Cynthia,
I’d like to revisit the Overview here…
The image used as the profile image is part of a three page letter written by grandson Wallace Thornton. It’s taken out of context on FaG, the source of the embellished family story, as well as NOT being cited internal to the image itself, Atrocities did occur then no doubt, but we should not be publishing them without sourcing, such as a military courts martial?
In his Eastern Cherokee Application #1962 Wallace Thornton, her grandson says, when speaking of his mother, her mother (grandmother of Wallace) “died on the road”. The only mention of being stabbed, bayoneted by soldiers or murdered outside of the FaG memorial is a Cherokee Phoenix article identified in the new overview for half sister Melvina in honor of her having survived the Trail of Tears. See the National Archives @ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/56398634
The author Will Chavez states “Family stories relate that during the roundups prior to removal, Nellie's mother gave birth to her last child, Nancy, but was too weak to cross a stream and was stabbed to death by soldiers. Thus Nellie and James took charge of the remaining children of Elizabeth Ratley -- Watie Robertson, Lucinda Robertson, Arch Ratley, Betsy Ratley and Nancy Robertson -- when they left in the Bushyhead detachment in October 1838.”
Another factor here; the initial US Military managed removal detachment was grossly mismanaged, interment camps, soldier misconduct, etc., so much so that the Cherokee convinced Washington to let them manage their own relocation. The 9 later detachments, including the Bushyhead detachment mentioned, were more “civilized”, if that word can be used. Does it seem likely that such a story could be concealed from public disclosure and confined to only a family story?
It appears to me that, while possible, this family story has become distorted by the internet all without a single source to back it up. I think the bigger story here is that, not-with-standing whatever happened, Melvina and her husband James Hair, took her surviving children under her wing to CNIT, which I’m thinking can probably be confirmed by census records identifying members of the household
Since you added this profile and manage it yourself I don’t feel I can make such changes with your participation. I can accept family stories if they are published such as the oral interviews catalogued at the University of Oklahoma, I have difficulty with the credibility of internet generated “family stories” without sourcing.
And it has not escaped me that while being referred to as half sisters they currently occupy different generations! I’ve spent many hours trying to figure out how the relationship should look to no avail.
Follow Us
Like Us
