Name of Dawes Commission Applicant

Date of Birth

Place of Residence or birth in the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations

Degree of Indian blood and tribe

1) Martin Luther Thompson

b.1857

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

3/8 Choctaw-Chickasaw

2) Inez Monterey Thompson (nee Fannin)

b. 1860

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

5/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

3) Willie Newton Hill (nee Thompson)

b. 1877

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

Cherokee

4) Luther Hill

b. 1894

Atoka, Choctaw Nation *

11/64 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

5) Althia Thompson (nee Thompson)

b.1880

Antlers, Choctaw Nation

Cherokee

6) Miller Henderson Thompson (husband. of Althia)

b. 1874;,

Antlers, Choctaw Nation

7) Jessie Felix Thompson;

b. 1899

Antlers, Choctaw Nation *

11/64 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

8) Decatur "Cater" Lee Thompson

b. 1883

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

11/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

9) Thomas Agatha Silvey (nee Thompson)

b. 1885

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

11/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

10) Euna Belle Silvey

Atoka, Choctaw Nation*

11/64 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

11) Thelma Silvey

Atoka, Choctaw Nation *

11/64 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

12) Clarence A. Thompson

b. 1886

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

11/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

13) Melissa Alavada Thompson

b. 1890

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

11/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

14) Cone Johnson Thompson

b. 1893

Atoka Choctaw Nation

11/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

15) Mossie Brown Thompson

b. 1899

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

11/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

16) Martha Strong Thompson (nee Thompson)

b. 1836

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

1/8 Choctaw-Chickasaw

17) Sarah Melissa Dean (nee Thompson)

b. 1839

Lone Grove, Chickasaw Nation

1/8 Choctaw-Chickasaw

18) Wesley Nicholas Dean

b. 1869

Lone Grove, Chickasaw Nation *

1/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw

19) Bessie Rob Dean

b. 1891

Cumberland, Chickasaw Nation *

1/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw

20) Willie Pleasant Dean

b. 1893

Cumberland, Chickasaw Nation *

1/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw

21) Dollie Wesley Dean

b. 1894

Lone Grove, Chickasaw Nation *

1/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw

22) Bonnie Bemberly Dean

b. 1897

Cumberland, Chickasaw Nation *

1/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw

23) Shep Jarvis Dean

b. 1899

Cumberland, Chickasaw Nation *

1/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw

24) Roy Russell Dean

b. 1901

Cumberland, Chickasaw Nation *

1/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw

25) Ella Lillian Dean,;

b. 1903

Aylesworth, Chickasaw Nation *

1/32 Choctaw-Chickasaw

26) Erastus Pleasant Dean

b. 1872

Lone Grove, Chickasaw Nation *

1/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw

27) Winfield Featherstone Thompson

b. 1849

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

1/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw (*#)

28) Evan Fletcher Thompson

b. 1859

Tuskahoma, Choctaw Nation

1/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw (*#)

30) Robert Lee Thompson

b. 1868

Fort Washita, Chickasaw Nation*

5/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw

31) Willie Virginia Thompson (nee Fannin)

b. 1867

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

5/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

32) Martin Erastus Nelson

b. 1887

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

3/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee **

33) Dora Malsura Nelson

b. 1891

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

3/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee **

34) William Green Thompson

b. 1895

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

5/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

35) Maime Thompson

b. 1896

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

5/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

36) Lular Virginia Thompson

b. 1899

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

5/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

37) Liddie Belle Thompson

b. 1902

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

5/16 Choctaw-Chickasaw-Cherokee

38) Sarah Fannin (nee Horton)

b. 1840

Atoka, Choctaw Nation

5/16 Chickasaw-Cherokee ***

39) Sarah Mary Terry Josephine Stubblefield (nee Thompson)

b. 1861

Marlow, Chickasaw Nation

1/8 Choctaw-Chickasaw # (*) (*#)

40) Priscilla Frances Richards (nee Thompson)

b. 1863

Colbert, Chickasaw Nation

1/8 Choctaw-Chickasaw #(*#)

