Ku-Nah-Ti ‘Rattlinggourd’ Conrad

Rattlinggourd was a Cherokee man

Biography

Rattlinggourd (Conrad) was born about 1775 in the Cherokee Nation, now Georgia. Unlike many Cherokee people we know a great deal about Rattlinggourd since he and his family were well-known to the Moravian missionaries. He is first mentioned by the Moravians on March 19, 1803, “Two Indians, Standing Turky and Rattling Goard, stopped in at our place.” [1] His grandfather was a white man named Johann (John) Conrad. In March, 1810, the Moravians recorded “Among others there was a half-German Cherokee here who requested medicinal roots…. His father, whose name was John Gunrod according to his pronounciation (presumably Johannes Conrad) is supposed to have been a rather well-to-do Indian trader and was killed by Indians in a war when he (this man) was 3-4 years old.

This man has a real German physiognomy…. And his 4 sons are loved by everyone because of their industry and integrity.” [2] This man is called "Hamilton" by Starr, but "Gunrod" by the Moravians. The “four sons” were Rattlinggourd, Young Wolf, Hair, and Terrapinhead (recorded by the Moravians as “The Crawler”); they also had a sister named Quatie. [3] In December 1814 Rattlinggourd enrolled his daughter “Darkey” (Dorcas) in the Moravians school. “Her father’s name is Rattling Gourd, the brother of the well-known [Young] Wolf, a very sensible, respectable, and unusually temperate man.” [4] In 1820 a new missionary, Brother Schmidt arrived and began to make the acquaintance of his neighbors. “ On this journey I visited with seven Indian families and made acquaintances. Among these were John [and?] Archibald Fields, the widow Wolf, the Flee, the Tiger, the Ratlinggoard, and Nathan Hixes.” [5]

Rattlinggourd married a Cherokee woman named Polly Toney about 1803 (the Moravians estimated Darkey/Dorcas’s age as 9-10 in 1814). They were the parents of ten children: Dorcas, Tony, Jackson, Sallie, Catherine, Daniel, John, Margaret, David, and Charles. [6] In February of 1830 Rattlinggourd was part of a group of Cherokee who attempted to force white squatters from the Cherokee Nation by removing their belongings from their homes and then burning the structures. Rattlinggourd and three other men were attacked in the night by some of the whites and carried away. One of the men was killed, but Rattlinggourd and the other two men escaped. [7] The 1835 Cherokee census shows "Rattling Gourd" living in what is now Gilmer County, Georgia, in a family of nine fullbloods, 3 males over 18, 3 males under 18, 2 females under 16, 1 female over 16. [8] He died before September, 1836 prior to Removal, when the property of "Widow Rattlling Gourd" was appraised. [9] In 1842 his widow Polly and other heirs filed a claim for the loss of a turnpike gate owned by Rattling Gourd at Taylor’s Crossroads (GA). [10]

Research Notes

Emmet Starr made errors in his records of this family. He lists “Hamilton Conrad” and “Onai” as parents of Rattlinggourd and his siblings. It’s not clear if “Hamilton” is the same man as Gunrod or Johannes. The Moravians do not mention the name of Johannes’ or Gunrod’s wives. Since Rattling Gourd is listed as a fullblood on the 1835 Census, it appears both his mother and grandmother were Cherokee (although not necessarily full-blood). Starr’s story of “Jennie Taylor” and her husband named “Conrad” is not supported by any documentation. Johannes Conrad may have married a Cherokee woman named “Jennie” who may have been the mother of both “Gunrod” [with Johannes Conrad] and Charles and Thomas Taylor [with Charles Taylor]. Another possibility is that the mother of British soldier Charles Taylor was the white wife of Johannes Conrad.

