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. 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: Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 35° 26.793′ N, 84° 35.639′ W. Marker is in Athens, Tennessee, in McMinn County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Petty-Manker Hall (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); First United Presbyterian Church (about 600

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feet away); Tennessee Wesleyan College (about 800 feet away); Battle of Athens (approx. 0.2 miles away); Samuel Cleage (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Daily Post-Athenian (approx. 0.2 miles away); McMinn County Jail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fire Department (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Photographed by Judith Barber, November 13, 2011

2. The Nocatula Legend Marker

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 2,624 times since then and 121 times this year. Last updated on April 8, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2011, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.