As the main effort of the Revolutionary War appeared to be moving south and the British employment of Indian allies increased, Jacob Troxell was selected by WAshington's staff as one of several young men tomove by a round about route into the back country, posing as an Indian Trader, for the purpose of preventing the Indian Tribes from joining with the British against the Continental Army. Young Jacob Troxell, known as "Big Jake", because of his hieght of over 6 feet and easy friendly manner, was assigned to work with the indians of the upper Cumberland River. travelling down the Ohio River, he took a long round about route to reach his destination. Travelling overland in Ohio, he reached the old french trading Post at Vincennes which was the center of western Indian Trade. While there he made friends with a young Cherokee brave named Tuckahoe, the son of an important Chief of the Tribe of Cherokee (Tsa-Waaagan-Tribe) living along the upper Cumberland River in the general area of todays' McCreary, Pulaski, Wayne Counties. At the invitation of the young brave, Jacob troxell agreed to return with him to his home
villiage and to trade skins and furs that the tribe might produce. After a trip of about 200 miles, Trader Troxell and Young Tuckahoe arrived at his home villiage where Troxell was recieved by the Chief,known as Doublehead to the white hunters, with great respect and ceremony due to a distinguished visitor.
THE MARRIAGE OF JACOB TROXELL & CORNBLOSSOM- by Dan Troxell
The Cherokee wedding was held at and around Doubleheads cave (Wayne County). The ceremony was tribal. It is said in true memories and stories handed down through my generations of ancestors that the country side was in its late spring beauty. Wild Tree and field flowers were still in full bloom, especially the wild mountain Laurel> The "Beloved Woman", then young Cornblossmo, was said to have charmed everyone with her beauty as her blood ancestor, War Woman, She who carries the sun" (for her people) had done during the French and Indian War. Blossom of the Corn (cornblossom) was said to have worn specially made wedding clothes, highly decorated beaded sandals, and a special jewelled traditonal Chickamaugan head piece made by the Clan Mothers, over her left ear was said to be a beautiful ornamental wing of a bluebird. It was said that Cornblossom carried many blossom's and wild roses that perfumed the air with sweetness, and also an ear of special Clan Field Corn. This special ear of corn from the field of her Cherokee people clan symbolized the 1st woman who was called Selu in Cherokee. Jacob Troxell brought and carried the finest of meat partly symbolizing his care of the 1st man who was called Kanati in cherokee. The 1st man and woman on this world can be found in the stories of the Cherokee of the "Story of the Cornmaiden". Cornblossom walked with a great Thrunderbolt War Chief and Chickamaugan Principal Chief Dragging Canoe. Dragging Canoe was said to have led Cornblossom to the center front of Doublehead's cave (hines Cave, at Mill Springs, Monitcello Kentucky). This special cave was the burial chambers of the ancients and diplomatic party headquarters of the northern provisonal capital of the Chickamaugan Cherokee Nation. "Big Jake" Jacob Troxell was accompanied by the famous Cherokee Thunderbolt Peace Chief, Hanging Maw from another direction. Some say Cherokee War Chief Doublehead performed the marriage himself but according to the Cherokee Custom this was not allowed. Some highly believe that Dick Justice performed this marriage.
THE GREAT CHEROKEE MASACRE AT YWAHOO FALLS- BY Dan Troxell
On Friday, August 10, 1810, the Great Cherokee Childern Massacre took place at Ywahoo Falls in Southeast Kentucky. The Cherokee Villiage Leaders of the Cumberland Plateu Territory from Knoxville Tennessee to the Cumberland River in Kentucky were led by the northern provisional Thunderbolt District, Chief, Beloved Woman/ War Woman "Cornblossom", the highly honored daughter of Chief Doublehead. Several months before this date, beloved woman/ War Woman Cornblossom was preparing the people in all the Cherokee villiages of southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee to bring all thier to sacred Ywahoo Falls area of refuge and safety. Once all the Cherokee Childern were gathered they were to make a journey to Reverend Gideon Blackburn's Presbyterian Indian School at Sequatchi Valley outside of Chattanooga Tennessee in order to save all the childern of the Cherokee Nation, remaining in Kentucky and northern Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateu. This area of Sequatchie Valley was very near to "Lookout Mountain" in Chattanooga Tennessee. The once long held Chicamauga National Capital of the Thunderbolts.
