Nancy Ward
| Nancy Ward | |
|---|---|
| Nanye'hi (Cherokee: ᎾᏅᏰᎯ: "One who goes about") | |
 |
|
| Beloved Woman of the Cherokee leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | ca. 1738 Chota, Monroe County, Tennessee |
| Died | 1822 Near Benton, Tennessee |
| Spouse(s) | "Tsu-la" or Kingfisher; Bryant Ward |
| Children | Catherine Ka-Ti Kingfisher, and Fivekiller and Betsy Ward |
| Parents | Mother, the sister of Attakullakulla |
Nanyehi (Cherokee: ᎾᏅᏰᎯ: "One who goes about"), known in English as Nancy Ward (ca. 1738–1822 or 1824) was a Beloved Woman of the Cherokee, which means that she was allowed to sit in councils and to make decisions, along with the chiefs and other Beloved Women. She believed in peaceful coexistence with the European-Americans and helped her people as peace negotiator and ambassador. She also introduced them to farming and dairy production bringing substantial changes to the Cherokee society.
Nanyehi was born around 1738 in the Cherokee capital, Chota (Cherokee: “City of Refuge”) in what today is known as Monroe County, Tennessee. Her mother, the sister of Attakullakulla was a member of the Wolf Clan. Though her mother is often referred to as "Tame Doe", the name is from a fictional story by E. Sterling King and has no other historical source. James Mooney writes "it is said her (Nancy's) father was a British officer named Ward". However, according to Nanyehi's descendant John Walker "Jack" Hildebrand, her father was a member of the Delaware tribe.
About 1751 she married the Cherokee "Tsu-la" or Kingfisher, who according to Emmett Starr was a member of the Deer Clan. Starr writes that in the Battle of Taliwa against the Creeks Nancy lay behind a log in order to chew his bullets so that the resulting jagged edges might create more damage. Kingfisher was killed, and Nancy picked up his rifle and continued the fight leading her people to victory.
Afterwards, at the age of 18 she was awarded with the title of “Ghigau”, making her a member of the tribal council of chiefs. She was also named the leader of the Women’s Council of Clan Representatives and took over the role of ambassador and negotiator for her people.
She remarried to Bryant Ward with whom she had a daughter, Betsy, who later became the wife of General Joseph Martin. Bryant Ward was already married to a woman of European descent who lived in South Carolina. He returned to live with his first wife, but maintained relations with Nanye'hi.
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