Page 15; Eastern Cherokee Applications of the U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1909

Mossyrock Wash July 18, 1909 Guion Miller Court of Claims Washington DC Dear sir in reply to yours of June 10 1909, will say that I am very sorry to see that you rejected the Lesters. We thought that we made all the proof that was necessary. I beg to advise you that we cannot make any proof, only what was handed down from our fore-parents as to any Indian name. I do not know it for sure. It seems as [there] was some trouble with some other tribe of Indians. It seems as [they] was afraid of whites and other Indians. Abner H. Lester said that he had some money coming to him if he would go west. He said that he would do without it, stay where he was, [rather] than go west. From the appearance of [them]they were, as well as I remember, they was like a whipped dog. [They] was afraid to see anybody. They were way back in the frontier and in the mountains raised up without any education. I heard of one of my uncles giving an affidavit in court in a big land suit. He stated that the first white man that he saw, he and his sisters ran and hid from them. That was Henry Harmon, a surveyor running a big survey on or about 1830 or 1831. It seems they were in the mountains back from any person. I do know that I heard my grandfather say that he come from the Louisa Fork of the Big Sandy [River] to Elkhorn. [He] said for three years he never seen any person, neither white nor red, only his own family. That was in or about 1820 or 1825. I do not see how we can make the proof that you requested when all of the [old?] Lesters is dead, passed over. They did not teach us that we had any Indian name, only naming some of their children after some of their ancestors. [You have heard that before] so I will close. [Hope to hear from you soon] Please advise me [how?] I can get the proof that you want. None of them had any learning. Mathias Lester [33404] Martha A little more information. Grandfather said his Grandmother was a Scotch woman [who] was captured by some Indians [and] a chief Indian took her for a wife. After living with him for some time, then she was recaptured [and] brought forth a son. His name was called William Lester. If there is any Indian name for the Lesters, it is Gillford. I can’t certify to it. I do not know anything else at present. I do not see why it would have been any benefit to them to claim to be Cherokee if they had not been. If possible give me the best information that you can. Mathias A. Lester Excuse bad writing mistakes if possible.