The Dawes Rolls, a vital historical record, offer a glimpse into a complex period in American history, particularly concerning the relationship between the United States government and Native American tribes. Officially known as the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, these rolls were compiled between 1898 and 1914 (with some extensions) by the Dawes Commission. The commission’s primary purpose was to enumerate members of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole nations in preparation for the allotment of tribal lands. This process had profound and lasting effects on the social, political, and economic structures of these nations. Among the individuals documented on the Dawes Rolls are the Black Seminoles, also known as Seminole Freedmen. This article will delve into the surnames recorded for these individuals, acknowledging the limitations of the records and emphasizing the importance of further research.
The Black Seminoles represent a unique and often overlooked chapter in both Native American and African American history. Their story is one of resilience, adaptation, and cultural fusion. The origins of the Black Seminoles can be traced back to the colonial era when enslaved Africans escaped from plantations in the Southern United States and sought refuge in Spanish Florida. There, they found a degree of freedom and formed alliances with the Seminole Indians. Over time, a distinct community emerged, blending African and Seminole cultures and traditions. They often lived in separate villages but maintained close ties with the Seminole people, sometimes paying tribute or offering military assistance in exchange for protection.
The Black Seminole Surnames Recorded on the Dawes Roll provide a valuable, though incomplete, record of the individuals recognized as Seminole Freedmen during the allotment process. The Dawes Commission, tasked with determining tribal membership, included a category for "Freedmen," referring to descendants of formerly enslaved people who had been adopted into or affiliated with the tribes. It is important to remember that the process of enrollment was often fraught with inconsistencies, biases, and errors, and the records should be viewed critically.
The list of surnames associated with Black Seminoles on the Dawes Rolls is extensive and reflects the diverse origins and experiences of these individuals. Some surnames are clearly of European origin, reflecting the names of former slaveholders or other individuals with whom they had contact. Other surnames appear to be anglicized versions of African names or names that emerged within the Seminole community itself. Still others may be of Seminole origin, reflecting a deeper integration into the tribe.
Here are some of the Black Seminole Surnames Recorded on the Dawes Roll, as they appear in the source material, presented in alphabetical order by first letter for easier navigation:
A: Aaron, Abb, Abey, Abraham, Adam, Adams, Ahaisse, A-ha-la-ko-chee, Ahaloke, Ah-ho-he, Ah-weep-ka, Albert, Alberty, Alec, Aleck, Alex, Alexander, Alfa, Alfred, Alice, Alicky, Allen, Alley, Allie, Amesta, Amey, Amos, Amy, Anderson, Anna, Annie, Annoche, Archibald, Archockee, Archole, Es-ho-po-na-ka.
B: Baby, Baker, Barkus, Barnett, Barney, Barricklow, Bean, Bear, Beard, Becky, Bemo, Bennett, Berry, Bettie, Betsy, Billy, Bottley, Bowlegs, Brown, Bruce, Bruner, Bryant, Buck, Buddy, Bull, Burden, Burgess, Butler.
C: Caesar, Canard, Carbechochee, Carbiticher, Carolina, Carpitche, Carr, Carter, Catcher, Catchoche, Charlesey, Charley, Charlie, Charty, Checotah, Che-da-ka, Cheeska, Chepaney, Cheparney, Cheponoska, Chippee, Chisholm, Chochee, Choharjo, Chosey, Chotka, Chotke, Chotkey, Choya, Chulma, Chumsey, Chupco, Chupcogee, Church, Cindy, Clark, Cloud, Cobb, Co-e-see, Coffee, Coker, Coley, Concharty, Condella, Condulle, Conhecha, Conner, Co-nok-kee, Contaley, Coody, Cooper, Cornelius, Cosar, Cotcha, Cowake, Co-wok-o-chee, Cox, Crain, Crane, Crow, Cudjo, Cudjoe, Cully, Cumpsey, Cumseh, Cundy, Cunny, Cunsah, Cynda, Cyrus, Jo-co-chee.
D: Daily.
E:
F: Factor, Fanny, Fay, Fekhoniye, Fife, Fik-hith-ka, Fish, Fixico, Flanley, Foster, Fox, Freeman, Fulsom, Fuswa, Futcha-hoke, Futopeche.
G: Gaines, Gano, George, Gibbs, Gibson, Gibsy, Goat, Gooden, Gordon, Grant, Gray, Grayson, Greenleaf, Ground.
H: Hagie, Haney, Hanna, Hannah, Hardy, Harjo, Harjoche, Harjo, Harrison, Hatty, Hawkins, Hayecha, Hayes, Henne-ho-chee, Henny, Henry, Hepsey, Hesahoka, Hill, Hilly, Hochifke, Hoktochee, Hoktoke, Holata, Holatka, Hollins, Holmes, Hopoille, Hotulke, Hulbutta, Hulhoke, Hulleah, Hully, Hulwa, Hutche, Hutke.
I: Ida, Iley, Ishmael, Island.
J: Jacksey, Jackson, Jacksy, Jacob, Jakey, James, Janey, Jannati, Jefferson, Jemima, Jennetta, Jennie, Jesse, Jimmey, Jimmie, Jimpka, Jimpsey, Joanna, Jo-co-chee, Joe, John, Johnie, Johnoche, Johnson, Johnsey, Jonah, Jonasse, Jones, Joney, Josey, Joseph, Joshua, Judy, July, Jumper, June.
K: Kamabe, Kane, Kaney, Katie, Katy, Ke-pa-ya, Kenah, Keno, Key, King, Kinnona, Kissie, Kith-lee, Kotska.
L: Lanego, Larney, Lasley, Leader, Leah, Lelusse, Lena, Letka, Lewis, Liley, Lincoln, Lina, Lindsey, Litka, Little, Lizzie, Lodie, London, Lopka, Losata, Lottie, Lotty, Louie, Louisa, Lousanna, Lovett, Lowe, Lowery, Lowesa, Lowine, Lozana, Lucina, Lula, Lumba, Lumsey, Lundo, Lusoche, Lustey, Lucy.
M: Mahale, Mahardy, Malinda, Mandy, Maney, Manuel, Marcus, Maria, Marks, Marpiyecher, Marshal, Marshall, Martha, Marthla, Martin, Marty, Mary, Matuth-hoke, Maude, McCoy, McCulla, McGeisy, McGeisey, McGirt, McIntosh, McNac, Mecco, Meley, Melishkoche, Melisse, Melo, Meney, Mesale, Mesaley, Metetakee, Micco, Miley, Miller, Millie, Mills, Milly, Milsey, Mimey, Mina, Mingo, Misselda, Missena, Missey, Missie, Mitchell, Mitchile, Mogee, Mokoyike, Moleya, Mollie, Molly, Monacheke, Monday, Monkah, Mooney, Moore, Moppin, Morgan, Morris, Mosar, Mot-hoh-ye, Mulcussey, Mulcy, Mulgusse, Mulleah, Munnah, Mungo, Muthoye.
N: Nannie, Napoeche, Narcome, Natukse, Nellie, Nellsie, Nelsey, Ne-ma, Nero, Nevins, Nicey, Nitchey, Nitey, Noah, Nokoseka, Nokusile, Nora, Noska, Nuksokoche.
O: Okfuska, Okfuskey, Omayaye, Osborne, Otheche.
P: Palmer, Paney, Parney, Parnoche, Parnosa, Par-nos-co-che, Parnoskey, Paroah, Parsosee, Passake, Pa-ta-ge, Payne, Pennose, Perryman, Peter, Phena, Phenie, Philip, Phillip, Phillips, Pheobe, Pilot, Pochuswa, Polly, Pompey, Ponkilla, Ponluste, Pon-no-kee, Porter, Possuk, Pottey, Powell, Proctor, Pullotka, Puncho, Punka, Punluste, Putkeh.
R: Rabbit, Raiford, Reed, Renton, Renty, Rhoda, Riley, Ripley, Robert, Roberts, Roe, Rosanna, Ross.
S: Sa-che-meche, Saketheche, Sakoeka, Sakteke, Saley, Salina, Salinda, Sallie, Sally, Saloche, Salma, Sam, Samby, Samele, Sammah, Samochee, Sampson, Samuel, Sancho, Sandrige, Sandy, Sango, Sapalpake, Sapehunka, Sapokhohthe, Sarber, Sarney, Sa-che-meche, Scipio, Scott, Seeley, Sefah, Seharney, Sehoka, Sehunka, Selba, Selda, Selma, Semissee, Se-ne, Sena, Sentevey, Serber, Sesse, Se-we-yak-kee, Sigler, Silla, Sillah, Silla, Sim-me-te-da-kee, Sim-e-di-ha-kee, Simena, Simon, Simma, Simleteke, Sissie, Sissy, Skiff, Smith, Solomon, Sona, Sonny, Sowanoke, Sowatske, Spencer, Stafey, Stanton, Steel, Stephenson, Stepney, Steppe, Stewart, Stidham, Street, Suc-car-see, Sullivan, Sumka, Sumpsey, Sunday, Sunny, Susanna, Susey, Susie, Suthoye, Su-wa-key.
T: Tahike, Talmasey, Talmascy, Tanyan, Tar-co-sar, Tayeche, Taylor, Tecumseh, Teller, Tena, Te-tah-ke, Tewe, Tewee, Thahoyane, Thasate, Thlocco, Thocco, Thomas, Thompson, Tiger, Tikahche, Ti-u-na, Tobie, Toche, Tolmochusse, Tolomka, Tommy, Toney, Tulla, Tulsay, Turner.
U: Ut-tley.
V: Vann.
W: Wadsworth, Waitey, Wakkie, Walker, Wallace, Walter, War-le-do, Warrior, Washington, Wasutke, Watson, Watty, Weattie, Webster, Weely, Wellington, Wells, Wesley, West, Wetley, White, Whitfield, Wildcat, Willea, William, Williamkee, Williams, Williamse, Williamsee, Willie, Willis, Wilsey, Wilson, Winey, Winton, Wise, Wisey, Wisner, Witlow, Wolf, Wood, Wotko, Wright, Wyetka.
Y: Ya-fo-la-gee, Yahola, Yakopuche, Yamie, Yanah, Yarber, Yarnah, Yekcha, Yoney, Youngs, Yowelle.
It is essential to understand that this list is not exhaustive and may contain inaccuracies. Furthermore, the presence of a surname on this list does not automatically confirm Black Seminole ancestry. Many of these surnames are also found among other Native American tribes and within the broader African American population.
Therefore, genealogical research into Black Seminole ancestry requires a multifaceted approach. Oral history is a crucial component. Family stories, traditions, and memories can provide invaluable clues and insights into ancestral origins and connections. These oral accounts should be carefully documented and corroborated with other available records.
The Dawes Rolls themselves should be examined in detail. The enrollment cards associated with each individual contain information such as age, sex, blood quantum, and relationships to other family members. These cards can help to trace family lineages and identify potential ancestors. Other pertinent records, such as census records, land records, and military records, can also provide valuable information.
The Black Seminole Surnames Recorded on the Dawes Roll are a starting point, a gateway to a deeper exploration of a rich and complex history. By combining careful genealogical research with an appreciation for the nuances of Black Seminole history and culture, researchers can gain a more complete understanding of their family’s past and the legacy of this unique community. These names represent only the Seminole freedmen of Oklahoma, and not the Seminoles of Florida.