Nancy “Nanye-hi” Ward was a Cherokee woman born in the late 1730s in the Cherokee town of Chota. She was the niece of leader Attakullakulla and cousin of war leader Dragging Canoe.

In 1755, Nanye-hi, still just a teenager, was married to Kingfisher and fighting side-by-side with her husband at the Battle of Taliwa against the Creeks. Sadly, Kingfisher was killed. Nanye-hi picked up his rifle and took his place in battle, rallying the Cherokee to victory. This action earned her the title of Ghigau, or “Beloved Woman.”

As Ghigua she sat on the tribal council and participated in negotiations at the 1785 Treaty of Hopewell, the first treaty between the newly formed United States and the Cherokees.

Nanye-hi’s second husband was a white man, Bryant Ward, linking her to both the Cherokee and white communities. She was an outspoken advocate for peace with the white settlers. During the Revolutionary War, Nanye-hi, fearing an all out war between the Cherokee and white settlers, warned a white settlement of an impending attack by her cousin, Dragging Canoe, an act that has made her a Patriot for the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Photos Copyright Christina Berry, All Things Cherokee

Nancy Ward’s Gravesite Travel Details

The site is open year-round.

Directions: Nancy Ward’s Grave is on Highway 411 just south of Benton, Tennessee. For specific directions, click the “Directions” link in the location bubble of the map above and enter your starting location on the left.

GPS & Map: 35.16454683969454,-84.67884063720703