MySource:BobC/Moravian Springplace Travelers & Notable Visitors: Nancy Ward

Travelers and Notable Visitors

Chiconehla (Nancy Ward)

[July 5, 1807] On Sunday the 5th, Mrs. Vann,^[1] the overseer's wife, was present for the praying of the Church Litany, and in the afternoon Mother Vann^[2] and Mr. Busby^[3] were present for the sermon. The two Indians, who were here yesterday, came again and brought fish. When Brother and Sister Gambold went after the sermon to visit our neighbor Mrs. Vann,^[4] who was sickly, they met three very old Indian women from Oostanaula at her place.

They were very cordial toward them. One of them, who is almost one hundred years old, has been a widow for fifty years and is a distant relative of Mrs. Vann. She especially distinguished herself and was very talkative and sincere. She told Brother and Sister Gambold that she is very fond of the white people and that they have always treated her well and that Colonel Meigs^[5] always stays in her house when he comes to Oostanaula. When Mrs. Vann told her that we came into this country out of love for the Indians, she shook Sister Gambold's hands with the words, "I am also fond of you."

She also asked about Brother and Sister Byhan, whom she had seen some years ago. This old woman, named Chiconehla,^[6] is supposed to have been in a war against an enemy nation and was wounded numerous times, as she herself told. Mother Vann and Mrs. Vann agreed with this. The latter added that she was also an unusually sensible person, honored and loved by both brown and white people. Her left arm is decorated with some designs, which she said were fashionable during her youth. When our children sang some verses, the three old women sat with great reverence and with folded hands.

Afterward Mrs. Vann began to explain the meaning of the songs to them as well as the words of their language allowed, and Mother Vann vouched for her. Brother and Sister Gambold felt very touched by this and they wished Mother and Mrs. Vann the Savior's blessings for their efforts. Upon leaving, old Chiconehla promised to visit us the following day. . . .

In the morning on the 6th, old Chiconehla came to our place as she had promised and stayed during school. Afterward we had a long conversation with her. The children translated as well as they were able to in their language what we told her about God's love revealed in Christ Jesus. Chiconehla showed by crying that she was able to feel more about this than she could understand. . . .

She let us know that she wanted to be able to understand the English language because her daughter,^[7] who went to school with white people, had heard and learned exactly the good words that we had told her, and also sang and prayed to God every day; she finally became ill and died without fear of death. Now, she added, she is surely in heaven! Certainly, we answered, if she turned to God in prayer in her sickbed and commended her soul to His grace. She seemed very happy but repeatedly expressed her regret that she could not understand the English language. "God understands all languages," we replied. "And even if you speak very softly," added the children, "He understands you." "Now, Chiconehla," we finally said, "We want to pray for you. We pray for the Indians all the time that God might make them just as happy and satisfied as He has made us; we ourselves are also bad people, and without His help, we cannot think or do anything good. We want to ask Him that He would protect you from all evil as He does us and He would let you feel how much he loves you!"

And, since you are already very old and may not have too much longer to live, we ask you to say to Him daily, "My Creator and my Friend, You in heaven! Let me feel Your love and increase my love to You! Make good what I have made evil, and so on. And when you depart from this world, just sigh, 'My Friend in heaven! You, Who created me! I would like to be with You in heaven! Take me to You, only because You are so good!'"

Oh, how moved she was! She squeezed our hands tenderly and promised to do so. We asked her whether she knew of other Indians who would like to hear such words, and she answered that only a few old people were to be found at the present time who would like to hear them.^[8] Earlier there would have been more of them.

She wished very much to be allowed to bring a grandson to our school. We directed her to Mr. Vann with this concern. In the meantime we showed her our willingness to take him for instruction if she could arrange lodging for him at Mr. Vann's. She then cordially departed and promised to visit us again after a while. What a shame it is that the Cherokee language has no words for the things that are not part of the daily doings and dealings of the Indians! And there are not even enough of the latter. However, the Indians themselves know how to manage well with them.

Extract Source

EBSCO Publishing: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 9/9/2014 3:33 PM via MILLSAPS COLLEGE AN: 354600; Gambold, Anna Rosina, Gambold, John, McClinton, Rowena.; The Moravian Springplace Mission to the Cherokees

References & Footnotes

1. ↑ 124
2. ↑ 125
3. ↑ 126
4. ↑ 127
5. ↑ 128
6. ↑ 129
7. ↑ 130
8. ↑ 131

Link to the Cherokee Heritage Project Page