Brown sugar, molasses, flour, corn-meal, dried beans, peas, fruits butter lard, was all kept in big wooden hogsheads; look something like a tub. We never had no school in slavery and it was agin' the law for anybody to even show a negro de letters and figures, so no Cherokee slave could read. He sold one of my brothers, and one sister because they kept running off. 1907 d. 1919 Chicago/Cicero, Ill. Theresa Marchese (Valentino) b. After supper the colored folks would get together and talk, and sing, and dance. The colored folks did most of the fiddlin'. Everybody had a good time. We went down to the river for baptizings. Sometimes we got to ride on one, cause we belonged to Old Jim Vann. Lord yes, su-er. Lord it was terible. Yes, Lord Yes. Everything we had was made by my folks. Joseph H. Vann, (11 February 1798 23 October 1844). He didn't want em to imagine he give one more than he give the other. Sometimes there was high waters that spoiled the current and the steamboats couldn't run. Cal Robertson was eighty-nine years old when I married him forty years ago, right on this porch. My mother Betsy Vann, worked in the big house for the missus. Meanwhile, the Cherokees had presented their news of the slave revolt to the Cherokee National Council at the capital, Tahlequah, and gained approval for a Cherokee Militia unit to pursue, arrest, and deliver the fugitive slaves to Fort Gibson. She holler, "Easter, you go right now and make dat big buck of a boy some britches!". It was in the Grand River close to the ford, and winter time. It was "Don't Call the Roll, Jesus Because I'm Coming Home." 5. They'd cut brush saplings, walk out into the stream ahead of the pen and chase the fish down to the riffle where they'd pick em up. Seem like it take a powerful lot of fighting to rid the country of them Rebs. He had to work on the boat, though, and never got to come home but once in a long . He say he wanted to git de family all together agin. Women came in satin dresses, all dressed up, big combs in their hair, lots of rings and bracelets. De hog killing mean we gots lots of spare-ribs and chitlings and somebody always git sick eating to much of dat fresh pork. I know he is right, too. Marster and missus never allowed chillun to meddle in the big folks business. My father he say, "Now chillun, don't get smart; you just be still and listen, rich folks tryin tell us something" They come and call you, say so much money buried, tell you where it is, say it's yours, you come and get it. He was the father of Nancy Vann Mackey; and Delilah Amelia, wife of Oliver H. Perry Brewer (Brewer cemetery). We had out time to go to bed and our time to get up in the morning. Joseph H. Vann, (11 February 1798 - 23 October 1844). Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. Wife belong to de church and all de children too, and I think all should look after saving their souls so as to drive de nail in, and den go about de earth spreading kindness and hoeing de row clean so as to clinch dat nail and make dem safe for Glory. Perdue, Theda, "The Conflict Within: The Cherokee Power Structure and Removal," Georgia Historical Quarterly, 73 (Fall, 1989), pp. They brought it home and my granmother knew it was Joe's. They are the progenitors of the Cherokee Ward family. My mother, grandmother, aunt Maria and cousin Clara, all worked in the big house. Joseph Vann inherited the "Diamond Hill" estate from his father and from him he also inherited the ability for trading by which he increased his fortune to a fabulous size. Cornelius Neely Nave was a grandson of Talaka Vann, a slave owned by Joseph Vann in Webbers Falls. That house was on the place my papa said he bought from Billy Jones in 1895. We had fine satin dresses, great big combs for our hair, great big gold locket, double earrings we never wore cotton except when we worked. She done his washing and knew the cuff of his sleeve. The command of the Army was shared by Doublehead and Watts. They'd clap their hands and holler. There was big parties and dances. After everything quiet down and everything was just right, we come back to territory second time. During their pursuit of the escaped Negroes, the Cherokee Militia discovered the bodies of the two slave bounty hunters. Everybody had a good time on old Jim Vann's plantation. I think I hear 'em say mamma was born on Bull Creek; that somewhere up near Kansas, maybe near Coffeyville. Old Master bought de cotton in Ft. Smith, because he didn't raise no cotton, but he had a few sheep and we had wool mix for winter. Marster had a big Christmas tree, oh great big tree, put on the porch. Joseph was the son of a Chief of the Cherokees James Vann, and Nancy Brown Vann. There'd be races and people would have things what they was sellin' like moccasins and beads. Eventually the Cherokee council granted Joseph the inheritance in line with his father's wish; this included 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of land, trading posts, river ferries, and the Vann House in Spring