Author Archives: Roberta Estes

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About Roberta Estes

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

Tattoos

John White painted the earliest known images of Native Americans.  Several of White’s paintings of the Indians of the New World included tattoos.  One woman, of Florida, had tattoos covering much of her body.  Another, in Virginia the chief’s wife had … Continue reading

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Indian Slaves in Maryland and Virginia

In 1667, the Virginia General Assembly declared “enslavement of Indians for life to be legal.”  This act was repealed, then revived in 1691, but regardless, it was ignored.  In 1705 Indian slavery in Virginia became illegal but it was not … Continue reading

Posted in History | 3 Comments

Hyde County, NC Native Surname Marriage Records

Contributors to this article originally published in the Lost Colony Research Group Newsletter include Kay Lynn Sheppard and Baylus Brooks. Surprisingly, the Hyde County, NC marriage records have never been transcribed and published.  Generally, marriage records are some of the first … Continue reading

Posted in Mattamuskeet | 26 Comments

The Meherrin and the Susquehanna Indians

Historical records are wonderful resources with lots of buried treasure.  Of course, you have to dig for it – because it’s treasure – after all.  Sometimes after reading these old records two or three times, I stop and ask myself, … Continue reading

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Tuscarora Populations

“Their true names, their true numbers only written now in God’s own hand……” Editor’s Commentary This document, originally published in the Lost Colony Research Group Newsletter, is the combined effort of many people.  The compilers, to whom we are very grateful, … Continue reading

Posted in Tuscarora | 9 Comments

Indian Slaves in Currituck Co., NC

Slavery certainly existed in Currituck County, as evidenced by the tax lists and other legal transactions.  What isn’t evident is the race of the slaves.  Only two or three separate items provide us with a glimpse into that type of … Continue reading

Posted in Hatteras, History, North Carolina | 10 Comments

Dartmouth College Indians History – 1800-1893

The first article about the Dartmouth Indians appeared in the alumni magazine in 1929.  A year later, in June of 1930, a second article appeared by Leon Richardson.  In his article, he mentioned that he had noticed several students missing … Continue reading

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The Last Hatteras Indian Deed

During the summer of 2010, Baylus Brooks took a road trip to Carteret and Currituck Counties.  He was researching Nathaniel Pinkham for his article, “Nantucket Whalers in NC – The Pinkhams” that appeared in the September 2010 edition of the … Continue reading

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Beechland: Oral History Versus Historical Records

This paper was originally published in the Lost Colony Research Group newsletter in November, 2011.  The original had colored tables which did not copy correctly to the blog.  Apparently multiple highlighted colors are not supported.  To see the original colored district tables, please … Continue reading

Posted in History, North Carolina | 6 Comments

Croatan Barber

The Barber family of Hyde County is known to be of Native heritage, specifically Mattamuskeet.  The Hyde County marriages have been neither transcribed in their entirety nor published.  Some are on the Hyde County rootsweb site.  Only three Barbour marriages … Continue reading

Posted in Mattamuskeet | 6 Comments