**All film numbers that are used are film numbers that have been assigned to these films by the National Archives at the Kansas City Branch.

The Cherokee Indians moved or were removed primarily from the Southeastern United States to Indian Territory in what is now eastern Oklahoma. Some moved voluntarily: for example, those who migrated to the Missouri bootheel soon after the Revolutionary War from where they fled to the White River area in Arkansas after the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-12; then on to Indian Territory in the late 1840s pursant to a United States - Cherokee Treaty agreement.

The material below is concerned primarily with the Cherokees who were removed from the Southeastern United States, mostly in the 1830s, as the result of several U.S. - Cherokee treaties, the most prominent of which was the Treaty of New Echota, Georgia of December 29, 1835. The overall removal process is commonly known as "The Trail of Tears".

The following present several reference sources to set forth Cherokee family compositions, situations and locations before and after removal.

Microfilm T496, The Eastern Cherokee Census Roll of 1835, showing heads of families and microfilm 7RA1, the Drennan Payment Roll of 1852, both mainly reflect the same family names. However, the family compostions changed considerably from 1835 to 1852. Also the Drennan Roll of 1852 necessarily gave the names of all the family members as each member was entitled to a payment of $92.83, under terms of the 1846 Treaty to cover losses of property, expenses of removal and subsistence costs incurred as a result of the removal.

The example which follows is a random family. It is anticipated that the Indian genealogist involved in a particular case would probably be able to identify at least some of the family Emmbers.

T496 (1 roll) Census Roll, 1835, of the Cherokee Indians Living East of the Mississippi River - The Henderson Rolls. Roll was taken before removal from the Southeastern United States. See Map

Plus various statistics such as: number of farms; acres in cultivation; houses; bushels of wheat raised; wheat bought; corn raised; stock, etc.

7RA1 (1 roll) Drennan Roll of 1852 - Citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Roll was taken after removal from the Southeastern United States. See Map

Microfilm T496
Census Roll, 1835, of the Cherokee Indians living East of the Mississippi River - The Henderson Rolls. Indexed. Taken along with the Cherokee, New Echota, Georgia, Treaty of 1835.

Roll taken before removal from the Southeastern United States.
Index is partially alphabetized

The following information is given:

Head of Family
Number of males under 18
Number of males over 18
Number of females under 16
Number of females over 16
Total Cherokees
Male slaves
Female slaves
Total slaves
Whites connected by marriage
Farms
Acres in cultivation
Houses
Bushels of wheat raised
Bushels of corn raised
Bushels of wheat sold
Bushels of corn sold
For how much
Bushels of corn bought
For how much
Mills
Ferry boats
Farmers over 18 years
Mechanics over 18 years
Readers in English
Readers in Cherokee
Half-breeds
Quadroons
Full blooded
Mixed Catawbys
Mixed Spanish
Mixed Negros
Weavers
Spinners
Reserves
Descendents of Reserves
Residence: State, County, and Watercourse

Microfilm 7RA1 (1 roll)
Drennan Roll of 1852 - Citizens of the Cherokee Nation - Roll was taken after removal from the Southeastern United States.

On the single roll of this microfilm publication is reproduced an 1852 per capita receipt roll of the citizens of the Cherokee Nation who removed west as a result of the treaty concluded between the United States and the Cherokee Tribe of Indians at New Echota in the state of Georgia on the 29th day of December, 1835. The roll is bound in two volumes. The first volume is a semi alphabetical index and the second volume is the receipt roll.

The receipt roll was made by John Drennan, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, in accordance with the ninth article of the Treaty of August 6th, 1846. Funds for the payment were appropriated February 27th, 1851. The payment was made to cover losses of property, expenses of removal and subsistence costs incurred as a result of the removal.

The roll is arranged by the eight Cherokee Districts at that time and thereunder by family groups. The family groups are numbered successively within each district. The following information is given:

1. name of head of household
2. names of other members of the household
3. Total amount received by the head of household
4. A few remarks

Each district is followed by a Recatitulation and the final page of the roll shows a grand recapitulation. Each of the 13,905 individuals listed received $92.83 making the total payment equal to $1,290,801.15.

The index lists the surnames, given name and the page number of the roll on which the name appears. Both volumes are in script.

The Drennan Roll is a part of the records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75. In this same record group are other documents relatingto this per capita roll.

The records reproduced in this microfilm publication were prepared for filming by Thelma Defrates who also wrote this introduction remarks.

In the Cherokee Nation in 1835 there were 21,804 Cherokees and 257 Whites connected by marriage.

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