Copiah-Adams County MsArchives Court.....Womack, Abner P. October 14, 1886
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ms/msfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Foster rfoster37@cox.net October 22, 2011, 2:13 pm

Source: Court Record, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory
Written: October 14, 1886
Recorded: February 15, 1987

Abner P. Womack's statement in behalf of J. M. Campbell Foster

A. P. Womack being duly sworn deposes and saith: James M. Campbell was a son of
Ellen Foster and Ellen Foster was a daughter of James Foster. James Foster was a
son of Moses Foster. Moses Foster had the Choctaw woman. 

Question By Committee, Did you know Moses Foster's wife, the Choctaw woman?
Answer. Yes, well.
Q. In what county were they in?
A. In Copiah County, Mississippi.
Q. How many children did Moses Foster and this woman have?
A. Moses, William, Hugh Allen, James, Betsy.
Q. Did you know any relations of this woman?
A. No. They had moved off about 100 miles. 
Q. Did you ever hear Moses or her say anything about her relations?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did Moses die first or her?
A. Moses died first.
Q. Was her people living in the Choctaw Nation?
A. No, I moved James Foster myself, but his mother went at some other time.
Q. In what county did Foster marry?
A. In Jefferson County, I think. I don't know. I think they married 1770, west
of Copiah Creek or Jefferson.
Q. What relation is James Campbell to Moses Foster?
A. Great grandfather.
Q. Did they marry according to the laws of the white man?
A. I don't know. There was nothing but Indians living there then. 
Q. Do you know if they were married to the custom of the Indian?
A. I don't know.
Q. Do you know for certain if this woman was a Choctaw?
A. I think so, she looked like one, talked nothing but Choctaw.
Q. You never heard her say anything about her relations?
A. No, sir. Foster said she was. She moved off after the second Treaty. She went
clothed like the Indians. 
Q. Did Moses Foster and this woman live together till they died? 
A. No, he became very feeble with old age and his relation taken him to Adams
County and died there. 
Q. As he was a white man why did he not dress her up?
A. I don't know. 
Q. When did you first know Moses Foster and his wife?
A. In Copiah County.
Q. Was that in the Choctaw Country?
A. It had been, he got a reserve there.
Q. Do you know if they parted?
A. I don't know. He got very ill and helpless and they moved him to Adams
County, and she moved up to Jim's.
Q. Where did Ellen Campbell die at?
A. In Lamar County, Texas.
Q. Did you ever hear her say she was a Choctaw?
A. Yes, and I knew it. 
Q. Did you ever hear her say she had relations in the Choctaw Country?
A. I don't know if she knew it, she moved to Louisiana. 
Q. Did she look like she had any Indian blood?
A. Yes, she was dark.
Q. Did she have brothers and sisters?
A. Yes, four with her, all dead but one, Ephraim. 
Q. Did you ever know any of the Chiefs' names?
A. No. If I have heard them I have forgot it.
Q. Did you ever hear Ellen of Moses' wife say what Chief they belonged to?
A. No. Ellen did not know. She was a child when she left there.
Q. How far did you live from Foster's?
A. Second year I lived four or five miles, lived with Foster's son.
Q. How long did you live near them?
A. About three years and they moved off.
Q. About what year did Ellen and Campbell marry?
A. I don't know. I lived in Mississippi.
Q. About what time did Foster marry that woman?
A. I don't know, before I was born I reckon.
Q. Did you hear that woman's name?
A. I do not know. They called Mrs. Foster a squaw.
Q. Did Moses Foster and his wife wed(?)[difficult to read] in the Indian Country?
A. It had been but they moved off an he drew land there. 
Q. Do you know the name of any Creek near Foster's?
A. Yes, Foster and Bypin(?) Creek.
Q. Did they die after the land was sold?
A. Yes, he had sold it.
Question by Attorney for Claimant. What year did you get acquainted with Foster?
A. (Illegible.)
Q. You speak of the old purchase and the new purchase, was it before the old
purchase?
A. Old purchase.
Q. This old purchase was before 1825?
A. Yes, they had been living there some 30 years.
Q. You said Mrs. Foster moved to the new purchase?
A. No, she went afterward.
Q. When you moved Jim Foster did you move him to where the Indians lived?
A. Yes, but I did not see but 2 or 3 there.
Q. Did you learn any of their surnames?
A. No, but Jim often talked with them, but I did not understand them. 
Q. Where did Jim die at?
A. Where I moved him to, that is what my brother says.
Q. After Jim died did she moved off?
A. Yes, a few years after she moved near where I was living.
Q. What was the names of Jim's children?
A. Madison, Dority(sic), Ellen, Ephraim.
Q. They were small when they left the nation?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did move from there to Louisiana?
A. Yes, to Jackson Parish.
Q. Where did Jim and Ellen get married?
A. Louisiana, Jackson Parish.
Q. Campbell that married Ellen was the father of J. M. Campbell who is now
claiming ownership?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You say they lived in Louisiana a good many years?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Then they moved to Texas and died there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You have known him all his life?
A. Ever since he was six years old.
Q. Did James M. Campbell move from Texas to the Choctaw Nation? 
A. He moved to Mexico then moved to the Nation.
Q. You say Moses Foster had three daughters?
A. Yes, but I only knew one of their names.
Q. Do you know who they married?
A. Yes, one married Jacobs, one married Taylor, one married Simmons.
Q. Did you know any of Jim's children's names?
A. No.
Q. Did you say Jim Foster drew land?
A. Yes, he went on land and his widow lived there several years.
Q. Did you hear her say how long she had to live there?
A. I think it was some 3 or 4 years.
Q. Did James Campbell just know he had Choctaw rights when he went to Mexico?
A. Yes.
Q. How old are you?
A. 82 last May.
Q. Where do you live?
A. Basky (research note: Bosque) County, Texas. 

A. P. Womack
Subscribed and sworn to before me,
Oct 14, 1886,
G. W. Gardner
Clk Committee

This is to certify that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy
of the original testimony of A. P. Womack given in behalf of J. M. Campbell and
W. F. Foster, claimants for citizenship, now on file in my office.
Given under my hand and seal of the Choctaw Nation this the 15th day of January
1897.
Solomon J. Hommer(sp?)
National Secretary


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ms/copiah/court/womack76wl.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/msfiles/

File size: 6.7 Kb