Wyoming-McDowell-Logan County WV Archives History .....Lester Family Eastern Cherokee Application Testimonies 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Darcy Mitchem djmitchem@hotmail.com February 5, 2015, 2:38 pm Descent from William Lester of those testifying, based on Eastern Cherokee Applications, with their specific application numbers. William Lester Martha “Patsy” Lester Blankenship Conley Blankenship D. H. Blankenship #31763 Abner Hulen Lester Thomas Mastin “Chet” Lester (m. Mary Smith d/o Isaiah Smith and Elizabeth Fletcher) M.A. (Mathias Abner) Lester Dave Lester #35070 Edmon H. #32563 Hannah Hall #35682 Thomas M. Hall #35685 Mary Lester (m. John Fletcher Smith s/o Isaiah Smith and Elizabeth Fletcher) Shorten Smith (cited in #27882) Susanna Lester Belcher William Belcher #31073 Prisy Lester Estep Lackey #35669 Samuel Day Lester #35670 John V. Lester Mary Lester Blankenship (spouse D. C. Blankenship) Note: Most testimony found in file of W.H. Lester 32363 ______________________________________________________________________________ State of West Va. County of McDowell} to wit Pricey Lackey being first duly sworn says she is the same person that made an application to the commission of claims of the US Court of fund due the Eastern Cherokee Indians. I have always been recognized as being part Cherokee Indian. My father Abner H. Lester Sr. was always recognized as a three-quarter blooded Cherokee Indian. Defiant further says that she remembers that when she was ten or twelve years old two Eastern Cherokee Indians came to see her father and recognized him as one of their tribe. They were going to see the governor of the state of Virginia about their claims. I do not know what they came for. I do not know why my father was not enrolled with the Eastern Cherokee Indians. I have heard my father say that he had been with the Cherokee Indians, and they always recognized him as of their tribe. Defiant says she resided in 1851 Tazewell Co. Va (now McDowell Co. WV) and resided in Logan Co. WV in the year 1882. Defiant says that her grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian and her grandfather was a half-blooded Cherokee Indian. My uncle and aunts, I do not know what became of them. I do not know why or whether they were never enrolled with the Indians. My father never knew that he was entitled to any money or lands. When I first knew anything about people or settlers it was from 20 to 30 miles apart. My Grandfather moved somewhere in Va or NC down on Tug River. After that I never seen or heard of any of my aunts or uncles. This 6th day of May 1908 Pricey Lackey (X) [ap. 35669] ______________________________________________________ [App. 35670] State of West Virginia County of McDowell} to wit: Samuel Day Lester, being first duly sworn, says he is the same person made application to Commission of US Court of Claims for the fund of Eastern Cherokee Indians and says his father A. H. Lester lived in 1870 at the mouth of Peter Branch four miles east of Davy, W. Va. We had our camp there and was always trying to keep to ourselves. We dug ginseng for a living. The reason he was never enrolled with the Cherokee Indians, to the best of my knowledge was he knew nothing about it. I never heard him say anything of his brothers or sisters to best of my knowledge he didn’t know of any of them, when I first can remember I never heard of a post office or courthouse, and the community was thinly settled. It was 15 to 25 miles from one settler to another. If my Father ever voted, I know nothing about it. Given under my hand this 20th day of May. S. D. Lester signed Subscribed and sworn to before me a notary public, this 20th day of May 1908 E.M. Craghead NP _____________________________________________________ State of West Va County of McDowell} to wit: Nycetye Cherokee England, being first duly sworn, says that she is the same person that made application to commission of claims of US Courts. Says that she has heard her Grandfather, Abner H. Lester, say that he was closely related with the Cherokee Indians and that he always recognized as being a three-fourths ¾ Cherokee Indian. Why he was never enrolled with the Indians, I do not know. At that time when I was a small child I never heard of a court house in the community in which we lived. My grandfather named me Nycetye Cherokee after his tribe of Indians. Given under my hand this 6th day May 1908 Nycytye Cherokee X (her mark) England ________________________________________________________ No. 35682 Mrs. Hannah Hall being first duly sworn deposes and says: I will be 59 years old the 7th of May. I have lived in McDowell County W. Va ever since it has been McDowell. Before that it was Tazewell County, Va. My father was named Thomas M. Lester. He died about sixteen miles from here in McDowell County in 1884, and was 60 something years of age. He lived here ever since I was born. He never received any money from the Government on account of his Indian blood. The first I heard of anything like these claims was a few years ago in regard to the Sizemores. My father claimed to be a part Cherokee Indian, and my sister, who was named by my grandfather, Abner H. Lester, was called Nycatie Cherokee Floyd. Abner H. Lester