Creek Indians

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Creek Indians were also known as Muskogee.

The Creek Indians are one of the Five Civilized Tribes: Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole

Cultural area is the Southeast United States.

Linguistic group: Muskogean

Federal Status: Recognized

Clans: Wind, Bird, Alligator, Bear

Original homeland: along the banks of the Alabama, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Flint, Ocmulgee, and Chattahoochee Rivers, In the Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee

Creek Indians trace their ancestry through the female line. The children belong to the same clan as their mother. Clan members were closely related so they had to marry someone from a different clan than his or her own.

The Creek Nation is comprised of six political districts: 1. Coweta, 2. Deep Fork, 3. Eufaula, 4. Muscogee, 5. Okmulgee, 6. Wewoka; these districts functions like counties.

Tribal Headquarters

Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma
P. O. Box 580
Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447
Phone: 918-756-8700

Muskogee (Creek) Nation: http://www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov/

History

Their ancestral homeland was in Alabama and Georgia.

Brief Timeline

• 1540: First contact Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto
• 1703-08: Creeks were allies of the English in the Apalachee Wars.
• 1775: supported the British in the American Revolutionary War
• November 25, 1785: Treaty at Hopewell, South Carolina
• 1813-1814: Creek Wars, General Andrew Jackson, in command of some of the forces
• 1796-1816: Benjamin Hawkins, was the federal agent to the Creeks
• June 29, 1796: Coleraine, Georgia
• 1816: after the death of Benjamin Hawkins, President James Madison appointed David B. Mitchell, a former governor of Georgia. He undermined the Creeks' sovereignty and initiated acts to take all of their lands in Georgia.
• August 9, 1814: Fort Jackson, Alabama
• January 22, 1818: Creek agency on Flint river
• January 8, 1821 / February 12, 1825: Treaty of Indian Springs negotiated by Creek leader William McIntosh. He was later (1825) executed by the Creek Nation for the deed.
• January 24, 1826: Washington D.C.; Creeks would sell their land. Ratified April 22, 1826
• March 24, 1832: Treaty that the United States would remove intruders.
• 1836-1837: removed from Georgia and Alabama to eastern Oklahoma. Some were taken by a southern route to New Orleans and then by steamboats (Monmouth) up the Mississippi River to Arkansas. The Monmouth collided with the Trenton more than 300 Creeks drowned. During removal 3,500 died of the 15,000.
• November 23, 1838: Ft. Gibson
• Creek Nation formed into six districts: Coweta District, Deep Fork District, Eufaula District, Muskogee District, Okmulgee District, and Wewoka District.
• 1861-1865: United States Civil War the tribe was split; some allying with the Union others with the Confederate Army
• 1867: Tribe adopted a new constitution
• 1887: Dawes Act
• 1907: Oklahoma became the 46th State.
• Creek Nation divided into eight counties: Creek, Hughes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okfuskee,Okmaulgee, Tulsa and Wagoner
• 1953: U.S. Congress began a new policy of termination for the Indian tribes. The policy ended the protected trust status of all Indian-owned lands. The BIA began a voluntary urban relocation program. American Indians could move from their rural tribes to a metropolitan area. Many Indians relocated to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas and Seattle.It is estimated that 750,000 Native American migrated to the cities between 1950-1980.
  
• 1968: Indian Civil Rights Act restored the right to hold popular elections.

Additional References to the History of the Tribe

Frederick Webb Hodge, in his Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, gave a more complete history of the Creek tribe, with estimations of the population of the tribe at various time periods. Additional details are given in John Swanton's The Indian Tribes of North America.

A Migration Legend of the Creek Indians, by Albert Samuel Gatschet and Daniel Garrison Brinton. NY Kraus Reprint CO., 1969. Book 970.3 C861g or fiche 6050043 (six fiche)

Notes on the Creek Indians, by J. N. B. Hewitt, edited by John R. Swanton. Anthropological Papers, No. 10. Bulletin 123, BAE. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1939.

