Jerry Clark-Moravian Diaries
Jerry, I had written you some time ago to see if you had any information on James Vann having a brother.Since then I have read the Moravian Diaries or should I say almost finished them.It has taken me about six months so far writing so very many notes and trying to get all the people straight in my mind.
Now my problem is the fact that there are so many people and also books written that have put WRONG information out there.I have no doubt that the Missionaries were honest in what they wrote. It bothers me that so many people think James Vann GAVE the land to the Missionaries and also helped them so much, this is simply not true.In my opinion he was a horrible drunk and a mean person.I would think that the Moravians were glad that he was gone most of the time.
At this time I would like to write a few things from the diaries that I think people should know.
In the Fall of 1800, the Missionaries went again to Tellico in the Cherokee Nation to meet with the Cherokee leaders at their Council House.The wary Cherokees finally agreed to permit the Moravians to come and live among them, but only if they agreed to teach their children English.
On behalf of the United States, Secretary of War James McHenry granted permission for the Moravians to establish a mission to "instruct the Cherokees and their children in the principles of Holy Religion as well as useful arts.The Missionaries CHOSE a site in the vicinity of James Vann's plantation, called Springplace. (they had other choices on where they could go.)
Cherokees, like the Moravians, stressed the concept of sharing and reinforced those values by holding land in common. Individual Cherokees could use unoccupied land for grazing cattle, growing crops, and erecting buildings, but land itself could not be sold, only the improvements.
The Cherokees LOANED land to the Moravians, who PAID James Vann for the improvements on about 35 acres, although initially they used only 25 acres.The Moravians also PAID Vann for improvements on other land that they did not receive.They protested after his death in 1809, but it was not until 1814 the Moravians began cultivation on ten more acres.The Moravians permantly settled the site in 1801.It was not until the spring of 1802 that they accepted a small class of students.
Most of the funds for Springplace came from Moravian coffers. By 1819 the total expenditure from the Salem congregation amounted to $9,000.00. Beginning in 1809 Springplace also received $100.00 per year from the United States Government.
Will add more, Joy Hollon
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Re: Jerry Clark-Moravian Diaries
jerry l. clark 10/14/08