Athens in McMinn County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
The Nocatula Legend
The Hackberry and The Oak
Photographed By Judith Barber, November 13, 2011
1. The Nocatula Legend Marker
Inscription.
The Nocatula Legend. The Hackberry and The Oak. A wounded English officer from Fort Loudon was befriended by an Indian Chief and nursed back to health by Nocatula, daughter of the Chief. The soldier, given the name of Connestoga, “The Oak,” was accepted into the tribe and married Nocatula. A jealous suitor attacked Connestoga with a knife. As he lay dying Nocatula confessed her eternal love and plunged a knife into her breast. Buried together, the Chief placed an acorn in Connestoga’s hand and a hackberry in Nocatula’s hand, symbolizing undying love. From these there developed two trees which stood on this spot for 150 years.
A wounded English officer from Fort Loudon was befriended by an Indian Chief and nursed back to health by Nocatula, daughter of the Chief. The soldier, given the name of Connestoga, “The Oak,” was accepted into the tribe and married Nocatula. A jealous suitor attacked Connestoga with a knife. As he lay dying Nocatula confessed her eternal love and plunged a knife into her breast. Buried together, the Chief placed an acorn in Connestoga’s hand and a hackberry in Nocatula’s hand, symbolizing undying love. From these there developed two trees which stood on this spot for 150 years.
Erected by Presented by classes of '51, '54, '57 and Carter Patten.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans.
Location. 35° 26.793′ N, 84° 35.639′ W. Marker is in Athens, Tennessee, in McMinn County. Marker is on Coach Farmer Drive east of North Jackson Street (Business U.S. 11), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 - 30 Coach Farmer Dr, Athens TN 37303, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Statues of Nocatula and Connestoga are beside the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,449 times since then and 104 times this year. Last updated on April 8, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
