Oklahoma Slave Narratives Freedmen Series: Oral History and Enrollment of Betty Robertson

This is is the first installment in which I investigate the enrollment history of individuals self-identified as Freedmen among the Oklahoma Slave Narratives. I utilized the narratives at http://www.gutenberg.org pages 266-269. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20785/20785-h/20785-h.htm#Page_266

Cherokee Freedwoman: Betty Robertson (age 93) was interviewed by the Work Progress Association (WPA) in 1937. Betty Robertson describes slavery among Cherokee Joseph “Rich Joe” Vann [B: Feb 11, 1798, Spring Place, Georgia], the slave revolt of 1842, the death of her father on the steamboat, “Lucy Walker” [October 26, 1844], freedom, marriage, and receipt of land allotment. 

To be honest, I selected this narrative because it was rather brief.  I expected to glide through the analysis with ease. The process of investigation was challenging, however, due to the usage of multiple identifiers in the historical record: “Betty Vann,” “Belle Roberson,” “Belle Vann,” “Betty Robertson.”

Early Life and Family of Origin

“Betty Vann” [extrapolated from narrative] was born near Webber’s Falls, Canadian District, Cherokee Nation during the same year that her father was killed in the explosion of the steamboat, “The Lucy Walker,” in 1844. Her parents were Kalet and Sally Vann. Her father was brought from Africa and her mother was “…a Cherokee slave (gutenberg, p266).” She and her parents were owned by Rich Joseph Vann. Betty and Sally spoke English and Cherokee, while Kalet spoke English. According to the interview, Betty had many siblings: Sone, Frank, Pollie, Ruth, Liddie and two others who were sold away.

It was a very large plantation with hundreds of negro families.  Her father was required to work on the steamboat, “Lucy Walker,” because he participated in the large slave revolt in the Cherokee Nation in 1842.  He died when the steamboat exploded on October 26, 1844, along with multiple slaves, passengers and “Rich Joe” Vann, himself.

During enslavement, Betty was required to cook multiple times per day and care for numerous children younger than herself. The food was plentiful, including meat, bread, rice, potatoes, fish, chicken, green corn, and beans. The “Old Mistress” of the plantation was likely Jennie Springston (www.cherokeebyblood). 

Freedom

“Young master” told them that they we free, but had to leave unless they wanted to stay and work for their food and clothing.  Betty Robertson explains, “Mammy got a wagon and we traveled around a few days and go to Fort Gibson. When we git to Fort Gibson they was a lot of Negroes there, and they had a camp meeting and I was baptized. It was in the Grand River close to the ford, and winter time. Snow on the ground and the water was muddy and all full of pieces of ice. The place was all woods, and the Cherokees and the soldiers all come down to see the baptizing (p268).”

Betty Robertson concluded, “I’m glad the War’s over and I am free to meet God like anybody else, and my grandchildren can learn to read and write (p269).”

Marriage

“We settled down a little ways above Fort Gibson. Mammy had the wagon and two oxen, and we worked a good size patch there until she died, and then I git married to Cal Robertson to have somebody to take care of me. Cal Robertson was eighty-nine years old when I married him forty years ago, right on this porch. I had on my old clothes for the wedding,…(269).”

The statement that she married Cal Robertson when he was eighty-nine years old, may be a recording error. According to their Oklahoma marriage license, “Bettie Varm” and “Calvin Roberson” married on Jan 10, 1899 when Betty and Cal were 44 years old.  In addition, their ages are recorded in multiple censuses.  Perhaps, the interviewer meant to record, “I married Cal Robertson in 1899…” We will never know how the error occurred, but at age 93, recollection and cross-cultural conversation are challenging. 

Allotment

On August 29, 1904, Calvin and Belle Roberson were enrolled to receive land in the Cherokee Nation. Belle (3076) and Calvin (356) Roberson are listed on Dawes Family card 117.  “I got my allotment as a freedmen and so did Cal, but we lived here at this place because we was too old to work the land ourselves (p269).”

