Samuel Cloud's a 9 year old on the Trail of Tears

The memories of Samuel Cloud who was nine years old at the time of the Cherokee removal; told by his great-great grandson.


The Trail of Tears

This is what I remember. It is the bits and pieces of the memories of a young boy, full of feelings and observations, but without complete comprehension. The boy is my  great-great-grandfather, Samuel Cloud. The memory is from his vantage point, so I will share it with you in the same way.
It is Spring. The leaves are on the trees. I am playing with my friends when white men in uniforms ride up to our home. My mother calls me. I can tell by her voice that something is wrong. Some of the men ride off. My mother tells me to gather my things, but the men don't allow us time to get anything. They enter our home and begin knocking over pottery and looking into everything. My mother and I are taken by several men to where their horses are and are held there at gun point. The men who rode off return with my father, Elijah. They have taken his rifle and he is walking toward us.

I can feel his anger and frustration. There is nothing he can do. From my mother I feel fear. I am filled with fear, too. What is going on? I was just playing, but now my family and my friends families are gathered together and told to walk at the point of a bayonet.

We walk a long ways. My mother does not let me get far from her. My father is walking by the other men, talking in low, angry tones. The soldiers look weary, as though they'd rather be anywhere else but here.

They lead us to a stockade. They herd us into this pen like we are cattle. No one was given time to gather any possessions. The nights are still cold in the mountains and we do not have enough blankets to go around. My mother holds me at night to keep me warm. That is the only time I feel safe. I feel her pull me to her tightly. I feel her warm breath in my hair. I feel her softness as I fall asleep at night. As the days pass, more and more of our people are herded into the stockade. I see other  members of my clan. We children try to play, but the elders around us are anxious and we do not know what to think. I often sit and watch the others around me. I observe the guards. I try not to think about my hunger. I am cold.

Several months have passed and still we are in the stockades. My father looks tired. He talks with the other men, but no one seems to know what to do or what is going to happen. We hear that white men have moved into our homes and are farming our fields. What will happen to us? We are to march west to join the Western Cherokees. I don't want to leave these mountains.

My mother, my aunts and uncles take me aside one day. "Your father died last night," they tell me. My mother and my father's clan members are crying, but I do not understand what this means. I saw him yesterday. He was sick, but still alive. It doesn't seem real. Nothing seems real. I don't know what any of this means. It seems like yesterday, I was playing with my friends.

It is now Fall. It seems like forever since I was clean. The stockade is nothing but mud. In the morning it is stiff with frost. By mid-afternoon, it is soft and we are all covered in it. The soldiers suddenly tell us we are to follow them. We are led out of the stockade. The guards all have guns and are watching us closely. We walk. My mother keeps me close to her. I am allowed to walk with my uncle or an aunt, occasionally.

We walk across the frozen earth. Nothing seems right anymore. The cold seeps through my clothes. I wish I had my blanket. I remember last winter I had a blanket, when I was warm. I don't feel like I'll ever be warm again. I remember my father's smile. It seems like so long ago.

We walked for many days. I don't know how long it has been since we left our home, but the mountains are behind us. Each day, we start walking a little later. They bury the dead in shallow graves, because the ground is frozen. As we walk past white towns, the whites come out to watch us pass. No words are spoken to them. No words are said to us. Still, I wish they would stop staring. I wish it were them walking in this misery and I were watching them. It is because of them that we are walking. I don't understand why, but I know that much. They made us leave our homes. They made us walk to this new place we are heading in the middle of winter. I do not like these people. Still, they stare at me as I walk past.

We come to a big river, bigger than I have ever seen before. It is flowing with ice. The soldiers are not happy. We set up camp and wait. We are all cold and the snow and ice seem to hound us, claiming our people one by one. North is the color of blue, defeat and trouble. From there a chill wind blows for us as we wait by a frozen river. We wait to die.

My mother is coughing now. She looks worn. Her hands and face are burning hot. My aunts and uncles try to take care of me, so she can get better. I don't want to leave her alone. I just want to sit with her. I want her to stroke my hair, like she used to do. My aunts try to get me to sleep by them, but at night, I creep to her side. She coughs and it wracks her whole body. When she feels me by her side, she opens her blanket and lets me in. I nestle against her feverish body. I can make it another day, I know, because she is here.

When I went to sleep last night, my mother was hot and coughing worse than usual. When I woke up, she was cold. I tried to wake her up, but she lay there. The soft warmth she once was, she is no more. I kept touching her, as hot tears stream down my face. She couldn't leave me. She wouldn't leave me.

I hear myself call her name, softly, then louder. She does not answer. My aunt and uncle come over to me to see what is wrong. My aunt looks at my mother. My uncle pulls me from her. My aunt begins to wail. I will never forget that wail. I did not understand when my father died. My mother's death I do not understand, but I suddenly know that I am alone. My clan will take care of me, but I will be forever denied her warmth, the soft fingers in my hair, her gentle breath as we slept. I am alone. I want to cry. I want to scream in rage. I can do nothing.

We bury her in a shallow grave by the road. I will never forget that lonesome hill of stone that is her final bed, as it fades from my sight. I tread softly by my uncle, my hand in his. I walk with my head turned, watching that small hill as it fades from my sight. The soldiers make us continue walking. My uncle talks to me, trying to comfort me. I walk in loneliness.

I know what it is to hate. I hate those white soldiers who took us from our home. I hate the soldiers who make us keep walking through the snow and ice toward this new home that none of us ever wanted. I hate the people who killed my father and mother.

I hate the white people who lined the roads in their woolen clothes that kept them warm, watching us pass. None of those white people are here to say they are sorry that I am alone. None of them care about me or my people. All they ever saw was the color of our skin. All I see is the color of theirs and I hate them. The forced removal of the Cherokee in 1838-39 from their homelands in the east to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) is known as the "Trail of Tears" or "The Trail Where They Cried".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Of the 16,000 Cherokees who were herded into stockades and marched west by U.S. troops, about 4,000 died of disease, exposure, or fatigue.