For by this time, many Creek & Chickamaugan Thunderbolt Cherokee were defending the rest of the Indian Nations there as well. The arrangements to save the Cherokee Childern through Gideon Blackburn's white protection Christian Indian School, had been made earlier by Cornblossom's father, War Chief Doublehead, who had also several years earlier been assigned by non-tradionalist of the southern Cherokee Nation of the Carolina's and for eastern Tennessee. A huge gathering area underneath Ywahoo Falls itself, was to be the central meeting place for these women and childern to gather and wait. Then all the childern of all ages would go on as one group, southward, to the school to safety. From many Indian fighters gathering in neighboring counties of Wayne & Pulasksi in Kentucky. These Indian fighters were led by an old Franklinite Militiaman named Hiram "Big Tooth" Gregory who came from Sullivan County Tennessee at the settlement of Franklin and had fought many Franklinite Indian Campaigns under John Sevier to eliminate all the traditional Thunderbolt Cherokee's totally and without mercy. "Big Tooth" Gregory sanctioned by the United States Government War Department and Governor of the Territory, carried on the ill, famous Indian Battle Cry of John Sevier that "nits make Lice". Orders were understood by these Cherokee Haters, that nits (baby lice) would grow up to be adults and especially targeted in all campaigns of John Sevier's Franklinites were the Cherokee Women, prgenant women, and childern of all ages.
John Sevier, "Big Tooth" Gregory, and all the rest of the Frankilites philospy was that if they could destroy the childern of the Cherokee, there would be no cherokee's or Cherokee Nation to contend with in thier expansion of White Settlements, the white churches, and the claiming of territory for the United States. Orders were issued to the Franklinites to split open the belly of any pregnant Cherokee Woman, remove the baby inside her, and slice it as well. To the Franklinites the Cherokee baby inside her was the "nit" that would eventually make lice
In all the earlier campaigns of the Franklinites in the late 1700's, the blood and screams of the Cherokee childern were constantly heard throughout the Cumberland Plateu Territory from today's Knoxville Tennessee to the Cumberland River in southeast Kentucky and to all the joining territories. From as far as in Kentucky, present day Corbin and London and the lands within the present day Daniel Boone National Forest, the cries could be heard. The Lands from London to Cumberland Falls were ruled by many War Leaders. Among them was Great Warrior and & Friend to Cornblossom, Chief Red Bird, called Chief Cuttsuwah, decendant of the Great War Woman, Cutswah fell during the French Indian War at Burnside, Kentucky. Red Bird was also close relative of Cornblossom, War Chief Peter Troxell and thier decendants. The cries of Red Bird's woman and childern echoed many times in this gemocide campaign of the Franklinites to rid the area of powerful Cherokee leaders. The blood of many Warriors, men and women was spilled trying to defend thier Cherokee people. From where Pickett State Park lays in northern Tennessee, just below the Kentucky/Tennessee State Line lying south of present day Wayne County Kentucky. The cries of Women and childern and fallen Warriors of War Chief the Fox could also be heard. The "Fox" was also sometimes called "Black Fox" or "Captain Fox", he became known as "Captain Fox" when Doublehead and his loyal Thunderbolt War Parties in the late 1700's attacked a Militia in Kentucky, killing their leader which was a Captain in the American Army, as the "Fox" was the one who killed the Captain, he took his Militia overcoat in victory and wore it constantly. A fenzied "whoop dance" was performed on Lookout Mountain by Dragging Canoe, Doublehead and the "Bloody Seven" over this victory attack on the Kentucky Militia. The Fox became known to all Cherokee's as Captain Fox. Now the Villiages under Chief Captain Fox came under attack by the Franklinites.
Standing Fern from the Ywahoo Falls Area sent many warriors and War Women to counter the Franklinites move on boundaries, many times as did Cornblossom and War Chief Peter Troxell. War Chief Peter Troxell had attacked to the west of Ywahoo Falls in 1806 adn 1807, the settlers of Wayne & Pulaski Counties, bringing many settlers to the point of utter fear for their encroachments against the Cherokee's of the now Daniel Boone National Forest of southeast Kentucky, but in 1807 War Chief Peter Troxell agreed to turn over his scalping knife wife 9 notches to the authorities at the Courthouse in Wayne County. Peace would last just a short while, when the settlers of Wayne & Pulaski Counties bonded together in 1810 to break this Peace Treaty at the "Masacre of Ywahoo Falls". Many of the Cherokee traditionalist in Southeast Kentucky became more determined to serve thier people as ever. And from all this, the Thunderbolts endured the Militia of Franklinites, continued encroachments of white settlers, land speculators, the many southern Cherokee who allied themselves with the United States Government trying to defeat the tradionalist of Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee, all resulting in the Chickamaugan Cherokee separating even more from the southern Cherokee of the Carolina's to fight this continuing drastic change. Politically 2 Cherokee Nations were formed during Dragging Canoe's and Doublehead's fight for freedom of the tradionalist. The Southern Cherokee's of the Carolina's and far eastern Tennessee and the Chickamaugan Cherokee of of Georgia and Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky. For you see, over many many years, many of the southern Cherokee of the Carolina's who lived more close to white settlements leaned toward the US Government Policy of change, many became "inbred" within the white society, and as did whites, did collecting black and indians for slaves for themselves and to sell. With some becoming rich, many did away with the "old Ways" and played into the hands of politicians and land specultors to steal land as they themselves would now own land unto themselves.
