New Indian Governor of Louisiana

Louisiana elected its first Indian-American governor on 10/22/07. 36-year-old Republican Bobby Jindal became the first non-white Louisiana governor since Reconstruction and the youngest sitting governor in the country.

Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback (May 10, 1837 – December 21, 1921) was the first African American to become governor of a U.S. state. Pinchback, a Republican, served as the governor of Louisiana for thirty-five days, from December 9, 1872, to January 13, 1873 during Reconstruction. He is pictured below:

My Native American Brayboy Roots

In my veins flows the blood of several Native American tribes including that of the Lumbee and Tuscarora indians.

My ggg-grandmother was Phoebe Brayboy Morris. Her 1st husband is believed to have been William (Billie)Brayboy. Their children were Billie Brayboy, Jr., Alex Brayboy and Jane Brayboy Jefferson, my gg-grandmother.

Phoebe and Billie Brayboy were former slaves brought from Darlington County,South Carolina to Desoto Parish, Louisiana by Boykin Witherspoon.

They were of african and native american ancestry.

In researching this line of my family, I discovered that the indian tribe that they were descendents of was the Lumbee and Tuscarora indians of North Carolina.

Their surname, Brayboy originated from the surname Braveboy. I believe that over time and perhaps because of the slave and southern dialect, it became Brayboy although some still wear the name, Braveboy while others wear the name Braboy. Although the spelling has become varied over the years, I believe that most of the people descended from or wearing that name share a common ancestry and/or connection to the Lumbee and/or Tuscarora indians.

In addition, most of the Braveboy, Braboy and Brayboys that I have researched from previous years and today are listed as white, native american and african american.

So who were the Lumbee and Tuscarora indians and how did they wind up in my family and as slaves in the possesion of Boykin Witherspoon and other slavemasters?

Well briefly, the Lumbee indians originated from Robeson County, North Carolina and their tribal name originates from the Lumber River, which traverses Robeson County.


The Tuscarora indians were known as "hemp gatherers" because they used hemp to weave clothing, in particular, shirts. Their origins can be traced to Virginia and North Carolina in villages along the Neuse and Roanoke Rivers.

Well, history has it that many of the Lumbee and Tuscarora indians intermarried at some point. In fact, the name Braveboy is said to be a Tuscarora name.

Once the whites settled in that area, it was common practice for them to steal their women and children and sell them into slavery.

There was a well-documented war that took place known as the Tuscarora War of 1711–13. Most memorable, was when the Catawba indians of South Carolina led by white men including British citizens entered North Carolina and defeated the Tuscarora in two battles during 1712. The following year the South Carolinians returned, this time with more than 1,000 Catawba and Yamasee indians and quickly defeated the Tuscarora indians. Many prisoners were tortured to death, while another 400 were sold into slavery.

After the Tuscarora had left, the Catawba and Yamasee found they were subject to the same abuse that forced the Tuscarora to fight. British traders routinely seized the wives and children of Catawba warriors and sold them as slaves to pay for debts (usually whiskey). For this reason, the Catawba joined the general uprising of 1715 in the Carolinas (Yamasee War).

So that answers the question of how many of the Lumbee/Tuscarora indians among other tribes ended up as slaves. I have my own theory of how my Brayboy/Braveboy ancestors ended up in the possession of Boykin Witherpoon.

In reading Boykin Witherspoon's biogragraphy, it indicates that his maternal great
grandfather of our subject (Boykin), Samuel Boykin, an able South Carolinian, was prominent in its affairs. Prior to the Revolutionary War, he was Indian agent for the British Government, and served in the Revolutionary War as captain of a company of Catawaba Indians. I also verified through military records that Samuel Boykin was indeed an Indian Agent for the British Goverment and captain of Catawaba indians.

With this in mind, it is very likely that he was one of the men referenced in the many Tuscarora and Catawaba war accounts that was instrumental in the defeat and subsequent enslavement of surviving tribe members. Most of the historical accounts that I have read indicate that they were sold into Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

My guess is that Mr. Samuel Boykin retained some of those indian slaves himself and added to his own servant collection. I further believe that these indian slaves bred with his existing african slaves and over time, their offspring was inherited by his grandson, Boykin Witherspoon. Why were they able to retain the name, Braveboy/Brayboy? I can't say but I am glad they did because it turned out to be the only link we have to our native american ancestry.