A Sketch of the Creek County, in the Years 1798-1799, by Benjamin Hawkins. Spartanburg, SC. Reprint Co., 1974. FHL Book 970.3 C861h or Film 962258

Early History of the Creek Indians and Their Neighbors, by John Reed Swanton. US Government Printing Office. 1902.

Records

Creek Indians. University of West Florida. Special Collections Department. (Census, Genealogy, and Land Tenure) FHL Collection

Creek Nation. Oklahoma Historical Society. Indian Archives Division. 52 films FHL Collection

Biographies

The Southern Indians: a Biographical Guide to the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek Indians, 1700-1907 FHL Collection

Census Records

Creek Census of 1832 (Upper Creeks) by Benjamin S. Parsons FHL Collection

Creek Census of 1832 (Lower Creeks) by Thomas J. Abbott. FHL 571201

1900 Creek Nation Census. by Carole Ellsworth and Sue Emler. FHL Collection

Census of Creeks taken by parson and Abbott in 1832, is indexed by "Index to Creek reserrves" a listing originally prepared by Indian agents John J. Abert and James Bright to index land claims sselected by Creeks under the provision of the 1832 Treaty of Danacing Rabbit Creek.

Tribe / Agency	Census Years	Post - 1885 Census M595 RG 75 Rolls 693 Roll Numbers	FHL Film Number
Crow Creek	1886-1892	-	FHL Film:575,779
Crow Creek	1883-1905	-	FHL Film:575,780
Crow Creek	1906-1920	-	FHL Film:575,781
Crow Creek	1921-1929	-	FHL Film:575,782
Crow Creek	1930-1933	-	FHL Film:575,783
Crow Creek	1934-1942	-	FHL Film:575,784

Correspondence Records

Agency	location of Original Records	Pre-1880 Correspondence M234 RG 75 Rolls 962 Roll Number	FHL Film Number
Creek Agency, 1824-1866	Washington D.C.	-	1,660,949 - 978
Union Agency, 1875-1914	Washington D.C. and Fort Worth	Rolls 865-77	1,661,595 - 607
Eufaula Boarding School, 1925-52	Fort Worth	-	-
Muskogee Area Office, 1890-1960	Fort Worth	-	-

Enrollment Records

• Dawes Commission Enrollment Records
• John B. Campbell’s provides an abstract of Creek Indian Census Cards in his 1915 manuscript. This index has proven invaluable over time by providing a quick method to research family relationships within the Creek tribal rolls.
  

History

Duke Indian Oral History Collection and Index. Duke University FHL Collection

Military

• Some Creek Indians are listed as serving in the Second Creek War (1836) in the Indian Wars Compiled Service Records Index, 1815-1858. This index includes the soldier’s name, rank, and unit along with the name of the war or disturbance.

• Creek Soldier Casualty Lists, Seminole War, 1836. By Larry S. Watson FHL Collection

• Muster Lists of the Creek and Other Confederate Indians. by Sherman Lee Pompey FHL Collection

Removal

The Indian Removal Act was signed May 26, 1830 by President Andrew Jackson. The Act initiated a policy of removal of American Indians tribes living east of the Mississippi River to land west of the river.

The Creeks were the second tribe of the Five Civilized Tribes to be removed.

Before the trek began the Tribe was gathered into groups and supervised by the military in temporary forts (concentration camps) in Georgia.

Names and Claims of Creek Indians who moved at their own expense, 1830-1840. "Stidham Roll". by Larry S. Watson. FHL Collection

Nation	Removal Treaty	Years of Emigration	Population Before Removal	Number Emigrated	Deaths	Number stayed in Southeast	Information of Interest
Creek Chiefs: Wm. McIntosh Opthleyaholo Tukabahchee Tuskineah	Treat of Cusseta March 24,1832 Government Leaders: Captain John Page Lt. J. T. Sprague Lt. Edward Deas Benj. Marshall Lt. R. B. Screven Lt. T.P. Sloan	1834-1837	22,700 +900 Black Slaves	19,600	3,500 (disease after removal)	100s	Alabama Emigrating Co. Jim Boy (Tustennuggee Emathla) regiment of Creek warriors helped US military in Seminole war 1,000 miles