41) James Cooper Thompson

b. 1866

Colbert, Chickasaw Nation

1/8 Choctaw-Chickasaw # (*#)

42) Arbella Florence Kaney (nee Thompson),;;

b. 1868

Colbert, Chickasaw Nation

1/8 Choctaw-Chickasaw #

* Denotes born at location listed

** Denotes children of Willie Virginia Thompson (nee Fannin), by first husband, Lee Dan Nelson who was 1/16 Choctaw Chickasaw, the son of Alsey Ann Nelson (nee Thompson) daughter of Archibald and Anna Strong Thompson (nee Thompson) and sister of Martha Strong Thompson (nee Thompson) and Sarah Melissa Dean (nee Thompson).

*** Denotes, mother of Willie Virginia Thompson (nee Fannin) and Inez Monterey Thompson (nee Fannin)

# Denotes possibly rejected due to residence, although no application found.

(*#) Denotes that they had a sibling(s) enrolled as Citizens by Blood of the Choctaw Nation.

(*) Denotes had a child enrolled as a Citizen by Blood of the Choctaw Nation.

Additional note: Nathaniel Fannin, 1/4 Choctaw (brother in law of Sarah Fannin), died in 1891 at Willis, Chickasaw Nation. It is not known if any of his children attempted to enroll as Citizens by Blood or not.

All individuals listed above are descendants or married to descendants of Margaret Thompson (nee McCoy) listed as 1/2 Choctaw Indian in Dawes Commission testimony of (William C. Thompson et al vs. Choctaw Nation). She is the daughter of Sally McCoy, listed on the 1818 Chickasaw Annuity Roll (in the household of James Holmes Colbert, pg. 22) and probably the same person as Mrs. Frazier, the wife of James Holmes Colbert. K.M. Armstrong states that Mrs. Frazier was 1/2 Chickasaw, therefore her McCoy husband must have been 1/2 Choctaw. This is also supported in Dawes Commission Testimony that Dickson Frazier was the uncle (great uncle) of William C. Thompson (William C. Thompson et al vs. Choctaw Nation). Further, note that Dickson Frazier is also listed in the house of Harry Fraser on the 1818 Chickasaw Annuity Roll (pg. 15). It was based upon such descent from Margaret Thompson (nee McCoy) that some of her descendants were admitted as Citizens by Blood of the Choctaw Nation. Only this line of descent is being considered on this website, as the Dawes Commission accepted it. Other blood lines, such as the Jackson (Choctaw), Doak-Fannin (Choctaw), Hicks-Horton (Chickasaw, Cherokee), Jones (Choctaw), etc. are not being considered as they are only proving higher blood quantum's. The initial Choctaw-Chickasaw lines of descent are proven through Margaret Thompson (nee McCoy).

First, in 1906 both Martin Luther Thompson and Robert Lee Thompson, who were first cousins and brothers-in law, received letters from a law firm in Atoka, Choctaw Nation, requesting they return to the Choctaw Nation as it would benefit their cases for enrollment. It is thereby assumed that if they applied, then so did their wives and children. Family members further support this in appeals after the closing of the Dawes Commission Rolls. In one such appeal by Althea Thompson, daughter of Martin Luther Thompson was told that there was no evidence that she had ever applied for Citizenship during the allotted time period. With the earlier letters, it was proven that Martin Luther Thompson and Robert Lee Thompson were initially accepted as Citizens by Blood of the Choctaw Nation and resided near Atoka for a period to establish residence. Thus their children would have been accepted as well. In many cases the siblings in one family were enrolled, but not all. In another case even the child of one individual was enrolled but not the parent (Sarah Fleater Stubblefield, roll number 15996, while her mother and siblings were not enrolled).

Problems also existed for those Thompson's that were enrolled as the issue had to be taken to the United States Supreme Court in the case of William C. Thompson et al vs. Choctaw Nation. This case resulted in a little known supplemental roll of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, allowing those that were a party to the case to be enrolled but not their relatives. Only those that were a party to the case, have applications that can be found in the National Archives. Those that were not a party to the case are not even listed in the rejected lists. Thus their applications were "lost" by the Dawes Commission.

