MySource:Samples 59/Everett Family and the Choctaw Trading Post, the (Factory)

Everett Family and the Choctaw Trading Post, the (Factory)

• Compiled by descendant Patrick Hogue (Samples)

Mississippi Territory (Mississippi and Alabama): The Earliest Everett Arrivals and Researched Family Lines

The Mississippi Territory was created in 1798. At first it was simply a narrow strip of land through what is now south central Alabama and Mississippi. It stretched from the Chattahoochee River at the western boundary of Georgia all the way westward to the Mississippi River. It did not include the coastal areas of Pensacola, Florida, Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana all of which was considered Spanish West Florida at that time. Most of this land encompassed the territories of the Muscogee Creeks to the east, the Choctaw to the west, the Chickasaw to the northwest, and a few scattered smaller tribes.

By 1800, Washington County, Alabama was created from the Tombigbee District and encompassed two-thirds of the territory. Adams County, Mississippi created from the Pickering Territorial County, Natchez District at the far west on the Mississippi River. Most of the earliest settlers to the territory appeared to travel from the North down the Mississippi River. Many came from the Atlantic states through western Virginia and North Carolina. In 1800 86% (7600) of the population of the Mississippi Territory lived in these two counties on the Mississippi River and nearly 40% of the total population at that time were identified as slaves.

The town of St. Stephens, Alabama, on the west bank of the Tombigbee River, in present day Washington County, Alabama, was established by the Spanish as a fort as early as 1783. This location became the primary destination and stopping-off point for most of the settlers moving from the southeastern states into the central and western Mississippi Territory. Other pioneers arrived from the North down the Tennessee River and near Muscle Shoals, Alabama to the Tombigbee River. Thus, records from this area are significant in tracking our early pioneer ancestors. The Choctaw Trading Post at Fort Tombecbe [also known as Fort Confederation], was established there in 1800. It was not until 1805 that the Muscogee Creek Indians agreed to allow a horse path to be established from the Chattahoochee River to the Alabama River. Two years later Congress authorized the construction of the Federal Road, upon which most of the later settlers traveled, from Athens, Georgia to St. Stephens, Alabama, and eventually to New Orleans.

Everett Family of the Tombigbee District

• Compiled by descendant Patrick Hogue (Samples)

I. The earliest Everett in the Tombigbee District appears to have been William Everett, and his wife Elizabeth. He is identified as early as 1795 on a registered brand document. He first bought land on the Tombigbee River, from a British claim in 1804. The migration pattern of this family can be traced from Eastern North Carolina to Effingham County, Georgia to Bulloch County, Georgia by 1785 and to Washington County, Alabama by 1795.

II. John Everett (1743-1820), married Sarah Fagan (1746-1851). He is located near St. Stephens, Washington County, Alabama, appearing on the 1804 receipts of the Choctaw Trading Post, the (Factory).

They were the parents of:

1. Enoch Everett (1779-1836), married Margaret Bird (1782-1835). They migrated to Washington County, Alabama between 1815-1817. Many of their children migrated to Clarke County, Mississippi.

2. Jehu Winott Everett (1780-1847), married Mary Jones (1789-1869). They moved to Washington County, Alabama in 1825. It is believed that many of their children remained in the Washington County, Alabama area. Some of the next generation moved to Clarke County, Mississippi.

3. John Fagan Everett (1784-1842), married 1st Sarah Ann Lester Mitchell in 1804, married 2nd Sarah Britton Hand Nov. 1818, married 3rd Ann Blount Slade 11 Apr 1825. In 1814, John Fagan Everett (1784-1842), was the Assistant Quarter Master General (AA & QMG) at the Choctaw Trading Post, the (Factory) near St. Stephens, Alabama, Washington County, Alabama. He bought land here in 1815. He was also serving as a Justice of the Peace here in 1816. In 1821, he sold his land to his brother Enoch Everett and then moved to Mobile, Alabama to serve as Justice of the Peace there.

4. Benjamin Everett (b. bet. 1780-1790 & d. ?), married Martha Gaines.

In early 1800, George Strother Gaines and Benjamin Everett were heavily involved at the Choctaw Trading Post, the (Factory) near St. Stephens, Alabama, in Washington County, Alabama. Undoubtedly, as was customary for traders of the time period, they had Native American Choctaw wives. Everett Traders appearing in the Record at the Choctaw Trading Post, the (Factory) in St. Stephens, Alabama are listed below. They also would have had Native American Choctaw wives.

