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Native American Indian (NAI) Profile© Native American Indian (NAI) Rolls 
NATIVE AMERICAN "ROLLS"Tracing your family history can be especially difficult if you are trying to locate Native American Indian ancestors. There are several types of records at the National Archives, Washington, DC which might be applicable to your research.
1817-Reservation Rolls
1817-35 Emigration Rolls
The Index is alphabetized, but the actual schedules are very faint. The ink is so faded that it is best read using the Zoom lens the Magnifier type Reader. Even printed copies do not help even when a yellow underliner pen is used. Note that at the top of each schedule page is the County, State and beside each name entry is the township or watercourse in which the tribe member resides.
The names of individual Indians on the rolls before about 1916 are Not arranged alphabetically; locating a particular name may require scanning all entries for the Tribe. After 1916 most agents alphabetized the names of individuals on the annual lists.
This record is what is commonly referred to as the DAWES ROLLS. They are frequently used by researchers who are trying to provide acceptable Proof of Native American Indian ancestry from one of the Five Civilized Tribes. These rolls are arranged by Name of Tribe, thereunder by separate categories for citizens by Blood, Citizens by Marriage, and Freedmen. Most of these rolls give Name; Age; Sex; Degree of Blood; and the Roll and Census-Card number for each individual. In order to research your Indian ancestor requires scanning the entire roll for his or her Tribe, because the entries are arranged numerically order in which the citizen was entered.
DAWES ROLL - HISTORY Accomplishing the goal of allotting tribal lands required an accurate listing of all tribal members. There were problems including inadequacy of previous rolls and resistance from the Five Civilized Tribes, which considered the commission's work an intrusion into their sovereignty. However, congress had a solution. It was the Curtis Act (30 Stat. 495) that was passed on 28 JUN 1898. It limited the authority of tribal governments and granted the DAWES Commission permission to create a new roll to supercede all previous rolls. They also were responsible for the survey of the land, preparation of deeds and patents, etc.
These final rolls were the basis for allotment. Under the "Curtis Act",
subsequent acts, and resulting agreements negotiated with each tribe,
the DAWES COMMISSION received applications for membership covering
more than 250,000 people and enrolled more than 101,000.
The DAWES COMMISSION enrolled individuals as Citizens
of a tribe under the following categories:
Within each enrollment category the generally DAWES COMMISSION
maintained three (3) types of card:
Reel Description / Category Census Card Number 1 Index to Final Rolls 2 Cherokee By Blood 0001-0805 3 Cherokee By Blood 0806-1645 4 Cherokee By Blood 1646-2461 5 Cherokee By Blood 2462-3293 6 Cherokee By Blood 3294-4027 7 Cherokee By Blood 4028-4847 8 Cherokee By Blood 4848-5661 9 Cherokee By Blood 5662-6303 10 Cherokee By Blood 6304-7140 11 Cherokee By Blood 7141-7961 12 Cherokee By Blood 7962-8794 13 Cherokee By Blood 8795-9634 14 Cherokee By Blood 9635-10461 15 Cherokee By Blood 10462-11132 16 Cherokee Minors By Blood 001-824 17 Cherokee Minors By Blood 825-1582 18 Cherokee Minors By Blood 1583-2331 19 Cherokee Minors By Blood 2332-3034 20 Cherokee Minors 3035-3684 21 Cherokee Minors 3685-4005 22 Delaware Indians 1-382 22 Delaware Indians D1-D50 22 Delaware Indians R1-R5 22 Cherokee By Marriage 