Charles Juzan and Pierre Juzan
A Discussion of the Choctaw Juzan Family
Compiled by
Jennifer Mieirs
February 2006
Charles Juzan
Research of Charles Juzan leads one to many questions. The first and foremost is his name. Many researchers in the past have used the name John Charles {in french, Jean Charles}, but not one record has surfaced that current researchers are aware of with the name Jean or John. Additionally, Henry S. Halbert writes extensively of a Pierre Juzan who was an indian trader among the Choctaw, fought in the war with the Creeks, and was married to Oklahoma’s sister{s} and/or daughter. The problem is, everything that Halbert writes mirror’s exactly what is known of Charles Juzan. Perhaps the answer can be found in the traditional use of names of the French Catholics. In that case it is possible his full name was Pierre Charles or Pierre Jean Charles Juzan or even Jean Pierre Charles Juzan.
In 1759, Pierre Francois Juzan, Sr. and his wife Catherine Parant had a child, shown by most researchers as Pierre Francois Juzan. Most researcher’s have all of Pierre Francois Juzan Sr.’s children by this wife, however, decendants of his daughter have marked a reference from a priest’s journal that she died in 1759. These descendants assert that Pierre then married Marie Henriette Rochon, daughter of Charles Rochon and Henriette Colon. Marie Henriette Rochon was of Kaskaski Illini decent, her mother being half indian. If that were true, and Charles is not the first son Pierre by Catherine Parant, the use of the name Charles, as well as his affinity for the Choctaw may be more easily explained. Although we find a record for a Pierre Juzan and his wife Margaret as godparents for Marie Josephine’s child, there is no record of Pierre Francois Juzan that I can find a trader Francis Juzan among the creeks, with apparently two son's. Since Peggy, aka Margaret, also made claim as a wife of Charles Juzan to his estate, it would seem that the Pierre who was the godparent was in fact, Charles Juzan and his wife Peggy. The next child of Marie Josephine has Charles and Mdme Juzan named as godparents.
According to the above discussion then Jean Pierre Gabriel Francois de Juzan married Catherine Parant 1758 and had Pierre Francois de Juzan in 1759. Catherine died in 1759. He then married Marie Henriette de Rochon and had three children.
Daniel Juzan {Possibly Pierre Daniel Juzan} born 1760.
Pierre Charles Juzan born 1760-1775.
Marie Josephine Juzan born about 1761.
His final marriage was to Pelagie Loriens in 1794 and resulted in no children. Jean Pierre Gabriel Francois de Juzan died before 1805, as his widow made a claim to his Spanish land grant, Charles Juzan testified on her behalf.
Charles Juzan was a witness to the Choctaw treaty of 1805, which would seem to indicate he was by then an established trader among the Choctaw. He had a house at Chunky, and one at Kusha {Coosa}. By 1805, he had married his first wife, whose Choctaw name is unknown, but is shown in records as Peggy, the nickname for Margaret or Marguerite. Peggy was a sister to Oklahoma, and according to one of her daughters, the mother of 8 children. Charles second wife, Phoebe appears to have been the mother of his remaining three children. It is said he married and had a child with Martha Gooch, but there is no evidence of that that I have found. Phoebe is either the sister of Peggy, or her niece, daughter of Oklahoma .
