I Think He Made The Whole Thing Up

     Way back in June of 2013 I wrote a blog about a cousin, George Worden (1858-1950), who claimed his father was, "a full blooded Indian", and that he, George, was born on a reservation near Seneca Point, New York.  You can see that blog and George's photo here.  Ever since, I've been looking for any evidence that could back up George's assertion.  His father was a brother of my third-great-grandfather Paul Worden, so it follows that Paul would also be of Native American heritage if George was correct.

     After thoroughly researching this matter, I am prepared to state for the record, George was a big old liar. When George celebrated his ninety fifth birthday in 1947 Lena Steele, a reporter for the Democrat & Chronicle, made the drive from Rochester to interview him in Bristol, New York located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. George told her quite a tale that day in May.  Along with his birthplace he noted his father was named Carter Worden, his mother was Pennsylvania native Mary Colver, and that he came to South Bristol with them when he was six years old. Fascinating story, especially to a genealogist, unfortunately it's not true.

     George's father was named Sylvester, not Carter although Carter was the maiden name of Sylvester's mother.  Also, Sylvester was living in South Bristol a full eight years before George was even born as evidenced by the 1850 census which shows Sylvester with his wife Mary and their three youngest children there.  His mother Pelina Carter Worden also resided with him that year so I'm sure I have the right man. They are also living there in 1855 and 1860. George couldn't have come to South Bristol at age six, he was born there.

     The maiden name of Sylvester's wife was Culver, not Colver, but that's close enough for me to chalk it up to a spelling error or misprint.  She was however, born in New York not Pennsylvania.  And the reservation?  There was no reservation anywhere near Seneca Point in 1858, the year of George's birth.  That place was the site of a large Seneca Nation village in the years before the American Revolution but in 1779 Major General John Sullivan, at the order of George Washington, mounted an expedition targeting Loyalists and the Native Americans who sided with them against the Patriots.  That included the residents of Seneca Point who left the area at that time.  Some may have lingered near their old home, but a reservation there did not exist.

     George passed away at the county home for the aged in Hopewell, New York on 27 October 1950.  His obituary gives his birthplace as the Town of Bristol, New York, not Seneca Point.  So why the story?  I've wondered about that and the best I can come up with is he did it for the attention.  George outlived his wife, Eva Bartlett, by almost thirty years and their only child, a daughter they named Ethel, passed away in 1896 at the age of six.  George was lonely...