That is a matter of speculation. The main theory is that these Choctaw-Chickasaws did not fit into the main idea of where Choctaws were supposed to be. They were not from Indian Territory or Mississippi, but Texas. Some 700 Choctaws migrated to Texas in the 1830's. Most returned to Mississippi or Indian Territory, but some stayed. Others came back to Texas after its annexation by the United States. Thus Archibald Thompson, a quarter blood Choctaw-Chickasaw, led a large group of his family back to Texas in 1851. He and his brothers William Thompson (father of William C. Thompson) and Henry Thompson along with some of the Jackson descendants had been there as early as 1835. He settled near a group of Cherokees near the Smith County and Rusk County lines in east Texas. These Cherokees were cousins, related to him through his white Thompson ancestors. It was these Cherokees, led by William Penn Adair (the grandson of Rachel Thompson, Archibald Thompson's cousin) that led the fight to get the treaty of 1836 with the Republic of Texas upheld. Furious activity on this treaty issue existed between 1871 and 1920, in an effort to force Texas to give back the 1.5 million acres guaranteed to the Cherokees and twelve associated tribes. It must be noted that the Choctaws were one of these tribes. Thus our Texas Choctaw family became a serious threat to the government of the United States. If the treaty were upheld it would be a disaster, economically for Texas. In 1871, the state of Texas offered William Penn Adair 14 million acres of west Texas land (including present day Amarillo) to settle the suit. He rejected the offer, and shortly thereafter the Texas Legislature enacted laws to insure they would not be liable.

Another note worth considering is that the list above and those that were enrolled, was only a small part of the Choctaw community in Texas. The majority did not seek enrollment, as it would mean their leaving their homes in Smith and Rusk Counties in Texas to establish residence in the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations. Thus a whole new problem for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Dawes Commission would present itself in the form of a Texas Band of Choctaws.

It appears that nearly all the Thompson's first settled near Atoka in the Choctaw Nation, which was the closest major settlement to enroll at in relation to their east Texas homes. With most of the families having more Choctaw than Chickasaw blood, this would then be logical to choose the Choctaws. At that time Choctaws and Chickasaws could choose which either nation they wanted to live in. Being descended from both they did have to make a choice as to which group to enroll with as they could not belong to more than one. However, the family historically maintained closer ties to the Chickasaw Nation politically than the Choctaws. This going so far as the family moving with Chickasaw Chief Squirrel King to the Carolina's in the early 1700's to escape the French, who were generally the Choctaws allies. (Note: There are no French surnames among our group, only Scottish, as the Chickasaws were allies of the English). This may have added to the problem of their enrolling as Choctaws. Many of their relatives, including Dickson Frazier and Judge James McCoy (brother of Margaret Thompson) were very influential in the Chickasaw Nation. Judge James McCoy, was at one time the Supreme Judge of the Chickasaw Nation and a legislator. His daughter Lucy McCoy married Robert Maxwell Harris, one of the last Governors of the Chickasaw Nation before Oklahoma statehood. An additional point on enrollment; Since William C. Thompson started the process, it should be noted that his mother Elizabeth Jones Thompson (nee Mangum) was 1/4 Choctaw, making him 3/16 Choctaw and 1/6 Chickasaw. Plus some of his "Jones" relatives were a party to the suit, including his maternal cousin Winburn Jones who was Choctaw only. Thus for him and those closest to him that were involved with the lawsuit, enrolling with the Choctaws may have seemed like the only opportunity.

Really there are two reasons; one, we haven't asked. Secondly, the Constitution of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma restricts membership to lineal descendants of the Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes, which by virtue of what appears to be treachery on the part of the Dawes Commission, many Thompson's who applied were not included. The Constitution is not flexible on this issue, and while we have a number of Thompson descendants who are today voting members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, their numbers are too small to push for a constitutional change. The Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma does have a provision for situations such as ours, as the Constitution allows the Legislature the option of dealing with membership. The Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes is still the main source that they draw from, yet in our situation, we can show that our ancestors did try to enroll but were inhibited by United States governmental representatives, i.e., Dawes Commissioners. However, as can be seen, enrollment was generally limited to the Choctaw Nation. While we can prove Chickasaw ancestry, it will be up to Governor Bill Anoatubby and the Chickasaw Legislature to decide if that is enough.