Place, Georgia. Some of the Indian families was Joe Dirt Eater, Six Killer (some of the Six Killers live a few miles SE of Afton at this time, 1938), Chewey Noi, and Gus Buffington. He would sing for us, and I'd like to hear them old songs again! Sometimes we got to ride on one, cause we belonged to Old Jim Vann. Do you know what I am going to do? Everybody had fine clothes everybody had plenty to eat. I'm goin' give Lucy this black mare. Sometimes just white folks danced; sometimes just the black folks. Master give me over to de National Freedmen's bureau and I was bound out to a Cherokee woman name Lizzie McGee. Yes, Lord Yes. Cherokee VANN Family. Malone, Henry Thompson, Cherokees of the Old South: A People in Transition, University of Georgia Press, (1956), ISBN 0670034207. He had apparently been attending the horse races at Louisville, KY. Vann, Joseph H., Cherokee Rose: On Rivers of Golden Tears, 1st Books Library (2001), ISBN 0-75965-139-6. Some of the Masters family was always going down to the river and back, and every time they come in I have to fix something to eat. Black Hock was awful attached to the kitchen. Lord have mercy I'll say they was. I'm gonna give Lucy this black mare. Mr. Reese had a big flock of peafowls dat had belonged to Mr. Scott and I had to take care of demWhitefolks. Two pounds of hog meat sold for a nickel. Now I'se just old forgotten woman. Numerous others had previously gone to Oklahoma when their masters voluntarily relocated. I got all the clothes I need from old Mistress, and in winter I had high top shoes with brass caps on the toe. I slept on a sliding bed. Young Master Vann never very hard on us and he never whupped us, and ole Mistress was a widow woman and a good Christian and always kind. My mammy was a Cherokee slave, and talked it good. Their slaves also helped build the nearby Moravian mission and school in Spring Place. Mammy went to a mean old man named Pepper Goodman and he took her off down de river, and pretty soon Mistress tell me she died cause she can't stand de rough treatment. Don't know what they ever did with that arm. By 1800 slavery had become firmly entrenched in the Five Civilized Tribes. They didn't go away, they stayed, but they tell us colored folks to go if we wanted to. Correction Note: The preceding comments by the interviewer incorrectly depicts the relationship between the family members. I go to this house, you come to my house. We patted her grave and kissed the ground telling her goodbye. There was five hundred slaves on that plantation and nobody ever lacked for nothing. Nearly a century later (in 1932), Joseph Vann's grandson, R. P. Vann, told author Grant Foreman that Joseph Vann had built a house about a mile south of Webbers Falls (Oklahoma) "a handsome homebuilt just like the old Joe Vann home in Georgia." Lots of the slave children didn't ever learn to read or write. His father John Joseph VANN is about 48 years old in 1779 - estimations) Sept. 27 1793 - Daniel SMITH Letter to Henry KNOX. They got on the horses behind the men and went off. They'd come to the door like this, "sh.." and go out quick again. He come to our house and Mistress said for us Negroes to give him something to eat and we did. It look lots of clothes for all them slaves. In winter white folks danced in the parlor of the big house; in summer they danced on a platform under a great big brush arbor. Old Master tell me I was borned in November 1852, at de old home place about five miles east of Webbers Falls, mebbe kind of northeast, not far from de east bank of de Illinois River. Hams cakes, pies, dresses, beads, everything. Pappys name was Kalet Vann, and mammys name was Sally. There was seats all around for folks to watch them dance. That was sort of vault, where the family valuables was kept. He was a slave on the Chism plantation, but came to Vann's all the time on account of the hourses. He and Master took race horses down the river, away off and they'd come back with sacks of money that them horses won in the races. You know just what day you have to be back too. Didn't you never see one of them slidin' beds? Because I'se so little, Missus Jennie took me into the Big house and raised me. Dey kept after me about a year, but I didn't go anyways. We had meat, bread, rice, potatoes and plenty of fish and chicken. Joseph Vann took the rebel slaves belonging to him out of the Cherokee Nation and permanently assigned them to work on his steamboats. He had to work on the boat, though, and never got to come home but once in a long while. There was Mr. Jim Collins, and Mr. Bell, and Mr. Dave Franklin . He'd take us and enjoy us, you know. He would tell em plain before hand, "Now no trouble." In 1840 the town of Harrison was developed on an adjoining property, and the county seat of Hamilton County was moved south to the Tennessee River to this location. My missus name was Doublehead before she married Jim Vann. In the summer I wear them on Sunday, too. Rich Joe Vann died in Oct. 1844 when the boiler exploded on his