1-188 23 Cherokee By Marriage 189-288 23 Cherokee Freedmen 1-382 24 Cherokee Freedmen 383-814 25 Cherokee Freedmen 815-1231 26 Cherokee Freedmen 1232-1595 26 Cherokee Freedmen Minors 1-93 27 Cherokee Freedmen Minors 94-542 27 Cherokee D1-D267 28 Cherokee D268-D1062 29 Cherokee D1063-D1879 30 Cherokee D1880-D2711 31 Cherokee D2712-D3207 31 Cherokee R1-R336 32 Cherokee R337-R1168 33 Cherokee R1169-R1231 33 Cherokee Freedmen D1-D388 34 Cherokee Freedmen D389-D811 35 Cherokee Freedmen D812-D1225 36 Cherokee Freedmen D1226-D1342 36 Cherokee Freedmen R1-R304 37 Cherokee Freedmen R305-R730 38 Cherokee Freedmen R731-R1276 39 Choctaw By Blood 1-858 40 Choctaw By Blood 859-1718 41 Choctaw By Blood 1719-2575 42 Choctaw By Blood 2576-3426 43 Choctaw By Blood 3427-4287 44 Choctaw By Blood 4288-5140 45 Choctaw By Blood 5141-5994 46 Choctaw By Blood 5995-6109 46 Choctaw New Born By Blood 1-746 47 Choctaw New Born By Blood 747-1538 47 Choctaw Minor By Blood 1-73 48 Choctaw Minor By Blood 74-914 49 Choctaw Minor By Blood 915-1325 49 Choctaw Freedmen 1-225 50 Choctaw Freedmen 1226-659 51 Choctaw Freedmen 660-1098 52 Choctaw Freedmen 1099-1540 53 Choctaw Freedmen 1541-1602 53 Choctaw Minor Freedmen 1-521 53 Choctaw D1-D238 54 Choctaw D239-D1009 54 Choctaw R1-R105 55 Choctaw R106-R756 55 Choctaw Freedmen D1-D111 56 Choctaw Freedmen D112-D234 56 Choctaw Freedmen R1-R45 56 Mississippi Choctaw By Blood 1-540 57 Mississippi Choctaw By Blood 541-918 57 Mississippi Choctaw, New Born & Minor By Blood 1-372 57 Mississippi Choctaw Identified 1-11 57 Mississippi Choctaw Field Cards 1-110 58 Mississippi Choctaw Field Cards 111-564 58 Mississippi Choctaw D1-D74 58 Mississippi Choctaw R1-R351 59 Mississippi Choctaw R352-R1215 60 Mississippi Choctaw R1216-R2107 61 Mississippi Choctaw R2108-R3016 62 Mississippi Choctaw R3107-R3911 63 Mississippi Choctaw R3912-R4811 64 Mississippi Choctaw R4812-R5713 65 Mississippi Choctaw R5714-R6622 66 Mississippi Choctaw R6623-R7466 67 Chickasaw By Blood 001-662 68 Chickasaw By Blood 663-1424 69 Chickasaw By Blood 1425-1850 69 Chickasaw New Born By Blood 001-331 70 Chickasaw New Born By Blood 332-553 70 Chickasaw Minor By Blood 001-469 70 Chickasaw Freedmen 1-35 71 Chickasaw Freedmen 36-415 72 Chickasaw Freedmen 416-799 73 Chickasaw Freedmen 800-1178 74 Chickasaw Freedmen 1179-1522 74 Chickasaw Freedmen, Minor 1-84 75 Chickasaw Freedmen, Minor 85-517 75 Chickasaw Freedmen D1-D130 75 Chickasaw Freedmen R1-R9 75 Chickasaw R1-R57 76 Chickasaw R58-R111 76 Chickasaw, Cancelled 1-219 76 Chickasaw D1-D455 77 Creek By Blood 1-662 78 Creek By Blood 663-1398 79 Creek By Blood 1399-2125 80 Creek By Blood 2126-2867 81 Creek By Blood 2868-3611 82 Creek By Blood 3612-4059 82 Creek, New Born By Blood 1-289 83 Creek, New Born By Blood 290-1171 84 Creek, Minor By Blood 1-668 85 Creek Freedmen 1-358 86 Creek Freedmen 359-740 87 Creek Freedmen 741-1081 88 Creek Freedmen 1082-1456 89 Creek Freedmen 1457-1833 90 Creek Freedmen 1834-1917 90 Creek Freedmen, New Born, By Blood 1-468 91 Creek Freedmen, New Born, By Blood 469-748 91 Creek Freedmen, Minor, By Blood 1-435 92 Seminole By Blood 1-607 92 Seminole Freedmen 608-670 93 Seminole Freedmen 671-855 93 Seminole, New Born, By Blood 1-181 93 Seminole Freedmen 1-R5 93 Seminole, New Born Freedmen 1-91NARS Microfilm Publication: M-1186.1 Index on Reel 1 for the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freemen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory (as Approved by the Secretary of the Interior On or before 04 Mar. 1907, With Supplements Dated 25 Sep. 1914) Use this name Index to find the Application number for the MILLER ROLLS.
