Martha Middleton / Eblin / Turner
Cherokee Papers

Martha is the daughter of William Harris Middleton and Nancy Elizabeth Eddings. She married John Carrol Eblin, she married Allen B. Turner,
Bill C.

Subj: Martha (Middleton) Eblin Turner
Date: 11/05/2000 12:59:06 PM Central Standard Time
From: Sharon Forrest Petrie

Dear Bill: Here are transcriptions of the letters that Martha (Middleton) Eblin Turner wrote in conjunction with the Cherokee Applications. Sharon

8/18/1906 Sandoval, IL
deposition given to J A Baker,
Asst. to the Special Commissioner of the US Court of Claims for Eastern Cherokee Applications of the US Court of Claims
Application 44215 Martha R A Fatheree

Martha Riley Turner being duly sworn, deposes and says:

I am the aunt of Martha Fatheree: her father was my brother: Martha Fatheree claims her Cherokee blood thru her father: she claims no Indian blood thru her mother: I make no claim thru my father: he was of English descent: my mothers maiden name was Nancy Eddings:
I have heard that my mother was born in the Cherokee Nation: I don't know what county and State: she was born 1804 and died in 1844: my mother got her Cherokee blood thru both her Father and mother: my grandfather's name was John Eddings: my grandmother's maiden name was Frances Weaver: I don't know when or where my grandparents were born: none of the ancestors thru whom I claim ever got any Indian money or land: none were ever enrolled that I know of: I don't know exactly where my mother and grandparents lived with the Cherokees: I think it must have been Alabama: I don't know what Co. in Ala.

In 1835 my mother and I lived in Warren Co., Tenn. My parents left ILL when I was about 2 years old and went back to Tenn. Warren Co.and staid about 4 years: In 1838 they came back to ILL.

At that time the grandparents thru whom I claim came with my parents from Tenn. to ILL. my grandfather thru whom I claim was a quarter Cherokee and my grandmother I think was a half blood Cherokee. None of the ancestors thru whom I claim ever went west with the Cherokee that I know of: in the community in which I live I have always been regarded as being descended from the Cherokees."

8/30/1907
No 40722 Eastern Cherokees Application of Martha R Turner

1. State full name-
English name: Martha R Turner [nee Middleton]
Indian name: mothers name was Eddings grandmothers name was Weaver
2. Residence and post office: Odin Illinois, Odin Illinois
3. County: Marion
4. State: Illinois
5. How old are you? 78 Born: Oct 26 1832
6. Where were you born? Marion Co state Ill
7. Are you married? hav bin maried twice Now a Widow
8. Name and age of wife or husband: 1st Jn Eblin No 2. Allen B Turner
9. To what tribe of Indians does he or she belong? Cherokee
10. Name all your children who were living on May 28, 1906, giving their ages:
(1) Nancy A Brim 56 1850
(2) Culon T Eblin 52 1854
(3) Lyda J Lawson 46 1859
(4) Franklin M Turner 43 1863
(5) Larra M Wimberly 39 1867
(6) Joseph W Turner 35 1872
(7) Amanda M Jacobs 32 1875
11. Give names of your father and mother and your mother's name before marriage: William H Middleton, Nancy Middleton, Nancy Eddings
12. Where were they born? No answer
13. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time?
Father: Iuka, Illinois Mother: was dead before 1851
14. Date of death of your father and mother:
Father: died 1865, Mother: about 1842
15. Were they ever enrolled for money, annuities, land or other benefits? If so, state when and where, with what tribe of Indians: No
16. Name all your brothers and sisters, giving ages, and residences if possible:
(1) Geo W Middleton
(2) Noah J Middleton d 1885
(3) Annis W Smith b 1827
(4) Elizabeth G Middleton d 1895
(5) Martha R Turner b 1832 res Odin, IL
(6) William R Middleton
(7) John R Middleton
(8) Joel D Middleton
(9) Chas S Middleton
(10) Nancy C Breeze
(11) Sarah Frances {deceased}
17. State English and Indian names of your grandparents on both father's and mother's side, if possible:
Father's side: Middleton
Mother's side: Frances Eddings (Weaver)Indian name and John Eddings
18. Where were they born? Do not no
19. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time? Iuka, IL
20. Give names of all their children and residence, if possible: [blank]
21. Have you ever been enrolled for money, annuities, land, or other benefits?
If so state when and where, and with what tribe of Indians: No
22. To assist in identification, claimant should give the full English and Indian names, if possible, of their parents and grandparents back to 1835:
Croffard H Middleton and John F Eddings of Iuka, IL

