Emily Watt nee England

Adair Co., Westville, Oklahoma

Admitted. The ½ brother of the applicant was enrolled in 684 Goingsnake District by Drennen in 1851 under the name of Johnson Robbins. The nephews of applicant were enrolled 687 Goingsnake under the names of Ta-lah-te-ya, Samuel and E-sah-yah. It has been impossible to locate the name of the applicant on the rolls of 1851, but from her application, letters and the testimony taken in her behalf it is included that she is an emigrant Cherokee, therefore entitled to share in this fund. See Misc. Test. P. 4037

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- Emily Watt (D. C. 19684)

Indian Name- A-wee Wah-de

2. Residence- Goingsnake District, Cherokee Nation

3.. Town and Post Office- Westville, Indian Territory

4.. County- Cherokee

5.. State- Indian Territory

6.. Date and Place of Birth- Old Cherokee Nation, about 95 years old.

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: Son- Chah-cha-yuh-wee-yoh-nah *(Char-gie Oo-ga-wah-duh, is George England)??

Son- Alah-dee

Brother- Stene or Steve

Nephew- Chah-lee and Sa(?)-dee (very blurred)

Uncle- Sun-nah-gah-wee and Ah-tlo-see-nee

8.. Are you married? Yes,

9.. Name and age of wife or husband- Jackson Watt, age 55 *(MA # 8944) 10.. Give names of your father and mother, and your mother's name before marriage- Father- English name- Bill England

Indian name- Wee-le

Mother- English name- Peggie England

Indian name- Wa-gy

Maiden name- Unknown

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

12.. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time Both parents died before 1851

13.. Date of death of your father and mother? UNKNOWN

14.. Were they ever enrolled for annuities, land, or other benefits? If so, state when and where- NO

15.. Name all your brothers and sisters, giving ages, and if not living, give date of death- Johnson Robbins b. unknown d. about 1892

Stene or Steve b. 1842 d. 1863

Emily Watt b. 1811 d. *(Applicant)

George England b. d.

Nancy Robbins b. d.

*(See Drennen Roll Goingsnake District Groups # 684 and # 687, listed later on application)

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

17.. Where were they born? UNKNOWN

18.. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time? NO

19.. Give names of all their children, and residence, if living; if not living, give dates of deaths NONE GIVEN

20.. Have you ever been enrolled for annuities, land, or other benefits? If so, state when and where- Yes, payment at Fort Gibson in the year 1852

21. To expedite identification, claimant should give the full English and Indian names, if possible, of their

paternal and maternal ancestors back to 1835.

UNKNOWN

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.

Witness to Mark: Stephen Bell and Bird Knight

Signature: Emily 'X' Watt

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of December 1906.

Signed: W. M. Jeffries, 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 Bird Knight and Stephen Bell, who being duly sworn, on oath depose and say that they are well acquainted with Emily Watt , who makes the foregoing application and statements, and have known her for 50 years and 30 years, respectively, and know her to be the identical person she represents herself to be, and that the statements made by her are true, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and they have no interest whatever in her claim.

Witnesses Signatures: Stephen Bell and Bird Knight

Subscribed and sworn to before me on this 28th day of December 1906.

Signed: W. M. Jefferies, Notary public

LETTER ATTACHED TO MILLER APPLICATION # 8943

Westville, Oklahoma
April 4, 1909

Mr. Guion Miller
Washington D. C.
Special Commissioner

Dear Sir:

Since I saw you at Westville, and assisted you on the emigrant roll, I find that Mrs. Emily Watt of Goingsnake District did draw as an Old Settler for herself and Lincoln England, and Samuel England, I did not know at the time you were at Westville that she was an Old Settler. I have got information from William Scraper of Westville, Oklahoma, that she drew money as an Old Settler. Scraper informs me himself that the said, Emily Watts drew money as an Old Settler. Lincoln England's postoffice is Baron, Oklahoma.

Yours respectfully,

W. S. Whitmire
Westville, Oklahoma

P. S. Please keep this confidentially were you got this information to keep down hard feelings.

*(Concerning this above letter. Emily is listed on the Old Settlers payroll of 1896 as Emily Thornton-Pg. 277 as Emily Thornton-71 yrs.-Goingsnake, IT. Claiming through ½ siblings, Tilman, Champman, William and Joseph England. Her brother, George England, seems to be listed on the Drennen Roll.)

LETTER ATTACHED TO MILLER APPLICATION # 8943

January 13, 1908

Emily Watt

Westville, Oklahoma

Madam:

You claim to share in the distribution of the Eastern Cherokee fund through your father, Bill England, and your mother Peggy England, who you state died prior to 1851, and therefore, were not enrolled with the Eastern Cherokees at that time. Therefore, it makes it difficult to find your name on the roll. It is necessary that you give the name under which you were enrolled at that time, also the names of those with whom you were enrolled.

Were you married to Jackson Watt in 1851? What was your Indian name?

