Is the name Clara Allen Underwood mother of Sarah Frances Stump of CHerokee Ancestry ?

Question

My grandmother was names Elma Dean Caldwell Wood of Pipestem, West Virginia where I was born in 1952. Her mother was Clara Allen Underwood Caldwell of whom was the mother of Sarah Francis Stump. I am told that a relative of ours with the surname of Stump was a full blooded Cherokee from the area of Virginia or North Carolina. Sarah Francis Stump who had married  Robert Wood was born in 1857 and had died in 1935. Thank you.

Sincerely,

      Asel Gene Wood     Pipestem, West Virginia

Answer 1

I send a private message to the profile manager, Pam Ellis, to see if she had any thoughts on this. I did see a profile with the wife unknown. She could have been the Cherokee, but who knows? Many families claim Cherokee ancestry but without proof.  DNA would tell you for sure, but you'd still have to figure out who.

My ex-husband claimed to have Cherokee blood which accounted for his "good hair." Our daughter tested her DNA and she actually does have Native American ancestry. Who knew?

Answer 2

It would be unlikely that a person born in Virginia in 1857 would be Cherokee. The Cherokee did not live in Virginia and by 1838 they were pushed out of their lands in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and the western tip of North Carolina during the Trail of Tears. By 1857 the Cherokee were long removed from their original land.

Answer 3

Thank you, Lucy, for the email. Clara Underwood is my mother's maternal grandmother. aDNA test results did not return Native American ethnicity for either myself or my mother. Not even a fraction.

Additionally, I have mtDNA tested - the pre-U.S. female line traces to Germany, and the results of that test support the records.

I've never heard nor come across any records suggesting any NA in that line. Also, it's been a while since I've looked at the Stump line, but I don't recall that Sara was married to a Wood. Will have to go back and have a look at that.

Answer 4

Elma Dean Caldwell was a sister of my mother-in-law, Eva Francis Caldwell. My daughter Pam has already responded to the NA heritage matter. My response relates to your listing Sarah Stump as having married a Wood. Through FamilySearch.com I found the Fndagrave.com listing for Elma Dean Caldwell Wood and her husband Alexander Wood. A little more checking revealed that Elma's in-laws were James A. Wood and Sarah Dodd Wood. Sarah Dodd Wood died in 1932. Elma's maternal grandparents were Creed Underwood and Sarah Francis Stump. This Sarah died in 1935.

Answer 5

I found the below which may be the source. However,this Sarah Stump's maiden name is Phipps.

https://phippsgenealogy.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/eastern-cherokee-application-of-charles-bayard-stump/

Charles Bayard Stump filed an Eastern Cherokee Application in 1906 from Smyth County, Virginia, based largely on his Phipps heritage. He was a grandson, he said,  of William Phipps, born in Ashe County, North Carolina, and William’s wife Mary, who was born in adjacent Grayson County, Virginia.

This William was William W. Phipps, born 20 December 1841 according to the Eastern Cherokee Application of his brother Eli. He was, again, born in Ashe County according to the Eastern Cherokee Application (ECA) of William’s grandson Charles Stump.

The ECA of William’s brother Eli gives their parents’ names as Benjaman Phipps and Ruthy Hash. The ECA of Charles Stump only mentions Ruthy, but instead calls her Rutha Phipps, daughter of “Margrey hash.”

Charles Stump filed his claim for Cherokee benefits on the following basis: “Charles B. Stump a Son of Sarah J. Stump a Daughter of William Phipps a Son of Rutha Phipps a Daughter of Margrey hash a Daughter of James Hart who was a son of Dollie Sizmor [i.e. Sizemore] who was a Daughter of Ned Sizmor [i.e. Sizemore] who was a full Blood Cherokee Indian”

Comments

Charles Stump's Eastern Cherokee application was rejected, as were all those claiming descent from Ned Sizemore.

Answer 6

My Heritage DNa reveals a strong rating for Cherokee heritage, but the % cannot be measured due to so many Cherokee males being killed off through the years. The Cherokee and several other Native American shows a connection on my fathers and mothers side.