"Red Bird"

Chief Red Bird is alleged to be Aaron Brock, father of Jesse Brock.  To date there has been no documentation located regarding Aaron Brock and very little data referencing a Red Bird and none confirming a connection to the Brocks.  A search is underway to locate all documentation available and to post this data for each person to discern for themselves. 

Per data currently available, there were at least two Cherokee's named Red Bird. One Red Bird was murdered along with his friend Will by Ned Mitchell and John Livingston. An account of this murder is among the Letters of John Sevier, Governor of Tennessee, in early 1797 (see below). As this Red Bird's death occurred in early 1797 or 1796, he could not have been the Red Bird who signed the Treaty of Tellico in 1805 or the Treaty of Washington D.C. in 1806, or was a signer of the 1806 letter from the young Chiefs in Nine Towns. 
 

Death of Red Bird and Will

Letters from John Sevier, Governor of Tennessee

mentioning the killing of two Cherokee's, Red Bird and Will. 

Tennessee State Library and Archives: Tennessee Documentary History, 1796-1850

This work is the property of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching, and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.

By following the links provided these letters can be viewed in their entirety along with actual images.

Note: Occasionally there is some difficulty in retrieving this data from University of TN Digital Library.  These records are also available at Digital Library of George: Southeastern Native American Documents

• 1797 Feb. 10, to The Warriors and Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation:  "when I first heard that two of your people was killed I did not believe it, and My reason was that none of your people sent me any information, neither did the agent, or any person make any complaint, which ought to have been done and had it been the Case then I would have endeavored to have the men taken, that killed your people, Altho  it was done in I am informed in the State of Kentucky , tho I believe the men that did it lives in this state that committed the murder"

• 1797 Feb. 10, to Silas Dinsmore: "many reports seem to confirm that two indians were very inhumanly Murdered some where near unto the head of Kentucky River , by two Men supposed to live in Hawkins county"

• 1797 Feb. 14, to William Blount: Cherokees retaliated by killing two people and wounded one. "done in retaliation for two indians said to be very inhumanly murdered by Ned Mitchell And John Levistone  some where near unto the head of Kentucky river"

• 1797 Mar. 5, to John Watts and other chiefs of the Cherokee Nation: "I know very well, that some of our the white people are bad men and have been guilty of a horrid Crime in killing the red bird and Will , and I expect that when ever they can be taken they will shall suffer for it, one of them has run away and the other as yet is not taken"

• 1797 Mar. 17, to Gov. Garrard of KY: states "The wanton and unprovoked murder Committed on the red Bird and another Indian of the Cherokee tribe, is a crime so Atrocious and Agrevating in its nature, that it is my Sincere wish & desire to have the perpetrators apprehended, in order they may Suffer agreably to the demerit of their Crimes."

• 1797, Mar. 19, to the Sheriff of Hawkins Co., TN: "I am just now informed by an express from the Governor of the state of Kentucky , that a Most Cruel daring and unprovoked murder was perpetrated by Edward Mitchel  and John Levingston , Citizens of this State And inhabitants of Hawkins county, on two indians  of the Cherokee Nation (one of the name of red Bird  who was hunting in the state of Kentucky , On the waters of Kentucky river."

• 1797, Mar. 28, to the warriors & chiefs of the Cherokee Nation: "I have recd. an express from the Governor of Kentucky which informs me that two men Citizens of the State of Tennessee , has murdered two men of your nation (one of the name of Red Bird) This murder was committed within the bounds and State of Kentucky , and the Governor thereof has demanded of me to send them into that State to be tryed for the murder agreably to the laws of the that State"

"Annals of Tennessee", Page 678,  by Dr. JGM Ramsey
 

"Early in this year (1797), disturbances of a serious nature prevailed among the Upper Cherokees.  Edward Mitchell and William Livingston went to the camp of some Indian hunters, where they were informed, by Lame Will, that Red Bird had gone to the camp of some white people.  On his return he was met by Mitchell and Livingston, who fired upon and killed him.  They then returned to the Indian camp, when  Mitchell fired at, but missed, Lame

Will, who, with a knife in one hand and a crutch in the other, made towards Mitchell, who ran off.  Livingston then coming up, encountered Will, and, after several unsuccessful attempts to shoot him, drew his tomahawk and killed him."

NOTE:  (From the author)  For many of the incidents occurring in Blount county, I am indebted to Samuel Bogle, Esq.  one of it's worthiest pioneers, now nearly one hundred years old, but still vigorous and clearminded.  He was, himself, an active participator in  most of the difficulties with the Indians.  Mor. Bogle is, in every respect, an excellent specimen of the frontier citizen and soldier, and is one of the few surviving pioneers of Tennessee, living, in patriarchal simplicity and rural quiet, on Elijah, near the old Indian War Trace.

