In what we can consider the first chapter. It is called “Uncovering the History of Turkeytown.” We learn where the original town was located. We also learn when it was established. Established between the dates of 1782-1788. It is located from modern-day Fitts Ferry on the Coosa River, Etowah County, Alabama. It stretches to Turkeytown Creek a mile and a half North of this ferry. Chief Little Turkey settled on modern-day Coats’ Bend Road at Turkeytown Creek. Chief Pathkiller settled at Fitts Ferry living on the Eastside in modern-day Alford’s Bend. Their helper Boot lived on the Old US 411 at Turkeytown Creek. Now a new chapter.

Chapter II, “the great beloved man of the whole nation“

He is  known as “the great beloved man of the whole nation.” The Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation were referred to as “King” or “Principal Chief” by the Europeans. The Cherokee People called their Chief the “Beloved Man of the whole nation.” Four men from Turkey’s Town will be the Principal Chief (Beloved Man of the whole Nation). Each one will be a post or more than one. The content on some is more than others. First is Chief Little Turkey.

There is very little information about Chief Little Turkey before he becomes the leader of the Cherokee Nation.  His birth year of about 1732 is estimated from his death notification, March 1, 1802.

“March (on the first of the month) Little Turkey the King or principal Chief of the Cherokee died at Wills town appears to be about 70 years of Age.”

We learn from the “Journal of the Grand Cherokee National Council” in Estanaula, Tuesday, 26^th June 1792. The location where Little Turkey is from and possibly where he grew up. Seneca (Seneca, South Carolinia). Little Turkey is reported as present and has the title of “great beloved man of the whole nation.” On Thursday that week, Little Nephew, a warrior from Running Water, presents his “talk” before the Council.

Little Nephew then delivered the sentiments of the whole, in the following words: The warriors of my nation went ambassadors to Congress. They have returned: but every thing is not to our satisfaction. The warriors from this part of the nation said but little. Eskaqua, from the other river, took the business off their hands. I came from the Running Water to Hiwassee, and from that to the Hanging Maw’s. I mentioned to the nation that I have sent five beloved fires, of five towns, and their talks. At that time, I put on my belt and tied up my things, to start from here to Seneca. I desired them to think of that place, the Little Turkey’s old Town, and the coals of fire which are yet to be seen there; and that I expected an answer to my talk, but have got none. I desired Nontuaka to mention that the white people were on our land, and that I hoped they would be removed, and give our young fellows more room to hunt. . .   ¹           

Little Nephew states that Little Turkey’s old village is Seneca. Seneca (Sinica, Sennekaw, Esseneca), this town was one of the original lower towns of the Cherokee nation. (Not to be confused with the “Five Lower Towns” on the Tennessee River.) Seneca is on the Keowee River a few miles north of the Tugalo River junction. Seneca is where the Hopewell Treaty of 1785 was signed. Hopewell is the plantation home of General Andrew Pickens. The present-day location is Clemson University and Lake Hartwell, Seneca, and Clemson, South Carolina. There was an American Revolution battle there at the end of July 1776. It was one of the first battles after the Declaration of Independence of the new United States of America. A book by Nadia Dean contains the best account of the battle on July 31st and August 1st, 1776. It is titled A Demand of Blood: The Cherokee War of 1776. Colonel Andrew Williamson of the South Carolina Continental Army burned Seneca. The town was restored after the Continental Army moved north. Fort Russel was built there.  The Town is all but abandoned after the Hopewell Treaty in 1785 and the cession of land.² The town of Little Turkey’s wife, Keowee, and Fort Prince George are a few miles north of Seneca.

A portion of Mouzon’s Map 1771; Mouzon, H. and Robert Sayer and John Bennett, (1775) An Accurate map of North and South Carolina with their Indian frontiers, shewing in a district manner all the mountains, rivers, swamps, bays, creeks, harbours, sandbanks, and soundings on the coast; with the roads and Indians paths as well as the boundaries, or provincial lines, the several towns and other divisions of lands in both provinces, London, printed for Robt. Sayer and J. Bennett retrieval from the Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/74692510/

Beloved Man

As stated the Cherokee used the term “the Beloved Man”.  The Europeans used King or Emperor.  Just when did Chief Little Turkey become the Beloved Man of the nation is a debated one. Around 1788, he aligns himself with Chickamauga Chiefs after the settlement of his town. Yet, he is not truly a Chickamauga war Chief. As the Cherokee wars progressed, he remained a traditional Peace Chief. In March of 1789, Little Turkey, along with Hanging Maw and Dragging Canoe, writes to Governor Samuel Johnson. They seek arrangements for another peace treaty similar to the 1785 Hopewell treaty. 

