Legends

 

Not long after the arrival of the pioneer settlers at Yamtrahoochee, a man named Jacob Clark violated a treaty made between the Cherokee and Creek Indians. The treaty proclaimed that the Yamacutah area was a sacred Holy Ground and forbid any hunting to take place there. Mr. Clark violated this treaty unintentionally by killing a bear there. This episode was a source of trouble between the Indians and whites for a long time.

 

It was after this occurrence late one afternoon in 1801 that little Egbert Clover wandered away from the protection of the fort, was seized and murdered by an Indian. Egbert’s mother shot and killed the Indian before he could get away. Not long after the murder of Egbert, his sister Flora and her friend Susan Bingham were kidnapped. They were returned unharmed to Yamtrahoochee after being held by Indians for six weeks.

 

The white settlers eventually won out in the conflict with the Indians, but not until Dr. Therrauld gave his life for the cause in 1801. In May of 1785 a cold wave dropped normally warm temperatures so low that large trees, nesting birds and many animals were killed. Later that year on November 24th another strange occurrence happened. The sun was visible during the day, but it did not emit any light. The sun had the appearance of looking at the moon through a dense fog. This frightened all of the wild animals and the normally fearless pioneers stayed in their cabins all day. It was also on this day that the last ceremony held by Indians at Yamacutah took place. The building of four stone altars which held traces of fire burnings on the Holy Ground indicated that a religious ceremony of some kind had taken place.

 

The colonists lived in constant danger. If not from Indian renegades, it was from serpents and wild animals. There was also the tale of Wog. Mr. Frary Elrod’s account of the Wog in “Historical Notes of Jackson County, Georgia” describes it as having long jet-black hair, front legs twelve inches shorter than the back, a tail with a white tip that was kept in constant motion giving off a rattling sound, red eyes, a forked tongue that was twelve inches long, and it was about the size of a horse. The Wog was claimed to have poked his forked tongue through cracks in the houses.

 

Several generations of Jackson Countians have remained here since the founding of Yamtrahoochee and other surrounding settlements and have helped to preserve our heritage. It was with great hope that present descendents will take pride in remembering our history and will preserve it for future generations.

 

More information about Yamacutah from University of Georgia