Christie, William

William CHRISTIE (1800 - 1833) and Mary WAH-LEE

my 4g-grandparents

William CHRISTIE, said to be a half Cherokee, was born about 1800, and died about 1833. He was born and raised in what is now Eastern Tennessee, and lived his entire life, as far as I can tell, in the Cherokee Nation East, or Old Cherokee Nation, which occupied what is now southeastern Tennessee and southwestern North Carolina. In 1835, his father, Edward "Ned" CHRISTIE, lived near the mouth of the Valley River, where it empties into the Hiwassee River, at the current location of Murphy, NC.

The Hiwassee and most of its tributaries have their headwaters in northern Georgia and southwestern North Carolina, and flow northwest, into Tennessee, and empties into the Tennessee River. The Valley River (not shown) in North Carolina flows southwest, and empties into the Hiwassee at Murphy, NC.

Sabra was born about 1818, and went west on the Trail of Tears, in which 17,000 Indians were forced to move from the Eastern Tennessee region to Oklahoma in 1838. About 4,000 Indians died on the journey, and there was great suffering, so Sabra lived through some very hard times.

Sabra appeared in the 1850 and 1860 censuses, which both say that she was born about 1818, in TN (see the William BOWERS Sr page), so her father William CHRISTIE could not have been born after 1805, and 1800 is just a guess.

The famous Ned CHRISTIE is a son of Watt CHRISTIE, and hence a grand-nephew and namesake of Ned CHRISTIE above.

The evidence that William CHRISTIE is the father of Sabra CHRISTIE, my 3g-grandmother, is contained in the case files described below. Sabra married William BOWERS, and Madison J. Bowers was their son. See the William BOWERS Sr page.

Some of the public member trees on Ancestry have William's wife's name as Mary WAH-LEE. This sounds like an Indian name, and I had assumed that she was the source of the BOWERS' Indian blood, but now it seems that it came from the CHRISTIE side. It is also claimed, without evidence, that Sabra had siblings: Joseph and Rachel.

From the SPRINGER document (see the SPRINGER page): "The SCHOFIELD family lived at Haigwood Prairie, long before the Civil War. JANE SCHOFIELD was a sister to Mas Mother. LIZA WOLF was a daughter of Jane SCHOFIELD. She married GEORGE WOLF. They went to Kansas during the Civil War and the Schofields went to Texas. Mas Mother died during the Civil War and is buried in an old cemetery in Paris on the bank of a little creek. Ma and the other children were living in George Wolfs house when it was burned by Confederate Bushwhackers."

The SPRINGER document was written by William Oscar SPRINGER, shortly before his death in 1942. His mother was Mary Sabra (BOWERS) SPRINGER, so "Mas Mother" was Sabra (CHRISTIE) BOWERS. So Sabra had a sister, Jane, who also came to Logan County, and married a SCHOFIELD. Jane had a daughter, Liza, who married George WOLF.

Jane (CHRISTIE) COFFIELD

Jane CHRISTIE was born about 1809, in southeastern Tennessee, the daughter of William CHRISTIE. She made he way to Arkansas, before 1847. I'm not certain that she traveled with her younger sister Sabra, but they both ended up in Logan County. In Arkansas, Jane married Gresham COFFIELD, as his second wife. Gresham was a farmer, also born in Tennessee, about 1798, according to later censuses (below).

The death certificate for David W. COFFIELD has his parents as Grissum Coffield and Emma Pettyjohn. David was born about 1842, so David's older sisters were also children of Gresham and Emma. The marriage of Gresham and Jane must have been between 1842 and 1847, when Jane's daughter Martha A. COFFIELD was born.

[Comments in square brackets are mine, not part of the original record or transcription.]

In 1840, they lived in Conway County, central Arkansas. All 3 adults present were illiterate, which may explain why the name is spelled so many different ways. I've identified everyone, based on later censuses (below), except for the male, age 15-19, who may be a son, or a farmhand. Also, I don't have any evidence for Mary Ann, except that some researchers have claimed that she was born about 1929, in Kentucky.

