NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTIONS

FACT or FICTION ?

 

 

 

The BAYLESS and associated families have legendary Native American (NA) connections. These connections include ancestors who may have been NA or who may have married a NA. These connections also include contact with Native Americans including the New Jersey land purchase as well as conflicts with Native Americans in the early years of this country's settlement. The purpose of this page is to clarify what may be FACT and what is only known through "Family Traditions" (FT). Please, it is very important to remember that "Family Traditions" are NOT verified FACTS! Keeping this in mind, let us examine some of our Native American connections.

E-Mail: Barbara Ribling

NOTE:
FACTS will be designated with !
FAMILY TRADITIONS (FT) will be designated with ?
!/? Indicates statements that include both FACT and FT.

 

 

 

The New Jersey Land Purchase

 

This Early Map Shows the Approximate Area of the Purchase in Blue. The Dark Area to the East is Long Island. Between NJ and Long Island, Staten Island Can Be Seen. 

!  John BAYLES (BAYLEY, BAYLIES, etc.) formed a company in 1664 . These men purchased, with the approval of the Gov. of NJ, a large section of land in NJ. The land was purchased from MATTANO, MANAMOWAONE and COWESCOMEN who were natives of Staten Island. The white men named in the legal documents were John BAILY (BAYLES), Daniel DENTON and Luke WATSON. John BAYLES and his company of men improved the NJ property and may have planned to either settle on the land or resell it. Their plans for the property are unknown to me. It was discovered after a time that the property had not belonged to the locals at the time of the sale and the sale was therefore invalid. The Gov. of NJ repurchased land from John BAYLES who never settled in NJ.

! John BAYLES was NOT the founder of Elizabethtown, NJ. Elizabethtown was, however, founded upon land that was included in the earlier NJ purchase of John BAYLES and Company.

!  Records of the original NJ purchase can be found in the archives in Trenton, NJ. Harry Nelms has submitted extracts of some of the documents. The extracts can be found in the archives of US GenWeb NJ .

! NOTE: The Native Americans who sold the land received the following in payment: 20 fathoms of trading cloth, two made coats, two guns, two kettles, ten bars of lead, 20 handfuls of powder and, they were to receive within one year 400 fathoms of white wampum.

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TECUMSEH - Was He Really the Child of Mary BAYLES ? 

! Mary BAYLES was the daughter of Jesse BAYLES and Margaret Marie Monraine.

? Mary is believed to have first married a Shawnee, Peekishinoah.

!/? Mary BAYLES married second, Andrew Ice, and they had children Jesse, Abraham, Elizabeth, Frederick, Mary and Andrew.

!/? Mary ICE is believed to have been the daughter of Frederick ICE and his first wife Mary or Nelly Galloway.

NOTE: There is some disagreement among descendants as to which "Mary" was the mother of TECUMSEH. Descendants of the BAYLES family of WV claim she was Mary BAYLES while the descendants of the ICE family of WV claim she was their Mary ICE. It matters little as this "fact" is unproven. I would be very glad to hear of any actual proof as to the truth or untruth of this tale.

! TECUMSEH was a famous Chief of the Shawnee. He was the son of PEEKISHINOAH and was born about 1768. Little is known about his early life and biographers seem to disagree on some of the facts about his origin and his actual relationship to his "brother" the PROPHET. Although the exact year of his birth is unknown, the earliest estimated date would make Mary BAYLES too young at the time to be seriously considered to have been his mother. Mary is believed to have been born in 1763.

!/? Chillicothe is a Native American word that means "Campground". Biographers state that TECUMSEH was born at Chillicothe, OH. BAYLES and ICE FT states that TECUMSEH was born at chillicothe, a Shawnee "campground" on the river not far from Ice's Ferry, VA (now WV).

! There was a raid on the community of Ice's Ferry, VA (now WV), by the Shawnee about 1752. During the raid some whites were killed and some whites were taken captives of the Shawnee.

!/? Mary BAYLES and William ICE, son of Frederick, were among the children captured during the raid. The wife of Frederick ICE was killed during the raid or shortly thereafter as were at least two of Frederick's daughters. Sometime later, some of the captured children returned to Ice's Ferry. William ICE was know everafterward as "Indian Billy". Mary BAYLES married Andrew ICE and raised a family.

? While in captivity, Mary BAYLES was raised by a Shawnee family and is believed to have married PEEKISHINOAH. She became the mother of a son named TECUMSEH who grew to become a great leader of his people. According to the BAYLES FT, TECUMSEH was born in the Indian camp (chillicothe) on Quarry Run about two miles from Ice's Ferry. According to the FT, TECUMSEH visited with his half-brothers Jesse and John ICE the night before his death.

! I have found no biography that names Mary BAYLES as the mother of TECUMSEH. At least one biography names a Shawnee woman as his mother, was she Mary? I have found very little at all that has been written/researched about TECUMSEH regarding his genealogy and family life. Most "biographys" of TECUMSEH are about his adult life, his battles and philosophy. As first a captive and then a member of the tribe, Mary BAYLES must have had a Native American name. I do not know what that name may have been.

