I have a question about finding my ancestors?

Question:

I have a question about finding my ancestors?

My father says that he has Cherokee blood and I was wondering if there was a way to find out who and if my father is correct.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The answer is maybe. The first part of the problem is that "indian ancestor" legends are rampant in this country...and few of them are accurate.

The second part of the problem is that you don't know how far back this is and whether there are any records of it. IFFFF you're lucky, you have an ancestor who lived on a reservation and is on the Dawes rolls. Otherwise, the odds of you finding the person quickly are slim. The Trail of Tears was nearly 200 years ago...that's a lot of research to get back to that...and it's the last solid list of Cherokee tribal members. If you can find the records going back that far, then you have to find the one that says this person was Cherokee. It's not easy in that era because they were lousy record keepers.

I wouldn't discourage you from doing your tree and seeing where it leads. I would simply encourage you to do the WHOLE tree without looking specifically for one ancestor. You don't have a map to that person and aren't even sure it's true. So work from the premise that you'll follow the records wherever they lead you...then figure out where they do go. You will need to question your dad and other relatives and work your way back through your family tree. Each person in your family may have another piece of the puzzle and not even realize it.

Once you have a possible name, you will have a bit more to go on. The Cherokee Nation has a one stop shopping center of sorts at the link below. This aspect of their webpage deals with genealogy and has a link for example to the Dawes Rolls.

If you find that you qualify to be a member, there is a registration page there, as well. But, it really all starts with working on your own tree from present to past.

http://www.cherokee.org/services/default...

Pssst, even if you have a link it may be very difficult to prove. Also, there are lots of people who have heard there is a link to Native Americans within their family. Even Oprah thought this was true in her family until she went through the DNA testing that is now out and discovered the region where here ancestors were from and not any trace of Native American ancestry.

If you pursue this, you may end up with an even a bigger gift a family tree unique to you and your siblings. For me, it is like having my ancestors live again....:) Ask him, if he is alive, mentally competent and speaking to you. If he doesn't know; ask him who his parents and grandparents were, then trace back. Sooner or later you may find your Cherokee ancestor. You may not; some families have untrue legends, and some trees have what we call dead ends. The most common dead end is a wife whose maiden name is lost in the mists of time.

Some part-Indians lied, to avoid discrimination. (If you saw "The Coneheads" on SNL, remember how they always said they were from "France".)

If he has died, grown estranged or become senile, you'll have to start with his birth certificate, death certificate, marriage license or SSN Application.

The resolved Q are full of links, warnings and tips for tracing your family tree.

Best of luck! Call one of the Cherokee reservations. They may have more information. That is how I found out about my heritage. Good luck.