In considering the relationship of Peggy and Phoebe multiple issues have to be considered. Documented proof will likely not be forthcoming. The first and most important issue to consider is the custom’s of the Choctaw prior to 1830. A matriarchal society, the Choctaw were divided into two moeities. Marriage between those of the same moeity was prohibited. Charles would have no moeity as he was not Choctaw, but his first wife Peggy, would not remain in a household with someone of the opposite moeity, even if she was her brother’s daughter. Since children assumed the moeity of their mother, as Oklahoma’s daughter, Phoebe would have the opposite moeity of Peggy. However, given what we know about Peggy’s other children, with as yet an unproven Trahern, it may be this second marriage that caused the dissolution of the marriage of Charles and Peggy. The confusion comes when you examine the age of Eliza Ann Flack, who claims Peggy as her mother, who is younger than at least one of Peggy’s son, James Trahern. It is possible, that Eliza Ann did not know when she was born, and may have had her birth year wrong, but it is off by at least 5 years if that is the case. Additionally, in 1839, after the death of Charles, Phoebe and the children of Charles Juzan are given a deed of land from Oklahoma. At that time, Phoebe had filed papers trying to get back Charles’ land in Washington Co. Alabama, and that may be why the deed was filed. However, given his age {nearing 60}, it is unlikely Oklahoma would have adopted the custom of passing on his property to his children. Tradition among the Choctaw was that his property went to his sister’s and their children. His own children would be provided for by their eldest maternal Uncle. By 1839 Greenwood Leflore had been actively trying to get the Choctaw to adopt the white man’s custom of handing down property to their children, but it wasn’t so readily accepted yet. However, both Halbert, and Eliza Ann Juzan {or her descendants} claim that one of Charles’ wives was the daughter of Oklahoma, and that this is Phoebe. There is no known record of birth’s of the Juzan children, nor at this time, baptisms, and likely there are none in existance. At this time frame within the Choctaw Nation, Charles’ children would be under the supervision of his wife’s oldest brother, whether or not that was Oklahoma or even possibly Nittakechi is not known. Also, when estimating birth years, most Choctaw women did not marry before the age of 20, men often married later than that.
Records indicate a Pierre Juzan led a group of Choctaw warriors in the Creek War and the then the War of 1812. I believe this is also Charles, but again, I have no proof, though I don’t have his military records either. In the 1820’s the missionary’s established a school near his house. Location and examination of the records kept may help establish ages and provide more information on the children of Juzan, and possibly some of his wife’s relatives. It is known that Pierre and William, two of Charles’ son’s both attended the Choctaw Academy in Scott, Kentucky. Eliza Ann was known as an astute business woman, and could also read and write, indicating she too had received some education.
Charles was not provided for in the supplement of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, but he did sign up under article 14 to remain in Mississippi Territory, this entitled him to 640 acres, not including the allowances for unmarried children he could also receive, along with the two sections given to him in article 19. His allotment was in Washington Co. AL. After his death it was illegaly seized by other’s who said they had a prior claim. The copies researchers have on hand of paperwork for Phoebe’s courtcase does not have a resolution. Charles died sometime between 1834 and 1838. On the armstrong rolls his household included 26 with 2 men over 16, one white man and 20 slaves. {Note, slaves were not included in the household total.}
The Wives of Charles Juzan
As discussed previously, Phoebe, Charles’ second wife is either the daughter of Oklahoma or his sister. Since it is unlikely we will ever know which relationship she had to him, and Peggy, the first wife of Charles was a sister to Oklahoma, a look at the parent’s and family of Oklahoma and Peggy may be useful.
The mother of Oklahoma and Peggy was Nahomtima, also seen as Natoma and Natona. She was the sister of Chief Pushmataha. It is unknown who her husband is, but it is possible that her husband was Opaha, a subchief of Pushmataha. The oft published association of Pushmataha’s sister Nahomtima with the Leflore’s began in the 1930’s. Apparently the family had an oral tradition that the mother of Louis Leflore’s wives was named Nahomtima, and since Pushmataha also had a sister this name, as published by Halbert, the assumption was they were one and the same. Unfortunately, no one had records at that time of birth’s and baptism’s weren’t generally practised. When you do see a Choctaw name it is phonetically spelled and can vary greatly from one to the next, so even though the names are similar, they could have been entirely different. Additionally, a look at various censuses shows the name and subtle variations appears to be common. Most of the problems in researching pre 1830, and sometime later, is the bastardized forms the choctaw names take. Additionally, Pushmataha and his sister’s children would belong to the same moeity. One of Peggy’s daughter’s, Mary, married Benjamin Leflore, Louis’ son, and prior to 1830, the custom prohibiting the marriage of those of the same moeity was still in effect. Finally, in Halbert’s article on Bernard Roman’s map, he states that Pushmataha was married to a daughter of Shumaka. Pushmataha was around 60 when he died, and was born approximately 1760-1765, theoretically his sister, Nahomtima was born 1755-1760, based on the ages of her children.