Many of the southern Cherokee would also condemn the Thunderbolt ttradional Cherokee in Georgia, Tennesee and Kentucky who would not change and accept the the new ways of the European's, shamed and banished any Carolina Cherokee and elsewhere isolated themselves in the mountainous way before the "trail of tears" during this social civil strife between the people. These conformed Cherokee would brand any and all who kept thier ancient Cherokee heritage as traitors to the Cherokee People, and from all this strife of change, many traditional Cherokee Protectors arose. Dragging Canoe and Doublehead arose to defend the People. But by this date in 1810, Dragging Canoe and the rest of the so called "Bloody Seven" had either died a natural death or been killed. And War Chief Doublehead, Cornblossom's father, had met his death by means of assasination at the hands of Cherokee Conformist from the South.
And now in 1810, one more attempt would be made to destroy the Cherokee's who kept the old traditional ways, one more attempt would be made to destroy the "nits" that make lice, as many Cherokee women and childern came to Ywahoo Falls in order to make the Great "Childern" migration to Sequatchie Valley near Chattanooga Tennessee. In southeast Kentucky, underneath Ywahoo Falls itself, was War Woman Standing Fern, and over 100 Women, Childern, and others, who stationed themselves out from the Falls.
Standing Fern was the mighty Woman War Leader of the Ywahoo Falls Area and was married to War Cheif Peter Troxell, the first born son of Cornblossom. Cornblossom was married to "Big Jake" Jacob Troxell, 1/2 bred Delaware Warrior from Pennsylvania, who had been sent by personnel staff of President George Washington earlier to sway the Cherokee from the Spanish in Florida and move towards the New America in alliance. But Jacob had ended up joining the Cherokee instead, which came about over the inhumane cruelity the incoming settlers of Kentucky and Tennesee were inflicting on the Cherokee and other tribes of southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee. To the New Americans he had turned "Injun" again. By 1810, "Little Jake" War Chief Peter Troxell was a mighty War Cheif riding along side his mother, Cornblossom in indian Campaigns and protecting the sacred sites with his wife, Standing Fern. They were true Cherokee Thunderbolt and wore the sacred emblem and mark of the Thunder People. "the lighting bolt". Standing Fern was in charge of gathered childern, who by August 10th had almost asembled. Now they would wait for Cornblossom to bring her younger childern to the falls, then all would be ready and they would go southward in a childern fleeing journey more closer to the Thunderbolts of the south who arrive more stronger. Runners brought word to Standing Fern at the falls that her husband, War Chief Peter Troxell and Cornblossom were on thier way to Ywahoo Falls with the last of the childern, traveling with Cornblossom and War Chief Peter Troxell was Chief Redbird of the Cumberland Falls Area and thier childern, the youngest childern of Cornblossom, and all the childern of War Chief Peter Troxell. When they arrived at Ywahoo Falls the journey southward would begin. But before Cornblossom, Red Bird and War Chief Peter Troxell and all the childern with them arrived, the old Franklinites, "Indian Fighter", by the name of Hiram "Big Tooth" Gregory had heard of the planned trip and several days prior and headed immediatly for the falls area to kill them all with all muster to kill the Cherokee.
Breaking the peace treaty of 1807 between War Chief Peter Troxell and the Governor of Kentucky, "Big Tooth" Gregory's band of Indian Fighters crossed into Cherokee Indian territory and came in two directions, one group from Wayne County and the other from the neighboring Pulaski County in southeast Kentucky. The Indian on horseback joined together at what is now called Flat Rock, Kentucky and headed into the Ywahoo Falls Area with fiery hatred. "Big Tooth" Gregory and his Indian Fighters could not allow these childern (nits) to escape.
