UPDATE: 1998-06-16
DIRECT LINE OF: Sally Brown;
UPDATE: 1998-06-16
DIRECT LINE OF: Sally Brown;
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UUPDATE: 1998-02-06
UUPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
DIRECT LINE OF: Sally Brown;
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
DIRECT LINE OF: Sally Brown;
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
UPDATE: 1998-02-06
UPDATE: 1998-06-12
UPDATE: 1995-09-30
!PARENTS-BIRTH-RESIDENCE-SPOUSE: E. M. Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH;;
Memphis TN, 963; p. 106; copy in possession of Terry McLean, Anaheim CA.
RESIDENCE: Leake Co., MS 1840 census.------------ TIME LINE:
1815 - led a group of Choctaw Indians in relocation from MS to OK
1845-1856 - approx., moved from MS to Indian Territory (Oklahoma)-------------------------
From Jack Reynolds to Terry McLean; document:
CHICKASAW MUSEUM, Tishomingo Oklahoma, Document 1139: Report of the Department
of the Interior and Evidentiary Papers in Support of S. 7625, a Bill for the
Relief of Certain Members of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma.
- JOHN PICKENS et al., CHOCTAWS....
Deposition of Elsie PERKINS, taken at the office of Ralls Bros., in the town
of Atoka, Ind. T., on the 9th day of July 1897, between the hours of 8 o'clock
in the forenoon and 6 o'clock in the afternoon, to be read as evidence in the
cause of John PICKENS v. Choctaw Nation.
'My name is Elsie PERKINS; I am 72 years old. I was born in the State of
Mississippi and came to the Choctaw Nation with the second immigration of
Choctaw Indians to the Indian Territory. I located in Eagle County, Choctaw
Nation. I am a one-half blood Choctaw. I knew of Capt. James PICKENS in the
State of Mississippi while I lived there; he came to the Choctaw Nation and I
met him near Doaksville shortly after I came to the Indian Territory. Capt.
James PICKENS was a Choctaw by blood; I should say about one-half breed like
myself. I don not remember exactly how long it has been since I came to the
Indian Territory, but my son Henry knows. Capt. James PICKENS was a married man
and had a family. I did not know his wife. He had the following-named children
that I remember: John PICKENS, Campbell PICKENS, and Ben PICKENS. The children
of Capt. James PICKENS looked to be about three-fourths Indian. John PICKENS
showed the Indian blood, but he was the fairest of the children; he looked to be
about one-fourth Indian. Ben PICKENS held the office of sheriff of Blue County.
My son Henry wheld the position of deputy sheriff under him. Capt. James PICKENS
and his children were recognized as members of the Choctaw Nation. John PICKENS,
the applicant, looks like John PICKENS, the son of Capt. James PICKENS. I do not
know the applicant, nor do I know him to be the son of John PICKENS who is the
son of Capt. James PICKENS, but he resembles John PICKENS, who is the son of
Capt. James PICKENS; from his resemblance to the PICKENS family and his
statements to me I believe him to be the son of John PICKENS.'
Witness: Chas. W. DUNSTAN. [signed] Elsie (her mark) PERKINS
..........................
The taking of depositions in the above-named cause is continued until 8 o'clock
a.m., July 10, 1897.
.....................
Henry PERKINS being introduced and sworn as a witness on the part of the
plaintiff, testifies as follows:
'My name is Henry M. PERKINS. I live at Caney, Blue County, Choctaw Nation.
I am going on 57 years old. I am the son of Mrs. E. PERKINS. I have lived at
Caney about 38 years. I was born in the Indian Territory, in Blue County, east
of Atoka. My father was a half blood and my mother is full blood: I am about
three-fourths. Mother and I are recognized members by blood of the Choctaw
Nation. My mother came from Yazoo River, Miss., in 1833. I have known John T.
PICKENS since last year, and am not related to him in any way that I know of. I
knew Capt. James PICKENS quite well. He came from Mississippi with the Choctaw
immigrants in 1815. He was captain of the Choctaw immigrants from Mississippi.
Capt. James PICKENS was one-half blood Choctaw Indian. He was recognized as a
member by blood of the Choctaw Nation. I did not know his wife; I knew most all
of his children. The oldest was John, the next Campbell, the next Litty, Rachel,
Benjamin and Joseph. Some of the children I have just named looked to be about
three-fourths Choctaw Indians, and were recognized members of the Choctaw
Nation. John was the whitest of all the children. Ben showed about one-half
blood Choctaw and John did not look to be half. I do not know where any of the
PICKENS boys are at this time. Ben PICKENS was sheriff of Blue County, Choctaw
Nation, Ind. T., and I was deputy under him. I do not know the plaintiff, John
T. PICKENS, to be son of either of the above named PICKENSES, but he favors John
PICKENS, the son of Capt. James PICKENS: his face and eyes and motion of his
face look like said James PICKENS. He favors Ben PICKENS a little; not much. The
applicant knows all the PICKENS family above referred to, and his history of
them agrees with my recollection of them.'
