I've traced my lineage back to Israel Hocutt. I'm trying to go further back. Israel shows up in the 1850 Federal Census in Neshoba County, MS. He was 23 at the time, and married to Elizabeth (no maiden name.) Both he and Elizabeth were listed as born in Alabama. So, he would've been born in 1826 or 1827.

At least three of Israel's daughters married Newkirk brothers, Samual P. Newkirk and William M. Newkirk. Anna Elizabeth Hocutt married Samuel Newkirk, and after she died, he remarried to Sara Louisia Minerva Hocutt.

My family's legends has it that either Israel or Elizabeth or both were either Choctaw or Cherokee. That's what I'm really trying to find out. I know there are a lot of Hocutts in NC, and NC is home to the Cherokee. Any background info will be appreciated.

Larry