Sources

1. ↑ Crews and Starbuck, eds. “Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees.” Cherokee Heritage Press, Tahlequah, OK. Vol 2., p. 537
2. ↑ “Moravians,” Vol. 3 1475-76
3. ↑ Starr, p. 426, 474-475
4. ↑ “Moravians,” Vol. 4, pp. 1842-43
5. ↑ “ Moravians,” Vol. 5, p. 2605
6. ↑ Starr, pp. 426-427
7. ↑ Cherokee Phoenix, 17 February 1830, Vol. 2, #44, transcribed at Phoenix
8. ↑ Tyner, James, transcriber. “Those Who Cried [1835 Cherokee Census}. Chi-ca-u, Inc. Norman, OK. 1974
9. ↑ Moore, Debbie S. 1836 Cherokee Nation Property Evaluations, Old Town Productions, Cleveland, TN. 2017. p. 167.
10. ↑ National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 75-E231 record #1277

Source: The WikiTree Native American Project @ https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cherokee-319
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Conrad.
11 Onai. Hamilton Conrad.
1112 Rattling-gourd Conrad. Mary Toney.

111213 Dorcas Rattlinggourd. Richard Foreman.
2 Tony Rattlinggourd. Lucretia Tiger.
3 Jackson Rattlinggourd. Elsie Wilson. A54
4 Sallie Rattlinggourd. Samuel Foreman and Peacheater Sixkiller.
5 Catherine Rattlinggourd. George Washington Campbell.
6 Daniel Rattlinggourd. Eliza Abigal Looney.
7 John Rattlinggourd. Nannie Mannion.
8 Margaret Rattlinggourd. Benjamin Downing.
9 David Rattlinggourd. * Nannie Jennings nee.
10 Charles Rattlinggourd. Luc

Source: Starr, Emmett. “History of the Cherokee Indians and Their Legends and Folklore.” Warden Company, 1922.
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RATTLING-GOURD CONRAD (GUNROD5, JENNIE4ANI'-WA'YA, OCONOSTOTA3, MOYTOY2, A-MA-DO-YA1) was born Abt. 1780, and died Abt. 1837.
He married MARY POLLY TONEY. She was born Abt. 1784.

• 1835 Census roll: Elijay, Gilmer Co, GA, 3m18-, 3m18+, 2f16-, 1f16+
• Blood: 1/2 Cherokee
• Clan: Ani'-Tsi'skwa = Bird Clan (Onai)
• Occupation: 1831, Part owner of Turnpike Gate at Taylors' Crossroads [GA] RG75-E231-#1277 [by Heirs of] (destroyed by GA Guard)

More About MARY POLLY TONEY:

• Detachment: October 05, 1838, 38-01 Daniel Colston/J Nevins
• Note: 1842, Tahlequah Dist, IT, pg 61 as Polly Rattling Gourd

Children of RATTLING-GOURD CONRAD and MARY TONEY are:
469. i. DORCAS BELL RATTLING7 GOURD, b. 1801; d. Abt. 1848.
470. ii. JACKSON RATTLING GOURD, b. 1809; d. April 10, 1885.
471. iii. SALLIE GO-TA-NE RATTLING GOURD, b. 1811, CNE; d. January 21, 1899.
472. iv. TONY RATTLING GOURD, b. 1812, Big Spring; d. Bef. 1906.
473. v. MARGARET RATTLING GOURD, b. Abt. 1814; d. Bef. 1906.
474. vi. CATHERINE RATTLING GOURD, b. Abt. 1816; d. Bef. 1906.
475. vii. DANIEL RATTLING GOURD, b. Abt. 1818, CNE [GA]; d. Abt. 1877.

	viii.	 	DAVID RATTLING GOURD, b. Abt. 1822; d. Bef. 1906; m. NANCY ANDERSON, Aft. 1852; b.  1832; d. February 16, 1904.

	More About NANCY ANDERSON:

• 1851 Old Settler roll: Illinois, 176 as Nancy Jennings (1896 page 27)
• 1880 Census [CN]: Canadian, 1473 as Nancy Williams
• 1890 Census [CN]: Canadian, 1802 as Nancy Williams
• 1894-96 O.S. payroll: Muskogee, OK, page 27 & 59 as Nancy Williams
• 1902-07 Dawes roll: card# 2052, roll# 5334 as Nancy Williams
• Blood: 3/4 Cherokee

476. ix. JOHN RATTLING GOURD, b. 1825, CNE; d. March 04, 1904.
477. x. CHARLES RATTLING GOURD, b. Abt. 1826; d. Bef. 1906.

Source: Hicks, James R. “Cherokee Lineages: Register Report of Amatoya Moytoy” Genealogy.com, Sites.Rootsweb.com, https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/i/c/James-R-Hicks-VA/BOOK-0001/0021...