Brother to MA # 4918, (Jane). Enrolled 70-Delaware.

Note: Temporarily residing in Webb City, Missouri, sending my children to College, Joseph Muskrat.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Washington, D. C.

Sir:
I hereby make application for such share as me be due me of the fund appropriated by the Act of Congress approved June 30, 1906, in accordance with the decrees of the Court of Claims of May 18, 1905, and May 28, 1906, in favor of the Eastern Cherokees. The evidence of identity is herewith subjoined.


1. State Full Name:
    English Name-Joseph Muskrat
    Indian Name- *(Name written in Cherokee, Tso-wa Se-la-gi-s-qua)

2. Residence- Delaware District

3. Town and Post Office- Afton, Indian Territory (Webb City, Missouri) 

4. County- Cherokee Nation 

5. State- Indian Territory 

6. Date and Place of Birth- Delaware District 

7. By what right do you claim to share? If you claim through more than one relative living in 1851, set forth each claim separately: 

Myself
My father- Daniel Muskrat (name written in Cherokee)- Di-gv-gi-te rough translation)*
My uncles and cousins- ____ and _____ and their sisters, ____ and _____ and James Muskrat *(James Muskrat is written in Cherokee) and his sister Easter. *(I-s-te, written in Cherokee, Easter)

*The above blanks are the names of the persons he is claiming through, however, they are written in Cherokee, with no English name to go with them. I will try to translate them as best I can.

*My uncles and cousins- Di-gu-gi-te and Te-go-ho-si and their sisters, Wi-lu-ho and Ga-go and James Muskrat and his sister Easter. I am not sure how these people fit into the family. Any suggestions?

8. Are you married? YES 

9. Name and age of wife or husband- Florence P. Muskrat, age 44 yrs. 

10. Give names of your father and mother, and your mother’s name before marriage- 
Father- English name- Daniel Muskrat
Indian name- (name written in Cherokee) *(De-ni-li Se-la-gi-s-qua)

Mother- English name- Polly Muskrat *(Qua-le Se-la-gi-s-qua)
Indian name- (name written in Cherokee)
Maiden name- (Polly Hornbuckle, crossed out)

11. Where were they born? 
Both parents born in the Old Cherokee Nation.

12. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time 
In Delaware District

13. Date of death of your father and mother? 
Father died 1892, mother died 1885

14. Were they ever enrolled for annuities, land, or other benefits? If so, state when and where- 
1851 in Delaware District.

15. Name all your brothers and sisters, giving ages, and if not living, give date of death- 

Jane Tauuaneacie b. Unknown d. *(MA # 4918)
Easter Suwatt b. Unknown d. *(MA # 4950)
Nan Andoes b. Unknown d.
T. Jefferson Muskrat b. Unknown d. *(MA # 8182)
Rebecca Lynch b. Unknown d. Unknown

16. State English and Indian name of your grandparents on both father’s and mother’s side, if possible- 

Father’s side- Unknown 
Mother’s side- Unknown

17. Where were they born? UNKNOWN 

18. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time? UNKNOWN 

19. Give names of all their children, and residence, if living; if not living, give dates of deaths

English name-Daniel Muskrat 
Indian name- (name written in Cherokee) *(De-ni-li Se-la-gi-s-qua)
Residence- Delaware District, 1892

English name- Jackson Muskrat 
Indian name- (name written in Cherokee) *( Tse-gu-si-ni Se-la-gi-s-qua)
Residence- Delaware District, date of death unknown

English name- (name written in Cherokee) 
Indian name- *(Te-go-ho-si Se-la-gi-s-qua , maybe this is Thompson Muskrat?)
Residence-Delaware District

English name-
Indian name- (name written in Cherokee) *(Di-gu-gi-te Se-la-gi-s-qua)
Residence- Delaware District, date of death unknown

20. Have you ever been enrolled for annuities, land, or other benefits? If so, state when and where-
1851, 1880, 1886, 1890, 1893, 1900 all in Delaware District.

21. To expedite identification, claimant should give the full English and Indian names, if possible, of their paternal and maternal ancestors back to 1835.

REMARKS

(Under this head the applicant may give additional information that he believes will assist in proving his claim).

Note: Answers should be brief but explicit: the words ‘yes’ , ‘no’, and ‘unknown’ may be used in cases where applicable. Read the questions carefully.

I solemnly swear that the foregoing statements made by me are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signed: Joseph Muskrat

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 15th day of December 1906.

Signed: A. G. Young, Notary Public

AFFIDAVIT

(The following affidavit must be sworn to by two or more witnesses who are well acquainted with the applicant.)


Personally appeared before me L.C. Chenawth, M.D. and J. W. Cheek , who being duly sworn, on oath depose and say that they are well acquainted with Joseph Muskrat , who makes the foregoing application and statements, and have known him for 30 years and 26 years, respectively, and know him to be the identical person he represents himself to be, and that the statements made by him are true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and they have no interest whatever in his claim.

Witnesses Signatures: L. C. Chenawth M.D. and J. W. Cheek

Subscribed and sworn to before me on this 15th day of December 1906.

Signed: A. G. Young, Notary public

Supplemental Application for Minor Children

Special Commissioner of the Court of Claims,
601 Ouray Building, Washington, D. C.

Sirs,
I hereby make application for such share as may be due my minor children of the fund appropriated by the Act of Congress June 30, 1906, in accordance with the decree of the Court of Claims of May 18, 1905, and May 28, 1906, if favor of the Eastern Cherokee, and I ask that this be made part of my original application 

No.5760

State you full name: Joseph Muskrat 
Residence and post office: Afton, Indian Territory 
County: 
State: 
Date and place of birth: Delaware District, 1851 
Are you married? YES 
Name and age of wife or husband: FLORENCE , 44 
To what tribe of Indians, if any, does he or she belong? WHITE 
Names of all your children who were living on May 28, 1906: 
   1. Nina Pearl Muskrat 22 yrs. b. 1885
   2. Ira D. 20 yrs. b. 1887
   3. Ruby E. 8 yrs. b. 1898
   4. Frank Roseborough 5 yrs. b. 1902
   5.

Where they ever enrolled for money, annuities, land, or other benefits? If so state when and were and with what tribe of Indians.
From 1885 to 1902 with Cherokees.

REMARKS

(Under this head the applicant may give any additional facts which will assist in proving his claim.)

I solemnly swear that the foregoing statements made by me are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signed: Joseph Muskrat

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24th day of May, 1907.

Signed: R. A. Judd, Notary Public

LETTER ATTACHED TO MILLER APPLICATION # 5760

In reply of 5760

Ira D. Muskrat was born April 20, 1887
Ruby E. Muskrat was born December 26, 1898
Frank R. Muskrat was born June 11, 1902

You see by these dates that Ira D. Muskrat was of age last April if it is necessary for him to make his own application, please send me blank for that purpose.

Respectfully,

Joseph Muskrat

Received November 9, 1908

*Transcriber notes

Transcribed by Catherine Widener, 2003