Generations

[digitS']

"True philanthropy reconciles the mind to these vicissitudes as it does to the extinction of one generation to make room for another … our extensive Republic ... occupied by more than 12,000,000 happy people, and filled with all the blessings of liberty, civilization, and religion."

Andrew Jackson, on the advent of the Indian Removal Act, 1830

Of course, over 2 million of the 12 million were slaves and Indians weren't even counted until 1860.

Steve

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

"True philanthropy reconciles the mind to these vicissitudes as it does to the extinction of one generation to make room for another … our extensive Republic ... occupied by more than 12,000,000 happy people, and filled with all the blessings of liberty, civilization, and religion."

Andrew Jackson, on the advent of the Indian Removal Act, 1830

Of course, over 2 million of the 12 million were slaves and Indians weren't even counted until 1860.

Steve

I had a cousin born around 1890. My mother's side of the family and she was part Indian, not sure how much, but kind of looked like an American Indian. I think her family was on the Trail of Tears, but she started telling people she was on the Trail of Tears, and the newspaper came to interview her and believed it, but she would have had to have been about 130 years old at the time. My parents were born in 1910 and 1915, so my family is old and there were stories of Indians and slaves. My dad knew a former slave.

 

[digitS']

I have already gone on quite a bit on TEG about my grandfather's "Aunt Sis," who raised him after he and his little brother were orphaned. She was born in 1846 and died in 1948. I wonder if my father can match her for longevity ... Anyway, my oldest uncle described her as "full-blooded" but she was born in Shawneetown, Illinois.

My grandmother told me that Grandpa was "Indian on both sides" of his family. No one ever said anything about the Shawnees, however . The story was always Cherokee. And, that was even tho Dad and his brothers were born in the Choctaw capital, in Oklahoma. So many tribes were displaced. Confusing!

The Trail of Tears is usually thought to be in 1838 when Georgia "moved" so many Cherokee out of the state, with disastrous results. Aunt Sis hadn't yet been born altho she came of age during the Civil War.

Steve

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I was always told my family had Choctaw, but looking on Ancestry.com, it seems to be Cherokee and DH's mother's side had an Indian princess, which DD loves to hear that. The 5 civilized tribes they were called, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek, Cherokee. My dad could speak a few Indian words because he had a lot of Indian friends.

 

[Smart Red]

The Trail of Tears is usually thought to be in 1838 when Georgia "moved" so many Cherokee out of the state, with disastrous results. Aunt Sis hadn't yet been born altho she came of age during the Civil War.

Steve

That wasn't the state of Georgia, it was President Andrew Jackson who give in to pressure from his rich buddies who wanted the land belonging to the "Civilized" tribes.

Given little time to prepare and told to leave or sell their belongings since the federal government would give them what they needed when they arrived at their settlement area, the Native Americans were not ready for such a trek. Added to this, the crops were about 3 weeks from harvest so they couldn't even bring food or seeds for future planting with them. Of the many who started the trip, only a meager few survived to find no blankets and rancid food when they arrived west.

It was certainly a black mark on America's history. It was also one topic I covered every year with my classes.

 

[digitS']

I have now seen Mary Steenburgen on PBS Finding your Roots 3 times. Each time, I laughed until tears came to my eyes!

It may be that once we get past this season's episodes, the show will be posted and can be shared here.

Mary doesn't look like the descendant of someone she described as "a real mess," but she is. They had to go back to her 5th grandfather but there he was! With none other than George Washington writing him down in history ... he he he kof hick ha ha ha! I just loved it!

But Mary, and I realize that there is a small chance that you might read this public forum , if you think that you have an embarrassing ancestor, I have one even worse. And, that is all I am saying about that guy! If you folks haven't seen this episode, check your pbs station - maybe they will show it again this week.

he he he Steve

 

[flowerbug]

@digitS' every family has some rascals somewhere. there are too many periods in history when the rascals are needed to get through tough times. just in my own life there have been so few times of peace.

yes, the meek shall inherit the earth.

 

[canesisters]

I have now seen Mary Steenburgen on PBS Finding your Roots 3 times. Each time, I laughed until tears came to my eyes!

It may be that once we get past this season's episodes, the show will be posted and can be shared here.

Mary doesn't look like the descendant of someone she described as "a real mess," but she is. They had to go back to her 5th grandfather but there he was! With none other than George Washington writing him down in history ... he he he kof hick ha ha ha! I just loved it!

But Mary, and I realize that there is a small chance that you might read this public forum , if you think that you have an embarrassing ancestor, I have one even worse. And, that is all I am saying about that guy! If you folks haven't seen this episode, check your pbs station - maybe they will show it again this week.

he he he Steve

I saw that one!! That guy was certainly a 'character'.