The Annals of Tennessee is an 800+ page book written concerning the years of 1769 to 1800, originally printed in 1853 by Dr. Ramsey with subsequent printings in 1967 and 1999

Read more below about the death of Red Bird in the  Dr. John J. Dickey Diaries

Additional Information on a Cherokee named Red Bird

American State Papers - Indian Affairs: Volume 1, Page 282

Source: The Library of Congress - American Memory Collection http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html 

Information given by Red Bird, a Cherokee, respecting his nation, -September 15^th, 1792

Information from the Red Bird, a Cherokee, who came to Nine-miles, on the 4^th September, to the house of Major Craig and told him that six or seven Indians were out, in order to do mischief on the frontiers, and,  he believed, in the south of Holston; that part of the men were Shawanese, and part were Cherokees, from Running water or Nickajack.  A few days afterwards, to wit: a day or two after Cockran was shot at, he came back and told Major Craig, that the Indians had heard that he had given the information, and were much dissatisfied with him, and that he was threatened with the law, referring to one that had been made some time before: “That any Indian, a native of the Cherokees, who should give intelligence to the whites of any orders which the nation took in council, or otherwise, he should forfeit his property, and be banished the country.”  He then told him that John Watts had been to Pensacola; that he brought home seven horse loads of ammunition, and as many accoutrements as were sufficient to equip two hundred horsemen, to with, swords, &c. and that Watts was appointed to command the Creeks and the Cherokees who should be called into the field, and be for war, and that the Creek nation had met in council, and agreed to the appointment.

That the determination of the War Department was, provided the Upper towns of the Cherokees would not come into measure of the war, that they would send out a party, and fall on the frontiers next the Upper towns, and so harass them, that the whites would be irritated to kill some of the Indians of those towns, which would induce them to consider the war general.  He yesterday told Major Craig, that he might rely thirty Creeks had crossed the Tennessee, near Nive, about eight miles above the junction with the Holston, and supposed them out for the purpose he before me told him, and that the whites ought to be on their guard.  That the party from the five towns, who were gathered together to declare war against the United States, and to commit depredations on the frontiers, were not so much stopped by the Glass, the Bloody Fellow, and Watts, as by Unanecata, who returned from Knoxville just as they had assembled.

That the head-men of the other towns went talks to the five Lower towns, not to go so soon to war; their corn was not yet ripe; that the white people would come and destroy it and their towns, and they would not be able to stand hunger and cold both at the same time.

The Red Bird adds, he does not know whether it was policy of the head-men to stop the party from going to war, or whether they meant that they were willing for war after the corn was hard and gathered, but he should soon know and inform Major Craig.

Note. This information was delivered to Governor Blount by Major Craig, on the 13th September, 1792.

The Red Bird is a fellow of understanding, and has heretofore been considered a great enemy to the white people, and is as likely to be in the councils of those who machinate mischief, as any other man.

Treaties signed by A Red Bird

• Treaty of Tellico October 25, 1805

• Treaty of Washington D.C. January 7, 1806

1806 Letter from the young Chiefs in Nine Towns to the Cherokee Nation

Signers of this letter include Red Bird and many of the other Chiefs who signed the Treaty of Tellico and Treaty of Washington D.C.

Tennessee State Library and Archives: Tennessee Documentary History, 1796-1850

To View actual images http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=tdh;cc=tdh;sid=6e86e9aeb12de9e5a029fe11420bfc98;q1=bird;rgn=main;view=text;idno=pa0020

The Talk to our own people this meeting_
 

We are met here nine Towns of us on the river, Though you are all sensible of it & we would wish for you all to hear us Talk in this country what is concluded on at this meeting_ we are met together at this place. we the younger Chiefs & we consider our old head men though we see but two or three of them now left on this quarter of our Nation & we think a great deal of them we have lost-our old head men who did rule the Nation & they were the people that made peace for us all & it is not right that the oldest head men should be turned of a side when the life is still in them when Death calls them away then we cant help it. We ought all to be sensible of this, that these old Chiefs were the means of our having peace with all the red people as will as the whites, & now turn them of it is wrong & we are the younger people to stand before them it does not look right & we must know that the old Chiefs ought to be by consulting their young Chiefs We the Cherokees ought all to use our old head men good for they were the men at first peace us all_

