Aaron Red Bird "Tsisquaya" BROCK (1748 -11 Sep 1811 Clay Co., KY)

Son of Aaron Chief Red Bird Brock (Sr.)

The movements of Chief Red Bird's village bet 1772-1810 can be tracked by the documents left behind from the white captive, Stephan Tuders, born in Virginia in 1770. Found in Red Bird's village in then Virginia, present-day Clay Co., KY, in 1772, Tuders moved with the village to North and South Carolina in 1778. In 1793, Tuders married a Chicamaugan woman from the village in South Carolina. In 1795 his daughter Leathy was born and in 1800 his daughter Polly was born, both in South Carolina.

In Jan 1778, Chief Red Bird attacked Blue Licks, KY, with Black Fish and captured 27 whites, commanded by Daniel Boone, sent to gather salt. The captives were taken to the Shawnee village, Chillicothe on the Ohio River, and then to Detroit where they were sold to the English -- except for Boone who made friends with Black Fish, and was adopted by him. Boone escaped and returned to Boonesboro June 1778.

On 7 Sep 1778, Chief Red Bird and his son Red Bird (Aaron) led 400 Indians and half a dozen Frenchmen on Boonesboro, this time to negotiate. After two days of not reaching agreement, they decided to attack and torch Boonesboro -- a serious mistake. After nearly two weeks of continuous assault, they had taken heavy losses and knew of only two enemy dead. They withdrew in defeat, ending the fighting careers of Chief Red Bird at 51 and his warrior son Tsisqua (Aaron) at 29. From then until 1789 they lived quietly at The Barrens in Tennessee, when encroachment again threatened.

From 1789-1797 Chief Red Bird (Aaron Brock Sr.) and his son Aaron lived in Taluegue, KY, in a small log cabin. They took in Old Chief Will of Ahoka (who signed the Hopewell treaty), and lived quietly trapping furs which they traded in Madison Co., KY.

On 10 Feb 1797, Chief Red Bird (Aaron, Sr.) was murdered with his friend Old Chief Will of Ahoka (signer of the Treaty at Hopewell 28 Nov 1785), by Ned Mitchell and John Levinstone. Red Bird/Aaron Brock's son Aaron, it is said, "immediately protested to Gov. Blount of KY, who wrote to then Gov. John Sevier of TN. After a 3-mo. wait and no response from Sevier, Aaron took a party of eight to Madison Co., KY, to hunt down and kill Mitchell and Levinstone. Both men were dead bef 1 Jul 1797." Perhaps Aaron Red Bird II did not receive or see a copy of Sevier's letter to John Watts and other Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation, dated 5 Mar 1797, and mentioning Red Bird.

About 1798 Chief Red Bird made a personal treaty with Dillon Asher (1777-1844), who kept the first tollgate on the Cumberland Pass, at Pineville, KY. Historical marker designating Asher's cabin was missing and has been replaced:

A historical marker reads, "LOG CABIN PRE-1800. On these grounds of the Red Bird River Community Hospital of the Evangelical United Brethren Church Center is log cabin built before 1800. Erected by Dillon Asher. Born 1774, died 1844. Buried near log house. Asher was keeper of first tollgate in Kentucky near Pineville. Established by legislature, 1795; fees paid for improvements on Wilderness Road."

On 15 Oct 1805, Red Bird (Aaron, Jr.) signed the Treaty of Tellico as Tochuwar (with X).

In 1806, he signed the Treaty of Washington, DC, as Redbird (with an X). The treaty was also signed by John McLemore (aka John Eukulacau), son of Burrell McLemore who is said to have raised Chief Redbird (I)'s children, Jesse and Mahala Brock -- the nephew of John McLemore who is said to have raised Chief Redbird's other children, James, Mary, and John Brock. [The McLemore Connection, Url: defunct site, on 14 Jun 2005 was http://tbnet.net/pages/mclemore.htm on the defunct moytoy.tbhnet website.]

In 1810, Stephen Tuders returned with Red Bird's village to Clay Co., Kentucky, after the massacre of Yahoo Falls. [Stephen Tuders in archives of Jess Wilson, curated at Berea College in Berea, KY; copies in Clay County Historical Society archives.]

