As we continue with David Gage in Turkey’s Town, we see that he is involved with Tarpley W. Nall. Tarpley W. Nall was trying to buy a part of Nelly’s farm. This farm is on the East side of the Coosa River. Modern-day Alford’s Bend. Review the previous documents. All of this property was Chief Pathkiller’s until he and his wife, Peggy, separated (divorced). Peggy has gifted the improvements to her daughter, Nelly. Nelly has gifted them to her daughter Anna. Dragging Canoe (deceased), Chief Pathkiller, and Peggy’s son’s family are claiming it along with David Gage. Confusing? Sky-a-too-ka, the son of Dragging Canoe, has enlisted David Gage on their part. Tarpley Nall decided not to buy after speaking with some Cherokee. He also said Sky-a-too-ka said he is not the owner. Tarpley W. Nall is a white man not married.

Quata, Peggy and Chief Pathkiller’s daughter sided with Anna on who owned the improvements.

Quata is married to George Campbell. George is a white man. They are listed in Peggy Pathkiller’s will. Anna is married to Frances Hampton.

Money Hunter is a nearby neighbor.

David Gage and William Lasley

David Gage is involved with William Lasley. William is the son of James and Elizabeth Lasley. Elizabeth is Elizabeth Wicket, a Cherokee woman. James and Elizabeth separated in 1822 when Elizabeth wanted Big Cabin as a husband. You can review this in the section on James Lasley. The following document is where William Lasley is try to buy an improvement next to his father. The location of this is about four miles north of modern-day Turkeytown Creek. It would be on Spring Avenue. This is near modern-day Croft Ferry. Croft Ferry is James Lasley’s Ferry.

David Gage, Pathkiller’s Original Ferry

David Gage assisted James Kay in acquiring Chief Pathkiller’s original ferry. When Chief Pathkiller and Peggy separated Chief Pathkiller moved north and “took” a new wife. He started the improvements that would become Pathkiller’s Ferry, modern-day Garrett’s Ferry, Centre, Alabama. Peggy was left with the original ferry and improvements. This was one-and-a-half miles south of Turkeytown Creek. This is modern-day Fitts Ferry. This separates Alford’s Bend on the east side from White’s Chapel/Gaston School area on the west side.

John Ratliff filed a Claim for this ferry on January 16, 1837 (he was one of four owners). He filed it before Josiah Harper, Acting Justice of the Peace for Cherokee County, Alabama. He stated that the Ferry was 1½ miles below Turkeytown and was then in the possession of James Kay. He said that a white man named Hays took the ferry from him. This happened shortly after the laws of Alabama were extended over the Cherokee lands in January 1832.⁷

The Original Patentee for the ferry’s location was James Kay. He homesteaded the west side of the ferry.¹¹

Conclusion

David Gage, a notable person of Turkey’s Town. He and his family moved west during the Trail of Tears. They moved on their own. They are not listed on a detachment roll for the Trail of Tears. They settled in Texas.

He was elected the first Constable of Turkey Town, Alabama.

Also confirmed in these documents is that Turkey’s Town is in modern-day Etowah County. All of the documents state, “five miles below Lasley”. Alford’s Bend and Croft Ferry are in Etowah County, modern-day.

1. NARA, Record Group 75, Entry 236, Miscellaneous Claims Papers, 1836-1839, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Image 449, National Archives Building, Washington, DC ↩︎
2. Ditto, Image 580 ↩︎
3. Ditto, Image 582 ↩︎
4. Ditto, Image 590 ↩︎
5. Ditto, Image 439 ↩︎
6. Ditto, Image 443 ↩︎
7. John Ratliff’s Spoliation Claim for a Ferry and Improvement. Folder of John Ratliff; Miscellaneous Claims Papers, 1836-1839, of the First Board of Cherokee Commissioners, Entry 236; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington DC.  ↩︎
8. St. Clair (AL) County Court Minutes (1828-1834), March-August, 1833 page 172 ↩︎
9. Ditto, page 226 ↩︎
10. Ditto, page 227 ↩︎
11. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Eastern States Office, Springfield, VA. Pre-emption Certificate #6,885 for James Kay of Cherokee County Alabama issued June 1, 1845 for fraction “A” of fractional Section 20 in Township 11 of Range 7 East. Pre-emption Certificate #8,419 for James Kay of Cherokee County Alabama was issued April 10, 1847 for the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 20 in Township 11 of Range 7 East. Both in the District of Lands subject to Sale at Lebanon Alabama. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/ ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV