Dear Kinfolk,

In 1809 Thomas Jefferson was retiring and moving to his home Monticello, Virginia.  He had served two terms as President of the United States, 1801-1809.   While President he was responsible for the purchase of the vast Louisiana Territory from France.

Our great, g — grandfather Henry M. Anderson was born July 15, 1809 in the Louisiana Territory.  Research has shown both Louisiana and Mississippi as the state he was born.  They both could be correct in that parts of Mississippi were in the Louisiana Territory.  His parents were James Anderson and Sarah “Sally” Collier.

Records from the Guion/Miller Indian rolls and an affidavit from Henry’s grandson, William Henry Anderson, state …”that his grandfather, Henry Anderson,, a quarter breed Cherokee Indian who was born in 1809 in the state of Mississippi, as appears from the records taken from the family bible, and who moved from Mississippi to Montgomery County, Arkansas with his said father whom was a small boy”.  The Guion/Miller affidavits  indicate the Indian blood came from Henry’s grandmother, Bettie Harlan Mitchell.

Henry M. Anderson married Sarah Collier on August 16, 1828.  she was the daughter of Martin Collier and Mary Bell Anderson.  Their eleven children were as follows;           

James Washington Anderson, born 1829 in Arkansas.

Twins…………Mary and Prudence Anderson, born January 4, 1831, in Arkansas’

Elizabeth Anderson, born November 21, 1832 in Arkansas.

Lucinda “Cindi” Anderson, born January 11, 1834 in Arkansas.

Albert Jackson Anderson, born February 15 1836, in Arkansas.

Mitchell Harrison Anderson, born August 22 1837 in Jacksboro Texas.

John Henry Anderson, born February 15, 1839, in Jacksboro, Texas.

DeLaney Anderson, born April 11, 1841 in Jacksboro, Texas.

William Walter Anderson, born June 10, 1844, in Arkansas.

Phillip Jefferson Anderson, born January 11, 1852 in Old Zyback, Texas.

There is a family debate on what was Henry M. Anderson’s middle name.  Most family trees indicate his name was Henry Madison Anderson.   Henry and Sarah did use several Presidents names for their children (James Washington,  Albert Jackson, Mitchell Harrison, and Phillip Jefferson).  The other name choice is Henry Mitchell Anderson.  His grandmother was Bettie Harlan Mitchell, his great-grandfather was James Mitchell and Henry and Sarah named their 7th child, Mitchell Anderson.  We may not solve this puzzle until someone finds his birth certificate or other significant records with his true middle name.

I have several interesting stories about Henry that I will pass on in a future blog.  Hey cousins, if I have errors in this blog, please feel free to e-mail me and I will make changes.   To my children,  if you are trying to figure out how you are related to Henry and Sarah, here is the lineage.

Daughters Debra, Sally, Patricia……Jim L. Anderson……Orren A. Anderson……William Henry Anderson…….Albert J. Anderson…….Henry M. Anderson.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend, its cold in Oklahoma.

Jim Lee