A U.S. soldier, John Burnett, recalled in later years, "I saw the helpless Cherokees arrested and dragged from their homes, and driven by bayonet into stockades. And in the chill of a drizzling rain on an October morning I saw them loaded like cattle or sheep into six hundred and forty-five wagons and started toward the west"

The Trail of Tears - A Tremendously Moving Account Written by Private John G. Burnett

Letter Written by Private John G. Burnett Captain Abraham McClellan's Company 2nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade ~ Mounted Infantry Cherokee Indian Removal,1838-39. One can never forget the sadness and solemnity of that morning. Chief John Ross led in prayer and when the bugle sounded and the wagons started rolling many of the children rose to their feet and waved their little hands good-by to their mountain homes, knowing they were leaving them forever. Many of these helpless people did not have blankets and many of them had been driven from home barefooted. On the morning of November the 17th we encountered a terrific sleet and snow storm with freezing temperatures and from that day until we reached the end of the fateful journey on March the 26th, 1839, the sufferings of the Cherokees were awful. The trail of the exiles was a trail of death. They had to sleep in the wagons and on the ground without fire. And I have known as many as twenty-two of them to die in one night of pneumonia due to ill treatment, cold, and exposure. Among this number was the beautiful Christian wife of Chief John Ross. This noble hearted woman died a martyr to childhood, giving her only blanket for the protection of a sick child. She rode thinly clad through a blinding sleet and snow storm, developed pneumonia and died in the still hours of a bleak winter night, with her head resting on Lieutenant Greggs saddle blanket. I made the long journey to the west with the Cherokees and did all that a Private soldier could do to alleviate their sufferings. When on guard duty at night I have many times walked my beat in my blouse in order that some sick child might have the warmth of my overcoat. I was on guard duty the night Mrs. Ross died. When relieved at midnight I did not retire, but remained around the wagon out of sympathy for Chief Ross, and at daylight was detailed by Captain McClellan to assist in the burial like the other unfortunates who died on the way. Her unconfined body was buried in a shallow grave by the roadside far from her native home, and the sorrowing Cavalcade moved on. Being a young man, I mingled freely with the young women and girls. I have spent many pleasant hours with them when I was supposed to be under my blanket, and they have many times sung their mountain songs for me, this being all that they could do to repay my kindness. And with all my association with Indian girls from October 1829 to March 26th 1839, I did not meet one who was a moral prostitute. They are kind and tender hearted and many of them are beautiful.The only trouble that I had with anybody on the entire journey to the west was a brutal teamster by the name of Ben McDonal, who was using his whip on an old feeble Cherokee to hasten him into the wagon. The sight of that old and nearly blind creature quivering under the lashes of a bull whip was too much for me. I attempted to stop McDonal and it ended in a personal encounter. He lashed me across the face, the wire tip on his whip cutting a bad gash in my cheek. The little hatchet that I had carried in my hunting days was in my belt and McDonal was carried unconscious from the scene.I was placed under guard but Ensign Henry Bullock and Private Elkanah Millard had both witnessed the encounter. They gave Captain McClellan the facts and I was never brought to trial. Years later I met 2nd Lieutenant Riley and Ensign Bullock at Bristol at John Roberson's show, and Bullock jokingly reminded me that there was a case still pending against me before a court martial and wanted to know how much longer I was going to have the trial put off?McDonal finally recovered, and in the year 1851, was running a boat out of Memphis, Tennessee.The long painful journey to the west ended March 26th, 1839, with four-thousand silent graves reaching from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to what is known as Indian territory in the West. And covetousness on the part of the white race was the cause of all that the Cherokees had to suffer. Ever since Ferdinand DeSoto made his journey through the Indian country in the year 1540, there had been a tradition of a rich gold mine somewhere in the Smoky Mountain Country, and I think the tradition was true. At a festival at Echota on Christmas night 1829, I danced and played with Indian girls who were wearing ornaments around their neck that looked like gold.In the year 1828, a little Indian boy living on Ward creek had sold a gold nugget to a white trader, and that nugget sealed the doom of the Cherokees. In a short time the country was overrun with armed brigands claiming to be government agents, who paid no attention to the rights of the Indians who were the legal possessors of the country. Crimes were committed that were a disgrace to civilization. Men were shot in cold blood, lands were confiscated. Homes were burned and the inhabitants driven out by the gold-hungry brigands.Chief Junaluska was personally acquainted with President Andrew Jackson. Junaluska had taken 500 of the flower of his Cherokee scouts and helped Jackson to win the battle of the Horse Shoe, leaving 33 of them dead on the field. And in that battle Junaluska had drove his tomahawk through the skull of a Creek warrior, when the Creek had Jackson at his mercy.Chief John Ross sent Junaluska as an envoy to plead with President Jackson for protection for his people, but Jackson's manner was cold and indifferent toward the rugged son of the forest who had saved his life. He met Junaluska, heard his plea but curtly said, "Sir, your audience is ended. There is nothing I can do for you." The doom of the Cherokee was sealed. Washington, D.C., had decreed that they must be driven West and their lands given to the white man, and in May 1838, an army of 4000 regulars, and 3000 volunteer soldiers under command of General Winfield Scott, marched into the Indian country and wrote the blackest chapter on the pages of American history.Men working in the fields were arrested and driven to the stockades. Women were dragged from their homes by soldiers whose language they could not understand. Children were often separated from their parents and driven into the stockades with the sky for a blanket and the earth for a pillow. And often the old and infirm were prodded with bayonets to hasten them to the stockades.In one home death had come during the night. A little sad-faced child had died and was lying on a bear skin couch and some women were preparing the little body for burial. All were arrested and driven out leaving the child in the cabin. I don't know who buried the body another home was a frail mother, apparently a widow and three small children, one just a baby. When told that she must go, the mother gathered the children at her feet, prayed a humble prayer in her native tongue, patted the old family dog on the head, told the faithful creature good-by, with a baby strapped on her back and leading a child with each hand started on her exile. But the task was too great for that frail mother. A stroke of heart failure relieved her sufferings. She sunk and died with her baby on her back, and her other two children clinging to her hands.Chief Junaluska who had saved President Jackson's life at the battle of Horse Shoe witnessed this scene, the tears gushing down his cheeks and lifting his cap he turned his face toward the heavens and said, "Oh my God, if I had known at the battle of the Horse Shoe what I know now, American history would have been differently written.At this time, 1890, we are too near the removal of the Cherokees for our young people to fully understand the enormity of the crime that was committed against a helpless race. Truth is, the facts are being concealed from the young people of today. School children of today do not know that we are living on lands that were taken from a helpless race at the bayonet point to satisfy the white man's greed.Future generations will read and condemn the act and I do hope posterity will remember that private soldiers like myself, and like the four Cherokees who were forced by General Scott to shoot an Indian Chief and his children, had to execute the orders of our superiors. We had no choice in the matter.Twenty-five years after the removal it was my privilege to meet a large company of the Cherokees in uniform of the Confederate Army under command of Colonel Thomas. They were encamped at Zollicoffer and I went to see them. Most of them were just boys at the time of the removal but they instantly recognized me as "the soldier that was good to us". Being able to talk to them in their native language I had an enjoyable day with them. From them I learned that Chief John Ross was still ruler in the nation in 1863. And I wonder if he is still living? He was a noble-hearted fellow and suffered a lot for his race.At one time, he was arrested and thrown into a dirty jail in an effort to break his spirit, but he remained true to his people and led them in prayer when they started on their exile. And his Christian wife sacrificed her life for a little girl who had pneumonia. The Anglo-Saxon race should build a towering monument to perpetuate her noble act in giving her only blanket for comfort of a sick child. Incidentally the child recovered, but Mrs. Ross is sleeping in a unmarked grave far from her native Smoky Mountain home. When Scott invaded the Indian country some of the Cherokees fled to caves and dens in the mountains and were never captured and they are there today. I have long intended going there and trying to find them but I have put off going from year to year and now I am too feeble to ride that far. The fleeing years have come and gone and old age has overtaken me. I can truthfully say that neither my rifle nor my knife were stained with Cherokee blood.I can truthfully say that I did my best for them when they certainly did need a friend. Twenty-five years after the removal I still lived in their memory as "the soldier that was good to us"However, murder is murder whether committed by the villain skulking in the dark or by uniformed men stepping to the strains of martial music. Murder is murder, and somebody must answer. Somebody must explain the streams of blood that flowed in the Indian country in the summer of 1838. Somebody must explain the 4000 silent graves that mark the trail of the Cherokees to their exile. I wish I could forget it all, but the picture of 645 wagons lumbering over the frozen ground with their cargo of suffering humanity still lingers in my memory.Let the historian of a future day tell the sad story with its sighs, its tears and dying groans. Let the great Judge of all the earth weigh our actions and reward us according to our work.Children,This is my birthday, December 11, 1890, I am eighty years old today. I was born at Kings Iron Works in Sulllivan County, Tennessee, December the 11th, 1810. I grew into manhood fishing in Beaver Creek and roaming through the forest hunting the deer and the wild boar and the timber wolf. Often spending weeks at a time in the solitary wilderness with no companions but my rifle, hunting knife, and a small hatchet that I carried in my belt in all of my wilderness wanderings.On these long hunting trips I met and became acquainted with many of the Cherokee Indians, hunting with them by day and sleeping around their camp fires by night. I learned to speak their language, and they taught me the arts of trailing and building traps and snares. On one of my long hunts in the fall of 1829, I found a young Cherokee who had been shot by a roving band of hunters and who had eluded his pursuers and concealed himself under a shelving rock. Weak from loss of blood, the poor creature was unable to walk and almost famished for water. I carried him to a spring, bathed and bandaged the bullet wound, and built a shelter out of bark peeled from a dead chestnut tree. I nursed and protected him feeding him on chestnuts and toasted deer meat. When he was able to travel I accompanied him to the home of his people and remained so long that I was given up for lost. By this time I had become an expert rifleman and fairly good archer and a good trapper and spent most of my time in the forest in quest of game.The removal of Cherokee Indians from their life long homes in the year of 1838 found me a young man in the prime of life and a Private soldier in the American Army. Being acquainted with many of the Indians and able to fluently speak their language, I was sent as interpreter into the Smoky Mountain Country in May, 1838, and witnessed the execution of the most brutal order in the History of American Warfare. I saw the helpless Cherokees arrested and dragged from their homes, and driven at the bayonet point into the stockades. And in the chill of a drizzling rain on an October morning I saw them loaded like cattle or sheep into six hundred and forty-five wagons and started toward the west. Children, thus ends my promised birthday story. This December the 11th 1890.

