Siah Barnett & Mary Beams family

(Last updated 16 July 2020)

Siah
Barnett
&
Thlesothle

 Siah Barnett was born about 1829-32 in Creek Nation, Alabama, the son of Thomas Barnett (Creek Indian) and his cook Hannah (black or mulatto).  Thomas Barnett and Hannah had Siah Barnett, James Barnett, and Lizzie Asbury.   Thomas Barnett evidently had an Indian wife at the same time and had many children.  Thomas Barnett may have been a descendant of the Creek Nation trader Timothy Barnard (white) and his Euchee Indian wife.  Research into Thomas Barnett is difficult and his supposed connection to the Barnard family is unproven and largely based on later testimony.

Jackson's mother Thlesothle was likely born in the early-mid 1830s. There are claims that she is connected to the Conner family but there is no documentation to support this. Testimonial evidence and records support she was a sister of John Leecher or Leecher who operated a ferry near Muskogee. Thlesothle died sometime after 1859. She may have been buried in the Choctaw Givens cemetery west of Eufaula.
 
Son Jackson Barnett was born in the early 1850s. He received a land allotment in Creek county, Oklahoma which was later discovered to be sitting on a huge oilfield in 1912. He became wealthy from the oil revenue.

Jackson died in 29 May 1934 Los Angeles, CA and was buried Hollywood cem.  [Biography].

 Census:

1900 OK,
1910 OK
1920 OK
1930 CA


Mary Beams and Ben Broadnax

 Mary Beams was the daughter of Gideon (?) and Nancy Beams. She was probably born in the early or mid 1830s maybe in Choctaw Nation, Mississippi. Her mother Nancy Beams was born about 1807 and was the daughter of William Beams (white) and Nelly Beams (black). The identity of her father is unclear. It's not known if he was Choctaw or mulatto himself or if he was even a Beams. Given that Mary was accepted and enrolled as Indian her father must have been some part Indian.

Mary first had a daughter Katie by Ben Broadnax. By the mid 1850s she was the wife of Siah Barnett a Creek Indian. 		 
Dau. Katie (Broadnax) was born 1847-1850 Creek Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). She married Willie Sevier. She married Tecumseh Tiner. Katie died October 1911 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
  • Mary Sevier was born about 1870 Oklahoma. She married Joe Fisher. She married David Fields. She married James Fisher. Mary died 14 Mar 1956 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
  • Nancy Tiner was born about 1881 Oklahoma. She married Joe Fisher. Nancy died May 1, 1917 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
  • John Tiner was born about 1883 Oklahoma. John died 31 Dec 1948 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
  • Soot Tiner.
Census:

1900 OK,

Siah Barnett and Mary Beams

Siah Barnett and Mary Beams were together by the mid 1850s and they had at least 5 children.  They lived near Muskogee but during the Civil War were part of the group who fled north to Kansas for protection.  After the Civil War the Barnett family moved west to the Bryant area in current day Okmulgee county. Siah's brother Jim owned a store. They lived near the Barnett-Fisher cemetery which was part of Mary's land allotment.

Siah died in 1897 and was buried in Barnett cemetery. Mary died in 1916 and was buried in Barnett cemetery.		    [More info]
Son David Barnett was born 1854-1855 Creek Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma).. He married Pattie (Harjo). He married Nancy (daughter of Patty). David died May 11/12, 1925 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
    Children by Pattie(Harjo):
  • Annie Barnett was born about 1875. Annie died Aug. 21, 1954.
  • Melviney Barnett was born about 1878. Melviney died March 20, 1933.
  • Tom Barnett was born about 1879. Tom died April 1908.
  • Hettie Barnett was born about 1884. Hettie died about 1920;
  • Wesley Barnett was born about 1886. Wesley died March 27, 1916.
  • Amos Barnett was born about 1889. Amos died "Oct. 15, 1903"
  • Lucy Barnett was born about 1872?. Lucy died after 1899.
  • David Barnett was born about 1877?. Davis died March 15/16 1900, McAlester Jail.
    Children by Nancy (daughter of Pattie):
  • James Barnett was born about 1890. James died Dec. 16, 1939 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
  • Nellie Barnett was born about 1891. Nellie died Feb 9, 1937
  • Robert Barnett was born about 1893. Robert died "Sep. 23, 1912".
  • George Barnett was born "April 1896". George died "Feb. 19, 1913."
  • Ida Barnett was born "May 1897". Ida died Nov. 2, 1916.
  • Mary Barnett was born 24 Dec 1901. Mary died "Oct. 29, 1932".
  • Mossie? Barnett was born Nov. 1909. She died 1910-20??
Census:

