Capt. James Logan Colbert

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52419856
• http://www.therainwatercollection.com/reference/ref1508.pdf

Some sources report he was born in Scotland but this is untrue. By his own report, he was born in North Carolina.

James Logan Colbert (#1014) was born in Carolinas circa 1721. In a declaration made by Silbestre Labadie, 5 JUL 1782, (Labadie had been a captive of Colbert in the spring of 1782), he stated that Colbert "was about 60 years old, possessed of good health, and a strong constitution. An active man, despite his years, he had a 'violent temper', and was capable of 'enduring the greatest hardship.' He had lived among the Chickasaws for 40 years and boasted that he was owner of a 'fine house' and 'some hundred and fifty' blacks. He said he had several sons by Chickasaw women, who were 'very important chiefs in that nation."

Based on this declaration, Colbert would have been born about 1722, and would have started living among the Chickasaw in about 1742.

Malcom McGee, in an interview in 1841, stated that Colbert was, "a native of the Carolinas, probably S. C. & came to the Chickasaw Nation prior to 1850."

Apparently, in a letter dictated to Gov. Harrison of VA, by Colbert on 25 JUL 1783, Colbert stated he wished to, "serve the Country in which he lives and was born." James died 7 JAN 1784 in AL, at 62 years of age. After conducting some business in St. Augustine in 1873, he began his journey home. He stopped by Creek leader Alexander McGillivray's house for a short stay. He the left there on about 4 JAN 1874. Three days later his horse threw and killed him on 7 JAN 1784.

He married three times. He married First Fullblood Chickasaw in Chickasaw Nation, circa 1740. He married Second Fullblood Chickasaw before 1742. He married Halfblood Chickasaw before 1768. Halfblood died 1822 in Tockshish, Chickasaw Nation, MS TER.

James's occupation: Trader in Chickasaw Nation, before 1784. One source states that, "Among the most influential mixed-bloods of the Chickasaws, were the five sons of James Logan Colbert, a Scotsman who came to live among the tribe in 1729 and married three Chickasaw women.

Four of his sons became chiefs of the tribe. One Colbert had three wives, one Indian and the other two were white women. Both were sisters with the last name Allen." ("Chickasaw Chiefs and Prominent Men"). Another source states that James Logan Colbert came to America aboard the PRINCE OF WALES, which landed at Darien, Georgia on January 10, 1736. Also on board were John McIntosh, Lachlan McGillivray, and John's older brother, Lachlan McIntosh. All these men played significant roles in the history of the "Five Civilized Tribes." --(Martini).

About 1740, he moved to the Chickasaw Nation and married into the tribe.

One of the earliest reports of James Colbert and the Chickasaws may be found in The South Carolina Gazette, No 1368, OCT 11 to 18, 1760.Therein was published a journal by one Langley. His SEP 26 entry,(made at Fort Prince George), stated, "Soon three or four other fellows (Indians) came, and were at our bake house when to our surprize, JAMES COLBERT appeared coming up, with signal and two letters upon a stick. As soon as he spoke to us, the Indians went off. He then returned to the mouth of Crow Creek, about 400 yards off, and brought in 4 Chicasahs that were concealed there. The poor fellows were extremely fatigued and their leader Jockey's Son was sick, having a fever every other day. They left Augusta about the 18th of August, and on their way staid some time at a fort the inhabitants were building twist this and Savannah river, and were obliged to leave others of their party sick, in the woods a days journey from the said fort." -- Chickasaw History, "James Logan Colbert,"http://www.chickasawhistory.com/colbert/i0001014.htm

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This accounts notes that he died three days ride away from the home of a friend in Creek Nation, and that his death occurred in Alabama. A genealogy reporting James concurs with this and provides further detail, giving the actual location. However, this sources does not provide a source or any explanation of this information. This source also reports his birth was in North, rather than South Carolina, and even gives a specific location, Plum Island, but unfortunately, again there is no documentation.

While this is more specific information, and the more detailed death information concurs with the Chickasaw History report, I am hesitant to give this undocumented source priority over an eye-witness report from Malcom McGee, who reported that James' birth was probably in South Carolina. A couple of other similar genealogies also report Plum Island, NC as the birth place, but again give no documentation or explanation.

Sierra seems to be wrong about Levi's mother being the First Fullbloodwife. The Chickasaw History, and several family genealogies report itwas the second wife. Several also report her name as Sopha, althoughthe Chickasaw History reports no name for any of the three wives ofJames Logan Colbert.

Some sources refer to James as Captain.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52419856
http://www.therainwatercollection.com/reference/ref1508.pdf
Some sources report he was born in Scotland but this is untrue. By his own report, he was born in North Carolina.

