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    • Main contributor: Jason Felihkatubbe
    Chickasaw Nation Capitol Building
    Chickasaw Nation Capitol Building

    Chickasaw genealogy is the study of one's family history as a descendant of the Chickasaw people.

    The Chickasaw did not become a people until after they had crossed the Mississippi River. According to their migration story, they were originally one people with the Choctaw who left their homes in the West for a better home in the East. They had a sacred pole that they would stand up each day. Each day that pole pointed east until some time after crossing the river when the pole stood straight up, according to one brother, Chahta. Another brother, Chikasha, said the pole was still leaning and they should continue their journey. This marked the beginning of the Chickasaws, who followed Chikasha, and the Choctaws, who stayed behind with Chahta[1].

    The Chickasaw settled in what is today, northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky. Their first encounter with Europeans was with Hernando de Soto in 1540. The Chickasaw traded with both the French and English, but were allied with the English during the French and Indian war[2]. Their first treaty with the United States, the Virginia-Chickasaw Treaty, was signed in 1783[3]. More treaties would come until 1832 when the Chickasaw relinquished the last of their lands east of the Mississippi for lands in the West[4]. In 1837, the Chickasaw agreed to purchase land from the Choctaw to settle on[5] and the first group of Chickasaw headed west[6].

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    The Chickasaw today

    Flag of the Chickasaw Nation
    Flag of the Chickasaw Nation

    Today, the Chickasaw Nation has a population of over 70,000, making it the 12th largest federally recognized tribe in the United States[7]. Chickasaw territory encompasses all or part of 13 different counties in the state of Oklahoma, including: Bryan, Carter, Coal, Garvin, Grady, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Pontotoc, and Stephens[8]. While the Chickasaw Nation capital is in Tishomingo, Oklahoma[9], the tribal headquarters are in Ada, Oklahoma[10]. In order to be eligible for citizenship, one must be descended from an individual on the 1907 Final Dawes Roll[11]. There is no blood quantum requirement[12].

    Mailing Address: P. O. Box 1548, Ada, Oklahoma 74821

    For genealogical assistance, contact Holisso: The Center for Study of Chickasaw History and Culture which is located on the grounds of the Chickasaw Cultural Center at 867 Cooper Memorial Drive, Sulphur, Oklahoma 73086.

    1907 Final Dawes Roll

    On 08 Feb 1887, Congress passed the Dawes General Allotment Act, or the Dawes Severalty Act [13], named for Senator Henry L. Dawes, of Massachusetts, who was charged with overseeing the process[14]. The act signed into law by President Grover Cleveland was designed to remove lands from tribes and divide them into individual portions, allotments, with any remaining land to be sold at the Federal government's discretion[15]. The Act did not pertain to the Five Tribes- Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole. That changed in 1893 when Dawes was charged with the formation of the Dawes Commission to persuade the leaders of the Five Tribes to follow suit. Frustrated with progress, Congress granted the Commission additional powers un the Curtis Act of 1898 which led to the enrollment applications of over 250,000 individuals, approving over 101, 000 of those names[16].

    The final rolls list the name, age, sex, degree of Indian blood, and roll and census card numbers of each person. The census cards in turn provide the postal address, the name of the applicant, along with everyone else in the household and their relationship to them, their ages, sexes, degree of Indian blood, parents' names (if known), and residence (if known). Oftentimes, though not always, the enrollment card will have notations at the bottom that contain information about additional marriages, marriages of children, births of children/grandchildren, notations about names, and deaths of those listed on the enrollment card. These cards were part of packets that could include additional information in addition to the notations, though not always, which might be interviews with the applicant, their family members, and/or neighbors, birth/death/marriage affidavits and/or licenses, and correspondences between the Indian agency and the family. In addition, there are land jackets that provide additional information about the individual's allotment(s). They sometimes include additional information about the family with regard to probate in determining heirship.

    The rolls can be viewed for free at the National Archives, though they are not searchable. The Oklahoma Historical Society does maintain a searchable database that provides the applicant's name, age, sex, blood quantum, tribe, and roll and census card numbers.

