Nancy Sr.

SIOUX NATION ORIGINS OF NANCY SR. by Sheila SHELTON Gibson

Nancy Sr. (last name unknown) was born about 1792. She is said to be full blood Sioux, adopted & raised as Cherokee. Little is known about Nancy Sr.'s origin. Our family story is that she was traded from a Sioux family to a Cherokee family in exchange for a horse. Learning of the trading of family members might seem odd, even shocking. But such things did happen and are recorded. From "Guntersville Remembered" by Larry J. SMITH we learn that John GUNTER settled at Creek Path, Alabama, about 1750. Chief BUSHYHEAD is said to have offered his daughter, Ghe-go-he-li to GUNTER to marry in exchange for salt. GUNTER was then 35 and Ghe-go-he-li was 15.

A Sioux/Cherokee combination probably also seems odd. However, history does give clues which help bring some clarity. "Sioux" is the French corruption of a Chippewa word for "Little Snakes"�. The Sioux people call themselves by the divisions of Lakota, Nakota and Dakota. Each has its own dialect.

At the time of the Little Turtle's War(1790-1794), a group of Cherokee teamed up with the Shawnee, Wyandot, Delaware, Huron, Mohawk & Dakota to fight against the white intruders in the Ohio Valley. Although the approximate time of Nancy's adoption fits nicely into this circumstance, Nancy was Oglala Lakota not Dakota.

Another possibility for a Cherokee/Lakota encounter might have been at the Valley of the Vapors (Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas). Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, this place has been known for centuries as a place of refuge, peace & tranquility. Various tribes gathered at the mysterious springs for healing, rejuvenation & recreation. At this sacred place, they put aside their differences, gathered together & even performed joint spiritual ceremonies. An unwritten rule governed the beautiful misty Hot Springs Valley. All were welcome to take advantage of the magic of the 47 springs.

Lakota Sioux were specifically mentioned as one group going to the sacred vapors: "The Lakota would travel to the Arkansas hot springs to gather together with other tribes to hunt, trade & take the healing waters. Even when their people were at war, individuals of opposing tribes could come together here in safety and peace." (Source of this internet quote is now unknown.)

Our family story may well have taken place at the Hot Springs of Arkansas. We know we had family there. Native American social & economic status was then determined to a great extent by the ownership of horses. Instances of both stealing & trading horses were common and well known. Here is our story:

A Cherokee warrior had a beautiful black stallion that was greatly admired by an Oglala Lakota (Sioux). He asked the price of the horse but the Cherokee said it was not for sale. Awestruck, the Sioux could not take his mind or his eyes off of the prized beast. Meanwhile, his wife sat quietly near her husband holding their baby daughter. Finally the Sioux said, "What would you take for the horse? There must be something!" The Cherokee pointed to the baby daughter of the Sioux family (Nancy Sr.) and (to the astonishment of the Cherokee) the Sioux agreed & the exchange was made.

And thus is the family story of our ancestor who was traded for a horse! This unknown Cherokee family adopted the Oglala Lakota baby, named her Nancy & raised her in the Cherokee tradition. She was highly esteemed by all who knew her. She was an intelligent child & eager to learn. Nancy was especially interested in medicine. She studied hard to learn herbal remedies & became a "doctor lady" to her people. She had an amazing gift of healing. As her reputation spread, so did the demands for her services. Nancy became well known for her amazing proficiency in herbal remedies. She is known to have travelled many miles with her saddlebags full of medicines for her patients.

Familylore continues with the marriage of Nancy Sr. to Chief John BROWN, the son of Richard BROWN & Selu, about 1810. Their daughter, Nancy BROWN Jr. (b. abt 1811) grew up to marry Stephen SHELTON (b. 1809). Stephen SHELTON & Nancy BROWN Jr. were married about 1826, probably in Missouri. When Nancy BROWN Shelton died in Missouri about 1833, Grandmother Nancy Sr. stepped in for a time to help care for Stephen's young children. Even while Nancy Sr.'s granddaughter, Mary Ann (Polly) was still quite young, Nancy Sr. taught her many things about herbal medicines that would bless this family for generations to come. It is not known how long Nancy Sr. stayed with the children; but Stephen SHELTON (2) married Abigail HARRIS (b. 1818) in 1838. That was also the year John BROWN became chief of the Old Settlers. We don't know any more about what happened to Nancy; but many in the family moved to Oklahoma.

DISCLAIMER: Altho the Sioux info was new to me, the horse-trading story wasn�t. Daddy used to tell about an unnamed ancestor being camped near a stream when some "Gypsies" came thru. Being awestruck by the beauty of a prized black horse ,,, the rest of the story is exactly the same. Of interest, I found a similar story on the web about a Nancy BROWN of Walker County, Alabama. I quote: "One of the grandmothers was a herbal doctor that traveled around the area on horseback tending to the ailing." I was excited until I studied that family further and found no match between our family & theirs. We just go with what we have. Sometimes records just don't exist. Rather than to bury and forget this story forever, I have chosen to study the information available, check out the possibilities & to present the best info I can under the circumstances. There is very little in way of "official documentation" regarding Nancy Sr. Still it is my pleasure to share the family stories so they can continue to be passed down. It won't be until the next life that we'll know some of this for sure! Peace & blessings to you all! (1 Oct 2011)

Nancy Sr. (abt 1792)

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