Whether the Brayboys/Braveboys were in fact "booty" from the Tuscarora and Catawba Indian War or kidnapped like my african ancestors before or after that war, the fact remains that my line somehow ended up as slaves of the Boykin Witherspoon.

Although many Lumbees today identify ethnically as Indians, according to documentary sources they are in origin a mixture of European American, African-American, and Native American.

However, both the Tuscarora and Lumbee Tribes are recognized by the United States as a Native American Tribe.

Ancestors of the present-day Lumbee were first recognized by the State of North Carolina in 1885 as Croatan Indians, and have been requesting benefits from the federal government since 1888. In 1956, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill, HR 4656, better known as the Lumbee Act, which recognized the Lumbee as a Native American tribe.

We must remember the Braveboys/Brayboys and our native american past and preserve that history so that future generations can know the heritage in which they came from.

I will end this story with a Lumbee Indian Proverb:

"Pray to understand what a man has forgotten."




"In Memory of my Braveboy/Brayboy Ancestors"

You may have flown into the sunset many moons ago but the sun still rises on your bloodline descendants so your memory and legacies will not be forgotten.............
Karen Burney

Barrack Obama and Dick Cheney cousins?

The media is all abuzz with the recent revelation by the Lynne Cheney, the wife of vice president, Dick Cheney that he is the eighth cousin of US. Senator and Presidential Hopeful, Barrack Obama.

Apparently, Mrs. Cheney made the discovery when she while researching her while researching her ancestry for her new memoir, Blue Skies, No Fences.

According to her research, the Mrs Cheney's spokesman, Senator Obama is a descendant of Mareen Duvall whose son married the granddaughter Richard Cheney, a Bristish and Maryland native and ancestor/namesake of Vice President, Richard B. Cheney.

This just proves what I have long known, that if we dig deep enough and go far back enough, we will find that we are all related!

It was was only fairly recent that it was announced that Civil Rights Activist,The Rev. Al Sharpton is descended from a slave owned by relatives of the late senator and one-time segregationist Strom Thurmond and the fact that is well known that slaveowners often mingled blood with their slaves, they could very well be related as well.

Braveboys on 1790 census

The earliest census-documented Braveboy families was on the 1790 census (click on document above to view) as follows:

Patty Braveboy St Thomas, Cheraws District, South Carolina
Sam Braveboy St Thomas, Cheraws District, South Carolina

No race given for either but the entries above and below on the original document is that of William Hatcher (Negroe) & Dick Knight (Mulatto)

Also on the 1790 census is
Lewis Braveboy Orangeburg, SC

Braboy/Brayboy/Braveboys in Louisiana 1880 census

Census Place: 2nd Ward, De Soto, Louisiana
Source: FHL Film 1254452 National Archives Film T9-0452 Page 198B
William BRABOY Self M M B 85 SC Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Bettie BRABOY Wife F M B 80 SC Occ: Keeps House Fa: SC Mo: SC
John BRABOY Son M M B 60 SC Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Kate BRABOY DauL F M B 50 SC Occ: Works Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
John BRADY GSon M S B 17 LA Occ: Works Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC


Census Place: 2nd Ward, De Soto, Louisiana
Source: FHL Film 1254452 National Archives Film T9-0452 Page 193C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Alic RENCHER Self M M B 28 LA Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Suckie RENCHER Wife F M B 25 LA Occ: Keeps House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Lucy BRABOY Sister F W B 50 SC Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC



Census Place: 2nd Ward, De Soto, Louisiana
Source: FHL Film 1254452 National Archives Film T9-0452 Page 200A
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Robert BRABOY Self M M B 35 LA Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Julia A. BRABOY Wife F M B 38 LA Occ: Keeps House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Alic BRABOY Son M S B 18 LA Occ: Works In Field Fa: LA Mo: LA
Calip BRABOY Son M S B 8 LA Occ: At School Fa: LA Mo: LA
Billy BRABOY Son M S B 3 LA Fa: LA Mo: LA



Census Place: 2nd Ward, De Soto, Louisiana
Source: FHL Film 1254452 National Archives Film T9-0452 Page 197C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Phillip BRABOY Self M M B 38 LA Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Prissilla BRABOY Wife F M B 37 LA Occ: Keeps House Fa: SC Mo: SC