On The Trail of Tears with a Cousin (5 Generations Back) James Starr and His Family (My Starrs - Not Hal's)

B.B. Cannon and the James Starr Family Took the Most Northern Route with the Dotted Line

 Conductor:   B B Cannon

      Principal Cherokee: James Starr

       355 persons by land (15 died)

       Left 10/15/1837, arrived 12/29/1837

Asst Conductors:     Ezekiel S Curry

                                 Jackson Scott

                                 Thomas P Wells

     Physician:                 Grandville Townsend

     Interpreter:                Charles Reese

     Wagon Master:         Thomas Prigmore

     Disbursing Agt:         Mr. Reynolds

     Contractor:                L A Kincannon

B.B. Cannon's Journal

Cannon, B.B. - 1837 - Cherokee Removal

B. B. Cannon’s Journal of Occurrences with a Party of Cherokee Emigrants.  October 1837 

A Journal of occurrences in conformity with the Revised Regulations No 5. Paragraph 8. kept by B. B. Cannon, Conductor of a Party of Emigrating Cherokee Indians, put in his charge, at the Cherokee Agency East, by Genl. N. Smith, Superintendent of Cherokee removals, on the 13th day of October 1837.

Oct. 13th, 1837.

            Sent the wagons to the Indian encampment and commenced loading, in the evening.

Oct. 14th, 1837.

            Completed loading the wagons and crossed the Highwassee river at Calhoun, encamped, at 5 o’c. P.M.

Oct. 15th, 1837.

            Marched the Party at 8 o”c. A.M. halted and encamped at Spring Creek, at 11 o’c A.M. where Genl. Smith mustered the Party, which consumed the remainder of the day, 5 miles to day.

Oct. 16th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., halted and encamped at Kelly’s ferry on Tennessee river, at 4 o’c. P.M.  Issued corn & fodder, Corn meal & bacon, 14 miles to day.

Oct. 17th, 1837.

            Commenced ferrying the Tennessee river at 8 o’c. A.M., having been detained until the sun dispelled the fog, every thing being in readiness to commence at day light, completed ferrying at 4 o’c. P.M. and reached little [p. 2] Richland creek at 8 o’c. P.M.., where  the Party had been directed to halt and encamp, Issued corn & fodder, 7 miles to day.