These records deserve special attention. They are frequently referred to as the GUION MILLER ROLLS, after Guion Miller who, after 1906, was appointed by the U.S. Court of Claims to determine who was eligible to participate in a fund awarded to persons who were Eastern Cherokees at the time of the Treaties of 1835-36 and 1845 or to their descendants. There was a supplement report of 1910. They consist of 29 volumes with 10 volumes of transcripts of testimony, arranged chronologically; a report dated 05 Jan. 1910 concerning exceptions to findings; a printed copy of the completed roll with two 1910 supplements; copies of the DRENNEN & CHAPMAN report, with index; and the Old Settlers roll of 1851-52 with index. (See also U.S. Court of Claims, Record Group 123) M-685, Reel 1. General Index to Eastern Cherokee Applications, Vol. 1 and 2. Report Submitted by GUION MILLER, Specical Commissioner, May 28, 1909
Volume Applications
M-685, Reel 2. 1 and 2 1 - 6,000
M-685, Reel 3. 3 and 4 6,001 - 16,000
M-685, Reel 4. 5 to 7 16,001 - 31,000
M-685, Reel 5. 8 to 10 31,001 - 45,857
M-685, Reel 6. Roll of Eastern Cherokee, May 28, 1909,
and Report on Preparations, With Supplemental Roll, Jan. 05, 1910
Miscellaneous Testimony Taken Before Special Commissioners, Feb.
1900 Mar. 1909
M-685, Reel 7. Volume 1 and 2
M-685, Reel 8. Volume 3 and 4
M-685, Reel 9. Volume 5 and 6
M-685, Reel 10. Volume 7 and 8
M-685, Reel 11. Volume 9 and 10
M-685, Reel 12. Indexes & Rolls of Eastern Cherokee Indians,
1850, 1854, & 1884 Includes Miscellaneous Notes
and Drafts.
Item 1. Combined Index of Eastern Cherokee Rolls of 1851,
by CHAPMAN & DRENNEN, Vol. 1. A-L, Vol. 2. M-Z.
Item 2. THE CHAPMAN ROLL (1852), Listed by County, Name,
Age, Relationship of Family.
Item 3. THE DRENNEN ROLL, (1851) of Eastern Cherokee Indians
Living West of the Mississippi River. Listed by County, Name, Age,
Relationship of Family.
GUION MILLER ROLLS - History.
An Act of Congress approved Jul. 01, 1902 (32 Stat. 726), gave the
Court of Claim jurisdiction over any claim arising under treaty stipulations
that the Cherokee tribe, or any band thereof, might have against the
United States and over any claims that the United States might have
against any Cherokee tribe or band. Suit for such a claim was to be
instituted within two (2) years after the act was approved. as a result,
three suits where brought before the court concerning grievance existing
out of the treaties. These suits were: On May 18, 1905, the United States Supreme Court decided in favor of the Eastern Cherokees and instructed the Secretary of the Interior to ascertain and identify the persons entitled to participate in the distribution of more than 1 Million dollars appropriated by Congress on Jun. 30, 1906, for use in payment of the claims. The task of compiling a roll of eligible persons was begun by GUION MILLER, then Special Agent of the Interior Department. In a decree of Apr. 29, 1907, the U.S. Supreme Court renounce part of its earlier decision that gave the Secretary of the Interior responsibility for determining the eligibility of claimants and appointed Mr. MILLER as a Special Commissioner of the Court of Claims. This Apr. 29, 1907 decree also provided that the 1 Million dollars fund was to be distributed to all Eastern and Western Cherokee Indians who were still alive on May 28, 1906, and who could establish the fact that at the time of the treaties (1835, some 70 years earlier? ..prs) they were members of the Eastern Cherokee Tribe of Indians or were descendants of such persons, and that they had NOT been affiliated with any tribe of Indians other than the Eastern Cherokee or the Cherokee Nation. The decree further provided that claimants should already have applications on file with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, or should file such applications with the new Special Commissioner of the Court of Claims on or before Aug. 31, 1907 (Some 3 months timeline. ..prs) Also according to this revised Apr. 29, 1906 decree the U.S. Supreme Court determined that all applications for Minors and persons of unsound Minds were to be filed by their parents or persons having their care in custody, and for persons who have had died after May 28, 1906 were to be filed by their children or legal representatives. (See the three page Application Form # 6-624)
No. _______
EASTERN CHEROKEES
APPLICATION
OF
______________________________________________________
For share of money appropriated for the Eastern Cherokee
Indians by Act of Congress approved June 30, 1906, in accordance with
the decrees of the Court of Claims of May 18, 1905, and May 28, 1906.
