The history of the Eastern Cherokee Tribe is one often marked by turmoil and frustration. In a series of confiscations by the United States government in the 1800’s, they were forcefully removed from their eastern homelands to the west, often with little notice or preparation. Treaties negotiated in 1835-6 and 1846 with the tribe were not honored, nor were tribal members compensated after the treaties had been agreed upon. In 1902 the U.S. Court of Claims was given jurisdiction to hear three separate suits presented by the Cherokee concerning grievances arising out of earlier treaties. In 1905 the court decided in favor of the Eastern Cherokee and instructed the Secretary of the Interior to identify individuals entitled to receive compensation from a one million dollar fund appropriated by Congress for this purpose. Guion Miller, special agent of the Interior Department, was given the task of compiling a roll of all Eastern and Western Cherokee who were alive on May 28,1906, and who could establish their descendancy from members of the Eastern Cherokee. Each petitioner was required to fill out a detailed application to identify his or her relationship to the Emigrant Cherokee. The result of his labors – a “Listing of Applicants” – was used to approve individuals who were to be recipients of the allocation money. There were 45,847 separate applications filed, representing a total of about 90,000 individual claimants, of whom 30,820 were finally entitled to share in the fund.
This volume is a transcription of the index to the applications as found in Record Group 123 of the U. S Court of Claims as found at the National Archives. It contains an alphabetical list of names of claimants, the application number, residence, ages, and relationships, as well as an all-name index for easy lookups. We hope that this book will prove to be a valuable reference tool for anyone attempting to establish their Eastern Cherokee heritage.
Author: Jeff Bowen
Format: Perfect bound paperbackPages: 102Published: March 2005
ISBN: 0-9753667-3-4
