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Nan-ye'hi was born the daughter of Fivekiller and Tame Doe of the Wolf Clan, Cherokee in Chota, Blount County, Tennessee on or about 1738. She married at a very young age to Tsu-la Kingfisher, who was born on or about 1732, a member of the Deer Clan, Cherokee. Nan-ye'-hi and Tsu-la had two children, Ka-ti and Hi-s-ki-ti-hi.
The Cherokee and Creek Indians had been engulfed in a conflict that had been raging since 1715, a dispute over the land of Northern Georgia. In the Taliwa Battle of 1755, led by the great war chief Oconostota, Tsu-la was killed. Nan-ye'-hi had been laying behind a log, chewing bullets for her husband. This practice would empower the bullets to lacerate the victim more severely. When Tsu-la was shot, Nan-ye'-hi picked up his rifle and continued the battle in her husbands' behalf. The Cherokee were victorious.
As was the custom, the warriors divided the spoils of the war. Nan-ye'-hi was given a negro that had been captured by the Creeks and was thus the first Cherokee slave holder.
Because of her bravery in battle, Nan-ye'-hi was named the Ghi-ga-u, or Beloved Woman of the Cherokee. She held much honor and was given the right to vote and participate in the council meetings. Nan-ye'-hi was also awarded the singular authority and power to grant pardon.
Nan-ye'hi was instrumental in the dealings between the settlers and the Cherokee tribe. Through her wisdom and poise, she was able to keep peace between the white settlers and her people.
About two years after the Taliwa Battle, in which her husband was killed, Nan-ye'-hi met and married a white trader named Bryan Ward. She changed her name to Nancy at this time. Bryan was born about 1720 in Amtrim County, Ireland. They had one child together, Elizabeth. Bryan had a son from a prior marriage named John.
In 1776, the year the United States of America signed the Declaration of Independence, war was being planned against the white settlements by Cherokee warrior chiefs on behalf of the British. There were three attacks instigated against North Carolina and Virginia. Chuconsene (Dragging Canoe) set upon the Holston settlements of the Long Island area. Ooskiah (Abraham) commanded a band of warriors towards Watauga. Colohan (Raven) marched his men to Carter's Valley.
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