Last night, I asked for information about Nancy L. Brown, mentioning that she had a daughter named Mary Elisabeth Sisk Lord (who was my great grandmother). I also mentioned that according to a member of the Lord family, Mary ("Molly") was half Cherokee. My mother remembers her and say that she looked a lot like a Native American. We have a picture of her (in her late years)with another lady (possibly her sister). I think she looks like an American Indian. Hopefully, I'll add the picture of her to my tree site soon.

I'm not sure if this is the same person, but I have the following about a Nancy ALL. Brown, born about 1860:

The July 17, 1870 census of 135 Subdivision, White County, Georgia shows:
Cleveland Post Office
Page 66 (stamped page 28)
Household 357, Family 357
Lines 34-38
Delila Brown, age 58, widow, keeping house, born in NC
Jane, age 30, domestic servant, born in TN
Martha, age 28, born in TN
Nancy, age 10, at home, born in TN
Elizabeth, age 2, born in TN

If this could be your Nancy, let me know. Her grandparents were Levi Brown and Delila Helton and her mother is believed to be Martha Brown, who was not married.

I have later census information showing her and her mother as mulatto and black, which were terms sometimes used in the census for Native American. However, I don't have any evidence of a marriage.

Prior to the early 20th century, "MULATTO" applied only to American Indians by the Census takers.

All persons who were Black or part Black were written down by the Census takers as Black only - not Mulatto.

There are many Americans who are American Indian and White European and Black African descent and many of them, when asked in the 20th Century for their 'Race' on the Census said they were Mulatto and they were, but if the Census taker didn't ask but just wrote what he saw and they lived with other Blacks and looked part White and part Black and/or part Indian - Census takers wrote down "Black" - not Mulatto.

So, when you see Mulatto in the 18th and 19th Century Census, it means "American Indian, possibly mixed with white".

I have found only a few " I " for Indian in a few Census Reports.

I, too, have found only a few individuals identified as Indian on the censuses before 1900, but I'm not so sure your statement that it means "American Indian" is accurate. the term Mulatto can be confusing when it is used. For instance in 1850 and 1860 the population census only gave White, Black and Mulatto as choices. During those same years, the slave schedules gave Black and Mulatto as the only choices. It appears that Mulatto was intended to be a Black/White racial mix or, at least, not solely Black. In 1870 and 1880 the choices were White, Black, Mulatto, Chinese, and Indian. It appears that Mulatto was intended to be any racial mixture. Prior to 1850 the forms varied and Indians were sometimes included as "untaxed" or as "other free."

While your description of the use of the term Mulatto may be generally true for the way census takers often used the term, their instructions were quite clear. For instance in 1870 and 1880 they were told to use White, Black, Mulatto, Chinese, or Indian. In 1850 and 1860 they had White, Black and Mulatto. Also, the slave schedules of 1850 and 1860 listed B or M as race choices. Prior to 1850 there was a column in the census for non-taxed individuals "including Indians." It appears that the government wanted to identify native Americans in the census, but were often unable to.

My second post on the subject of Mulatto was an intended post of an earlier draft. i apologize for the error.

I'm not sure if the information you have is for the Nancy Brown that I'm looking for. I say this because of the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census records. On these records, she is listed as the wife of Albert Sisk. It appears that she was born in about 1850.

I still believe, based on what I was told and her appearance in the photo, that she was American Indian. Hopefully, I'll soon have all of my family photos posted on
my Ancestry tree.

I appreciate your response to my post.

Sorry I couldn't help. My Browns were also intermarried with Native Americans and I, too, have a photo of my great grandmother in which there's no doubt she has Native American blood. They lived in Habersham/White County, then moved on to an area that became Barrow County about 1914. Good luck with your search. The other side of my family, the McCollums, had Sisk neighbors in Habersham County in the 1820s and 30s. Gabriel Sisk was a JP or Clerk of the Court, who notarized several of my 4th great grandfather's Revolutionary War pension papers. If he's in your Sisk line, I can provide you with a scan of his signature between 1832 and 1842.

Thanks again for corresponding with me. I really appreciate all your efforts. Nancy Brown and her husband, Albert Singleton Sisk, moved to Oconee County. Mr. Sisk died there. I haven't found any information about Nancy's death. Their daughter, Mary Elisabeth, was born in Oconee County.

Gabriel Sisk is in my family line. He is Albert Singleton Sisk's grandfather. I'd love to see a scan of his signature.


Thanks,

Gale

Gale,
I can't add anything re Nancy Brown at this point, but I do have information on the Sisk family back to Gabriel's parents, Daniel & Rachel (Loving) Sisk. Gabriel Sisk, Jr. married Lucinda Susannah Sosebee, who was my gg grandaunt.