THERE ARE MANY TRAILS OF TEARS
(Please be aware this post was written in 2003 and published at that time in the Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas) newspaper. Some of the news in this post, therefore, may not be current. Current and future posts on this blog may revisit and update news on this and other posts on this blog. If you have questions and/or suggestions, please send Mic a note using the comment page -Don’t forget to use the orange “subscribe” button to receive new posts-Thanks, Mic)
Many people are believe the Trail of Tears is a single trail taken by all Native Americans when they were taken forcibly by the United States military to the western lands now called Oklahoma.
Actually there was no single Trail of Tears. Better stated there were many trails of tears. And the forced removal was perpetrated on not one tribe, but, all the tribes of the Southeastern United States, those known as the Five Civilized Tribes: the Cherokee, the Creek, the Choctaw, the Chickasaw and the Seminole. These tribes lived predominantly in the bounds of the present states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
The lands of Five Civilized Tribes had been coveted by Whites from early times but the real problem began in the late 1820’s when gold was discovered on Cherokee lands in North Georgia. Gold speculators rushed in searching for veins of gold and others envied the rich soiled land they saw.
In June 1838 over 2800 Cherokee were sent by water in three federally escorted detachments by way of the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers. Later about 13,000 Cherokee in thirteen parties were permitted the autonomy of self emigration. Most of the latter groups left the East in September 1838 and arrived in the Indian Territory in December or January 1839. They traveled over 1200 miles mainly on land through the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. During their travels over 4,000 members of their parties died along the many Trails of Tears.
Readers who would like to learn more about the Trail of Tears will enjoy visiting the Cherokee Trail of Tears website at http://rosecity.net/tears/ .
The Trail of Tears Association, Oklahoma Chapter, P.O. Box 96 Park Hill, OK 74451, has published two books useful to those interested in Cherokee research. Proceeds of the sale of the books go to placing markers honoring those who died along the Trails of Tears.
The 1835 Cherokee Census of the Cherokee Nation ($31.50) lists heads of Cherokee families in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Alabama prior to Removal. It also lists the sex, age groups, numbers of Cherokees, slaves and mixed bloods in each household plus acres cultivated and a number of other interesting items concerning their farms.
The second book, Cherokee Removal, The Journal of Rev. Daniel S. Butrick May 19, 1838-April 1, 1839 ($15) tells the story of Rev. Butrick’s experiences while accompanying one of the Cherokee emigrating parties to the Indian Territory.
CHEROKEE HISTORY AND GENEALOGY CLASS OFFERED
Cherokee Nation certified teachers Marjorie Lowe, Deborah Scott and Steve Triplett will conduct a three part Cherokee History and Genealogy class through Leisure Learning. The course will discuss the history of the Cherokee people, how to trace Cherokee descendants and how to register with the Cherokee Nation.
Classes will be held at Leisure Learning’s 2990 Richmond Avenue campus from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday June 17 and Tuesday June 24 and at Clayton Library at 9 a.m. Saturday June 28.
The class is priced at $45. For more information and to register contact Leisure Learning at 713-529-4414
TEXSHARE FUNDING UNDER REVIEW
Sharon Spencer of Grapevine asks all readers to support TexShare funding by contacting their state legislators. TexShare is a grant through the Texas State Library that funds online databases available to Texas libraries and home users. The TexShare fund is in danger of being drastically curtailed by the legislature and needs some heavy duty voter lobbying.
A number of worthwhile genealogical databases are available through TexShare including; Sanborn Fire Maps, Heritage Quest’s federal census images and ProQuest’s history, county history and family history book collection plus a number of other great genealogical database collections.
For more information and names of the legislative budget committee members visit the TexShare page at http://micbarnette.bravepages.com .
