AARON
BROCK -
RED BIRD
The
names
Aaron
Brock
and Red
Bird are
widely
used,
jointly
and
separately,
as the
father
of Jesse
Brock.
The
earliest
appearance
of Aaron
Brock as
Jesse's
father
came in
1958 and
then
again in
1968.
No
evidence,
documentation
or
sources
were
included,
nor any
additional
information
regarding
the
origin
of the
name.
With the
vast
array of
readily
available
records
there
has been
no
record
found
for an
Aaron
Brock
during
the
right
time
frame to
be
Jesse's
father.
There
also has
been no
published
oral
histories,
such as
Elijah
Brock's
testimony,
that
mentions
the name
of
Jesse's
father.
Several
years
after
the
appearance
of the
name
Aaron,
the name
Red Bird
began
being
attached
as his
native
name.
Again,
there
has been
no
evidence
to
support
the
claim
that Red
Bird and
Aaron
Brock
were the
same
person,
or that
an Aaron
Brock of
the
right
age and
time
frame
even
existed.
Red Bird
was
murdered
in early
1797 or
late
1796 in
Kentucky.
Jesse
was
living
in
Russell
Co. VA
at the
time of
the
murder
and can
be
located
on the
Russell
Co. VA
tax list
from
1795
thru
1798.
It
should
also be
mentioned
that
prior to
the
naming
of Aaron
it was
claimed
a Reuben
Brock
was
Jesse's
father.
Again no
supporting
evidence
and to
the
contrary
DNA has
proved
the
descendants
are not
related.
Jesse's
parentage
is still
unknown,
however
Ydna
testing
has
proved a
kinship
between
the
descendants
of Jesse
Brock to
the
descendants
of
George
Brock
Sr. born
1680,
died
1751
Albemarle
Co. VA.
Jesse
can be
located
in the
same
areas as
George
Brock's
family.
George
Brock Jr,
son of
George
Sr, is
the only
Brock
that has
been
found
living
in
Cumberland
Co. VA
during
the time
of
Jesse's
birth.
It is
also
worth
noting
that
around
2006 a
hoax was
perpetrated
on the
Brock's
and
others
by the
owner of
the now
defunct
Moytoy
website.
The
owner
claimed
Jesse's
lineage
went
back to
a Thomas
Pasmere
Carpenter
and
included
such
names as
John
Brock,
who he
claimed
was
Jesse's
brother
and left
a will
naming
his
siblings,
which
included
their
supposed
native
names.
Also
included
was the
name
Great
Eagle
among
other
natives
as
Jesse's
ancestors.
A group
of
researchers
attempted
to
confirm
the
information
given
relating
to Jesse
Brock's
ancestry
and none
could be
found.
AARON
BROCK
The first appearances of the name Aaron Brock, 1958 and 1968:
Strong
family
in
Kentucky
by John
C. Hurst
1958,
reprint
Mrs J.
C. Hurst
1989,
compiled
by John
C.
Hurst“Jennie
Callahan
(commonly
called
Jane),
who was
born
about
the year
1779 and
died
about
the year
1815.
She was
a
daughter
of
Edward
and
Mahalah
Brock
Callahan.
Mahalah
was a
daughter
of Aaron
Brock
and a
sister
of Jesse
Brock,
who
lived in
Harlan
County.
The
Brocks
were
part
Indian.”
)
The
next
mention
of Aaron
Brock
came
from a
query
placed
in the
The East
Kentuckian
June
1968 by
Loren D.
Davidson
of Baton
Rouge,
Louisana
"HARLAN
COUNTY,
KENTUCKY
PIONEER,
JESSE
BROCK....
Revolutionary
War
Veteran,
North
Carolina
State
Line.
Born 8
December
1751 in
Cumberland
Co.,
Virginia.
Married
around
1781,
Rebecca
Howard.
In 1794
Jesse
moved
from
N.C. to
Russell
Co, Va,
and in
1798 he
settled
in Knox
County,
Ky
--that
part now
Harlan
County,
Ky. He
may have
married
2nd,
Elizabeth
Osborn
(1774-1860).
Jesse
was
still
alive in
1840,
and died
in
Harlan
Co., Ky.
Buried
in
Wallins
Creek
Cemetery.
Jesse
and
sister
Mahala
were
children
of Aaron
Brock (ca
1721-1820).
Mahala
Brock
was born
about
1749 in
Cumberland
Co. Va
and
married
Edward
(Ned)
Callahan,
settling
in Clay
Co. Ky.
