NANYE-HI
She grew up to be known as Nancy Ward, but when she was born in 1738, as a member of the Wolf Clan, her Mother, Tame Doe, a pure-blooded Cherokee Indian, named her Nanye-hi. The proud mother was sister to the Cherokee Chief Attakullakulla.
The man who bore that name meaning “Little Carpenter” was widely admired as one of the wisest men of the nation and also a staunch friend of the English. Nanye-hi seems to have lived in he shadow of her powerful uncle and she came to favor the English over the French and the Indian tribes they came to control.
Nanye-hi married a young warrior name Kingfisher and, as was a custom of the tribe chose to accompany him on his campaigns in an extended decade-long war against the Creeks.
The series of campaigns culminated in the battle of Tawila in 1755. Kingfisher was killed in that battle, and when those about him saw him falls they mde ready to retreat. Nanye-hi rose up from behind a log where she had been concealed re-loading her husband's weapons, some insist, and she rallied the men around her so that they held fast and attacked with renewed fervor. The enemy was so confused by her sudden, active participation they gave way and she thus helped to bring about the Cherokee victory at that critical battle of the long war. Tribal leaders, in appreciation and acknowledgement of her bravery, bestowed upon her the title of "Ghigua" which designated her as “a Beloved Woman of the Cherokees.” That gave her a place on the Council of Women and a vote on the Council of Chefs. The Council of Women also had total responsibility for the treatment of all prisoners and could do with them as they liked, torture them, kill them, make them servants or, if they wish, adopt them into their own families.
Nanye-hi married a second time, and, as was acceptable among the Cherokees, she became the wife of a white trader from Ireland by way of South Carolina. He had taken up residence among the friendly tribe. Nanye-hi became Nancy Ward. Nancy had her second child, having one boy by Kingfisher known as Fivekiller. Nancy Wade named her second child - a girl - Catherine.
She took a strong position on the Council of Women and became widely respected as a worker for Peace. She participated in several treaty conferences and worked tirelessly attempting to bring about new undestanding between the Cherokees and white settlers. On at least two occcasions she sent warnings to whites that their settlements were to be raided by dissident troublemakers. She felt such surpise attacks might destroy what good relationships existed between the Cherokee people and the whites Nancy Ward was to face disappointment in much of her later lfie...both personal and with the affairs of her nation. She witnessed broken treaties and probably foresaw something akin to the Trail of Tears disaster which was to be inflicted on her people after her death. She saw her home village of Chota burned and she had to move further down to Ocoee River. She died in l822 and was buried near Benton, Tennessee.
To the last she continued to work to bring about peace. She remained true to her famed Uncle's ideals. One example of personal tragedy:. Her husband, Bryant had not told her he had a wife and daughter in Ireland, and when they turned up without warning Nancy's life changed abruptly. She divorced Bryant Wade by Cherokee law. To divorce a husband all a Cherokee wife had to do was to gather his belongings and place them outside their dwelling. She did so promptly. And yet, typical of her peaceful way, it is said she and the earlier Mrs. Wade remained friends and actually visited each other in the years that followed.
A fine example of peacefullness with principles held intact.
Nancy Ward. "Beloved woman.”
A.L.M. December 3, 2002 [c662wd]
