Mary (Terrapin) Vann (1775 - 1833)

Born 1775 in Cherokee Nation (East)

Died 1833 at about age 58 in Cherokee Nation (East)

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Biography

Polly Terrapin was born about 1775. She was the daughter of a man named Terrapin and his wife Jenny. ^[1] and niece of Chief Bark. (Note: The Moravians weren't always clear on Cherokee family relationships and sometimes recorded The Bark as George Vann's grandfather (incorrect), sometimes as his great-uncle (correct). Any older man from a mother's family might be called "grandfather)). Based on the age of their son, Polly married John Vann about 1790-93. They were the parents of George Vann, who was one of the first two students of the Moravian missionaries. "Mother Vann [John Vann's sister] brought an Indian child [George Vann] here who is supposed to come to us in the school.... " May 11, 1804. ^[2] John died in 1806 ^[3] and reports say that Polly died by drowning in 1833.

Sources

1. ↑ "Then an old widow, Jenny, the grandmother of our George...," Crews & Starbuck, eds. Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees. Cherokee Heritage Press, Tahlequah, OK. Vol. 3, p. 1085
2. ↑ Crews & Starbuck, eds. Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees. Cherokee Heritage Press, Tahlequah, OK. Vol. II, p. 728
3. ↑ "Many … had died of the smallpox this fall. Among others was also son of Chief Bark as well as the husband of our George's mother." 20 Dec 1806.