David McNair was born 1774 in Sullivan, Tennessee and died December 15,1836 in Conesawga area, Tennessee.
General Notes:"Cherokee Myths", James Mooney, p 221-222;
McNairs Grave: Just inside the TN line, where the Conagauga river bends again into Georgia, is a stone-walled grave, with a slab, on which is an epitaph which tells its own story of the Removal heartbreak. McNair was a white man, prominent in the Cherokee Nation, whose wife was a daughter of the chief, Vann, who welcomed the Moravian missionaries and gave his own house for their use. The date shows that he died while the Removal was in progress, possibly while waiting in the stockaide camp. The inscription, with details, is given from information kindly furnished by Mr D. K. Dunn of Conasauga, Tennessee, in a letter dated Aug 16, 1890; "Sacred to the memory of David and Delilah A McNair, who departed this life, the former on the 15th of August, 1836, and the latter on the 30th of November, 1838. Their children, being members of the Cherokee Nation and having to go with their people to the West, do leave this monument, not only to show their regard for their parents, but to guard their sacred ashes against the unhallowed intrusion of the white man."
DOB & DOD pet 3. Clark's notes. (Vann file) Registered for lifetime reservation under the treaty of 1817, on July 10, 1817. David with a family of 7 received a reservation listed as both sides of the Connasauga River. ,Heirs of David McNair was allowed $7,140. Listed on Docket of Allocations filed for adjudication with the board of commissioners to settle claims under the treaty of 1817 and 1819. #101. ref: Cherokee Reserves pg. 18.
The home of David and Delilah was visited in 1829, by Benjamin Gold of Litchfield, Connecticut, who was the father in law of Ellis Boudinot. After Benjamin Gold looked over the McNairs' farm , he wrote a letter to his brother Hezekiah. 'They have a beautiful white house and about 6 or 7 hundred acres of the best land you ever saw and Negroes enough to tend it and clear as much more as he pleases. He raised this year, about 5 thousand bushels of corn and it would make you feel small to see this situation'.
David Married Delilah Amelia Vann on December 30,1801 in Knox County, Tennessee, daughter of James Vann Chief and Elizabeth "Betsy""Go-Sa-Du-I-Sga" Hicks. Noted events in his life were:
1. Blood: Non-Cherokee.
2. Buried at: 1836: McNair Cem, Polk Co, TN.
Delilah Amelia Vann Was born 1789 in Spring Place, Georgia and died November 30,1838 in Polk County, Tennesse.
General Notes:Delilah is listed as being born June 30, 1795 but her marriage license was issued on December 30, 1801 in Knox County, TN. This would have her as six years old when she got married. I'm going to guess here that the birth date is most likely in error.
Noted events in her life were:
1. Buried at: 1838: McNair Cem, Polk Co, TN.