Author Archives: Roberta Estes

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About Roberta Estes

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

Photos of the Dakota Territory

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Roberta Estes

These photographs of the old Dakota Territory are fascinating.  I’m not sure where these pictures originally came from.  In many ways, they look like the Edward Curtis photos that were taken between 1885 and 1930, but some appear to have been taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Lakota | 1 Comment

Caribbean Indians Admixture at Jamestown

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Roberta Estes

The earliest Jamestown records are very interesting. In the October 1627 court minutes, we find the following commentary: Capt. Sampson had brought into the colony some Indians from the Carib Islands, who have since run away, hid in the woods, … Continue reading →

Posted in Jamestown | 1 Comment

Plunder of the Chickahominy

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Roberta Estes

When we think of plunder, it’s often in the context of Indians raiding English homesteads and villages. We think of the settlers as having valuables and livestock to plunder, and the Indians having little.  But that wasn’t always the case, as we can see … Continue reading →

Posted in Chickahominy, Virginia | Leave a comment

Headrights for Jacob, an Indian

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Roberta Estes

So how does one obtain headrights for an Indian? Headrights in colonial America were rights to a certain amount of land, typically 50 acres, to be claimed by someone who imported an individual by ship from the mother country.  If people paid … Continue reading →

Posted in Virginia | Leave a comment

Indian Thomas, First Indian with a Christian Name

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Roberta Estes

In Jamestown in 1663, we see the first instance of an Indian being given a Christian name, except for Pochahontas who was renamed Rebecca after her 1614 married to John Rolfe.  Prior to this, the Indians, when mentioned, were either … Continue reading →

Posted in Virginia | 3 Comments

Indian Reservations as Sovereign Nations

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Roberta Estes

Did you know that Indian reservations are independent nations?  Indian Nations are allowed, within limits to govern themselves.  Many have their own police forces and courts.  Tribal sovereignty in the United States refers to the inherent authority of indigenous tribes … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 21 Comments

How do you spell Opportunity? Highland Park, Michigan

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Roberta Estes

Where, you ask, is Highland Park, Michigan and why would someone go there?  More specifically, why would many someones go there? The answer becomes apparent when looking at the draft card registrations of the men in 1917 and 1918 who were … Continue reading →

Posted in Michigan, Military, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania | 2 Comments

William Eaton’s Muster Roll of 1754 – Granville Co., NC

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Roberta Estes

The Saponi Indians were allied and grouped with the Eno, the Shakori, the Totera and others especially after their time settled at Fort Christanna from about 1714-1716.  William Eaton was a well-known trader and he obtained land in Granville County, NC.  The smaller eastern tribes were … Continue reading →

Posted in Catawba, Melungeon, North Carolina, Saponi | 8 Comments

Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Tribe

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Roberta Estes

Sometimes this project takes you down paths on journeys you didn’t anticipate. Today’s journey was to the Paugussett Tribe in Stratford., Ct.  While searching for works by Wesley (White) Taukchiray Jr. in 1975 and 1988, which I never found, I instead found a … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut | 16 Comments

Who was Isaac Zane?

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Roberta Estes

We found Isaac Zane mentioned in the  petition of the descendants of John Ward, a white man captured by the Indians as a youth and raised among them.  Isaac Zane was involved, but how and why?  We also discovered he … Continue reading →

Posted in Slaves, Wyandot | Leave a comment