According to the back of Cal’s Dawe’s card, his father was his former owner, Watie Roberson and his mother was Philis Roberson.  His mother was also owned by Watie Roberson.  Thus, Cal was actually Cherokee by Blood.

Census Records

Betty Robertson is also known as “Betty Vann,” her birth name (p267). However, the 1880 and 1890 (Wallace) rolls identify her as “Belle Vann.” She resides in the Illinois District of the Cherokee Nation. Her roll numbers are 2071 and 1432, respectively. The Dawe’s roll lists her as “Belle Roberson,” number 3076.  Betty Robertson’s narrative indicates she married Cal Robertson and both received allotments. He is identified on the 1880 Roll as “Calvert Roberson,” in the Illinois District of the Cherokee Nation number 1507. He is identified on the Dawe’s Roll as “Calvin Roberson,” number 356.

1930 Fort Smith Neighbors

According to the 1930 census, Cal (82) and Bettie (80) reside with their grandson, John, on a farm that they own in Ft. Smith, Oklahoma Muskogee District 0012, dwelling 91. It appears to be a culturally-mixed community comprised of Negroes, Whites and Indians.  For example, the Bank president , Clyde Kagy, resides in the neighborhood with his “mixed-blood Cherokee” wife and offspring.  Although Cal and Betty are “mixed-blood Cherokee” Africans, they are listed as “Negroes.” It is likely that other neighbors listed as “Negroes” are also “mixed-blood” Native Americans.

 

NAME	RACE	BIRTH PLACE	OCCUPATION
John C. O’dell	W	Ark	Pharmacist
Aquilla O’dell		Ark
Betty O’dell		Ok
John C. O’dell		OK
Lula Berry	W	TX
Richard Tarver		OK
Robert Tarver		OK
Wilbert Tarver		OK
Annie Harris		OK
Gilberta R. Harris		OK
Arline Broadway		OK
Herline Broadway		OK
Mary Broadway		OK
Henry Broadway		OK
Canceel Broadway		OK
Cal Robertson	Neg	OK	Laborer
Bettie Robertson	Neg	OK	washerwoman
John Gandy		OK
John C. Boatright	W	Ark	Presbyterian Clergy

Alice Boatright	W	Ark
Ewell Boatright		Ark
Glenn Champlin		Ark
Anna Champlin		Ark
Billy G. Champlin		Ark
Clyde B. Kagy	W	IL
Clara A. Kagy	I	OK
Alma L. Kagy	I	OK
Nash Kagy	I	OK
Tookah Kagy	I	OK
Flora Mascilliot	I	TN
Louise Johnson	Neg	OK	Servant/private family
Arthur Crose		OK
G. C. Wallis	W	MO	Physician
Lee F. Wallis		MO
Charles Wallis		MO
Marie Wallis		OK
Charles A. Haas		OK
Genera Haas	W	Ark	Retail Merchant
Fielding Haas		OK

Lester Evans		OK
Andrew Shaw	Neg	OK	Laborer
Clarence Shaw		OK
Toby Daniels	Neg	TX	Farmer
Mish Daniels		OK
Chaney Richardson	Neg	OK
Chaney M. Dillwood		OK
Bill Eubanks	W	OK	Laborer/railroad
Doshie Eubanks		OK
Edgar Eubanks		OK
Troy Eubanks		OK

Citations

“Roberson, Belle.” Ancestry.com. Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Land Allotment Jackets For Five Civilized Tribes, 1884 – 1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

“Roberson, Belle.” Ancestry.com. Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Dawes Census Cards For Five Civilized Tribes, 1898 – 1914 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

“Roberson, Bettie:” Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Year: 1930; Census Place: Fort Gibson, Muskogee, Oklahoma; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0012; FHL microfilm: 2341649. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Sep 25, 2020

“Vann, Belle.” Ancestry.com. Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Censuses and Rolls 1851-1959 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

“Varm, Bettie.” Oklahoma, County Marriage Records 1890 – 1995. Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Various (2007). “Robertson, Betty” in Slave Narratives, Oklahoma: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves. Release Date: March 8, 2007 [EBook #20785] http://www.gutenberg.org (pp266-269).