After we got our presents we go way anywhere and visit colored folks on other plantation. Some of the Masters family was always going down to the river and back, and every time they come in I have to fix something to eat. Thompson, mixed blood Cherokee Indian, but before that pappy had been owned by three different master; one was the Rich Joe Vann who lived down at Webber Falls and another was Chief Lowery of the Cherokees. Oh Lord, no. People just go and help themselves, till they couldn't eat no mo! They never sent us anywhere with a cotton dress. She won me lots of money, Black Hock did, and I kept it in the Savings Bank in Tahlequah. We had out time to go to bed and our time to get up in the morning. Everything was stripedy cause Mammy like to make it fancy. Old Master Joe had a mighty big farm and several families of Negroes, and he was a powerful rich man. Yes, my dear Lord yes. The following slave narratives all mention the Vanns. Yes Sa. All the slaves lived in a log house. He come to our house and Mistress said for us Negroes to give him something to eat and we did. After the assassination of James Vann in 1809, his will left all of his very large estate to only one of his children, Joseph Vann (thereafter known as "Rich Joe.").However, the National Council of Chiefs decided to annul Vann's Will and to provide additional shares for the other children: Mary Vann, Robert Vann, Lilly [Delilah Amelia] Vann, Master's name was Joe Sheppard, and he was a Cherokee Indian. When meal time come, someone ring that bell and all the slaves know its time to eat and stop their work. Joseph Vann, the husband of Wah li was probably born 1735-1740. The colored folks did most of the fiddlin'. She was raised up at dat mill, but she was borned in Tennessee before dey come out to de nation. The home was subsequently owned by . There was a bugler and someone callled the dances. Indians wouldn't allow their slaves to take their husband's name. I've heard em tell of rich Joe Vann. Johnson Thompson's father had been owned by "Rich Joe" Vann. They could have anything they wanted. We went down to the river for baptizings. Pappy's name was Caesar Sheppard and Mammy's name was Easter. We had a good song I remember. Do you know what I am going to do? My brothers was name Sone and Frank. My mother, grandmother, aunt Maria and cousin Clara, all worked in the big house. Young Master Joe let us have singing and be baptised if we want to, but I wasnt baptized till after the war. Pappy is buried in the church yard on Four Mile Branch. Joseph Vann is listed in the Cherokee census of 1835 as a resident of the Cherokee nation within the chartered limits of Hamilton County, Tennessee, his family consisting of fifteen persons. My mother was born way back in the hills of the old Flint district of the Cherokee Nation; just about where Scraper Oklahoma is now. Mistress say old Master and my pappy on the boat somewhere close to Louisville and the boiler bust and tear the boat up. He would tell em plain before hand, "Now no trouble." When the white folks danced the slaves would all sit or stand around and watch. Owned by the Cherokee Chief James Vann, the Vann House is a Georgia Historic Site on the National Register of Historic Places and one of the oldest remaining structures in the northern third of the state of Georgia. Joseph Vann, son of Chief Joseph Vann and his wife Margaret Scott Vann, married first, Jennie Springton, born December 23, 1804, died August 4, 1863. He sure stood good with de Cherokee neighbors we had, and dey all liked him. Old Mistress cried jest like any of de rest of us when de boat pull out with dem on it. Although he was born after slavery had ended, Nave's remembrances of what his father had told him about slavery days include some interesting details. They rendezvoused with other slaves who had agreed to participate in the revolt, stole horses to ride to their freedom, then broke into a store to steal guns, ammunition, food, and supplies they needed for their planned escape to Mexicowhere slavery was illegal. They never sent us anywhere with a cotton dress. He made a deal with Dave Mounts, a white man, who was moving into the Indian country to drive for him. He had black eyes and mustache but his hair was iron gray, and everybody like him because he was so good natured and kind. Lord no, he didn't. . He'd take us and enjoy us, you know. They'd bring whole wagon loads of hams, chickens and cake and pie. When we wanted to go anywhere we always got a horse, we never walked. Dey didn't have much and couldn't make anymore and dem so old. The slaves had a pretty easy time I think. Coming out of the army for the last time, Pappa took all the family and moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, but I guess he feel more at home wid the Indians for pretty soon we all move back, this time to a farm near Fort Gibson. When the war come they have a big battle away west of us, but I never see any battles. Vinita was the closeset town to where I was born; when I get older seem like they call it "the junction" on account the rails cross there, but I never ride on the trains, just stay at home. The married folks lived in little houses and there was big long houses for all the single men. When the Indians decided to return home for reinforcements, the slaves started moving again toward Mexico. There'd be races and people would have things what they was sellin' like moccasins and beads. Brown sugar, molasses, flour, corn-meal, dried beans, peas, fruits butter lard, was all kept in big wooden hogsheads; look something like a tub. Sometimes I eat