Author Archives: Roberta Estes

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About Roberta Estes

Scientist, author, genetic genealogist. Documenting Native Heritage through contemporaneous records and DNA.

Correlating Historical Facts to DNA Test Results

Sometimes DNA tests hold surprising results, results that the individual didn’t expect.  That’s what happened to Jack Goins, Hawkins County, Tn. Archivist and founder of the Melungeon Core DNA project.  Jack, a Melungeon descendant through several ancestors, expected that his Y … Continue reading

Posted in DNA, Melungeon | 9 Comments

Modern Faces and Ancient Migrations

Our friends at Abroad in the Yard wrote an interesting article back in December 2011 about Modern Faces and Ancient Migrations. As you’re probably aware, the migration of people, their ethnicity and how they came to be where they are … Continue reading

Posted in Aboriginal, Alaska Natives, Anthropology, Archaic Indians, Australia, DNA, History, Mexico, Migration, Navajo, Origins, South America | 3 Comments

“Commemorating” Columbus Day – Sees Through Time

The year was 1992.  The Embroiderers’ Guild of America had issued a challenge for members to create original works of needleart commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ Discovery of America. As a descendant of both European and Native people, I … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

William Edward Fitch – Raleigh’s Colony Was Not Lost

Walter Edward Fitch wrote a book in 1913 titled “The First Founders in America, With Facts To Prove That Sir Water Raleigh’s Lost Colony Was Not Lost.” Fitch believed that the Lost Colony was not lost, but had become the … Continue reading

Posted in Croatan (Later Lumbee), Lost Colony, Lumbee | Leave a comment

The Apache

Chiricahua medicine man in wickiup with family In 1871, a document titled “Resources of Arizona Territory with a Description of the Indian Tribes; Ancient Ruins, Cochise, Apache Chief; Antonio, Pima Chief; Stage and Wagon Roads; Trade and Commerce, Etc.” was … Continue reading

Posted in Apache | Leave a comment

Indian Slaves of Christopher Guin

From the South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History. http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/ Series: S213003 Volume – 002I Page – 00704 Item – 02 Date: 1754/02/02 Description: GUIN, CHRISTOPHER, LATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, TO JOSEPH ALLSTON, OF CRAVEN COUNTY, BILL OF SALE FOR … Continue reading

Posted in North Carolina, Slaves | Leave a comment

Wounded Knee

‎123 years ago, on December 28,1890, Chief Spotted Elk was deathly sick with pneumonia.. His band of Lakota set off in the snow from Cheyenne River to seek shelter with Red Cloud at Pine Ridge reservation. Big Foot’s band was … Continue reading

Posted in History, Lakota | 5 Comments

Native American Maternal Haplogroup A2a and B2a Dispersion

Recently, in Phys.org, they published a good overview of a couple of recently written genetic papers dealing with Native American ancestry.  I particularly like this overview, because it’s written in plain English for the non-scientific reader. In a nutshell, there … Continue reading

Posted in DNA, Migration | 3 Comments

Petition Sundry Inhabitants South of French Broad

Page 1 of 19 Petition Sundry Inhabitants South of French Broad North Carolina General Assembly Session Records Nov-Dec 1789, Box 4, Folder 81 Source: North Carolina State Archives 109 E. Jones St. – Raleigh, N.C. 27601 Transcribed from Photocopied Document … Continue reading

Posted in Cherokee, Petitions | 6 Comments

Mary Bosomworth, Creek Head Woman

From the South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History. http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/ Series: S213003 Volume – 002I Page – 00433 Item – 00 Date: 1752/09/23 Description: ASSEMBLED ESTATES OF THE UPPER CREEK NATION, TO ALL PERSONS, DECLARATION THAT THE ISLAND KNOWN COMMONLY … Continue reading

Posted in Creek | 1 Comment