Several documents show the descendants of John Hammons, Sr. considered themselves Indian. Some of these documents classify them as mixed-breed, mulatto and free men of color. The following sections and paragraphs describe this documentation. John's name appears as John Hammons in most of the original documents. References to him in the supporting documents often call him John Hammond or John Hammonds. Dates and places confirm this as the same John Hammonds, Sr.
John Hammons
Four census documents support John Hammonds, Sr. as a Lumbee Indian. First, the study conducted by Wesley D. White titled "A House-by-house Description of the Indian Community in Robeson County, North Carolina in 1850" indicates on page 4, Household #94 that John Hammonds, Sr. was an Indian of Robeson County. Second, the Bladen County Tax Lists of 1770 shows him as Mulatto. Third, the Bladen County Tax Lists of 1772 shows him and his wife as Mulattos. Finally, the Abstracts of the 1790 Census shows John Hammonds under the category All Other Free Persons.
John Hammons' (Hammond) revolutionary war record as a Lumbee Indian is mentioned in a footnote on page 34 of the book The Only Land I know, A History of the Lumbee Indians written by Adolph L. Dial and David K. Eliades and published by Syracuse University Press in 1996.
John Hammond and his descendants are described in detail on pages 365 and 366 of the book Free African Americans of North Carolina and Virginia, Third Edition written by Paul Heinegg and published by Clearfield Company, Inc. in 1997. This documents John Hammonds as a "free molato" and a land owner in Robeson county from 1763 through 1811. Conversations between Jeanette Henderson and Paul Heinegg indicate that Paul felt John Hammond was a descendant of Indian and white ancestors. Why he is listed in a book about Aficam Americans is not clear.
Census Records
The 1870 census of Conecuh County, AL shows Cornelius Jackson (this is Cornelius "C.J." Jackson, Jr. the son of Cornelius Jackson, Sr.) registered as M for mulatto (column 6 of the census form).
The 1880 census of Clark County, AL shows Cornelius Jackson (this is Cornelius "C.J." Jackson, Jr. the son of Cornelius Jackson, Sr.) registered as I for Indian (column 4 of the census form).
Tribal Registration
A number of the descendants of Cornelius "Neil" Jackson, Sr. have registered with or became members of Indians tribes. A copy of three such registrations are included in Jeanette Courtney Henderson's book The Trek of the Jackson's.
Dunkin Jackson is shown as an Indian ancestor in the Register of the Creek Indian Descendants East of the Mississippi River, Vol. 1, pages 1-299, Book Two, Head of the Perdido Friendly Creek Indian Band. He is shown on pages 158 and 485. His wife Polly Scroggins is also shown as an Indian ancestor on page 485.
Houston Bunnie Jackson is in the Register of the Creek Indian Descendants East of the Mississippi River, Vol. 1, pages 1-299, Book Two, Head of the Perdido Friendly Creek Indian Band. Page 158 of this 1950 Creek Indian Roll shows Houston Bunnie Jackson as registered Indian number 735. Houston Bunnie Jackson's ancestors were Elic Shorter Jackson, Dunkin Daniel Jackson, Duncan J. Jackson, Cornelius Jackson, Sr., Azenith Hammons, and John Hammons, Sr. In the Creek Indian Roll, he lists his grandfather Dunkin Jackson as his sponsoring Indian ancestor. This shows that his grandfather Duncan J. Jackson was a registered Creek Indian.
Zula Jackson is in the Register of the Creek Indian Descendants East of the Mississippi River, Vol. 1, pages 1-299, Book Two, Head of the Perdido Friendly Creek Indian Band, page 485. This 1950 Creek Indian Roll shows her as registered Indian family number 2304. Zula Jackson's ancestors were John Henry "Big John" Jackson, Duncan J. Jackson, Cornelius Jackson, Sr., Azenith Hammons, and John Hammons, Sr. In the Creek Indian Roll, she lists her grandfather and grandmother Dunkin Jackson and Polly Scroggins as her sponsoring Indian ancestors. This shows that Duncan J. Jackson and Polly Scroggins were registered Creek Indians.
