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Archiver > GENBRIT > 2003-03 > 1047896533


From: "Roy Stockdill" <>
Subject: Re: NEW British-Genealogy.com BRITISH MAILING LISTS AND WEB SITE
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:27:06 +0000
In-Reply-To: <TF9da.28279$q26.1735297@read1.cgocable.net>


"ToniW" <> wrote.....

> I will second that !! I am rather tired of well meaning (?) USers sending
> me private messages, telling me I am looking for my ancestors in the wrong
> countries (Scotland & England), that I should be looking in [i.e. Missouri]
> as that is where my names originated. Or, I have mis-spelt my name -
> Whyatt in the UK. One even insisted at least one of my names originated in
> the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, (which isn't even in the original area but
> post 1835) not in Yorkshire England. The name is Harrison.>

AH, now that must have been Little Ears Big Nose Sitting Bull
Harrison, leader of the Heckmondwike Cherokees, and his good lady
spouse Radiant Flower of the Divine Heavens Harrison.

They did indeed emanate from Yorkshire and their real names were Bert
and Maisie Harrison, of Back Gasworks Street, Heckmondwike, and in
the 1830s they became obsessed with the Indian way of life after
seeing a visiting Wild West show (an early forerunner of Buffalo
Bill) in the town. They took to blacking themselves up with cold
ashes from the fire and streaks of boot polish and Maise knocked up
some very fetching costumes from old clothing begged from the
neighbours. However, folks laughed at them and thought them barmy, so
round about 1840 they migrated to the US, the trip being paid for by
the neighbours who were fed up with having tomahawks chucked through
their windows and Bert and Maise dancing half naked round a camp fire
in their back yard at midnight, uttering blood-curdling shrieks.

They made their way to Oklahoma and were adopted by the Cherokees of
the region, who regarded them as white gods come to live among their
Indian brothers. Bert was elected tribal leader after teaching the
Cherokees how to play cricket and Maisie taught the squaws to make
Yorkshire puddings, which is why even today when passing through an
Indian reservation in Oklahoma you may be invited to partake in a
cricket match, offered roast beef and Yorkshire for lunch, and be
surprised to hear Native Americans uttering such welcomes as "Eee,
bah gum, lad, it's reet gud to see thee!"

Given this background, it is unsurprising that your correspondent
assumed the name Harrison originated amongst the Cherokees, probably
being unaware of the previous history of Bert and Maisie from
Heckmondwike.

Roy Stockdill (Editor, Journal of One-Name Studies)
Guild of One-Name Studies:- www.one-name.org
Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History:- www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html

Never ask a man if he comes from Yorkshire. If he does he will tell you, if he does not why humiliate him? - Canon Sydney Smith

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