In 1802, Georgia abandoned Yazoo Lands in the area which we know today as the state of Alabama. The area north of the 31st parallel became part of the Mississippi Territory. Spain controlled the Mobile area until the War of 1812.

The 2nd (Factory) Choctaw Trading Post was established by George Strother Gaines and Benjamin Everett in May of 1816. The location of the 2nd (Factory) is in present day Sumter County, Alabama and was located near Epes, Alabama where the Factory Creek empties into the Tombigbee River. Several miles east of Fort Tombecbe. It is unknown at this time if the Everett Traders listed, traded at the the 2nd (Factory) after 1816. In all likelyhood, they most certainly would have.

Benjamin Everett was appointed as Assistant Agent in 1817, and George Strother Gaines was appointed the second agent (factory) for the Choctaw Trading Post at this same time (See the Pate reference). Benjamin Everett was married to Martha Washington Gaines, the sister of George Strother Gaines.

The Choctaw Trading Post at St. Stephens, Alabama served the inhabitants in the area, and there was a particular Choctaw Village Fakit Chipunta close to my ancestors worth mentioning. The village was located approximately 26 miles north of St. Stephens, Alabama, 3.7 miles west of Coffeeville, Clarke County, Alabama, 3.4 miles east of Bladon Springs State Park, Choctaw County, Alabama and 8.2 miles north of Pavey's Landing, Washington County, Alabama.

5. Larkin Everett, the father of Jane Servena Everett, is believed to be a brother of Benjamin Everett and a brother of John Fagan Everett

In the year of 1810, my ancestors were residing about 3.7 miles east of Fakit Chipunta at Coffeeville, Alabama. James W. Williams, Sr. and his wife Margaret Slaughter; James W. Williams, Jr. and his wife Eliza Perry, her father John Perry was also an indian trader, along with his father-in-law, David White; Littleton Robert Williams and his wife Jane Servena Everett. Their son, Mack Littleton Williams claimed to be 1/2 Native American Choctaw. Giving the middle name of his grandfather Larkin Everett to his son, James Larkin Williams. This family migrated westward into West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana.

Everett Traders at The Choctaw Trading Post, St. Stephens

William Everett, Jr. 1810

Mary Everett 1810 Census

James Everett 1811

Larkin Everett 1811

Joseph Everett 1811

George Everett 1812

Frederick Everett 1813

David White, John Perry, & John Turnbull (Indian Trade)

• Compiled by descendant Patrick Hogue (Samples)

David White's will was recorded in the old Spanish records of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In the first sentence of the will, he states that he is the legitimate son of Joseph White and Margaret Leeth. After his death, an attempt was made to break this will and in the records of the trial, there is a sworn deposition of John White of Anson County, North Carolina who identifies himself as a brother of David. During the lifetime of Unity, David White, along with his son-in-law John Perry, were involved in the Indian Trade along the Tombigbee River, Yazoo lands, in what would later become the state of Alabama. David White would later take up residence and land in New Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, a part of Spanish West Florida at that time. On August 16, 1794, he prepared his will, specifying that his entire estate be given to Sybil Turnbull, daughter of his good friend John Turnbull, now deceased. The will was sealed and given to the Spanish authorities at the "Fort and District of Baton Rouge" on August 21, 1794 for safekeeping until his death. He stated that he was "an Englishman and a native of North America," then he and the witnesses he had brought along signed "the closed folder." All of his family thought he was dead except his brother John, who took up his trail and found him in Louisiana. Later, his sons Joseph and William visited their father. David sent an invitation to Sarah through the sons to bring the family, but Sarah did not respond, and David did not change his will. The will was probated in 1809, and Sybil inherited. David's wife Sarah sued, and the court ruled against her. She tried again, and was again unsuccessful.

See also: Elizabeth Isabella (Turnbull) Semple, Moses Samples, Eliza Perry. See also: Elizabeth Isabella (Turnbull) Semple, Moses Samples, Eliza Perry.

John Turnbull Indian Trade

• Compiled by descendant Patrick Hogue (Samples)

The Turnbull name among the Choctaw's originated with Scotsman John Turnbull, who was born about 1741 and came to Mobile, Alabama in about 1760. John Turnbull was a trader among the Chickasaw's and Choctaw's and was always involved in a great deal of controversy and intrigue among both tribes, and the Spanish and English. George Turnbull, his son by a Chickasaw woman who was said to be a close relative (daughter or sister) of Chickasaw Chief Taskiatoka, was Brashears' father and Turner's grandfather. Taskiatoka was very close to John Turnbull and once bartered a number of his Spanish prisoners for John Turnbull's release from a Spanish prison in 1781.