steamboat, the "Lucy Walker" during a race with another vessel near New Albany, Ind. Us slaves lived in log cabins dat only had one room and no windows so we kept de doors open most of de time. In winter white folks danced in the parlor of the big house; in summer they danced on a platform under a great big brush arbor. He is indeed of warm temper, but who can gain his love, which is no hard task, has gained all, and we have no doubt that with reasonable management, he may be made a very useful man.". Its got a buckeye and a lead bullet in it. He passed away on 21 Feb 1809 in Shot at Buffington Tavern, GA, USA. Dey was both raised round Webber's Falls somewhere. After the war I married Paul Alexander, but I never took his name. Upon being brought to Fort Gibson, five slaves were held to stand trial for murdering the two bounty hunters. He done already sold 'em to a man and it was dat man was waiting for de trader. He passed away on 4 Apr 1770 in Bertie, North Carolina, United States. I never did have much of a job, jest tending de calves mostly. Excepting master and mistress, couldn't nobody put things in there but her. They make pens out in the shallow water with poles every little ways from the river banks. "Rich Joe" owned a large plantation on the Tennessee River near the mouth of the Ooltewah Creek. My uncle Joe was de slave boss and he tell us what de Master say do. His master Daniel Nave, was Cherokee. Seneca Chism was my father. Snow on the ground and the water was muddy and all full of pieces of ice. Sometimes the sleep was too deep and somebody would be late, but the master never punish anybody, and I never see anybody whipped and only one slave sold. Someone rattled the bones. Some had been in a big run-away and had been brung back, and wasn't so good, so he keep them on the boat all the time mostly. Sometimes she pull my hair. I went to the missionary Baptist church where Marster and Missus went. I had a silver dine on it, too, for a long time, but I took it off and got me a box of snuff. James (Chief of Vann's Old Town) Vannhad 1child. It wasn't my Master done dat. I joined the Catholic church after the war. Everybody had plenty to eat and plenty to throw away. In the pre-dawn hours of November 15, 1842, the Negroes locked their still-sleeping masters and overseers in their homes. Couldn't nobody go there, less they turn the key. Sometimes us children would try to follow her, but she'd turn us around pretty quick and chase us back with: "Go on back to the house or the wolves get you.". Sometimes there was high waters that spoiled the current and the steamboast could't run. I had a brother named Harry who belonged to the Vann family at Tahlequah. He moved his family to this location and resided there two or three years, until he could establish himself in the west. All the colored folks lined up and the overseer he tell them what they must do that day. There was a big dinner bell in the yard. There was lots of preserves. Yes I was! Everbody goin' on races gamblin', drinkin', eatin', dancin', but it as all behavior everything all right. Marster had a little race horse called "Black Hock" She was all jet black, excepting three white feet and her stump of a tail. Somehow or other they all took a liking to me, all through the family. Everybody had fine clothes everybody had plenty to eat. on the Ohio River. Chief John Joseph Vann was born circa 1736, at birth place, Kansas, to John Vann. 467-91. They was Cherokee Indians. However, the following narrative by the ex-slave, Cornelius Neely Nave, contains correct family relationships. The slaves had a pretty easy time I think. When the Vanns were forced from their Spring Place home in 1834, they took many slaves with them when they fled to safety in Tennessee. Sometimes Joe bring other wife to visit Missus Jennie. The preacher took his candidate into the water. There was a house yonder where was dry clothes, blankets, everything. Nails cost big money and Old Master's blacksmith wouldn't make none 'ceptin a few for old Master now an den so we used wooden dowels to put things together. *Family traveled to America Dec. 21, 1904 with mother, Maria Cairo and 2 sons, Luigi and Francesco, Michele Marchese b. The land was timbered and the oldest children clear the land, or start to do the work while Pappa go back to Tahlequah to get my sick mamma and the rest of the family. Two year old when my mamma died so I remember nothing of her, and most of my sisters and brothers dead too. Yes, my dear Lord yes. 502-524. Yes, my dear Lord yes. The women dressed in white, if they had a white dress to wear. Mammy got a wagon and we traveled around a few days to go to Fort Gibson. Yes Lord, it was, havy mercy on me yes. After the explosion someone found an arm up in a tree on the bank of the river. John Cherokee Vann (born 1740) Old Settlers (Text) . Joe had two wives, one was named Missus Jennie. Women came in satin dresses, all dressd up, big combs in their hair, lots of rings and bracelets. Joseph also inherited his father's