Cross-examination by Mr. Gordon:
'I first saw James PICKENS in the Choctaw Nation in 1855. I can't judge from
his appearance how much blood he had. I never Capt. James PICKENS's father and
mother. I never saw his wife: I did not know whether she was a white woman or an
Indian. I do not remember when he died. He had about six children - John, Ben,
Campbell, Litty, Rachel, and Joseph. Some time between 1850 and 1860 a report
came that John PICKENS was killed and that his parents could not find the
corpse. John was a pretty rowdy fellow. I do not know that he was married. I
never heard of John PICKENS until the applicant, John T. PICKENS spoke to me
about him last winter. My understanding ever since about 1857 has been that John
PICKENS was killed about that time. Campbell PICKENS was killed about the year
1860 in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation. About the time of the Civil War I hear
that Joseph PICKENS was killed, and I have never heard of his being alive since.
These PICKENS boys were somewhere between 14 and 20 years old at the time
PICKENS came to this country. When I saw this applicant I recognized him as
being a descendant of the John PICKENS aforesaid. I can't tell you which one of
the boys he is a descendant of. I never heard of John PICKENS having a son.
Before I ever saw the applicant, John T. PICKENS, John HODGES told me he was a
nephew of Ben PICKENS. John PICKENS, the son of James, was a light -complected
man, a tall, slim fellow, dark hair, very white. In the year 1861 trouble came
up between the MCLAUGHLIN and the PICKENS families, and after this trouble was
over Ben PICKENS and his family left, and, I understood, moved to the Choctaw
Nation.'
Redirect examination by Mr. RALLS:
'I do not know that the men were killed. The report reached me. The Choctaws
and Chickasaws were out with the PICKENSES and favored the MCLAUGHLINs. The
applicant, John T. PICKENS, looks more like John PICKENS, the son of Capt. James
PICKENS, than he does either of the other brothers, and resembles Ben PICKENS,
but I can't say as to which one of theh PICKENS boys he belongs, if either. If
Joseph, Campbell, and John PICKENS were not killed it would not have been safe
for them to remain in the Choctaw Nation or the Chickasaw Nation. The Chickasaws
would have killed them because the were Choctaws.' ...............
Levina Franklin, being introduced and sworn as a witness, testified as
follows:
'My name is Levina FRANKLIN: I am about 68 years old. I live about 5 miles on
this side of Lehigh. I am a half-blood Choctaw Indian. I was raised at Antlers,
in the Choctaw Nation. My parents came from Mississippi to the Choctaw Nation. I
knew Capt. James PICKENS just as well as I knew my own grandfather when I was a
girl. Said Capt. James PICKENS was a half-blood Choctaw Indian and was
recognized as a member of said Nation. I knew him for about 25 or 30 years.
Capt. James PICKENS came from Mississippi. I do not recollect the time, as I was
very small at that time. He had three children. I know nothing about the
smallest children that he had. I moved out of the Choctaw Nation into the
Chickasaw Nation. The names of the children that I knew were John, Campbell, and
Ben. I knew the above-named children quite well; they were citizens of the
Choctaw Nation. John was the fairest of the children that I knew. Campbell got
killed on the Washita, in Chickasaw nation, and Ben died some 10 or 12 years
ago; I do not recollect. It was reported that John got killed. He was not
killed, and went back to Mississippi and stayed until everything died out, and
then came back. I did not know anything about the trouble in the Chickasaw
Nation only what I heard. I have not seen John PICKENS since he returned from
Mississippi, but I heard he was up in the Chickasaw Nation. I do not know the
applicant, but he favors his father a great deal and resembles the family so
much. About 15 or 20 years ago I heard that John PICKENS went to Mississippi
after his trouble in the Nation, and I have not seen him since. Ben PICKENS, who
lived on Blue Creek, in the Choctaw Nation, told me that John was not killed,
but went back to Mississippi. The PICKENSES were pretty swift and the Choctaws
and Chickasaws had it in for them. I am not related to the plaintiff and have no
interest in the result of this case.'
Cross-examination by Mr. GORDON:
'About 30 years ago Ben PICKENS was a grown man, and I used to see him
frequently; we used to go to meeting together in the Choctaw Nation. John never
went over in the Chickasaw Nation. He lived until he came back from Mississippi.
We heard at the time of his trouble that the people were all out hunting for
him, and that they never did find him. I do not know that he ever went to
Mississippi, except from what I heard. I never saw the applicant before today.
He told me that he was the son of John PICKENS. I had heard that John had a son,
but I never knew him. James PICKENS was a half-blood Choctaw Indian, because he
had white and Indian blood, and white and Indian blood makes one-half Choctaw.
When a full-blood marries a white person, the children are called half-breeds. I
did not know how much Indian blood Capt. James PICKENS had except from what I
have heard, and then I have seen him. He looked to be about half-blood Indian.
If a woman who is half-breed Choctaw marries a man who is half-breed Choctaw,
the children would be half-breeds.'
........Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 106. "Captain James PICKENS, born between 1780 and 1790 was living in Leake
Co., MS in 1840 (census). He had 5 males in his home and 5 females. Living near
him were Solomon PICKENS b. 1810-1820, and John PICKENS, b. 1810-1820. He was
called Captain because he was a leader among the Choctaws and elected to this
important office in their tribal government. When the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit
Creek was signed by the Choctaws in 1830 one article of the treaty provided that
'each Chocctaw head of a family, desiring to remain and become a citizen of the
state shall be permitted to do so. He shall therefore be entitled to a
reservation of one section (640 acres) of land... and shall be entitled to one
half of that quantity for each unmarried child which is living with him over 10
years of age, to adjoin location of his parents. Persons who claim under this
article shall not lose the privadedge of a Choctaw citizen, but if they ever
remove are not entitled to any portion of the Choctaw annuity.'
"Under the above provision James PICKENS wrote the following letter to Major
William DOUSING, Land Agent at Columbus MS, Nov 7, 1833.
'Sir: You are hereby notified that I am in possession of Section 6, Township
11, Range 8 east, also Sections 1 and 12 in Township 11, Range 7 east, claimed
under and by virtue of the fourteenth article of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit
Creek on Sep 27, 1830 and request that the same be removed from sale and that
titles to the same be secured to me in accordance with teh provisions of the
treaty. Signed, James PICKENS'.
"Captain James PICKENS and his whole family sold their lands in Leake Co.,
Miss. and removed to McCurtain County, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). A number of
deeds are on record at Carthage MS. The wife of James PICKENS was named
Elizabeth Rachel..."
"...Joseph, Levi, and Vicey PICKENS were all three in Mushalatubbe's District
which embraced the lands in the present Nuxubee, Kemper, and Winston Counties.
he was one of the Great Chief's who signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit. James
PICKENS in Leake Co., was in Col. Greenwood LEFLORE's District. There is a creek
in north Leake County called 'Pickens Creek' which bears evidence that the
PICKENS were once there. Adjoining neighbors of the PICKENS in Leake were the
COBBs, also a half-blood family, whose descendants still live in the county.
There is also a 'Cobb Creek' which joins Pickens Creek. Note that one Arthur
COBB and John FOSTER appraised a yoke of oxen belonging to the estate of John
PICKENS. The four Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."
UPDATE: 1995-09-30
==============================================================================
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Levi PICKENS, a brother of Capt. Joseph PICKENS, died prior to 1835
in the Indian Territory [Oklahoma]. Department of Interior, Indian Affairs
Papers show that Levi PICKENS, a half blood, had 9 in his family, with 2 males
above 16, and five females under 10, himself and wife. Received 160 acres.
"... Joseph, Levi, and Vicey PICKENS were all three in Mushalatubbe's District
which embraced the lands in the present Nuxubee, Kemper, and Winston Counties.
... The four Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."
UPDATE: 1995-09-30
==============================================================================
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Department of Interior, Indian Affairs Papers show that Levi
PICKENS, a half blood, had 9 in his family, with 2 males above 16, and five
females under 10, himself and wife.
...The ... Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."
UPDATE: 1995-09-30
==============================================================================
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Department of Interior, Indian Affairs Papers show that Levi
PICKENS, a half blood, had 9 in his family, with 2 males above 16, and five
females under 10, himself and wife.
...The ... Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."
UPDATE: 1995-09-30
!PARENTS-BIRTH-RESIDENCE-SPOUSE: E. M. Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH;;
Memphis TN, 963; p. 106; copy in possession of Terry McLean, Anaheim CA.
RESIDENCE: Leake Co., MS 1840 census.----------------------------------------------------------------
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Vicey PICKENS had 6 in family. 1 male over 16, 4 males and females
under 10, had land on Oxnoxubee Creek.
Joseph, Levi, and Vicey PICKENS were all three in Mushalatubbe's District
which embraced the lands in the present Nuxubee, Kemper, and Winston Counties.
He was one of the Great Chief's who signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit.
...The four Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."
UPDATE: 1995-09-30
==============================================================================
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Vicey PICKENS had 6 in family. 1 male over 16, 4 males and females
under 10, had land on Oxnoxubee Creek....
...The ... Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."
UPDATE: 1995-09-30
==============================================================================
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Vicey PICKENS had 6 in family. 1 male over 16, 4 males and females
under 10, had land on Oxnoxubee Creek....
...The ... Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."
UPDATE: 1995-09-30
==============================================================================
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Vicey PICKENS had 6 in family. 1 male over 16, 4 males and females
under 10, had land on Oxnoxubee Creek....
...The ... Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."UPDATE: 1995-09-30
==============================================================================
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Vicey PICKENS had 6 in family. 1 male over 16, 4 males and females
under 10, had land on Oxnoxubee Creek....
...The ... Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."UPDATE: 1995-09-30
==============================================================================
Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH:
p. 107. Vicey PICKENS had 6 in family. 1 male over 16, 4 males and females
under 10, had land on Oxnoxubee Creek....
...The ... Choctaw PICKENS families settled in what is today McCurtain
County, Oklahoma, then called PICKENS County of the Choctaw Nation."