Oct. 18th, 1837.

            Marched at 7 ½ o’c. A.M., one of the provision wagons oversat, detained a half hour, no damage done, ascended Wallens ridge, (the ascent 2 miles) halted at Ragsdale’s at 1 ½ o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn-meal & bacon, 10 miles further to water, all wearied getting up the mountain, 5 miles today.

Oct. 19th, 1837.

            Marched at 7 ½ o’c. A. M. descended the mountain, halted at 2 o’c. P.M., at Sequachee river near Mr. Springs, Issued corn & fodder, 11 ½ miles to day.

Oct. 20th, 1837.

            Marched at 6 ½ o’c. A.M., ascended the Cumberland mountain, halted at Mr. Flemings, ¾ past 3 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn meal & Bacon, 14 ½ miles to day.

Oct. 21st, 1837.

            Marched at 7 ½ o’c. A.M., descended the mountain, halted at Collins river, 4 1/r o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, the Indians appear fatigued this evening.  13 miles today—road extremely rough.

Oct. 22nd, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M. passed through McMinnville, halted at Mr. Britts ½ past 12 o’c. M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn meal & Bacon, Sugar [p. 3] and coffee to the waggoners & Interpreters, no water for 12 miles ahead, procured a quantity of corn meal and bacon to day.  ##  7 ½ miles to day.

Oct. 23rd, 1837.

            Marched at 6 ½ o’c. A.M., Capt. Prigmore badly hurt by a wagon horse attempting to run away, halted at Stone river near Woodbury, Te. ½ past 4 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, 20 miles to day.

Oct. 24th, 1837.

            Marched at 7 ½ o’c. A. M., halted at Mr. Yearwoods, 4 o’c. P.M., rained last night and to day, Issued corn & fodder, corn meal and bacon, 15 miles to day.

Oct. 25th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., buried Andrew’s child at ½ past 9 o’c. A.M., passed through Murfreesborough, halted at Overall’s creek, 4 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn and fodder, 14 miles to day.

Oct. 26th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., passed through three turnpike Gates, halted at Mr. Harris, 3 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn meal & bacon, 16 ½ miles to day.

Oct. 27th, 1837.

            Marched at 7 ½ o’c. A.M., passed through two Turn-

##  I would remark here that all supplies, both of forage and subsistence, were purchased, and Pikages, toll and ferriages contracted for on the way west by a contracting agent, and paid for on my request by Doct. Reynolds, the [continued at the bottom of page 4]

[p. 4] pike gates, and crossed the Cumberland river on the Nashville toll bridge, at Nashville, halted at Mr. Putnams ½ past 3 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, Isaac Walker and [sic] emigrant belonging to the Party, overtook us.  Mr. L. A. Kincannon, contracting agent, left us, and returned home, having, on the way, near McMinnville signified his intention, verbally, to do so, assigning as the reason the delicate situation of his health, 13 miles to day.

Oct. 28th, 1837.

            Rested for the purpose of washing clothes, repairing wagons, and shoeing horses.  Reese, Starr and others of the emigrants visited Genl. Jackson who was at Nashville, Issued corn & fodder, corn-meal and bacon, Assigned Mr. E. S. Curry to supply the place of Mr. Kincannon.

Oct. 29th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 ½ o’c. A.M., halted at Long creek ½ past 2 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, 13 ½ miles to day.

Oct. 30th, 1837.

            Marched at 7 ½ o’c A.M., halted at Little red river ½ past 5 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn-meal & Bacon, 18 ½ miles to day.

Oct. 31st, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., halted at Graves, Ken. 3 o’c. P.M., Issued corn & fodder, 16 miles to day.

Disbursing Agent for the Party.

[p. 5]

Nov. 1st, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c., A.M., buried Ducks child, passed throug [sic] Hopkinsville, Ken, halted at Mr. Northerns ½ past 5 o’c. P.M.  Encamped & issued corn & fodder, Flour and bacon, 19 miles to day.

Nov. 2nd, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M. and halted one mile in advance of Mr. Mitchersons, 3 o’o. P.M., encamped and issued corn and fodder.

Nov. 3rd, 1837.

            David Timpson and Pheasant, emigrants belonging to the party, came up last night in the stage, having been heretofore enrolled, and mustered, marched at 8 o’c. A.M., passed thro’ Princeton, Ken., halted and encamped near Mr. Barnetts, at ½ past 4 o’c. P.M.  Issued corn & fodder, Flour & bacon, 17 miles to day.

Nov. 4th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., halted and encamped at Threlkelds branch, 4 o’c, P.M., Issued corn & fodder, 15 miles to day.

Nov. 5th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., passed thro’ Salem, Ken., halted and encamped at another Mr. Threlkelds branch at 4 o’c. P.M., Issued corn & fodder, corn meal, a small quantity of flour, and bacon, 13 ½ miles to day.

Nov. 6th, 1837.

            Marched at 7 o’c. A.M., arrived at Berry’s ferry (Golconda opposite on the Ohio river) 9 o’c. A.M., every thing in readiness to commence ferrying, but [p. 6]

Prevented on account of the extreme high winds and consequent roughness of the river, which continued the remainder of the day, encamped in the evening, Issued corn & fodder, 5 ½ miles to day.

Nov. 7th, 1837.

Commenced ferrying at ½ past 5 o’c. A.M., moved the Party as it crossed one mile out and encamped.  Completed crossing 4 o’c. P.M., all safely, Issued corn & fodder, corn meal & bacon, 1 mile to day.

Nov. 8th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., Mr. Reese & myself remained behind, and buried a child of Seabolts, overtook the Party, halted and encamped at Big Bay creek, 4 o’c. P.M., Issued corn & fodder, (James Starr & wife, left this morning with two carry-alls to take care of, and bring on three of their children, who were too sick to travel—with instructions to overtake the Party as soon as possible without endangering the lives of their children.)—15 miles to day.

Nov. 9th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c., A.M., halted and encamped at Cash creek, ½ past 4 o’c. P.M., Issued corn & fodder, corn meal & Bacon, 15 miles to day.

