Harriet (Norris) Miller (1842 - 1943)

Born 15 Dec 1842 in Pickens, South Carolina, United States

Wife of Judge (Jarrett) Miller — married 1868 in Stephens, Georgia, United States

Died 1 Aug 1943 at age 100 in Georgia, United States

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Biography

Harriet was born a free person of color about 1842, the daughter of Green Norris a full blooded Cherokee Indian and Betsy Richards. She was raised on the Jarrett Plantation in Georgia, where her caretaker was the overseer. Because Harriet was a Woman of color she was not allowed to attend the White School in Pickens, S.C. ^[1]

After Slavery ending in 1865 ^[2] Harriet married Judge Jarrett (former enslaved African-American Ancestor on the plantation of Kenedy Jarrett) and they lived in Franklin County, GA with their young son. ^[3] Sometime between 1871 and 1899 the Jerret's dropped the slaveholders surname and began using "Miller" as their surname and continued to live in Franklin, GA with the children. ^[4]

In 1908 Harriet petitioned for Native American status, however it was denied based on the treaties of 1835-36 through 1846. This was based on her father never being recognized as being connected to the Eastern Cherokees Nation.^[5]

Harriet is now widowed living with one of her son's and his wife in Toccoa, GA. ^[6] Which brings us to Harriet's interview below conducted by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). ^[1] She continued to live with her son years after her interview. ^[7] Harriet passed away in 1943. ^[8]

Family

• Father - Green Norris (Cherokee)
• Mother - Betsy Richards (Caucasian)
• Husband - Judge Miller (Slave LNAB Jarrett)
• Children

Robert C Miller

David Leonard Miller

Luther Jarrett Miller

Maggie Miller

Neubern Miller

Lieutenant Jarrett Miller

Elizabeth Miller

Almetie Miller

Amanda Miller

Elizabeth Jarrett Miller

Jordan Latersant Miller

James Miller

Media Lillie May Miller

Caretaker

• George Naves - Pickens, South Carolina^[1]

Interview

Harriet was interviewed by Annie Lee Newton sometime during 1937 in Toccoa, Georgia as part of the Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The results are presented in narrative form, most, allegedly, in the first person, and made available by the Library of Congress. ^[1]

Harriet recalls when asked - My whitefolks tried to send me to school but de whitefolks wouldn't receive me in deir school on account of I was mixed, and dere warnrt no colored school an t'all, nowhere. Some of de white ladies taught deir slaves. Yes'm, some of 'em did. Now, Miss Sallie Jarrett, dat was Mrs. Bob,Jarrett's daughter, used to teach 'em some.

As a child, Aunt Harriet associated with white people, and played with white children, but when she grew up, had to turn to negroes for companionship.

The total interview can be read here page 129.

Research Notes

"My father," said Aunt Harriet, was a Cherokee Indian named Green Norris, and my mother was a white woman named Betsy Richards. You see, I am mixed. My mother give me to Mr. George Naves when I was three years old.

George Naves was an overseer for the Kennedy Jarrett.

Always listed at Mulatto or Black on the U.S. Federal Population Census

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} [1] Library of Congress - TYPEWRITTEN RECORDS PREPARED BY THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT. 1936-1938 ASSEMBLED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PROJECT WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - SLAVE NARRATIVES - Harriet Miller - Page 129
2. ↑ The 13th Amendment, adopted on December 18, 1865, officially abolished slavery, but freed Black peoples' status in the post-war South remained precarious, and significant challenges awaited during the Reconstruction period.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch ([2] : 28 May 2021), Harriet Jarret in entry for Judge Jarret, 1870.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch ([3] : 14 February 2022), Hariett Miller in entry for Judge Miller, 1900.
5. ↑ "United States, Native American, Eastern Cherokee Enrollment Records, 1908-1910," database, FamilySearch ([4] : 21 August 2019), Harriet Miller, Georgia, United States; citing Census, Georgia, United States, NARA microfilm publication M685 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1967), various rolls.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch ([5] : accessed 20 February 2022), Harriette Miller in household of Jim Miller, Toccoa, Stephens, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet , line , family , NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll ; FHL microfilm.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch ([6] : 8 January 2021), Harriet Miller in household of Jim Miller, District 440, Stephens, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 127-6, sheet 2A, line 25, family 31, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 709.
8. ↑ "Georgia Death Index, 1933-1998," database, FamilySearch ([7] : 24 December 2014), Harriet Miller, 01 Oct 1943; from "Georgia Deaths, 1919-98," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2001); citing Stephns, Georgia, certificate number 23108, Georgia Health Department, Office of Vital Records, Atlanta.