At a general meeting held at the Little Turkey’s Town or otherwise called new Sinekaw in the Cherokee Nation   Present the Chicamagies Chiefs   March 10^th 1789 . . . that you are willing to adjust and rectify the dispute between your people and our own __ to establish a lasting peace in our hearts desire . . .

                                        Little Turkey   Hanging Maw   Dragging Canoe ³ 

We see Mr. Starr has Chief Little Turkey as chief up to 1801, as we had just learned Little Turkey dies in 1802. Also, notice that Blackfox follows him as Chief of the Nation.  He is elected in August 1802. Also Chief Pathkiller died in January 1827 not 1828.

The nation’s leader, Chief Corntassel, was murdered in 1788 in what would become Tennessee. After this event, the nation looked to Little Turkey. They referred to him as the Beloved Man. The nation did not have a formal system of government and new leadership would emerge. The nation as a whole would look to Little Turkey as the “Beloved Man” along with Hanging Maw. The foreign governments would look to Little Turkey and Hanging Maw as the leaders of the nation. Hanging Maw was one of the leaders from the Valley towns. He opposed Little Turkey as the “Beloved Man” until around 1792. It was then that Little Turkey was recognized as the leader of the nation. He became “the great beloved man of the whole nation”. 

Peace Chief

As the Beloved Man of the Nation Little Turkey strove for peace. Little Turkey did manage assistance from Spain for the protection of the nation working through John McDonald and Mr. William Panton a “merchant of great business of Pensacola”.  Mr. McDonald lives and operates a trading post in Turkey’s town during this time. Mr. Panton and Mr. McDonald align John Watts and Bloody Fellow (Nontuaka) up with Governor O’Neal of Spain for arms and munitions. McDonald will set up a commissary in Turkey’s Town to store goods. McDonald served as a double agent. He served with the British and with Spain. ⁴

Minutes of information given to Governor Blount by James Carey, one of the interpreters of the United States, in the Cherokee Nation. November 1782  

. . .Mr. Panton, during his stay in the nation, made the house of his countryman, McDonald, his head quarters, from whence they together paid a visit to the Little Turkey, and spent several days, Mr. McDonald acting as interpreter between Mr. Panton and the Turkey. . . Panton invited the Turkey to visit Governor O’Neal; assured him that the Governor would give him arms and ammunition at Pensacola. . .would supply the nation with goods much cheaper than they had heretofore purchased them.⁵

Peace and unity are the Little Turkey’s demeanor throughout his tenure as ‘Principal Chief”. It has been stated by historians in the past that Little Turkey launched hostile attacks from Turkey’s Town. He did get frustrated with the “five Lower towns on the Big River.” He turned them over to the mercy of Gov Blount. 

Now I will let you know, and tell you the truth, which I am sorry and ashamed for to tell you, of their proceedings and bad conduct; you may be assured it is not lies, I now tell you . . . the eight day of this month they are determined to go to war, all the five lower town on the Big river (Tennessee River); they have and will make war by themselves; you may be assured and believe me, it is not the consent of the whole nation, nor no part of it only them five towns they agree amongst themselves.

Now you know where the bad people live; both you and your people may know where the good and bad live. Now, I desire you and all your people not to come to war against no other towns but them five lower towns on the Big river, that made war against you.⁶

Little Turkey aligns himself with Chiefs like Double Head, Dragging Canoe, and John Watts. However, his overwhelming demeanor is of peace. Little Turkey and his settlement are referred to as the point of peace for the nation. We see this in a letter of Gov. Blount to the Secretary of War, 3 November 1794.

“Should General Logan desist from his attack on the Lower towns, I am of opinion the appointment of Mr. Dinsmore to reside in the nation will have happy effect; but I would advise that his general residence should be in Will’s town in preference of the Turkey’s. My reasons are, the Turkey’s is, and has been, one of the most peaceable towns in the nation, .” ⁷

Beloved Town

Another striving point of Little Turkey is a central “Beloved town.” This town would become the “Principal town” (Capital of the nation). From the start of his tenure, Little Turkey looks to Estanaula (Ustinaire, Oos-ta-nau-la) as the “Beloved town.” This happens even during the opposition of Hanging Maw. The nation presses for the “Grand Councils” to be held there.

