Begin Your Delaware Tribe Ancestral Research?

8 Key Resources to Native American Research?

Algonquians of the East Coast

The Delaware Indians derived from the Delaware River, and originally occupied the state of New Jersey. In general the Delaware Indians moved from New Jersey to Ohio and then they were pushed west of the Mississippi in the 1820’s.

Many Delawares renounced their Native American citizenship as early as 1795.  They, (and other Ohio native American tribes), surrendered most of their Ohio lands with the signing of the Treaty of Greeneville in 1795; and the remaining lands in 1829 when the United States forced the Delawares to  relinquish all lands in Ohio and move west of the Mississippi River. Visit the Official Webstie of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. 

Using Census Records

1860 - The 1860 federal decennial census did not enumerate Native Americans, unless the families renounced their “tribal rule.”  If families were enumerated that would indicate that they were taxed in that community and not a part of a tribal life at the time of the census enumeration. 

Native Americans not living on a reservation or on designated Indian lands in 1860 were identified, often as white, for tax purposes on the census record.

1870 - On the 1870 census there was a specific indicator used to designate American Indians. 

The Delaware Indians were absorbed by the Cherokees (one of the Five Civilized Tribes). Others Delaware Indians who lived in the Cherokee territory may have participated in the “open land runs” or staked and purchased land, or married an Indian Citizen.

1880 - The Dawes Severalty Act, 5 October 1894, provided 160 acres to be given individually to each Native American family, and to slaves of the Five Civilized Tribes.  Many of the Delaware/Cherokee Natives claimed this land, since persons who were authenticated in the 1880 Cherokee Nation citizenship, or earlier, were eligible for these benefits.

It May Be Unlikely

It was unlikely for Native Americans of the Delaware tribe to:

• not claim their land and government rights as they merged with other Native Americans to include the Cherokee Indians
• be a part of the Ohio Militia or Iowa Militia, as these groups were formed to fight the American Indians
• be enumerated as white citizens in the census prior to 1880.  According to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website “few American Indians were included in the Federal census.” This resulted in them not being identified or enumerated between 1790 and 1840. [1]  

8 Key Resources
However, all of these sources, although unlikely, should still be checked closely, as well as the Native American rolls listed below which may be found on fold3.com, ancestry.com. National Archives and Records Administration microfilm, etc. The Rootsweb.ancestry.com webiste, has compiled over 285,000 records which includes almost 18000 surnames. These indexed entries include the tribe, blood percentage, card and roll numbers, and lists associated family members.

1.      Dawes Final Roll 

2.      Drennen Roll

3.      Reservation Roll (Arkansas Lands)

4.      1896 Census Application

5.      1880 Cherokee Census

6.      Guion Miller Roll

7.      Baker Roll

8.      Kern Clifton Rolls

Kathleen Brandt 
a3genealogy@gmail.com 
Accurate, accessible answers

Previously Titled: Searching for Delaware Native Indians
Posted 26 Nov 2010 / Updated 17 Feb 2015

Puerto Rican WWI Era Research, PartI

U. S. Employment service Bulletins, published weekly

War Time Labor Shortage.  
Where Was Your Ancestor?

In 1918, the U.S. A. government began recruiting its new Puerto Rican citizens (as of March 1917) as mainland laborers. The idea was to place workers in New York and other states to assist with the shortage of war time in manufacturing, railroad, agriculture, construction, etc. Initially the goal was to register approximately ten thousand people, but that increased to over seventy-five thousand registered Puerto Ricans agreeing to the .35¢ per hour plus military housing/boarding and transportation via military vessels. Your ancestors may have been one of these registered laborers.  

Where to Begin?

Like all genealogy research, gather as much data as possible on your ancestor. This information should include full name, sibling’s names, parents, etc. Since names are quite common, determine distinguishing characteristics - occupation, city, nickname, etc.

6 Vital Record Collections

1. New York National Archives (NARA). The Guide to Puerto Rican Records in the National Archives, New York City, is a great place to begin your Puerto Rican ancestor research. 
2. Civil Records. Vital records  of births and deaths were recorded, in Spanish at the local Puerto Rican “Oficina del Rigistro Civil.”  Visit “Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001 in the FamilySearch.org catalog or locate in the ancestry.com subscriber database.
   
3. Newspaper Search. The New York Puerto Rican newspapers reported news of its community. Although much was in Spanish, these OCR digitized copies are easily available with the New York Public Library database resources, or other comprehensive historical/genealogical libraries that hold newspaper database subscriptions (i.e. Midwest Genealogy Center, MO. -  library card will get you home access).
   - La Democracia
   - La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico
   - El Tiempo y Union Obera

4. Passenger Lists.
   - Puerto Rico, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1901 – 1962, ancestry.com
   - National Archives Record Group (RG85) Manifests of Ship Passengers Arriving at San Juan, PR in Transit to Other Destinations, 07/01/1921 – 06/30/1947 (microfilm only)
   - RG 85.3.1 Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Juan PR 10/7/1901 – 6/30/1948

5. Military Records. Selective Service System draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 are digitally available on FamilySearch.org.
6. Consular Records and Passports.  Many Puerto Ricans worked in neighboring countries, (i.e. Dominican Republic).  For easier entry and exist many applied for their U. S. passports.  Visit U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 on ancestry.com. For Puerto Rico, this collection holds records from 1907-1925. This is a good place to begin your passport research, but know that more information on Consular Records will be shared in Part II.

Thinking of a warm romantic island on this cold Valentine’s Day.

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy.com

Accurate, accessible answers