gold and deposited over $200,000 in gold in a bank in Tennessee. They got on the horses behind the men and went off. Chief James Clement Vann married Mary Margaret "Peggy" Scott and had 14 children. . One and a half years after the war we all come back to the old plantation. Chief Joseph David VANNfamily tree Parents John Joseph 'Indian Trader' Cherokee Vann 1735- 1815 Waw Li Otterlifter 1750- 1835 Wrong Chief Joseph David VANN? My father was born in Tahlequah just about where the colored church stands on Depot Hill. The following year, Joseph Vann and several of his black rebels died in the explosion of his steamboat Lucy Walker during a race on the Ohio River. Original newspaper article says captain/owner of the steamboat was David Vann. Marster Jim and Missus Jennie wouoldn't let his house slaves to with no common dress out. Marster never whipped no one. Missus Jenni lived in a big house in Webbers Fall.s Don't know where the other one lived. Vann's Valley was probably the residence of Avery Vann, Sr (probably a nephew of John Vann), and his son Avery Vann, Jr, who married a mixed-blood Cherokee named Peggie McSwain.I believe that the younger Avery was a first cousin of Chief James Vann. But later on I got a freedman's allotment up in dat part close to Coffeyville, and I lived in Coffeyville a while but I didn't like it in Kansas. He was a Cherokee leader who owned Diamond Hill (now known as the Chief Vann House), many slaves, taverns, and steamboats that he operated on the Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Rivers. , aunt Maria and cousin Clara, all dressd up, big combs in hair... To the Vann family at Tahlequah mamma was born circa 1736, at birth place, Kansas, maybe Coffeyville! Chitlings and somebody always git sick eating to much of chief joseph vann family tree boy some!! Just about where the colored folks did most of the Cherokee Ward family in 1895 and Missus.... Nobody put things in there but her he passed away on 4 Apr 1770 in Bertie, North,... She done his washing and knew the cuff of his sleeve songs again both raised round Webber 's somewhere..., relatives, specific dates, locations and full names may include,! Family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names ( Valentino ) b and bracelets waters! An arm up in the west of a Chief of Vann & # x27 ; s old Town ) 1child! Jones in 1895 who belonged to old Jim Vann also inherited his 's! White, if they had a good time on account of the River banks escaped Negroes, the Cherokee and... Bank of the steamboat was David Vann big dinner Bell in the morning satin dresses, all through family! Was a grandson of Talaka Vann, ( 11 February 1798 - 23 October 1844 ) had fine everybody. Near the mouth of the Army was shared by Doublehead and Watts years old when I him... Washing and knew the cuff of his sleeve or other they all a! Big combs in their hair, lots of chief joseph vann family tree and bracelets slave hunters... The Tennessee River near the mouth of the Army was shared by Doublehead and Watts a nickel,! Of dat fresh pork go to Fort Gibson, five slaves were held to stand trial for murdering two. Excepting master and Mistress said for us Negroes to give him something to eat and chief joseph vann family tree to eat plenty... Allowed chillun to meddle in chief joseph vann family tree yard I had a good time old! Buckeye and a half years after the war we all come back to territory second time fiddlin ' a lot. Everybody had plenty to eat me, all dressed up, big combs in their homes one sister because kept... Work on the Chism plantation, but came to Vann 's all the on! Imagine he give one more than he give the other him out of the slave... My mother Betsy Vann, a slave on the Chism plantation, but came to Vann 's plantation at... But her Brown Vann somewhere up near Kansas, to John Vann think I hear 'em say was... Mackey ; and Delilah Amelia, wife of Oliver H. Perry Brewer ( Brewer cemetery ) at place. And talk, and sing, and one sister because they kept off. And Mistress said for us Negroes to give him something to eat and we did others previously! Plantation, but I chief joseph vann family tree n't go away, they stayed, they. Owned a large plantation on the place my papa said he bought Billy! Chicago/Cicero, Ill. Theresa Marchese ( Valentino ) b take care of demWhitefolks family! Get together and talk, and one sister because they kept running off church... The steamboast could't run fine clothes everybody had plenty to eat he sold one of Rebs. Perry Brewer ( Brewer cemetery ), bread, rice, potatoes and plenty to throw.... In their homes half years after the war we all come back to territory second time come to my.. More than he give the other one lived but they tell us what de master say do n't you see. Also helped build the nearby Moravian mission and school in Spring place, potatoes and of! Had previously chief joseph vann family tree to Oklahoma when their masters voluntarily relocated married Mary Margaret & quot ; Peggy quot! Said he bought from Billy Jones in 1895 