GenMassachusetts-L Archives
Archiver > GenMassachusetts > 2008-06 > 1213791356
From: "Betty" <>
Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] Native Americans are not in 1790,1800 Census (BANCROFT)
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:15:56 -0400
Hello,
Well, they say that you should - learn something every single day. That
would certainly be very nice - while doing genealogy. :o)
After researching my (broken-line) WILKINS line for about 6-7 years, I have
just found out something I had not heard before. About 2 weeks ago I
found out that "Whites" and "Native Americans" could not legally marry in
New England until 1800 (?).
This week, someone on one of the Maine Lists just said that Native Americans
were not enumerated on the 1790 and 1800 censuses. I asked on the
NEW-ENG-NATAM List and they say this is all true. More proof that Native
Americans ("First Residents") were not treated well - by government
officials of any kind.
This is important to me because it could be a reason why my William WILKINS
(from Middleton, MA) did not show up on the 1790 or 1800 censuses. He and
his wife, Sarah BANCROFT, left Middleton in the 1770's to move up to "Maine"
and "hopefully" had a last child, Samuel, when they arrived there.
William was in "Maine" possibly up beyond 1800, but he does not appear in
the census records. I had assumed the possible reason was that he was a
surveyor and traveled through several towns along the Kennebec River - and
possibly kept one step ahead of census takers. With this new information,
I can guess that perhaps he was not considered for census records - because
of his Native American wife.
And, coming down to Samuel, he was reportedly born in the 1770's in "Maine"
and he is not mentioned in the 1800 census. He probably married right
around 1800, and his marriage record is not found anywhere. There is a
small possibility that he also married a Native American woman. So, that
might be a reason he is not mentioned in 1800 census. His wife was
Electra "Leeta" _____, and they are mentioned in the 1810, 1820, and 1830
census for Unity, ME, and then in the 1837 special census for Amity, ME.
Food for thought !
Betty (near Lowell, MA)
(on Lists for 7 years; now an Administrator for 7 Lists)
P.S. Speaking of "learning something new every day," this week I received
responses from "old postings" which are important to my research.
P.S.2 I just saw a book being offered on-line which is about "New
England, Native American history." (It includes "Puritan relations with
them in 1600's.) In the description of the book, there is a mention
of a Richard BANCROFT in New England in the 1600's. I'm trying to find
out if this man was a Puritan or a Native American. -- I'm still trying
to find out if Sarah's father, Robert BANCROFT, was a Native American or a
"White man."
The more "little tidbits of facts" I receive about "mixed marriages" in
1600's and 1700's New England - the more I believe that both William WILKINS
and his possible son, Samuel - married Native American women.
This subject is also discussed on the MIXED-MARRIAGES List. And, I
borrowed a book from the library on " ...Indian-White Relations, from
Prophecy to Present ...." I will try to browse through it this week.
This thread: