Macon County, NC - John Timson & Family - Act for Relief, 1836 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An Act for the relief of John Timson, a native Cherokee Indian, and his family Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That John Timson, a native Cherokee Indian, now residing in the county of Macon, his wife Lucy, their children, John C. Timson, Henry C. Timson, Sarah Ann Eliza Timson, Margaret Jane Timson, and such other children as may hereafter be born to the said John Timson, of the body of his present wife Lucy, be, and they are hereby invested with full power and authority to enter, purchase and hold land and personal property in this State, and to take the same by gift, devise or descent: Provided, that before any of the aforesaid Indians shall be allowed to acquire lands, or shall be considered and recognized as freeholders, he or she shall first take oaths of allegiance to the State of North Carolina and the United States of America, in open court, before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Macon county. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the said John Timson and his family aforesaid, shall be, and they are hereby allowed to prosecute and defend suits, and to give evidence, in any court of justice in this State, in all cases, whether civil or criminal, which may be pending therein, under the same rules, regulations and restrictions which now apply to white persons: any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. [Ratified 30 December, 1836] Source: NC Archives Public and Private Laws of North Carolina 1836-37 Chapter LXXIII Page 333 ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Guy Potts - gpotts1@nc.rr.com ______________________________________________________________________