In 1850, George W. WOLF and his future wife, Eliza Jane COFFIELD, both lived in Johnson County, probably in the same area, since their families were close together in the census. Family #54 has Gresham COFFIELD with his 2nd wife, Jane (CHRISTIE) COFFIELD. The children Eliza Jane, Amanda M and David W are Gresham's children from his first wife, Emma (PETTYJOHN) COFFIELD, who died between 1842 and 1847. Martha A. COFFIELD is the child of Gresham COFFIELD and his 2nd wife, Jane (CHRISTIE) COFFIELD. [Note: The SPRINGER document says that Eliza Jane COFFIELD was Jane's daughter, but she must have been her step-daughter. Thanks to Don COFFIELD for noticing this.]

In family #57, George WOLF appears with Harriette, his first wife. Their child is Mary E. WOLF, age 2. Also nearby, in family #55, was Mary Ann LINDSEY, who was also a daughter of Grisham and Emma COFFIELD, according to [BT]. She would be the female, age 10-14, in the 1840 US Census, above.

The Oakwood Cemetery, in Paris, Logan County, Arkansas, has a shared gravestone, for G. W. WOLF, 1825-1907, and Eliza J. WOLF, 1836-1906. The creator of this record has provided additional information, which I am working to verify.

In 1860 the 2 sisters, Jane (CHRISTIE) COFFIELD and Sabra (CHRISTIE) BOWERS are living close together, in Johnson County. The census taker has been pretty sloppy, spelling COFFIELD as CROWFIELD, and Sabra as Selry, but enough of the details match up, so that there are the right families. Gresham's son David W. COFFIELD and his wife are also here.

Martha A. COFFIELD, who was 3 in the 1850 Census, is absent, but Alvin COFFIELD, age 11 has appeared. He is actually Alvin LINSEY, son of Mary Ann (COFFIELD) LINSEY.

In 1860, George and Eliza WOLF lived in Short Mountain, with 6 children. George was a farmer, with real estate valued at $1,300 and personal estate $1,280. Mary E. WOLF was George's child from his previous marriage, and possibly some of the other children are as well. If George was born 1825-6 in Arkansas, he was probably born near the Mississippi River, or perhaps the Arkansas River, since the rest of Arkansas Territory was only sparsely settled by Europeans at that time. Arkansas became a state on 15 Jun 1836, with a population of about 6,000.

Patents were issued to Grisham COFFIELD for two parcels in Logan County, in Twp 7N, Rng 25W, Section 6. One plot contained 133.5 acres in the SW quarter of Section 6. The second plot contained 40 acres, being the NW quarter of the SE quarter of Section 6. So he had a 173.5 acre farm, less than 1 mile NE of the present city of Paris.

George W. WOLF had three parcels of land in Logan County, all in Twp 7N, Rng 26W, Section 12. The first 2, patented on 1 Mar 1860, totaled 240 acres, and the 3rd, patented on 1 May 1861, was another 40 acres, so the farm was 280 acres, almost half of Section 12, less than 1 mile SW of Paris, and just south of the COFFIELD farm.

Sabra (CHRISTIE) BOWERS died in 1862, and the BOWERS children went to live with Sabra's step-daughter, Eliza (COFFIELD) WOLF, and her husband, George W. WOLF. After George and Eliza's house was burned by Confederate Bushwackers, the WOLFs moved to Kansas. I'm not sure where the BOWERS kids went.

The 1870 Census has George and (Eliza) Jane in Franklin County, with 6 children. The value of their real and personal estate has decreased since 1860. Next in the census are Andrew and Adeline NICHOLLS, and Jane (CHRISTIE) COFIELD is living with them. Adeline was Jane's daughter.

The wife of Andrew NICHOLS was Adaline COFIELD. She appeared as Adeline, born about 1851 in the 1870 US Census (above), and M. A. born about 1852 in the 1865 Kansas State Census (above), and Malissa, born about 1851, in the 1860 US Census (above). So I think she was Malissa Adaline (COFIELD) NICHOLS.

