Gabriel HOOKER ^{1 2}

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census: 1850: Southern District, Patrick County, Virginia. ³

• Occupation: 1850 Blacksmith.

• Eastern Cherokee Roll: 19903. ¹ Elizabeth Pike being first duly sworn deposes and says:
"I live near Brim, N.C., in Surry County. I am about 57 years of age, and was born in Patrick County, VA., and lived there until I was twenty years old, and then moved to North Carolina. I claim Indian blood through both my father and mother, but they both trace back to the same ancestor. My mother was born in Patrick County, VA. She must have been about 25 years of age at the time of her death. I was about three years old when she died. I disremember her father's name. I do not know when my father was born. He was about 60 years of age at the time of his death. He was born in Patrick County, Va. also. His father was Gabe Hooker, and was born in Patrick County. I remember my father well, and I have heard him speak of being an Indian. When he was fretted with us children, he threw it up to is that we were Indians, and we would cry about it. The neighbors up in Patrick County would sometimes get mad and call us Indians, but we passed as White people generally, and the children went to White schools. I have heard my father say that he belonged to the Cherokee tribe of Indians. I do not remember any Indians ever living in this country. It is claimed that someone robbed an Indian tent and stole my great grandfather, and that was the origin of the name Hooker, as he was "hooked" from the Indians. I never heard who took this Indian baby; only heard that some hunters took this Indian child from this tent. This was somewhere in Virginia, I think in Patrick County."

Leroy Hooker being first duly sworn deposes and says:
"I have heard the testimony of Elizabeth Pike above given. I claim through the same line; and her testimony is substantially true, but I would like to add that I have always heard that my great grandfather, who was stolen from the tent was raised in Yadkin County, N.C."

Subscribed and sworn to before me at Pilot Mountain, N.C. this 23rd day of March, 1908. Special Commissioner Court of Claims.

Gabriel married Nancy PACK, daughter of Husband of Elizabeth Lowery PACK and Elizabeth LOWERY-PACK, on 23 Aug 1827 in Patrick County, Virginia. (Nancy PACK was born in 1810 in Patrick County, Virginia.)