James Logan Colbert (#1014) was born in Carolinas circa 1721. In a declaration made by Silbestre Labadie, 5 JUL 1782, (Labadie had been a captive of Colbert in the spring of 1782), he stated that Colbert "was about 60 years old, possessed of good health, and a strong constitution. An active man, despite his years, he had a 'violent temper', and was capable of 'enduring the greatest hardship.' He had lived among the Chickasaws for 40 years and boasted that he was owner of a 'fine house' and 'some hundred and fifty' blacks. He said he had several sons by Chickasaw women, who were 'very important chiefs in that nation."

Based on this declaration, Colbert would have been born about 1722, and would have started living among the Chickasaw in about 1742.

Malcom McGee, in an interview in 1841, stated that Colbert was, "a native of the Carolinas, probably S. C. & came to the Chickasaw Nation prior to 1850."

Apparently, in a letter dictated to Gov. Harrison of VA, by Colbert on 25 JUL 1783, Colbert stated he wished to, "serve the Country in which he lives and was born." James died 7 JAN 1784 in AL, at 62 years of age. After conducting some business in St. Augustine in 1873, he began his journey home. He stopped by Creek leader Alexander McGillivray's house for a short stay. He the left there on about 4 JAN 1874. Three days later his horse threw and killed him on 7 JAN 1784.

He married three times. He married First Fullblood Chickasaw in Chickasaw Nation, circa 1740. He married Second Fullblood Chickasaw before 1742. He married Halfblood Chickasaw before 1768. Halfblood died 1822 in Tockshish, Chickasaw Nation, MS TER.

James's occupation: Trader in Chickasaw Nation, before 1784. One source states that, "Among the most influential mixed-bloods of the Chickasaws, were the five sons of James Logan Colbert, a Scotsman who came to live among the tribe in 1729 and married three Chickasaw women.

Four of his sons became chiefs of the tribe. One Colbert had three wives, one Indian and the other two were white women. Both were sisters with the last name Allen." ("Chickasaw Chiefs and Prominent Men"). Another source states that James Logan Colbert came to America aboard the PRINCE OF WALES, which landed at Darien, Georgia on January 10, 1736. Also on board were John McIntosh, Lachlan McGillivray, and John's older brother, Lachlan McIntosh. All these men played significant roles in the history of the "Five Civilized Tribes." --(Martini).

About 1740, he moved to the Chickasaw Nation and married into the tribe.

One of the earliest reports of James Colbert and the Chickasaws may be found in The South Carolina Gazette, No 1368, OCT 11 to 18, 1760.Therein was published a journal by one Langley. His SEP 26 entry,(made at Fort Prince George), stated, "Soon three or four other fellows (Indians) came, and were at our bake house when to our surprize, JAMES COLBERT appeared coming up, with signal and two letters upon a stick. As soon as he spoke to us, the Indians went off. He then returned to the mouth of Crow Creek, about 400 yards off, and brought in 4 Chicasahs that were concealed there. The poor fellows were extremely fatigued and their leader Jockey's Son was sick, having a fever every other day. They left Augusta about the 18th of August, and on their way staid some time at a fort the inhabitants were building twist this and Savannah river, and were obliged to leave others of their party sick, in the woods a days journey from the said fort." -- Chickasaw History, "James Logan Colbert,"http://www.chickasawhistory.com/colbert/i0001014.htm

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This accounts notes that he died three days ride away from the home of a friend in Creek Nation, and that his death occurred in Alabama. A genealogy reporting James concurs with this and provides further detail, giving the actual location. However, this sources does not provide a source or any explanation of this information. This source also reports his birth was in North, rather than South Carolina, and even gives a specific location, Plum Island, but unfortunately, again there is no documentation.

While this is more specific information, and the more detailed death information concurs with the Chickasaw History report, I am hesitant to give this undocumented source priority over an eye-witness report from Malcom McGee, who reported that James' birth was probably in South Carolina. A couple of other similar genealogies also report Plum Island, NC as the birth place, but again give no documentation or explanation.

Sierra seems to be wrong about Levi's mother being the First Fullbloodwife. The Chickasaw History, and several family genealogies report itwas the second wife. Several also report her name as Sopha, althoughthe Chickasaw History reports no name for any of the three wives ofJames Logan Colbert.

Some sources refer to James as Captain.

James Logan Colbert (ca. 1721–83), emigrated from Scotland and became a successful trader among the Chickasaw. Fluent in Chickasaw, he served as an interpreter at the Augusta (1763) and Mobile Indian conferences (1765 and 1771) and fought with the British and their southern Indian allies during the American Revolution. His first marriage to a Chickasaw woman resulted in a daughter and a son, William (Chooshemataha). His second Chickasaw wife gave birth to four sons, George (Tootemastubbe), Joseph, Levi (Itawamba Mingo), and Samuel. He and his third wife, a mixed-blood Chickasaw, had a son and daughter, James and Susan.