Being only one good accessible way in by land and one way by water, Gregory's band of Indian fighters chose the quick way by land, sending a few side skimisher's by way to block trying to escape. Before they reached the falls at todays entrance to Ywahoo Falls, the indian fighters encountered a front cherokee guard consisting of "Big Jake" Troxell, (husband to Cornblossom), a few long hunter's, friendly to the Cherokee, mainly through inter-marriage and some remaining Thunderbolt Warriors,all who were guarding the entrance to the falls. This occured shortly after midnight in the early morning hours of darkness before the rising of the sun. This will be the "night morning of screams". This will be the last day for many Childern. This will be the day that will forever mark the Troxell Cherokee Heritage in History.
Jacob Troxell, the long hunter's and warriors instantly sense trouble, a Cherokee runner takes off in flight to attempt to warn Standing Fern, at the falls, but he is cut down by two side skirmishers on the way. At the same time Jacob Troxell and the front guards lock in a fierce battle of flintlock against flintlock, and hand to hand fighting, trying to keep Gregory and his band out, but are overcome in a short time by the numbers of the Indian Fighters.
All the front guards are killed at the entrance of Ywahoo Falls. It is said through the memories of the Cherokee People of southeast Kentucky that Jacob Troxell and one renowed Great Warrior were the last to fall of the front guards. Jacob, now swinging a 1/2 broken and highly decorated War Club, in one hand, and a large skinning knife in the other, stood fighting hand to hand with blood coming out his mouth from several bodily wounds and was said to have kept screaming to the end in a loud voice over and over "the childern" "the childern". The Great Warrior witnessed the fall of Jacob Troxell, as the Indian Fighters took sharp aim adn fired a whole volly of lead into Jacob's body. Finally downing and scalping him. Jacob will survive this attack but his mortally wounded and will live 2 months before he dies as a result of the massacre. So some say Jacob died at this massacre, to denote his final breath to save the childern, because that was where his heart was- defending the childern of now forgotton people, lost within the hills and valley's of southeast Kentucky, waiting for remembrance to thier families. The Great Warrior who was still standing, was the last to fall, was jumped by several Indian Fighters and downed to the ground. Breaking his arms, the Indian fighters cut his throat and scalped him.
This had all been witnessed and watched by a hidden son of one of Front Guards, who was given orders to flee into the woods upon the approach of the Indian Fighters. This hidden son would carry down this memory for generations. (Today the entrance of Ywahoo Falls, there is a only one memorial grave marker with the name "Jacob Troxell" only, to mark remembrance of this incident, the Ywahoo Falls Area is a part of the Big South Fork River & Recreation Area of the National Park Service and the tallest Waterfall in Kentucky which drops 113 feet, underneath and behind the falls is an open huge gigantic rock shelter where the childern and Standing Fern gathered ). Gregory with his indian fighters, after scalping all the front guards, then moved onward in a rush to falls area. Lining themselves all long the top rim of the bluff surrounding the falls and large "rock house", below it. They began firing from all sides down on War Woman Standing Fern adn over 100 Cherokee Childern directly underneath there. The ones out from the falls ran, hid or escaped. Trapping with 100 childern, old men, pregnant women, and mothers underneath the falls. Gregory and his men worked their way down the gigantic area of the rock house and on the downward side path, while the ones on top kept them bottled in. As women and childern fell all around her from the volley of lead above, War Woman Standing Fern and her few warriors now take the two left and right inclining side paths that lead into the huge rock shelters hoping to meet and stop the Indian fighters looking outward from underneath the falls itself. Standing Fern and several warriors took the right path that would lead uoward. The trapped Cherokee people and childern old enough to hold a weapon grabbed whatever they could in thier grasps to defend themselves. Some would have only have a rock or a clay cooking bowl to throw or nothing at all to use as a weapon. Some of the ones who escaped out from the Falls, hid among the tree's, water and rocks and would watch in horror with tears to tell a story for generations, so that we will remember what happened that day; Friday August 10, 1810
Standing Fern and her warriors were quickly overcome by the Indian Fighters and brutally killed, but not before Standing Fern with a passion of defense taking with her several Indian Fighters in hand to hand combat. Along the right path while other warriors fought with the ever fevered courage of a Thunderbolt as well. The fall of Standing Fern occured at a narrow spot in the right path fighting several of the Indian fighters with a swinging hatchet in hand to hand combat. As she was fighting, she was shot twice, once in the shoulder and once in the hip, and gutted in the belly with an unseen knife. As the knife entered her belly, at the same time she was shoved over a ravine by several indian fighters, but not before taking several of them with her. With Standing Fern and several of her warriors defeated and murdered, the indian fighters set upon the childern and others that were trapped under the falls, rushing it with more volley's of lead and close attack. Using what useless weapons they had, the womenold men and childern of all ages fell prey to the evil dark designs of the attackers. They screamed an earthquake of death and tears. The water and ground ran red.
