Ed Johnson & Family, Chickasaw By Blood & Freedmen

Ed Johnson filed for himself and his family from the Chickasaw Nation. They had previously been admitted on the Dawes Roll as Chickasaw Freedmen, and he filed a petition to be removed from the Freedmen roll to the roll by blood of the Chickasaw Nation. He named his father as Frank Colbert a recognized Chickasaw Indian by blood, and he filed the petition on behalf of himself and his descendants.

Perry Files File #52 Image 4

It was ruled that whether or not Frank Colbert was Chickasaw Indian was irrelevant, since the family of Ed Johnson was never enrolled on any roll of Chickasaws by blood.

Perry Files: File #52 Image 5

The family was an extensive one, as reflected by the Chickasaw Freedman Card. Ed, and his wife Eliza and their nine children are all listed in the household. They resided in the Berwyn area, where numerous Chickasaw families lived.

National Archives Publication M1186
Chickasaw Freedmen Card #618

His father and slave owner appear to be one in the same person. It is not known if they had a relationship or not, but it is clear that the name of his father is identical to the name of the slave holder.

Reverse side of card

Like many Freedmen, the Dawes Commissioners did not retain the actual interview and place a simple "summary" of statements made by Ed Johnson. The relationship to his father Frank is not addressed. Simply his status of having been enslaved was noted, thus placing him and the family as former slaves---Freedmen, which is where they remained.

However, Ed Johnson was adamant--he was the son of his Chickasaw Father.

National Archives Publication M1301
Official Interview in Application Jacket