1859 Creek Nation Census
1867 Creek Nation Census

1900 OK,
1910 OK
1920 OK
Dau. Mariah "Sissy" Barnett was born about 1854-1855 Creek Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma).. She married John Davis. She married Billy West. Maria died 1890-95 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
    Children by John Davis:
  • Chepamy Davis was born about 1880.
  • Benjamin Davis was born about 1885. Benjamin died June 1900.
    Children by Billy West:
  • Pompey West was born about 1890. Pompey died about 1909.
 
Dau. Ellen Barnett was born about 1859 Creek Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma).. She married James Grayson. She married John Walker. She married Seaborn Bird. She married William McQueen. Ellen died "Aug. 17", 1898-99 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
    Children by James Grayson:
  • Charity Grayson was born about 1884. Charity died Oct. 1953.
    Children by John Walker:
  • George Walker was born about 1888. George died Oct. 11, 1911.
    Children by Seaborn Bird:
  • Joe Bird was born about 1890. Joe died April 7, 1913.
  • Stella Bird was born about 1894. Stella died about 1902.
    No children by William McQueen
 
Dau. Hannah Barnett was born about 1860-1861 Creek Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). She married James Fisher. Hannah died Feb. 17, 1901 Oklahoma and was buried Barnett cem., near Bryant, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.

  • Seaborn Fisher was born about 1878. He married Rosa Tompkins. Seaborn died Nov. 23, 1937 Los Angeles, CA.
  • William Fisher was born about 1880. He married Louisa Jones. He married Kogee Simmons, 1910. He married Vester Gilroy. William died Jan. 6, 1974 Beggs, Oklahoma.
  • Daniel Fisher was born 1882-88. Daniel died by 1900. 
  • Mariah Fisher was born about 1888. She married John Tompkins. Mariah died Dec. 10, 1966 Okemah, OK and was buried Highland cem., Okemah, Oklahoma.
  • Lewis Fisher was born 1898. He married Bessie Baum. He married Aurora Missouri "May" McDaniels. Lewis died Oct. 21, 1953 OK and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
  
Dau. Eliza/Lizzie Barnett was born 1867+ Creek Nation, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). She married Little Fish. Eliza died Jan. 9, 1900 and was buried Barnett cem., Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
    Children by Little Fish:
  • Kogee Fish was born about 1886. Koge died 1890-95?
  • Winey Fish was born about 1888. She married Savilla Lewis. Winey died Feb. 20, 1983.
  • Mahaley Fish was born 1889-90. She married McClellan "Mack" Hickman about 1905. Mahaley died Sep. 27, 1973 Weleetka, Oklahoma.
  • Sally Fish was born about 1890-91. Sally died about 1896.
  • Katie Fish was born April 29, 1892. She married James Sid Litsey. Katie died Sep. 30, 1966 Tulsa, Oklahoma.
  • Frasier "John" Fish was born about 1894. He married Julia M Shade. John died Aug. 5, 1972.
  • Milly Fish was born 1897-98. She married Thomas A Gilroy. Milly died Jan. 14, 1981.
  • Billy Fish was born Dec. 24, 1899. Billy died Oct. 1900.

Passport photo of Little Fish:

Passport application dated 18 Jan 1921.  Little Fish intended to leave the US from Port Laredo to visit Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Mexico City, and Tampico.  He intended to return within one year.  He was described as age 50, 5 foot tall, iron gray hair, and scar across nose.  His application was witnessed by Jeff Williams of Okemah who knew Little Fish all his life.