Hiram "Big Tooth" Gregory and all his Indian fighters raped the women and young females childern of all ages, pillaged, cut out there bellies open, murdered and scalped over 100 chickamaugan Cherokee women and children that had been huddled together and screamed and pleaded for thier life.
Meanwhile, the same day, the party of Cornblossom approached the childern. As the party came closer to the falls area, it is said a hawk flew above and lit in a nearby tree, and acted strange. Investigating this remarkable occurance, it was found that the tree was bleeding blood out of its bark, the leaves trembled, and the sound of the hawk was a cry and scream of baby. Fearing something was wrong, Cornblossom and her party pushed onward in a frantci pace to get her childern to the falls and safety. When Cornblossom arrived at the Falls entrance area, she found all of the front guards brutally scalped and killed. With her husband "Big Jake" Troxell. Leaving the childern with some women, Cornblossom and her son War Chief Peter Troxell, Red Bird, and their party of warriors and war women rushed to the falls itself where the find some of Gregory's murder's, who had remained behind still finishing their evil work of rape, torture and scalping.
Cornblossom screams for her warriors Red Bird (Aaron Brock) and her son War Chief Peter Troxell to killl these remaining men with a blow of passion, her famous cry was once again heard as she had always shouted in her mnay campaigns "Shoot twice,not once". War Chief Peter Troxell, Chief Red Bird and the Thunderbolt Warriors, along with beloved Woman/ War Woman Cornblossom, charge the murders with screaming Cherokee War Hoops and passion of justice, a battle ensues with a short volley of rifle fire and close hand to hand combat with all its fiercness. All the remaining Gregory Indian fighters are cut down to never more harm the Cherokee people
From this last fight of Cornblossom, her son War Chief Peter Troxell was himself killed at the huge shelter rock underneath the falls. And Cornblossom herself recieved an agonizing long rife gunshot injury. Cornblossom will live for 2 days before this wound takes its full toll on her life. Beloved woman Cornblossom wounded and in such pain from the wound and sorrow, will sing and wail the "Death Song of the Cherokees" underneath and top the ancient sacred grounds of Ywahoo Falls over and over for 2 days and nights. Clinching her raised fists and raised open arms to the great spirit, day and night. she kept screaming the words of her father Doublehead, son War Chief Peter Troxell and daughter-in-law Standing Fern; "We are not conquered yet" And on the 3rd day, as the blazing eastern morning sun would rose over the mountains and valley's of Kentucky, Cornblossom passed onto great Cherokee history as a great war woman to her people and a great mother of future generations. May we not forget her or her childern. Remember her with a cherokee tear and honor.
From this massacre, Jacob Troxell, the Great Warrior and all the front guards killed, War Woman Standing Fern, and all her elite Thunderbolt Warriors, all killed defending the childern below the falls. Peter Troxell killed in the last fight, and over 100 women and childern waiting to go south to safety in a childern journey Christain Mission School all lay dead, raped, masscred, tortured and scalped by these Indian fighters. It was said that "bones and blood ran so deep underneath Ywahoo Falls that are murdered dead were put there together in a heap to be their grave. The place of innocense and the ancient ones now become a place of death of the innocent. The Falls ran red that day of darkness, Friday August 10, 1810. No more will they witness the blessed moonbow at Cumberland Falls and recieve its sacred blessing. No more will they hear great orations spoke at Ywahoo Falls, by not only the many Cherokee Leaders of the Nation, but the other great orators from other Tribal neighbors as well. William Troxell, the youngest son of Cornblossom, will forever keep the fires of memory alive, so all may know what happened on Friday August 10, 1810. These fires will be carried by William to Alabama were the stories are etched and burned into generations to come of Troxell's and whoever may listen and remember.
