William Preston McNabb's 1908 Affidavit
for Court of Claims, Eastern Cherokee

(The following has been transcribed from the handwritten letter submitted in 1908 with spelling, captitalization, and punctuation left in tact. It was typed into html by Sandra (Nipper) Ratledge for inclusion on this Kinfolks in the Knobs website.)

State of Tennessee
County of Hamilton

On this 9th day of May 1908 personally appeared before me a Notary Public, within and for the County aforesaid, William P. McNabb, who being duly sworn, made the following statement: That if his parents and grand parents were not enrolled at the dates mentioned, he does not know the reason why, unless it was that they didn't know anything about such enrollments being made. That if his grand mother on his mother's side and also his great grand mother, Nancy Cochran, were not enrolled as Cherokee indians at some of the dates mentioned, claimant can't answer the reason why, but presumed that they were or at least some of them. That his information given by his mother, is that his great grand mother was a 1/2 blood Cherokee. That his ancestors were a mixture of white people and indians, and that none of his ancestors were slaves, either of white people or indians. That his mother and grandmother were known and recognized as mixed breed whites and indians and claimant obtained his information from his mother, and he believes his statements to be true. Therefore he demands a fair, and square, investigation of his claim to a porvato of the fund in favor of the Eastern Cherokees, before it is distributed, that he is confident he can prove the facts.

Will P. McNabb
(his signature)

The foregoing affidavit was sworn to and subscribed before me this day and date therein written & I certify that have no interest in this claim. My commission expires Oct. 9, 1911.

E. H. Matthews
Notary Public

rec. May 11, 1908 by Court of Claims Eastern Cherokees
NO. 20636

NOTE: William Preston McNabb's initial application was stamped 30 Mar 1907. Action taken by the Court of Claims was that it was rejected for the following reasons:

1. No ancestor was ever enrolled.
2. No ancestor was party to the treaty of 1835 - 6 or 1846.
3. Applicant passes as white as does his mother through whom he claims.
4. Shows no connection with the Cherokee tribe.

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