| Notes |
- Notes of Cora Mae Martin Shirley "The Roots of Yesterday" state thatDoublehead died Aug 9, 1807 at Hiwasse Station, Indian Nation, Whichlater became the state of Tennessee.
Original Wayne Co. included "Prices Station" in "Prices Meadow" nearTouristville, KY.-crossing on Cumberland river-Domain of CherokeeIndian Chief, CHUQALATAGUE, (Doublehead)
"Ancestors of Nancy Faye Gregory" quotes follows:
"Now, as for Chief Doublehead, I originally quoted the following fromthe "Jonathan Blevins" book which is partially inaccurate (concerninghis death).
Chief Chugqualatague, or Doublehead, was the last Cherokee Chief toexercise control over the upper Cumberland plateau and was alieutenant of Dragging Canoe. He was born near the present town ofSomerset, KY, and had two known children by his wife who was reportedto be of French-Indian extraction. These children were Cornblossomand Tuckaho.
I have found several good books on Cherokee history, some of whichgive a good account of the circumstances of Doublehead's death. Theyare "Cherokee Tragedy: The Ridge Family and the Decimation of aPeople", by Thurman Wilkins, 1986, Univ. of Oklahoma Press, "TheCherokees", by Grace Steele Woodward, 1963, Univ. of Oklahoma Press,and "Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Indian Nation",by John Ehle, 1988, Anchor Books (Doubleday). The first books givesthe most detailed account and quotes two primary sources in itsbibliography as follows:
1) The Deposition of Caleb Starr concerning the death of Doublehead,dated Aug. 11, 1838, in the National Archives, RG75, Office of IndianAffairs, Removal Records (Cherokee), First Board of CherokeeCommissioners files, Heirs of Doublehead for spoilations."
2) "Col. Phillips' testimony relating to the death ofDoublehead...Highwasee, Aug. 15, 1807", in National Archives, RG75,Records of the Cherokee Agency in Tennessee, M-208, Roll 3.....I willtry to summarize as best I can.
Chief Doublehead was a brother of Chief Old Tassel, as well as PumpkinBoy. After the signing of the Treaty of Hopewell in 1785, delegatesfrom Congress were trying to keep the peace between the Cherokees andsquatters on their lands. In June 178788, Old Tassel was killed by arenegade settler by the name of Kirk while under a flag of truce andwar became unavoidable. Old Tassel's death united the Cherokees underLittle Turkey, including the Chickamaugas under Dragging Canoe, whosplit from the other Cherokee tribes some time earlier. In May 1792,John Watts succeeded Dragging Canoe as War Chief with Doublehead ashis second in command. In Sep 1893, Watts and Doublehead led acampaign against the white settlers.
A great atrocity was perpetrated on this campaign. Doublehead, hisbrother Pumpkin Boy, and their nephew Bench (Bob Benge) ambushed Capt.Overall, a known Indian fighter, and a companion named Burnett nearDripping Spring in KY. After they killed and scalped the two men, theIndians drank their whiskey, cut strips off the dead men, then roastedand devoured their flesh. At some time, Pumpkin Boy was killed onthis campaign. John Sevier launched a campaign against the Cherokeetowns and after a battle at Etowah, forced the Cherokees to sue forpeace. Although another Treaty was signed in 1794, Brigadier GeneralJames Robertson had to tell Major James Ore to lead another campaignagainst the Chickamaugas before peace was restored.
In 1796, Chief Doublehead had become the Speaker for the CherokeeNation and became the chief spokesman for all negotiations with theFederal government. There were 3 cessions made of Cherokee lands in1798 and it was common knowledge that Doublehehead had prospered as aresult. By 1804, he had become a prosperous land owner with about twodozen slaves. The Secretary of War, Dearborn, in fact, had giveninstructions that all agents were to deal specifically with Doubleheadon the assumptioion he could be bribed. In 1805, Dearborn had Col.Return Jonathan Meigs acquire several valuable tracts of land with thepromise that two tracts at the mouth of the Clinch and Hiwasee Riversbe exclusively for Doublehead's use. To add fuel to the fire,Doublehead had also leased several tracts at Muscle Choals to whitefarmers from a treaty he signed in Dec. 1806.
By this time, a Cherokee faction led by James Vann, Major Ridge, andAlexander Saunders decided Doublehead should die for his crimes. Vannhad a family score to settle. Doublehead had married a sister toVann's wife and had treated her brutally, beating her to death whileshe was pregnan
Therefore, the three men decided to execute the traitor in Aug. 1807,when the Cherokees collected the annual annuity from the Federalagent. However, on the way, Vann fell ill and could not continue.
On Aug. 9, 1807, Ridge and Saunders arrived at McIntosh's Tavern onthe Hiwassee and waited for an opportunity. Doublehead had beenplaying ball 3 miles away where he had killed a man calledBone-Polisher who had become abusive. Therefore, he didn't arriveuntil after dark, half drunk. Suddenly, Ridge blew out the candle inthe Tavern and fired a shot at Doublehead which shattered his jaw.Having thought they killed him, they slipped out into the dark.
However, they soon learned the tavernkeeper had moved the woundedChief to his house and then again to the loft of a Mr. Black, whotaught in Gideon Blackburn's school. By then, two men from BonePolisher's clan had joined them and together they rushed the roomwhere Doublehead lay. As they approached, the wounded chief sprangup, drew a dirk, and tried to draw a pistol but was caught up in thesheet around him. Both Ridge and Saunders leveled their guns at himbut misfired. Doublehead then grappled with Ridge but Saunders drovehis tomahawk into Doublehead's skull so hard that it took two handsand a foot to pry it loose. After the killing, most of the Cherokeesfelt it was justified and his relatives were not forced by clanresponsibility to exact revenge. This led to the abolition of clanrevenge at the Council of Broomstown on Sept. 11, 1808. However,James Vann was killed in 1809 possibly for his part in the execution."
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1740 - 1807
Siblings