A relative Troxell and a Blevins man of the Area reports this incident to the Sheriff of Wayne County, but nothing is done, nor is Hiram "Big Tooth" Gregory brought to justice, for the many non-indians believed "nits make lice"
Beloved Woman Cornblossom wails and suffers so much over the dead that she dies of grief a couple of days after the massacre of her husband, son and daughter in law and over 100 loved women, childern of her Cherokee people. The grief was so sorrowful and hard. It is said that on her last breath to leave her body was the soft words, " We are not conquered yet, remember my childern, remember my people".
This massacre ended all power of the Chickamaugan Cherokee People in Kentucky to Knoxville Tennesee. Cornblossom and Standing Fern were the last powerful Beloved Women/War Women of the Thunderbolt Cherokee's of Cumberland Plateu, War Cheif Peter Troxell, son of Cornblossom, was the last of the Great powerful Cherokee War Chief's of Kentucky and the Cumberland Plateu. These people of southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee held out unto death. And as it has been said, "today was a good day to die" we are not conquered yet, the rest of the childern of Cornblossom, the childern of Standing Fern and War Chief Peter Troxell and Red Bird were spared from this tragedy to live on, generation after generation, some keeping the memory and history alive of the Cherokee nation. With no powerful Cherokee leaders left in Kentucky and the Cumberland Plateu to hold any strong ponier, many cherokee leave the southfork area of southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee after the Great Massacre in fear of white's, while others became isolated and hide in the mountains. The childern's childern of War Chief Peter Troxell, Standing Fern,and Cornblossom will isolate themselves in the Valleys and mountains of southeast Kentucky, with some holding the memory of their great Cherokee heritage, to not speak openly or too much until the time has come for remembrance.
After the massacre of Ywahoo Falls, Reverend Blackburn's illness and grief over many women and childern killed at Ywahoo Falls in southeast Kentucky. Reverend Blackburn is caught with a boatload of whiskey and becomes an alcholic. Chief Red Bird isolates himself and his people that live near Cumberland Falls and sends any remaining people into hiding until remembrance.
The childern of Cornblossom and Standing Fern survived. William Troxell, the youngest son of Cornblossom survived and removed himself to Alabama 7 yrs after the massacre and lived with the Creeks, and become a link between the hidden Cherokee of Kentucky and Tennessee before and after the "trail of tears". But there is more to be told that come after the massacre, events that will shape history into meaning and not only the Doublehead Legacy, but for all that survived the invasion of settlers. Survival of the childern and their generations to come, and this will center on the decendants of in Southeastern Kentucky and William Troxell, and the legacy that will now transpire in Alabama. In order to protect the childern and their generations, many things were done to preserve, to hide things, things on one hand presented to settlers to be true, while in reality other things came about. And this tactic of survival was given to them by Doublehead. As there were Cherokee survivors to this massacre, many did die a brutal death from it. Doublehead's desecent of his childern were considered by the settlers to be not only a real threat, but a future threat as well. Also in the last fight of Cornblossom, Peter Troxell and Red Bird, when they attacked the remaining murders at the falls, 3 of the white men were held and spared briefly and executed personnally by the hidden childern who had escaped and run into the nearby hills. This execute of justice come shortly after the passing of Cornblossom on the 3rd day, after being weighed in judgement by the Cherokee Council of women of Red Bird. The first blow was said to have been struck by the son of the Great Warrior that fell among the front guards. His name was Tommy Bright Star, who will also remove himself to Alabama later with William Troxell. One of the the 3 white men executed by the childern was close blood kin to Indian Fighter Hiram "Big Tooth" Gregory, his name was Homer Gregory, believed to be the brother to Hiram.
The many Indian hating settlers along with the Kentucky and Tennessee Militia deemed this massacre the last of the resistance movement of Kentucky Cherokee's and Northern Tennessee. The aftermath of this Cherokee massacre brought new questionable ideals to the now called victorious gloated settlers. Questions Like; Is the Cherokee resistance really over, or will it somewhere cause retalliation occur? Are they truly conquered or defeated. And what of the childern, wil they assimolate into non-indian society, or must they be dealt with harshly? Many questions such as pondering on what next. The settlers now feeling powerful and self-dominated ponder on the next steps to take in Cherokee matters.