Census Place: District 52, 8th Ward, Caddo, Louisiana
Source: FHL Film 1254449 National Archives Film T9-0449 Page 299A
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
William BRABOY Self M M B 30 LA Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Peggy BRABOY Wife F M B 26 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
James BRABOY Son M S B 3 LA Fa: LA Mo: SC
Jane BRABOY Dau F S B 1 LA Fa: LA Mo: SC
Holland BRABOY Son M S B 1M LA Fa: LA Mo: SC


Census Place: 2nd Ward, De Soto, Louisiana
Source: FHL Film 1254452 National Archives Film T9-0452 Page 197D
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Tom BRABOY Self M M B 27 LA Occ: Works Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Agg BRABOY Wife F M B 20 LA Occ: Cook Fa: SC Mo: SC
Peter BRABOY Son M S B 4 LA Fa: LA Mo: LA
Kizzie BRABOY Dau F S B 2 LA Fa: LA Mo: LA
Martha WILLIAMS Other F S B 25 LA Occ: Works Farm Fa: TN Mo: TN


Census Place: Bossier, Louisiana
Source: FHL Film 1254449 National Archives Film T9-0449 Page 124A
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Frank BRABOY Self M S B 13 LA Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: ALA Mo: ALA
Peter BRABOY Other M S B 11 LA Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: ALA Mo: ALA
Sallie TAYLOR Other F S B 8 LA Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: ALA Mo: ALA
Wash BRABOY Other M S B 7 LA Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: ALA Mo: ALA
Gro WORMAN Other M W B 53 VA Occ: Farmer Fa: VA Mo: VA
William WILSON Other M S B 50 LA Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: LA Mo: LA

Brayboy/Braveboys/Braboys from South Carolina 1880 census

Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Thomas BRAYBOY Self M M MU 60 SC Occ: Unemployed Fa: SC Mo: SC
Charity BRAYBOY Wife F M B 55 SC Occ: House Servant Fa: SC Mo: SC
Benj. ASBERRY GSon M S B 12 SC Occ: Works In Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC


Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Abram BRAYBOY Self M M B 65 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Nettie BRAYBOY Wife F M B 70 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC




Nancy BRAYBOY Self F W B 85 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Nancy MIDDLETON Dau F W B 35 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Cloe BOARD Dau F W B 45 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC





Mary BRAYBOY Self F W MU 36 TN Occ: Keeps House Fa: TN Mo: TN
Wm.A. BRAYBOY Son M S MU 11 SC Occ: School Fa: SC Mo: TN
John BRAYBOY Son M S MU 7 SC Occ: School Fa: SC Mo: TN
Robert BRAYBOY Son M S MU 3 SC Fa: SC Mo: TN
Margaret BRAYBOY Dau F S MU 9 SC Occ: School Fa: SC Mo: TN
Robt. INGHRAM BroL M M MU 28 SC Occ: Cotton Press Fa: SC Mo: SC
Mary INGHRAM Sister F M B 29 SC Occ: Dress Maker Fa: SC Mo: SC
Clancy GRAHAM Mother F M B 55 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Sidney GRAHAM Father M M B 63 SC Occ: Carter Fa: SC Mo: SC




John BRAYBOY Self M M MU 30 NC Occ: Laborer Fa: NC Mo: NC
Joan BRAYBOY Wife F M W 26 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Florence BRAYBOY Dau F S MU 3 SC Fa: NC Mo: SC
Anne L. BRAYBOY Dau F S MU 2 SC Fa: NC Mo: SC
Christan BRAYBOY Niece F S MU 13 NC Occ: Laborer Fa: NC Mo: NC
Henry BRAYBOY Brother M S MU 27 NC Occ: Laborer Fa: NC Mo: NC




Jacob BRAYBOY Self M M B 39 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Dora BRAYBOY Wife F M MU 23 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Jessie BRAYBOY Son M S B 20 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Ellis BRAYBOY Son M S B 19 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Billie BRAYBOY Son M S B 18 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
George BRAYBOY Son M S B 13 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Margaret BRAYBOY Dau F S B 15 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Betsy BRAYBOY Dau F S B 11 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Jennett BRAYBOY Dau F S B 8 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Sofronie BRAYBOY Dau F S B 6 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Martha BRAYBOY Dau F S B 1 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Sarah DINCKINS SDau F S B 7 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Lela BRAYBOY Dau F S B 7 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC





William BRAYBOY Self M M MU 22 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Sarah BRAYBOY Wife F M MU 21 SC Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Sally BRAYBOY Dau F S MU 1 SC Occ: At Home Fa: SC Mo: SC





Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
John BRAYBOY Self M M B 23 SC Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Hannah BRAYBOY Wife F M B 16 SC Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Lawton H. BRAYBOY Son M S B 6M SC Occ: At Home Fa: SC Mo: SC





London BRAYBOY Self M M B 30 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Margarett BRAYBOY Wife F M B 35 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Cora BRAYBOY Dau F S B 16 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Emma BRAYBOY Dau F S B 11 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Jerry BRAYBOY Son M S B 10 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Abram BRAYBOY Son M S B 8 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
London BRAYBOY Son M S B 6 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Missy BRAYBOY Dau F S B 3 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Manda Jane BRAYBOY Dau F S B 4M SC Fa: SC Mo: SC



Source: FHL Film 1255229 National Archives Film T9-1229 Page 301B
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
William BRAVEBOY Self M M MU 35 SC Occ: Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Ellen BRAVEBOY Wife F M B 24 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC



Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Louisa BRAVEBOY Self F W B 60 SC Occ: Farmer & Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Evant BRAVEBOY Nephew M S MU 21 SC Occ: Works In Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Rejina BRAVEBOY Niece F S MU 23 SC Occ: Works In Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Sampson BRAVEBOY Other M S B 22 SC Occ: Servant Fa: SC Mo: SC



Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
S. D. BRAVEBOY Self M M W 27 SC Occ: Farm Hand Fa: SC Mo: SC
Mary BRAVEBOY Wife F M W 30 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Rosalie BRAVEBOY Dau F S W 9 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Ella J. ARD SDau F S W 6 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
William ARD SSon M S W 3 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Ada ARD SDau F S W 6M SC Fa: SC Mo: SC




Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Moses BRAVEBOY Self M M MU 37 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Elizabeth BRAVEBOY Wife F M W 30 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Mattie BRAVEBOY Dau F S W 6 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC




Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
M. M. BRAVEBOY Self M M MU 42 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: SC Mo: SC
M. A. BRAVEBOY Wife F M W 28 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Missura BRAVEBOY Dau F S MU 12 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
M. E. BRAVEBOY Dau F S MU 9 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Elizabeth BRAVEBOY Dau F S MU 7 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Ravenell BRAVEBOY Son M S MU 5 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Morris BRAVEBOY Son M S MU 3 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Jackson BRAVEBOY Son M S MU 1 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC




Mary BRAVEBOY Self F W B 40 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Melia BRAVEBOY Dau F S B 20 SC Occ: Farm Hand Fa: SC Mo: SC
William BRAVEBOY Son M S B 19 SC Occ: Rail Road Hand Fa: SC Mo: SC
Jack BRAVEBOY Son M S B 13 SC Occ: Farmhand Fa: SC Mo: SC
Culia BRAVEBOY Dau F S B 11 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Lelia BRAVEBOY Dau F S B 1 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Wesley BENJAMAN Other M S B 19 SC Occ: Farm Hand Fa: SC Mo: SC



Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Thomas BRAVEBOY Self M M B 28 SC Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Lewisa BRAVEBOY Wife F M B 18 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Floweran M. BRAVEBOY Dau F S B 2 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
William J. BRAVEBOY Son M S B 1 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Elmira GRAHAM Niece F S B 12 SC Occ: Nurce Fa: SC Mo: SC




Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Purdy BRABOY Self M M MU 24 NC Occ: Laborer Fa: NC Mo: NC
Adaline BRABOY Wife F M MU 25 NC Occ: Labor In Farm Fa: NC Mo: SC
Thomas BRABOY Son M S MU 3 SC Fa: NC Mo: NC




Patsey BRABOY Self F W B 50 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Mallison BRABOY Son M S B 20 SC Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
William BRABOY Nephew M S B 20 SC Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Apelinda BRABOY Niece F S B 12 SC Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC




Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Frank BRABOY Self M M W 24 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Adline BRABOY Wife F M W 30 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
William T. BRABOY Son M S W 11 SC Occ: Farm Work Fa: SC Mo: SC
Marther BRABOY Dau F S W 9 SC Occ: Home Fa: SC Mo: SC
Jasper BRABOY Son M S W 3 SC Occ: Home Fa: SC Mo: SC



