Indian Territory Freedmen History Month-King BLUE

 

Indian Territory History is Black History. Lest We Omit!

BLUE, King (son of Jack Blue)

Chickasaw Freedman #135 

The former slaves of the Chickasaw Indians once emancipated by the Treaty of 1866 had an adversarial relationship with their former enslavers, especially when it came to the issue of their adoption as citizens within the nation of their birth. 

King BLUE lived in Pontotoc County in the Stonewall area that was the residence of a lot of freedmen leaders where a great deal of political activity occurred probably because it served as the Chickasaw Nation capitol of Ada, Indian Territory. 

It is important to remember following the War of the Rebellion the Chickasaw Indians did not adopt their former slaves and the United States did not negotiate terms with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations that made it mandatory to adopt them as citizens on the same terms that the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole Nations did when they adopted and made citizens of their formerly enslaved population. 

“They were supposedly free men, but they were without equal rights and privileges, including those of property ownership and educational facilities.” 

Chickasaw Freedmen a People Without a Country by Daniel F. LITTLEFIELD Jr. p61

The information contained in this summary of King BLUE’S interview reveals his sister in law who was enumerated on Chickasaw Freedman Card #136 was married to a United States soldier by the name of Beverly PEREA. 

This is important because many people are unaware the Five Slave Holding Tribes were fighting to maintain the institution of chattel slavery and fought on the side of the confederacy during the War of the Rebellion. In addition, for those who research USCT (United States Colored Troops) Beverly PEREA is another individual to look up for a possible pension file?