Jackson - Attleborough MA - possible Native American?
That good 'ol bugaboo, "family tradition" holds that my ancestor, Maria JACKSON, was a native american.Understandably, I have my serious doubts, however the stories are at least worthy of some investigation as they are based on the memories of someone who knew Maria while she was alive, rely'd to her grand-daughter, who is still living, and handicrafts, etc. said to have been made by Maria are still in the possession of the family.
Anyway, Maria is and has been a dead-end in my research for some time, which at least keeps her mysterious, if not Native American.
Here is what I know:
She was born ca. 1822, the Census is consistant in reporting Massachusetts.She married Elisha Galusha SMITH on 27 October 1842 in Wrentham, Norfolk Co. MA.At the time of her marriage she is "of Attleborough."The family settled in Attleborough and she had two children, Anna Maria and Frances (Frank).Neither child's record shed any light on Maria's origins.She is living in Attleborough in 1860 and 1870.In 1880, Elisha dies as a widower - fairly extensive searching of Massachusetts death records from 1860-1880 find no death record for Maria (Jackson) Smith.
Here are the questions I have:
1. Does anyone recognize Maria or this JACKSON family?
2. If she were Native American (granted, a big if), what tribal grouping might she be (geographically, that is)?It is my (albeit, limited) understanding that most, if not all, Natives had been removed and/or exterminated from the SW Massachusetts area well before the 1820s.
Any help would be most welcome!
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Re: Jackson - Attleborough MA - possible Native American?
Cecelia E. Vaughan 4/17/07