Mitsawokett: Identified Indians

RECORDS WHICH DENOTE DELAWARE-BORN INDIVIDUALS AS

"INDIAN"

(also see records where self-identification failed)

Color in the Census: Perceptions

How a person is recorded as to color (white or free person of color) was influenced by appearance and other factors, such as economic standing, whether a racial agenda existed in the community and confusion and an assumption that all members of a household must be of the same category. For instance, instructions to enumerators in the 1870, 1880 and 1900 Federal censuses contained the following instructions:

1870 & 1880 -- race to be cited as white, black or mulatto. Mulatto applied to all those having any perceptible trace of African blood who were not obviously black. In 1880 some enumerators ignored "mulatto" cited in 1870 and used only "black" or "white."

1900 -- Everyone of Negro descent was to be listed "black."

1910 -- "Mulatto" was OK to use again.

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1930 -- Thru examination of the census enumeration of Delaware, 'Neg' is used for all persons of color. Where the enumerator uses a different designation, the office changed it to 'Neg' (click HERE for an example of changes made)

A contribution from Joseph Romeo:

William B. Lecount, died Brooklyn, NY, 1 Mar 1875, Age 45 yrs., 11 mos., 16 d., Color, Indian, Married, Occupation, Bootmaker, Birthplace, Pennsylvania, Father's Birthplace, Delaware, Mother's Birthplace, Delaware. William B. LeCount was a son of Joseph (b. ca. 1780) and Mary LeCount, resided in Philadelphia from at least 1814.

I also have a record of the family of Joseph Waterford, b. ca. 1800, sailmaker, b. Pennsylvania, resided in 1850 in Philadelphia, moved to San Francisco where he appears in 1860 and 1870 census. He died in 1874. He had a daughter named Pocahontas who married a Durham. In the 1870 census he and a daughter Mary are listed as Indian, otherwise the family are listed as Mulatto. It seems to me that one of the census records gives his birthplace as Delaware, but I cannot find it at this time.

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Return of a Marriage for Fred Willard Morris and Reba Hester Miller, Sussex County, 1900, has both parties listed as "Indian."

Return of a Marriage: In the State of Delaware Sussex County. Full name of Groom: Fred Willard Morris; Age: 31 years; Color: Indian; Nation or State: Delaware; Residence: Harbseson, Del; Occupation: Farmer Full name of Bride: Reba Hester Miller; Age: 18 years; Color: Indian; Nation or State: Delaware; Residence: Warwick, Del; Name and birthplace of bride's parents: Major Miller, Sarah H. Miller, Warwick, Delaware. Date of Marriage: Sept 22, 1900. Number of previous marriages: Of Groom 0. Of Bride 0.

I hereby certify that the marriage of the parties above named was duly solemnized or contracted by or before me, at the time and place stated. Witness my hand this 22nd day of Sept 1900.

Signature Frank Holland, Official Designation Minister, Address Harbeson, Del

To the Recorder of Deeds of Sussex County.

(no parents listed for Fred)

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Contribution by Bill Richardson:

Benjamin SAMMONS is recorded on the 1861 Ontario, Canada Census as; Race - Indian.

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Contribution by Donald W. Fisher dwfrft@mindspring.com

There is also the following 1871 listing from the Ontario census:

SAMMONS FN=BENJAMIN; Age=45. BP=UNITED STATES; Eth= INDIAN; Occ= FARMER. District=2; Subdist=E; Div=2; Pg=86. KEN Dover Twp.

Note the Indian ethnicity. District 2 is just to the east of District 1 (Windsor/Essex Co), and includes all of the eastern shore of Lake St. Clair. Of the six with the S-A-M-M-O-N-S spelling, two are Scotch, two are African, one English, and this Benjamin (Indian).

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William Carty

by Lynn Jackson

Based on the Maryland census records, William Carty was born in Maryland, either in Dorchester or Caroline counties, sometime around 1792. He was white and the son of James McCarty and Barsheba Dean McCarty. He moved to Caroline County, Maryland, with his parents sometime before 1800 and continued to live there until his death.

Based on the birthdate of his first child , William married a woman named Elizabeth (her last name is unknown) sometime before 1813. The Carty Family bible contains a great deal of information about William's family and a family called "Wyatt" so it is possible that Elizabeth's maiden name was Wyatt.

Elizabeth and William appeared in the 1820 Caroline County, Maryland census. William was listed as white but his wife and 3 children were listed as "M". William's daughter, Henrietta Carty MORGAN, told her son Napoleon Morgan that her mother was a full blood Maryland Indian although she did not know the tribe. It is interesting to note that, in later censuses, William's race was changed to "M" to reflect that of his wife and children. His brothers and their families continued to be listed as "white". This is just one of many indications that race in the 18th & 19th century on the Delmarva peninsula was more about the perceptions of the record keepers than about accurately reflecting the true racial make-up of the community.

It is difficult to pin down Elizabeth's tribal background. Small pockets of remnant Choptanks, Lenapes and others remained in Maryland (just as they did in Delaware) after the big northbound migrations in the early 1700's. As late as the mid 18th century, Nanticokes in New York were asking permission to return to the Delmarva peninsula to visit family members they had left behind. The Maryland records, however, note their presence only briefly.

What is clear is that the Carty family became a mixed race family around 1813 when William Carty married Elizabeth. What is also clear is that, when looking for mates, many of their children looked across the border into Kent County, Delaware to the mixed race community centered around Moorton, which today is known as Cheswold.

On 7 May, 1867, William Carty died in Ridgely, Caroline, Maryland. His wife, Elizabeth, had died three years before on 15 July 1864. Most of their children had by then moved across the border to live with the mixed blood community in Kent County, Delaware.

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Wayne County, Michigan Vital Records -- of emigrants from Delaware

Isn't strange that they "self-identified" in Delaware as mulatto, colored, black or Negro but in Michigan as Indian? Perhaps related to Jim Crow laws & attitudes? Perhaps government hirelings were making the "self-identifications" in Delaware rather than the subject individuals, a virtual "Pleckerization" of the records on a mini scale.

Franklin PERKINS b Mich Indian

Perry PERKINS & Sarah DEAN b Delaware & Delaware Indian

William B. LECOUNT Indian

Joseph and Mary LECOUNT Indian

Fred Willard MORRIS and Reba Hester MILLER Indian

Major Miller, Sarah H. MILLER Indian

Benjamin SAMMONS Indian

Maggie SIMONS, French & Indian b Dover, Ontario

Emma I. BECKETT b Mich Indian

Peter & Mary E. BECKETT b Delaware & Philadelphia Indian

Arvila SIMONS b Mich Indian

Robert and Mary SIMONS Both Descendants of Delaware Indians (no birthplace) Indian

Mary FARMER b Delaware (parents unknown) Indian

Charles NORWOOD b Delaware Indian

John NORWOOD - Rebecca FRANCISCO b Delaware Indian

Emma J. PERKINS b Mich Indian

Isaac PERKINS, Michigan; Eliza PERKINS, Michigan Indian

Isaac H. PERKINS, b Michigan Indian

Birth Records

Name, (if any, and color other than white) Emma I. Beckett Indian Sex Female Condition, as Twin, Illegitimate, etc. Birth-Place Romulus Full Name of Each [Parent] Peter Beckett & Mary E. Residence [of Parents] Romulus Birth-Place [of Parents] Delaware - Philadelphia Occupation of Father Farmer Date of Record 13 Nov 1873 Record extracted by Joseph A. Romeo 1 Aug 1999 Source Wayne Co., Michigan births. Volume 4 starts with Page 1, [Entry] No. 225 of 1872 and runs through Page 319, [Entry] No. 976 of 1873. Births 1872 (part) and 1873 (part). Page No. 238 [Entry] No. 3805 Date of Birth 16 Aug 1872.

