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by Louis S. Glanzman.
National Geographic, October 1975.
Nancy Morgan Hart is one of many women recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution as a Patriot during the American Revolutionary War. Hart County Georgia was created from Franklin and Elbert in 1853 at which time a correspondent of the Savannah Morning News said that it was called Hart County ... "to perpetuate the memory of that 'Honey of a patriot' mentioned in George White's Statistics, under the name of Nancy Hart, and a fit tribute for such a brave hearted woman."
Nancy's daughter, Sukey Hart, was also a patriot in the Revolutionary War. Sukey Hart helped by carrying her mother's messages to the local Revolutionary militia. The Sukey Hart Chapter, DAR was organized on October 7, 1982, in Warner Robins, Georgia. The Nancy Hart Highway was named by the Georgia Daughters of the American Revolution, and marker erected by the John Benson Chapter, DAR, Hartwell, Georgia March, 1928. The General Samuel Hopkins Chapter, DAR of Henderson County, Kentucky, in 1930 honored Nancy Morgan Hart with a monument. These are just a few of many!
Nancy Morgan Hart was born Anne MORGAN, circa 1744 or 1747, possibly in Orange County, North Carolina. Her parentage has not positively been proven. Traditionally and many records have claimed her father and mother were Thomas and Rebecca Alexander Morgan. However, more recent evidence strongly indicates the possibility that her parents were actually Mark Morgan and Sarah.
Nancy married Benjamin Hart, born in Hanover Co., Virginia, who moved with his family to Caswell County after 1755. Benjamin and Nancy had at least eight children. It is thought that the Harts moved to Edgefield District, South Carolina and then settled on the Broad River between where Elbert and Wilkes Georgia Counties are today around 1771. They were residing there in Wilkes County when the Revolutionary War erupted. It is believed that Benjamin, Nancy with possibly three of their sons, Morgan, John, and Thomas, participated in the Battle of Kettle Creek, February 14, 1779. After the war they moved to Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.
After Benjamin's death around the turn of the century, Nancy moved to Clarke County Georgia, where her son John lived, and about 1802/03 they moved to Henderson County, Kentucky where Nancy remained until her death, reportedly at the age of 93.
It's been said that Nancy stood six feet tall, had flaming red hair, and apparently was quite a marksman with her musket. The neighboring Indians called her "Wahatchee", meaning "War Woman" out of the healthy respect and fear they had for her.
Some controversy has existed in the past as to whether or not Nancy Hart was a real person, or a figment of someone's over-active imagination. A minor Georgia historian, Rev. G. G. Smith, wrote in The Macon Journal in the early part of the 20th century that ... "This is a story of fiction. There was no such person as Nancy Hart in real life. It is just a pretty story that was written by a clever writer, and it made such a hit that the character of Nancy Hart has been given a place in history."
Descendants and friends of Nancy Hart immediately came to her rescue, offering irrefutable documentation and personal knowledge of the woman, proving beyond any doubt that Nancy was indeed a real person. One "miffed" supporter from Hart County, Georgia wrote in the Hartwell Sun: "The Nancy Hart Episode is assuming national importance, as Kentuckians have come forward and told us of Nancy's life, death and burial place in that state. It has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Nancy not only lived in Elbert County, but that she did very near everything that tradition gives her credit for. It is sure that the Rev. Geo. Smith is asking for mercy from the attacks on him for saying that Nancy was a myth."
One of the first printed stories about Nancy Hart appeared in the Milledgeville Southern Recorder in 1825 as follows: "One day six Tories paid Nancy a call and demanded a meal. She soon spread before them smoking venison, hoe-cakes, and fresh honeycomb. Having stacked their arms, they seated themselves, and started to eat, when Nancy quick as a flash seized one of the guns, cocked it, and with a blazing oath declared she would blow out the brains of the first mortal that offered to rise or taste a mouthful! She sent one of her sons to inform the Whigs of her prisoners. Whether uncertain because of her cross-eyes which one she was aiming at, or transfixed by her ferocity, they remained quiet. The Whigs soon arrived and dealt with the Tories according to the rules of the times."
According to Pam Wilson in The Hart of Georgia, ...."several years later the same story appeared in Godey's Lady's Book with a few changes. In this account five Tories paid a visit to their old acquaintance, Aunt Nancy. After entering her cabin, they asked if it was true she had helped a Whig rebel escape from the King's men. Nancy boldly admitted to doing so and proceeded to tell them how. She had allowed the Whig to ride through the open doors of her house into the swamp beyond. She laughed at how the King's men had been so easily fooled. Out of irritation the five Tories shot her turkey and demanded that she cook it for then. Nancy sent her daughter, Sukey to the spring to bring water, and more importantly blow the conch-shell to summon Benjamin and the neighbors. Mellowed by the liquor they drank as they waited on their meal, the Tories stacked their guns. While they ate, Nancy passed their guns through a chink in the wall. When they discovered what she was doing they jumped to their feet. Nancy brought the gun she had to her shoulder and threatened to kill the first one who moved. One made a move toward her and was promptly shot dead. When the men arrived, the other four were hanged from a nearby tree.
In later years this story was called into question. However, in 1912 when the Elberton and Eastern Railroad was being constructed, workmen unearthed a grave which contained the six human skeletons. This discovery tended to settle the question of Nancy Hart's encounter with the Tories.
The Georgia Whigs used Nancy as a spy several times. One time she dressed as a man and entered the British camp, pretending to be crazy, and was able to come away with vital information on the British troop movements. Another time the Georgia Whigs badly needed information about what was going on the Carolina side of the Savannah River. As there were no volunteers for the mission, Nancy tied a few logs together with grapevines, crossed the river and obtained the needed information.
Loula Kendall Rogers says, "Many Tories lived on the other side of the river, opposite her cabin. The stories of her capturing a large number at her own table and throwing hot, boiling soap into the face of one who was peeping at her are true." She further states that, "there was a large oaken stump near her home in which she cut a notch for her gun. Concealing herself in the undergrowth around, she watched for Tories as they crossed the river, and without compunction shot them down, and blew the conch shell for her husband to deliver their bodies over to the proper authorities."
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This page was last updated on -11/17/2013