Nov. 10th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., were detained 2 hours on the way making a bridge across a small creek, halted at Cypress creek, 4 o’c., P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, & salt, 14 miles to day. [p. 7]

Nov. 11th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c, A.M., passed thro’ Jonesboro’ Ill., halted and encamped at Clear creek, in the Mississippi river bottom, ½ past 3 o’c. P. M., Issued corn & fodder, corn meal & bacon—13 miles to day, issued sugar & coffee to the wagoners, & interpreters.

Nov. 12th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., arrived at Mississippi river, 10 o’c. A.M., Commenced ferrying, at 11 o’c. A. M., directed the party to move a short distance as they crossed the river, and encamp, Issued corn & fodder, Starr came up, the health of his children but little better, Richard Timberlake and George Ross, overtook us and enrolled, attached themselves to Starrs family.

Nov. 13th, 1837.

            Continued ferrying from 7 o’c. until 10 o’c. A.M., when the wind arose and checked our progress, 3 o’c. P.M., resumed and made our trip, suspended at 5 o’c. P.M., Issued corn & fodder, corn meal & bacon, buried another of Duck’s children to day.

Nov. 14th, 1837.

            Crossed the residue of the Party, Marched at 10 o’c. A. M., halted and encamped at Mr. William’s, Issued corn & fodder, sickness prevailing, 5 miles to day.

Nov. 15th, 1837.

            Rested for the purpose of washing &c., Issued corn and fodder, corn meal and bacon.

Nov. 16th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A. M., left Reese, Starr and fam- [p. 8] ilies on account of sickness in their families, also James Taylor (Reese’s son in law) and family, Taylor himself being very sick, with instructions to overtake the Party, passed thro’ Jackson, Mo., halted & encamped at widow Roberts on the road via Farmington &c., Issued corn only, no fodder to be had, 17 miles to day.

Nov. 17th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A. M., halted at White Water creek 4 o’c. P.M., Issued corn & fodder, corn meal and beef, 13 miles to day.

Nov. 18th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., halted and encamped at Mr. Morand’s 5 o’c. P.M., Issued corn & fodder, Flour & bacon, 16 miles to day.

Nov. 19th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., halted and encamped ½ past 4 o’c. P.M., at Wolf creek, Issued corn & fodder, 14 miles to day.

Nov. 20th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., passed thro’ Farmington, Mo., halted at St. Francis river, 4 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, Flour & beef, 15 miles to day.

Nov. 21st, 1837.

            A considerable number drunk last night obtained the liquor at Farmington yesterday, had to get out of bed about midnight to quell the disorder, a refusal by several to march this morning, alledging [sic] that they would wait for Starr & Reese to come up at that place, Marched at 8 o’c., A. M. in defiance of threats and attempts to intimidate, none remained behind, [p. 9] passed through Caledonia, halted at Mr. Jacksons, encamped and issued corn & fodder, beef and Bacon, mostly bacon, 14 miles to day.

Nov. 22nd 1837.

            Marched 8 ½ o’c. A.M., pass through the lead mines (or Courtois diggings), halted at Scotts, 4 o’c. P.M., issued corn, fodder, and corn meal, 13 miles to day.

Nov. 23rd, 1837.

            Rested for the purpose of repairing wagons, shoeing horses, washing &c., Starr, Reese, and Taylor came up, the health of their families in some degree improved, Issued corn & fodder, and beef, weather very cold.

Nov. 24th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 ½ o’c. A.M., Considerable sickness prevailing, halted at Huzza creek, 4 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, 12 miles to day.

Nov. 25th, 1837.

            Doct. Townsend, officially advised a suspension of our march, in consequence of the severe indisposition of several families, for a time sufficient for the employment of such remedial agents as their respective cases might require.  I accordingly directed the Party to remain in camp and make the best possible arrangement for the sick, In the evening issued corn & fodder, flour and beef.

Nov. 26th, 1837.

Remained in camp, sickness continuing and increasing, Issued corn & fodder, beef & corn meal. [p. 10]

Nov. 27th, 1837.

            Remained in camp, sickness continuing to increase, Issued corn & fodder, Bacon & corn meal.

Nov. 28th, 1837.

            Moved the Detachment two miles further to a Spring and School-house, obtained permission for as many of the sick to occupy the school-house as could do so, a much better situation for an encampment than on the creek, sickness increasing, Issued corn & fodder.

Nov. 29th, 1837.

            Remained in camp, sickness still increasing, buried Corn Tassels child to day, Issued corn & fodder.

Nov. 30th, 1837.

            Remained in camp, sickness continuing, Issued corn and fodder.

December 1st, 1837.

            Remained in camp, sickness abating, Issued cor and fodder, Bacon & corn meal, Buried Oolanheta’s child to day.

Decr. 2nd, 1837.

            Remained in camp, sickness abating, Issued corn & fodder, Beef & corn meal.

Decr. 3rd, 1837.

            Remained in camp, sickness abating, Issued corn & fodder.

Decr. 4th, 1837.

            Marched at 9 o’c. A.M., Buried George Killian, [p. 11] and left Mr. Wells to bury a waggoner, (black boy) who died this morning, scarcely room in the wagons for the sick, halted at Mr. Davis, 12 past 4 o.c. P.M., had to move down the creek a mile off the road, to get wood, Issued corn & fodder and corn meal, 11 miles to day.

Decr. 5th, 1837.

            Marched 9 o’c. A.M., left two waggoners (black boys) at Mr. Davis sick, this morning, halted at the Merrimack river, ½ past 3 o’c. P.M., Encamped and issued corn and fodder, corn meal and beef, 10 miles to day.

Decr. 6th, 1837.

            Marched at 9 o’c. A.M., passed Masseys Iron works, halted at Mr. Jones’ ½ past 3 o’c. P. M., encamped and issued corn and fodder, 12 miles to day.

Decr. 7th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 ½ o’c., A.M., Reese’s team ran away, broke his wagon and Starrs carry-all, left him and family to get his wagon mended, at 17 miles, and to overtake if possible, halted at Mr. Bates son, 5 o’c., P.M., encamped and issued corn and fodder, corn-meal & bacon, 20 miles to day.

Decr. 8th, 1837.

            Buried Nancy Bigbears Grand Child, marched at 9 o’c. A.M., halted at Piney a small river, ½ past 3 o’c. P.M., rained all day, encamped and issued corn only, no fodder to be had, several drunk, 11 miles to day. [p. 12]

December the 9th, 1837.