A talk from the head-men and warriors of the Cherokee nation at a meeting held at Ustinaire, the beloved town, 20^th November, 1788.⁸

The town of Estanaula will lead to the formation of New Echota. This is just north of present-day Calhoun Georgia. This became the Capital of the Nation in 1825. However, it remained so only until Georgia passed a law on all the land for the state of Georgia. The Capital will move to Chattooga Town (just north of Gaylesville, Cherokee County, Alabama.) Then to Red Clay town in Tennessee.

Missionaries

Little Turkey is involved in bringing missionaries to the nation. In the report of Steiner and Schweinitz written in “Early Travels in the Tennessee Country” we read; 

As early as July 1, 1796, President John Wheelock, of Dartmouth, was endeavoring to persuade the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, of Scotland, that funds could be wisely used in a Cherokee mission. In 1799, (Moses) Fisk, in Tennessee after a visit to New England, was cooperating with Wheelock; and interviewed Capt. Edw. Butler then in military command in the Cherokee nation. Butler wrote to Little Turkey, the principal chief, in July: A number of good men to the eastward have formed a plan to have a number of your young men taught our language and to read and write without putting them to any expense . . .    

Mr. Fisk had not been further in the Indian country than Toka, on the Tennessee, and had thereafter transferred further attention to the matter to him. He had advised to begin the school at the garrison and to teach the Indians English; had, also, written to Little Turkey, the Head Chief of the Cherokee, in reference to the matter and received a favorable answer from him. ⁹

This leads to the Moravian Mission at Spring Place in 1801. The Moravian Church worked with Little Turkey at a “Talk” held at Oostanaula in May 1801 to protect the missionaries. James Vann purchases property for the mission. In June 1801, a hut is built on the Brown plantation near his house. “Springplace”; two miles east of the Connesauga River, two and one-half miles south from Vann’s, seven miles south of Sumach Town, sixteen miles north of Oostanaula and on the road which leads from Oostanaula to Tellico.  This is in modern-day Murray County Georgia also known as Springplace. ¹⁰

Treaties

Little Turkey is involved with treaties, how many are not known? It appears that he only signed one treaty. He did not sign the 1791 treaty at Holston, he sent a representative named Boot.¹¹ The Boot would become an important leader in Turkey’s Town. He is very good friends with Little Turkey, Blackfox and Pathkiller. He is their Creek interpreter. Little Turkey signed the treaty near the block house at Tellico. This treaty was known as the Treaty of Tellico. It was signed in October 1798. The interpreter listed his name as “Kanitta or Little Turkey”. 

We see that Little Turkey is not his name? Kanitta? Does that translate to “Little Turkey”? We will explore this in the next post along with his family.

Our next post. The Beloved Chiefs from Turkeytown, Chief Little Turkey, Part 2, his family.

1. American state papers : Documents, legislative and executive, of the Congress of the United States / Selected and edited under the authority of Congress Indian affairs v. 1 1832, pages 271-273, 26 June – 1 July 1792) HathiTrust Digital Library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112103282408&seq=279&q1=turkey+town ↩︎
2. A Demand of Blood: The Cherokee War of 1776 by Nadia Dean. This book is published by Valley River Press, January 2012.  Chapter 13; pages 142-157. ↩︎
3. Document NCU16 in the Papers of the War Department 1784-1800, Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, George Mason University, wardepartmentpapers.org  ↩︎
4. John McDonald of Chickamauga: Double Agent, Jeff Bishop, http://trailofthetrail.blogspot.com/2010/10/john-mcdonald-double-agent-of.html ↩︎
5. American state papers : Documents, legislative and executive, of the Congress of the United States / Selected and edited under the authority of Congress Indian affairs v. 1 1832 pages 327-329, 3 November 1792 HathiTrust Digital Library, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112103282408&seq=335&q1=turkey+town ↩︎
6. American state papers : Documents, legislative and executive, of the Congress of the United States / Selected and edited under the authority of Congress Indian affairs v. 1 1832 pages 276-278, 2 September 1792, letter from Little Turkey to Gov. Blount, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112103282408&seq=284&q1=turkey+town ↩︎
7. American state papers : Documents, legislative and executive, of the Congress of the United States / Selected and edited under the authority of Congress Indian affairs v. 1 1832 pages 531-532, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112103282408&seq=539&q1=turkey+town ↩︎
8. American state papers : Documents, legislative and executive, of the Congress of the United States / Selected and edited under the authority of Congress Indian affairs v. 1 1832 pages 45-46, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112103282408&seq=53&q1=turkey+town ↩︎
9. Early Travels in the Tennessee Country, 1540-1800: with introductions, annotations and index / by Samuel Cole Williams. Page; 458, 467, Hathitrust.org ↩︎
10. History of the Moravian Mission Among Southern Indian Tribes of the United States, by The Rev. Edmund Schwarze, Ph.D., Pastor Calvary Moravian Church, Winston Salem, N.C. Transaction of the Moravian Historical Society, Special Series, Vol. 1. Bethlehem Pa, Tunes Publishing Co. 1923, pages 61-65, ↩︎
11. American state papers : Documents, legislative and executive, of the Congress of the United States / Selected and edited under the authority of Congress Indian affairs v. 1 1832, pages 276, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112103282408&seq=284&q1=turkey+town ↩︎

