ENSLAVER-Colbert
Colbert, Major James- Chickasaw chief, was born about 1768, the son of trader James Colbert, He was left in the care of Panton, Leslie & Company of St. Augustine In 1783 In order to receive an education (1). By 1789 he was back in the Chickasaw country (2). He visited President Washington in Philadelphia in July, 1795 (3). In 1799 he was described as a native of this country, who has been baptized, reads and writes...a man of property; one quarter Indian” (4). He was interpreter at the treaty negotiations of 1801 (5), and probably took part In the negotiations of 1805. n 1814 he was captain of a company of Chickasaws that aided general Jackson against the Creeks. In 1816 he visited Baltimore and Washington (6). A visitor arrived at his home, located at present Houlka, Mississippi, on the old Natchez trace, shortly after his arrival home, and wrote that “Mrs. Colbert was delighted with her trip, said the President gave them a dinner & all the fashionable gentlemen and ladles were :here’ (7). James was interpreter at the treaty negotiations of 1816 and 1818, and by those treaties received $1089 to replace a sum stolen from him at a Baltimore theater. The census of 1818 shows that his family included Susy, Tennessee, Molcy, Sukey, Josiah, James, and Samuel Colbert. Also listed with his family was Nancy, Winchester, William James, and Robert Colbert, as well as Susy Perry.
James was mentioned rarely during the next decade. In 1819 he and Samuel Scaly helped General James Winchester survey the
Tennessee line (8). In October, 1827, he took part in removal talks with Thomas L.
McKenney, the Indian Superintendent. In 1828—1829 he explored the Indian Territory with other Chickasaws.
By 1830 he was apparently insolvent and divorced. His wife, Susan, was living In Marshall County, Mississippi, he still at Houlka Creek. He was given a reserve in 1830 as a consequence of his inability to
pay a debt due a white man.
On November 9, 1831, his nephews——Elijah, Nuzeka. and Logan Colbert—-returned
to him several slaves he had earlier given then,. Other slaves were then in the hands of
Benjamin Love, David Burney, Simon Burney, Susan Perry, John Perry, Joseph Perry, Shirlus Love, Levi Colbert, Joseph Colbert, John A. Bynum, Davis James, James Colbert, and Elijah Colbert. The slaves belonged to
James “by virtue of the last will and Testament of his father, James Colbert dec. (9).
James apparently weathered the financial storm, and took an active role in tribal affairs in the 1830s. He signed the 1830 and 1832
treaties and on August 24. 1834, replaced his late brother, Levi, on the Chickasaw Commission. He was paid for certifying claims on
November 23, 1835 (10). He was patented S22 23, 27, and 28 T13 R5E in Chickasaw County, Mississippi (11, and sold S22 on July 2, 1835 (12). On April 23. 1836, he sold S27 (13). On February 17, 1837, he wrote from Boggy River in the Indian Territory that he had provided beef for emigrants (14). In 1838 he moved west (15). On September 9, 1838, he wrote a letter from Brushy Creek (16). The 1839 census shows two James Colberts in the west--one over 50 with a female over 50 in his household; the other over 50
with a female 20—50, three males under 10, and 23 slaves in the
household. He died at DoaksvIlle early in 1842 (17).
Major Colbert was married three times. His first wife was Susan James, a Choctaw, who he married under Indian law and again on June 24, 1799 (see Susan Colbert) (18). His second wife was a Mrs. Frazier, a halfblood. His third wife was a fullblood Choctaw, Nelly, to whor’ he was married at the time of his death (19). Nelly later married a Bratton and was living in 1855 (20). Susan was listed on the 1857—1860 annuity rolls.
James was the father of Charles (died July 23, 1800) (21). Tennessee (married John A. Bynum), Susan Miller (married Lovard
H. James). Elizabeth (married Charles F. Eastman), Thomas (died in Arkansas—-possibly the
Indian Territory——in 1841—1842), Joseph, James Jr., Samuel, Molcy, Sukey, and Matilda by Susan James. The latter two were living with Susan in 1855. James also had a daughter who died at the age of 18 by Mrs. Frazier (22). A son, George Colbert, was born to Nelly twelve days after James died (23).
(1)McBee, 257—258.
(2)Ibid., 60. -
(3)is Robertson, “Correspondence”.
(4)Phelps, “Bullen”, 270.
(5)ASPIA, 1651-652.
(6)Owsley, 66—81.
(7) Ibid.
(8)Williams, BEGINNINGS OF WEST TENNESSEE, 103.
(9)Deed Book 3:207, Monroe County, Ms.
(10 Payments from the Chickasaw Fund, OIA.
(11 Patent Books, Chickasaw County, is.
(12 Deed Book 3;442, Monroe County, Ms.
(13)Ibld.. 132.
(14)Chickasaw Emigration, OIA, roll 144, frame 13. This letter was probably written in 1839, not 1837.
Source: WHO WAS WHO AMONG THE • SOUTHERN INDIANS a genealogical notebook,
1698-1907
by Don Martini ©1998. Don Martini Falkner, Ms.