If you were to look at my mother’s top DNA cousin matches on Ancestry, 23andMe, and Gedmatch, you would swear she had at least one parent from the Lumbee tribe in Robeson County, NC. Many of her closest cousin matches are Lumbee tribal members whose families have called Robeson county home for many, many generations. Yet, my mother does not have a single documented direct ancestor that ever lived in Robeson. So what gives?
My mother’s North Carolina roots are directly from the Native American community in Granville County and with the Haliwa-Saponi tribal community in nearby Halifax and Warren counties. Though the Lumbees have called Robeson county home since the late 1700s, many of their ancestors came from the North Carolina/Virginia border area. It was in this area that many Native/FPOC lineages diverged, with some families staying put and others moving deeper into North Carolina to Robeson county. These familial connections are known and have been passed down through oral history. A Granville County cousin who is also an elder, has fond memories of traveling with his parents down to Robeson, to visit his Lowry cousins from the Lumbee tribe. So as I have researched the origins of our Granville families, I have always noted the “Lumbee branches” of our family trees.
The growing popularity of DNA testing is also helping to corroborate these documented family connections both within and between tribal communities in North Carolina. I have closely reviewed the DNA test results of dozens of people from the Granville community and from the Lumbee tribe. The DNA cousin matches are so strong and numerous, that the correct question should be “how are we NOT related?”. The endogamy within North Carolina tribal communities, typically means that most of us have multiple lineages from the same family. As a result, our DNA cousin matches often appear closer by DNA than on paper.
So in this blog post, I will look closely at six family connections (Chavis/Gibson, Evans/Locklear, Bass, Goins/Gowen, Kersey/Lowry, and Scott) between Granville and the Lumbee tribe which help explain why we are showing such strong DNA cousin matches with one another. So if you are from the Granville community or a Lumbee tribal member and have done DNA testing, this blog post is for you. I am focusing specifically on lineages that are common/noteworthy in the Granville community. For the sake of space and clarity, I am not including lineages that are specific to the Haliwa-Saponi and Occaneechi-Saponi tribal communities (both communities are geographically next to and have strong, direct ties to Granville). I could write a separate blog post about each of those topics.
A final word on the use of “Lumbee”. I am well aware of the current political disagreements within the Robeson county community about the “authenticity” of the Lumbee tribal name. There are some community members who completely reject the Lumbee name for other tribal identities that they view as more accurate and reflective of the community. By using “Lumbee” in my blog post, I do not mean to take one side over another. My use of “Lumbee” is for genealogical purposes, to able to identify the tight knit interrelated Native American families who have historically resided in Robeson and neighboring counties.
Chavis/Gibson
The family connection between Granville County and the modern Lumbee community based in Robeson County is best seen through the Chavis/Gibson family. William Chavis (1706 – 1778) and his wife Frances Gibson (1700-1781) are whom I often refer to as the “founding family” of the Granville community because of their massive land holdings. According to 19th century local historian Oscar Blacknall, William Chavis owned a continuous track of 51,200 acres in Granville County along the Tar River. This was land that he received directly from John Cateret, 2nd Earl Granville himself. William Chavis was likely born in Henrico County, Virginia, because his father Bartholomew Chavis (1685-1750) is documented in Henrico in the early 1700s as well as in neighboring Surry County. By 1719, Bartholomew Chavis moved to North Carolina and owned large amounts of land on both sides of the Roanoke River in what would become Northampton and Halifax counties, North Carolina. So even before accumulating his own land in Granville County, William Chavis inherited a lot of his land from father along the Roanoke River.
William Chavis’ 1778 will filed in Granville County, provides excellent documentation about his heirs. William’s son Philip Chavis (born 1726) was the executor of his estate and inherited a portion of his father’s land. Philip Chavis is also the ancestor of the Lumbee branch of the Chavis family. We learn from a series of land transactions that Philip Chavis was moving back and forth between Granville County, North Carolina and Bladen/Robeson County, North Carolina and Craven County, South Carolina. The last land deeds in Philip Chavis’ name are found in the 1780s and 1790s in Bladen/Robeson Counties (Robeson County was formed from a part of Bladen in 1787). Philip Chavis’ sons Ishamel Chavis (born 1747) and Erasmus Chavis (born 1768) continued to live in Robeson County and their descendants intermarried with other Robeson County Native American/FPOC families such as Lowry, Oxendine, Locklear, Carter, Sweat, and more. In support of the Lumbee Tribe’s federal recognition efforts, Wes White authored the “Saponi Report” in 1985 which documented the Chavis family in the Lumbee tribe descending from William Chavis via his son Philip Chavis who moved from Granville to Robeson. So this is a connection that is formally acknowledged by the Lumbee tribe.