Yahoo Falls, Cleary Co., KY, where Cherokee men, women, and children were massacred in 1810 while Red Bird was helping escort them to safety at the Red Bird mission.

On 11 Sep 1811, Red Bird (Aaron, Jr.) and his friend Jake were murdered by Jacob and Isaac Gregory. Red Bird's body was thrown into a hole of water nearby called "Willie's Hole," from which John Gilbert and others took him and buried him. One tradition is that he was sitting on the bank of a creek fishing when he was shot and he fell into the creek. [Dr. John J. Dickey's Diary, Fleming Co., KY: Recorded in the 1870's and Beyond. Online, Reprinted in Kentucky Explorer, Vol 11, No. 8, Feb 1997.]

Another version of Red Bird/Aaron's murder:

I have not personally seen the Archives of Jacob White, M.D., Madison Co., KY, Archives of the John McLemore Family, and a diary kept by John Brock, said to be the brother of Aaron -- the cited sources of the following:

"Aaron was preparing for trapping season, and made a trip to Madison Co., KY, for supplies. It is verified Aaron was in Madison Co. visiting his daughter Catherine in late August 1811 from the McLemore family archives. He departed Madison Co. sometime around the first of September for Pulaski Co., KY, where he lived in a small one-room cabin located on property belonging to George White. George had a huge family, some people say possibly seventeen children. Many of them already had married and some lived nearby, and in 1810 George still had six children living with him in the household. "George White had a son named Lambert who was born about the same time the family moved to Kentucky from Louisa Co., VA, ca 1785. Lambert often lived with Aaron, and helped him take care of furs. In the summer, Aaron would help George with farm work for allowing him to live on his land. "Lambert was with Aaron when he visited Madison Co. On the way home two brothers, Isaac and Jacob Gregory attacked, and left them for dead after scalping Aaron. The thieves stole everything Aaron possessed. "Somehow Aaron and Lambert made it back to Madison Co. where some passersby loaded them in a wagon and took them to the home of Jacob White, a family relative of George White, and a certified Medical Doctor. That was on September 3, 1811, and on September 11, 1811, Aaron died. He was buried in the White family cemetery the same day. The Cemetery is located at Foxtown, Madison Co., KY. "That evening eight men left Madison Co. with one idea in mind, to hunt down and hang Jacob and Isaac Gregory. Before departure, a letter was written to the Attorney General of Kentucky James Blair, and Governor Charles Scott, informing them of the action being taken, and it was signed by eight men. On September 16, 1811, they wrote another letter to Governor Scott and Attorney General James Blair, which informed them of the precise location where Isaac and Jacob Gregory were hung in a tree. The purpose of the letter was to allow relatives to retrieve the bodies and bury them if their families so wanted. Again eight men signed the letter. "The men retrieved Aaron's property, and delivered it to his daughter Catherine. Lambert White survived the ordeal and walked with a slight limp for the remainder of his life. He died sometime after 1840 in Pulaski Co., KY, when he was listed on that US Census of 1840 for Pulaski Co. as living alone and being between 50-60 years of age. His full name was Lambert Jacob White, and they called him Jake."

