In the Matter of Claim of Sibby Burnside to Cherokee Indian Citizenship

Before the Honorable Secretary of Interior.
Declaration of Claimant

State of Iowa }
Muscatine County }       

          On this the [blank] Day of February A.D. 1886 personally appeared before me the undersigned Clerk of the District Court in and for said County and State Sibby Burnside of Muscatine County and State of Iowa to me well known and who I certify to be credible and respectable who being by me first duly Affirmed according to law deposeth and saieth that she is a Person of Cherokee Indian descent and was Born in Hamilton County and State of Indiana that her age is [blank] years and her Post Office Address is Muscatine Muscatine County State of Iowa that she the daughter of one Rebecca Rich who was Born in Highland County and State of Ohio in the year A.D. 1810 and died in Marion County and State of Indiana in the year A.D. 184? that the said Rebecca Rich was the reported daughter of one William Sanders a Half Breed Cherokee Indian who was Born on the Cherokee Indian reservation in the State of Georgia in the year A.D. 1779 and died in Hamilton County and State of Indiana in the year A.D. 1841 that the said William was the reported Son of one Joel Sanders a Half Breed Cherokee Indian who it is said was Born on the Cherokee Indian Reservation east of the Mississippi River and died in Highland County and State of Ohio in the year A.D. 1819 that the said William Sanders was a Son of one Sarah Sanders who’s maiden name was Sarah Morgan a Half Breed Cherokee Indian woman who was Born on the Cherokee Indian reservation East of the Mississippi River and died in Highland County and State of Ohio in the year A.D. 1822.
          Declarant further says that she and her children viz. Emma E. Cole age 30 years Edward O. Burnside age 24 years Frank Burnside 18 years Cora Burnside age 16 years Nellie Burnside age 12 years Luther Burnside age 7 years and Mable Burnside age 4 years are Persons of Cherokee Indian descent entitled to all the rights priveledges [sic] and amenities in the Cherokee Nation and Indian Territory of any member of the Cherokee tribe of Indians she therefore submits this claim to the Honorable Secretary Interior and Prays that the Honorable Secretary will cause such action to be taken as will secure her and her children as aforesaid equal rights priveledges [sic] and amenities in the Cherokee Nation ad Indian Territory as is enjoyed by any other member of said Cherokee tribe of Indians and for such others and further relief as the Honorable Secretary of Interior may deem proper and just in the premises that she makes this her application for the sole purpose emigrating to the Cherokee Nation and Indian Territory and becoming identified with the Cherokee tribe of Indians and making a permanent residence therein.
          Affirmed to and Subscribed before me this day by the above named declarant. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and Affixed my Official Seal this the [blank] Day of February A.D. 1886.

State of Iowa }
Muscatine County }       

          Cora M. Jones of said County being duly sworn says that she was born in Muscatine County, State of Iowa Nov. 16th 1868; was the daughter of Sibby R. Burnside who was born in Hamilton County, Indiana December 29th 1838; was the daughter of one Rebecca Rich who was the daughter of one William Sanders, a half breed Cherokee Indian, and was born in Highland County, Ohio in the year 1810, and died in Marion County Indiana in the year 1846. Said William Sanders a half breed Cherokee Indian was born on the Cherokee reservation in the State of Georgia in the year 1779 and died in Hamilton County, State of Indiana in the year 1841. The said William Sanders was the son of one Joel Sanders a half breed of Cherokee Indian who was born on the Cherokee Indian reservation east of the Mississippi River and died in Highland County, Ohio the year 1819. That said William Sanders was the son of Sarah Morgan a half breed of Cherokee Indian woman who was born on the Cherokee reservation east of the Mississippi River and died in Highland County, State of Ohio in the year 1822. The said Sibby R. Burnside says that she and her children viz: Emma E. Cole age 39 years Edward O. Burnside age 32 years, Frank B. Burnside age 29 years, Cora M. Jones age 27 years, Nellie O. Burnside age 22 years, Luther M. Burnside age 17 years, Mabel G. Burnside age 15 years are persons of Cherokee Indian descent entitled to all the rights, privileges and conveniencies [sic] in the Cherokee Nation and Indian Territory of any member of the Cherokee tribe of Indians, she therefore submits her claim to the Honorable Secretary and Prays that the Honorable Secretary will cause such action to be taken as will secure her and her children as aforesaid equal rights, privileges and conveniencies [sic] in the Cherokee Nation.
          [Written in by hand] That she has following children Ethel Jones 5 years old, Harry 4 years old, Bessie Jones 2 years old and submits [the rest illegible by me].
          Sworn to and subscribed before me and in my presence by the said Cora M. Jones this 31st day of August A.D. 1896.

[signature]
Notary Public in and for said County.