William Chavis (1706-1778) had other children whose descendants remained in Granville (and neighboring counties) and tied into the Native American community in Granville. Descendants of his three daughters primarily remained in the Granville community though their descendants do not carry the Chavis surname because the three daughters were married. Daughter Sarah Chavis (1730-1785) married Edward Harris (born 1730) and their descendants are the FPOC Harris family in Granville and Wake counties. Daughter Lettice Chavis (1742-1814) married Aquilla Snelling (1723-1779) and while some descendants moved away, other descendants remained in Wake and are the FPOC Snelling family found there. Daughter Keziah Chavis (born 1742) married Asa Tyner (born 1740), and her descendants did remain in Granville for the next generation or two, but eventually moved further west to Stokes County, North Carolina. William Chavis also had a grandson named Jesse Chavis (1766-1840) who is referred to as his “orphan” in his estate papers. Jesse Chavis fathered a number of children whose descendants stayed connected to the Granville community and carried on the Chavis surname.
As a direct lineal descendant of Sarah Chavis and Edward Harris, my mother is finding through autosomal DNA testing, an abundance of Lumbee cousin matches who descend from Sarah Chavis’ brother Philip Chavis. By using sophisticated triangulation techniques, I am to determine that many of these Lumbee cousin matches are related through our shared common ancestors William Chavis and Frances Gibson. It should also be noted that the Gibson family of William Chavis’ wife Frances Gibson, moved to the Newman’s Ridge area of eastern Tennessee (Hawkins/Hancock counties) and became the “core” Gibson family of the “Melungeon” community there. Thus being a descendant of Frances Gibson, my mother also has a ton of cousin matches who descend from the Melungeons of Newman’s Ridge.
Evans (Gibson)/Locklear
The Locklears are likely the largest family in the Lumbee tribe today and all descend from a shared Locklear ancestor named Robert Locklear (born 1700) who lived in Halifax/Edgecombe counties. Most of Robert’s children moved to Bladen/Robeson County and their descendants make up the Locklear family found in the Lumbee tribe today. Robert Locklear also had a grandson named Thomas Locklear (born 1750) through his son Randall Locklear (born 1730), whose family remained in the Granville/Wake area. So it is possible to have a Locklear ancestor directly from the Granville community. However a more common link between our community and the Lumbee Locklears is actually through the Evans family.
The large Evans family in Granville are direct lineal descendants of Morris Evans (1665-1739) and his wife Jane Gibson (1660/1670 – 1738) of Charles City County, Virginia. I wrote a blog post about the Evans family genealogy found here. Jane Gibson was the daughter of a woman also named Jane Gibson “the elder” who was documented as a “free Indian woman”. Their descendants moved from the Virginia Tidewater area to the Virginia Southside counties of Brunswick, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg counties and from there they moved into North Carolina. Morris Evans and Jane Gibson’s grandson Major Evans (born 1733) moved to Granville and the Evans who remained in the Granville community, primarily descend from him.
There are at least two known female Evans ancestors in the Lumbee Locklear family. Wiley Locklear (1780-1865) married Nancy Evans (born 1800) on 25 May 1817 in Robeson County. Nancy Evans was the daughter of Richard Evans (born 1750) who was the son of Morris Evans Jr (born 1710) who was the son of Morris Evans and Jane Gibson.
Joseph James “Big Joe” Locklear (1823-1890) and his wife America Evans/Locklear (1829-1891) are another important Evans/Locklear link. A marriage record for the couple has not been located, so America’s maiden name is not well documented. From the records I have been able to review, there is inconsistent info about the parentage of Joseph Locklear and his wife America Evans/Locklear. For example, on her Find A Grave page found here, the author calls her the daughter of Patsy Evans and James Cricket Locklear. However, according to the 1850 and 1860 censuses, Patsy (Evans) Locklear was born in 1780 in South Carolina. America was born about 1829 in Robeson County, so this Patsy appears too old to be her mother. In the 1850 census, we see a Betsey Evans, age 50, residing in their household. Betsey Evans is the only person in the household whose birthplace is listed as Richmond County, North Carolina. It is not clear to me what relationship Betsey Evans has to either Joseph Locklear or American Evans/Locklear, but it’s quite possible she could be either person’s mother.
