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Elizabeth (Ward) Martin (abt. 1759 - 1803)

Elizabeth (Betsy) Martin formerly Ward aka Hughes
Born about in Cherokee Nation (East)map
Ancestors ancestors
Sister of [half], [half] and [half]
Wife of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Wife of — married about 1786 in Cherokee Nation Eastmap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 44 in Cherokee Nation (East)map
Profile last modified | Created 6 Apr 2016
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Betsy was Cherokee.
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Biography

Betsy Ward, born about 1759 in the Cherokee Nation, was the daughter of the famous Cherokee woman Nan-ye-hi/Nancy Ward and her white husband, Bryant Ward. She had children by two white men, Gen. Joseph Martin and ? Hughes. Her children were Nancy and James Martin, and Rachel Hughes. Betsy is believed to have died about 1803. [1]

In 1782 Nan-ye-hi and Betsy spent the winter with Joseph Martin and his son William, "Things were so bad in the Overhill settlement that in the fall of 1782, Joseph Martin took Nancy Ward and Oconostota back to Long Island [of Holston] to spend the winter. Scarcity of food and respect for Nancy, as well as friendship for the Old Chief, who was now almost blind, were sufficient reasons. William Martin wrote:

"These two Cherokee greats, Nancy Ward and Oconostota, spent the winter of 1782-1783 in Joseph Martin's Long Island home, where Nancy's daughter, Betsy was able to care for their needs. With the coming of spring, Oconostota asked Martin to take him home. The Old Chief must have felt that his end was near, and he wanted to spend his last days at Chota. Martin realized that the ailing Chief would be unable to make the trip on horseback, so he arranged to take the party down river by boat.” [2]

In June 1793, at the request of North Carolina Governor William Blount, a number of Cherokee leaders gathered at Chief Hanging Maw’s home to consider having peace talks with President Washington.

"Early in the morning of June 12, 1793, a party of mounted militia under Capt. John Beard, who claimed to be pursuing Indian horse thieves, made a charge upon the house. The militia killed several people, including Fool Charles, who was a chief of Running Water, and the daughter of Taken Out of the Water. Hanging Maw, his wife, and Betty [Betsy], the daughter of Nancy Ward were wounded. Only the pleading of some white men who were present prevented the militia from killing Chief Hanging Maw." [3]

In 1799 her son James met the Moravian missionaries who wrote:

"Martin, son of General Martin with whom Br. Schneider stayed formerly in Chittiko, arrived today. We asked him if he remembers the visit of Br. Schneider, sixteen years ago? He said no, that he was born in Chittiko but was only nineteen years old now, and was therefore very young at the time. He told us that his father was now in Henry County, Virginia, and that his mother was living in Wakhowee on the Hiwassee River." [4]

Research Notes

Bryant Ward, an English trader who had fought in the French and Indian War, took up residence with the Cherokees and married Nancy in the late 1750s. Ward had a wife, but since Cherokees did not consider marriage a life-long institution, the arrangement apparently presented few problems. Ward and her English husband lived in Chota for a time and became the parents of a daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy). Eventually Bryant Ward moved back to South Carolina, where he lived the remainder of his life with his white wife and family. Nancy Ward and Betsy visited his home on many occasions, where they were welcomed and treated with respect.[citation needed]

Sources

  1. Hampton, David K. Cherokee Mixed-Bloods. Arc Press of Cane Hill, Lincoln, Arkansas. 2005. p. 107
  2. Brown, John P. Old Frontier, quoting a letter found the in Draper Manuscript collection. Southern Publishers, Inc. Kingsport, TN. 1938, p. 203
  3. Hoig, Stanley W. The Cherokees and Their Chiefs, In the Wake of Empire. The University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, AR, 1998, pg. 85.
  4. Crews & Starbuck, eds. Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees. Cherokee Heritage Press, Tahlequah, OK. Vol. 1, p. 121
  • FSFTID L4BD-YF1




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Betsy by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA test-takers in the direct maternal line: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Betsy:

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments: 17

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An additional source you may choose to add, can be found in Season 10, Episode 3 of Finding Your Roots, actor Wes Studi.
posted by Lori Martin
Did she have a possible daughter named Elmira who married John Adams in South Carolina?
posted by John Peters
No. She had three children attached to this profile.
posted by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
Hello, and thank you in advance for your information. I am looking closely at Elizabeth Ward Martin's children with Joseph Martin Jr. Particularly James Martin. James C. Martin is written sometimes. Could James have left Tennessee just before the Roundup? He just seems to have disappeared except for the War of 1812 paper. Any info on him would be so appreciated. Thank you again, Peggy
posted by PJ Stokes
I see no such son associated with either Elizabeth or Joseph. What is your source for James being their son?
posted by Jillaine Smith
Just realized the text incorrectly listed Samuel (a Martin son by a different woman). James - no middle name - was born about 1780, fought in War of 1812. Went west, date unknown probably was Removed in 1838. Wife unknown, had one daughter. Nothing is known of daughter except her name, Gu-yu-ne-gu, found on a claim regarding her father’s war service after his death in 1846. Not found on 1851 Drennan Roll.
posted by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
Betsy Martin’s birth and death dates are unknown, estimated as 1759-1803
posted by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
Betsy has an extra child. Whoever “Joseph” was, he was not her son.
posted by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
The June 12, 1793 bio event describing the killing and wounding of several people, including "Betty", the daughter of Nancy Ward is a direct copy of the text in the book.

It appears to be a true story with information about "the daughter of Nancy Ward" that contains a misspelling of the daughter's name (Betty vs. Betsy).

posted by Steve VanHorn
Betsy died about 1803 so she cannot be on an 1830 census. It looks like the profile for Betsy Martin, daughter of Nancy Ward, may have been combined with information for a different Betsy.
posted by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
The Ralph Diddle web site link on this profile is for a different woman.
posted by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
Betsy died about 1803; she and her mother visited the home of Joseph Martin in the Cherokee Nation, not the home of Bryant Ward. Martin’s son William described at least one visit.
posted by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
LNAB should be Ward.
posted by [Living McQueen]
maiden name should be Ward.
posted by Raymond Nichols DD
*BRITISH MARRIAGE RECORD

found on Family Search is probably not a match

07 Sep 1845

Saint Matthew,Walsall,Stafford,England

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N214-WBQ

posted by Raymond Nichols DD
Ward is her last name at birth. Martin is her married, current name.
posted by [Living McQueen]

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Categories: MtDNA haplogroup C1c | Cherokee