Biography of William Weatherford, a.k.a. Red Eagle His "white man" name was William Weatherford. He was the son of Charles Weatherford -- a Scottish trader and an Indian Princess of the Wind Clan of the Creek Nation -- Sehoy (III). He was born about 1780 (his tombstone reads 1765, but may be in error) in Central Alabama in an area just north of Montgomery. This is the area of Fort Toulouse, later rebuilt and named Fort Jackson. Here he was given his Indian name Lamochattee, which means "The Red Eagle".
Red Eagle sprang from a very distinguished family. He was the great-grandson of Captain Marchand - a French officer who was Commander of Fort Toulouse and a Creek Princess who was known as Sehoy (I). Marchand was killed by mutinous troops, but before his death he fathered another Indian Princess who was also known as Sehoy (II). Sehoy (II) married a Tookabatch Chief and to this marriage was born Sehoy (III) -- Red Eagle's mother. Upon the death of this Chief, Sehoy (II) married Lachlan McGillivray - a Scottish trader. They had three (3) children (two daughters and one son). Their son was named Alexander McGillivray, who became very important in the Creek Confederacy during the Revolutionary War period. Alexander is sometimes known as the "King of the Creeks" and is an important historical figure during the Revolutionary War period.
Red Eagle's mother - Sehoy (III) was first married to Colonel David Tate, the Commander of Fort Toulouse (the English had now assumed control of the area). There were several children from his marriage, including a son, also named David Tate (half brother to Red Eagle). When the British left Fort Toulouse, Colonel Tate deserted his wife and children. Divorce came automatically with abandonment or moving from the Creek Nation. At this time, Sehoy (III) married Charles Weatherford. They had two (2) sons -- William and John -- and one daughter -- Elizabeth.
Since the power of the Creek Nation flowed from the mother, and the Wind Clan was the highest ranking tribe of the Creek Nation, Red Eagle - although less than 50% Indian - was assured a high position of power in the Creek Nation. During the period 1812 to 1814, the Creek Nation became divided between those who thought cooperation with whites was the best (known as "white sticks") and the more militant Indians who thought the whites were slowly taking their lands (known as "red sticks"). William Weatherford became a leader of the "red sticks" and led the raid on Fort Mims in which over 500 whites were killed. General Andrew Jackson fought Red Eagle's people near Talladega, Alabama and killed many Indians. Davey Crocket was with General Jackson during this fight. He was able to escape.
Later the "red sticks" were trapped at the Holy Ground and many were killed. Only Red Eagle escaped, by riding his horse off a high cliff into deep water in the river.
Red Eagle was not at Horseshoe Bend when Jackson effectively ended the Indian Wars. Red Eagle did surrender to General Jackson at Fort Jackson/Fort Toulouse by walking into General Jackson's camp and telling him who he was. Red Eagle asked nothing for himself. He only asked that General Jackson send for Red Eagle's women and children who were starving in the woods. Red Eagle told General Jackson that he could kill him if that was what he desired. General Jackson was so impressed with Red Eagle's bravery that he held him under his protection for a period of time, then sent him to his half-brother's (David Tate) plantation in North Baldwin County, Alabama, near Little River. Here William Weatherford died in 1824 and is buried there beside his mother, Sehoy (III) Tate Weatherford.
Written by William T. Morrison
Grave Photos available
We are looking for any information that may be available about the decendants of Sehoy (II), especially along the Weatherford line. If anyone has info that might be of interest to us, please Email DRUSSM@aol.com.
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