6-624
Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
I hereby make application for such shares as may be
due me of the fund appropriated by the Act of Congress approved June
30, 1906, in accordance with the decrees of the Court of Claims of
May 18, 1905, and May 28, 1906, in favor of the Eastern Cherokees.
The evidence of identity is herewith subjoined.
1. State full name ____________________________________________
English name: _______________________________________________
Indian name: ________________________________________________
2. Residence: _________________________________________________
3. Town and Post Office: ______________________________________
4. County: ____________________________________________________
5. State: _____________________________________________________
6. Date and place of birth: ___________________________________
7. By what right do you claim to share? If you claim through more than
one relative lining in 1851, set forth each claim separately:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
8. Are you married? ____________________________________________
9. Name and age of wife or husband: ____________________________
________________________________________________________________
10. Give names or your father and mother's name before marriage:
Father - English name: _________________________________________
Indian name: _________________________________________________
Mother - English name: _________________________________________
Indian name: _________________________________________________
Maiden name: _________________________________________________
11. Where were they born?
Father: ______________________________________________________
Mother: ______________________________________________________
12. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time?
Father: ______________________________________________________
Mother: ______________________________________________________
13. Date of death of your father and mother -
Father: ______________________________________________________
Mother: ______________________________________________________
Page 1 (6-621)
14. Were they ever enrolled for annuities, land, or
other benefits? If so, state when and where __________________
_________________________________________________________________
15. Name all your brothers and sisters, giving
ages, and if not living, then the date of death:
Name: Born: Died:
(1.) __________ _____ _____
(2.) __________ _____ _____
(3.) __________ _____ _____
(4.) __________ _____ _____
(5.) __________ _____ _____
(6.) __________ _____ _____
16. State English and Indian names of your grandparents
on both father's and mother's side, if possible:
Father's Side Mother's Side
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
17. Where were they born? ______________________________________
________________________________________________________________
18. Where did they reside in 1851, if living at that time? _____
________________________________________________________________
19. Give names of all their children, and residence,
if living, if not living, give dates of deaths:
(1) English name: _______________________________________________
Indian name: __________________________________________________
Residence: ____________________________________________________
(2) English name: _______________________________________________
Indian name: __________________________________________________
Residence: ____________________________________________________
(3) English name: _______________________________________________
Indian name: __________________________________________________
Residence: ____________________________________________________
(4) English name: _______________________________________________
Indian name: __________________________________________________
Residence: ____________________________________________________
(5) English name: _______________________________________________
Indian name: __________________________________________________
Residence: ____________________________________________________
20. Have you ever been enrolled for annuities, land,
or other benefits? If so, state when and where:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Page 2 (6-621)
21. To expedite identification, claimant should give
the full English and Indian names, if possible, of their parental
and maternal ancestors back to 1835:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
REMARKS.
(Under this head the applicant may give any additional
information that he believes will assist in proving his claims.)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
NOTE: -- Answers should be brief but explicit; the
words "Yes," "No," "Unknown", etc. may be
used in cases where applicable. Read the Questions carefully.
