So far, everyone looking for this Moses have hit a brick wall. However I have recently found a genealogy site that lists this Moses Odum as being none other than Moses AKA Emperor Moytoy Mishapelewa Big Turkey Hop Cornstalk Odum,(Bear Clan ), Shawnee War Chief.
There is quite a bit of historical information on chief Cornstalk who was killed at Point Pleasant WV around 1757. He sired 10-12 children, by different wives,but there is very little information of his early life.
It is stated that he had a son Moses Odum born 1726 and died 1792 in Kirby's Creek, North Hampton Co., N.C., who would have been my direct ancestor.
One thing that leads me to believe that this may be true, is the Will of Moses Odum d:1792, Kirby's Creek N.C. We have his wife as Rachel (unknown) and also his son Moses Jr. married Elizabeth Keziah (Kiddy) Christian, who we cannot trace either.
Both of these wives may have been Shawnee or captives of the Shawnee. A practice that was wide spread in those days. It has been reported that after the death of Cornstalk and the defeat of the Shawnee, hundreds of captive women and children here released or rescued.
In Moses will, he made reference to some begotten children (in the wild), who he apparently fathered and still felt kindly towards.
My theory is that Moses Cornstalk Odum, son of John, may have been captured by the Shawnee as a child and raised by the Shawnee, OR may have joined them voluntarily. Looking at the history of Captain John Thomas (Mad Jack) Oldham, we find that he was engaged in the Fur trade with the Indians in New England, and was most likely proficient in their culture and language. At the time of his death, young John and Thomas ages 10 and 12, were captured by the Pequot Indians, and were later rescued.
Since the boys accompanied Capt. John, it is likely they were also well schooled in Indian culture and language.
Since the Carolina's and Virginia territories, where John Jr., settled were already occupied by several tribes, including the Shawnee, the ability to communicate with them would have been a tremendous advantage, both in business and keeping the peace.
Many young men of the settlers preferred to hunt and fish rather than the strenuous life of farming, and undoubtedly interacted with the local natives. It was not unusual for them to marry native wives and if they were accepted, even live within the tribe for some period or even for life. The large number of Americans who can trace their lineage to Native American ancestry attests to this.
There were fairly good records kept by the colonists, so for this Moses to not have a tracable descendency list also suggests he may have been raised by the Shawnee.
I found the Shawnee connection in Belew and Barnes family sites. Will try to find them again and post their tree. Waiting on family permissions from those sites. L. Greenlee is one of the website managers.
As for the difference in spelling, many of the wills, probates, and land deeds I have seen, were signed by ones mark and not a written signature, leading many official document writers to spell names as they sounded.
Would love to hear what others may think of this theory.
Don Odum@Don Odum Family Tree (Ancestory.com) (My Heritage.com)
