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Vann, James, 1765 or 1766-1809

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1765 - 1809-02-19

Biography

James Vann was an influential Cherokee leader, one of the triumvirate with Major Ridge and Charles R. Hicks, who led the Upper Towns of East Tennessee and North Georgia. He was the son of Wah-Li Vann (a mixed-race Cherokee woman), and Indian trader Joseph John Vann. He was born into his mother's Wild Potato clan (also called Blind Savannah clan).

Vann was among the younger leaders of the Cherokee who thought its people needed to acculturate to deal with the European Americans and the United States government. He encouraged the Moravians to establish a mission school on Cherokee land, and became a wealthy planter and slaveholder.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Cherokee Papers, 1804-1871

 Collection
Identifier: 28
Scope and Contents These papers consist of a miscellaneous collection of material including some correspondence of Col. Return J. Meigs, Senator Harlan, President Grant, Col. Stand Watie; documents regarding sale of two slaves from the James Vann (1811) estate; names entitled to draw in land lottery of Gold Region in Georgia (1832); Old Settlers' Council Proceedings (1838-1865), and a list of 119 Old Settlers' names. There are Sequoyan documents and notes on his syllabary, a map of New Echota, and a Brainerd...
Dates: 1804 - 1871