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

When did Chief Little Turkey move to this location? Was there a reason for choosing this place?

A 1961 undated Civil War Centennial Edition of Gadsden Times, article; “Indians Lore Abound in Turkey’s Town Area,” by Elbert Watson¹

“It was founded about 1770 by a minor Cherokee Chieftain, Little Turkey.”

“The Turkeytown Story”, a booklet written by the Turkeytown Methodist Church 1953, Etowah County, Alabama, sold as a fundraiser to help finance their new church building, they state on page 3;²

There was a day, in 1770, when Turkeytown was the thriving Capital of the Cherokee Indian Nation. It was ruled by the iron hand of the great Cherokee Chieftain “The Turkey.”

Oliver Day Street “The Indians of Marshall County Alabama”;³

About 1777, Wills’ Town was established by the Cherokee. . .about the same time Turkey Town was built by them on the Coosa river opposite the present site of Centre, Cherokee County, Alabama. (“Pickett’s History of Alabama”, vol I, page 163; Royce in the 5th Annual Report Bureau of Ethnology, Map 8)

Where did this 1770 information come from? What is the source? Albert James Pickett’s History of Alabama is listed in Mr. Street’s Marshall County Alabama history. Is that the source?

Will’s Town and Turkey Town—important Cherokee establishments. The former was
named for a half breed called Red-headed Will. At these towns lived the British
Superintendent, (the celebrated Col. Campbell,) before and during the Revolutionary
War*. * Indian Affairs, vol. 1, pp 264-269.⁴

Historical Society Commission wrote a History of Alabama for the Governor in 1900. In this report, they list two different Turkey’s Town. One is a Cherokee Village and one is a Creek Village. They state it was “Founded about 1770.”⁵

Mrs. Stewart Cherokee County History. It was founded about 1770, and was considerable size and importance. Turkey Town was established some time prior to 1770 and was one of the most important Cherokee establishments. Col. Campbell the noted British soldier and superintendent lived here at times during the Revolution.⁶

The confusion about the location and the fact that it is Cherokee town has been proven in the earlier post. Now to settle the confusion on when. Where did 1770 come from? There is NO SOURCE or REFERENCE to 1770 by any of the early historians or writers. Is it a guess, a speculation, I believe or what. No one gives a clue to why they used this date. The only thing I can find as a possible reference is Albert Pickett’s statement of “Colonel Campbell.”

Will’s Town and Turkey Town—important Cherokee establishments. The former was named for a half breed called Red-headed Will. At these towns lived the British Superintendent, (the celebrated Col. Campbell,) before and during the Revolutionary War*.⁷

* Indian Affairs, vol. 1, pp 264-269.

An extensive search for Colonel Campbell results in very little information. There is no
information showing he was the agent assigned to the Cherokee during the American
Revolution. The agent assigned to the Cherokee during that time was Alexander Cameron. He was appointed by Colonel John Stuart. Cameron answered to Royal Governor Joseph Martin. Hugh McCall’s “History of Georgia”⁸ Alexander Cameron died on 27 September 1781. John Graham replaced him. At this time, Alexander Campbell became his Chief Deputy Superintendent, notes from the 9th Circle blog; Chuck Hamilton.⁹

This appears to be the only reference. If Alexander Campbell is Col Campbell, he became the agent in the latter part of 1781. It is during this time frame that the Revolutionary War is coming to an end and is all but over.¹⁰ So one could say that Campbell is the agent during the American Revolutionary War. But the timeline is at the end of 1781. This is NOT 1770 or close to it.