John Turnbull was supposedly the first white man to use the Natchez Trace as a trading route. He was all over this area, especially Memphis, MS, LA, AL and the famous Chickasaw Bluff's near Fort Prudhomme where John Turnbull was instrumental in obtaining permission from the Chickasaw's for the Spanish to build the strategic fort (trading post).

Why George Turnbull and William Turnbull, who were clearly half Chickasaw, were so closely related to the Choctaw's at this point is unclear. However, they both married Choctaw women and were deeply involved in their father John Turnbull's trading business among the Choctaw's. He even took them back to England with him once. William Turnbull married Judith Perry, daughter of Hardy Perry and Anolah. Although John Turnbull eventually married a white wife and had a sizable family with her, he still regarded his half breed Indian sons and daughter Sylvia Turnbull, so highly that he recognized his "illegitimate children" (children of all marriages not solemnized in the Catholic church at this time were classified "illegitimate") in his will and left them inheritances considered very handsome for the times. At the time of his death in 1799 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana he was an enormously wealthy man, owning thousands of acres of land from Spanish land grants in Mississippi and Louisiana, including the large plantation with hundreds of slaves where he died. John Joyce had been his partner in building an inordinately successful trading business in Mississippi and Louisiana. George Turnbull and William Turnbull are mentioned frequently in the history of this area as John Turnbull's " half breed Chickasaw sons." They were born in the Chickasaw nation perhaps close to present day Memphis, Tennessee, probably in the early to mid 1760's. Written by Frankie James

Rosedown Plantation was built by one of the white sons, through the white mother, Catherine Rucker. His name was Daniel Turnbull. He was the second to the youngest child, of our patriarch John Turnbull, the Scottish trader to the Choctaw's and Chickasaw's. John Turnbull recognized 3 of his Indian children in his will, George Turnbull and William Turnbull were presumed to be of the same mother, an unknown Chickasaw woman, but they became Choctaw by both marrying into the tribe. They were grown young men when John Turnbull died. He taken them into his business. I have calculated they were born mid to late 1760s. They had a half sister Sylvia Turnbull, also Chickasaw, mother Isabell "Belcy" Perry. George Turnbull is fairly well documented he was close to 90 when he died in Indian Territory in 1860. He is very much an enigma though as to how he lived out his remaining years and what happened to the wife who came with him on the trail of tears in 1833 with 3 month old babe in arms, John P. For some time now, I have thought there was a great deal of reason for his wife to remain unknown. Either she was a high-born lady like Chief Greenwood LeFlore's sister Sylvia, which may have been politically not good or they may not have bothered marrying or she may have been a lady much too low born for the status of being the very wealthy John Turnbull's daughter-in-law. I calculate she would have been born in about 1795-98. She may or may not have been our GGGreat Grandmother. There was some sort of funny very kinky hair which cropped up among our Turner B. Turnbull and Jerico's children. It was also in my grandfather's siblings. Indians don't have hair like that. Makes one wonder just a bit. Old John Turnbull died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1799 in his own bed from apparent natural causes. Daniel Turnbull and his wife Martha Hillard Barrow built Rosedown Plantation in 1833 and the live oaks that line the long drive up to the front were planted in 1835, when they moved in. According to some that I read, Daniel Turnbull had 5 plantations, he was not in favor of slavery. I think Daniel died in 1861. - Written by Frankie James

Perry, Peary, Colbert (Choctaw / Chickasaw) Connection

• Compiled by descendant Patrick Hogue (Samples)

Hardy Perry Sr., was a white man, born in 1743. He became a trader among the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians, and settled among the Choctaw by 1765. He was the first to bring quality cattle into the Indian Nation. For the next 40 years he moved frequently throughout the Choctaw and Chickasaw countries, and at times resided outside of the Indian boundaries. He was given a land grant on the Tombigbee River in 1778. In 1789 he had a family of five persons and owned ten slaves. In 1798 he lived on Bayou Pierre, in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana. In 1802 - 1803 he was a blacksmith among the Chickasaw's. He was still livng in 1816.

His children by a Native American Choctaw wife:

1. Celia Jane Perry (1760-1820). She married Daniel McCurtain, Sr.,

2. John Perry (1766-1806), 1/2 Choctaw. He married Unity White. He married a Susan Colbert Chickasaw wife. He was the original claiment of a Spanish Land Patent of 1,000 acres on Bayou Pierre, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana on the 20th of October, 1788. The heirs of George Cochran were later claiments of this land. As of the 27th day of October 1795, the Board of Commissioners could not confirm this land claim by the Spanish Patent, as the claiment's were non residents at the time.

2a. Eliza Perry (1800-?). Married James W. Williams Jr. on the 11 Aug 1818 in Montgomery County, Alabama. The wedding was performed by H. D. Stone, C.J.M.C.A.T..

3. Isabelle Belcy Perry (1768-?). Married John Turnbull (1730-1799).

4. Joseph Perry, married Cassa. He was one of the signer's of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek on the 27 Sep 1830. Joseph Perry of the Chickasaw Nation sells to William Fly for $1125, section of land in Yalobusha County, Mississippi Section 18 in township 11 & range 5 west of the basis meridian. Land Joseph Perry was entitiled to under Treaty with the Chickasaws on the 24th day of May 1834. Wit: G.W.Long Signed: Joseph Perry. On April 25, 1836 the following Chiefs ......certify that Joseph Perry ....... is capable to manage.....his own affairs. Signed: Benjamin Love, Henry Love

5. Hardy Perry Jr., was born 1770 in the Tombigbee District, probably on the Tombigbee River, near the Choctaw Village Fakit Chipunta, in Clarke County, Alabama. His wife was Anolah. He also had a Chickasaw wife. He was living in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, according to the 1850 United States Census Slave Schedule. He had 37 slaves.

They were the parents of:

5a. James Perry, 1/2 Chickasaw , married Lizzie, a Chickasaw woman.

Recorded in the accounts ledger records of the Choctaw Trading House near Fort Confederation, on the Tombigbee River, Washington County, Alabama, on Jun 1817 [A Strickland book]:

James Perry $11.88

Levi Perry (whom next) $15.18 - It was reported that it was doubtful that $6.93 of this debt would ever be repaid to the US Government.

5b. Levi Perry, married Susan Colbert - In June of 1818, Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury and Mr. & Mrs. Loring Stearns Williams arrived in Yalobusha County, Mississippi (ie. Yellow-Busha) at Elliott, in the Choctaw Nation’s Western District. They stayed with Choctaw Chief Levi Perry. Levi Perry was a large slave owner.

5c. Lewis Perry, Choctaw, became a chief.

5d. John Perry, Choctaw, married a Chickasaw woman named Pikey.

5e. Hardy Perry, III (1785-1850). He married Sophia McCurtain and was living in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. They had several children:

i. Patience H. Perry (1825-1858) is buried at the Mayhew Mission Cemetery. Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury founded Mayhew Mission in 1820 and led expansion of the mission system in Mississippi.

ii. Edmond Nail Perry (1827-1904). He married Ann Eliza McCurtain.

iii. Selina Lavinia Perry (1832-1881). She married Ellis Folsom.

5f. Judith Perry, Choctaw who married William Turnbull, the half Choctaw son of the white trader John Turnbull. John Turnbull was born in Scotland.

5g. Chief Isaac Perry. One of the signer's of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek on the 27 Sep 1830. After the Treaty, in the fall of 1833, the Perry Family ceded their 1,120 acres of lands. Including their lands on the Yalobusha settlement, Yalobusha County, Mississippi} and The Elliot Mission, in present Holcomb, Mississippi, organized here in 1818 by the Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury. It was closed in 1832 due to removal of many Choctaws to Oklahoma.

5h. Molly Perry, married Alexander Fraizer.

6. Moses Perry who married Wishahoya Cole

Semple, Samples Choctaw Connection to John Turnbull

• Compiled by descendant Patrick Hogue (Samples).

This Semple/Samples family are of Scotch/Irish origin. Robert Semple (1733-1808) was a Tavern Owner (keeper). In 1776, he owned "Semples Tavern" in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1793, he sold the lot in Carlisle, Pennsylvania to Ephriam Blaine. The “Semple's Tavern” is believed to have remained at the rear of the Blaine house. Robert Semple also kept "The Mount Rock Tavern Stand" and "Distillery" between (1782-1793).

In 1763, Robert Semple (1733-1808) married Lydia Steele (1743-aft 1785). They had four children:

1. Sarah Jane Semple (1764-1797). She married Col. Thomas Butler (1756-1805). He died in New Orleans, Louisiana. Upon his wish, he was buried in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana at Ormond Plantation.