Julia ADOM Self F M MU 43 SC Occ: Seamstress Fa: SC Mo: SC
Hester BRABOY Sister F M MU 30 SC Occ: Cook Fa: SC Mo: SC
Hestilla BRABOY Other F S MU 3 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Julia DOE Other F W MU 70 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC




Henry GRUBBS Self M M MU 40 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: SC Mo: SC
Adaline GRUBBS Wife F M MU 43 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
William GRUBBS Son M S MU 3 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Handsom GRUBBS Dau F S MU 5 SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Anne May GRUBBS Dau F S MU 10M SC Fa: SC Mo: SC
Rosaly BRABOY SDau F S MU 15 SC Occ: Help On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
Fletcher BRABOY SSon M S MU 12 SC Occ: Help On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC
John BRABOY SSon M S MU 11 SC Occ: Help On Farm Fa: SC Mo: SC



Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace

Solomon REYNOLDS Self M M MU 62 SC Occ: Ferryman Fa: ENG Mo: SC
Martha REYNOLDS Wife F M MU 62 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
Lewis BRABOY Nephew M S MU 21 GA Occ: Farmer Fa: GA Mo: GA
Eliza GUNTER Other F M B 20 SC Occ: Servant Fa: SC Mo: SC
Martha GUNTER Other F S B 2M SC Fa: SC Mo: SC



Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Franky BRABOY Self F S B 30 SC Occ: Keeping House Fa: SC Mo: SC
John BRABOY Son M S B 15 SC Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: SC Mo: SC

Portrait of Boykin

Artist: Scarborough, William Harrison, 1812-1871, painter.

Title: Boykin Witherspoon, (painting).

Dates: 1845.

Subject: Portrait male -- Witherspoon, Boykin

Object Type: Painting

Owner: Witherspoon, Boykin, Shreveport, Louisiana

References: National Society Colonial Dames of America, Louisiana,. "Louisiana Portraits" New Orleans, 1975.

Note: The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Repository: Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Control Number: IAP 72902056

The Protestant Religion

Since much of my genealogical research has revealed ties to the Prostestant Churches and/or Reformation Movement by both the slaveowners, slaves and freed lines who were very passionate about their religion to say the least, I decided to explore and learn a little more about the term and categorization as a Prostestant.

What I have so far learned is that the term Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. The word Protestant is derived from the Latin protestatio meaning declaration which refers to the Letter of Protesation by Lutheran princes against the decision of the Diet of Speyer in 1529, which reaffirmed the edict of the Diet of Worms against the Reformation.

Since that time, the term Protestantism has been used in many different senses, often as a general term to refer to Western Christianity that is not subject to papal authority.


The doctrines of the Reformation can be summarized as follows:

a) the rejection of papal authority
b) rejection of some fundamental Roman Catholic doctrines
c) the priesthood of all believers
d) the primacy of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth,
e) the belief in justification by faith alone


While the faiths and churches born directly or indirectly of the Protestant Reformation constitute Protestantism, in common usage, the term is often used in contradistinction to
Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox. However, this usage is imprecise since there are many non-Roman-Catholic, non-Eastern-Orthodox communions that long predate the Reformation (notably Oriental Orthodoxy). The Anglican Church, although born of the Protestant reformation, differs from the reformation principles of most other Protestants and is referred to as a middle path between Roman Catholic and Protestant doctrines.

Yet some other groups, such as the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses reject Protestantism as having deviated from true Christianity and see themselves as Restorationists.

The churches most commonly associated with Protestantism can be divided along four fairly definitive lines:


1. Mainline Protestants - a North American phrase - are those who trace their lineage to Luther, Calvin or Angicanism. The Docutrines of Reformation are their doctrines and include such denominations as Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists.

2. Anabaptists are a movement that developed from the Radical Reformation. Today, denominations such as Baptists, Pentecostals, Brethren, Mennonites and Amish eschew infant baptism and see baptism as aligned with a demonstration of the gifts of the spirit.

3. Nontrinitarian movements reject the doctrine of the trinity. Today, they include such denominations as the Universalists, Unitarians, and some Quakers.

4. Restorationists are a more recent movement. Today, they include such denominations as the Latter-day Saints, and Adventists

John Knox, The Divine

The Reformation Wall in Geneva, Switzerland. From left: William Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza and John Knox.

In an earlier piece, I wrote about how I had discovered that Boykin Witherspoon, the slaveowner of my Pressley, Brayboy, Jefferson and Morris lines was a direct descendant of John Knox of Scotland.