Andrew J. NICHOLS fought in the Civil War, on the Union side, 4th Arkansas Cavalry, Company E or C. Adaline filed for his pension in 1883 and 1888. I don't know whether the record above indicates that he was an invalid in 1883, or she was, but it appears that she filed as a widow on 30 Mar 1888.

The 1880 Census has George and Eliza WOLF, still in Short Mountain, which had become part of the newly formed Logan County. Their son William lived nearby, with a wife and 4 children. Also in Short Mountain was Adeline (COFFIELD) NICHOLS, and family.

George was a home owner, and a 74-year-old day laborer. His son T. L. WOLF was a teacher, who had been unemployed 10 months in the past year. George and Eliza had been married 37 years, which puts their marriage about 1862-3. Eliza had had 12 children, with only 5 still living.

Listed before them, probably living on the same land, or nearby, is a merchant, A. S. WOLF, who is probably Alfred, also a home owner. His wife, Dora, had had 3 children, with 2 still living, and they are present.

1 Gresham COFFIELD b: 1798 in TN, d: Aft. 1860, age 62+

+ Emma PETTYJOHN, d: 1842
......2 Mary Ann COFIELD b: 1829 in KY
...... + Calvin R. LINDSEY b: 1822 in AL, d: Bef. 1860 in AR, age 38-
......2 Elizabeth Jane "Eliza" COFFIELD b: 04 Feb 1836 in AR, d: 1875, age 39
...... + George Washington WOLF b: 25 Jun 1825 in Izard, AR, d: 28 Jul 1907 in Logan, AR, age 82
......2 Amanda M. COFFIELD b: 1839 in AR
......2 David Walker COFFIELD b: 1842 in AR, d. 15 Jun 1925 in Vinita, Craig, OK , age 83
...... + Louisa b: 1843 in AR

+ Jane CHRISTIE b: 1810 in TN, m: between 1842 and 1847, d: Aft. 1870, age 60+
......2 Martha A. COFFIELD b: 1847 in AR , d: Bef. 1860, age 11-
......2 Malissa Adeline COFFIELD b: 1851 in Paris, Logan, AR
...... + Andrew M. NICHOLS b: 1847 in AR, m: 21 Jan 1867 in Franklin, AR, d. Bef. 30 Mar 1888, age 41-

Madison J. BOWERS vs The Cherokee Nation

Many lawsuits were filed by people trying to gain citizenship in the Cherokee Nation. These are extremely valuable to genealogists, because the plaintiffs had to prove their descent from an ancestor with Cherokee blood. This usually involved sworn statements by several witnesses. Unfortunately, some of the witnesses were professionals, known as "standing witnesses," who would say anything for a fee. One of the most prolific standing witnesses in the Cherokee Nation was Watt CHRISTIE, nephew of Ned CHRISTIE. Another was George W. VANN.

Most of what I know about William CHRISTIE comes from documents related to the citizenship application of Madison J. BOWERS, a grandson of William CHRISTIE, filed suit against the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, claiming citizenship based on ancestry. The case was appealed and argued over the period 1887-97, and was denied, first because Ned CHRISTIE was not found in the Census Rolls, and when he was found, it was still denied because Madison J. BOWERS resided in the state of Arkansas.

In his petition and appeal, Madison J. BOWERS claimed that his mother was Sabra CHRISTIE, and her father was William CHRISTIE, and his father was Ned CHRISTIE, a full-blood Chreokee. He claims that Sabra, William and Ned CHRISTIE were all born and reared in the Old Cherokee Nation, East Tennessee, on the Hiwassee River.

Several people wrote affidavits, stating that they had known William CHRISTIE and/or Sabra CHRISTIE personally, and that Sabra was William's daughter. Unfortunately, two of these witnesses were well-known standing witnesses. See [WCSW].

