I’ve asked this on genealogy boards, but I don’t think I’ve asked it here or I’d have the answer by now
According to our family records, my great grandmother, Julia Vera Childs, was 1/2 Chautauqua Indian. I’ve searched all over the internet, though, and I can’t find anything about a tribe called “Chautauqua.”
Also, I don’t know what half is supposed to be Indian. Her mother’s name was Betsey Haskins, her father was Alexander Child. I’ve been in touch with other Haskins and Child(s) from these families and they disavow any knowledge of Indian blood in the lines.
I did find an old pedigree chart that didn’t identify Betsey by name; instead it just described her as “an Indian maid from New York.”
Anyway, this is what I know:
Samuel CHILD, Jr., born 1/Nov/1762, Weston, Mass., married Abigail SHEPPARD on 8/Aug/1784. Abigail was b. 1766, Weston, Middlesex, Mass. They had Alexander Child who was born 22/Feb/1785, Weston, Middlesex, Mass.; died 4/Aug/1863, Menasha, Winnebago, Wisconsin
Alexander CHILD married Betsey HASKINS, 1813, New Haven, VT. They had Julia Vera CHILDS, born 1/May/1834, Barr, Orleans, NY; d. 7/Jan/1929, Tillamook, Tillamook Co., OR.
Betsey’s father was Seth HASKINS, born Abt 1772, Great Barrington, Berkshire, MA; d. 15/Sep/1819, Corinth, Saratoga, NY. Seth married Lucy LITCHFIELD, b. Abt. 1776.
The rest of the info I have on these families is on my Hodgdon Genealogy Page.
So, is there a tribe called “Chautauqua”? I note that a few Haskins died in Chautauqua, NY. Could they have meant she was a Chautauqua Indian the same way I’m a Salem girl (meaning I just live in the area, it’s not a part of my heritage or cultural identity)? And what about these names and places? I imagine these people looking more like Pilgrims than Native Americans.
Could the whole story just be the family equivalent of an urban legend?
(For a very bad picture, see my
John and Julia (Childs) Hodgdon photo. If you squint and cock your head slightly to the left, she looks Native American.)
Gr8 “I’m just a mutt” Kat
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
Are we kin? Visit me at The Kat House and find out!
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