Our Somers Family Heritage

Photo is from the private collection of Ralph Womack, a great grandson. Great Grandmother Cotna (Coatney) was married to Francis Henry Somers, my Great Grandfather who was known as a "circuit rider" or traveling evangelist. *Re: Native Ancestry - I have almost ruled out Great Grandmother Coatney Cole, Harris, Tidwell, Somers, Bonn as having any Native American DNA as some of her descendants from the Tidwell marriage have contacted Dad via 23andMe and they have no NA DNA. However, some of those with direct bloodlines to Great Grandfather Francis Henry Somers appear to have a trace of Native American DNA. Please also take note that it is more likely Native American DNA will show up from the mother's DNA than from the father's ancestry.

This photo was taken shortly before Great Grandmother's death estimated to be in the late 1930's or early 1940's. My father, Jesse C. Somers, was born in 1935 and remembers his grandmother living with them before her death.

3rd Great Grandmother Mary Ann Jones, 2nd Great Grandmother Nancy Jones Wright, Great Grandmother Maggie Lenoa Wright Weaver, Grandmother Lillian Mae Weaver Somers with oldest daughter Mamie Irene. Taken in the 1920's, Clay Co, Arkansas By Angela Wittman Some of my earliest memories are of my parents talking about our native ancestry, and I grew up with stories of being part Cherokee and how my Grandfather lied about his native ancestry to avoid discrimination. It was always taken for granted by my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. on the Somers side that we are part Native American. So, when a cousin (now deceased) and I began looking for a “paper trail” of the Cherokee ancestry approximately 25 years ago and we couldn’t find documentation, I continued the research. I believe there is evidence that will lead to our native ancestry and I hope to present some of that evidence here. Henry Francis Somers I’ll begin with physical appearance: My Great Grandfather, Hen...

Notes on Cotna (Cotney, Coatny, Cortny) Lisbeth (Elizabeth) Cole (Harris/Tidwell/Somers) and Henry Francis Somers Cotna was born 1854 in Jackson County, Arkansas Her father and mother are listed in the 1900 Butler Co., Mo. Census as being born in Tennessee. Cotna married Henry F. Somers in 1893. Henry’s father Abraham (Born 1820) is from Tennessee, his mother Darcus (Born 1824), is from North Carolina. Henry F. was born in Jackson County, Tennessee in 1860. According to the Jackson Co. Tennessee 1860 Census, the Summers family is listed as: Abe – 39 yrs. Male/white Aner – 16 yrs. Female/white Archibald - 10 yrs. Male/white Darcus – 36 yrs. Female/white Henry – 2 mos. Male/white John – 14 yrs. Male/white Nancy – 12 yrs. Female/white Another possible sibling is Matthew A. Summers who is listed in a Census as being born in 1866. Also, I found a John Summers in the 1840 Jackson Co., Tenn. Census who could be Abe’s father. Henry F. Somers and Cotna (or Cotney)...