Jesse
Brock's
children:
Jesse,
Jr.,
married
Sarah
-----;Aaron
Brock,
b.
around
1786;
Amon,
married
1st
Molly
Osbourn
and 2nd,
Charity
---------;
James,
about
1791;
Mary
Brock
married
Shadrach
Helton;
Susannah
married
William
Blanton;
Hiram
married
Elizabeth
-------;William,
(probably
from 2nd
marriage)
born
circa
1812;
and
Mahala
Brock b.
1814,
married
John
Brumett."
Mrs.
Davidson
also
placed a
query in
the The
Kentucky
Genealogist,
Vol 4,
#3, page
120 the
same
year
which
reads
"DAVISON-DAVIDSON-BROCK-WILSON-CALLAHAN:
Need
parents
and wife
of
Daniel
Davi(d)son,
born
circa
1753.
Daniel
lived
1780's
Washington
County,
Virginia,
where he
was
'elected
ensign
in
Virginia
militia."
Was he
son of
James?
Daniel
removed
1800
from
Russell
County,
Virginia,
to Clay
County,
Kentucky.
Also,
parents
and wife
for
Aaron
Brock,
born ca,
1721,
lived
Cumberland
County,
Virginia,
1751.
Son
Jesse
settled
1799 in
Knox
(later
Harlan)
County,
Kentucky.
Want
parents
of
Philip
Wilson,
born ca
1754. He
and wife
Rebecca
__________
removed
1809
from
Stokes
County,
North
Carolina,
to Clay
County,
Kentucky.
Also,
parents
of
Edward
Callahan,
born ca.
1743,
removed
1800
with
wife
Mahala
Brock
from
Russell
County,
Virginia
to Clay
County
Kentucky."
Note:
There
are
several
inaccuracies
regarding
the
wives
and
children
of Jesse
Brock
listed
in the
query of
the
Kentucky
Genealogist.
RED BIRD
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
https://digital.lib.utk.edu/collections/tdhcollection
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.
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 Georgia: Southeastern Native American Documents
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna
Direct
links to
the data
is
provided
-
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"
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs032
-
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"
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs031#item
-
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"
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs033
-
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"
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs036
-
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."
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs037
-
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."
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs038
-
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"
https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs039
"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
More about the Death of Red Bird
from the Dickey Diaries
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.
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
https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsplink.html#anchor2
Information given by Red Bird, a Cherokee, respecting his nation, -September 15th, 1792
Information from the Red Bird, a
Cherokee, who came to Nine-miles, on the 4th 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.
"Calendar
of the Tennessee and King's
Mountain papers of the
Draper Collection of
Manuscripts";
Publisher:
State Historical Society of
Wisconsin; Date: 1929
Notes: "This Calendar
volume covers Series XX
(Tennessee papers) and
Series DD (King's Mountain
papers) in the Draper
collection.
Page 206
1792 Feb 1
9DD67
Newell, Col. Samuel. Letter
to Col. Arthur Campbell,
Washington County, Va.
Comments on Secretary's
report concerning land
speculation; information
concerning
Cherokee; confidences of
Indian named Hanging Maw
with Major Craig; plundering
at
Moccasin Gap by for
commanded by Bench [Benge];
activities of Red Bird;
presence of
Nickajack Indians at St.
Clair's defeat. A. L. S. 4
pp.
"The
party who did the mischief
on the Kentucky [illegible]
in the
fore part of the winter was
Cherokees Commanded by a
fellow
Called the
red bird who
lives in Chota. The
Red
Bird Traded
a tolerable likely
[illegible] horse to one
John Haddon on nine
mile whome he informed that
he had taken the horses from
the
Kentucky rode and Diverted
thim to run the horses over
the
mountain so that the owner
might have no chance to get
him. Haddon Carefully
followed his in stay
[illegible]"
(Copy of
document supplied by Janine
Lockwood)
Return J. Meigs Day Book 2
(Courtesy Valerie Thompson)
pg 45
[from Southwest Point 1805]
14th - Red Bird, a Cherokee Chief -Dr
[draft?]
To Cash paid Richard
Waterhouse at
To Cash paid Campbell &
Farquarson of
Cherokee's
and
Their
Chiefs
by
Dr.
Stanley
Hoig,
page
103,
paragraph
4,
Chapter
Nine
named
'As
Long
As
The
Waters
Flow'
"The
Cherokees
claimed
that
the
Osages
of
southwestern
Missouri
had
killed
a
number
of
their
warriors
who
had
gone
on
hunting
excursions
beyond
the
Mississippi.
In
January
1805,
the
Cherokees
who
resided
west
of
the
Mississippi
went
to
war
with
them.
Ten
eastern
Cherokees
led
by
Red
Bird
Returned
from
war
with
Osages
of
Missouri
carrying
three
scalps
that
year."
Treaties signed by A Red Bird
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
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
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