Nancy Ward facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nancy Ward
Nanye'hi (Cherokee: ᎾᏅᏰᎯ: "One who goes about")
Beloved Woman of the Cherokee leader
Personal details
Born	c. 1738 Chota, Monroe County, Tennessee
Died	1822 or 1824 Near Benton, Tennessee
Resting place	Nancy Ward Tomb
Spouses	"Tsu-la" or Kingfisher; Bryant Ward
Children	Catherine Ka-Ti Walker, Littlefellow Hiskyteehee Fivekiller, and Betsy Ward
Parents	Mother, the sister of Attakullakulla

Nanyehi (Cherokee: ᎾᏅᏰᎯ: "One who goes about"), known in English as Nancy Ward (c. 1738 – 1822 or 1824), was a powerful Beloved Woman and important leader of the Cherokee. She worked hard for peace between her people and European Americans. Later in her life, she strongly spoke up for the Cherokee to keep their tribal lands. She is also known for bringing dairy products to the Cherokee economy.

Her Early Life and Family

Nanyehi was born around 1738 in the Cherokee capital, Chota. This area is now part of Monroe County, Tennessee. Her mother was a member of the Wolf Clan. Her uncle was the influential chief Attakullakulla. Her father was "Fivekiller," from the Lenape (Delaware) tribe.

When she was a teenager, Nanyehi married Tsu-la, also known as Kingfisher. They had two children: Catherine Ka-Ti Walker and Littlefellow Hiskyteehee Fivekiller.

A Brave Warrior

In 1755, the Cherokee fought their old enemies, the Muscogee people (Creek), in the Battle of Taliwa. Nanyehi went with her husband to the battle. She helped him by chewing his bullets. This made them jagged, causing more damage. When Kingfisher was killed, Nanyehi bravely picked up his rifle. She then led the Cherokee fighters to victory.

Becoming a Beloved Woman

Because of her courage, the Cherokee gave Nanyehi the special title of Ghigau (Cherokee: Beloved Woman). This made her the only female voting member of the Cherokee General Council. She also became the leader of the Women's Council. This role allowed her to act as an ambassador and negotiator for her people.

Marriage to Bryant Ward

In the late 1750s, Nanyehi married again. Her second husband was an Irish trader named Bryant Ward. After this marriage, she became known as Nancy, an English version of her name. They had a daughter together, Elizabeth "Betsy" Ward.

Changes in Cherokee Society

In the early 1760s, the Cherokee joined the British colonists. They fought together in the French and Indian War. This war was part of a bigger conflict in Europe called the Seven Years' War. Both sides in North America had Native American allies. The British promised to protect the Cherokee from their enemies, the Creek and Choctaw people.

The British built forts on Cherokee land. More European-American settlers started moving into these areas. This led to conflicts. Nancy Ward, as a Beloved Woman, had the power to save captives. In 1776, after a Cherokee attack on a settlement, she saved a settler named Lydia Bean. Nancy took Lydia into her home and helped her heal. Lydia taught Nancy a new way to weave cloth on a loom. Nancy then taught this skill to other Cherokee women.

Lydia Bean also brought two cows with her. She taught Nancy how to care for cows, milk them, and make dairy products. These animals and their products helped the Cherokee survive when hunting was difficult. Nancy Ward is known for introducing dairy farming to the Cherokee.

During the Revolutionary War

The American Revolution brought many challenges for the Cherokee. Most Cherokee sided with the British against the American colonists. They hoped to remove the settlers from their lands. Nancy Ward's cousin, Dragging Canoe, wanted to fight alongside the British. However, Nancy tried to support the American rebels and work for peace.

In July 1776, Nancy Ward warned a group of white settlers about an upcoming attack by her people. She wanted to prevent more fighting. The British supported Dragging Canoe and supplied him with weapons. But in 1778, American soldiers attacked his territory. This reduced the Cherokee resistance to smaller conflicts.

