NANCY WARD
Nancy Ward was called upon to show the depth and strength of her character as a
young bride while assisting her husband during a battle against the Creeks. When
he was shot and killed, Nancy picked up his gun and continued the battle,
rallying the Cherokee to victory. The Cherokee paid homage to Nancy and made her
a Beloved Woman, a position reserved for brave and wise women who have served
the people well.
As a Beloved Woman, Nancy had full voice and full vote in all tribal councils,
held the power of life and death and, with the other Beloved Women of the
Council, was the final arbitrator of any and all disputes and decisions
affecting the Cherokee. Her first official act as a Beloved Woman was to save
the life of a white woman condemned to die.
Nancy was a devout believer in peaceful co-existence with the whites. She earned
the respect of both the white government and her own people by her successful
negotiations and mediations. She had been educated by Moravians who had been
allowed to settle in the area, and she served as interpreter when the need arose.
Nancy constantly traveled the territory diverting conflict between the European
settlers and her people, and was the driving force behind many peace agreements
- she was a true politician.
Nancy was instrumental in negotiating the very first treaty between the white
government and the Cherokee, known as the Treaty of Hopewell, and was present at
its signing. During the years, Nancy watched her work being destroyed as treaty
after treaty was broken, and she became increasingly suspicious of the white
government.
She began to speak out against the continuing sale of Cherokee lands to the
whites, but her fears were not taken seriously. At the time the Cherokee land
was forcibly seized, Nancy was able to escape the Trail of Tears by fleeing into
Tennessee. She settled there and, with the white trader she had married,
operated a successful inn until her death.
Nancy Ward is highly regarded by the Cherokee Nation, and many honors have been
bestowed in her name. A Tennessee chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution is even named for her.
Nancy Ward was called upon to show the depth and strength of her character as a
young bride while assisting her husband during a battle against the Creeks. When
he was shot and killed, Nancy picked up his gun and continued the battle,
rallying the Cherokee to victory. The Cherokee paid homage to Nancy and made her
a Beloved Woman, a position reserved for brave and wise women who have served
the people well.
As a Beloved Woman, Nancy had full voice and full vote in all tribal councils,
held the power of life and death and, with the other Beloved Women of the
Council, was the final arbitrator of any and all disputes and decisions
affecting the Cherokee. Her first official act as a Beloved Woman was to save
the life of a white woman condemned to die.
Nancy was a devout believer in peaceful co-existence with the whites. She earned
the respect of both the white government and her own people by her successful
negotiations and mediations. She had been educated by Moravians who had been
allowed to settle in the area, and she served as interpreter when the need arose.
Nancy constantly traveled the territory diverting conflict between the European
settlers and her people, and was the driving force behind many peace agreements
- she was a true politician.
Nancy was instrumental in negotiating the very first treaty between the white
government and the Cherokee, known as the Treaty of Hopewell, and was present at
its signing. During the years, Nancy watched her work being destroyed as treaty
after treaty was broken, and she became increasingly suspicious of the white
government.
She began to speak out against the continuing sale of Cherokee lands to the
whites, but her fears were not taken seriously. At the time the Cherokee land
was forcibly seized, Nancy was able to escape the Trail of Tears by fleeing into
Tennessee. She settled there and, with the white trader she had married,
operated a successful inn until her death.
Nancy Ward is highly regarded by the Cherokee Nation, and many honors have been
bestowed in her name. A Tennessee chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution is even named for her.