1885 Sep 5 - Sworn affidavit from A. A. FREEMAN, of Logan County, AR.

State of Arkansas

County of Logan

In the matter of M. J. Bowers vs Cherokee Nation for Citizenship A. A. Freeman after being sworn according to law says that his age is 50 years that his post office is Paris Logan County Arkansas, that he is and has been acquainted with M. J. Bowers for the last 25 years, and that he is called Cherokee Indian by blood in the neighborhood where he now lives, and that he derived his Cherokee Indian blood from his mother Sabary Christie who married a William Bowers, and that he is not of kin nor interested in the prosecution of said claim.

A. A. Freeman

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5^th day of September 1885

H. G. Sadler

Clerk Circuit Court Logan County Arkansas

[MJB, p. 21]

1885 Oct 30 – Sworn affidavit from many citizens of Logan County, AR.

We the undersigned citizens of Logan County Arkansas would respectfully represent that we have known M. J. Bowers for a number of years. Would also state that he has always been generally recognized as being of Indian parentage of the Cherokee Tribe.

J. H. Wilkins

J. P. Grady

J. ? Carr

J. E. Henry

A. S. Cabell Sheriff Logan Co.

W. ? Wolf

H. M. Nichols

J. A. Croley

State of Arkansas

County of Logan

I H. G. Sadler Clerk of the Circuit Court within and for the County of Logan and state of Arkansas do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the afor named persons who are citizens of Logan County Arkansas and all of them are honorable gentlemen and their statements are entitled to full faith and credit. I further certify that their signatures in the foregoing certificate are genuine.

Witness my hand and the seal of said Court at my office within the town of Paris this 30^th day of October 1885

H. G. Sadler

Clerk

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original given under my hand + seal of office this 20^th day of November 1885

Allen Ross, Clerk

Clerk Tahlequah Dist.

C N Ind Ter

[MJB, p. 19-20]

1885 Nov 19 – Sworn affidavit from Watt CHRISTIE

Affidavit of Watt Christie

Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah District

Personally appeared before me Allen Ross Clerk of Tahlequah District Cherokee Nation, Watt Christie to me well known after being duly sworn says he was personally acquainted with William Christie son of Ned Christie who was a relative of mine and died in the old Cherokee Nation before the treaty of 1835 who had a daughter Sabary who married William Bowers and the applicant M.J. Bowers is her son. Affiant further says that he knows of his own personal knowledge that William Christie was a half breed Cherokee Indian by blood and that Sabary Bowers and M.J. Bowers are the lineal descendants of the said William Christie. My age is 80 years post office address is Tahlequah (??) Sworn to and subscribed to me this 19th November 1885 Allen Ross Watt Christie (his mark)

[MJB, pp. 26-7]

1887 Feb 25 - Application - The original application seems to be lost, but we have the reply (below). The application was accompanied by affidavits from A. A. FREEMAN and others, from Logan County, AR, who testified that M. J. BOWERS was generally known in the community as being part Cherokee by blood. It was also accompanied by the affidavit of Watt CHRISTIE, who testified that M. J. BOWERS was the son of Sabra CHRISTIE, who was the daughter of William CHRISTIE, who was the son of Ned CHRISTIE, form the Old Cherokee Nation. This last piece of evidence was the most important, and now it is unfortunately called into question, since Watt CHRISTIE was know to have lied in other similar cases.

1888 Oct 3 - Application Denied - The application was denied, because the name Ned CHRISTIE was not found on the census rolls.

About 8 years later, M. J. BOWERS decided to reapply. First, he gathered testimony from a few more witnesses.

1896 Aug 8 - George W. VANN, age 80, resident of Sequoyah District, Cherokee Nation, I. T., said that he knew Bill CHRISTIE, in Old Cherokee Nation, that Bill lived on the Hiwassee River, and died in 1832-3, and Sabra was his daughter. He said that Bill CHRISTIE was related to the CHRISTIES who were living in the Indian Territory, and that he didn't know what had become of Sabra CHRISTIE.

Like Watt CHRISTIE, George W. VANN was later identified as a "standing witness," so his testimony must be held in some doubt. See [WCSW].