my bread this morning none this evening. There was Mr. Jim Collins, and Mr. Bell, and Mr. Dave Franklin, and Mr. Jim Sutton and Mr. Blackburn that lived around close to us and dey all had slaves. The last one was named for Hubbard Ross; he was related to Chief John Ross and was some kin to Daniel Nave, my father's master. Old Master and Mistress kept on asking me did de night riders persecute me any but dey never did. Poor old master and mistress only lived a few years after de War. One of the Six Killer women was mighty good to us and we called her "mammy", that a long time after my mammy die though. He born at Spring Place, Georgia on February 11, 1798. Another time his officer give him a message; he was on his way to deliver it when the enemy spy him and cry out to stop, but father said he kept on going until he was shot in the leg. Single girls waited on the tables in the big house. Mammy had the wagon and two oxen, and we worked a good size patch there until she died, and then I git married to Cal Robertson to have somebody to take care of me. One day Missus Jennie say to Marster Jim, she says, "Mr. Vann, you come here. Sometimes we got to ride on one, cause we belonged to Old Jim Vann. Joseph was the son of a Chief of the Cherokees James Vann, and Nancy Brown Vann. 33, No. Joseph Vann took the rebel slaves belonging to him out of the Cherokee Nation and permanently assigned them to work on his steamboats. Smoeone call our names and everybody get a present. Joseph Lewis "Rooster Crowing". There was a bugler and someone called the dances. Betty Robertson's father worked aboard Joseph Vann's steamboat, Lucy Walker. Excepting master and mistress, couldn't nobody put things in there but her. There was lots of preserves. There Vann constructed a replica of his lost Georgia mansion. I got my allotment as a Cherokee Freedman, and so did Cal, but we lived here at this place because we was too old to work the land ourselves. In 1834 Cherokee chief James Vann's son Joseph lost the family home to the state. Then we all have big dinner, white folks in the big house, colored folks in their cabins. I got all my money and fine clothes from the marster and the missus. The participants in this near slave revolt received physical punishments, but none were killed. I sure did love her. Two year old when my mamma died so I remember nothing of her, and most of my sisters and brothers dead too. There was big parties and dances. Different friends would come and they'd show that arm. Hams cakes, pies, dresses, beads, everything. Dey didn't let us have much enjoyment. That sure was a tough time for the soldiers, for father said they fought and fought before the "Seesesh" soldiers finally took off to the south and the northern troops went back to Fort Gibson. She was weavin when the case came up so quick, missus Jennie put her in her own bed and took care of her. Every dollar she make on the track, I give it to Lucy." Master Thompson brought us from Texas when I was too little to remember about it, and I din't know how long it was before we was all sold to John Harnage, "Marse John" was his pet name and he liked to be called that-a-way. He used to take us to where Hyge Park is and we'd all go fishin'. It look lots of clothes for all them slaves. Lord have mercy I'll say they was. Chief Crazy James Vann James Clement Vann) Vann, Ii, <<Private>> Vann, Ii. View Site In slavery time the Cherokee Negroes do like anybody else when they is a death, jest listen to a chapter in the Bible and all cry. When crop was laid by de slaves jest work round at dis and dat and keep tol'able busy. Pretty soon everybody commenced a singing and a prayin'. I got my allotment as a Cherokee Freedman, and so did Cal, but we lived here at this place because we was too old to work the land ourselves. Someone maybe would be playing a fiddle or a banjo. Mammy work late in the night, and I hear the loom making noises while I try to sleep in the cabin. Couldn't nobody go there, less they turn the key. In 1837 ptior to the main Cherokee Removal, he transported a few hundred Cherokee men, women, children, slaves and horses aboard a flotilla of flat boats to Webber's Falls on the Arkansas River in Indian Territory. on the Ohio River. The 1860 Census records for Oklahoma (the last Census of the slavery era), indicates that the Cherokees held 4,600 Negro slaves; the Chickasaws owned 975; the Choctaws owned, 2,344; the Creeks held 1,532; and the Seminoles reportedly owned 500. Dere was a sister named Patsy; she died at Wagoner, Oklahoma. I had a silver dime on it, too, for along time, but I took it off and got me a box of snuff. Sometimes I eat my bread this morning none this evening. Everybody laugh and was happy. I don't know how old I is; some folks ay I'se ninety-two and some say I must be a hundred. After it was wove they dyed it all colors, blue, brown, purple, red, yellow. I had the money Black Hock had won on the track. Dey tole me some of dem was bad on negroes but I never did see none of dem night riding like some say dey did. My mother died when I'se small and my father married Delia Vann. Snow on the ground and the water was muddy and all full of pieces of ice. Master give me over to de National Freedmen's bureau and I was bound out to a Cherokee woman name Lizzie McGee. We even had brown sugar and cane molasses most of de time before de War, sometimes coffee, too. We settled down a little ways above Fort Gibson. Joseph Harold Vann, born 31 May 1920 in Canton Texas, passed away on 24 December 2003 in Fort Worth Texas. That house was on the place my papa said he bought from Billy