In 1780, Nancy continued to warn American Patriot soldiers about attacks. She even sent cattle to help feed hungry soldiers. Despite her efforts, American militias invaded Cherokee land again. They destroyed villages and demanded more land. Nancy and her family were captured, but they were later released.

In July 1781, Nancy Ward, as the Beloved Woman, helped negotiate a peace treaty. This treaty was between her people and the Americans. With the Cherokee threat reduced, American troops could join George Washington's army against the British.

Nancy Ward kept working for friendship between the Cherokee and the Americans. She helped negotiate the Treaty of Hopewell in 1785. Nancy strongly disagreed with selling Cherokee lands to white settlers. However, her objections were often ignored. The Cherokee were under great pressure from settlers moving into their lands. Some leaders felt that giving up land was the only way to protect their people. In 1808 and 1817, the Women's Council spoke out against selling more land to the United States.

In 1817, Nancy was too sick to attend a Cherokee council meeting. At this meeting, leaders discussed moving west of the Mississippi River. This move was suggested by Georgia and the U.S. government. Nancy sent a letter to the council. She wrote, "Don't part with any more of our lands. Continue on it and enlarge your farms. We, your mothers and sisters, will make clothing for you." She added, "It was our desire to forewarn you all not to part with our lands." Despite her strong words, the Cherokee gave up their lands north of the Hiwassee River in 1819. Nancy was forced to move south with other Cherokee.

A Skilled Diplomat

Nanyehi became an unofficial ambassador between the Cherokee and the British and Americans. She learned about diplomacy from her uncle, Chief Attakullakulla. In 1781, she met with an American group to discuss settlements in Tennessee. Nancy was surprised that there were no women negotiators among the Americans. The American leader, John Sevier, was equally surprised that the Cherokee had given such important work to a woman.

Nancy reportedly told him, "You know that women are always looked upon as nothing; but we are your mothers; you are our sons. Our cry is all for peace; let it continue. This peace must last forever. Let your women's sons be ours; our sons be yours. Let your women hear our words." An American observer said her speech was very moving.

The Role of Beloved Woman

Nancy Ward is sometimes mistakenly called the last woman to receive the title of Beloved Woman. However, the "Cherokee Beloved Woman of Sugartown" was recognized in 1774. In the 1980s, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians brought back the use of this title. They honored Maggie Axe Wachacha and several other women with this title.

Death and Legacy

Nancy Ward opened an inn in southeastern Tennessee. Her son cared for her in her final years. She passed away in 1822 or 1824. This was before the Cherokee were forced to leave their remaining lands in the late 1830s. She and her son are buried on a hill near the inn site, close to Benton, Tennessee.

• A chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Tennessee is named after her.
• In 1923, the Nancy Ward chapter placed a memorial marker at her grave sites in Benton.
• The Polk County Historical and Genealogical Society has a Nancy Ward Room in their library.
• Polk County, Tennessee is working to create a Nancy Ward Museum.

Nancy Ward is remembered as a key figure for the Cherokee people. She is also seen as an early leader for women in American politics. She bravely spoke up for women's voices during a difficult time for her tribe.

The Trail of Tears

In her later years, Nanyehi often had a vision. She saw "a great line of our people marching on foot. Mothers with babies in their arms. Fathers with small children on their back. Grandmothers and Grandfathers with large bundles on their backs. They were marching West and the 'Unaka' (White Soldiers) were behind them. They left a trail of corpses, the weak, the sick who could not survive the journey."

President Andrew Jackson supported the idea of Indian Removal. In 1830, Congress passed a law allowing this. The militia invaded Chota and destroyed the printing press used by the Cherokee for their newspaper.

Most Cherokee were forced to move to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. This difficult journey was called the Nunna-da-ult-sun-yi, or Trail of Tears. They traveled mostly on foot for about 800 miles, without enough clothing or supplies. More than 4,000 Cherokees died along the way.

Images for kids

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  Memorial to Nancy Ward, located near Benton, Tennessee.