signed with mark and signature Martha R Turner

6/2/1908 Appln. No. 40722
To Martha R Turner Odin, ILL

Madam:
Relative to your application for participation in the Easten Cherokee fund please state why you, your parents and your grandparents, were never enrolled?
Were any of your ancestors parties to the treaties of 1835-6 and 1846?
State clearly the name of the ancestor through whom you claim and where that ancestor resided in 1835 and 1851?
Were any of your ancestors slaves?
Do you pass as white or colored in the community in which you live.
Give any other information obtainable tending to establish your right to share in this fund. An early reply will be appreciated.

Very respectfully, Special Commissioner

[opposite side of letter is note that Martha's claim was rejected]

Following are two correspondences sent by Martha to the Commissioner: letterhead Office of J D Morgan, MD, Physician and Surgeon

6/17/1908 Odin, ILL

To: Guion Miller Esq Washington DC

Dear Sir Your letter of June the 2nd 1908 to Mrs Martha R Turner Application No. 40722 came duly to hand and has been delayed on account of Mr John F Eddings who has done most of the work in the Cherokee Enrollment.

He is in correspondence with parties in the Nation. I supose the reason that my ancesters were not enrolled in 1835-6 and in 1845 + 1851 was because David Weever who is the ancester through whom I claim was dead. They resided in Tenn. Mr Eddings will have the advice from Mr John Blackburn who is living in the Nation. No sir none of my ancestors were slaves, yes sir I am considered white except the Indian tint and long black hair. as soon as we can get word from the Nation will write again.

Truly Martha R Turner

7/27/08 Odin Illinois to Guino Miller Special Com. of US Court of Claims

Dear Sir:
I am going to ans. all the questions ask by you. I received your letter some time ago. would of ans. sooner. But I had to Study. out all of this. It has took me some time. But I have got It all. Ok. I had to look up all the reckords
1. question Please state why your grandparents were never enrolled.
ans. I always thought they were on enroll.
2. Were any of your "ancestors" parties to the treaties of 1835-6 and 1846?
ans. not that I know of. They all resided In what was called middle Tenn.
"Question."
State clearly the name of the ancestor. through whom you claim, and where the ancestor resides in 1835 and 1851.
ans In 1838 we came to the state of ILL me and my mother and father and my grandfather which was the ancestor and then he went back in 2 yrs and resided in middle Tenn. untill the death of his (wife). and we traveled with the Cherokee Indians for 3 days. when we started to Illinois.
One of my ancestor. name was David Weever he was my great-grandfather. and my great-grandfather Eddings. Married the daughter of the Weever tribe. her name was Sarah Francis.
Question. Were any of your ancestors ever Slaves.
ans none that I know of.
Ques. do you pass as white or colored in the community which you live
ans. I pass as white all. But the Cherokee tinge. My grandmother Eddings was Francis Weever and my own mothers maden name was Nancy Eddings Daughter of Francis Eddings Weever and John Eddings. My grandmother had 3 sister. Bethana S, Alsey S, and Mary Ann and They were of the Cherokee Tribe. If there were any Bro. I never heard them spoken of. I would like to know if there were any Bro. They lived in Warren Co Tennessee Wood Berry was the county seat. Just 21 miles from where my father lived. and also my Grandfather Eddings. and David Weever ws Surely in the treaties in 1835-36. I am the 4th Generation from Great Grand father Weever my hair. is long Black and Straight. and I am 76 years old in October. My mother Died when I was 12 yrs old If any more Information is needed please let me know at once. Let me hear from you soon.

Yours Resps. Martha R Turner

[PS] In all of my travels the Cherokee Indians knows me and always claims me.

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This page belongs to the Eddings List Members Home page Contributed to the Eddings List Homepage by: Sharon Forrest Petrie