Date of Birth 09 Oct 1872 Name, (if any, and color other than white) Franklin Perkins Indian Sex Male Condition, as Twin, Illegitimate, etc. Birth-Place Romulus Full Name of Each [Parent] Perry Perkins & Sarah Residence [of Parents] Romulus Birth-Place [of Parents] Delaware Occupation of Father Farmer Date of Record 13 Nov 1873 Record extracted by Joseph A. Romeo 1 Aug 1999. Source Wayne Co., Michigan births. Volume 4 starts with Page 1, [Entry] No. 225 of 1872 and runs through Page 319, [Entry] No. 976 of 1873. Births 1872 (part) and 1873 (part). Page No. 238 [Entry] No. 3803

FRANKLIN PERKINS (Source: 1880 census.), b. October 9, 1872, Romulus, Wayne, Michigan (Source: Wayne Co. Records.). Notes for FRANKLIN PERKINS: Wayne Co birth record 238 - 3803 - 09 Oct 1872 Franklin Perkins - Indian - Male - Romulus. Perry Perkins - Sarah - Romulus - DE - Farmer Recorded 13 Nov 1873.

Date of Birth October 27, 1867 Name, (if any, and color other than white) Arvila Simons Sex Female Condition, as Twin, Illegitimate, etc. Indian Birth-Place Van Buren Full Name of Each [Parent] Robert and Mary Simons Residence [of Parents] Van Buren Birth-Place [of Parents] Both Descendants of Delaware Indians Occupation of Father Farmer Date of Record May 24, 1869 Record extracted by Joseph A. Romeo 20 Jul 1999. Source Wayne Co. Michigan Record of Births Vol. 1. Births 1867, 1868, and 1869 (part). The births were reported annually by townships or, in Detroit, by wards. The reports generally cover births for the preceding year. Page No. 67 [Entry] No. 973

Marriage Records

Date of Marriage 31 Oct 1880 Place of Marriage Van Buren Full Name of Bridegroom and Bride (and Color) John W. Norwood, W[hite] - Maggie Simons, French & Indian Residence of Each at time of Marriage Van Buren - Nankin Age of Each in Year 24 - 20 Birthplace of Each Philadelphia, Penn. - Dover, Ontario Occupation of Bridgegroom Dyer(?) Name and Official Station of Person by Whom Married David J. Parker - Minister Witnesses to Marriages: Names, Residences Abel Farmer, Nankin - Mary Farmer, Nankin Date of Record 24 Nov 1880 Record excerpted by Joseph A. Romeo 1 Aug 1999. Source Wayne Co., Michigan marriages - Liber H contains marriages for 1878 (part) though 1881 (part). The volume begins Page 1, No. 1 and ends Page 319, No. 4784, consecutively numbered. Page No. 227 Entry No. 3394.

Death Records

Date of Death Feb. 17, 1881 Full Name of the Deceased Mary Farmer Male or Female Fem[ale] White, Black, Mulatto, etc Indian Married, Single, Widow or Widower Mar[ried] Age 90 y. 5 m. Place of Death Romulus Disease or Cause of Death Old Age Birthplace Delaware Occupation Farmer Parents Names, Residences unknown, Romulus Date of Record June 10, 1882 Record extracted by Joseph A. Romeo 11 Jul 1999. Source Wayne Co., Michigan death records, LDS film 1377694. Reel contains: Book #5, 1880-1882, pp. 75-335 Book #6, 1882-1885, pp. 1-335 Book #7, 1885-1886, pp. 1-140. Page No. Bk. 5, p. 243 Record Number 2161