! The BAYLES family version of this tale was recorded by Mr. G.H. BAYLES in an article titled "Tecumseh and the Bayles Family Tradition", pp.28-36, Genealogies of Kentucky Families From The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, A-M (Allen-Moss), Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1981. This book may be found in Moultrie, GA, at the Ellen Payne Odum Genealogical Library as well as in many other libraries and archives.

!/? Mr. George Harmon (G.H.) BAYLES had the FT from his Father's Uncle John BAYLES (b. 1801) who claimed to be TECUMSEH's 1st cousin. John BAYLES remembered TECUMSEH and told many stories of him to his family. In 1905 the father of G.H. BAYLES visited Buffalo, NY, where he met a Salamanca Indian who knew of TECUMSEH's mother, a "white captive woman" named BAYLES.

REFS: Provided by Mr. G.H. BAYLES to the KY Historical Society:

CONCLUSIONS: NOT PROVEN! The story of TECUMSEH as a descendant of BAYLES or ICE is, however, a very intriguing tale and a "fun" FT. More research should be done. I would like to see a transcript of the "Memoirs" of Jeremiah Kendall. I think that these memoirs would be of interest to BAYLES and ICE descendants as well as to historians. I would appreciate hearing of any "new" information regarding this most interesting FT.

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Harriet Wise - Cherokee Princess ?

Composite Photos of the WISE Sisters (L to R): Avy Bagley, Harriet Bayless & Mary Davenport

 

! Harriet WISE was born in Cherokee Co., AL, Nov.11, 1854. She had sisters Caroline, Mary, Avy and Johannah. She is listed in the 1860 Cherokee Co. Census, age 6, as being the child of Elias and Eliza WISE. Also listed in this 1860 household is Elizabeth DULLEN, domestic, and sisters of Harriet, Caroline age 8, and Johannah age 1.

? FT states that Harriet and her sisters may have been the daughters of the domestic servant Elizabeth (Eliza) DULLEN, a Native American, and that they were adopted by Elias and Eliza WISE. I have been unable to verify this information.

! Harriet WISE married, prior to the 1880 Walker Co., GA, census, William Clinton BAYLESS. In 1880 Harriet and William Clinton appear in the US Census as residents of Cedar Grove, Walker Co., GA. At the time of the census they were the parents of one son, Arthur, aged 1 yr. Also residing in the same household were William Clinton's sister Emma and her husband S. HART who are erroneously listed as the brother and sister-in-law of William Clinton BAYLESS.

NOTE: In 1883, the Walker Co., Courthouse burned and most records were destroyed in that fire. There is no record extant (that I know about) for the marriage of Harriet and William Clinton Bayless thus the exact date of the marriage is unknown.

? FT indicates that Harriet WISE and her sisters were at least part Cherokee Indian. This is UNPROVEN! I have tried to verify this story but have been unsuccessful. Neither Harriet or any of her sisters seem to appear on any Native American census or roll. They are listed as WHITE in the US Census records.

! When asked about her origins by her son Boss BAYLESS, Harriet would only say "A buzzard dropped me on a stump and the sun hatched me out". She refused to discuss her heritage with her children.

! US census records for 1870 Frick's Gap, Walker Co., GA, show that Harriet, age 16, and her sister Caroline, age 17, were employed as domestic servants in the households of Levi W. Brooks and Elijah Mathis, respectively.

! Harriet's sister Mary WISE married Dr. J.H. DAVENPORT. They were married in AL and later settled in or near Ada, OK. They are known to have been the parents of at least two children Gussie and Erskin.

? Avy (WISE) BAGLEY is believed to have been offered property in OK due to her Cherokee Indian heritage. This is a FT of her descendants. It is believed that some of her children traveled to OK to visit their aunt Mary (WISE) DAVENPORT and look at the property. The children returned home with tales of "wild" Indians and Avy did not accept the land. I have no documents to indicate the accuracy of this story. It is not likely that any Government agency would have offered land to Avy. It is possible that Mary (WISE) DAVENPORT may have lived on a US Indian reservation on land that she obtained as a Native American or perhaps her husband was a physician to Native Americans. OK was called Indian Territory (IT) at the time. The OK trip by Avy's children most certainly did occur. My Grandfather Boss BAYLESS who may never have met Avy or Mary did know about Mary and her family and wrote about them to family members.

CONCLUSIONS: Harriet seems to have been at least part Native American. I base this conclusion on her brief statement about her origins and upon her appearance. The photograph of Harriet as a young woman depicts a round faced, dark complected young lady who very much resembles other Cherokees. She has been described by family members as short, round, dark complected, black haired and a woman of few words. My Mother, Mildred (Bayless) Ribling, a Granddaughter of Harriet who knew Harriet well, always told me that Harriet was Native American. FT for the ancestry of Harriet as a Native American is very strong, all of her grandchildren know this "story". Only time and further research may bring out the facts of her birth.

QUERY/REQUEST: I would like to know more about Harriet WISE, her sisters, parents, descendants, etc. I would like to hear from descendants of Harriet's sisters Caroline, Mary and Johannah. I would like to know what became of Caroline and Johannah and if they married and where they eventually settled.

