Cherokee Tribe

  Nance Ward

Nothing is known of Nancy's childhood, but as a young woman she married the kingfisher, a brave warrior. By him she had two children; Catherine and Five killer. The creek Indians began a war against the Cherokees in 1755, which ended in a great battle at Taliwa, near the present Canton, (Cherokee county) Georgia, in that year. Oconcstota, with five hundred Cherokees, defeated a much larger number of creeks. During the battle, the Kingfisher was killed. Nancy who had accompanied him as was the custom at the time, seized his rifle and fought in his place. Her act around unbounded admiration among the Cherokees. A short time later, a vacancy occurred in the office of beloved woman, who was head of the woman's council of the Cherokees, Nancy Ward was selected. The title was agi-ga-u-e, which means "very much beloved woman." It was an extremely important position. She had the power of life or death over war prisoners, her word was more powerful than that of the chiefs and was considered the voice of the great spirit speaking through her. She even had power to institute proceedings for removal of a chief should she consider his actions unworthy. The Cherokee paid extraordinary respect to woman-hood.
[Her grave is in Polk County, TN - submitted by Pam Rathbone]
 


Back to the TRIBE Index



Background courtesy of http://www.firstpeople.us/

©2008 K. Torp
Genealogy Trails