Birth: 1746 in Cherokee Nation East Death: UNKNOWN in Oklahoma NATI: Fullblood Cherokee Event: Clan Paint Note: Other names for Wah Li were Wa-li Polly OTTERLIFTER, Wur-li Sonicooie, and Granny VANN. Waw-Li was baptized by the Moravians in 1819 and given the Christian name of Mary Christana. She later married James Clement Vann I, brother of John Joseph Vann and uncle of James Vann II. It is said she lived to be over 130 years old. ca 1819, by Moravians She was a full blood Cherokee Indian.[2486130.ged]

Wah-li Otterlifter changed her name to "Mary Christiana" after becoming a Christian. Note: Note: After Wah-li Otterlifter [Mary Christiana Cothern's] first husband Edward "Ned" Vann died; she married his brother, James Clement Vann. Mary was his second of five wives. James Clement "Clem" Vann is noted as the "First White Chief" of the Cherekee Nation."

Wah-Li was from the Paint Clan of Cherokees. And the Cherokees were a Matriarchial society, the children belonged to the mothers clan. She was full blood Cherokee. Wa-Wli joined the Moravian Church and was given the name Mary Christeana. She was also called Polly and Granny Vann. I have read that she lived to be 130 years old! If it were to be true, it would place her death to be in 1875 but I have no research to claim the authenticity of the statement. I have seen her surname as Gann. It had been a mistype for the surname of Vann. I have also seen her last name or Indian name as Otterlifter. She is listed as full-blood Indian. # 1443, Refn 443.