Foreseeing more tragic events in southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee, and understanding that the Indian fighters are now recieving bits and pieces of rumors that some Cherokee Leaders are not dead, and probably survived, and that Homer Gregory and 2 others were executed, the Cherokee's must keep one step ahead of the settlers by making widely known that the massacre event had killed all their leaders, especially the ones of Doublehead/Cornblossom connection and decent who had any Cherokee Power.TRUE: Peter Troxall, Standing Fern, The Great Warrior and many front guards and over 100 Cherokee women and childern were slaughtered at the massacre. All who had strong connections with the Doublehead Legacy. However, what is kept from the settlers, is that Jacob Troxell and some others, were the ones did not die from their wounds. The others were the ones who had escaped before the massacre had begun.But Jacob will suffer much pain from his wounds. William Troxell, 7 yrs after the massacre in 1817, will concealingly take Jacob and some other Cherokee with him to north east Alabama. War Cheif Peter Troxell became the last father of his people, father of his brothers and sisters in honor, and that is why some say Peter Troxell is their decent, so no one will forget him as well. But first things must be concealed from the non-indian. Jacob's 3 trading posts are burned by the Cherokee and goods distrubuted to the people. Caves are dilibertly sand walled and collasped in southeast Kentucky and in northern Tennessee. Some Cherokee travelled into the non-indian territory of Wayne and Pulaski and Green counties to conceal things of importance. While other things are secretly transported to Alabama, though the guise of Cherokee women acting like non-indian women. Villiages, burial grounds and other important things of past leaders are shuffled to conceal on and on. To the settlers, Jacob Troxell could not be allowed to live, he was polically a threat, as he was married to Cornblossom, daughter of Doublehead which could stir up the Cherokee's again to resistance. If any of the leaders were to have survived. Blood shed, after blood shed could have occured with all the Cherokees observe itself in time and history
This is a picture I had found on another web page. The site owner states that this is a granddaughter of Cornblossom who is surpose to have looked just like her. I wish I still had this address for this site, to give the owner credit for this picture. I remember it stated that they found it in a Wayne County Kentucky Library, it was taped over a drawling someone had made of Princess Cornblossom
CORNBLOSSOM MEMORIAL
Burial site of Cornblossom, daughter of Cheif Doublehead, legend is that as a young girl she accompanied her father at the signing of "Treaty of Sycamore Shoals, 1775" transferring Cherokee's lands between Ohio and Cumberland Rivers to Transylvania Society. As Quaw Tribe settled in region south of the River. Protecting the Tribe's secret mine, she killed a Renegade. Married Big Jake, trader
REVOLUTIONARY WAR CLAIM R 10777
State of Tennessee
Marion County – County Court August Session 1832
On the 22nd day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before
the worshipful Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of
the County of Marion and the State of Tennessee now sitting, being a
court of record, Jacob Troxel, a resident of Marion County and State of
Tennessee, aged about 73 years who being first duly sworn according to
law doth make on his oath the following declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the act of Congress passed Jun 7th 1832. That he entered
the service of the United States under the following named officers and
have as herein after served as herein after stated, to wit:
First: He was drafted in Loudoun County in the state of Virginia in the
winter he believes of the year 1777, his captain's name he can not
recollect He with the company to which he belonged was ordered to guard
and conduct some prisoners taken from the British to the lower parts of
Virginia which services he performed then returned to Loudoun County and
was dismissed by his officers but got no discharge was in service
something more than one month.
In the winter (as well as he can recollect), of the year 1778 he
volunteered in a horse company at a place called Red Stone, the name of
the county not recollected, he believes in the state of Virginia. His
officers were Captain Ford and Colonel Crawford the same that was
afterwards burned by the Indians Marched to Fort McIntosh and there
joined the regulars commanded by Colonel Campbell and General McIntosh
had the command of the troops and marched against the Shawnees and
Delaware Indians after remaining at a Fort the name of which he does not
recollect he returned and was dismissed by his officers about harvest
in the same year after having served six months got no discharge.
In the summer of the year 1781 he was drafted in Loudoun County and
state of Virginia, His officers were Captain Lewis and Colonel West. He
joined the troops under General Washington who was marching to York Town
in Virginia and remained under Washington until after Lord Cornwallis
was taken and for some time afterwards and was then dismissed by Captain
Lewis some time in the fall of the same year after having been in
service six months but got no discharge. He knows of no person living by
which he can prove his services.