1770 is Wrong

Wikipedia has this for a timeline or date on settlement. Turkeytown was settled in 1788. The town was established by Little Turkey during the Cherokee–American wars as a refuge for him and his people from the hostilities then being engaged in between the Cherokee and the American frontiersmen.¹¹ Wikipedia has a lot of mixed info on Turkey’s Town. However, this date might be the closest to being correct. Wikipedia does not have a reference or source to the date.

Are there any references to give us a better timeline?

The Cherokee-American wars, along with the signing of the Hopewell Treaty in November 1785¹². This is the most likely reason for Little Turkey and the people of Seneca to move from their homeland. We have proven that Little Turkey was from Seneca. “When a Name is Not a Name” post. The lower towns on the headwaters of the Savannah River were given up in the treaty. After that, the people started moving.

Little Turkey does align himself with the Chickamauga Chiefs that are a part of the Cherokee-American wars. Dragging Canoe, and Hanging Maw. This letter is written for Chiefs, Little Turkey, Hanging Maw, and Dragging Canoe. The letter is intended for Governor Samuel Johnson in 1789 (Governor of the State of North Carolina). The context of this letter is to seek arrangements for another peace treaty. This treaty should be similar to the 1785 Hopewell treaty or adhere to that treaty.

At a general meeting held at the Little Turkey’s Town or otherwise called new Sinekaw in the Cherokee Nation Present the Chicamagies Chiefs March 10th 1789 . . . that you are willing to adjust and rectify the dispute between your people and our own __ to establish a lasting peace in our hearts desire . . .

Little Turkey Hanging Maw Dragging Canoe¹³

No Turkey’s Town until after 1782

We can now start a timeline for the settlement of Turkey’s Town. After 1782, before 1788.

From the American State Papers; Indian Affairs Vol 1; page 431; Letters, with their several enclosures, from Governor (Wm) Blount to the Secretary of War. (Henry Knox);
Knoxville, January 14, 1793
(fourth paragraph) At the beginning, and previous to the late Revolution, the Cherokees lived in towns, either on the head waters of the Savannah River or on the Tennessee, above the mouth of Holston. . . .That, in the year 1776 General Williamson marched an army from South Carolina, and destroyed the towns on the Keowee and Tugelo, among them old Seneca, a very principal one, and erected fort Rutledge on its ruins. . . . The Cherokees being thus burnt out of their towns, and by these treaties (1st Long Island 1777 and Long Island of the Holston 1781) very much curtailed in their hunting grounds to the eastward and northward, shortly began to erect new towns, lower down the Tennessee, and on the waters of the Mobile River. The most bold and active part settled on a creek called
Chickamauga, 100 miles below the mouth of Holston. . . . In the year 1782 they
abandoned Chickamauga creek, believing it was infested with witches; some returned to
the old towns, others went lower down the Tennessee, 40 miles, and laid the foundation
of the five towns, now generally called the five Lower towns on the Tennessee. . .¹⁴

A very similar reference is documented in a Nashville Newspaper in 1816.

That at the time of Christian’s campaign in 1776, there were no Cherokee towns on the Tennessee below the mouth of the Holston, and that the lowest belonging to the nation was on the Hiwassee.

That the peace which followed the campaign of 1776 was protested against by the Dragging Canoe, a Chief of note, who in consequence of his dissent from the rest of the national council, descended the river, with his adherents in the winter of ’76 & ’77, and settled at Chickmawga, where he continued the war, attacking almost every boat which descended the river, until the spring of 1779, when a party of whites commanded perhaps by one of the Shelby’s, beat him off, and destroyed his town. That after the destruction of Chickmawga the Cherokee made their first settlement at Nickajack and Running Water, and to the south west at Turkey Town and Will’s Town.

That these settlements were made with the permission of the Creeks, is a fact, so notorious, that it is unnecessary to give evidence in support of it. It was a subject of negotiation between the two tribes and we have it on the most respectable authority, that at every national council, which has been held in the Creek Nation, the Cherokee, have been reminded of the grant by which they held the country between the Highwassee and the Creek Path.