claimed to be related to the Cherokee Indians. I think he lived in this county and died in this county. I never heard him talk about visiting the Indians or the Indians visiting him. It was quite a good distance to where the Indians lived. He was not a tall man, but a tolerable heavy-set man, of dark skin. Of course, he passed as other men. I think he voted. I never heard anything else but he was a white man, only he was related to the Indians. If ever he applied for any benefits on account of his Indian blood, I do not know it. My brother M. S. Lester, of Mossyrock, Washington, is a claimant to participate in this fund, and claims his Indian blood the same as I do. Hannah X Hall Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of April, 1908 J. Edward Tylor Asst. to the Special Commissioner Court of Claims ______________________________________________________ (no date or signature on Baileysville Hotel, Baileysville WV letterhead 190_. State of W. Va. County of Wyoming Noah Birchfield, being first duly sworn, says he is 82 years old. I was born in North Carolina. Moved to Tennessee when 8 years old. Was in Tennessee about five (5) years then I moved to Virginia. I have been a resident of Virginia and W. Va. until present time. I have known A. H. Lester Sr. about 65 years. Abner H. Lester Sr. has told me often that he was one fourth Cherokee Indian, and his mother was one-half Cherokee Indian, and was born in North Carolina. Abner H. Lester Sr. mother’s name was Patsy. [Additional page in another claim] Abner H. Lester Sr. was married twice. First wife’s name was Hannah Whitt. Second wife’s name was Polly Stump. Noah X Birchfield Witness Noah Shannon Robert. C. Shannon Subscribed and sworn to before me in my said county this 9th Day of Oct 1908 T. F. Bailey Notary public in and for the state of W. Va County of Wyoming. ______________________________________________________ State of West Virginia, Wyoming County To wit; I.E. Cook, 67 years old, was born in Iager County, Va now Wyoming Co. W. Va. I have known Mathias H. Lester for about 48 years. I have worked with him and heard him say he was related to the Indians and have told me so many times. And also acquainted with Allen Smith, son of John M. Smith Sr. and Polly Smith, his wife and have heard him, Allen Smith, say he was connected to the Indians. I. E. Cook Subscribed and sworn to before me in my said county this 14th of May 1908. T. F. Bailey, NP. In and for said county and state aforesaid comm. Unlimited _______________________________________________________ State of West Virginia, Wyoming County To wit: Michael Cline Sr. being first duly sworn says his age is 87 years and has been a resident of Wyoming County about 43 years and Tazewell County, Virginia now McDowell County W. Va 44 years. I have known Abner H. Lester Sr. for about 75 years and also the Lester family and in the community the Lester family claimed they was related to the Indians and was so said by the old settlers of that community and recognized to have Indian blood in the said Lester family as above mentioned Michael Cline Taken subscribed and sworn before me this 14th day of May 1908 T. F. Bailey N.P. in and for the county and state aforesaid, comm. Unlimited __________________________________________________ Bailyville, W. Va. May 14th 1908 To whom it may concern. I will say that I have been personally acquainted with Mr. I. E. Cook and Mike Cline Sr. of this place, and have known them to be men of good reputation all of my life. My age is 39 years. W. G. Cook _____________________________________________________ State of W. Va County of McDowell} to wit Ely [Eli] Rose Sr. being first duly sworn says he will be sixty seven (67) years old June 20th 1908 and was born and always resided in the state of Va, county of Tazewell (now McDowell and Wyoming Co. W. Va) and have known the children of Abner H. Lester and know that they have been recognized in the community in which they lived as half-blooded Cherokee Indians, and that they themselves acclaimed the Indian blood. Given under my hand this 6th day of May 1908 Eli Rose (signed) __________________________________________________ County of Lewis State of Washington}ss Mary Blankenship, being duly sworn, says that she is 82 years old and that her father’s name was John Lester and [of] Tazewell Co. Va. I knew Abner H. Lester. His Indian name was Friday. When I was a girl 10 or 12 years old the Indians visited our house brought me play things. My father and Abner was half- brothers. The Lesters claimed to be part Indian. I lived near the Lesters for 45 or 50 years. Their looks and appearance would lead me to believe that they was part Indian. They associated with the Indians and the Indians with them. Witness L. L. McKibben D. H. Blankenship. D. C. Blankenship Mary X her mark Blankenship Subscribed to and sworn to before me this the 30th day of May 1908 J. L. McKibben Justice of the Peace residing at Mossyrock, Lewis Co. Washington. ---------------------------------- County Lewis State of Washington } ss Dewit Clinton Blankenship, being first duly sworn, says that he is 79 years old and I knew Abner H. Lester in W. Va. Knew him about 40 or 45 years. He always claims to be part Indian and look like he was. The neighbors generally called him part Indian or Indians. He had long straight black hair, high cheek bones. D. C. Blankenship Subscribed to and sworn to before me this the 30th day of May 1908. J. L. McKibben Justice of the peace residing at Mossyrock , Lewis Co. Washington. -------------------------------------- County of Lewis State of Washington De Wit Clinton Blankenship, being sworn says that he is 76 years old, and Mary Blankenship says she is 82 years old. Patsy Lester was a sister to Abner H. Lester. I have known her 40 or 50 years. She looks like it. Long, straight, black hair, dark skin, high cheek bones. All the neighbors generally call the Lesters Indians. We know D. H. Blankenship to be the grandson of Patsy Lester. I knew Conley Blankenship and Mary Blankenship in 1834 and 1835. I grew up with them in Va, Tazewell Co. Conley Blankenship was a son of Patsy Lester [and] Abner H. Lester was a brother of Patsy Lester. Witness J. L. McKibben Mary X Blankenship D. C. Blankenship Jane Blankenship Subscribed to and sworn to before me this 30th day of May 1908 J. L. McKibben Justice of the peace residing in Mossyrock, Lewis Co. Wash. ----------------------------------- D. C and Mary Blankenship age near 80 years old. Mossyrock, Wash. We here by certify that we have been personally acquainted with the grandmother of D. H. Blankenship and three of her brothers from 1843. They lived in Tazewell county, Virginia. They claim to be half-Indian. They wore their hair down round their shoulders. It was straight and nice[?]. Their names was James Luster, Ab Luster, Tom Luster, Patsy Luster [Lester] Amy Sturgon. This is the grandparents of D. H. Blankenship. We don’t know where they was raised. D. H. Blankenship and his parents was raised in Tazewell county Virginia. They was none of them slaves. D. C. Blankenship Mary Blankenship ________________________________________________________ April 16, 1908 Mossyrock, Wash Yours of ? date reason and patent noted Will say that I don’t know where my parent was in 1834-45. That was before I was born. I have always been told both of my grandmothers mix with the Cherokee and I have seen some of my grandmother Blankenship’s brother[s] and that they look like Indians. Their hair black and straight. None of them was slave so far as I know. My parents was mix[ed] with Indians and white people. I remain yours Truly, D. H. Blankenship [app. 31763] ________________________________________________________ William Belcher [application 31073] U.S. Court of claims I will give you a little sketch of my ancestry according to statements of my foreparents as follows. My grandfather Abner H. Lester was one fourth Cherokee Indian, his father being a half-breed. His grandfather was a Cherokee chief, but there was no records kept that I know of. This came about in this way. My grandfather’s grandmother was taken prisoner by the Cherokees and a chief, name not known, taken her to wife. She had one child. His name was William. After this child was born, she by some means returned to the white people and her child was brought up among the whites. How she got away from the Indians is not known. My uncles and aunts on the Lester Indian side are all dead except one aunt. I don’t know of her whereabouts only she is in W. Va. Somewhere. I give this statement as I have heard my grandfather and others relate it. As I cannot tell the Indians except it were Lester. I do not know that I could give any further information. Hoping to hear favorably from you. I am truly yours W. R. Belcher. ------------------------------ Guion Miller, July 23, 1909 Dear sir: After receiving you reply I will say that I fully understand why our claims was not allowed and most must acknowledge the justice of you and the court in rejecting the claims as we was not considered in the treaty of 1835-6 but had been recognized all the while as citizens although we originated from that tribe but after the second generation was recognized as white people. I am a minister of the Gospel of the Old School Baptist and wish to be honest with all men, so please take this as my acknowledgement to the ?charity in the way you have handled this matter. Truly yours W. R. Belcher _______________________________________________ [M. A. Lester application No. 33404. Spelling and grammar very difficult to decipher. Edited] Application Remarks: “Uncle Bill Indian name Gillford after a Cherokee Indian, Nikitye Cherokee after her grandmother and her tribe” Letters enclosed in application: Mossyrock Wash, Aug. 3. 1907 Department of the interior Office of Indian Affairs, Washington DC Dear Sir, In regards to these witnesses in this affair, we have late come from West Virginia, [and it] makes it hard on us to get witnesses. You will see that M. A. Lester, I.M. Lester, W. C. Lester, all three are brothers, that has been to the notary public. [The notary public] would not state in M.A. Lester and I.M. Lester that we were of the Cherokee tribe. [He] said that it was not necessary. You will see that A. H. Lester was Cherokee. We prove it by an old man that was raised up with my [father’s] uncle. The notary public said that you would see my minor heirs [and] that would be all the application that I wanted for my children. I haven’t tried to prove every Indian on mother [parents?]. Her grandparents was Indian [and] was known by the name of Fletchers. Abner H. Lester was known by the name of Friday. I do not know whether that was an Indian name or not. T. M. Lester was known by the name of Chet until he became the owner of property, then his name was Thomas M. Lester. I can remember when his name was Chet all the time. We know [that we’re or not where] a living person and if we are Cherokee tribe, we do know that there’s very little English in us according to our foreparents. We do not know only what was handed down from them. None of them had any learning to keep records. [Let me] know if I haven’t furnished evidence for a claim. Let me know if possible. Please give me a [show?] for I do know according to my foreparents has handed down to me. I know that I am entitled to a claim. [Let me] know if this is improper. Please excuse me for I guess I do not want only what will stand in eternity, the Last Days. I would love to hear from you as soon as possible. This is not a sworn statement, but can be if necessary. Yours M.A. Lester. ------------------------------ Mossyrock Wash July 18, 1909 Guion Miller Court of Claims Washington DC Dear sir in reply to yours of June 10 1909, will say that I am very sorry to see that you rejected the Lesters. We thought that we made all the proof that was necessary. I beg to advise you that we cannot make any proof, only what was handed down from our fore-parents as to any Indian name. I do not know it for sure. It seems as [there] was some trouble with some other tribe of Indians. It seems as [they] was afraid of whites and other Indians. Abner H. Lester said that he had some money coming to him if he would go west. He said that he would do without it, stay where he was, [rather] than go west. From the appearance of [them]they were, as well as I remember, they was like a whipped dog. [They] was afraid to see anybody. They were way back in the frontier and in the mountains raised up without any education. I heard of one of my uncles giving an affidavit in court in a big land suit. He stated that the first white man that he saw, he and his sisters ran and hid from them. That was Henry Harmon, a surveyor running a big survey on or about 1830 or 1831. It seems they were in the mountains back from any person. I do know that I heard my grandfather say that he come from the Louisa Fork of the Big Sandy [River]to Elkhorn. [He] said for three years he never seen any person, neither white nor red, only his own family. That was in or about 1820 or 1825. I do not see how we can make the proof that you requested when all of the [old?] Lesters is dead, passed over. They did not teach us that we had any Indian name, only naming some of their children after some of their ancestors. [You have heard that before] so I will close. [Hope to hear from you soon] Please advise me [how?] I can get the proof that you want. None of them had any learning. Mathias Lester [33404] Martha A little more information. Grandfather said his Grandmother was a Scotch woman [who] was captured by some Indians [and] a chief Indian took her for a wife. After living with him for some time, then she was recaptured [and] brought forth a son. His name was called William Lester. If there is any Indian name for the Lesters, it is Gillford. I can’t certify to it. I do not know anything else at present. I do not see why it would have been any benefit to them to claim to be Cherokee if they had not been. If possible give me the best information that you can. Mathias A. Lester Excuse bad writing mistakes if possible. _______________________________________________________ [app. 32536] Edmond Henry Lester s/o M. A. Lester Application Remarks: Cherokee captured white woman early in the 18th century. One boy was born to this woman, who was named Lester, him whom the name originated, so I am told. This man caught in the Indian wars under Captain Cook. [app. 35070] Mossyrock, Wash. June 11, 1908 Special Commissioner of the Court of Claims Sirs, in answers of why my parents or grandparents was not enrolled was just because they was raised in the mountains [and] was unlearned and know nothing of the necessity of being enrolled. The next question was whether or not my parents ever lived with the Indians as recognized members, in answer to that question will say as to my knowledge, I do not know, but remember hearing grandfather tell of his father visiting and hunting and fishing with the Cherokees and they with him. As to personal knowledge, I know nothing, only what I have heard of my ancestors. Truly Yours, David Lester ________________________________________________________ [Found in App. 27882 Crocket Ross (Crockett Rose) hard to decipher, edited. Parents given in application: William Rose and Elizabeth Fletcher, grandparents Jenny Rose and unknown, Bill and Elizabeth Fletcher] Application remarks: G.F. [grandfather] Bill Fletcher has been living with the Indians and was either half or full blooded Indian, stayed with his tribe for 3 years at the time in Tennessee, I think. [enclosed letter] May 29, 1908 Special Commissioner of the Court of Claims, Eastern Cherokee Enrollment Ordway Building, Washington D.C. App.no. 33405 No. 27882 Yours of May the 16th, 1908 [is] at hand and answer to it why they were never enrolled, I don’t know, for on or about 1835 there [?] of grandma’s brothers went or started back to the tribe and has not [ever] been heard of since. It was Daniel and Bill and Aaron Smith and great-grandpa William Fletcher went back to the tribe in search of them and did not find them. Whether they was killed by the white people or not I cannot tell. I think that the tribe at that time was in Alabama. They might have been in South Carolina. I don’t know just where they were at that time. If they lived to get back to their tribe, they [possibly] filed as Cherokee Indians. If they are on the enrollment, their names are Daniel Smith and Bill Smith and Aaron Smith, and if grandpa ever enrolled it was when it was while he was in search for Bill, Daniel, and Aaron for after he came back he lived in McDowell Co. West Virginia. At that time it was Virginia, and there was no chance for him to file after that time for they lived in a wilderness and there was no mail route through that part [of] the county at that time. They was living on Tug River and was [friend or found] by the whites on or about 1815 by the white people. [pg 2] The first white man that [they] found was T.M. Lester and shortly after that time aunt Mary Smith married to Abner Lester. [They were never] held as slaves that I ever heard of. This statement is correct to the [knowledge?] that grandma always told me. M. A. Lester says it is correct, and he is an old man, and lived near my people ever since he was a little boy and he wrote to West Virginia to Short Smith and he said Emily Fletcher was a Cherokee Indian. [Pg.4] Elizabeth Fletcher was my Great-grandmother and deceased on Tug River in or about 1830. For further information, call on or write to M. A. Lester of Mossyrock, Washington or some of the old settlers of West Virginia to any of the old race of Smiths or Lesters as I am away here away from all the old people and for this reason I can’t make it very plain unless you write to them for proof. So I remain yours, M. [Mitchell] Rose Swofford, Wash. __________________________________________ Hallsville WV, Oct 13, 1908 Mr. Guion Miller, Dear Sir, I enclose you statement of Noah Blankenship, which perhaps gives a little more light on the Hall-Lester claims. I am told that our great grandfather, A. H. Lester Sr. relationship to the Indians was through an Indian squaw. Her maiden name was Cherokee Catoba. Forty years ago there wasn’t more than ten families, where now there are thousands in this part of West Virginia, then Tazewell, Virginia. Please note my mother’s statement made to Mrs. J. E. Tyler. Also go over all statements I have sent to you. Kindly advise me when this matter will close. Yours truly, T.M. Hall Claim no. 35685 --------------------- Hallsville, W. Va June 25, 1908 Hon. Guion Miller Washington D.C. Dear sir, I am enclosing some affidavits in support of claims files by myself and others and known to your Mr. J. E. Tyler as the “Lester-Hall” claims, as best information I can get. There are only two children living of Abner H. Lester Sr. through whom we claim. I have the report now that Lester was an adopted name, on account of some trouble he A.H. Sr. had. If I can I shall file an affidavit in support of this. Our claim in [this] is fair from the beginning. The first I knew we had a chance was through my mother’s oldest brother, M.A. Lester of Mossyrock, Washington. He wrote me in July of last year. I trust you can see our claims is just and will enroll us. Yours truly, Thos. M. Hall --------------------------- Hallsville WV April 3, 1909 Mr. Guion Miller, Washington DC Dear Sir: Referring to my claim no. 35685. I beg to say that I am reliably informed that the mother of Abner H. Lester Sr. was a full blooded Cherokee Indian of the Eastern Tribe and was born in NC. Her maiden name was Sallie Catoba as I was informed by her grandson by name of Lockhart. He said his mother lived to be 102 years old and always said her mother Sallie Catoba was run away from home because she married a German. Lockhart said his mother told him that his grandmother was entitled to some land or money from the government but she was afraid to try [to] get it as her tribe had been beaten out of their native homes and whipped, if it isn’t too late and you want a sworn statement of these facts, I will send it to you. Let me know when you think the enrollment will close. Yours truly Thomas M. Hall Claim No. 35685 _______________________________________________ Additional Comments: Note: These comments and testimonies are found in Eastern Cherokee Applications available on Fold3 and from the National Archives. Many of the comments are in response to queries from the Court of Claims, and they answer specific standard questions such as "Where your ancestor's held as slaves? and "Where did you ancestors live in 1835-6 or 1851?". Other comments have been taken from the "Remarks" section of specific applications. Some individuals provided sworn testimony before the commission. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/wyoming/history/other/lesterfa46gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wvfiles/ File size: 27.1 Kb