Did Doublehead ever live in Kentucky?

Question

A 1958 highly fictionalized book (Legion of the Lost Mine) by Thomas H. Troxel-- and then many derivative works that followed well into the 21st century-- have claimed that Doublehead (and by extension, his supposed daughter Cornblossom) was in Kentucky during the time that “Big Jake”/Jacob Troxel was supposed to have been there.

But what does the evidence indicate?

Answer 1

Doublehead is documented by a variety of authors starting in the late 1700s. 

Neither Doublehead nor any other Cherokee lived in Kentucky during this era (1750-1838). (See below.) 

Doublehead’s birth, place of origin and even parents are unknown. His most likely birthplace was the Tellico area of the Cherokee Nation along the Little Tennessee River, southwest of Fort Loudon. 

Timeline:

• 1777 Cherokee leaders divide over land concessions to whites; Dragging Canoe’s supporters moved to Chickamauga Creek, become known as ‘Chickimauga Cherokee’; 
• 1779 homes there destroyed by American militia under Evan Shelby.  The Chickamauga move south and west, creating five new towns in Tennessee near present-day Chattanooga and in northeast Alabama.  
• The Chickamauga continued to harass white settlers over the next 15 years, with many killings documented to Doublehead.  
• 1794 a white militia which included about 150 Kentuckians destroyed the ‘new’ Chickamauga towns of Nickajack and Running Water. 
• November, 1794 while peace was being made at Tellico, Doublehead attacked Sevier’s station. 
• 1795 Cherokee attacks finally cease, Doublehead settled at Muscle Shoals. 

Source(s) include Brown’s Old Frontiers, Hoig’s The Cherokee and Their Chiefs, Starr’s History of the Cherokee Indians, Mooney’s History of the Cherokee Indians.

Thank you Kathie Forbes and Jeanie Roberts for your research.