I am working on correctly identifying how exactly this Locklear family ties into the Evans family and Betsey Evans is a strong lead. I’ll be sure to update as I obtain more information. As an Evans descendants, I am (through my mother’s test) finding plenty of cousin matches who are Evans descendants and cousin matches who are Lumbees that directly descend from Joseph Locklear/America Evans, matching on the same chromosome segment. So I am certain there is a legitimate Evans connection to this family.
Bass
The Nansemond descended Bass family is one of the larger FPOC families in Granville County, as well as one of the larger widespread FPOC families in Virginia, the Carolinas (and beyond). I previously wrote a blog post on the Bass family and so it should be no surprise to learn that there are Bass descendants among the Lumbee tribe. Through land deeds, Frederick Bass (born 1750) is documented with his wife Olive living in Anson County by 1777. Paul Heinegg believes Frederick Bass to be the possible son of William Bass (born 1712) (son of John Bass 1673 and Love Harris) of Granville County. I have not found documentation yet for Frederick Bass in Granville County, so this connection probably needs additional supporting evidence. At least one of Frederick Bass’ sons moved from Anson to Robeson by about 1800. His son Elijah Bass (born 1775) is shown in the Robeson county census beginning in 1800 and his descendants are found in the Lumbee tribe today. Elijah Bass’ descendants intermarried frequently with the FPOC Jones family in Robeson Co. The Lumbee Jones family in Robeson Co, also came from Anson Co, so it appears the Bass and Jones moved together from Anson to Robeson. I have noticed that many of my Lumbee cousin matches are unaware that they descend from the Bass family because they either do not have family trees or their family trees don’t go back far enough to their Bass ancestors. So I recommend building “mirror trees” of your Lumbee cousin matches, to better explore the many possible connections.
The Bass family is one of the largest FPOC families in Granville County that intermarried with just about every other Native/FPOC family in the community. Most Granville Basses descend from Edward Bass 1672 and his wife Lovewell. But there are descendants of his brother John Bass 1673 and wife Love Harris in the community as well. All of these Basses are relatives of Elijah Bass (born 1775) who moved to Robeson County.
Goins/Gowen
Several members of the large FPOC Goins (including spelling variations of Gowen/s, Goings, etc) came to Granville County in the 1740s/50s. Notably Michael Goins (born 1722), his brother Edward Goins (1727-after 1810), along with his cousins Thomas Goins (1732-1797) and William Goins (born 1710) are all documented as enlisted members of Indian trader Col. William Eaton’s colonial regiment. I previously wrote a blog post here, about Eaton’s regiment and its connection the Saponi Indians that were also documented in Granville. Most of the Goins who came to Granville, did not stay in the community and continued to move to western North Carolina and out of state. However descendants of Edward Goins (1727-after 1810) did remain in the Granville community and intermarried with other Granville families such as Bass and Anderson. The Goins surname quickly “daughtered out” in the early/mid 1800s, so Edward Goins’ descendants no longer carry the Goins surname.
As the Goins family spread to other parts of North Carolina, one branch moved from Granville County to Robeson County. Ann Goins (born 1719) was a cousin to the previously mentioned Goins in Granville. The earliest records for Ann Goins are found in Brunswick County, Virginia and by the 1750s, she appears in Granville. By the 1790s, Ann Goins was in South Carolina, but close to the Robeson County border because she appears in the records there as well. Ann Goins’ children continued to live in Robeson County and their descendants today make up the Lumbee tribe.
Kersey/Lowry
The Weyanoke (and Nottoway/Tuscarora) origins of the FPOC Kersey family was the topic of a previous blog post that I wrote which can be found here. In addition, Lumbee scholar J. Cedric Woods wrote an article on the early genealogy of the Kersey family which can be accessed here. The Kersey family is significant to the Lumbee tribe because the large Lowry family descends specifically from Sally Kersey who was described as a “half-breed Tuscarora woman” during the Civil War era. Sally Kersey was also the grandmother of famed Tuscarora (later Lumbee) hero Henry Berry Lowrie/Lowry (1845-1872). In his essay, Woods shows through careful analysis that Sally Kersey was a descendant of Weyanoke man named Thomas Kersey (born 1665) of Surry County, VA, who later relocated close to the Tuscarora living in Bertie County, NC.
