Elizabeth English Ward
was a Creek Indian

It is unfortunate "proof" of Native American ancestry relies completely on records created by European settlers, the military, or other American or foreign powers because many Native Americans, especially women, had limited interaction with these elements. Elizabeth English Ward, like so many Native Americans who escaped relocation in the 1830s, lived in a remote, sparsely populated area of the south noted as the “wiregrass region” – where the soil was too poor to support good farming. Land in this area drew very little attention prior to the late 1850s when public land prices were slashed. She lived a quiet life just over the FL/AL state line from her early 20s until her death.

This online version of an earlier research report, Elizabeth English Proven Creek by Blood (March 2021), reviews records where Elizabeth English Ward was observed and recorded, explores reasons why her race was never recorded as "Indian," and reviews the current body of evidence supporting her Creek Indian ancestry.

1. EC# 11147 — Dockets 21, 272, 275, & 276.
2. Orphan — Orphaned Indian Child
3. Marriage — She married James B. Ward
4. Children — She had 2 (maybe 3) daughters and 6 sons
5. Census — Census records during her life time
6. Statements — Many people provided sworn statements regarding her ancestry
7. DNA — Can DNA prove she was Creek Indian?
8. Conclusion