A friend has furnished us with the words of a Creek talk which was sent, to the Cherokee about five years ago. He is confident it is very little variant even in words, from the preceding messages, which had followed each other from ’79 to that time. It is as follows:

“The White people have drove you off your land, and you come on our land, as you must live, we let you stay, but you know that the land is our land; and we let you live on it.¹⁵

The above references state there are no Cherokee Towns or Villages in what would become Alabama until after 1782. The movements and treaties prove Turkey’s Town was not establish until after 1785. It may have been settled then during 1786. This does not mean that Cherokee people did not live in what would become Alabama, but no towns or villages.

Other references.

General John Coffee was the surveyor of Alabama. He states this in his report and explanation on the boundary line between the Creek and Cherokee. The report is dated 1829, December 30, in Florence, Alabama, to John H. Eaton.

There is abundance of evidence shewing that the Cherokees had the South bank of Hightown river fifty years ago at the old Hightown town, and that they extended their settlements out from that town, as well down as up the river. Turkey town was settled 40 years ago, and the old red Creek Town upwards of forty years since, and various other villages and settlements were made and occupied on all the waters that run into the Hightown and Coosa rivers above Turkey town 30 to 40 forty years ago and have ever since been in the constant occupancy of the Cherokees without any evidence to shew the Creeks ever set up any claim to any of the waters of those rivers above Turkey Town except the statement of 29 Creek chiefs and warriors given to me in 1816 in the absence of the Cherokees. By that statement they said many years since, and during the revolutionary war, they loaned the Cherokees land from their old line, the junction of Estanala & Hightown down to Wills Creek, and that the Cherokees had lived on it ever since and had not been reclaimed by the Creek. .¹⁶

From “The Cherokee Phoenix” Published June 19, 1830 Page 2 Column 1a-2b

The undersigned came into the Cherokee Nation in the year 1785-and opened a store at Stecoe in the Lookout Valley and there married the daughter of Mr. John M’Donald, and about the year 1788, he removed together with his father in-law and their families to Turkey Town, and continued trade with the Cherokees. The Little Turkey was the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation and resided in that town-and that the Cherokees had considerable settlements from the mouth of Will’s Creek, up the Coosa River on both sides of said river,

Head of Coosa, Cherokee Nation, December 10th, 1829. DANIEL ROSS.¹⁷

“The Cherokee Phoenix” Published May 29, 1830 Page 4 Column 1b-3b.

Old Red Bank, Cherokee Nation Southside Hightower,
10th December 1829
John Wright, a white man married to a Cherokee wife, states that he came into this
nation when a boy-he does not know his age correctly, but he thinks he was about
twelve years of age. . . Turkey Town on the Coosa river is the lowest down the river
where there has been any Cherokee settlements that he knew of, they settled that place
on both sides of the river about forty years- since. . .¹⁸

These references lead to a timeline of 1788 to 1789. The above letter from Turkey’s Town, though, has a date of March 1789. So, the timeline would be before 1789.

Conclusion

The 1770s dates are not supported by any reference. The date of settlement is somewhere between 1782 and 1788. My thoughts are 1786-87. This is based on the movements of the people and the Cherokee-American Wars.

Little Turkey was looking for a safe place to settle his New Seneca. Did he meet up with someone to show him that safe place? Chief Little Turkey’s Creek interpreter is Boot (Chulioa). Rev Daniel Butrick stated he was “full blood Cherokee raised by the Creek”. Did he guide Little Turkey to a safe place on the trading route (Hightown Pass) along the Coosa River? Was it safe to settle there?

There is a track of land lying on Wills Creek and between that creek and the Coosa River on the West side of the latter, and north of the Treaty line of Fort Jackson which they may be prevailed upon to part with, in treating for which they are willing to discuss and settle the subject of the boundary between them and the Cherokee. They however contend that their present boundary with the Cherokee is by the Suwannee path where it leaves the Western line of Jackson County to the old town on the Chatahotchie River and from thence by a drift line to the Mouth of a certain water course called by them, Little River where it unites with the Coosa. They have furnished me with a copy of certain question put by the Creeks to an old Cherokee Chief and the Cherokee Interpreter (who was their mutual Interpreter on the first settlement of the Cherokee in the Creek Country) . . . ¹⁹

The above notation is from Acting Secretary of War George Graham to Creek Agent David B. Mitchell, 31 October 1817. It is explaining the Creek boundary. The letter is recorded in Alabama Territory, Territory papers, page 183-84. The above is a footnote.