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QUANAH PARKER - Noble Ancestor of the PARKER/BAYLESS Clan ?

 

 Old Family Photo Titled "PARKER/HUDSON Family" Family Members are Unidentified

 

! Minnie BAYLESS, daughter of Harriet WISE and William Clinton BAYLESS, was born Nov. 4, 1881, Walker Co., GA. She married Nathaniel PARKER 1899 in Limestone Co., TX, and they had children Alta Mae, Marie, Pauline and Jewel. Minnie died 1921 and is buried in her father's plot in the Armour Cemetery, Coolidge, TX. The plot is located next to the PARKER family plot. Nathaniel is not buried there.

? FT states that Nathaniel PARKER was either a descendant of Cynthia Ann PARKER, mother of Quanah, or that he was at least a close relative of Quanah. I cannot verify this information. The PARKER family genealogy that is available at the Old Ft. Parker recreation near Groesbeck, TX, does not include Nathaniel and Minnie.

! No known member of the BAYLESS family of Limestone Co., TX, is proven to be a descendant of Quanah PARKER.

CONCLUSIONS: It seems unlikely that any member of the BAYLESS/PARKER family (descendants of Minnie and Nathaniel) are also descendants of Quanah. These family members are, however, believed to be descendants of the pioneers who built, lived in and survived the tradgedy at Ft. Parker.

QUERY: I would like further information on this branch of my family. I would like to know the ancestry of Nathaniel PARKER, husband of Minnie BAYLESS, and his connection to Cynthia Ann PARKER, Quanah PARKER and the members of the PARKER family who settled at Ft. Parker.

READ ABOUT FT. PARKER:

The above listed publications are available at the Old Ft. Parker State Historical Park.

 

Mary (Lewis), "Aunt Polly", Kinnan's Capture by the Delawares 1791

! Mary "Polly" Lewis was born near Basking Ridge, NJ, on Aug. 22, 1763. She was the daughter of Zephaniah Lewis and Ann Doty.

! Mary "Polly" Lewis was married January 8, 1778 to Joseph Kinnan. At the time Polly was just 15 years old and Joseph Kinnan was eight years her senior.

! Polly and Joseph Kinnan settled in Randolph Co., Western Virginia, in 1787. They had two sons Lewis and Joseph and a daughter Mary. There may have been a fourth child, an unnamed infant. This infant, and/or daughter Mary, was/were killed by the Delawares in 1791.

! Sgt. Joseph Kinnan, b. October 15, 1755, enlisted as a Pvt. in Capt. Plat Bayles' Company of Somerset Co., NJ, Militia in July of 1776. Pvt. Kinnan eventually became a Sgt., the rank he held at the time of his death. According to the pension records, Joseph Kinnan served 25 mos. and 2 wks. as a Sgt. between 1776 and 1780.

! Polly Kinnan was captured by the Delawares at her home in Randolph Co. on May 13, 1791. Her husband, Sgt. Joseph Kinnan and her infant child and/or her daughter Mary and also a neighbor's child were killed on that date. She was eventually taken to the vicinity of Ft. Wayne where she was rescued by her brother Jacob Lewis in 1794. In her pension application Polly Lewis stated that she had lived "3 years and 3 months on the Miamies River near Ft. Wayne".

! Mary "Polly" (Lewis) Kinnan applied for a pension October 4, 1836. This pension was granted and a certificate of pension was sent to Senator Samuel L. Southard on her behalf. This certificate stated that Polly had been "inscribed on the roll of NJ, at the rate of $90 per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831." She also received $585.00 in arrears. Mary "Polly" Kinnan was 75 at the time.

! Mary "Polly" Kinnan died March 12, 1848, and is buried in the cemetery of the Prebyterian Church of Basking Ridge, NJ.

? How was Mary "Polly" (Lewis) Kinnan related to the Bayless family? This is where "fact" ends and speculation begins. It is believed that Phebe Lewis, wife of Maj. Platt Bayles, was a sister of Zephaniah Lewis, Polly's father. This would make Phebe the aunt of Polly and Polly's closest relation to the Bayless family. Phebe Lewis and Platt Bayles had a son, Samuel, who married Osee (Osie, Ocy) Lewis. Polly was not a Bayles and, as far as I can tell, had no blood relationship to the Bayless family. Her story, however, is one that is a wonderful family tradition that can be shared among the Bayless families of Ft. Wayne and of NJ who are descendants of Phebe (Lewis) Bayless and of Osee (Lewis) Bayless.

READ ABOUT AUNT POLLY (LEWIS) KINNAN:

  • Voorhees, Rev. Oscar M., "Aunt Polly Kinnan, An Indian Tragedy of the 18th Century", Somerset Co. Historical Quarterly, Vol. I, 1912; A. Van Doren Honeyman, Ed.
  • Voorhees, Rev. Oscar M., "The Pension Secured for 'Aunt Polly' Kinnan", Somerset Co. Historical Quarterly, Vol. V, 1916; A. Van Doren Honeyman, Ed., p.
  • Randolph, Howard S. F., "The Lewis Family of Somerset", Somerset Co. Historical Quarterly, Vol. VI, 1917; A. Van Doren Honeyman, Ed.

 

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