The Kersey family also moved to Granville County. A man named Thomas Kersey ( born 1735) of Sussex and Southampton Counties, Virginia is the common ancestor of the Granville Kersey family. Paul Heinegg suspects that Thomas Kersey (born 1735) was a descendant of John Kersey (born 1668) of Surry County. John Kersey (born 1668) was a brother of Thomas Kersey (born 1665) who is direct ancestor of the Lumbee tribe’s Kersey/Lowry family.
Thomas Kersey (born 1735) was the grandfather of Benjamin Kersey (1790-1838) who resided in Granville County and whose descendants make up the Kersey family in Granville today. One of Benjamin Kersey’s children was the infamous outlaw Baldy Kersey (1820-1899) who is the subject of a blog post I wrote here.
Scott
The FPOC Scott family primarily lived on the Wake County side of the Granville/Wake County border. But there were some members of the family who settled across in Granville and intermarried with other FPOC families in the community.
The FPOC Scott family descends primarily from John Scott (born 1823) and his wife Sally Emeline Taborn (born 1829) who resided in Granville County. Though I have not identified his parents yet, John Scott is likely a descendant of Revolutionary War soldier Exum Scott (1754-1823) who resided in neighboring Wake County. For example, Exum Scott’s son Guilford Scott (1790-1880) was married to Sylvia Taborn, who is from the same Taborn family as John Scott’s wife.
Exum Scott (1754-1823) was the son of Francis Scott (born 1720) of Halifax County, NC. Francis Scott (born 1720) had two brothers named John Scott (born 1710) and Abraham Scott (born 1710) and the three men are the ancestors of the FPOC Scotts found in the Halifax, Northampton, and Edgecombe records with some descendants moving to other parts of North Carolina and South Carolina. The Lumbee Scott family primarily descends from several Scotts who stayed along the North Carolina and South Carolina border in Robeson, Richmond, and Scotland counties in North Carolina and Marion and Marlboro counties in South Carolina. For example, there is David Scott (born 1795) who is found in the 1830, 1840, 1850 and 1860 censuses in Robeson. He married Betsy Morgan on 11 Feb 1822 in Robeson. The Morgan family like the Scott family, was primarily found in Halifax, Northampton and Edgecombe counties. Matthew Morgan (born 1770) was from Halifax County and by 1820, he relocated to Robeson county. Matthew Morgan was most likely Betsy Morgan’s father. So it seems likely that David Scott’s family also originally came from Halifax County. David is also a first name passed down repeatedly in the FPOC Scott family in Halifax.
Another couple that produced a lot of Scott offspring found in the Lumbee tribe today, is James Scott (1836-1888) and his wife Margaret Ellen Chavis (1860-1930) of Richmond and later Robeson county. Census records indicate that James Scott was born in South Carolina, so he was likely from Marion or Marlboro counties and moved a small distance across the border. James Scott’s will filed in 1888 in Richmond County, provides the names of his widow and surviving children and gives detailed instructions about the education of his children.
Final Thoughts
If you descend from any of these families, these connections that I described should help provide some answers about your DNA cousin matches. Have you noticed other interesting cousin matches from your DNA results? Feel free to comment here.
Native American Roots 
Hello, my great grandfather was Daniel David Scott. His parents Daniel David and Priscella Scott were from Halifax and Warren county NC.I am waiting on my 23andMe results to find other relatives from that area. Daniel David Jr. went to sea at age 12. In 1863 he was in New York City and joined the Union army. I am trying to locate his siblings.
LikeLike
I’m a Scott also. My great grandmother was a weaver before she got married. My grandfather has a house in creedmoor his name is Howard Scott.
LikeLike
Amazing research, my ancestors to were Sarah Kearsey and also I have many Locklear ties maybe two different sets! One set seems to be from South Carolina while one from NC. Also I relate to many Jones cousins on Gedmatch as well as many on ancestry! I’ve never knew how to make a mirror tree bit plan to learn how ! THANKS FOR THIS ARTICLE IN DEPTH!
LikeLike
Great article. I think my Griffins from Richland Co., SC orginated from this same group in Granville County, NC. What is the source of the map above where William Chavis’ land is outlined? I would love to see more of the map.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and research. This is a tremendous help for those of us with Granville Co. ancestors and Robeson Co. roots.
LikeLike
I seen so many names in this blog that are in my family tree and I am Lumbee.