This statement is about Little Turkey and Boot. They have furnished me with a copy of certain question put by the Creeks to an old Cherokee Chief and the Cherokee Interpreter (who was their mutual Interpreter on the first settlement of the Cherokee in the Creek Country). Boot showed Little Turkey a safe place to settle. Boot died at his home in Turkey’s Town in 1827 as noted by his son Laugh at Mush.

What is next? The Beloved Chiefs from Turkeytown, Chief Little Turkey.

1. 1961 undated “Civil War Centennial Edition of Gadsden Times”: Copy in possession of the writer. ↩︎
2. “The Turkeytown Story”: Turkeytown Methodist Church: Mrs. Eva McCarver, Miss. Imelda Anderson, and Reverend Jack Dillard: 1955. Copy in possession of the writer. ↩︎
3. “The Alabama Historical Society, Montgomery, Alabama, Reprint No. 8”: XII The Indians of Marshall County, Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama, 1904, page 206: Oliver Day Street, Guntersville, Alabama: Google Books eBook: page 185. ↩︎
4. “History of Alabama and Incidentally Georgia and Mississippi From Earliest Period”: Albert James Pickett: Volume 1: Charleston North Carolina: McKee and James: 1851: Google Books eBook: Public Domain. ↩︎
5. Publication of the Alabama Historical Society Miscellaneous Collection: “Report of the Alabama Historical Commission to the Governor of the State of Alabama December 1, 1900”: Edited by Thomas McAdory Owens, Chairman: Montgomery Alabama: 1901: Google Books eBook: Public Domain. ↩︎
6. “Cherokee County History 1836-1956 Volume 1”: Mrs. Frank Ross Stewart: Centre, Alabama:1956. Gadsden Public Library. Page 204, and 214 ↩︎
7. “History of Alabama and Incidentally Georgia and Mississippi From Earliest Period”: Albert James Pickett: Volume 1: Charleston North Carolina: McKee and James: 1851: Google Books eBook: Public Domain. Page 163 ↩︎
8. “The History of Georgia Containing a Brief Sketch of The Most Remarkable Events Up to Present Day”: Captain Hugh McCall in Two Volumes: Vol 1: Savannah, Seymour and Williams: 1811: Page 365: Google Books eBook: Public Domain. ↩︎
9. 08 August 2011 Cherokee-American Wars (1775-1795), Notes from the Ninth Circle, Chuck Hamilton, https://notesfromtheninthcircle.blogspot.com/2011/08/chickamauga-wars-17761794.html ↩︎
10. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/americanrevolution/timeline.htm ↩︎
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkeytown_(Cherokee_town) ↩︎
12. Clemson University; Clemson.edu; The Hopewell Plantation; The Hopewell Treaties; https://www.clemson.edu/about/history/properties/hopewell/hopewelltreaties.
    html#:~:text=Hopewell%20Treaty%20Site&text=Three%20hundred%20yards%20northwest%20of,America%20and%20the%20Cherokee%20Nation. ↩︎
13. Document NCU16 in the Papers of the War Department 1784-1800, Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, George Mason University, wardepartmentpapers.org. ↩︎
14. A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 – 1875, American State Papers, Senate, 3rd Congress, 1st Session, Indian Affairs: Volume 1, page 431, https://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/ampage ↩︎
15. National Banner and Nashville Whig (Nashville, Tennessee, 25 June 1816, page 3), The Indian Treaty. A reprint from the Knoxville Gazette. Newspaper.com ↩︎
16. Digital Library of Georgia: Treaty of Hopewell: Galileo, Georgia Virtual Library: Coffee, John, 1772-1833. “Report of General John Coffee on the boundary line between the Creeks and Cherokees, 1829, Dec. 30, Florence, Alabama [to] John H. Eaton / Jo[h]n Coffee.” 1829-12-30. March 11, 2021.
    https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc697#item. ↩︎
17. CHEROKEE PHOENIX, Issue 31, November 11, 1829
    https://www.wcu.edu/library/DigitalCollections/CherokeePhoenix/Vol2/no31/. ↩︎
18. Ibid ↩︎
19. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015010692468&seq=208 page 183-184 ↩︎

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