NameKana-gatoga “Old Hop” HOPPER
Birthabt 1690, Cherokee Nation, GA
Death6 Jan 1760
Misc. Notes
Kanagatoga of Chote, was known by the whites as Old Hop, because he was lame. He was a 'Headman' of the Overhill Cherokee. Lived at Chota on the Little Tennessee River ref: Dawn of the Tennessee Valley and Tennessee History. by Williams
'The second contingent, companies of Captains Stuart and Postell , after 10 days of marching, reached Chota. They were met and welcomed by two hundred warriors dressed and painted who conducted the English force into the town where Old Hop joyiousiy welcomed them. Stuart,~in particular, soon made friends among the Indians. Lame and fii~ble from age, 'Old Hop" told Dsmere and Stuart soon after their arrival among the Overhills:' I am now very old and lie upon a bad bearskin. My life is not more than an inch long, and I know not when a bultet may cut it short. I want my brothers, Captain Dsmere and Stuart, to remember that the Great Warrior, Oconostota, and his brother the Prince of Chota are
the only two men in the Nation to be thought of as successor after my death. It is true that Willenawah and the Little Carpenter (Attacullaculla) are my nephews, but i do not know how they would behave. If I had not remembered what i owe to a country I love and had in mind to behave like a father, I would recommend my two sons, but I know them to be incapable and biased by every lie that comes.'
Kana-gatoga, means 'Standing Turkey" Old Hop was an unselfish leader of his people, and was recognized by all as being the actual head of the nation. Even the Little Carpenter, whose influence was unbounded, deferred to the judgement and wishes of Old Hop. Old HoD had a nephew, also named Standing Turkey, an active warrior who at his uncle's death served a short time as his successor. It was the younger Standing Turkey who conducted a four day assault upon Ft. Loudoun in 1760. and who signed the articles of capitulation of the stonghold, ref: Old Frontiers pg. 46.
NOTES:
'On the 5th of September, 1755, there had appeared at Wiiliamsburg a delegation from the Overhills, headed by a son of Old Hop, Okayoula, to explain that the failure to send any of their warriors to aid in Braddock's campaign was due to Glen's calling them south to a conference... Okayoula son of "Old Hop'. ref: Dawn of Tennessee Valley.
'A party under Okoula (sometimes Ucahala), son of Old Hop,
lying in ambush near Ft. DuQuesne took the scalps of enemy Indians and captured a French officer who was forwarded by Col. Washington to Williamsburg." Tel: Dawn of Tennessee Valley.
Kana-gatoga married.
Children from this marriage were:
467 i. "Granny" Soo-key-hopper-[133]