Almost Burned at the Stake

In a prior blog entitled The First White Settlers in Tennessee, I noted that my 6^th great-grandparents William Bean’s (1721-1782) and Lydia “Liddy” Russell Bean’s (1726-1788) lives had been thoroughly documented as the first white settlers in Tennessee. The previous blog was about William. This time, I am going to tell you about Lydia.

Lydia was born in Pennsylvania, married William in 1740 in Virginia, and was the mother of 12 children. In 1764 Lydia and William moved from Virginia to South Carolina; and then, in 1769, moved to what is known today as Tennessee, settling in the Watauga settlement.

County where Watauga settlement was located

As is usual with the westward migration of settlers, the native Indians were less than welcoming to those encroaching onto their territory. The Native American tribe in the Watauga settlement area was Cherokee whose chief was called “Old Abraham.” In 1769, the Cherokee attacked the Watauga settlement. However, prior to the attack, most of the local settlers had made it to the safe confines of Ft. Watauga – all thanks to being forewarned by Nancy Ward, a Cherokee, also known as “Beloved Woman of the Cherokees”:  The title designated her high status within the tribe.

Typical settlers' fort

Nancy Ward

Instead of immediately seeking shelter at the fort, Lydia decided to try to save her cattle and taking the risk of driving them to the fort. However, the Cherokee raiders caught up with her and a fellow settler, Samuel Moore (who had not gotten to the fort in time). Outside of the walls of the fort, Moore, was burned to death. The warriors then retreated to their village of Echota with Lydia in tow. Their plan was to burn Lydia Russell at the stake. However, Nancy Ward, who happened to be at the village, As one source states, “Suddenly Nancy Ward pushed through the crowd and scattered the burning brands with her bare hands. She announced that while she served as Beloved Woman, no white captive would be burned in the peace town of Echota.” Nancy took in Lydia and nursed her back to health from the injuries Lydia had received. 

saved her from that fate.

Lydia ended up staying at the Indian village for over a month. While there, Lydia taught the women how to set up a loom, spin yarn, and weave cloth. The woven cloth that Lydia introduced to them was far superior to what they had been using. The tribe, at this point in time, had been wearing traditional hide clothing and rough hemp clothing bought from traders. 

During this period of time, Nancy and Lydia developed a strong friendship. After her release, Lydia would return to the village with her dairy cattle in order to teach Nancy and the other women of the Indian village how to prepare and use dairy products.

Lydia and Nancy helped to change the relationship between the settlers and the Indians. However, they alone could not stop the Indian raids. Lydia’s brother George Russell (1720-1796) was killed by Indians while on a hunting trip in Grainger County, Tennessee, in 1796 (the same year she was captured by the Indians); and her daughter Jane Bean (1766-1799) was killed and scalped in 1798, while working outside on her loom.

Lydia Russell Bean is my 6^th great-grandmother; her brother George Bean is my 7^th great-uncle; and her daughter Jane Bean is my 6^th great-aunt.

Location of Ft. Watauga/Settlement