"Aaron was preparing for trapping season, and made a trip to Madison Co., KY, for supplies. It is verified Aaron was in Madison Co. visiting his daughter Catherine in late August 1811 from the McLemore family archives. He departed Madison Co. sometime around the first of September for Pulaski Co., KY, where he lived in a small one-room cabin located on property belonging to George White. George had a huge family, some people say possibly seventeen children. Many of them already had married and some lived nearby, and in 1810 George still had six children living with him in
the household.
George White had a son named Lambert who was born about the same time the family moved to Kentucky from Louisa Co., VA, ca 1785. Lambert often lived with Aaron, and helped him take care of furs. In the summer, Aaron would help George with farm work for allowing him to live on his land.
Lambert was with Aaron when he visited Madison Co. On the way home two brothers, Isaac and Jacob Gregory attacked, and left them for dead after scalping Aaron. The thieves stole everything Aaron possessed.
Somehow Aaron and Lambert made it back to Madison Co. where some passersby loaded them in a wagon and took them to the home of Jacob White, a
family relative of George White, and a certified Medical Doctor. That was on September 3, 1811, and on September 11, 1811 Aaron died. He was buried in the White family cemetery the same day. The Cemetery is located at Foxtown, Madison Co., KY.
That evening eight men left Madison Co. with one idea in mind, to hunt down and hang Jacob and Isaac Gregory. Before departure, a letter was written to the Attorney General of Kentucky James Blair, and Governor Charles Scott, informing them of the action being taken, and it was signed by eight men. On September 16, 1811, they wrote another letter to Governor Scott and Attorney General James Blair, which informed them of the precise location where Isaac and Jacob Gregory were hung in a tree. The purpose of the letter was to allow relatives to retrieve the bodies and bury them if their families so wanted. Again eight men signed the letter.
The men retrieved Aaron's property, and delivered it to his daughter Catherine. Lambert White survived the ordeal and walked with a slight limp for the remainder of his life. He died sometime after 1840 in Pulaski
Co., KY, when he was listed on that US Census of 1840 for Pulaski Co. as living alone and being between 50-60 years of age. His full name was Lambert Jacob White, and they called him Jake."

Jacob and Isaac Gregory were hunted down and killed bef 1 Oct 1811 by Red Bird's friends and family.

	Erected in Clay Co. in 1966 by Kentucky Dept. of Highways, No. 908, text at Kentucky Historical Society, http://members.tripod.com/~Sue_1/redbird.html  NOTE by Dr. Kenneth B. Tankersley: The prose about Red Bird was on the original State Marker. It was placed in front of Red Bird's cave, destroyed by SR 66, just south of Spurlock and north of Jack's Creek, in Clay County, and directly across the Red Bird River from his burial site. I have a photo taken the day it was dedicated by the governor. My cousin, Jess Wilson, the Clay County historian, filled in until he arrived. The marker has since been stolen and moved to another county. This site is still on the National Register of Historic Places.
Chief Red Bird - Was a legendary Cherokee Indian for whom this fork of the Kentucky River is named. He and another Indian, Jack, whose name was given the creek to the south, were friendly with early settlers and permitted them to hunt in the area. Allegedly they were killed in battle protecting their furs, and the bodies thrown into the river here. The ledges bear markings attributed to Red Bird." 1966, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways #908.
Previous location of Red Bird Rock, the homeplace of Chief Red Bird. The rock broke from this location on 7 Dec 1994 and was taken to Mancester, KY, city park. The rock use to be at ground level until the land was excavated to bring the road through. Photo by Tim Brock.  Current location of Red Bird Rock in Manchester (seat of Clay Co., KY), city park, and Tim Brock. In addition to the carvings left by Chief Red Bird are several religious markings attributed to early priest from the Red Bird Mission who found the rock and added his own markings in several ancient languages he knew.

Site of Red Bird's murder, directly across the road from Red Bird Rock. Photo by Tim Brock Dr. John J. Dickey Diary, Fleming County, Ky. Recorded in the 1870's and beyond. Reprinted in Kentucky Explorer, Volume 11, No March, 1997, p. 107. By permission. Clay County. RED BIRD ~ The Indian chief for whom Red Bird Creek in Clay County was named was probably a Cherokee from Tennessee or North Carolina. Like others of his race, he was a great hunter and allured by the game in this remote region he finally took up his residence on the creek that bears his name at the mouth of Jack's Creek in this county. He came to his death by the avarice of the "pale face." There lived with him a crippled Indian named Willie. This man dressed the skins which Red Bird brought to their wigwam and looked after the culinary department of their house. Some hunters from North Carolina, greedy and unscrupulous, came to the wigwam and murdered Willie. They then secreted themselves and awaited the return of the brave chief who had long before buried his tomahawk and for years had been living in peace with the white man, and as he approached his crude castle the bullet of an assassin laid him in the dust. They threw his body into a hole of water nearby which is still called "Willie's Hole," and from which John Gilbert and others took him and buried him. One tradition is that he was sitting on the bank of a creek fishing when he was shot and that he fell into the creek. NOTE: It was Jake, not Jack, according to Jake's descendant.

Aaron Brock, Sr., Chief Red Bird