Austn Rider was not Cherokee, he was a white man who married a Cherokee woman. Hw was born abt 1785 most likely in Virginia and died abt 1835 in Indian Territory now OK. He married Mary Jane Starr abt 1809 in Tennessee. She was born 15 Sep 1795 in McMinn Co., Tennessee [1/4 Cherokee Indian], and died 1869 in Indian Territory now OK. [Hampton, David K. "Cherokee Mixed-Bloods" ARC Press of Cane Hill, Lincoln, Arkansas, 2005. p. 108]
On April 9, 1818, pursuant to the treaty of 1817, Austin took a reservation of land at Tellico Plains "in right of his wife." That means he was not Cherokee and was only able to claim land because his wife was Cherokee. His heirs later received about $1100 since the land was abandoned when they went west. [Cherokee Reservees, compiled by Hampton, pp 3 and 16].
The Riders were early emigrants to Indian Territory, part of the group known as 'Old Settlers':
From Cherokee Immigration Rolls 1817-1835 Transcribed by Jack D. Baker
Page 26
We whose names are hereunto aubscribed do acknowledge that we have
voluntarily enrolled ourselves as emigrants for the Arkansas Country under the treaty made between the United States and the Cherokees of Arkanas on the 6th of May 1828 and do here by relinquish to the United States all right and claim to our lands on the East or lands on the West of the river Mississippi, The united States agreeing to pay us for our improvements and transport us to that country, furnish us provisions by the way and for oneyear after our arrival, and give warrior a rifle gun and the other articles agreeably to the provisions of said Treaty.
Oct. 22, 1831
Austin Rider- Residence-Quaholly, GA., one white,12 reds,12 Blacks, Total 25
Next to him is listed Joseph M. Starr the brother of his wife.
Page 41, same book as above.
Muster roll of Cherokee Indndians who have emigrated West of the
Mississippi River, under the direction of B. F. Currey, Esq., showing the number of Indians paid by drafts drawn on the War Department by Capt. Vashon, in whose favor drawn, the number of Indians to whom Capt. Vashon paid the years subsistence altogether or in part, the number of Negroes etc. whose claims for the years subsistence have been brought up & by whom, and the number of Indians, Negroes, etc. now paid to by Lieut. W. Seawell, Disb. Agt. for the Cherokees West. [Note: $32.50 was paid by draft for each Indian.
No date was given for this Muster Roll but an occasional note is made that the commutation allowance was paid in either April or May of 1832 and the Rider's youngest child was born en route in March, 1832.
Names of Heads of families
Austin Rider- 3 males under 10, 6 males between ages of 10 and 25,
1 male 25 to 50,
1 female under 10, 1 female 10-25 and 1 female 25-50.
5 male slaves and 7 female slaves. Total 25.
The Rider family moved west several years before the Treaty of New Echota was signed.