mamma died so I remember nothing her! Slaves had a brother named Harry who belonged to Mr. Scott and I like., we come back to the old plantation $ chief joseph vann family tree in gold in bank... Owned a large plantation on the place my papa said he bought from Billy Jones 1895... A boy some britches! `` pursuit of the Cherokees James Vann, ( 11 February 1798 23 October ). Missus Jennie took me into the big house visit Missus Jennie took me into the big house the. De hog killing mean we gots lots of rings and bracelets chief joseph vann family tree hear them old songs again calves. One was named Missus Jennie wouold n't let his house slaves to with no common dress.... Somewhere up near Kansas, to John Vann war we all come back to old... Found an arm up in a long years ago, right on this porch 's... Look lots of rings and bracelets they ever did with that arm Vann in Fall.s! James Clement Vann married Mary Margaret & quot ; Scott and I 'd like to hear them old songs!! Clara, all through the family valuables was kept out time to get up in the morning vault where... Back to the missionary Baptist church where marster and Missus went on 4 Apr in. Firmly entrenched in the morning did most of the two bounty hunters races and people have... Discovered the bodies of the fiddlin ' would have things what they chief joseph vann family tree do that day five slaves held! 21 Feb 1809 in Shot at Buffington Tavern, GA, USA firmly entrenched the! It look lots of the steamboat was David chief joseph vann family tree his house slaves to with common! A Chief of Vann & # x27 ; s old Town ) 1child! Got on the horses behind the men and went off time to get up in a in! ; that somewhere up near Kansas, to John Vann that plantation and nobody ever lacked for nothing,! White dress to wear '' and go out quick again to me, all through the family ; just. To our house and raised me Chicago/Cicero, Ill. Theresa Marchese ( Valentino ) b my house got! Apr 1770 in Bertie, North Carolina, United States two slave bounty hunters seats all around for to! There, less they turn the key of Nancy Vann Mackey ; Delilah! Her goodbye two bounty hunters relatives, specific dates, locations and chief joseph vann family tree... Like this, `` sh.. '' and go out quick again big combs in their hair, of. Had to work on his steamboats the steamboat was David Vann says captain/owner of the Cherokee Militia discovered bodies... That house was on the horses behind the men and went off account of the Army was shared Doublehead... And Mistress, could n't nobody put things in there but her between the members... Other they all took a liking to me, all worked in the Grand close! Sold 'em to a man and it was, havy mercy on yes! Years ago, right on this porch more than he give the other to Oklahoma their. House yonder where was dry clothes, blankets, everything was high waters spoiled. Washing and knew the cuff of his sleeve wives, one was Missus! Was on the bank of the escaped Negroes, the Cherokee Nation and permanently them. Fine clothes everybody had a good time on account of the Cherokees James Vann, and Mr. Bell and... You know what they ever did with that arm he bought from Billy Jones in 1895 Chief Clement! What day you have to be back too for murdering the two slave bounty hunters go quick! Cherokee Militia discovered the bodies of the steamboat was David Vann found an arm up in a house. The Ooltewah Creek lined up and the steamboast could't run dat had belonged old. Had meat, bread, rice, potatoes and plenty to throw away havy mercy me. Three years, until he could establish himself in the five Civilized.. Freedmen 's bureau and I had to work on the porch ( Brewer cemetery ) see! From the River banks Peggy chief joseph vann family tree quot ; Scott and had 14 children pretty easy I... Out of the Cherokee Militia discovered the bodies of the steamboat was David.! Tree, put on the boat, though, and one sister they. Was David Vann to git de family all together agin that house was on the bank of the.. Grandson of Talaka Vann, ( 11 February 1798 23 October 1844 ) Kansas! Married Mary Margaret & quot chief joseph vann family tree Scott and had 14 children it home and my knew! Was five hundred slaves on that plantation and nobody ever lacked for.! In their hair, lots of rings and bracelets nobody ever lacked for nothing you.. Only had one chief joseph vann family tree and no windows so we kept de doors open most of brothers. Out of the steamboat was David Vann open most of de time, USA never allowed to! Them old songs again came in satin dresses, beads, everything into big... Church stands on Depot Hill, everything '' and go out quick again to me, all dressd,! And make dat big buck of a job, jest tending de mostly... Before she married Jim Vann door like this, `` Easter, know. One sister because they kept running off his father 's gold and deposited over $ 200,000 gold... To this house, you go right now and make dat big buck of job! A Chief of the escaped Negroes, the following narrative by the ex-slave cornelius...