Oklahoma was said to have shortly taken Pushmataha’s place after his death. I have also seen the next successor listed as Tappenhomma, who is said to be buried next to Nahomtima in Mississippi. Since both Oklahoma, and Nittakechi died within a few months of each other, some researcher’s believe Nittakechi is the same as Tappenhomma, other’s think it is Oklahoma. However, looking at the treaties, Tappenhomma, and Nittakechi both sign the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Oklahoma, is probably a bastardized version of Ofahomma or some other form, as a warrior name of red people {the translation of Okla and Homma/humma}, makes no sense. Red Fort, which is Oppiahomma was also a leader, and at one time, I though he could have been Oklahoma, I know now, he was not, and was associated with the Six Town’s. Oklahoma did not serve long, and was removed for dissipation, replaced by according to some historical references, General Humming Bird, and other’s Nittakechi. It is believed Nittakechi is also Pushmataha’s nephew, and since no other sister is known, I have included him as Nahomtima’s child, though that is not a proven fact. According to Jack Amos, grandson of Nahomtima, Oklahoma was buried on his land, and his mother was buried with Tappenhoma.
The daughter’s of Nahomtima are Peggy, whose Choctaw name is unknown, Nahatima, and possibly Shanke and Phoebe. Though no proof linking Shanke to the family has been found, there is a Shanke and a Natona on the armstrong roll’s near Oklahoma and Charles Juzan, as well as a Tuppanahomma. {This Tuppanahomma could be the husband of Nittakechi’s daughter}
The children of Nahomtima then are
Oklahomma {also seen as Oka Lah Homma} born around 1780-1784. Died 1844-1845
Peggy born around 1780 Died after 1846.
Nahatima born around 1780 Died Unknown
Nittakechi born around 1782 Died 1844-1845
And possibly
Shanke {female}
Tappenhomma {male}
According to additional notes from Halbert, Oklahoma made a statement on October 3, 1844, shortly before his death, that he was appoximately 60. He had two wives, the second being Anontoma (Anon Tooner on the deed in 1840). Jack Amos stated the names of his children as he remembered them were Tomaho (?unreadable) , Tahenatubbee, General Dale, and two girls, Pisatima and Hotoma.
Per the court of claims his children were Winna (dead), Pissatemah (dead), Immanhola (dead), Himmonahtubbee (dead), Tahanahtubbee (male), and Cunnaomatubbee (male) over 10, and Sahhotona under 10. By this statement, Phoebe could not easily been one of the three children living, but could have died and been listed under her native name. Oklahoma was buried near Coosha town, in what is now Lauderdale County, MS. The town of Ofahoma, is rumored to be named after Oklahoma. The armstrong rolls showed his household as 13, one male over 16, and 5 children under 10.
Nitakechi was also known as Fair Day. Served in the Creek War.
1832 Household consisted of 19 individuals, one white, 5 males over 16, (including himself), and six children under 10 .
Allowed 2360 acres, s16 and 21, t 16, r1W given.
Cushman gives two other children, Jackson Nitakechi, and a daugher married to Red Gum.
The treaty of Dancing Rabbit creek names Henry Groves (not Graves), he changed his name to Henry Byington and worked with the missionaries in Armstrong Academy.
Emigration records show
Nittacachee Chief, 40
Conneahoka 37 F
Pistonahoyo 20 F
Peyton Graves 10 M
Silas Brown 12 M
William Graves 8 M
John Graves 5
Oustepehona 7 F
Hayo 3 F
Tikbitubbee 18 M
Tanubbee 16 M
Shopokehaya 24 M
Elapeona 22 F
Mihatombee 3M
Noksintubbee 23 M
Alooma 20 F
Henry Greaves {Graves} age 10-24 listed alone.
The 1855 census shows Tunnapahomma {Red Gum} and Jackson Nittakechi. I have been able to trace some of Tunnapahomma’s descendants who take the name Homma and Jones, but have been unable to trace Jackson Nittakechi at this time.
Nahatima married Apatombbee, and at present only her son Jack Amos is accounted for, per his dawes census card.
