Mary Smith, Daughter of Choctaw Daniel Webster

The story of Mary Smith is one of a woman who petitioned to change her status from that as Choctaw Freedman to that as a Choctaw by Blood. Her father was a Choctaw named Daniel Webster, who was deceased by the time of the Dawes Commission. She as his daughter was seeking status as a Choctaw by Blood, through her father.

National Archives, Ft. Worth Texas
Perry Files #58 Image #4

Mary was enrolled on a card by herself, on Choctaw Freedman Card #230. She was the daughter of Choctaw Daniel Webster, and a Freedwoman, Maria Brown. She resided in the town of Harris, in Red River County. 

National Archives Publication M1186

The name of her father Daniel Webster does appear on the reverse side of the card, and it is noted on the card that he was a Choctaw Indian. But like many with Choctaw and Chickasaw fathers, the evidence was not recorded in detail by the Dawes Commissioner, because of the fact that the mother had been enslaved, thus placing the badge of slavery upon the descendants.

Reverse side of Card

The application jacket of Mary Smith proved to be a large disappointment. There is only one page in the entire file, and it was a simple memorandum that contained Mary's name. There was no interview of Mary, nor of any other person in her file. The words of the interviewer and interviewee are forever lost.

National Archives Publication M1301

The only way to learn more of Mary Smith's story comes from the petition to transfer. On page 5 of the petition to transfer to the roll by blood, it is clear that Mary's fate was determined because it was stated that her name did not appear on any earlier roll of Choctaw Freedmen.

Mary, was born in 1868 and as the child of a Freedwoman, she was considered a Freedman child. The Choctaw Nation did not adopt the Freedmen as citizens until 1885, so it was impossible for her name to have been on a roll of Choctaws by blood when Freedmen had not rights until almost 20 years after her birth. On page 5 of the petition, that is the reason given to exclude her from the rolls of Choctaw by blood. However, the descendants of Mary Smith have clear evidence, that Mary, was the child of h er father, and thus had the blood of her Choctaw father.