Chavis
Bass
Evans
Kersey
Lowery
Gibson
Jones
And of course Locklear
Are all in my tree.
LikeLike
Frank, I am interest in the Jones Native Indian. My grandmother father is William Jones North Carolina.
LikeLike
I also have a William Jones in my family tree from Jones North Carolina. I would love to know if you ever found out anymore information about the family.
LikeLike
Hello Frank, did you do this Lumbee youtube presentation on the Chavis family at UNC Pembroke a few years ago?
If so, I really enjoyed watching it! I am a descendant of the Bass/Pettiford (Nansemond tribe) family but I also have Chavis/Evans/Jones/Hunt last names in my family tree as well so I am trying to connect the dots to see if I have Lumbee ancestry too. Very good presentation you gave. You and Kianga are both EXCELLENT genealogists 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, I did. Thank you!
LikeLike
Thank you for all this information you have compiled. I finally got my 23andMe results. I have Scott, Kersey, and Chavis, Anderson and Weaver in my line.
LikeLike
Woowww my grandfather I Howard Scott who lives in creedmoor mf my great grandmother who is still
Living is mart worth mam , her maiden name was Mary Elizabeth weaver !
LikeLike
Thanks Kianga for your selfless dedication to this labor of love and kinship, your work continue to reinforce my sense of identity and bridge that connection to ancestors, I am eternally grateful the creator put you on this path of life I travel. I wish you continued learning and prosperity. Taft
LikeLike
My great grandmother was the daughter of Patric Lowery….
LikeLike
My Great Great Grandpa was Joseph James Locklear and his wife America Susan Evans , and I have , Locklear is my Great Grandma Mary Jane Locklear. Chavis And Oxendine, Lowery and Evans.
LikeLike
Hi Kianga. This makes me curious about kinship systems that may have tied the Robeson County and Granville County communities together. As I have found looking at the Chowanoke, Yeopim, Nansemond, and Mattamuskeet families, kinship systems existed among the coastal groups deep into the 19th century (and even to present day). I am not sure if Granville and Rob Co were pan-Indian communities, or if there were Siouan or Iroquoian kinship ‘substrates’ if you will, that tied these family groups together.
LikeLike
Awesome Family & History. Thank You for sharing your information. Wondering if there is a list of GedMatch DNA that others may check with?
LikeLike
Thanks Kianga..My family were the Bass,Powell,Simmons, and Evans.Thank you for clarifying the family connections!
LikeLike
Wow,THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR GREAT RESEARCH and Info.My great,great,great grandfather Was Buck Evans,son Jack Evans wife Emily TABORN Evans,His other son was Joseph Evans and there are Scott,Chavis also in the family tree
.
LikeLike
Dear Kianga, Would you know if there is any information about any of the Anderson’s immigrating to New York City? My mother grew up with her Anderson grand parents. Her grandfather Thomas G.Anderson was born in Manhatten, NY in 1835. I can not find any listing of who his parents were. Can’t even find a birth record. I have done 23andMe and GEDmatch and I match with another Anderson from North Carolina. Would you have any suggestions on were I should look? Rhank you for any help.
LikeLike
Greetings,
I’m not Lumbee. My father is a Louisiana Creole and my mother is Black American also from Louisiana. Her maternal great-great grandfather was a White Anglo born in Mansfield named William Thomas PEGUES. One of his ancestors was a woman named Hannah GIBSON who married a PEGUES in colonial South Carolina. Hannah was a sibling of Gideon GIBSON and sometimes the family is referred as persons of color in the records. Anyway, my mother received an autosomal DNA match[and an X-DNA match] from woman who shares many of the names you mentioned as your ancestors. The GIBSONS who were my ancestors were said to be from Virginia originally and I theorize they descend from an indentured servant named Elizabeth CHAVIS whose father was a GIBSON who seems to be of some mixed ancestry.
Rodney
LikeLike
This is an excellent article, thank you so much for this blog! It clarified alot with me personally, because after i received the Lumbee result on the Native American fingerprint test through dna consultants, as well as match other Lumbee descendants through familytreedna, I was highly confused since my family shared no surnames or did not come from Robgs up!
