and Bass. I don't know if these Goodman's, Bass's and Goerge's came from Eastern Sioouan communities such as the Melungeons. I haven't researched it further. Those three surnames however, are associated with the same Indian peoples.
(1) Our Wayland's attended Stoney Creek Primitive Baptist Church. In the minutes to that church, the church clerk is the first person who used “them Melungins” in any literature found to date. (The word “Lungens” was used in Baxter County, Arkansas at an even earlier date.) “Melangeon” is first person plural of “melanger”, meaning “to mix” in French. (2) Mary Gibson, Keziah’s mother, DID attend the same church. Her name is also mentioned throughout those church minutes.
Proof is proof. We don't meet that standard. In my humble opinion; We DO meet the criteria for an "abundance of circumstantial Evidence". The photo below is Jonathan Wayland (1818-1882) His grandmother was Keziah Gibson, and I have been told was a Saponi Indian.
Gibson’s per Carlson
Dr. Richard Carlson mentioned Thomas Gibson several times in his PhD Thesis. This is my family. Therefore I am going to report what he said about us. I can feel the colon cancer growing in me while I wait my turn to take my MRI to determine what treatment I will receive. I wish I could shorten the time process, but I must wait until next Wednesday.
Here are quotes from Carlson’s peer reviewed PhD Thesis:
Showing a photo of Elder Asa Gibson, the author wrote; “Were his ancestors Welsh warriors, Phoenecians or Survivors of Roanoke? . . .[Asa] says he’s 75 years old, and an Indian.” (39)
He says this in the introduction, or early part of his writing. Then he continues with his narrative. Since I am only interested in telling the story of the Gibson’s and related families, I must go a hundred pages before I run into another mention of the Gibson’s. I am not certain he has the story correctly. For instance he quickly assumes the Gibson’s in Louisa County were White, but doesn’t explain why he makes this assumption. While I am at it, he also mentions the Saponi signed the traty of 1677, when it looks to me that they just signed the 1680 addendum to that treaty. He never mentions the Monacan, a Siouan tribe, also signing that treaty. But I am not here to criticize his work – he has done a masterful job! I know the hard work he went through to produce this work was no easy task. I am very thankful for it. Unfortunately, his earliest mention of the Gibson dates us only back to 1745. That’s the same year my ancestor, Nevil Wayland was born in Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland. Nevil’s future wife, Keziah Gibson, daughter of Thomas and May Gibson, was probably born about this time, as well, in Virginia. Now back to Dr. Carlson’s narrative.
. . . In the summer of 1745, [John Collins] relations, Sam and William Collins, along with men named George and Thomas Gibson, Sam Bunch, Ben Branham, and a few others were charged by the Louisa County Court for “concealing tithables” (286) All the men pleaded not guilty Why and how the charge was brought about, is not known for certain..
The likely source for the charge was however the Virginia Law that stipulated that, in addition to all adult males, all Indian, Negro, or Mulatto women 16 years of age ere also tithable, unlike white womwn o the same age . . . It is quite plausible that the tithables these men were concealing were their Saponi spouses or in-laws. The Christian Saponi may have felt they should be free from taxation as rightful heirs of the Tributary Nations. But apparently as far as the Virginia government was concerned, “Tributary status” no longer applied in the case of these citizen Saponi. This being the case, they would now have been subject to the Virginia Act of May, 1723. That act stipulated that “All free Indians, Negroes, or Mulattos (except tributary Indians to this government) shall be accounted tithable (287) . . . Since 1705, Virginia law also held that people that were Indian and White to the third degree were deemed mulattos. While people that were White and African heritage to the 64th degree were legally classed as mulatto (288). Social and economic barriers based on race labels would become a greater concern for these Christian Saponi now that they had lost their political status as Tributary Indians. . . . the 1745 incident is notable in that it is the first mention of the Gibson and Bunch families who from this point forward in time would become consistently entwined with these [Saponi].
Carlson continues with my pet peeve; saying; Oral traditions emanating from the next century that they were whites of Spanish or Portuguese heritage, but no corroborating proof from this era has everhas surfaced to refute or substantiate that claim.
