I have been reading the various postings concerning Native Americans in Madison County. I intially responded to my Asbill cousin Donny Perry, only, but thought my email to him worth posting here. Our ancestor Narni,(Elizabeth Ross) is a documented full blooded Overhill Cherokee and it is well known she and her Husband William Asbell lived in Madison (or Estill)County for sometime. Several of their children were permanent residents. To think that there were few or no Native Americans from other parts does not seem realistic. We have definite proof on William and Narni and very good family traditions on the Van Winkle side.

Madison County was definitely not "White only" its just a matter of degree. And as I point out in my email below this was all former Cherokee territory as late as the 1770s. Why wouldn't they feel an inclination to go somehere they knew
if there was less pressure than in the North Carolina areas?

I look forward to more discussions on this. Thanks for bringing it up Donny.

Hi Donny,

I ran across your posting about this on the Madison County site.

I have often wondered this since I descend from both Narnee and Allah Van Winkle.

I also wondered about the Becknells. I have nothing that shows that they were Native American other than that nearly mythical story about a "Malinda" Becknell who was a Native American raised by them. Of course this comes right out Bennett's materials. None the less a Malinda or Emmaline Melinda Becknell married Joseph Asbill and I have wondered if there was ever any NA blood in the Becknells.

There is an excellent book that covers the troubles of the Cherokee at this time called "Cherokee Renascence in the New Republic" by William G. McCLoughlin.

Among other things it discusses the pressures between the Whites, the full blooded Cherokees and the mixed bloods. I don't know if these problems were quite as acute in Madison County as they were in North Carolina. My guess is that they were not, although any family of mixed bloods would have had some trouble fitting in completely with their white neighbors just about anywhere at that time. Land had a lot to do with this.

According to this same book it shows most of Kentucky having originally belonged to the Cherokees. In fact only being ceded between 1772 and 1775.

It may be better to look at the 1795 immigration( at least for our Native American ancestors) as being more a return to known formerly Cherokee lands where there was not quite as much pressure. Also it appears that William Asbill Sr. being part or all white wanted to live as a white man. And perhaps Kentucky was more amicable than North Carolina.

One last interesting side note: Another cousin on the internet sent me a picture of Palestine Asbill, son of Joseph Asbill and Malinda Becknell.(The family then spelled it Asbel). He appears to be a full blooded white man with a full beard and what appear to very blue or green eyes. His daughter Mildred also looked very white as did his wife, Elizabeth Gravett.

His grandchildren on the Watts/Asbill side show some Native American features and my mother (his great granddaughter) looked very Native American.

I guess those genes do jump around, especially when mixed... Stirred or shaken?

Good luck and I'll keep looking on my side as well for some of the same aswers.