    Other rolls

    • 1818 Chickasaw Census- The original census does not exist. This is based upon a handwritten transcription of the original that was lost sometime in the early 20th century. Document lists individuals by their English name or Chickasaw name. Information provided is the relationship to the head of household. An index can be found for free on Access Genealogy with the page number that the individual and their family appeared on.
    • 1837 Chickasaw Muster Roll- This provides a list of Chickasaws who are about to emigrate west of the Mississippi River. It only listed the names of the heads of households. The number of males and females under 10, of 10, and under 25, of 25, and under 50, and over 50 were tabulated. The total number of slaves was calculated and recorded as males and females. An index is available for free through FamilySearchand begins on page 69.
    • 1839 Chickasaw Census-This only listed the names of the heads of households. The number of males and females under 10, of 10, and under 20, of 20, and under 50, and over 50 were tabulated. The total number of slaves was calculated and recorded as males and females. The last column provides the total number of all individuals accounted for. An index is available for free through FamilySearchand begins on page 30.
    • 1847 Chickasaw Census-This census only listed the names of the heads of households. The number of males under 18 and over 18, the number of females under 16 and over 16, the total number of all Indians, the number of male slaves, the number of female slaves, and the degree of Indian blood. The original census included the following, but the index does not: number of horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, cotton bales, pleasure carriages, and wagons. The index is available for free through FamilySearch and begins on page 5.
    • 1855 Emigration Roll- This census has been transcribed by K. M. Armstrong and Bob Curry. Chickasaw Rolls: Annuity Rolls of 1857 and 1860 and the "1855" Chickasaw District Roll of 1856, Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1995. (Check WorldCat for locations.)
    • 1857-1860 Annuity Rolls-These rolls have been transcribed by K. M. Armstrong and Bob Curry. Chickasaw Rolls: Annuity Rolls of 1857 and 1860 and the "1855" Chickasaw District Roll of 1856, Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1995. (Check WorldCat for locations.)
    • 1878 Chickasaw Annuity Payment Roll- An Index of this roll has been compiled by Crumpton, Barbara J. 1878 Chickasaw Annuity Roll, Creative Copies, Duncan, OK, 1987.
    • 1885 Choctaw-Chickasaw Freedmen Rolls- This is a listing of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Freedden who had been admitted to citizenship in the Choctaw Nation. These rolls include the names of the head of household and their families, sex, age, nationality of parents, and the previous owners, if enslaved, in addition to agricultural statistics such as number of acres in cultivation and different livestock owned. This census can be viewed on microfilm at the Oklahoma Historical Society or the National Archives (7RA63).
    • 1889-1890 Chickasaw Per Capita- This roll provides the names of each individual receiving a per capita payment, the amount of the payment, and their place of residence. This roll can be viewed at the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (CKN 3, Section X).
    • 1890 Chickasaw Census- This census recorded the names of head of household, their family members, their age and sex, the family's post office address, whether they were Chickasaw or Choctaw by marriage or blood, they were US citizens under permit or intruders, or a US "negro" or an Indian "negro," and the total number of members in the family. This census can be viewed at the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (CKN 1).
    • 1893 Chickasaw Payment Roll- This roll lists the family number, the names of each member of the household, and their ages. A check denotes payment had been issued to the family. In the notes column, there are references to their Dawes card number, payment issued, and dates. This census can be viewed at both the Oklahoma Historical Society and the National Archives on microfilm (7RA212).
    • 1896 Chickasaw Census- This census includes the names of Chickasaws residing in both the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations. It contains the names of heads of household and their family members, the age and sex of each individual, and whether they were Chickasaw by blood or intermarriage. If by intermarriage, the date of marriage is noted. There is a notes column that makes mention of the spouses of those who were married.
    • 1896 Chickasaw and Choctaw Freedmen- These records may be viewed at the National Archives or the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (7RA66).
    • 1897 Chickasaw Census Roll- This census includes the names of those Chickasaws residing within the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations. It contains the name and census card number of each individual. There are additional lists at the end of each county for intermarried whites and doubtful citizens. This can be viewed at both the National Archives and the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (7RA27.2).
    • 1902 Choctaw and Chickasaw Citizenship Claimants- This lists information on each claimant including sex, age, degree of Indian blood, enrollment card number, the US Court case number, and the Citizenship Court case number. There is a notes column that may make note of the decisions of the courts. This roll can be viewed at the National Archives or at the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (7RA27, Rolls 1-2).
    • 1904 Chickasaw Per Capita Payment- This roll identified citizens who were entitled to a payment in the amount of $40.00. This roll can be viewed at the National Archives or at the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (7RA73).
    • 1906-1907 Choctaw-Chickasaw Annuity Rolls- This roll can be viewed at the National Archives or at the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (NARA 35).
    • 1908 Chickasaw Annuity Payment Roll- This roll can be viewed at the National Archives or at the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (7RA-100, Roll 1).
    • 1910 Chickasaw Equalization Payment Roll- This roll can be viewed at the National Archives or at the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (7RA-100, Roll 1).
    • 1912 Chickasaw Freedmen Equalization Roll- Roll lists the name, age, sex, and address of each individual. There are notations made with regard to balance due, payment paid, and check number. This roll can be viewed at the National Archives or the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (7RA35.5). ,
    • 1912-1924 Choctaw and Chickasaw Equalization Rolls- This roll can be viewed at the National Archives or at the Oklahoma Historical Society on microfilm (NARA 35).