1896 Aug 17 - N. J. WOMACK, age 54, resident of Logan County, AR said that he had known Sabra CHRISTIE since 1844 until her death in 1862, and that Sabra always claimed to be the daughter of Bill CHRISTIE, born and raised in Old Cherokee Nation, East TN, on the Hiwassee River.

1896 Aug 24 - Eliza J. WOLF, age 71, said that William CHRISTIE died in East Tennessee, about 1833, after which Sabra came west, and that Sabra CHRISTIE died in 1862. She was present at the marriage of William BOWERS and Sabra CHRISTIE, which was about 1842. So it seems she never knew William CHRISTIE, and she would have been about 8 years old when he died, but she still claims he was the father of Sabra.

1896 Aug 26 - J. W. FROST of Driggs, Logan, AR testified that he had known M. J. BOWERS for 28 years, and that BOWERS lived with the father of J. W. FROST for 18 months in 1868-9. He believes that M. J. BOWERS has Cherokee Indian blood.

1896 Aug 26 - Joseph PENICK testified that he had known M. J. BOWERS for 33 years, and that he was a soldier in 1863-4 when M. J. BOWERS, then a small boy, was with the company, and was known as a Cherokee Indian boy.

1896 Aug 27 - Petition for Citizenship - He says he was never notified of the result of his earlier application.

1896 Sep 7 - Application denied for two reasons: Neither M. J. BOWERS, nor any of his ancestors, had ever resided in the Cherokee Nation and Indian Territory, and Ned CHRISTIE still had not been found on the census rolls.

1897 Apr 8 - Notice of Appeal

1897 Nov 15 - Report of the Special Master - Denial of Appeal, on the grounds that the applicant was never a resident of the Cherokee Nation. The report seems to indicate that, among other things, the mother of Sabra CHRISTIE was not a Cherokee. I have not seen any mention of her in any records. It does acknowledge that Ned CHRISTIE was on the 1835 census roll, and that this establishes that the applicant has Cherokee blood.

1897 Nov 15 – Report of Special Master

The premises considered, I find that the claimants are residents of the State of Arkansas, that they are Cherokee Indians by blood and descendants of Ned Christie, who was a Cherokee Indian by blood, who lived in the State of Tennessee prior to the making of the roll of the Cherokee Nation in the year 1835, that they do not show that any ancestor through whom they claim Indian blood has ever been enrolled as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation with the exception of Ned Christie the great grand father, that they have made application to a Citizenship Commission of the Cherokee Nation seeking enrollment in that Nation as citizens, and have been rejected by said Commission, but that they Swear that they were not present at the trial of the said cause and have not been notified of the decision in said cause prior to the time this cause was tried by the Commission to the Five Tribes.

1897 Sep 17 - Certificate of Authenticity for the copy of the 1835 Census, showing Ned, Night and Aaron CHRISTIE in Old Cherokee Nation. See the Ned CHRISTIE page for more details from this census.

The best evidence I have for the existence of William CHRISTIE is the testimony of Watt CHRISTIE an admitted liar, and George W. VANN, another unreliable witness. As Shakespeare's Macbeth said, "function is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is but what is not."

Sources

[1825] Map of the US, 1825

[AW] Genealogy of the descendants of Abraham Wood on Ancestry.com

[BLM] Bureau of Land Management

[BT] Bowers Family Tree on Ancestry.com

[CH] Coffield-Holeman Family Tree on Ancestry.com

[FLR] Federal Land Records for Logan County, Arkansas

[MJB] Madison J. Bowers vs Cherokee Nation, Case 274, U.S., Citizenship Case Files in Indian Territory, 1896-1897

[1760] Map of the Cherokee Nation, 1760

[NCA] Ned Christie Archive

[NCCO] Ned Christie: Cherokee Outlaw

[SC] Supreme Court 1831

[WB] William Bowers on WikiTree, by Rory Bowers

[WCSW] Watt Christie the Standing Witness

Updated 8 May 2021 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.