Celia Thompson, Daughter of Chickasaw Nero

Celia Thompson was originally enrolled as a Chickasaw Freedmen, then transferred to that as a Choctaw Freedman. But in 1906 she requested to be placed on the rolls as a Chickasaw by Blood based on the history of her family. Her mother was Annie Jones---enslaved by the wealthy Choctaw Robert Jones. And according to Celia, her mother's father was a man known as Nero, a Chickasaw. She also points out that her son married a woman Allie who was the daughter of a full Chickasaw named McGee. She was the mother of Elizabeth by her first husband, who had later married Robert Washington. She then proceeds to name all of Elizabeth's children, who would be her own grandchildren. 

National Archives, Ft. Worth Texas

Perry Files: File 46  Image #6

Celia Thompson's Dawes card was Choctaw Freedman number 1245. She was enrolled on the card with her daughter Sarah Mahardy. Her other children were married, and applied separately with their spouses and children.

National Archives Publication M1186
Choctaw Freedman Card, #1245

Her mother Annie Jones was deceased by the time of the Dawes enrollment era, and her own ties to Chickasaws by blood was not recorded in any way.

Reverse side of card

Thankfully at least part of her interview with the Dawes commissioners was captured. She was able to name her children and their spouses, and for genealogical data this information is quite useful. As expected there was questioning pertaining to which of the Jones' was the official owner of record. She had lived enslaved on one of the estates of Robert Jones, the wealthy Choctaw. It was clarified however, that her owner was Jones' wife Susie Jones. It is also revealed that Celia's daughter Sarah Mahardy was a teacher in the community where they lived. 

National Archives Publication M1301

Interview for Choctaw Freedman File #1245

The outcome of the petition was not in Celia's favor. But thankfully data about her lineage was captured. Celia was the daughter of Nero a Chickasaw man. Her mother-in-law was a woman Allie, who was the daughter of McGee, another Chickasaw. Thus her children had Chickasaw lineage on from both their mother and their father.

The Blood Tie: The descendants of Celia Thompson come from Annie, who carried the blood of her Chickasaw father Nero. They also descend from their grandmother Allie, who carried the blood of McGee, her Chickasaw father.