            Marched at 9 o’c. A.M., Mayfields wagon broke down at about a mile left him to get it mended and overtake, halted at Waynesville, Mo. 4 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, beef & corn meal, weather extremely cold, 12 ½ miles to day.

Decr. 10th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., halted at the Gasconade river 4 o’c. P.M., Issued corn & fodder.  14 miles to day.

Decr. 11th, 1837.

            Marched at ½ past 8 o’c. A. M., halted at Sumner’s 4 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder.  15 miles to day.

Decr. 12th, 1837.

            Marched at 9 o’c. A.M., halted one mile in advance of Mr. Parkes at a branch, 4 o’c. P. M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, corn meal, beef and a small quantity of bacon.  14 miles to day.

Decr. 13th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 ½ o’c. A. M., halted at a branch near Mr. Eddington’s, 4 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, Reese & Mayfield came up, 13 ½ miles today.

Decr. 14th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A. M., halted at James fork of White river, near the road but which [p. 13] does not cross the road, 3 o’c. P. M., Mr. Wells taken sick, Issued corn meal, corn & fodder, 15 ½ miles to day.

Decr. 15th, 1837.

            Joseph Starrs wife had a child last night.  Marched at 8 ½ o’c. A. M., halted at Mr. Danforths, 1 ½ P. M., waggoners having horses shod until late at night, encamped & issued corn & fodder & beef.  10 ½ miles to day.

Decr. 16th, 1837.

            Issued sugar & coffee to the waggoners & Interpreters this morning, Marched at 9 o’c. A. M., passed through Springfield Mo., halted at Mr. Clicks, 4 o’c. P. M., encamped and issued corn & fodder and corn-meal.  12 miles to day. (left Mr. Wells)

Decr. 17th, 1837.

            Snowed last night, Buried Eleges wife and Chas. Timberlakes son (Smoker), Marched at 9 o’c. A. M., halted at Mr. Dyes 3 o’c P.M., extremely cold weather, sickness prevailing to a considerable extent, all very much fatigued, encamped and issued corn & fodder, & beef.  10 miles to day.

Decr. 18th, 1837.

            Detained on account of sickness, Doct. Townsend sent back to Springfield for medicines, buried Dreadful Waters this evening, Issued corn and fodder & corn meal.   [p. 14]

Decr. 19th, 1837.

            Detained to day also on account of sickness, cold intense, Issued corn & fodder and beef.

Decr. 20th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 ½ o’c. A. M., halted at Mr. Allens ½ past 3 o’c. P. M., encamped, and issued corn & fodder & corn meal.  15 miles to day.

Decr. 21st, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A. M., halted at Lockes on Flat creek, 12 past 3 o’c. P. M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, & beef.  15 miles to day.

Decr. 22nd, 1837.

            Buried Goddards Grand child, Marched at 8 o’c. A. M., halted at McMurtrees, 3 o’c. P.M., encamped and issued corn & fodder and corn-meal.  15 miles to day.

Decr. 23rd, 1837.

            Buried Rainfrogs daughter (Lucy Redstick’s child).  Marched at 8 o’c. A. M. halted at Reddix, 3 o’c. P. M., encamped and issued corn & fodder & beef.  16 miles to day.

Decr. 24th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A. M., halted at the X hollows, had to leave the road ¾ of a mile to get water, 3 o’c. P. M., Issued corn & fodder, Pork and corn meal.  15 miles to day.

Decr. 25th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A. M., took the right hand [p. 15] road to Cane hill, at Fitzgeralds, halted a half mile in advance of Mr. Cunninghams at a branch, 3 o’c. P. M., Issued corn & fodder and salt Pork.  15 ½ miles to day.

Decr. 26th, 1837.

            Marched at 8 o’c. A.M., halted at James Coulters on Cane hill, Ark. ½ past 3 o’c P. M., encamped and issued corn meal, corn & fodder, 16 ½ miles to day.

Decr. 27th, 1837.

            Buried Alsey Timberlake, Daughter of Chas Timberlake, Marched at 8 o’c. A. M., halted at Mr. Beans, in the Cherokee nation west, at ½ past 2 o’c. P. M., encamped and issued corn & fodder, Fresh pork & some beef.  12 miles to day.

Decr. 28th, 1837.

            The Party refused to go further, but at the same time pledged themselves to remain together until the remuster was made by the proper officer, for whom I immediately sent an express to Fort Gibson, they alleged at the same time that the refusal was in consequence of the sickness now prevailing and that only.

            Doct. Reynolds Disbursing agent for the Party dismissed the wagons from further service, Buried another child of Chas Timberlakes, and one which was born (untimely) [p. 16] yesterday of which no other account than this is taken, Jesse Half Breeds wife had a child last night, issued Pork, corn meal and flour, corn & fodder for to day.

            Lieut. Van Horne arrived late this evening, having missed the express on the way.

Decr. 29th, 1837.

            Remustered the Party, Issued a small quantity of corn meal & Pork yet on hand.

Decr. 30th, 1837.

            Completed the Rolls of Remuster, turned over the Party to Lieut. Van Horne, and dismissed my assistants.

Respectfully submitted B. B. Cannon

Source: [National Archives Record Group 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Letters Received, Cherokee Emigration, 1837, C-553, filed in Special Case 249]B Cannon is in Special Files, Bureau of Indian Affairs; no Muster     Roll.  This detachment was the first to travel the overland route through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri later used by most of the  other Removal wagon trains]

James Starr (1796 - 1845) My 1st Cousin Five Generations Back

Son of Caleb Starr from Starr Mountain, TN

James was born on Starr Mountain, the second oldest of 14 children. In his early 20's he married the Maugh sisters, Nellie and Sukie about 1 year apart. In 1843 he married Sally Acorn. Sukie had died in 1840. With the 3 wives he had 20 or 21 children.

The signing of the Treaty of New Echota on Dec. 29, 1835, as depicted at the New Echota Historic Site in Calhoun, Ga. The signers are shown signing the treaty in the parlor of former Cherokee Phoenix Editor Elias Boudinot.