I would love to share GED numbers with any Haliwa Saponi or Occaneechi descendants to make family coneson County. However some of my family did reside and visit Warren and Halifax counties and share surnames with the Occaneechi band as well, so this article really clears thinnections
LikeLike
This is an excellent article, thank you so much for this blog! It clarified alot with me personally, because after i received the Lumbee result on the Native American fingerprint test through dna consultants, as well as match other Lumbee descendants through familytreedna, I was highly confused since my family shared no surnames or did not come from Robeson County. However some of my family did reside and visit Warren and Halifax counties and share surnames with the Occaneechi band as well, so this article really clears things up. I would love to share GED numbers with any Haliwa Saponi or Occaneechi descendants to make family connections.
LikeLike
Thank you for this excellent article & your dedicated research. I am an Anderson on my mother’s side via the fact that Jessie Chavis & Rhody Anderson had my 3rd great grandfather, Henry Anderson. out of wedlock. My great great grandfather was, Sampson Anderson.& I am searching for info about him
LikeLike
Hi, Ella. Let’s share family trees? I am from the person/ Granville county area. I am an enrolled member of the Occaneechi band of the Saponi Nation. We share the same surnames, and relatives.
LikeLike
Hey Drena, would love to share family trees, whats your email or best way to contact? I’m also on Ancestry
LikeLike
I am on ancestry and I want to thank everyone so much. I’ve been a little mixed up and unsure about some family records and lines of descent. My grandpa was Floyd Bass, son of Franklin Bass, son of “Eady” Obediah Ann Bass and unkown father. If anyone can help with that, I would be so thankful. I’m waiting on my DNA results which will surely help.
Beady’s father was John Bass. Alonzo was my 1st cousin 3xs removed.
I have 2 other grandparents that I was hoping someone could help with: Lenora Cox of Eli Cox and Misouri Brewer and Mary Ella Lovett, mother Jennie Lovett, and husband John Ivey.
Thank you,
Tara Bass Dempster
taradempster@gmail.com
LikeLike
I believe Abraham Scott (born 1710) was my 7th great grandfather. His daughter Martha married Peter Bray “a white man”. Hope to connect with cousins. I’ve done DNA testing with Ancestry, FTDNA and 23and Me. I have a Living DNA test to complete. I’m on gedmatch.com kit T338857.
I’ve just completed a 7 day genealogy road trip through Virginia and North Carolina but I didn’t find any other information on Abraham than is in the FREE AFRICAN AMERICANS OF NORTH CAROLINA
AND VIRGINIA by Paul Heinegg.
Pat
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/88886076
patski107genealogy@gmail.com
LikeLike
Hi Pat, my name is Jeanne Domek Yellow Robe. My mom’s maternal side is Anderson. Mom is half Lumbee. My dad’s maternal side is Scott. All from VA and NC. my GEd# is M351212. Give it a try. I’m terrible at reading that thing.
LikeLike
Hi, I’m not sure if we’ve contacted or not. Scott of the Catawba tribe married the Egyptians, but we’re called the Turks of Sumter. Please email me back.
LikeLike
Hello! I traced myself to Joane Scott (1670-1717), and she was referred to as an Egyptian. I haven’t been able to find Joane’s husband or father of her children. – ‘An Egiptian and noe Xtian Woman’: Gypsy Identity and Race Law in Early America. https://journals.tplondon.com/jgs/article/view/526
LikeLike
Hi sorry, forgot to send a contact me. Thank you for reading.
LikeLike
Hi Julian Dixon is your cousin and is my cousin also. I am a Scott, Mitchell and Webb. Just trying to find my connection to the Meherrin and or other native tribe and how they are connected to puertorico and Mexico.
LikeLike
Hello! I am Scott and Mitchell descendant as well. My families hail from Virginia. I have GEDmatch kit numbers to compare TR8088182 and CD1832186. Looks like we are trying to make the same connections.
LikeLike
Good God, I have all those surnames in my DNA results.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for your in-depth and heartfelt research. I have been searching for so many years for information about my family. I am the great grandson of Abner chavis and Mary Revels, the grandson of grandson of bunion Chavis and Mattie Chavis, And the son of L Early B Chavis and Mabel Faye Scott. When I saw the picture of my great-grandfather I almost fell over. I remember that exact photo from my grandmother’s home in North Carolina taken Circa 1947 I believe. It would be great if you could come up if you ever come across or anyone else comes across pictures of Mattie Chavis my paternal grandmother. And, bunion Chavis my paternal grandfather. I have rarely come across such a wealth of my personal family portraits in such vivid detail. Keep up the good work my friend you were a godsend.