I will keep going from this point forward in his dissertation, and speak up when a Gibson is mentioned. He reports; By 1747, Thomas Collins gained . . . title to 186 acres in Louisa County. . . Possibly, he gained it from his white in-law, Gilbert Gibson who also held adjacent property there . . . Gilbert appears to have been father, brother, or uncle of afore mentioned Thomas Gibson, who also had a small piece of land there . . . He mentioned Samuel Bunch had land there at that time. These properties lay downstream from the Gwin Mountains on Turkey Creek. off the south side of the South Anna River, placing them at the northern extent of the lands owned by the French families of Monakin Town. He states Gilbert Gibson died in 1749 and all these families moved away after that. He states these families would remain in Louisa County between the James and South Anna Rivers, during the 1750s.saying; One map would label them as the Nassaw Indians (293). The remainder however relocated back to North Carolina.
He continues to think these Gibson’s were white when there is ample evidence they had been mixed for some time. Continuing with his narrative, Tom [Colllins], along with . . . George and Charles Gibson, [moved] their families south to the Flatt River, deep in the heart of North Carolina. Most would buy or otherwise obtain title to land here in a short time. . . . In 1751, Tom Gibson received a notably large grant from the prominent “Earl of Granville” of 640 acres on the Flatt River adjacent to John Collins land (296). He states the Occoneeci had settled in this area in 1732. Carlson states; Ramsey states that “up until the late 1750s John Eaton, Ephraim Osborne, William Harrison, and other colonists used the trading ford as a place to trade with the Saponi, Cherokee and Catawba (297). Mitchell’s map identifies the Aconeechy as living on the Flatt River
Carlson continues to talk of these Saponi families in chapter 3 of his dissertation. He states that this band of Saponi that he refers to as a Christian Band of the Saponi, remained living between Louisa County, Virginia and the Flat River in northern North Carolina, near the Virginia border, from the 1750s to the Revolutionary War. He mentions Tom Collins, George Gibson, and Moses Ridley/Riddle. An Ephrahim Siizemore is called a “Molata”. Okay, here are more names. Several are listed as :molata”.A man known as “Moses Riddle” is listed as Indian. By 1755,Tom Gibson is a “molata”, as were George, Charles, and Mager Gibson. Gideon and Micager Bunch are there. as well.
When Carlson refers to the French & Indian War, he mentions Peyton Randolph and William Byrd, but never says a word about Christopher Gist’s trip to visit the Catawba and Cherokee. He refers to Jon Bowling, Tom Gibson, and Charley Collins as being in militias based in Louisa and and Augusta Counties in Virginia. He refers to the Braddock expedition wrongly dating it to 1775 and the Revolutionary War. The actual date was during the French and Indian War, NOT the Revolution. Maybe that is just a typo. He probably intended it to read 1757.
Carlson doesn’t mention the following, but Christopher Gist also spent a great deal of time with the Catawba and Cherokee who sided with the English in the French and Indian war. In fact he died in 1759 of small Pox, the same year a great Small Pox killed off at minimum of half of the Catawba Nation. It probably also affected the Saponi, Tuscarora, Meherrin and Nottaway. I mentioned a Catawba chief who spoke with the Cherokee stating that the “Tuscarora, Notawego, and Saponi were going up against the French and their Indian allies, principally the Shawnee. One Catawba chief even became known as “General New River” during the American Revolutionary War as a result of his prowess during the French and Indian War. Carlson DOES mention some Saponi living in the vicinity of the New River. So Carlson does leave out a lot of information about the Catawba during the French and Indian War. I just wanted to add this as background information to Carlson’s words. Having said this, here are some of Carlson’s words;
Two summers after that incident [that incident was in 1757, so two years after that would have been 1759, the same year as the great Small Pox epidemic], George Washington sent a formal written invitation to the Nottaway, Tuscarora, Meherrin and Saponi to join with their militia in a new joint Indian-English campaign against the French and their Indian allies. Carlson then states he doesn’t know where this Saponi contingent might have originated from the Saponi on Eaton’s lands, or perhaps Flat River, or those who never left Virginia. He adds perhaps they came from the Saponi still living with the Catawba. However there was already a sizeable Catawba contingent participating in this war, so the Saponi living with the Catawba were probably he counted with the Catawba contingent. In the next paragraph, Carlson mentions three of the Gibson’s.