2. Steele Semple (1768-1813) an attorney at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

3. Moses Semple/Sample (abt 1770-?) . Was in the War of 1812. He served as a Private from Bayou Sara, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana in Captain Jedediah Smith's Feliciana Troop of Horse (September 28, 1814 - March 24, 1815). As part of Thomas Hinds Battalion of Cavalry, Mississippi. They had a son:

3a. Joseph Semple of Terrebonne, Louisiana. He married Eliza Davis on 21 Feb 1825 in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. In 1829, he appears in a record of Bayou Sara, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, on a ledger, still owing a debt there in 1831.

4. Col. Robert Semple, Jr., (1772-1813). Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he married 19 Jan 1804 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Elizabeth Isabella Turnbull (1785-1873). She was the daughter of the Scottish Choctaw & Chickasaw Indian Trader John Turnbull (1730-1799) by his white wife Catherine Rucker (1769-1832).

Desert Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Col. Robert Semple bought Desert Plantation in Louisiana in 1808 for $12,000.00 from Daniel Clark (Louisiana), affiliated with Louis and Clark Expedition. It was originally part of two Spanish land grants.

Col. Robert Semple was married to Elizabeth Isabella Turnbull. The Turnbull's, were a prominent family in the area at the time. The Turnbull's, in the person of Daniel Turnbull built Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. Desert Plantation was built by Colonel Semple and Elizabeth Isabella Turnbull in 1808. It was completed in 1812. Colonel Semple acted as architect and builder with help only from the on-site slaves. Colonel Semple died one year after Desert Plantation was completed in 1812 of Yellow Fever. Elizabeth Isabella Turnbull lived in Desert Plantation for 60 years after her husband's death. She used the house over that time as a hospital for Yellow Fever victims.

Desert Plantation was a cotton plantation of about 1500 acres and consisted of two cotton gins, one and one-half miles of slave quarters, a milk room, a dairy, an outside kitchen, and the main house. After Elizabeth Isabella Turnbull died in 1873, the plantation passed to the hands of her heirs: her son Robert, and two grandchildren, Sarah Jane Young and Robert Semple Young, all who are buried in the Semple graveyard at Desert Plantation.

In 1883, Desert Plantation was sold to Robert Norman, who only farmed the land. He put four sharecropper families in the house who did not treat it kindly...

William Finley Semple, Choctaw Chief

• Compiled by descendant Patrick Hogue (Samples)

This Semple/Samples family are of Scotch/Irish origin, they too are related to the Semple line already associated with John Turnbull, the Choctaw & Chickasaw Indian Trader. William Finley Semple's connection to the Choctaw comes through his mother's line. She was Minnie Pitchlynn who married Charles Alexander Semple.

Prud'Homme, la Renaudière, la Rivière, Rouquier, Pavie, Maximillian

• Compiled by descendant Patrick Hogue (Samples)

Pierre Prud'Homme, was at Fort Prudhomme near Chickasaw Bluff in 1682. My family is associated with his Prudhomme descendants. It was Jean Baptiste Prud'Homme who witnessed the marriage of Charles de la Renaudière to Marie Jeanne de la Rivière. It was their daughter Francesca de la Renaudière that married John Maximillian. This couples' descendant Guy Elliott Maximillian married Ridonia Williams, the daughter of my 1/2 Choctaw grandparent Mack Littleton Williams, the son of Jane Servena Everett and daughter of Larkin Everett. A connection with Prud'Homme and Peavy families is also relevent here. It was Marianne Rouquier daughter of Native American Indian Trader François Rouquier, Sr. and his wife Marie Louise Prud'Homme that married Charles Roque Pavie, who joined the international land grab in the Neutral Ground, also known as the Neutral Strip, or the Free State of Sabine, Arroyo Hondo Land. Supported Himself as a "Trader", or Caboteur" Peddling Merchandise. He also owned land in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

Resources

1. Edward Elton Everitt, The Everitt Orchard, 1977.

2. Ted Evan Lewis, The Family of Bridger and Rachel Barry Jones of Bulloch County, Georgia and Some Affiliated Families. Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1999.

3. James P. Pate (Ed.), The Reminiscences of George Strother Gaines: Pioneer and Statesman of Early Alabama and Mississippi, 1805-1843, Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press, 1998.

4. Dorothy Williams Potter, Passports Of Southeastern Pioneers 1770-1823, Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1982.

5. Alvaretta Kenan Register, Everett/Everitt Family: A Genealogical History. Statesboro, Georgia, 1987

6. Everett Generations, Mississippi Territory, Alabama Territory, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_District Natchez District, Tombigbee District, Spanish West Florida, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazoo_lands, Georgia].

7. Everett Generations: Online Genealogical Website

Bayou Sara, West Feliciana, Louisiana, United States