As for other Choctaw groups, by virtue of the inter-marriage with the Jackson, Berry and Jones families, we are somewhat closely related to the Jena Band of Choctaws that were Federally recognized in 1995. However, there are only 180 or so members of that group, versus 400-600 Texas Choctaws (total community descendants in Texas), so it would not be good politically for them to adopt a larger body. The Mississippi Band of Choctaws is rather culturally removed from the Thompson-Choctaws, although there are descendants of Archibald Thompson (through his first wife Elizabeth Jackson) and Henry Thompson who are members of that band. Enrollment criteria is based upon living within specified areas in 1945, which is nearly 100 years after our Thompson's went back to Texas. There are three non-recognized Choctaw tribes, the Clifton Choctaws and Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb, both in Louisiana and the Mowa Choctaw in Alabama. However, at this time there is debate on the historical legitimacy of these groups. The Thompson's are also well represented in neighboring tribes such as the Alabama-Coushatta's as well. Charles Martin Thompson, was one of the strongest leaders of the 19^th century among them. It is also known that some of the Pakana Muscogees inter-married with our family. Most of these Indians left Texas to settle in the Creek Nation, but a few that married into our lines and the Alabama-Coushatta remained in east Texas.

So what are we to do? We could seek federal acknowledgment on our own accord, an idea discussed with much fervor since 1995. Our history in conjunction with the Texas Cherokees and Associated Bands is well documented, showing a continuous political and cultural community in east Texas. That, however, is a slow and tedious process.

We don't know if that really figures into the equation. However, it is true that other than Winburn Jones (roll number 16017, 15/32 Choctaw), his children and William C. Thompson (roll number 15995, 1/4 Choctaw-Chickasaw), all those enrolled were 1/8 or less, often having blood quantum's approaching 1/64. This contrasts most of those whose applications were lost having blood quantum's closer to 1/4 or more, with the exception of the Dean's. However, all of these Thompson's were closely related, being descendants of the three sons of Margaret Thompson (nee McCoy). It does not therefore appear that racism was involved from a blood quantum point of view, although, all those enrolled were married to non-Indians. This is however, in contrast to those with "lost applications", many of whom were married to other Indians.

No one today is a fluent speaker of the language. There are those that know some of it, but not enough to carry on a conversation. The language among both communities (Choctaw-Chickasaw & Cherokee) was alive and well in the 19^th century. In the early 20^th century the language began to suffer expedientially through heavier inter-marriage with non-Indians. William C. Thompson in his testimony before the Dawes Commission stated "I speak the language" (William C. Thompson et al vs. Choctaw Nation). Thus for some, fluency was still available in the early parts of the 20^th century.

Jerry Charles Thompson and William Clyde Thompson IV in Marlow, Oklahoma formed the association, originally called the Thompson-McCoy Chickasaw & Choctaw Descendants Association, in 1995. Its purpose was fourfold: (1) Reunite family members in Oklahoma, Texas and Mississippi. (2) To support the annual Thompson re-union which has been held each year since 1946. The current Chairman of the Re-union Committee is Otha Bradford "Brad" Thompson. (3) To assist descendants that are eligible to enroll with the Choctaw or Chickasaw Nations of Oklahoma. (4) To assist in the clarification of the status of the Thompson Choctaw-Chickasaws of the Mount Tabor Community in east Texas, through the Texas Cherokees and Associate Bands or as an independent entity. This being based upon the Choctaw community history and lineal lines of descent from Margaret Thompson (Nee McCoy), as well as other allied Choctaw & Chickasaw families.

Membership is open to any lineal descendant of Margaret Thompson (nee McCoy). There is no cost of membership as all that is asked is that any contributions at this point, go to cover costs of the annual reunion.