On May 31, 2014, I made the following post on this site: All my life I've been told I have Cherokee ancestry through my Knighten forebears. There are even a few interesting legends about how John L. Knighten escaped the Removal (a decade before he was born) and of family members visiting from the Cherokee … Continue reading The Dangers of DNA Testing
Tag: Cherokee Ancestry
John L. Knighten – Just the Facts
In the previous post I introduced the story that has circulated in parts of our family for many years: the idea that my great-great-great grandfather, John L. Knighten, had Cherokee ancestry and was known by names such as “Johnny Lighthorse Nightingale.” Like many family traditions, the story is intriguing—but before exploring it further, it is … Continue reading John L. Knighten – Just the Facts
Cherokee Knightens – Intro
In Morgan County, Alabama legend, there exists the enigma of John L. Knighten, who some claim to be a full-blooded Cherokee who lived from 1849 to 1943. He was my great-great-great grandfather. I don't believe that the legend has been fabricated, but some of the details may have been embellished over the years. The problem … Continue reading Cherokee Knightens – Intro
