Native Americans -V-

Vann, James, Chief, Cherokee, was b. at Spring Place Feb 1765, died near Vann's Ferry on February 21, 1809. He was the son of a Scottish trader and his Cherokee wife. Vann's father is believed to be Joseph, (some controversy on this) Joseph and Vann'sstep-father, Clement, were among the first white traders in the Cherokee Nation. He married daughters of a South Carolinia Indian trader, by the name of Walter Scott, viz: Elizabeth Scott (mother of Delilah Vann McNair), Polly Scott, and Peggy Scott. Also, Jennie Foster and Nancy Ann Brown (half-sister of the Scott girls) were also wives.

Vann was one of the few Cherokee who could read English and was called on to translate letters written to the tribe from the Tennessee Governor, John Sevier. However, negotiations with Gov. Sevier deteriorated, and during the 1790s Vann joined the Lower Towns Cherokee to raid Knoxville, Tennessee. During the raid on Cavett's Station, the Cavett family surrendered to Bob Benge, who promised safe transport for all remaining family members.

But an angry chief named Doublehead was not consulted for the negotiations. Doublehead and his friends attacked Cavett's Station, and killed a young white boy. Vann was putting the boy on his saddle when Doublehead came against him. Vann quickly turned his horse away, to avoid being struck. Vann called the brave, Doublehead "Baby-killer."l

Vann selected a warrior by the name of Ridge to represent the village of Pine Log in council. Ridge had been present when James Vann stood up to Doublehead at Cavett's Station. A third man. In 1800, while on an East Coast trip that included a visit to Washington, D.C., Vann met a group of Morovian missionaries from North Carolina who desired to spread the Gospel and teach Cherokee children.

chief Vann House> <BR> Chief James Vann House, Chatsworth, Murray County. <br><br> Vann convinced the Moravians move to Spring Place to build a mission and a school. He later built his house at Spring Place, north of the school. The Chattahoochee River began to flourish with Chief Vann building a tavern, store and ferry. Hicks and Ridge <br><br> The Triumvirate realized that white traders and government agents were willing to do business with Doublehead because he was willing to accept bribes. Benefiting from Hicks' association with Indian Agent Return J. Meigs, for whom Hicks translated papers, Vann learned that on at least three occasions Doublehead had illegally sold Cherokee land to whites, a crime punishable by death. At first, few people would listen to Vann as he exposed Doublehead's activities, but slowly he convinced a majority of the Nation that Doublehead was indeed committing crimes. Vann, Ridge and Alexander Sauders were selected to kill Doublehead for his betrayal, possibly with the approval of the tribal council. At the appointed time Vann was too drunk to commit the murder. It was the first in a series of boThe Constitutionhed attempts that eventually ended in Doublehead's death at the hand of Vann's friend Ridge. This was one of a complex series of events led by Vann that would become known as

Vann was known to beat his wives. He was a heavy drinker. While drinking at Tom Buffington's tavern (northwest of Frogtown), a single shot rang out from a partially opened door. James Vann fell dead, holding a bottle in one hand, a drink in the other. Vann's body was buried near the tavern. No one knows who shot James Vann.