    Additional records

    The National Archives in Ft. Worth has the following microfilms:

    • 1899-1905 Dawes Commission Townsite Plats (7RA18, Roll 1)
    • 1900-1907 Lease Royalty Records (7RA30, Roll 3)
    • 1902-1904 Letters Sent by Chickasaw Commission (7RA181, Rolls 1-3)
    • 1902-1907 Index to Choctaw and Chickasaw Allotment Ledgers (7RA153, Rolls 1-2)
    • 1904 Index and Townsite Fund Payroll (7RA97, Roll 1)
    • Lists of Citizens and Intruders (7RA21, Roll 2)
    • Choctaw-Chickasaw Townsite Fund Payment Roll, 1906 (7RA73)
    • Choctaw-Chickasaw Townsite Payment Annuity Rolls, 1924-1925 (7RA35.35)

    The Oklahoma Historical Society has the following microfilms:

    • Incompetent Record and List of Original Claimants: 1839-1890 (CKN 3, Volume 86)
    • Letters and Documents Concerning Chickasaw Citizenship (CKN 1)
    • Incompetent Fund Records: 1889-1890 (CKN 3, Volume 11)
    • Documents Concerning Chickasaw Census (CKN 1)
    • Chickasaw Attendance and Scholarship Records, 1890-1892 (CKN 17, Volume 33)

    See also

    Explore more about Chickasaw genealogy

    References

    1. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.tv/videos/the-chickasaw-migration-story
    2. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.net/our-nation/history
    3. ↑ https://www.jstor.org/stable/2192090
    4. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.tv/events/treaty-of-pontotoc-creek
    5. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.tv/events/treaty-of-doaksville
    6. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.net/our-nation/history
    7. ↑ https://governor.chickasaw.net/Reports/Progress-Reports/View-2019/Progress-Report-2019_Web.aspx
    8. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.net/Our-Nation/Government/Geographic-Information.aspx
    9. ↑ https://chickasaw.net/Services/Chickasaw-National-Capitol.aspx
    10. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.net/Our-Nation/Locations/Chickasaw-Nation-Headquarters
    11. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.net/Our-Nation/Government/Tribal-Government-Services/Chickasaw-Citizenship.aspx
    12. ↑ https://www.chickasaw.net/Our-Nation/Government/Tribal-Government-Services/Chickasaw-Citizenship.aspx
    13. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dawes-General-Allotment-Act
    14. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dawes-General-Allotment-Act
    15. ↑ https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/dawes-act
    16. ↑ https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=DA018


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