LikeLike
Hello! I am a descendant of Abraham Scott. As far as I’ve read, they were Catawba Indians. I’m trying to find out if I have some Lumbee ancestry as well as some of my other lines appear to be closely connected to the Locklears.
LikeLike
Hi I have done lots of research I come the Scotts as well.
LikeLike
I have a Sylvester G. Bass in my tree! I have my Sylvester Bass married to Lillian Bass born Dixon 1909-1985. You have Sylvester born in 1894 and I do not have a birth date for my Sylvester. My husband is 10 years older than me….but 15 year difference from this sites Sylvester and Lillian. INTERESTING! Would you know who Sylvester was married to?
LikeLike
I have DNA from myheritage
LikeLike
Hello. I did a DNA test wkth Famoly Tree. I found a cousin whose last name is Deese. My 3rd great grandmother was Paulina Scott born about the 1830. Lived im Henrico, Virginia. Does snyone kmow of a Nancy O’Neil who married a Sterling Scott? I am from Joneses, Scotts and Cox. North carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama.
From Stephanie Kemp
LikeLike
I’m from Robeson County, south of the great big town of Fairmont, along the SC border and especially Hwy 904/ Oakdale/ Whitehouse/ Marietta/ Black Ankle community. I think I literally have every surname mentioned by everyone! I’m a Bass with Adams and Lovett GGAs, but otherwise Bass, Chavis, Jones, Gibbs (not sure how direct that is though), Anderson, Chavis, Dixon, and my maternal Grandma was a Cox that was raised by the Rogers/ Ivey relatives we have. My paternal Grandma was an Ivey and her mom was a Lovett.
My Grandma Cox looked Native American, especially as she got older. I don’t know if it is related to Lumbee or Nansemond or both (triracial on Bass side and maybe Ivey). I’ve always been told about our Indian heritage. Sometimes it was talked about just to deny that we were anything other than white only to admit it in quiet later.
My DNA matches show many cousins that reflect my triracial heritage, but Ancestry doesn’t even show NA DNA at all and 1% African DNA. Trace NA appeared with Gedmatch if I interpreted it correctly.
I know how DNA works and even siblings can come up related to different people, but it just seems like it would reflect more than it does for me so far.
Please excuse my rambling! I was wondering if this was something that was an issue others with so many surnames that are known Free men of color from Virginia and the Carolinas.
Thank you for any insight into this and also for any help with family history and newfound cousins!
Tara Leigh BASS Dempster
LikeLike
Hello Tara. My mom is Anderson, Jones, Lowery, Lockler. I found relatives in Robson county. My mom is 1/2 Lumbee. If you are on GEDmatch my # is M351212. I was able to connect with a lot of people. I am also on 23andme.
LikeLike
My GedMatch number is FD9742275. I’ll try to run your number, but I don’t exactly know what I’m doing yet. If you get it before I do, let me know!
LikeLike
Tara, check your GEDmatch #. This one is not correct, Thanks.
LikeLike
I really appreciate that you wanted to bring that to my attention, but I just double checked and it is FD9742275. Maybe the site was glitching at the time? Thank you, though Jeanne
LikeLike
Tara, your welcome. I’m still having problems running your #. Try running mine from your end. M351212.
LikeLike
I was able to run our numbers on GEDMatch. I’m not sure, but I don’t think it showed a match. I need to learn more! Thanks Jeanne!
LikeLike
Your very welcome.
LikeLike
Hello I’m from the Scott for North Carolina.
LikeLike
My great grandfather was Jesse Scott. He was from Tn. I can remember going to Cherokee NC with my grandmother Nettie Scott
LikeLike
I have little doubt that my heritage does have catawba and or melungion background.
LikeLike
Hello cousins! I am a descendant of John Allen b.1755-d.1799, the Tuscarora Native American, as well as Jordan Chavis b.1795-d.1873. I appreciate the comments and am familiar with many of the names here…
LikeLike
Hello Jennifer,
There is a few good groups on FB that can help you make some connections and expand on the Chavis family line (which I am apart of).
Send me a friend request and I’ll be happy to talk with you .
LikeLike
hi pepe, my name is kimberly. i believe i am linked to the lumbee line although can’t find my direct ancestor. but i match enough people to make this connection including some on here. can you send me the facebook group. my gedmatch is t265111 and my facebook name is kimberly cunn and email is kimcunn@gmail.com.. thanks
LikeLike
Hello my name is Kristian I’m a descendant of Susan America Evans my great great grandpa was Rev Gilbert Locklear
LikeLike
Hi Kristian My mom had family from Robson County. My Gedmatch# is M351212.
LikeLike
Hello everyone, my name is Asha and I am descendant from Julia Chavis and William Solomon Bibby. One of their daughters in the picture above, Lena Bibby is my 2nd great grandmother.
LikeLike
I am fascinated by this site. I have been researching my family tree for about 3-5 years. I have a branch that seems to start near the Robeson County, NC area, and the Locklear’s are part of the story. My “wall” comes at Elijah Burns (b. 1760 SC) married to Sarah Ivey (b 1776 SC). Elijah had several sons, my line came from William (b. 1786–Sarah may not be his mother or his/her BD may be wrong?) Sarah’s father is believed to be Joseph Ivey. Joseph and Elijah are neighbors in St. Thomas, Cheraw District, SC in 1790. Ivey is listed as mulatto. Ivey stays in that region, however Burns eventually settles in Williamson County, Illinois (where I grew up) with his children by Sarah, and possibly some of his brothers. Catherine Burns (I have as Elijah’s daughter, could be his sister as well), married Major Lovett Locklear (also of South Carolina). Also, Elijah’s son William married a Dosia Locklear. William is listed as white, but everyone else in his family is listed as free men/women of color in 1820, there was no mulatto listing in the IL census. On that same page are other Locklear, Ivey & Burns homes, all have a few family members of color. The Locklear’s, Burns’, and Ivey names are a tangled web after that. They are all living in Williamson county in 1820 & 1830. Eventually the Locklears move on to another part of the state. In 1830 census there is no differentiation on black or white. I would love to figure out who Major Lovett Locklear’s parents were and if Dosia (aka Mary Elizabeht) Locklear was his sibling. Obviously, also looking for the Elijah Burns’ parents too. My maiden name was actually Burns. Thanks for reading! Kelly
LikeLike
I am of Mixed Ancestry in the Locklear line I can trace back to England. In the later 1700’s is where the Indian heritage came into play in my opinion.
Nicholas Locklear
Birthdate: 1650
Birthplace: Suffolk, England, United Kingdom
Death: 1745 (94-95)
Robeson, North Carolina, USA
Immediate Family: Son of Jacob Locklear and Hannah Lockeleer
Husband of Hannah Locklear
Father of Robert Thomas Locklear
Robert Thomas Locklear :
Birthdate: August 08, 1685
Birthplace: England
Death: May 24, 1749 (63)
Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States
Immediate Family: Son of Nicholas Locklear and Hannah Locklear
Husband of Mary Patterson; Sarah Locklear and Elizabeth Locklear
Father of Thomas Locklear; Randall Locklear; Benet / Bennett Locklear; William Locklear; Major Locklear and 4 others (John Locklear, Mary Margaret Locklear, Sarah Lowery (Locklear), Rachel Locklear- different mother(Sarah Lockear)
LikeLike
Is there any way possible that my dad and I can speak to you? We don’t know our ancestors of the Harris Family so we don’t know where to go. But our DNA matches are coming in like crazy.
LikeLike
I commented in another blog but Baldy Kersey is my second great grandfather and my second great grandmother is Lucy Chavis (born 1837), their only child was Mary Jane Hawley. That’s where I end on her side. If anyone can help go further or help figure out if she’s related to any of the other Chavis’ listed, please reply. Thanks
LikeLike
Correction on 2nd great grandmother’s name: I commented in another blog but Baldy Kersey is my second great grandfather and my second great grandmother is LULA Chavis (born 1837), their only child was Mary Jane Hawley. That’s where I end on her side. If anyone can help go further or help figure out if she’s related to any of the other Chavis’ listed, please reply. Thanks
LikeLike
atDNA has proven we descend from Jehu Harris & Clarissa Chavis of Wilkes NC. Clarissa is daughter of Jordan Chavis and Delilah Snelling, granddaughter of Lettice Chavis, great-granddaughter of William and great-great granddaughter of Bartholemew. Lettice is my 5ggm. I’ve been piecing all this together through genetic genealogy. Thank you so much for this edifying, succinct history of these lines. So valued.
GEDmatch: A337741
LynneBelcherBurgess on Ancestry, My Heritage, 23andMe and Family Tree.
LikeLike
Hi!
Exum Scott is my 4th great grandfather. I am on 23&me, ancestry, and genealogy.
LikeLike