Fanny Parks and Family, Chickasaw Freedmen

This is a story of a blended family with ties to both Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations. This is also a story of people who were bi-cultural and bi-racial. Hettie Lucas and her daughters were enrolled Chickasaw Freedmen. However, this family also has strong ties to Choctaws as well. They lived in the northern part of the Choctaw Nation in Oak Lodge in the 1890s in the Skullyville area, and they had put roots there for some time. Hettie Lucas the family matriarch appeared in front of the Dawes Commission October of 1898. Her interview was recorded, but like many Chickasaw Freedmen it was summarized and the original interview was never included in the file.

On the same day, her daughter Fanny Parks appeared in front of the Commission as well. Fanny applied for the enrollment of her son, Montville and her daughter Ardena Darneal. One thing is significant about the card. A telling note reflects another story not often as visible to many who search I.T. families--Fanny Parks had at one time a relationship with a nearby neighbor--Silas Darneal, a Choctaw Indian.

Chickasaw Freedman Card #927

The National Archives at Ft. Worth, Ft. Worth Texas 1868-1914

NAI Number: 251747

Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75

Note highlighting the relationship between Fanny and Silas Darneal:

(Source: same as above)

Fanny was the daughter of a Freedmen as both of her parents had once been enslaved. At the same time she lived in a Choctaw community, and within a nation that had at one time declared marriages between Choctaws and those of African ancestry to be criminal acts--felonies. However, as the story of humankind unfolds, it is clear that personal relationships between people cannot be successfully legislated. And it is also evident upon looking at the reverse side of the card, that Silas Darneal and Fanny were the parents of the child Ardena.

Much more about Fanny's ancestry is learned from the enrollment card. Her father was Tobe Colbert, and her mother was Hettie Lucas. Tobe Colbert had once been enslaved by Jas (James) Reynolds, and Hettie Lucas had been enslaved by Lem Reynolds. Fanny's son Montville Parks was the son of William Parks who was not a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. Ardena's father was Silas Darneel. 

Three things stand out on this card:

1) Fanny's parents were both still living at the time of the Dawes Commission. When a parent was deceased it was marked. In this case, with both parents still living, that suggests that more can be found on this family, because both Tobe Colbert and Hettie Lucas would have enrollment cards, taking this family back even further.

2) The father of Fanny's children were mentioned, and what is not often seen is that Silas Darneal, the father of Ardena was a Choctaw Indian. This is the second time on the same card that the father's Choctaw status was pointed out on this Chickasaw Freedman card.

3) Darneal was still living and would also have an enrollment card, thus taking this family farther back in time into their Choctaw lineage.

(Same as above)

Tobe Colbert Enrollment Card

Tobe, the father of Fanny, lived in Tishomingo during the years of the Dawes enrollment, and applied for enrollment in September 1898. He clearly did not live in Choctaw country as did his descendants, but remained in Chickasaw country. Tobe Colbert, was the son of Philip Colbert who was enslaved by Lem Colbert. Tobe's mother's name is not given, and therefore unknown. He enrolled with his wife Charlotte who had been enslaved by Jackson Kemp.

Chickasaw Freedmen #809

(Source: Same as above)

Application Jacket

Again, instead of the traditional interview with questions and answers, the commission replaced the real dialogue with a two-sentence summary.

National Archives Publication M1301

Applications for Enrollment

(Also accessed from Fold3.com, Native American Collection, Choctaw Freedmen)

Hettie Lucas Card & Interview

Hettie Lucas, Fanny's mother was also enslaved by the same James Reynolds who had enslaved Tobe Colbert. It is clear that they no longer lived together, as he was married to Charlotte, and Hettie did not enroll with him. By her name she could have possibly re-married, but it is not clear and not stated. Her parents were Bill Reynolds and Tempy Reynolds, and both were by that time, deceased.

Chickasaw Freedman Card #925

The National Archives at Ft. Worth, Ft. Worth Texas 1868-1914

NAI Number: 251747  Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75

Hettie's interview was longer than one sentence, but it was clearly still a summary, because the questions asked were not included. There is no indication when Hettie may have left the Tishomingo area to relocate to the Choctaw community of Oak Lodge, but is from there where she was interviewed and clearly lived.