Mary Barnett's 1915 road trip to Muskogee

In early September 1915 as reported in the Okmulgee, Muskogee and Blackwell newspapers she took a trip (evidently by rail) with a granddaughter(s) to Muskogee to draw some money from the government and to use some of that money to have her eyes treated by a specialist. In Muskogee she took her first automobile ride in a taxi. When she found out the cost of the treatment (several hundred dollars) she decided to return home. They had to borrow money to take a train back to Okmulgee and then contact relatives in Henryetta. In the newspaper article she claimed to have been born in 1812 during the War which is obviously not true. She also thought she was from Georgia so she didn't quite know geography. She claimed she was part of the Choctaw Removal but her family probably escaped Mississippi a few years earlier.

"Mrs. Barnett, although a Choctaw, married a Creek Warrior and was adopted into the tribe. She is living with her only living child David Barnett of Bryant. Five daughters are dead."

1932 Jimmie Barnett Equity Case:

Various testimonies

1. Timmie Barnett says his father's brothers were Tom, Daniel and Warsnoskee. Washington and two other he can't recollect.
Also Tom Barnett had Siah, Jimmie and a girl.

2. John Roberts said there were three brothers Dave, Tom and Cussenia. Dave Barnett's children Dannie, Timmie, Osie Wash
and George. Tom was half white and half Indian.

3. Henry C Reed said Dave was the brother of Tom. Dave's children were Timmie, Daniel and Hickey.

4. Morris Rentie said on page 394 "Wanake was Tom's brother, half brother"

1936 Jackson Barnett Equity Case: 

Various testimonies

1. Timmie Barnett said his father's brothers "... were Daniel, Washington, Warnakay, Owassa and three sisters Louvinia, Betsey,
Nancy, and two half brothers... Siah Barnett and Jim Barnett..." His mother said his grandfather was Dave Barnett. His brother
said his grandfather was Tom Barnett. Tom's second wife was a negro cook and she had Siah and Jim.

2. Sarty Cowe said Timothy Barnett's father was Tom Barnett. Tom's children beside Timothy were Daniel, Siah and Jim. Siah
Barnett's father was Tom Barnett, Indian.

3. Lizzie Wynn said Timothy's father was Tom Barnett. Old Timothy was a brother of Siah and Jim but different mothers.

4. Dicey Durant said Tom Barnett was the father of Siah. Dave Barnett was her father George's father. Tom Barnett had a
brother Dave. Siah and (George) were two brother's children. "Siah Barnett and my father were two brother's children" "Dave was the father of George"
John Roberts testimony  [PDF of full tesitmony]
Page 1348
...to colored lawyer and he run off with it.
Q You served i n the army a year and a half?
A Yes, sir .
Q And you don't get a pension?
A I am old soldier.
Q Does the government pay you?
A The government was to pay me but won't pay me. Haven't any paper to show.
Q Jackson lived over there with Siah Barnett too, didn't he?
A I know Siah Barnett and Jim Barnett.
Q Didn't Jackson live over there?
A He stay here with Leecher.
Q They moved down to Bryant after peace was declared.
You knew Jim when he ran a store?
A Scipio Barnett.
Q You knew Jim Barnett?
A Jim Barnett.
Q And Siah Barnett?
A Yes, sir.
Q And Jackson Barnett lived with them after the war?
A They stayed there and then come down old man Leecher.
Q Did he live with Siah Barnett and Jim before he lived with Leecher or after?
A After.
Q Which was after?
A After peace declared he come there Siah Barnett's.

Page 1349
Q Stayed at Siah Barnett's along time?
A Siah Barnett —
Q Then be went to Leecher's?
A Siah Barnett was his uncle.
Q But he stayed at Siah Barnett's after the war?
A He stayed all about.
Q I was trying to follow you, but you jump. After the war he stayed at Siah Barnett's?
A Part of the time and went to Leecher, and stay over Wiley Sooky awhile.
Q Then he went back to Siah Barnett?
A He must have been. After that he come back to Leecher and bought a house from Dr. Rich.

This testimony tells us that Siah and Jim Barnett were living near Muskogee prior to the Civil War and that they moved to the Bryant area only after the war.  This explains why he was part of the group that fled north to Kansas during the Civil War and why part of Jackson Barnett's story is tied with Leecher's Ferry at Muskogee.