Removal was supervised by the United States Army, the Creeks were divided into groups to be removed. Dates of removal by groups:

• 1827 seven hundred and three Creeks and eighty six Slaves with Chief William McIntosh left and traveled by Keel boats, the Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers to Fort Gibson
• 1828: 400
• June 1829: 1,200 steam boat Virginia ran aground on the Arkansas River
• Dec 1834 six hundred thirty- under Captain John Page, four hundred sixty nine arrived 28 Mar 1835, two men in the group: Sampson Grayon with 34 Slaves and Widow Stidham with 23 Slaves.
• 10 July 1836: nine hundred of the Encah Emalhea Band - shipped in chains
• 1 Aug 1836 left Alabama, 2,700 leader Opthleyaholo
• 5 September 1836 1,984 Lt. J.T. Sprague (known as 5th group of Friendly Creek)
• 1836: 2,700 arrived at Ft Gibson - (1st group Friendly Creek)
• 18 & 22 Dec 1836; (2nd group Friendly Creek)
• March 1837: 4,000 Lt. Edward Deas, arrived 2 Jun 1837 at Little rock Arkansas. with 500. 3,500 still at Mobile Point
• 29 Oct 1837 1,600 Lt. T.P. Sloan three steamboats: Monmoth 611- 311 drowned when it struck the steamboat Trenton

Trade

Superintendent of Indian Trade. Letter Book of the Creek Trading House, 1785-1816. FHL Film: 1024433

Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Trade, Creek Factory Records, 1795-1821. 13 microfilm. FHL Collection

Treaties

The year link,the date of the treaty will connect to an online copy of the Treaty.

• 1785:
• 1790 August 7, at New York
• 1796 June 29, at Colerain
• 1802 June 16, at Fort Wilkinson
• October 27, 1805,
• 1805 November 14, at Washington
• 1814 August 9,
• March 22, 1816, - Cherokee
• 1818 October 19, with the Chickasaw, Flint River
• 1821 January 8, at Indian Spring
• 1821
• 1824 February 12, at Indian Spring
• 1825: Population estimated at 20,000 for Creek Indians in Georgia and Alabama, reported by T.C. McKenny - of the Indian Office
• 1825 June 29, at Broken Arrow - unratified
• 1826 January 24,at Washington
• 1827 November 15, at Creek Agency
• 1832 March 24,at Washington
• May 9, 1832, Seminole
• 1833 February 14, at Fort Gibson
• March 28, 1833
• June 18, 1833, Appalachicola Band
• 1835August 24, at Camp Holmes, with the Comanche
• 1838 November 23, at Fort Gibson
• 1845 January 4,with the Seminole
• April 1, 1850 - Wyandot
• 1853: Population estimated at 25,000 by Commissioner of Indian Affairs at the request of the Department of Census
• 1854 June 13,
• 1856 August 7, at Washington
• September 13, 1865, at Fort Smith - unratified
• 1866 June 14, at Washington
• 1867: Population estimated at 14,396 by Commissioner of Indian Affairs
• 1910: Population as reported from census 6,945

Vital Records

• Crow Creek Agency, M595, births and deaths 1924-1932, FHL Film: 575,783

Indian Pioneer Papers

In 1936, the Oklahoma Historical Society and University of Oklahoma requested a writer's project grant from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in which interviews would be conducted with early settlers in Oklahoma who had lived on Indian land. More than 100 writers conducted over 11,000 interviews and were asked to "call upon early settlers and (record) the story of the migration to Oklahoma and their early life here." The University of Oklahoma Western History Collection has digitized the Indian Pioneer Papers which consists of approximately 80,000 indexed entries arranged alphabetically by personal name, place name, or subject. An index to the Indian Pioneer Papers may also be found at OkGenWeb Oklahoma Genealogy. A separate index of Indians interviewed, including the Creek, may be viewed at: “Indians in the Indian Pioneer Papers” Some of the surnames from the Creek tribe found in the collection are: Barnett, Beam (Stevens), Berryhill, Bond, Breeding, Canard, Coker, Fisher (Postoak), Jobe, Postoak, Sells (Jobe). Family History Library microfiche number: 6,016,865(first microfiche number)