Please recall that his lineage in that line is as follows:

Boykin Witherspoon

John Dick Witherspoon

Gavin Witherspoon II

Gavin Witherspoon I

John Witherspoon wife was *Janet Witherspoon, his 1st cousin,

David Witherspoon

Lucy Welsh (Married a Witherspoon)

Elizabeth Knox (Lucy's mother) Her husband was John Welsh

John Knox (The Divine) born 1514 married Margaret Stewart

Recall that his lineage from this line is as follows:

Here is a little more information about John Knox.

John Knox was born a peasant in Scotland around 1514 and died on November 24, 1572. Although his early life began very humbly he will be long remembered as one of Scotland's most renowned clergymen, leader of the Protestant Reformation and founder of the Church of Scotland.

He was educated at the University of St. Andrews and was greatly influenced by early reformers such as Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart.

Over the years, his life took many twists and turns including being captured and taken prisoner by the French, and exiled to England and Switzerland. The Protestant nobles were sent to France including Knox were taken prisoner and forced to row in the French galleys. The galley-slaves were chained to benches and rowed throughout the day without a change of posture while an officer watched over them with a whip in hand. They sailed to France and navigated up the Seine to Rouen and were transferred to various prisons.

Included in his accomplishments is when he became licenced to work in the Church of England where he quickly rose in the ranks until he became a royal chaplain serving the King of England, King Edward VI. This title enabled him to gain the trust of English Protestants thus allowing his influence and contribution to the text of the Book of Common Prayer.

Unfortunately, he was forced to resign his position when Mary Tudor ascended the throne. While in England, he met and married his first wife, Marjorie, of English noble origin.

John Knox later had the misfortune to lose his much-loved and helpful young wife. She left two sons, one of whom, Nathanael, died at Cambridge in 1580; the other, Eleazer, became vicar of Clacton Magna in the archdeaconry of Colchester and died in 1591.

Knox later fled to Geneva Switzerland where he gained experience and knowledge from John Calvin in regards to theology church polity. While based in Geneva, he made a short excursion to Frankfurt, Germany where he headed the English refugee church and a first attempt to return to Scotland where he was able to meet and to support the Scottish Protestants.

Upon his final return to Scotland, he took the religious lead in the Protestant Reformation in Scotland, assisted by the Scottish Protestant nobility which resulted in the ousting of queen regent Mary of Guise. He participated in writing the Confession of Faith and the ecclesiastical order for the newly created reformed church. He continued to serve as the religious leader during the reign of Mary Stuart, queen of Scots whose support of the Catholic Church he admononished in interviews with the queen and eventually openly attacked her in sermons during which she was imprisoned and she was succeeded by James VI.

On 26 March 1564, Knox stirred controversy again, when he married Margaret Stewart, the daughter of an old friend of his, Andrew Stewart, a member of the Stuart family and a distant relation to the queen of scots, Mary Stuart and Boykin Witherspoon's grandmother. Knox was at the time, a widower of fifty, while the bride, Margaret, was not yet seventeen. They had three daughters, Martha, Margaret, and the youngest, Elizabeth who became the wife of John Welsh, a minister of the Kirk and gggggg-grandparents of Boykin Witherpoon. John Welsh was himself at one time also imprisoned for his preaching on the orders of King James VI of Scotland and in 1606 exiled to France where continued his activities for many years. His grandson was the Covenanter' leader, John Welsh of Irongray.

Wow, what a remarkable family history Boykin Witherpsoon had! Descendent of John Knox and cousin to Mary Queen of Scots among others. And now knowing all of this and his ancestral history of slavery, intolerance and persecution, it strikes me strange that Boykin himself would have slaves but life can be strange and such is the life of men but then again Boykin was born 300 years after John and I don't think most of us can't honestly say with any certainty that we have any of the characteristics or traits of our distant grandparents. While many family values are passed on throughout the generations, I think ultimately we are all accountable for our own actions and it is up to each of us individually to determine right from wrong and choose which route we want to go.

I must say that I am very intrigued with the often tumultuous life that John Knox led. I have much respect and admiration for way he put his life on the line in order to stand up for what he beleived in. The passion and conviction that he showed for his Protestant faith even in the face of exile and of death is commendable.

His life and determination to serve God brings to mind 2 scriptures:

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Rest in peace, John Knox.