Cheraw Tribe

Cheraw Indians. An important tribe, very probably of Siouan stock, formerly ranging in central Carolina, east of the Blue ridge, from about the present Danville, Va., southward to the neighborhood of Cheraw, S. C., which takes its name from them. In numbers they may have stood next to the Tuscarora among the North Carolina tribes, but are less prominent in history by reason of their almost complete destruction before the white settlements had reached their territory. They are mentioned first in the De Soto narrative for 1540, under the name Xuala, a corruption of Suali, the name by which they are traditionally known to the Cherokee, who remember them as having anciently lived beyond the Blue ridge from Asheville. In the earlier Carolina and Virginia records they are commonly known as Saraw, and at a later period as Cheraw. We first hear of “Xuala province” in 1540, apparently in the mountain country southward from Asheville. In 1672, Lederer, from Indian information, located them in the same general region, or possibly somewhat farther north east, ” where the mountains bend to the west,” and says that this portion of the main ridge was called ” Sualy mountain ” from the tribe. This agrees with Cherokee tradition. Some years later, but previous to 1700, they settled on Dan river near the south line of Virginia, where the marks of their fields were found extending for several miles along the river by Byrd, in 1728, when running the dividing line between the 2 colonies. There seem to have been 2 villages, as on a map of 1760 we find this place designated as “Lower Saura Town,” while about 30 miles above, on the south side of the Dan and between it and Town fork, is another place marked “Upper Saura Town.” They are also alluded to by J. F. D. Smyth 1 , who says the upper town was insignificant. About the year1710, being harassed by the Iroquois, they abandoned their home on the Dan and moving south east joined the Keyauwee. The colonists of North Carolina being dissatisfied at the proximity of these and other tribes, Gov. Eden declared war against the Cheraw, and applied to Virginia for assistance. This Gov. Spotswood refused, as he believed the people of Carolina were the aggressors; nevertheless the war was carried on against them and their allies by the Carolinas until the defeat and expulsion of the Yamasi in 1716. During this period complaint was made against the Cheraw, who were declared to be responsible for most of the mischief done north of Santee river, and of endeavoring to draw into their alliance the smaller coast tribes. It was a asserted by the Carolinians that arms were supplied them from Virginia. At the Close of the Yamasi war the Cheraw were dwelling on the upper Pedee near the line between the Carolinas, where their name is perpetuated in the town of Cheraw, S. C. Their number in 1715, according to Rivers, was 510, but this estimate probably included the Keyauwee. Being still subject to attack by the Iroquois, they finally-between 1726 and 1739 became incorporated with the Catawba, with whom at an earlier date they had been at enmity. They are mentioned as with the Catawba but speaking their own distinct dialect as late as 1743 (Adair). In 1759 a party of 45 “Charraws,” some of whom were under their chief, “King Johnny,” joined the English in the expedition against Ft Du Quesne. The last notice of them is in 1768, when their remnant, reduced by war and disease to 50 or 60, were still living with the Catawba.


Topics:
Cheraw, Siouan,

Collection:
Hodge, Frederick Webb, Compiler. The Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico. Bureau of American Ethnology, Government Printing Office. 1906.

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Citations:
  1. J. F. D. Smyth, Tour in LT. S., 1784[]

12 thoughts on “Cheraw Tribe”

  1. Hello,
    I am a descendent of John Clark Burris and Esther “Cherokee Princess” Terry (1740) thru her son Joseph Miles Terry. I would like to find out who Esthers parents were, and find out more about them.
    Thank you for your help,
    Larry Baxter

  2. I’m a descendant of Jane Eldridge of the Cheraw tribe. She was born in 1645 and had 5 or 6 children.

  3. Hello! My son’s 6th great grandfather was Martin Gordan Williams old cheraw and helena tate was his wife who was yeopim old cheraw. I saw someone mention the cheraw are organizing? I would like more info please. My email is kerikraemer0@gmail.com

  4. Little-Feather

    I found out that I am blood related to someone of the Deer Clan. I do not want to divulge her name here unless I need to. I had asked her, if she and I are blood related, would that make me part of the Deer Clan as well? Or, are there other factors? She told me I should get ahold of the Cheraw. So, that is what I am doing. Thank you.

  5. After doing ancestor dna I found that choctaw bill William’s “old Cheraw is my great great- grand father from 1767- 1825 his wife was penelope William’s I was wanting to know if I would have enough indian in my blood line to become a member of the cheraw tribe thanks for any information..

  6. Shellawease Shaw Snead

    I had a grandmother who was born July 4, 1893 on an Indian Reservation in Society Hill,SC. Her name was Daisy but her given last name and name of parents were not known to us. I believe she was a member of the Cheraw tribe. Please advise me how I can get more information.

    1. Ray Charles McCullough

      I’m trying to find info about the Cheraw Indians from South Carolina…My mom used to speak about the Cheraw when I was a child,she died years ago and I never had the chance to find out more…My dad has told me that his grandmom was indian but he didn’t know which kind…At this point in my life I am very interested in knowing more about the Cheraw because I feel a connection to them from my moms talks as I was a child…Is there any way I can find out if I have a touch of Cheraw blood running through my viens?Any help will be appreciated…Thank you…

      1. Hello,
        Mr. McCullough, my name is Don and the Cheraw Descendants are organizing. If you are interested, I can help you find out more. If interested, go to Geni.com and enter your family tree. Thanks!

    2. Hello,
      Torrie, my name is Don and the Cheraw Descendants are organizing. If you are interested, I can help you find out more. If interested, go to Geni.com and enter your family tree. Thanks!

      1. Hi Don. A distant relative, on my patriarchal side, was Rebecca Wolf, who was said to be Cheraw by my grandfather, whose native name, given by his mother, was War Horse. He definitely wasn’t Catawba, he said, though he said he knew of them. His English last name was Gordon on my great-grandfathers side and was born in 1896, and was raised in a farming community on the southern border of North Carolina. Does your study see a connection, Don? I am interested in honoring my grandfather and my lineage and to ground clearer connection to our indigenous roots. He was raised in a time when he left the area for a better life in the military and broke many barriers in accomplishment and business success.

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