Date of Death 15 Jun 1898 Full Name of the Deceased Charles Norwood Male or Female Male White, Black, Mulatto, etc Indian Married, Single, Widow or Widower Married Age 78 y 3 m 2 d Place of Death Van Buren Disease or Cause of Death Kidney Disease Birthplace Delaware Occupation Farmer Parents Names, Residences John Norwood - Rebecca Francisco, Delaware Date of Record 06 Jul 1898 Record extracted by Joseph A. Romeo 5 Sep 1999. Source Wayne Co., Michigan deaths 1898-1911. LDS film 1377698. This reel contains Book 18, Book 19, and Book 20 (part), excluding City of Detroit. Book #18: 1898, Pages 1-41; 1899, Pages 42-87; 1900, Pages 88-135; 1901, Pages 136-181; 1902, Pages 182- 231; 1903, Pages 231-287; 1904 (part), Pages 287-337 (end of register). Book #19: 1904 (part), Page 1-6; 1905, Pages 6-63; 1906, Pages 63-114; 1907, Pages 114-166; 1908, Pages 166-213; 1909, Pages 214-267; 1910, Pages 267-324; 1911, Pages 325-386 (end of register). Some 1908 deaths appear near the end of 1909. Book #20 (part): 1912 (part): Pages 1-30 [end of reel] Page No. Bk. 18, Page 35 Record Number 768

Date of Death Feb. 24, 1884 Full Name of the Deceased Emma J. Perkins Male or Female Fem[ale] White, Black, Mulatto, etc Indian Married, Single, Widow or Widower Single Age 14 y. 8 m. 11 d. Place of Death Romulus Disease or Cause of Death Consumption Birthplace Michigan Occupation None Parents Names, Residences Isaac Perkins, Michigan; Eliza Perkins, Michigan Date of Record June 17, 1885 Record extracted by Joseph A. Romeo 11 Jul 1999. Source Wayne Co., Michigan death records, LDS film 1377694. Reel contains: Book #5, 1880-1882, pp. 75-335 Book #6, 1882-1885, pp. 1-335 Book #7, 1885-1886, pp. 1-140. Page No. Bk. 6, p. 291 Record Number 3258

Date of Death Feb. 9, 1884 Full Name of the Deceased Isaac H. Perkins Male or Female Male White, Black, Mulatto, etc Indian Married, Single, Widow or Widower Single Age 5 y. 7 m. 26 d. Place of Death Romulus Disease or Cause of Death Inflammation of bowels Birthplace Michigan Occupation Farmer's Son Parents Names, Residences Isaac Perkins, Michigan; Eliza Perkins, Michigan Date of Record June 17, 1885 Record extracted by Joseph A. Romeo 11 Jul 1999. Source Wayne Co., Michigan death records, LDS film 1377694. Reel contains: Book #5, 1880-1882, pp. 75-335 Book #6, 1882-1885, pp. 1-335 Book #7, 1885-1886, pp. 1-140. Page No. Bk. 6, p. 291 Record Number 3257

Census Records, Michigan and Indiana:

Census Place: Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan Source: FHL Film 1254609 National Archives Film T9-0609 Page 398A

Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Dan P. POTTER Self M M W 64 VT Occ: Farming Fa: CT Mo: CT
Lurina POTTER Wife F M W 58 NY Occ: Keeping House Fa: CT Mo: VT
George PURDY Other M M W 61 IRE Occ: Laborer Fa: IRE Mo: IRE
Lydia NORWOOD Other F S I 18 MI Occ: Servant Fa: DE Mo: DE

Lydia listed as an Indian

INDIANS IN THE CENSUS BORN IN DELAWARE--

Census Place: Jefferson, Hillsdale, Michigan, Source: FHL Film 1254581 National Archives Film T9-0581 Page 167A

Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace

Debarix MILLER Self M M I 49 DE Occ: Farmer Fa: DE Mo: DE
Sarah A. MILLER Wife F M I 50 DE Occ: Keeping House Fa: DE Mo: DE
John H. MILLER Son M S I 24 DE Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: DE Mo: DE
Mariah A. MILLER Dau F S I 20 MI Occ: Domestic Servant Fa: DE Mo: DE
Morris MILLER Son M S I 18 MI Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: DE Mo: DE
Charles W. MILLER Son M S I 13 MI Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: DE Mo: DE
Rebecca MILLER Dau F S I 9 MI Fa: DE Mo: DE
Mary E. MILLER Dau F S I MI Fa: DE Mo: DE