He says; Both during and after the war, the Flat River Indians and their mixed-blood relations would find themselves in and out of the Orange County court for various complications, mostly from debts to local traders . . . He mentions Tom Gibson in 1754, and Gideon Bunch in 1756, as well as Charley Gibson Carlson adds; In the spring of 1757 Captain Snow, who the Orange County court describes as a “friendly Catawba Indian”, says one of those “traders” that was mentioned as taking the Indians to court for he claimed they owed, A Mr. Michael Synnot, stole his horse and refused to give it back. He keeps referring as the Collins as being full blood yet that others, including the Gibson’s, are mixed-bloods. I don’t understand this distinction.
Carlson reported; By 1770 many of the Indian families on Flat River had moved back to Virginia, where they still had relatives. Carlson says; By the end of the 1760s, the old Christian Saponi families from the Flat River Community and the old Louisa-Cumberland area of Virginia began to bring their own tribal relations back together again. They would consolidate new community . . . the New River boundary area between Virginia and North Carolina.
Carlson later mentions my Tom Gibson again. He says; By 1771, Boteourt County, Virginia records show that there were at least nine, adult male Christian Saponi living on the New River John, George, Sam and Charles Collins, and Tom Gibson (348). The new community these Christian Saponi formed on the New River placed them squarely back in the part of Appalachia where their families hunted and gathered some seventy years prior. Carlson starts mentioning names and locations I became familiar with when I researched my Gist surname. He talks of Castlewoods, the Moore brothers, and Captain John Blackmore. My Nathaniel Gist had sold lands in that neighborhood to Capt. Blackmore’s brother. He mentions Stoney Creek, where my Wayland’s and Gibson’s were to attend church services. We are now entering locations I have discovered are places where my Wayland’s and Gibson’s and Gist’s once inhabited. He tells of several Collins a d one Bunch family who chose to live on New River, and other Bunch families who chose to live in the Catawba cities. He mentions a Hammond male who married a Collingirl, as well as the presence o Bill Sexton. Me mentions one Aicee/Sicee person whose name was Anglicized to Thomas.
What was to become known as Dunsmore’s began just before the American Revolution. Carlson reports; A list from the Draper Manuscripts, thought to reflect Captain Herbert’s Company, reveals that one of the militia units comprised of the New River Indians, their mixed-blood relations, and numerous Virginia backwoodsmen mustered into duty that summer (360). He lists the Collins, Riddle, Sexton, and Aicee families. He speaks of them being sent to Fort Blackmore in 1774 where they were attacked by the Cherokee and Shawnee. Carlson says; Herbert’s troops were pulled back from fort protection duty and were ordered to make their way up to the rendezvous with other units at Camp Union that September (363). The troops then made their way to Pleasant Point where, at that great battle with the Shawnee, twenty men from Herbert’s company alone would fall dead (364). If any of them Christian Saponi serving in the unit were among the fatalities, [it] remains unknown.
Carlson makes no mention of the Gibson’s being in Herbert’s unit. He speaks of the coming of the Revolution, and then states; By 1776,many of the men from the Christian Saponi would enter Continental service, but they would do so as individuals, and not as a tribal entity (365). Charley Gibson, who was born back in Louisa (Cumberland) County, Virginia, in 1739, mustered out in Salisbury, North Carolina while he was still living at the fading Flat River Community.