National Archives Publication M1301

Applications for Enrollment

(Also accessed from Fold3.com, Native American Collection, Choctaw Freedmen)

The Darneal Choctaw Enrollment Cards:

Silas Darneal is enrolled on card Choctaw Card #2696. He lived in Skullyville County in the Oak Lodge area, as did Fanny and her family. He was married to Henrietta and had a family with her. The children Elijah, Dallas, Ida and Emma. They were siblings to Ardena, although they most likely never met in their lifetime.

Choctaw Card By Blood #2696

The National Archives at Ft. Worth, Ft. Worth Texas 1868-1914

NAI Number: 251747

Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75

Silas Darneal's father was James Darneal. He was enrolled on Choctaw Card #2670. His parents were Anselem and Betsy Darneal. They are direct ancestors of Ardena, and from the mother Betsy, the Choctaw line comes.

Choctaw Card by Blood #2670(Same as above)

Life in the Choctaw Nation

For unknown reason, Fanny's mother Hettie moved to the Choctaw Nation and remained there. It is not known when she moved from Chickasaw country northward into the Skullyville area, however, she remained there. Fanny had clearly settled there as well, eventually and raised her children there. Her life, and associates were firmly planted in the Choctaw Nation, and her children and subsequent generations would remain in the same community for over a century.

Choctaw Heritage of the Fanny Parks descendants
With this documented tie to a Choctaw by blood, one might assume that in spite of their registration as Chickasaw Freedmen, any of Fanny's children or grandchildren that were direct descendants of her daughter Ardena, be eligible for enrollment as Choctaw citizens. However, that is not the case. In fact, several years ago a direct descendant of Ardena Darneal applied for enrollment to the nation. Their application was rejected, and like many Freedman descendants, the rejection was one of many that have routinely become commonplace for Oklahoma based tribal descendants especially of descendants of Freedmen.

However, it is clear that the grandchildren of Ardena Darneal, great grandchildren of Silas Darneal, great great grandchildren of James Darneal, great great great grandchildren of Anselom and Betsy Darneal passed their history and legacy down the line to their descendants. Although the family has a documented tie their story reflects a complex and colorful history that cannot be overlooked.
Ardena was a Chickasaw Freedmen, and likewise, she was the daughter of a Choctaw by blood.

Her life and legacy are strongly rooted in the soil of Indian Territory. One of the grandchildren of Ardena Darneal, and great grandchildren of Fanny began working on the restoration of the Roseland Choctaw Freedman Burial ground which lies adjacent to the Choctaw Nation Skullyville Cemetery.  Many of those buried there were once enslaved by the people on the other side of the fence that separates the two communities. The descendants work to keep their family legacy alicve.

Fanny's family today still resides in the old Skullyville community and many live in Fort Coffee today. The family has established a presence for over 100 years in the same community, living and contributing to the local community. May the legacy of this Chickasaw/Choctaw blended family continue to thrive and prosper.

This is the 43rd article in a 52-article series devoted to sharing histories of families once held as enslaved people in Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. The focus is on the Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes, and these posts are part of an ongoing project to document 52 families in 52 weeks.

Family of Mattie & Johnny Crittendon, A Chickasaw & Choctaw Family

This family coming out of the Chickasaw Nation is a fascinating one reflecting how many families in what became southern Oklahoma were inter-connected. Some families clearly extended beyond their tribal affiliation, and some families were bi-racial as well as bi-cultural as well. The Crittendon family history provides a good opportunity to study the inter-connected nature of people living in the territory now known as Oklahoma. Social norms of the day would affect them as much as they affected all Freedman families from the Five Tribes. This family from the Chickasaw Nation, stands out clearly as one. that has a story beyond many assume Freedmen to have from Indian Territory.

Starting with the mother Mattie, one finds that she appeared in front of the Dawes Commission in September 1898 for herself and for a child Julius who was 1 year at the time. The name of a third person Ada was later added to the card. Unfortunately, the child Julius would pass away before any final decision was made, and thus a line is drawn through his name.

There is, however, much more to see from the notes and from the reverse side of the card.

Chickasaw Freedman Card #854

The National Archives at Ft. Worth Texas USA

Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes  1898-1914

NAI Number 251747, Records Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group Number: 75

(Reverse side of same card above)

Mattie's parents were Henry and Serena Wilkens. Her father Henry was deceased at the time, but her mother Serena was still living and her mother was at one time, enslaved by Chickasaw Ne-Ok-te.

Back on the front of the card, more information was noted, and is highlighetd below. The father to the children Julius and Ada was Johnny Crittenden, who was from the Choctaw Nation. However, it should be noted that there is some seemingly contradictory information on the card. One note says that the father Johnie Crittenden was a Choctaw Freedman. The second note makes a reference to the enrollment card of Johnie, the father, and that he was enrolled on Choctaw card number #1557. (see images that follow) That card is the card of a Choctaw by blood, and not a Freedman card.

Close up view of note from front of card

Looking closely on the back side the Mattie's husband, the father of her children is identified, and in the column where the slave holder of the father is identified, it is clear that the father of the children is identified as being Choctaw Indian, and not one who was enslaved.

Close Up View of data on Reverse side of card.

Johnny Crittendon is Mattie's husband and he is enumerated on his own card, which is Choctaw card number 1557. His father was Jack Crittendon and his mother was Sissy Crittenden. And a notation on the card confirms that Johnny Crittenden is the father of Mattie's children. (see images below)

Choctaw Nation, Choctaw Roll By Blood Card# 1557

The National Archives at Ft. Worth Texas USA

Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes  1898-1914

NAI Number 251747, Records Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group Number: 75

(same as above)

Looking closely at the upper right hand corner of the file, Johnny's mother is mentioned and she was not deceased. Sissy Crittendon was her name and she resided is Kiamitia, I.T.

I decided to look and see if Sissry Crittendon could be found, and sure enough there she was on the Choctaw Roll by blood living in Kiamitia as reflected on Johnny's card.

Choctaw Nation, Choctaw Roll (by blood) #1561

From the Enrollment Applications:
Oddly, there is very little in the application file of Sissa Crittendon. Her interview is missing and only a letter pertaining to intermarried citizens, and the birth affidavit of Mary Crittendon, where Sissa is mentioned as the midwife attending the birth.

In the file pertaining to Mattie it comes as no surprise that Mattie was victim to the on going policy of ill-treatment by the commission. Her detailed interview is not in the file--merely one of the usual "summaries" consisting of 2-3 sentences about the family. The task was the keep those identified as freedmen "in their place", entitling them to less land and future restrictions as citizens of the nation they knew as home.

Here is the notorious "summary" placed in her file.

Applications for Enrollment
National Archives Publication M1301
File Chickasaw Freedman #854

In addition, a very odd letter pertaining to Johnny's status as a "Freedman" though it is clear that he was a citizen by Blood. Of course it is understood that the African Ancestry in the family line, reflects the "issues" presented  in the letter.

(same as above)

(same as above)

The bottom line of course is that Johnny did eventually get his land and clearly much more than others in his family classified as Chickasaw Freedmen. Hopefully the family was able to live for many years on their joint land and to thrive in the Territory and into the statehood years as a family living on its own land.

Oklahoma and Indian Territory Land Allotment Jackets for Five Civilized Tribes 1884-1934
Database on line, via Ancestry.com Operations Inc 2014

same as above

(same as above)

This family was both Choctaw and Chickasaw. They lived within and under the laws of their respective nations, and their tie to the land, to the nation of their birth is strong. Despite efforts of the nations to deny their presence, the records speak to their history and to their legacy as a family. Hopefully the tie to the land was maintained for many years.

******************

(This is the 18th article of a 52-article series devoted to sharing histories and stories of families once held as enslaved people in Indian Terriotry, now known as Oklahoma. The focus is on the Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes and these posts are part of an on-going project to document 52 families in 52 weeks.)