Isom and Julia Jackson and Family

The history of Isom and Julia Jackson is complex and fascinating to study. Isom and wife Julia were initially enrolled as Chickasaw Freedmen, but were later transferred to the Choctaw Freedmen  Roll. Later, in 1906, Julia (along with others) sought to have her name transferred to that of Choctaws by Blood.

National Archives Ft. Worth Texas
Perry Files: File Number 66, Image #15

The names of Isom and Julia Ann Jackson, were placed on Choctaw Freedmen Roll #1213. Interestingly both were in their fifties at the time and had both been enslaved, yet the name of their former slave holder was not reflected on their Freedman card.

National Archives Publication M1186
Choctaw Freedman Card #1213

The reverse side of the card, does reflect the names of their parents, and the names of the slave holder of each parent is reflected.

Reverse side of card

In contrast is the original Chickasaw Freedman card where their names were first placed, and this time, instead of the name of the slave holder, simply the word, "Chickasaw" appears on the card.

National Archives Publication M1186
Chickasaw Freedman Card #1124

The Dawes Interview for Isom and Julia Ann Jackson focuses almost exclusively on the history of Isom and in no way reflects Julia's parents or status while enslaved. It is also revealed that Isom's parents were eventually sold before freedom came.

National Archives Publication M1301
File for Choctaw Freedman Card #1213

Same source

Also included in the file was a document transferred from the original Chickasaw file, again pertaining to Isom's parentage.

Same Source. Image transferred from old Chickasaw Card #1124

In the petition to transfer to the rolls by blood Julia states that she was the daughter of a known Choctaw by the name of Ben Gilbert. The petition and the examining commissioners noted that the name of the father Ben Gilbert was not on any roll of recognized Choctaws by Blood.

Previous Rolls:
  The earlier rolls that were used in the Dawes process, for Choctaw citizens was the 1896 roll. A random search of several approved Choctaws on the Blood roll often referenced this one roll, as seen on the next two images.

National Archives publication M1186
Randomly selected Choctaw by Blood Card

Same source as above

So, the previous roll upon which a person's name would be checked would have been this roll. With the possibility that the parent named died prior to 1896, it is clear that their name would not have been on any roll as stated.

Julia's father's lineage

There is a challenge to Julia's case, that centers around the name of her father. On the enrollment card, it is noted that her father's name was Ben McGilbry. But in the petition that she submitted in 1906 it is noted that she is the daughter of Ben Gilbert, who was the son of John Gilbert a recognized Choctaw.  It is clear from the interview that Isom, her husband was the one speaking and not Julia herself. It is quite possible that Isom could have misspoken the name of Julia's father and that could have been the source of the discrepancy. 

There is another possibility for the discrepancy--there is a similarity of sound,  between "Gilbert" and "McGilbry" is significant. If one states the name of McGilbry incorrectly, or quickly,  the listener, could conceivably hear the name differently from the way it was pronounced. Nevertheless in the petition, it is Julia' petition--thus Julia Ann's voice that is reflected. And she, more than her husband can correctly identify her father.

In the petition, she points out that Ben Gilbert was her father. Ben Gilbert was the son of the recognized  Choctaw John Gilbert. Julia's blood tie to Choctaws comes through her father and grandfather John. Julia herself was born about 1848. Her father John would have been born in the 1830s and her grandfather John would have been born in the very early 1800s years before removal. As a result--grandfather John would  not have been on any Choctaw roll from Indian Territory. But the possibility her knowing what her grandmother--the enslaved woman Mahaley would have passed down to son Ben, is high.

The children of Isom and Julia Ann Jackson can still honor their history and their heritage, as they descend from John, and carry the blood of their Choctaw progenitor, through Ben, the son of his Choctaw father.