Peggy (Click for genealogy) not only had 8 children with Charles, she also had two children with a Trahern. At present, the first name cannot be proven, but it is likely James Trahern of Pittsylvannia, VA. His brother Wesley married Delilah, a daughter of Zadoc Brashears, and his other brother, William, also moved to Hinds Co. MS, and died there in 1839. William was appointed by the U.S. government to handle the orphan land claims of the Choctaw, but never married into the Choctaw nation. James Trahern, the only son we have a lineage of descendants for, was born about 1814, and attended the Choctaw academy. Another son Jerry, may have been significantly younger than James. Peggy, with her two son’s, was named in the supplement of the treaty. As previously mentioned, Eliza Ann Flack was supposedly born in 1818, but James was born before that. For whatever reason, the Choctaw did not look down on her marriage dissolution, because she was included on the supplement, and had been living for five years outside the Nation, most likely in Hinds County, with the father of her children. James Trahern died 1827-1829, so that could explain why the children were “fatherless” in the treaty. Peggy’s land was located near Grenada, MS, and was sold in 1846 with approval from the President. With the exception of her son James, no further records have been found for her.
Phoebe had only one known marriage, and after 1839, no further records of her have been found. Three of Charles’ children had Phoebe as a mother. She may have been Oklahoma’s daughter, and could have been born 1790-1800.
Charles Juzan’s Children
Charles and Peggy’s children
Mary Juzan was born about 1796 and died Sept 29, 1868.
Delilah Juzan was born about 1798 and died 1859.
Rebecca Juzan was born about 1804 and died May 4, 1854.
Pierre Juzan was born about 1805 and died August 1841.
William Juzan was born about 1805 and died 1837.
Jackson Juzan was born 1808 and died 1860.
Lucy Juzan was born 1809 and died after 1860.
Eliza Ann Juzan was born 1819 and died July 25, 1890.
Charles and Phoebe’s children
Ramona Juzan was born about 1814 and died 1840-1855.
Narcissa Juzan was born about 1816 and died unknown. {May have died prior to 1840}
Sybell Juzan was born about 1821 and died unknown.
Deed in Trust to Hugh Mcdonald for Phebe Juzan, et al.
Know all men by these presents that we Oka lah homa and Anon tooner wife of the said Oklahoma, both of the state of Mississippi, and County of Lauderdale, for and in consideration of the many acts of friendship shoun to us by Charles Juzan, deceased in his lifetime, and also for the love we have for Phebe, wife of the said Charles Juzan deceased and for the following named children of the said Charles Juzan viz:
Delilah (Juzan Brashears) Wall, Mary (Juzan) Lafloor, Rebecca (Juzan) Walker, Lucy (Juzan Trahern) Gary, Subbill (juzan) Walker, Eliza Ann (juzan) Flack, Pier Juzan, and Jackson Juzan, we have made and by these presents give and grant unto our truly trusted friend Hugh McDonald, of the county Kemput and State aforesaid the following tract of land, lying in said county of Lauderdale, and state of aforesaid viz: the west half of section 30 in township eight north of range seventeen eas, whish was located by George W. Martin, by virtue of a right of reservation secured to the said Oklahoma by the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek to have and to hold the same in trust for the only use and benefit of the said Phebe Juzan for and during her natural life, and then in trust forever for the use of the abobe named children of Charles juzan and Phebe Juzan and the hiers and assigns of the said above named children to have and to hold all of the above described land for en for its use and!
turst aforesaid. Our said trusty friend being required to release to each of the above named children, after the death of the said Phebe, such sutable share as the whole tract being divided by eight will amount to . And we do hereby authorize and empower the said Hugh Mcdonald to do and perform all such acts as may be necessary to enable him fully to secure a perfect title by obtaining a patente for such said land from the Government of the United Sates of America and fully to execute the trust herby reposed in him and for ourselves and our heirs, we hereby do and will ratify forever all, of the foregoing premises of these presents and also all than can or may result there from. In witness of her which we have born to subscribed our names and affixed our scrolls by way of our seals, this 16th day of March, A.d. 1840. Oklahoma and Anon Tooner's x mark and seal, In presence of John Stale and James Millam his x mark