The Treaty of New Echota was a treaty signed on December 29, 1835, in New Echota, Georgia by officials of the United States government and representatives of a minority Cherokee political faction, known as the Treaty Party.^[1] The treaty was amended and ratified by the US Senate in March 1836, despite protests from the Cherokee National Council and its lacking the signature of the Principal Chief John Ross.

The treaty established terms under which the entire Cherokee Nation was expected to cede its territory in the Southeast and move west to the Indian Territory. Although the treaty was not approved by the Cherokee National Council, it was ratified by the U.S. Senate and became the legal basis for the forcible removal known as the Trail of Tears.

From Cherokee Archives: The Murder of James Starr

The murder of James Starr November 9, 1845 added fuel to the fire that burst forth with the assassination of the Ridges and Elias Boudinot June 22, 1839. James Starr, like the previous ones killed, was a member of the treaty Party who signed the Treaty of New Echota December 29, 1835. There was a price on the head of each person who signed that document. He was among the first to be persuaded that emigration of the west was the best course. He came West along with the bulk of the Treaty Party. There were a number of murders between June 22, 1839 and the murder of James Starr, but none shook the Cherokee Nation as did the latter event. Vengeance was meted out to James Starr early Sunday Morning November 9, 1845 when a company if 32 men bedecked with war paint rode up to his home in the Flint district. James' wife saw the men approaching and went to warn her husband of the impending trouble. James told her to remain calm and permit the men to search the house. He went to the washstand on the front proch and washed his hands and face. He was drying his face when one of the men opened fire without warning, killing him instantly. Buck Starr, a crippled son, about 14 years of age, was standing nearby. His mother told him to run, but he could only hobble slowly, and he was shot, dying a month or so afterward. There were 3 small sons in the house, and it is said that an attempt was made to kill them, but Mrs Starr wrapped her shirt about two of them and the grandmother hugged the oldest one to her. The men left, realizing they could not kill the boys without killing the women, and they had no desire to harm women.

The raiders then went to Pollie Rider's home, Where Sewell Rider was shot. According to Hill and Starr in "Footprints in the Indian Territory" as Sewell lay wounded on the ground, an Indian named Stand jumped from his horse and stabbed the wounded man in his heart. As they left, they encountered another of James' sons, Washington, whom they shot, desperately wounding him before he could escape.

Tom Starr lived about 2 miles from his father, and Creek Starr, the oldest of the sons at home, ran and told Tom the news, which was to trigger a series of the most vengeful vendettas of all time.

It is reported that James Starr had 21 children, but only the younger ones dared to attend the funeral, as the older ones were afraid they would be murdered if they appeared. The Arkansas Intelligence reported that soon after the murder of James Starr plans were being made to kill all of his sons.

John Ross was accused of at least being the perpetrator of the slaying of the Starrs, The Ridges, Elias Boudinot and Rider, but no proof was ever produced of such. Some thought it was a radical element of the so called Ross Faction. It might be pointed out, however, the the retaliatory actions of the treaty party were featured to a greater extent in the "Cherokee Advocate" than similar acts by the Ross Followers.  

The Search To See If I Had Married My Cousin

I married a Starr. Ironically the Starr name is a popular last name in the Cherokee Nation. So I went in search of a connection. Both lines have a Caleb Starr. Could they be the same Caleb? I found a lot of trees on Ancestry.com where they are confused. It certainly confused me for a while. But after finding my Cherokee Caleb Starr I discovered what I believe is the founding father of the Cherokee Starrs. I also found some amazing stories in this line including many relatives who were on the Trail of Tears and a line of father, son, and grandson who were "bad men." The "Bandit Queen" Belle Starr married into this line.The imminent Cherokee researcher and genealogist Dr. Emmet Starr was the great grandson of Cherokee Caleb Starr. These Starrs are "mine" and I do not believe have a connection to my husband's Starrs.

I just reread a "Note to Self" on this blog that said I must concentrate on the grandparents and not go off on other hunts. Well once again I failed completely, but it sure has been fun finding Caleb and then the resulting "bad men" and "good men" stories. But as soon as I get theses folks stories told I feel sure I can make it back to those important grandparents.

The Founding Father of the Cherokee Starr Line - Caleb Starr

I think this excerpt from the book The Hidden History of McMinn County by Joe Guy does a wonderful job of introducing Caleb Starr. Joe Guy is a nationally published author, newspaper columnist and historian residing in McMinn County, TN

Caleb Starr’s Tennessee Mountain

“Hidden History”

Joe Guy

 I attended a cemetery dedication recently, that of the old Cooper Cemetery east of Etowah, in the Conasauga Valley alongside Starr Mountain.  And as I listened to the dedication remarks spoken so eloquently by preservationist Marvin Templin, I looked to the mountain where the fog hung heavy and low.  As cattle called in the distant field, and I thought of the man for whom the mountain was named, and of his home that once stood on a nearby rise only a few hundred yards away.

Caleb Starr was born 1758 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, of Quaker ancestry.  At some point in adulthood, Caleb migrated to North Carolina, and about 1775 he came into the Tennessee country, along with future governor Joseph McMinn. Some sources say the two knew each other well.

In 1797, Caleb is listed as a hireling to Ellis Harlan, a fellow Quaker and a well-known trader to the Cherokee.  Both are listed as whites living in the Cherokee lands in “Persons Residing in the Cherokee Country, Not Natives of the Land in 1797” in a letter by Agent Silas Dinsmore to Governor Sevier. It is probable that Starr had worked for Harlan for quite some time, as Harlan had been a trader, and at times a spy, for many years.  Harlan had married the daughter of Nancy Ward, Katherine Kingfisher, and fathered a half-breed girl named Nannie about 1777.

Although he was a bit older than she, Caleb Starr must have taken notice of Nannie while working in her father’s trading business.  Caleb would have seen her often, and he also would have seen much of the Cherokee lands in his travels and visits with the Indians.  It is likely that he first saw the rich lands in the Conasauga Valley while employed with Harlan.  When Nannie Harlan was 17 years old, Caleb took her as his wife in about 1794.Around 1800, the year her father died, Caleb and Nannie moved into the Conasauga Valley underneath the shadow of the Unicoi Mountains and built a cabin on a small rise at the foot of the ridge.  Starr continued to work with and for the Cherokee, while at the same time building up a rather large farm.  On July 11-12, 1810, Caleb is listed on the records of Indian Agent Return J. Meigs as having been compensated for blacksmith work ($10.75) and for building two looms ($16.00) for the Cherokees.  On a receipt dated November 1, 1815, of the United States Government’s Cherokee annuity payment for the years 1813 to 1816, thirty-six thousand dollars was paid to Return J. Meigs, United States Agent to the Cherokee Nation, which was to be dispersed among the Indians. The receipt was signed by Caleb Starr, among other leaders, indicating his position of importance as a member of the Nation. Not long after, he would be involved with both the Treaty of 1816 and the Treaty of 1819.  But it was the treaty of 1817 that secured Caleb Starr in the ownership of his ever-growing plantation.