There is a story raised about them that they have sold land_ this thing cannot be done without the consent of our nation, and when land is sold we all know of it & also when land is sold by any of the red people round us we all know & hear it_ and we may expect it will be the case that land will be sold by our neighbours

the Chickasaws we have no reason to disbelieve it, these are the people that our people ought to talk to about selling land_ & it would look better that those men who talks about our selling land, they ought to stop the Chickasaws from selling our land & not blame us_ we remember very well that some time ago, that it was agreed on that this part of the nation should rule as far as Connasaga & now we have told you there are nine Towns of us met here together & consider that it is not right for some of you to come & bring your guns & point then to us. If we have done a fault you ought to send word to us & let us make everything straight_

If any of you does a fault we do not go there & shoot at your houses & point guns to none of your people_ as we before mentioned the decision to us far as Connasauga the head men done this in order that the people should get there presents equally & also if any should steal or do any thing that was bad the parties should punish the offender or transgressor by themselves_ & we also inform you that we expect that Colo. Meigs thought proper that them should be one to interpret & to write & read letters for us on this part of the nation_ John Thompson on this part & Charles Hicks on your part for when a letter comes to us we cannot do without one as Charles Hicks lives so far that he cannot be every where.

It was not expected that our Friend Hicks should be turned of but these two should talk for us all

we expected that we should see some of you, but we expect that something has prevented your not coming, we now inform you the reason that we called a meeting at this place which was that we might appoint another Beloved man at this town in place of the one that died this winter_ & we expect that you will do the same in your part of the nation the same as we have done we must choose good men for our beloved men_

Friend we are met at this Town or place nine Towns & have heard all the talks & am Glad to hear the good talks we hope the Great spirit will conduct you all & put your minds together as one you have been talking three days & we hope our friend will consider well & take every thing into consideration, & for all our young Chief to be of one way of thinking & the older ones ought to be of one do the same. This is a talk from the new beloved man that is here appointed now called the Standing formerly called

Jno Thompson

Double Head
The Glass
Dick Justice
Town Bull

Turtle at home

Parch Flour
Red Bird

& yechalle of wills Town

More about the Death of Red Bird

Dr. John J. Dickey Diaries

Note: There were three entries in the Dickey Diaries regarding the death of Red Bird.  The first entry, by Captain Byron, references the death of Red Bird and his companion Willie. The two other entries by Abijah and John R. Gilbert list Red Bird's companion as Jack. As all three entries mention John Gilbert these accounts most likely refer to the same event. 

Dr. John J. Dickey Diary, Page 2074, Captain Byron: The Indian Chief for whom Red Bird Creek in Clay County was named, was probably a Cherokee from Tennessee or North Carolina. Like others of his race he was a great hunter and allured by the game in this remote region. He finally took up his residence on the creek that bears his name at the mouth of Jack's creek in this county. He came to his death by the avarice of the "pale face". There lived with him a crippled Indian named Willie. This man dressed the skins which Red Bird brought to their wigwam and looked after the culinary department of the house. Some hunters from North Carolina, greedy and unscrupulous, came to the wigwam and murdered Willie. They then secreted themselves and awaited the return of the brave chief who had long before buried his tomahawk and for many years had been living in peace with the white man and as he approached his crude castle the bullet of an assassin laid him in the dust. They threw his body into a hole of water near by, still called "Willie's Hole" from which John Gilbert and others took him and buried him. One tradition is that he was sitting on the bank of the creek fishing when he was shot and that he fell into the creek.

Dr. John J. Dickey Diary, Page 2386, Abijah Gilbert: Red Bird was killed by some hunters below the mouth of Big Creek and thrown into a hole of water. I do not know whether my father helped to bury him or not. I have heard my father talk about Red Bird but I do not remember anything definitely now. There was no justification for the murder of Red Bird. The hunters quarreled with him about furs and killed him out of greed. He had an Indian with him called Jack, who escaped.

Dr. John J. Dickey Diary, Page 2390, John R. Gilbert: I was born in Clay County, KY September 18, 1841. I am a son of Abijah and Martha Gilbert. I knew my grandfather, John Gilbert well. I used to be with him a great deal. When I was 14 years old, he and I were passing the mouth of Hectors Creek. He said here in this bottom just above the mouth of this creek is where Red Bird was killed. Red Bird and his companion, Jack, were asleep. A party of white men came along. A young man in the party had lost his father by the Indians and he had taken a vow that he would kill the first Indian he should meet. This was the first chance. He took the tomahawk of these sleeping Indians and with it killed them and then threw them in the river. He said he came along a short time after the murder was committed and saw their bodies. I think he helped to bury them, though I do not remember. He told me the name of the young man who killed them. It was a queer name but I do not remember it. He said Red Bird was a peaceable Indian and should not have been killed.