Were you enrolled with the Old Settlers? If you were born in 1811, as you state in your application, were you or your parents enrolled in 1835 with the Cherokees? When did you form from the Old Nation to the West?

Please give this matter prompt attention and refer in your reply to the number of your application.

Very Respectfully,

Special Commissioner

LETTER ATTACHED TO MILLER APPLICATION # 8943

November 14, 1908(Not sure about the 1908 part, could be 1909)

Emily Watt

Westville, Oklahoma

Madam:

Relative to your application for participation in the Easter Cherokee Fund, please advise this office as to the name under which you were enrolled in 1851. In what district were you enrolled and with whom? In your letter of February 66h, 1908, you state that you were probably enrolled under the name of AVE SPILE. The name of AVE SPILE does not appear upon the Eastern Cherokee roll of 1851. Please give any other name under which you may have been enrolled at that time. Did you ever have any relatives by the name of DE-ta-yoh, To(???)-(???)_de or Aul-kin-ne? If you are related to these parties please state what relationship exists. Please give any other facts which may assist in finding your name upon the Eastern Cherokee rolls of 1851.

As the above information is necessary to the proper adjustment of your claim you are requested to answer as soon as possible, referring in your reply to FAB # 8943.

Very Respectfully,

Special Commissioner

LETTER ATTACHED TO MILLER APPLICATION # 8943

>From the office of Frank Howard

Merchandise and Produce

Baron, Oklahoma

February 6, 190(?)

Hon. Guion Miller

Special Commissioner

Washington D. C.

Dear Sir:

In answer to yours of the 14 inst. in reference to application #W 8943, I state that at the Cherokee enrollment of 1851 I was probably enrolled as AVE or AVE SPILE being at that time the wife of STEVE SPILE and had two children Ah-lot and Sale or Sarah Spile. (Tee-yola-ete-shee, handwritten in the margin). I was not married to Jackson Watt in 1851. I was not enrolled with the Old Settlers. My parents Bill England and Peggy must have been enrolled with the Cherokees in 1835.

I left the Old Nation with the big emigration in charge of John Ross the chief.

Very Respectfully Yours,

Emily Watt

Per Mary Knight, her granddaughter

LETTER ATTACHED TO MILLER APPPLICATION # 8943

February 4, 1909

Westville, Oklahoma

Mr. Guion Miller

Special Commissioner of Court of Claims

Washington, D. C.

Sir:

I am not able to tell you what name I went by in the year of 1851. My maiden name was Emily England. I first married Spile then later marred Weyley Thornton. These are the only name that I could had at the above date. I was enrolled in Goingsnake District.

Yours,

Emily Watt

LETTER ATTACHED TO MILLER APPLICATION # 8943

Edward Walkingstick, being first duly sworn, in behalf of Emily Watt, deposes and says:

"I am 59 years old. I have known Emily Watt for many years, ever since I can remember. She always has been considered a full-blood. While she is not a full-blood. I have lived near her all my life and went to school with her children. She has always been regarded as an Emigrant Cherokee. I have heard my mother, who was an emigrant Cherokee, say that she came to this country with Emily Watt. To my knowledge she never received any Old Settler money. She has always been regarded as an Emigrant Cherokee in this community.

Signed: Edward Walkingstick

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of March 1909.

Signed: Fred A. Baker, Assistant to the Special Commissioner of the U. S. Court of Claims

LETTER ATTACHED TO MILLER APPLICATION # 8943

January 14, 1908?

Emily Watt

Westville, Oklahoma

Madam:

You claim a right to share in the distribution of the Eastern Cherokee Fund through your father, Bill England, and your mother, Peggy England, who you state died prior to 1851, and, therefore, were not enrolled with the Eastern Cherokees at that time. Therefore, it make it difficult to find your name on the roll. It is necessary that you give the name under which you were enrolled at that time, also the names of those with whom you were enrolled.

Were you married to Jackson Watt in 1851? What was your Indian name?

Were you ever enrolled with the Old Settlers? If you were born in 1811, as you state in your application, were you or your parents enrolled in 1835 with the Cherokees? When did you go from the Old Nation to the West?

Please give this matter prompt attention and refer in your reply to the number of your application.

Very Respectfully,

Special Commissioner

Drennen Roll Group # 687-Goingsnake District

George England

Lydia

Ta-lah-te-yah

Samuel

E-sah-yah

Drennen Roll Group # 684-Goingsnake District

Johnson Robbins

Stena

Thomas

Nancy

*Transcriber notes. Transcribed by Catherine Widener, 2003

Emily Watt, listed as full blood Cherokee

1880 Cherokee Census # 1745-Goingsnake District as Aive Thornton-46 yrs.

1896 Census Roll # 2501-Goingsnake District

Dawes Roll # 19684, Census Card # 8488 as Emily Watt-Goingsnake District-Baron, IT

Old Settlers Payroll 1896- Pg. 277 as Emily Thornton-71