Samuel Handley (1751-1840)

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OVERVIEW
Mary was the daughter of John and Agnes Adams. Susannah (Susan) was the daughter of Robert Cowan and Susan Woods. He was born near Ashville, N.C. He was a Captain during the Indian War. In 1792, his company of 42 men were attacked near Crabonchid while defending the stations in the Cumberland. The Indians, 56 strong, created a panic and attached. One of Samuel's men was unhorsed near the Indian line and Samuel at once seized the horse and led it near him, so his man might mount again but Samuel's own horse was shot from under him and he took to a tree, where he was met by an Indian with uplifted tomahawk. He caught the warrior's arm and uttered an Indian word meaning friendship, which the brave eased off and led him to the chief where for a time he was free from danger. While this was being done, every Indian near enough struck him with the flat side of his tomahawk. This diversion was in favor of Samuel's panic-stricken men, only three others were killed. A relief party was set out to find Samuel's body, because he was believed to have been killed. When they arrived at the tree where Samuel had hidden, they found fragments of some paper. This paper contained the roll of the company and had been torn to pieces by Samuel. Samuel was taken to Willtown where his fate was in suspense for three days. He was made to run the gauntlet, his feet and hands made fast and the Indians threw him over their heads to see what the effect would be on his nose, but his life was spared and he was adopted into the wolf clan of the Cherokees. The Indians wanted peace, so 8 of the braves escorted Samuel to his home in Blount Co., Tn. The only ransom they asked was a key of whiskey. Samuel was about forty at the time he was captured and his hair being brown, but on his return his hair was gray and his body was scarred and beaten severely. He resided for some time near the Teclico Blockhouse, where the Indians came to trade. When a native from Willtown came across the river, he would say "Cananla, Cananla" meaning Peace, Peace and then spend days with their brother of the wolf caln. Samuel and his family finally settled at Winchester, Tn. He was a member of the first convention that formed the State of Tn. He is buried in Woods Cemetery, near Mingo Swamp, northwest of Belvidere, Tn. ch. -

Ancestry
x is the son/daughter of Unknown (?-?) and Unknown (?-?). 

ChildList
1. Nancy             Handley -              - 2. Sarah             Handley -         1783 - 3. Samuel Jr.        Handley -              - 4. John              Handley - Feb 22, 1786 - Aug 09, 1855 5. Mary              Handley -              - 6. Lucinda           Handley -              - 7. Robert Cowan      Handley - Jul 06, 1792 - Aug 27, 1841 8. William Clairborne Handley - Jul 25, 1803 - May 19, 1862

