“Ailsey”, Raven's Sister

There is no “Elizabeth Raven-Hop Moytoy” she is a myth created by Don Green. The family of this woman is unknown, although she was of the Ani-gatagewi (Blind Savannah/Wild Potato) clan. Researchers James Hicks and John Strange both refer to her as “Sister of Raven,” and Strange also says that her name was “Ailsey” or “Alcey”; neither provides any source for this information. [Shadburn and Strange, “Upon Our Ruins,” Cottonpatch Press, Cumings, GA. 2012. p. 394] “Sister of Raven” seems to be an assumption based on the fact that Bernard Hughes was warned of trouble by his Cherokee wife and then sent to the Raven of Hiwassee for assistance when his trading post was attacked by angry Cherokee in 1751. [Corkran, David. “The Cherokee Frontier.” University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 1962. p. 26] Regardless of her actual name and family, documents show that she had children by at least three early white traders, Bernard Hughes, John Vann, and David Rowe, and possibly a Cherokee man as well. Creek agent Benjamin Hawkins noted in 1797 that he had made the acquaintance of “old Mrs. Roe, near 80, the mother of these men [David Rowe and John Vann]”. [Foster, Howard, ed. “The Collected Works of Benjamin Hawkins.” University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, 2010. p. 22.] John Howard Payne recorded a story about James Vann which included the information that Charles Hughes was his mother’s [half] brother, [Anderson, Brown, Rogers, eds., “The Payne-Butrick Papers.” University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, 2010. Vol. 1, pp. 144-116] and Tiya Miles confirmed that Sallie Hughes Waters a half-sister. [%E2%80%9CSally [Hughes] Waters’ position as James Vann’s aunt was confirmed by Cherokee historian and genealogist Jack Baker (conversation with Tiya Miles, July 2008, Springplace, GA) Miles, Tiya. “The House at Diamond Hill.” University of North Carolina Press, 2010. p. 52, Note 4.]

Although she must have been born in the 1720’s, she was still alive in 1819 when her daughter War-li was baptized by Moravian missionaries. “ On March 14 [1819] Mother Vann was baptized... It was just a pity that her own, still living very old and weak mother could not also have been present; then there would have been five generations together.” [Crews & Starbuck, eds. “Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees,” Cherokee Heritage Press, Tahlequah, OK. 2013, Vol. 5, pp. 2324-2325] The Moravians referred to John, War-li, and Betty Vann as siblings.

Her documented children are:

• By Bernard Hughes: James, Charles, and Sarah
• By John Vann: John “Cherokee” Vann, Wa-li, and Betty
• By _ Rowe: Richard and David

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Sister of Raven

The controversy over this wife of John Vann II has been recorded for over a century. Even though there are very little records concerning her, she is listed here because she certainly existed and for her descendants.

The parents of "Ailsey" are unknown, although she was of the Ani-gatagewi (Blind Savannah/Wild Potato) clan.

Researchers James Hicks and John Strange both refer to her as "Sister of Raven" and Strange also says that her name was "Ailsey" or "Alcey"; neither provides any source for this information. "Sister of Raven" seems to be an assumption based on the fact that Bernard Hughes, one of her husbands, was warned of trouble by his Cherokee wife and then sent to the Raven of Hiawassee for assistance when his trading post was attacked by angry Cherokee in 1751.

Regardless of her actual name and family, documents show that she had children by at least three early white traders, Bernard Hughes, John Vann, and David Rowe, and possibly a Cherokee man as well. Documented children included ...

   a) Charles Hughes

   a) Sallie Hughes

   b) John Vann III

   b) War-li Vann

   b) Betty Vann

   c) Richard Rowe

   c) David Rowe. 

Creek agent Benjamin Hawkins noted in 1797 that he had made the acquaintance of "old Mrs. Roe, near 80, the mother of these men [David Rowe and John Vann]".

John Howard Payne recorded a story about James Vann which included the information that Charles Hughes was his mother's [half] brother, and Tiya Miles confirmed that Sallie (Hughes) Waters a half-sister. Sally (Hughes) Waters' position as James Vann's aunt was confirmed by Cherokee historian and genealogist Jack Baker (conversation with Tiya Miles, July 2008, Springplace, GA).

The Moravians recorded Richard Roe as the uncle of James Vann, and John Vann as the uncle of Nancy Vann

Her daughter War-li was baptized by Moravian missionaries. "On March 14 [1819] Mother Vann was baptized ... It was just a pity that her own, still living very old and weak mother could not also have been present; then there would have been five generations together."* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 9 2022, 6:09:48 UTC