------------------
I solemnly swear that the forgoing statements made
by me are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
(Signature,) _________________________________________________
Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____ day
of _____, 190_.
My Commission expires
_________________________________________________
Notary Public.
------------------
AFFIDAVIT
(The following affidavit must be sworn to by two
or more witnesses who are well acquainted with the applicant.)
Personally appeared before me ____________________
and ____________________, who, being duly sworn, on oath depose
and say that they are well acquainted with ____________________,
who makes the foregoing application and statements, and have known
_____ for _____ years and _____ years, respectively, and know
_____, to be the identical person _____ represents _____ to
be, and the statements made by _____ are true, to the best of their
knowledge and belief, and they have no interest whatever in _____
claim.
Witnesses to mark Signature of witnesses.
_______________ ________________
Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____ day
of _____, 190_.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____ day
of _____, 190_.
My Commission expires
_____
_____
Notary Public.
NOTE. - Affidavits should be made, when ever practicable,
before public, clerk of the court, or before a person having a seal.
If sworn to before an Indian agent or disbursing agent of the Indian
service, it need not be executed before a notary, etc.
Page 3 (6-621)
Some three years later Mr. G. MILLER in his May 28, 1909 reported that 45,847 separate applications had been filed, representing a total of some 90,000 individual claimants, of which 30,254 were enrolled as entitled to share in the 1 Million Dollar fund. Some 3,203 Cherokee's were residing in the East and 27,051 were residing West of the Mississippi River. This writer does not understand Mr. G. MILLER's mathematics. Did he mean that out of 90,000 claimants, he received 45,847 applications and that 44,153 (90,000 less 45,847 = 44,153) were already on the Cherokee rolls? Was the 30,254 the result of the 45,847 applications which 15,593 were rejected? (34%) Was the result $30,254 per claimant or $7,44.07 per claimant?. On Jun. 10, 1909, the U.S. supreme Court confermed and approved Mr. G. MILLER's rolls of the Eastern Cherokees who were entitled to share in the distribution of the fund. The Court also decreed so much as shall be expected [excepted] to on or before Aug. 30, 1909. On Jan. 05, 1910, some 6 months later Mr. G. MILLER investigated the exceptions and submitted a Supplemental Report and Roll. In this report he stated about 11,750 exceptions had been made; that some 620 persons, of which 238 resided in the East and 372 resided West of the Mississippi River, had been added to the Rolls; and that 44 persons, 5 residing in the East and 39 residing in the West , had been stricken from the Roll because of clerical errors in enrollment had been discovered. This final figure of the total number of persons entitled to share the 1 Million dollar fund was 30, 820, of which 3,436 persons residing in the East and 27,384 residing West of the Mississippi River. From this writers caucluations from the 90,000 original claiments only 30,820 (34.2%) were entitled. On Mar. 15, 1910 the U.S. Supreme Court finally decreed that the Rolls be approved and that after certain deductions for expenditures, payments were to be made equally among the Eastern Cherokees who were enrolled. The Court also authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a warrant in favor of each person. In certifying the eligibilty of the Cherokee Rolls, Mr. G. MILLER used earlier census list and rolls that had been made of the Cherokees by MASTERS, CHAPMAN, DRENNEN and others between 1835 and 1884. Copies of some of these rolls and the indexes to them are filed with the GUION MILLER records and are part of the M- 685 publication. Other enrollment records used by Mr. G. MILLER are among the classified files of the Indian Bureau and are designated as 33931-11-053 Cherokee Nation.
 E-Mail:
Paul R. Sarrett, Jr. Auburn, CA.Text - Copyright © 1996-2008 Paul R. Sarrett, Jr. Created: Dec. 01, 1996; 
May 19, 2005;
Sep 01, 2007;
Nov 11, 2008;
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Most records in the National
Archives about Native American Indians are in the Records of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Record Group 75.
A Native American Indian ancestor is like any other beginning
search for your ancestors. However, these additional Guides are helpful.
"Cherokee Roots, Vol.1", by Bob BLANKENSHIP
