WINNSBORO — The January membership meeting for the Fairfield County Genealogical Society took place on Jan. 24 at the Christ Central Community Center. Guest speaker Val Green presented an interesting lecture on Searching for Your Native American Ancestors. This was the second and final part of this lecture series.
Val Green is a ninth generation South Carolinian and native of Bishopville. His passionate research about this subject stems from his own genealogy research related to his maternal grandmother that had confirmed Catawba Indian tribe ties. His studies included locating colonial deerskin trading routes and exploring the mystery of the Mississippi Native Americans who inhabited South Carolina a thousand years before the Europeans.
With this information and other historical references, Green taught the audience some practical tips on researching one’s native ancestry. He admits that documentation may be scarce because of the cultural and political taboos on interracial marriages and the lack documentation or census of the Native Americans pre-20th century.
However, Green pointed out, that some government records and early manuscripts can hold clues and resources to family lineage. This program was co-sponsored by Museum on Southeastern Native American History and Culture. The Fairfield County Genealogical Society meets once a month and welcomes new members. Lectures are free and open to the public.
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