Jones in 1895. He passed away on 21 Feb 1809 in Shot at Buffington Tavern, GA, USA. I'm goin' give Lucy this black mare. Everybody had fine clothes everybody had plenty to eat. Young Master Joe let us have singing and be baptized if we want to, but I wasn't baptized till after the War. Sometimes she pull my hair. My uncle Joe was de slave boss and he tell us what de Master say do. Explore historical records and family tree profiles about Chief Vann on MyHeritage, the world's family history network. They wanted everybody to know we was Marster Vann's slaves. Seem like it take a powerful lot of fighting to rid the country of them Rebs. John Joseph Vann: The Chowan Indians _ Native Heritage Project (PDF) John Washington Vann . We never had no school in slavery and it was agin' the law for anybody to even show a negro de letters and figures, so no Cherokee slave could read. The grandson reported that the Vann Family lived in that house until "the War," when some 3,000 federal troops descended upon Webbers Falls. He never seen them neither. Correction Note: The preceding comments by the interviewer incorrectly depicts the relationship between the family members. Some of us had money. There wasn't nothing left. My grandmother Clarinda Vann, bossed the kitchen and the washing and turned the key to the big bank. It was bad, oh it was bad. He was a slave on the Chism plantation, but came to Vann's all the time on account of the hourses. Yes Lord yes. All the colored folks lined up and the overseer he tell them what they must do that day. Marster never whipped no one. The Vanns were a prolific family who reused many names, so later in life he was referred to as "Rich Joe." He was one of eight children born to his father's nine wives. Chief Born (05 Mar 1746/47) - Chowan, North Carolina Deceased 21 February 1809 - Buffington S Tavern, Georgia, United States Parents Edward Sr Vann ca 1693-1752 Mary Barnes ca 1696-1748 Spouses and children With Margaret Scott 1783-1845 Married about 1765, Spring Place, IT., GA., to Mary Wah-Li Christiana, Princess 1750-ca 1835 with This database contains stories submitted to Ancestry family trees by users who have indicated that their tree can be . They are not related to the Cherokee VANN family. Old Master had some kind of business in Fort Smith, I think cause he used to ride into dat town about every day on his horse. Everybody had fine clothes everybody had plenty to eat. Everybody a hollerin' and a cryin'. She turned the key to the commissary too. My names' Lucinda Vann, I've been married twice but that don't make no difference. When the white folks danced the slaves would all sit or stand around and watch. Although Lucinda Vann was owned by Jim Vann, she told about the death of "Rich Joe" Vann and the recovery of one of his arms, following the deadly explosion on his steamboat, the Lucy Walker. In writing of him the Reverend John Gamble, a Moravian missionary said: "Mrs. Gamble and I love him as our own child and have not a complaint against him. In one month you have to get back. He was married, but that din't make no difference he courted her anyhow. Had to sign up all over again and tell who we was. James Vann had several other wives and children. When the war broke out, lots of Indians mustered up and went out of the territory. Yes I was! I had on my old clothes for the wedding, and I ain't had any good clothes since I was a little slave girl. He say he wanted to git de family all together agin. They taken some of their slaves with them. Below New Albany, the vessel blew up when one or more boilers blew up, killing the majority of the passengers and among them the owner and captain. My father was a carpenter and blacksmith as well as race-horse man and he wanted to make money. Some niggers say my pappy kept hollering, Rum it to the bank! Brother of Ca-lieu-cah Mary Vann I thought it was mighty big and fine. Cherokee VANN Family. When they wanted something put away they say, "Clarinda, come put this in the vault." The only song I remember from the soldiers was" "Hang Jeff Davis to a Sour Apple Tree," and I remember that because they said he used to be at Fort Gibson one time. But we couldn't learn to read or have a book, and the Cherokee folks was afraid to tell us about the letters because they have a law you go to jail and a big fine if you show a slave about the letters. It was tied up at de dock at Webbers Falls about a week and we went down and talked to my aunt an brothers and sister. He builds the large brick mansion house at Spring Place, Murray Country, Georgia, which stands today as a monument at its owner. [Note from curator: these slave narratives are not under copyright]. Hams cakes, pies, dresses, beads, everything. He went to the war for three years wid the Union soldiers. Used to go up and down the river in his steamboat. Everybody pretty near to crazy when they bring that arm home. We git three or four crops of different things out of dat farm every ear, and something growing on dat place winter and summer. When they get it they take it back to their cabin. Interestingly, Mrs. Vann also speaks of some time that her family spent before and during the war in Mexico. Its got a buokeys and a lead bullet in it. Marster and missus never allowed chillun to meddle in the big folks business. Born on February 11, 1798, in Murray County in northwest Georgia, Vann was the son of Chief James Vann and Margaret "Peggy" Scott. There was music, fine music. He owned 110 slaves and on his plantation there were thirty-five houses, a mill and a ferry boat. 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