Important Web Sites

• Muscogee (Creek) Indians Wikipedia
• Creek Native Americans http://creeknativeamericans.blogspot.com
• Native American Research http://nativeamericanresearch.blogspot.com
• Indian Research http://researchindians.blogspot.com

Access Genealogy http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/creek-indian-research.htm

Family History Library

The Family History Library catalog has over 500 titles of interest to the Creek Indians

References

Hawkins, Benjamin. A Sketch of the Creek Country, in the years 1798 and 1799, and letters of Benjamin Hawkins, Spartanburg,SC., Reprint Co., 1974. FHL Book 970.3 C861h or Film 962,258

Bibliography

• Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives; Record Group 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
• Hodge, Frederick Webb. Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1906 Available online.
• Klein, Barry T., ed. Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian. Nyack, New York: Todd Publications, 2009. 10th ed. WorldCat 317923332; FHL book 970.1 R259e.
• Lennon, Rachal Mills. Tracing Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes; Southeastern Indians Prior to Removal. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2002. FHL Book 970.1 L548t.
• Malinowski, Sharon and Sheets, Anna, eds. The Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. Detroit: Gale Publishing, 1998. 4 volumes. Includes: Lists of Federally Recognized Tribes for U.S., Alaska, and Canada – pp. 513-529 Alphabetical Listing of Tribes, with reference to volume and page in this series Map of “Historic Locations of U.S. Native Groups” Map of “Historic Locations of Canadian Native Groups” Map of “Historic Locations of Mexican, Hawaiian and Caribbean Native Groups” Maps of “State and Federally Recognized U.S. Indian Reservations. WorldCat 37475188; FHL book 970.1 G131g.

Vol. 1 -- Northeast, Southeast, Caribbean

Vol. 2 -- Great Basin, Southwest, Middle America

Vol. 3 -- Arctic, Subarctic, Great Plains, Plateau

Vol. 4 -- California, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Islands

• Sturtevant, William C. Handbook of North American Indians. 20 Vols., some not yet published. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1978– .

Volume 1 -- Not yet published

Volume 2 -- Indians in Contemporary Society (pub. 2008) -- WorldCat 234303751

Volume 3 -- Environment, Origins, and Population (pub. 2006) -- WorldCat 255572371

Volume 4 -- History of Indian-White Relations (pub. 1988) -- WorldCat 19331914; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.4.

Volume 5 -- Arctic (pub. 1984) -- WorldCat 299653808; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.5.

Volume 6 -- Subarctic (pub. 1981) -- WorldCat 247493742; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.6.

Volume 7 -- Northwest Coast (pub. 1990) -- WorldCat 247493311

Volume 8 -- California (pub. 1978) -- WorldCat 13240086; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.8.

Volume 9 -- Southwest (pub. 1979) -- WorldCat 26140053; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.9.

Volume 10 -- Southwest (pub. 1983) -- WorldCat 301504096; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.10.

Volume 11 -- Great Basin (pub. 1986) -- WorldCat 256516416; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.11.

Volume 12 -- Plateau (pub. 1998) -- WorldCat 39401371; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.12.

Volume 13 -- Plains, 2 vols. (pub. 2001) -- WorldCat 48209643

Volume 14 -- Southeast (pub. 2004) -- WorldCat 254277176

Volume 15 -- Northwest (pub. 1978) -- WorldCat 356517503; FHL book 970.1 H191h v.15.

Volume 16 -- Not yet published

Volume 17 -- Languages (pub. 1996) -- WorldCat 43957746

Volume 18 -- Not yet published

Volume 19 -- Not yet published

Volume 20 -- Not yet published

• Swanton John R. The Indian Tribes of North America. Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin #145 Available online.
• Waldman, Carl. Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. New York, New York: Facts on File, 2006. 3rd ed. WorldCat 14718193; FHL book 970.1 W146e 2006.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)