History of Indian Georgia - Lower, Middle, and Overhill Cherokee

Early explorers to the Southeastern areas of the Americas noticed three major concentrations of Cherokee Indians with six major hunting districts. The first region was known as the Lower Towns with the main settlement being the township of Keowee or Piedmont settlement in the hills of South Carolina and Northeastern Georgia.

We have to remember that at the time the Indians occupied the Southeast, states and counties were just coming about. The Indians had a different concept of property divisions and government segments. Naturalist William Bartram described some 43 townships among the districts, all with Cherokees living in them.

The Keowee area was considered the most northern part of the district and included the towns of Estatoie, Oustanalla, Tomassee, Cowee, and others, including Tugaloo, which is now totally under Lake Hartwell (man-made).

The Middle Towns were in Nikwasi (or Nequasee) towns, emanating from the Cherokee word for “star.” It was on the Little Tennessee River near Franklin, N.C. with about one hundred acres in the floodplain. The Eastern Band of Cherokee have been working on an initiative to re-establish this part of the region as traditional and sacred to their history.

In 1727, a colonial delegation, led by Col. John Herbert, took part in a treaty signed in this area. Afterwards in 1730, a self-appointed ambassador, known as Alexander Cuming, appointed Moytoy (Ama-edohi) as “Emperor” of the Cherokee to the chagrin of all other Cherokee tribal leaders.

These towns of Nayowee, Nuckasee, Steecoy, Tomately, and Watoge were also referred to as Valley or Out Towns. The known Valley Towns were located along the Hiwassee River to the Nantahala River, flowing into the Little Tennessee River. The Out Town portion of this district was along the tributary of the Tuskaseegee River and the Oconaluftee tributary. This portion included Kittowa, Nununyi, and Tucharechee townships, reacquired by the EBCI in 1996.

The Overhill Settlements were also on tributaries of what is known today as the Tennessee River. These settlements included Chota, Citico, Tanasi, Towua, the Island Town of Tuskegee, Chatuga, Chestowee, and Hiawassee Old Town. They are on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains and rose to prominence in the early part of the eighteenth century. They established a trading system with the British colonists at what was known as the far end of the legal trading path. These towns were consistently cultivated by the British and the French.

The Overhill town of Chota was the capital for not just the settlements but for the entire Cherokee Nation for most of the eighteenth century. It is in present-day Monroe County, Tenn. Many of the Cherokees’ prominent leaders came from this part of the Nation, including Attakullakulla or the Little Carpenter, Oconastota - a Cherokee war chief and first beloved man, Nancy Ward - a Nanyehi/Ghigau or beloved woman, and Sequoyah - also known as George Gist/Guess, who created the written language of the Cherokee known as the syllabary.

Successively, the Cherokees ceded most of these eastern continental lands to the British. Attakullakulla’s son, Dragging Canoe, objected and took a faction of his followers further South into lands that became Georgia in 1776. These settlers were known as the Chickamauga Cherokee. They were known to battle against the ever-encroaching American settlers, ambushing them and attacking their encampments.

These attacks resulted in some 36 retaliatory attacks by Col. John Sevier in 1782. Moving back to Marion County, Tenn., Dragging Canoe continued his struggles against the white man’s intrusions until his death in 1792. Governor William Blount of Tennessee was petitioned to build a fort to protect the peaceable Cherokees living in the area from the vengeful settlers in 1794. A meeting was held with Hanging Maw, representing the Overhill Cherokee, and John Watt, representing the Lower Cherokee, to end the existence of the Cherokee-American Wars. ACLM

Research and Field Work Volunteers are needed to preserve this history so others may learn. For more info please contact Leslie at: preshist138@gmail.com.

Leslie Barker Thomas is a resident of Ellijay and the President of the Gilmer County Historical Society; President, Georgia Chapter Trail of Tears Association and Board Member of the National Trail of Tears Association.

“When history is erased, people’s moral values are also erased.” –Ma Jian

Visit the Gilmer County Historical Society

Historic Tabor House & Civil War Museum 138 Spring Street, Ellijay, Georgia 30540 706. 276. 1861. Reservations by Appointment, or Open Thursday & Friday 11am to 3pm www.gilmercountyhistoricalsociety.org/