Hmmm . . . now this is very interesting. He talks of a Lewis Collins. He then says of Lewis; This grandson of Old John Collins was drafted and placed under Colonel Williamson command when he went into town that year. His initial duties he later described as being forced to “march against the Cherokees on the South Carolina Frontier.” This GREATLY interests me, as I recall what was written of my ancestor, Nevil Wayland, Senior. It was written of hi that he worked with the Quartermaster and he “was a driver of horses and cattle to the troops on the Indian line”. Does he mean the Williamson expedition against the Cherokee? This was a well-known expedition! He belonged to a South Carolina unit, and I believe Williamson’s expedition began in South Carolina. This would also mean Col. Williamson recruited at least one Catawba to fight the Cherokee. It is known that there were several Catawba on that expedition. Were the future Catawba surnamed “Williamson” descended from this man? Was it through the Lewis Collins that my ancestor, the Irish born Nevil Wayland Sr. was introduced to his future wife, the Saponi Indian named Keziah Gibson, daughter of Thomas and Mary Gibson? Carlson then says Lewis Collins went back to the New River where he was again drafted in 1781, and “marched with Green’s troops to fight at the “high hills of Santee”. Again, I remember that it was written that my Nevil Wayland Sr. viewed Charleston, South Carolina when it burned to the ground in 1780. I wonder where the “high hills of Santee” are located. I hve long wondered how my Nevil was first introduced to these Saponi. After the Revolution ended he moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina, which isn’t far from the main home of the Catawba near the NC/SC border. Maybe it was through Lewis Collins. In 1794 Nevil Sr. left Spartanburg and in 1796 the family appears living near Stoney Creek, in Scott County, Va., which is next to the site of Fort Blackmore that I spoke of 2 or 3paragraphs back.
I can’t believe it! In the next paragraph, Carlson says; During the revolutionary era, the Christian Saponi who were previously living outside the primary community at New River were choosing to rejoin their kin there. Many of the Gibson’s I particular were slow to join the migration to the New River, and the elder Tom and George Gibson still maintained their residence there after after the Collins’ and other affiliated Indian and mixed-blood families had left. Tom however, would finally leave the Flat River in the early 1770’s and, with a number of his relatives, he would eventually resettle out near Fort Blackmore after a short residential stint at the New River Community. Then in late 1776, old George would eventually pass on (370) . . . most of his relations would join with Tom Gibson in the mountains, meanwhile others scattered into Caswell and. Guilford in North Carolina.
Carlson doesn’t mention it Thomas Gibson died in 1780. I have a record of that previously in this report, where it mentions his daughter and my ancestor, Cusiah.
Carlson mentions a record from an 1834 pension document, written by Joey Collins. In that record, Joey reports; I was a small boy in 1780 when Captain Martin came to New River in Virginia and captured a group of Tories staying in a stone fort along the river. Among those captured were Lewis Collins and David Gibson who escaped late that night. I am immediately acquainted with both men and have often heard them tell of making their escape from Captain Martin (376)
Collins mentions many of these men were recorded as both Tories and one point and Revolutionary at another, He mentions a “John Collins”. I believe one of the officers my Nevil Wayland served under was named “John Collins”. I need to look that up -- I did -- I found -- Wayland, Nevil; While residing on the Tyger River, he entered the service as a wagoner during May, 1779. He served under Col.’s Wofford and Thomas. He hauled provisions to the troops on the Indian line. In addition, he served under Capts. John Collins, John Nesbitt, and Col. Roebuck. South Carolina Roster, p. 973 . Is this the same John Collins? I must wonder . . .
He speaks of various forts along the Clinch River, but never mentions Gist’s Fort, the fort named for my Gist family. Carlson speaks of families along New River moving to the are around the Cumberland Gap and Clinch River by the 1790s. Carlson mentions Wilburn Waters, of whom it was said he was of mixed race -- both French Huguenot and Catawba. But Waters also said the Cherokeenever attacked Gist's Fort, avoiding it to attack the next fort down the road in 1777. Carlson next speaks of the Gibson's in his dissertation, mentioning a Thomas Gibson in 1800, as well as a Joel Gibson. Now MY Thomas Gibson died in 1780 and a Joel Gibson is mentioned in his probate papers. The Thomas Gibson mentioned might be his son or perhaps a nephew. He lists a “Griffen Collins” purchasing lands in the area in 1800. This reminds me of the Saponi Indian named “Charles Griffen” in the 1740s, and the earlier teacher named “Charles Griffin” who was also a Reverend, who taught at Fort Christanna about 1714.
Carlson mentions the 1800 census listed 2 options for race – white and free colored. He says some of these families were listed as White and some as “free colored”. Some Gibson’s were listed as “free colored”, including Joel. I mention Joel because he was mentioned in the 1780 probate record of Thomas Gibaon that listed Cusiah/Keziah as his daughter. But Carlson goes on to Northeast Tennessee and beyond, and I am tired. My family moved on to Arkansas and I’ll leave it to others to walk this trail with Dr. Carlson. I am not feeling well and will rest a spell.
Back to Carlson’s Dissertation on the Gibson’s:
Carlson says the following of the 1800 census;
Among the New River Indians and mixed-blood families counted as “free colored” on the census that year included those of Ambrose, Vardy and Valentine Collins. The families of Andrew, Joel, Ezekiel, and Archibald Gibson, as well as the wife of Vashti Cole were also thus classified by the enumerator that year (419).
We know “Joel Gibson’s” name was listed on Thomas Gibson’s probate papers, the same papers mentioning my Keziah Gibson. I am now up to date with what I know of my family and what Carlson wrote about us.
Andrew Williamson
I became curious about Lewis Collins and his switch from being a Revolutionary, to a Loyalist and back again. So I looked up one of his commanders. Williamson too, was considered a double agent. Andrew Williamson (soldier) - Wikipedia -- It says of him; "Like many other Scots on the frontier, Williamson became a trader, known by 1758 to be supplying cattle and hogs to frontier forts. He may also have driven cattle to Charles Town to market. He bought a plantation, called Hard Labor, near a creek by the same name, and in Greenwood County near the settlement of Ninety Six. He renamed it as White Hall. He also purchased slaves to work the property. It was one of the few large plantations in this area.[2] Much of the backcountry was being settled by Scots and Scots-Irish subsistence farmers, many of whom were Loyalists in the Revolution. Williamson was contracted to build [ forts in the area].
It says he bought slaves to work his plantation. He also supplied cattle and hogs to forts in western South Carolina. In my Nevil Wayland's Revolutionary War record, it says he worked for the Quartermaster and was a driver of horses and cattle to the troops on the Indian line.
It continues on to say; Williamson was commissioned as a colonel to lead a related campaign in North Carolina, commanding 2300 men and destroying the Cherokee town of Topton in Cherokee County.[2] In September 1776 Williamson petitioned the South Carolina legislature to allow his men to enslave Cherokee taken as captives; while the measure had some support, the legislature rejected it, worried about potential effects on the colony's men.[2] From the Patriots' view, Williamson's campaigns against the Cherokee were a success; they petitioned for peace and ceded more than a million acres of land in what is now the counties of Anderson, Pickens, Oconee and Greenville in South Carolina. Alexander Chesney wrote that they destroyed 32 of the Cherokees' 62 towns.[2]
So Williamson wasn't a good man. To top it off, some called his "The Benedict Arnold of the South". He was considered a traitor. But he was saved by General Nathaniel Greene -- After the war, Patriot General Nathanael Greene testified that Williamson had acted in Charleston to collect intelligence and pass it to the Americans; he was the "first major double agent" in America.
So this man was a controversial figure. And remember what Carlson said a few paragraphs back concerning Lewis Collins? To refresh your memory; "This grandson of Old John Collins was drafted and placed under Colonel Williamson command when he went into town that year. His initial duties he later described as being forced to “march against the Cherokees on the South Carolina Frontier.” Well, now read this -- NCpedia | NCpedia -- where the article says; When Colonel Williamson invaded the Cherokee homeland in 1776, he had twenty Indian scouts with him. At first, the Cherokees thought the scouts were their own tribesmen; then they noticed that the Indians were wearing deer tails in their hair. They realized that the scouts were Catawbas, and the deer tails were identification so the Americans would recognize their Catawba allies. Perhaps Lewis Collins was one of these scouts.
So my Nevil Wayland might have known either Lewis or John Collins. And the Gibson family Nevil marry into lived right there where he settled. The names, dates and locations all fit together.
Addendum
Remember Dr. Carlson said; . . . In the summer of 1745, [John Collins] relations, Sam and William Collins, along with men named George and Thomas Gibson, Sam Bunch, Ben Branham, and a few others were charged by the Louisa County Court for “concealing tithables”
"Branham" is one of the surnames accepted by the Monacan Tribe. There were Branham's, Bunch's, Collins' and Gibson's next to one another in Louisa County, Virginia. Why do I bring up the Monacan's? Because Congress passed a law making the Monacan's federally recognized in 2017 -- Monacan Indian Nation - Wikipedia -- This is likely as close to Federal Recognition as I will ever get.
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