Free People Of Color, Natives And Their Many Labels
Introduction The purpose of this blog is to share another part of history that could easily be forgotten or not be known at all. If we only rely on text books and census records to find our true heritage, then we will not get very far. There were non reservation Indians who were reclassified, in order for their rights and land to be taken away. This blog is about the Indigenous FPOC families in western NC. The Exodus From The East To The West Families started migrating to the western NC as early as 1717 during the Tuscarora war. In our family's cemetery, you will find the surnames that go back to these eastern NC and VA tribal and free people of color communities. On one tombstone, the surname Barnwell is engraved on it. Sadly, Barnwell led a militia of about 500 Native Americans from many different NC/SC tribes against the Tuscarora. " They have always, their traditions say, been warm friends of the white people. It is said that long ago they fought under Bonnell(Barn