Has anyone else noticed this happening (mostly for Americans)?

Question

I've noticed while doing my genealogy that many people make erroneous claims about being descended from Native Americans. They do so without proof, and anytime there is a brickwall, the assumption by these folks is that the person in question must be native american.

Contrary to popular belief, intermarriage between white settlers and native americans was never particularly common. DNA testing has shown just how rare this actually was.

Similarly, DNA testing as well as records from the colonial era tends to call into question these claims of native ancestry (at least in my ancestors), so why do certain individuals continue to make such untenable assertions? Has anyone else in the course of tracing their ancestry had similar experiences?

Answer 1

You have to remember the attitudes of even forty years ago. I remember when a cousin and I went into a soda fountain near Phoenix to get a Coke. Because I'm light, I was served. She wasn't, and when I asked why, the man said they reserved the right to refuse service to dogs and Indians. This was August, 1969.

Now, because of this, many people lied, not about being Indian, but about being white! Whoever could 'pass' did so. Otherwise, we had jobs as maids and housekeepers. Even darker persons lied and said they were Spanish or part African American, to keep from being a non-person. Remember, Native Americans couldn't vote until after World War II - they were not United States citizens! Additionally, not all Native Americans are darker persons. The Five Civilized tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole) were all lighter skinned than the Plains and western tribes, but because 'dark' is what Hollywood teaches, that's what everyone believes. Look at a Civil War history book. Stand Waite led a group of Cherokee Confederate troops, and he was white haired and light skinned.

I don't know where you've obtained your records on the lack of intermarriage. But it is erroneous. There was an abundance of intermarriage and affairs between Native Americans and Europeans. The Mulattoes were persons of African American heritage, usually a designation on the slave roles. It meant a person who was 1/4 African. At that time the rule for one drop blood stood fast. Especially in Louisianna, this term was used into the 20th centrury.

Answer 2

As I continually say on Yahoo! answers: any one whose ancestors came to the Americas (from Northern Canada all the way to Tierra de Fuego) in the 1500s, 1600s, or 1700s almost certainly DO HAVE NATIVE AMERICAN ANCESTRY! Rare or common doesn't matter; it is a numbers game. E.g., 3 of the 102 passengers to come over on the Mayflower were my ancestors. Each of those who survived long enough to leave behind a child from that Mayflower now have MILLIONS of descendants! Some of my ancestors were part of the Colony in Virginia known as Germanna; several of them married an Indian gal (proven); each of them now has millions of descendants.

Now, if you state that the Indian blood is "just a drop in the bucket", I will say I can believe that.

By both paper trail and DNA testing, I have traced my ancestry back to Native Americans. I have DNA from 3 different tribes in the U.S., Eskimos and Innuits.

In Central and South America, almost every one there today has substantial Indian blood...AND African blood.

You are most definitely correct; many people, upon reaching a "roadblock", just make guesses and assumptions.  So, I would say to them, try these:

Oh, yes!  I want it, and I want it now, and it must be free.  Does that about sum it up? (I hope so, because that is what I always want...)

You should start by asking all your living relatives about family history.  Then, armed with that information, you can go to your public library and check to see if it has a genealogy department.  Most do nowadays; also, don't forget to check at community colleges, universities, etc.  Our public library has both www.ancestry.com and www.heritagequest.com free for anyone to use (no library card required).

Another place to check out is any of the Mormon's Family History Centers.  They allow people to search for their family history (and, NO, they don't try to convert you).

A third option is one of the following websites:

http://www.searchforancestors.com/...

http://www.censusrecords.net/?o_xid=2739...

http://www.usgenweb.com/

http://www.census.gov/

http://www.rootsweb.com/

http://www.ukgenweb.com/

http://www.archives.gov/

http://www.familysearch.org/

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/...

http://www.cyndislist.com/

http://www.geni.com/

Cyndi's has the most links to genealogy websites, whether ship's passenger lists, ancestors from Africa, ancestors from the Philippines, where ever and whatever.

Of course, you may be successful by googling: "john doe, born 1620, plimouth, massachusetts" as an example.

Good luck and have fun!

Check out this article on five great free genealogy websites:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Then there is the DNA test; if you decide you want to REALLY know where your ancestors came from opt for the DNA test. Besides all the mistakes that officials commonly make, from 10% to 20% of birth certificates list the father wrong; that is, mama was doing the hanky-panky and someone else was the REAL father. That won't show up on the internet or in books; it WILL show up in DNA.

I used www.familytreedna.com which works with the National Geographics Genotype Program.

Answer 3

I know we were always told that our great grandmother was half Native American and in tracing her family we found absolutely nothing to prove it, but after connecting with other distant relatives and obtaining old photos, it LOOKS like the stories may be true. I never thought my g-grandmother looked like a NA, but looking at pictures of her siblings, her mother, and her maternal grandmother, I would be willing to bet the stories we were told had some truth to them. We're still searching for proof, but I doubt we'll ever find it.........I would never state this as fact without proof and I don't understand folks that do, but then I don't understand a LOT of what folks do and say when it comes to their genealogy.......

Answer 4

I have heard of people doing this as well.  I think they think that there is something "romantic" about being descended from Native Americans.

Answer 5

yes, i have noticed this but, most people do come from native americans they just dont look like it (over the years they didnt stay in the same group like having kids with native americans) but some just say they are.

idk you would have to research every person that said that to be sure