Miller Application # 719 William Parris and 2 children Tulsa, Oklahoma ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitter: Catherine Widener (catz@kcisp.net ************************************************************************ Admitted. Applicant's maternal grandparents enrolled in 1851 by Drennen, Tahlequah 277. See Misc. Test. P. 4160 Misc. Test. P. 4160. App. # 719-William Parris: "I am 39 years of age. I am enrolled by the Dawes Commission and got my land. I also got the land and strip payment. I was born and raised in theis state. I get my Cherokee Indian blood from both parents. I don't think my parents were married in 1851. I am not claiming on my father's side as I beleive he drew Old Settler money. I am claiming on my mother's side. My father recognized me as his son and still does.; I have been taught that my mother and father were married and that they lived together. Noah Parris has told me that he was my father. I understand that he and my mother did not live together very long. I never heard that a man named Helterbrand was my father. I tried to get the Old Settler payment but could not because I was counted as an Emigrant. My mother was Besty Downing. She had been dead 30 years. If she was living she would be as much as 60 years of age. She lived in Tahlequah Distict in 1851. Sarah and Nellie Downing were sisters of my mother. I don't remember that she had any brothers. Sarah Downing was older than my mother and died when small. I believe Nellie was the youngest. Nellie married Charlie Poorbear the first time. William Downing and Susie Murphy were my grandparents on my mother's side. They were married and living together in 1851 in Tahlequah District. My grandfather came from Georgia between forty and fifty. Watt Downing was a brother of my grandfather and I think he lived in Illinois District. Don't know where he lives as a young man, in 1851. I think he lived in Tahlequah District when he died. I don't know of any other brothers that my grandfather had. (Tahlequah 277) Signed: William Parris, Tulsa, Okla., March 19, 1909 Notes: William Parris Dawes # 12272, Census Card # 5116 1/4 Cherokee Miller # 20228, app. # 719 as William Parris-36 yrs.-Tulsa, OK Children: Ezekiel Parris Dawes # 21775, Census Card # 9642 1/8 Cherokee Miller # 210829, app. # 719 as Ezekiel Parris-7 yrs.-Tulsa, OK Roscoe Parris Dawes # 21776, Census Card # 9642 1/8 Cherokee Miller # 20830, app. # 719 as Roscoe Parris-4 yrs.-Tulsa, OK Drennen 1851 Group # 277-Tahlequah District.. William Downing Susannah Downing This information is from the 'Cherokee by Blood' book vol.1 by Jerry Wright Jordan. Additional information will be in the actual Miller app. that is on microfilm. This is only an interview from the application.