By the 8th article of the Treaty of 1817, the United States agreed to give a reservation of 640 acres of land, to each and every head of an Indian family, residing on the East side of the Mississippi River. The reservee was to have a life estate for himself, but the Treaty provided that if any of the heads of families for whom reservations might be made, should the owner remove voluntarily from the land reservation, the right of ownership was to revert back to the United States. When the Hiwassee Purchase was made in 1819, the Indians’ reservations had precedence over the subsequent land sales.  Caleb Starr’s reservation alongside the mountain was recorded as section 9 of the fractional township, Range 1 East on the Conasauga Creek, in newly formed McMinn County, Tennessee.  By this time, the Starrs held the 640 acres and worked the farm with around 100 slaves.

Caleb Starr had by this time already established himself and was raising a large family on his beautiful valley farm, so much that those who would settle nearby began to refer to the towering mountain not as Chilhowee, but as “Starr’s Mountain”.For about thirty years, the Starrs lived on their farm.  Fourteen Children were born there: Mary Jane, James, Thomas, Ruth, Ezekiel, Sarah, George, Joseph McMinn, Rachael, Nancy, John, Alexander, Deborah, and Ellis.  Only John and Alexander did not live to adulthood.  Of all the children, James seems to be the most flamboyant and controversial.  It was he who convinced President Andrew Jackson to give 640 acres to certain white settlers moving into the area. James became a member of the Treaty Party, which advocated total tribal removal, and with other members he signed the controversial Treaty of 1835, which would result in the total removal of the Cherokees in 1838. 

Like his sons, Caleb Starr seems to have supported emigration, as did many of the mixed bloods.  The anti-Removal Party, led by John Ross, was supported mostly by full-bloods.  Several years before the Trail of Tears, some of Caleb’s sons, including Ezekiel and James, had already relocated to the lands west of the Mississippi.  After the Removal was complete, members of the Removal Party were hunted down and killed.  James escaped the first round of bloodshed, only to be killed later in 1845.

By the time he sold out of his Conasauga Valley farm and traveled the long trail to the West, Caleb was almost 80 years old.  Like others who supported removal, Caleb may have seen the futility of fighting with the determined policies of Andrew Jackson, or he may have simply believed there was a better life awaiting the Cherokees out West.  He and Nannie died in 1841 and 1843, and both were laid to rest in the Going Snake District, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (now Adair County, OK).Some sources say that Caleb Starr’s grave lay unmarked, and I am unsure if it remains so today. His original home is also gone, having fallen into  disrepair it was torn down in the mid-20thcentury.  But I do know that rising almost 2000 feet, and following a twenty-mile course over Monroe County, the eastern edge of McMinn County, and into northern Polk County husband of 4th great grand aunt is an everlasting monument to Caleb Starr, a mountain forever named for the man and the life he made in the Conasauga Valley. 

                     

Caleb Starr is the husband of my 4th great grand aunt, Nancy Harlan. His children then become my 1st cousins 5 generations back.

Caleb married Nancy Harlan in 1794. She was the granddaughter of Nanyehi "Nancy" Ward,
Beloved Woman of the Cherokees and my 6th gGrandmother. They had 14 children, 2 of whom died young.

The  Cherokee Starrs and the Trail of Tears

By the early 1830's, the Starrs became convinced that removal of all Cherokees to new lands west of the Mississippi River was the only way to keep the Cherokee Nation from being completely destroyed by the Government of the State of Georgia, aided and abetted by the Federal Government led by President Andrew Jackson.  Even so, most Cherokees were opposed to removal.  In 1828, an anti-removal party came to power in the Cherokee Nation who attempted to preserve their remaining eastern lands.  John Ross was elected principal chief of the Nation. Ross and his followers strongly opposed removal. However, during the 1817-1837 time frame, many Cherokees voluntarily emigrated to the lands west of the Mississippi and became known as the "Old Settlers."

Caleb Starr and his sons supported emigration. Ezekiel Starr and his family traveled to the west in 1834. James Starr became a leading member of the Treaty Party, On 29 December 1835, James Starr and 19 other Cherokee leaders, signed the controversial Treaty of New Echota, which required the Cherokees to move west within two years after U. S. Senate ratification of the Treaty.  The treaty was ratified on 23 May 1836 - thus the removal deadline for the Cherokees was 23 Mayfield 1838.  James Starr and his family removed to the Cherokee portion of Indian Territory in 1837.The majority of the eastern Cherokees, under the leadership of Chief John Ross, fiercely resisted removal and were were forcibly removed to the west in 1838-1839 time frame.  During this removal, they suffered severely on what came to be called the "Trail of Tears."

Upon arrival in the Indian Territory, the differences between the Anti-Treaty or Ross Party and the Pro-Treaty or Ridge Party erupted into violence. On June 22, 1839, three leaders of the Treaty Party - Major Ridge, his son John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot - were assassinated by members of the Ross faction. James Starr and Stand Watie were due to be killed the same day, but they found refuge at Fort Gibson. John Ross was elected principal chief of a new, "unified" Cherokee government in the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory.In the Cherokee election of 1841, Ezekiel Starr was elected to the Cherokee legislature from the Flint District, and his brother, James Starr, was elected to serve from the Goingsnake District. However, the supporters of Chief Ross were still eliminating the supporters of the removal treaty and many murders were being committed by both sides.

Nancy and Caleb moved West prior to 1838. They settled on a farm near Evansville, Arkansas. Nancy died in 1841 and Caleb died in 1843.

Starr Mountain (Cherokee Caleb Starr)

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Caleb Starr's Shed - only thing standing at Starr Mountain

Cherokee National Forest Hiking Guide History of Starr Mountain