He was acquainted with General Washington and Colonel Campbell and
officers of the regular Army besides other officers whose names he does
not recollect. He was born (from the best information he can collect) in
the year 1759 in the county of Frederick in the state of Maryland and
lived there 13 years and removed to Loudoun County state of Virginia
where he lived 19 years removed back to the state of Maryland and
remained there 4 years, removed to Sullivan County in the state of
Tennessee and remained there 4 years, removed to Sevier County in the
state of Tennessee and remained there 3 years removed to Pulaski County,
Kentucky and remained there 2 years removed to Wayne County Kentucky and
remained there about 20 years and removed to Jackson County Alabama and
remained there 4 years and from there he removed to Marion County in the
State of Tennessee where he has lived about 4 years. He states that he
is known in his neighborhood to John Hail, Luke Hendrox, esquire,
Richard Blevins, Josiah Conn a clergyman, James Cooper and Tarton
Blevins who can testify as to his character for veracity and their
belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. He states that he
has no record of his age nor never has seen one. He hereby relinquishes
every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and
declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Jacob Troxell
We, Josiah Conn a clergyman, a resident of the county of Marion and John
Hail and Richard Blevins, residents of the same county hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Jacob Troxell who has subscribed and
sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 73 years of
age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he
resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that
opinion .
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Josiah Conn
John Hail
Richard Blevens
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the
investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a
revolutionary soldier and as he states. And the court further certifies
that it appears to them that Josiah Conn, who has signed this proceeding
________ is a clergyman resident in the county of Marion and that John
Hail and Richard Blevins ____ has signed the same, are residents of the
same county and are creditable persons and that their statements are
____ to credit.
John Mitchell
Jon_______
Amos Griffith
I, John P. Kellly, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for
Marion County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jacob
Troxel for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and private seal of
office for the time being no seal of office ____ at office in Jasper
this 23tr day of August 1832 .
Jno Kelly, Clk
Also in the file is a letter from the Treasury Department dated 25 April
1916 to the Commissioner of Pensions reading:
Sir:
In reply to your letter of the 21st instant, you are informed that
according to the latest account rendered by the U.S. Pension Agent at
Knoxville, Tennessee, the records of this office show last payment to
have been made to Jacob Troxel, Pri. Army Rev, certificate No. 19080, at
$43.33 per annum to July 1, 1843, the date of his death, to William O.
Winston, Attorney for Elizabeth Troxel, widow.
Said pensioner died in Dekalb County, Alabama, where he had resided.
Respectfully, Oscar A. Price, Auditor
There was also a letter from the Treasury Department dated Sept. 9, 1845
to the Commissioner of Pensions, giving the same information as above.
There is a brief listing of Jacob's three terms of service, and several
questions. One was:
In what battles was he engaged? the answer -- none.
There were also several letters written over the years from private
citizens (descendants) inquiring about Jacob's service in the
Revolution.
Records of one only Jacob Troxell, Pension claim R 10777 Claim states tha he ws born 1759 in Fredericks County Maryland, lived there 13 years,then in Louden County Virginia. He first enlisted in the winter of 1777, second in the winter of 1778 in Captain Ford's Company, Colonel Crawford's Virginia Regiment under General McIntosh's expedition against the Indians. 3rd, 6 months in Captain Lewis Compan, Colonel West VA regiment. He lived in Louden County Virginia about 19 yrs, moved back to Maryland for 4 years then to Sullivan County Tennessee for 4 yrs, then to Sevier County Tennessee for 3 yrs, thence to Pulaski County Kentucky for 20 yrs (he lived in the part of Pulaski that became Wayne in 1804 ) then to Jackson County Alabama for 4 yrs to Marion County Tennesee and finally he died July 1, 1843 in Dekaulb County Alabama where he resided. He was survived by his widow, Elizabeth, who was denied a pension, probably because she could not document their marriage. Jacob was granted a pension of $43.33 per year. The date of the petetion was August 23, 1832, Jacob was 75 yrs old.
1835 TENNESSEE PENSIONERS ROLL ( Revolutionary War )
MARION COUNTY
JACOB TROXELL
PRIVATE
VIRGINIA LINE
ANNUAL ALLOWANCE: $43.33
ANNUAL ALLOTMENT: $ 129.99
DATE STARTED: August 2, 1833
AGE: 75
Jacob supposedly married ( 2nd) Elizabeth Blevins. There is also Blevin's who signed or witnessed in Jacob Troxell's pension. There are also Elisha, Johnathan
and John Blevins who listed in 1819 settler's on Indian lands in Marion County Tennessee. There is also a WILLIAM TRUSSELL who lists on the 1836 Tax list for Marion County Tennessee. Could this have been William Troxell
CHILDERN OF JACOB TROXELL & PRINCESS CORNBLOSSOM