Nancy Ward was a very influential Cherokee woman who lived during the forming of the United States Because of her, many lives, both white and red, were spared from death. She believed that the white men were on the Cherokee land to stay and the best way to live was to live peacefully side by side. She pushed for integration and adoption of some of the white man's ways, and helped negotiate treaties between the Cherokee and the White man. In a time when European men denied women a say in the world, her wise motherly voice rose above them and was heard.
"She must have possessed remarkable traits of character to have retained almost autocratic control over the fierce and untamable Cherokee, when she was known to sympathize with their enemies, the white settler." - James Adair
Nanye'hi, or Nancy, was born into the Wolf Clan in 1738 to Tame Doe; sister to the great Cherokee chief Attakullakulla. Her father is unknown, possibly from the Deleware tribe, but the Cherokee society is matrilineal, so her father really isn't important.
About 1751 Nanye'hi married Tsu-la, or Kingfisher. Kingfisher was a member of the Deer Clan and a fierce warrior. The Cherokee and the Creek Indians were ancient enemies and had always fought for possession of what is now northern Georgia. Some time during the year 1755 the Cherokee and Creek were involved in the bloody Battle of Taliwa which happened at Ball Ground, Georiga. Kingfisher was mortally wounded. Nancy was there at the battle with her warrior husband. She was hiding in the bushes when she saw Kingfisher fall. She ran to him and moved him into a hidden area and took his place in battle. The Creeks were winning the fight; the Cherokee had fallen back. She rallied the remaining Cherokee and led them to defeat the Creeks, who were twice their fighting force.Once news of Nancy's bravery and inspiring leadership was made known to the rest of her tribe, Nancy was given the honored title of War Woman and later received the title of Ghigau, or Beloved Mother. Ghigau were allowed to become members of the tribal war counsel. They also had the final say on the fate of prisoners. Nancy also became head of the Women's Counsel which could override the authority of the chiefs when they felt it necessary. One prisoner that Nancy saved from death was a local settler by the name of Lydia Bean. Lydia showed Nancy how to keep cows and make butter and cheese.
A few years after the death of Kingfisher and her elevation to Beloved Mother, Nancy married a white trader named Bryant Ward. Her marriage to Ward helped cement her good relations with the white man and she came to speak fluent English and to understand more of the white man's ways and thoughts. This would help her to save many white settlers from the raids that took place under her cousin Dragging Canoe. Several times she sent word to the settlers of the Watauga that Dragging Canoe was planning a raid, thus saving many lives on both sides.
Because of her numerous interventions on behalf of the white people against her own people, she gained the respect of many important men in the newly forming United States and is considered a traitor to the Cherokee by many of her tribe. Some of the most respected military leaders looked to and listened to her wisdom. A Colonel Christian even wrote about her to President Jefferson and Jefferson in turn wrote back about her. Even President Teddy Roosevelt remembered her in his book Winning of the West. On one attack by the white man's army, most of the Cherokee towns were destroyed but her town of Chota was spared out of respect for her and her family. During the final attacks on the Cherokee and their towns, Nancy and her family were among the prisoners but were treated with freedom while among the miltias and were allowed to choose for themselves to stay with the white settlers or return to their home. They decided to return and rebuild Chota.
Eventually most of the Cherokee lands were ceded to the United States and even Nancy's beloved home town of Chota was sold. She moved her family to a place by the Ocoee River in present day Polk County, TN, where she spent the rest of her days running an inn. In 1822, Nancy died and was burried beside her brother and her son Fivekiller on a hill near her inn. Her great-grandson wrote this of her passing, "A light rose from her body, fluttered around the room like a bird, left through an open door and disappeared toward Chota."
"The white men are our brothers; the same house holds us, the same sky covers us all."
Nancy Ward, the Beloved Mother of the Cherokee left behind a wonderful legacy and insight for anyone willing to heed her words of wisdom. We are all of one mother and should all live peacefully side by side as siblings.
There are some scholars who believe that the Battle of Taliwa never took place. These scholars site the fact that the Creek Nation never had a town by the name of Taliwa but research I have found suggests this is a Cherokee word meaning town. They also site maps that were drawn up by explorers during this time period as having no Cherokee settlements that far into Georgia or having them marked as abandoned. What this probably means is that these abandoned locations were either hunting camps that were not being used or were summer or winter villages and no one was there because it was the wrong season to be staying in those villages.
Many questions are always raised when we look at the history of a people who had no written language until the early 1800s. Most scholars also tend to look at history through the eyes of a modern thinker and this is always detrimental to history and the people of the past.
Did Nancy Ward exist? Yes. She was a Cherokee representative at many treaty negotiations and many colonists spoke of her in their letters and journals. Did she fight in a battle against the Creek Nation? Possibly. How she earned the honor of Beloved Mother may remain shrouded in mystery, but earn it she did.
Nancy Ward
Glory, Passion and Principle - Melissa Lukeman Bohrer
Cherokee Women - Theda Perdue
Nancy Ward/Dragging Canoe - Pat Alderman
There are several other really good historical bios about Nancy Ward but be careful because some are fictional novels and some just did no research at all.
Did you know: The title and honor of Beloved Mother is still in use by today's Eastern Band of the Cherokee.
Did you know: There is a Beloved Man title. Jerry Wolfe was the first man to be named Beloved Man since the 1800's. He was given the title/honor in April of 2013.
For more information of the EBCI in general and or for news you can check out:
Cherokee Museum or
http://theonefeather.com/
Thank you. I never knew her and now I should feel I miss her...but I cannot, because I know she isn't dead...just different.
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