This page is dedicated to a real person, Nancy Morgan Hart & to many other women, men and children like her who performed patriotic acts during the American Revolutionary War. This page is not sponsored by, or associated with any organization, but on behalf of descendants of Benjamin & Nancy Hart and myself, we also dedicate this page to the many people, past and present, (i.e. NSDAR, NSSAR) who have worked hard to preserve and perpetuate their memory.
Painting of Nancy Morgan Hart
by Louis S. Glanzman.
National Geographic, October
1975.
Nancy Hart, after killing a man and wounding another, holds the remaining Tories at gun point until they could be hanged. In reading many stories about Nancy Hart, her "dislike" of the Tories, and the continuous attempts on both sides to "get the better " of the other, the climax of her life must have been the capture of the Tories who had "savagely murdered" Colonel John Dooley, a fellow Patriot. Nancy Hart is said to have sung, "Yankee Doodle" as she watched them die, fulfilling her vow to avenge their deed!
. . .
. . was a real person! She is one of many women recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution as a Patriot during the American Revolutionary War. Nancy and her family have had many tributes paid to them. Hart County Georgia was created from Franklin and Elbert in 1853. A correspondent of the Savannah Morning News said that it was called Hart County ... "to perpetuate the memory of that 'Honey of a patriot' mentioned in George White's Statistics, under the name of Nancy Hart, and a fit tribute for such a brave hearted woman." Nancy's daughter Sukey Hart, was a patriot in the Revolutionary War. Sukey Hart helped by carrying her mother's messages to the local Revolutionary militia. The Sukey Hart Chapter, DAR was organized on October 7, 1982, in Warner Robins, Georgia. The Nancy Hart Highway was named by the Georgia Daughters of the American Revolution, and marker erected by the John Benson Chapter, DAR, Hartwell, Georgia March, 1928. The General Samuel Hopkins Chapter, DAR of Henderson County, Kentucky, in 1930 honored Nancy Morgan Hart with a monument. These are just a few of many! {See Nancy Hart HWY}
Nancy Morgan Hart was born Anne MORGAN, circa 1744 or 1747, possibly in Orange County, North Carolina. Her parentage has not positively been proven. Traditionally and many records have claimed her father and mother were Thomas and Rebecca Alexander Morgan. However, more recent evidence strongly indicates the possibility that her parents were actually Mark Morgan and Sarah.
Nancy married Benjamin Hart, born in Hanover Co., Virginia, who moved with his family to Caswell County after 1755. Benjamin and Nancy had at least eight children. It is thought that the Harts moved to Edgefield District, South Carolina and then settled on the Broad River between where
Elbert and Wilkes Georgia Counties are today around 1771. They were residing there in Wilkes County when the Revolutionary War erupted. It is believed that Benjamin, Nancy with possibly three of their sons, Morgan, John, and Thomas, participated in the Battle of Kettle Creek, February 14, 1779. After the war they moved to Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia.{Cabin}
After Benjamin's death around the turn of the
century, Nancy moved to Clarke County Georgia, where her son John lived, and about
1802/03 they moved to Henderson County, Kentucky where Nancy remained until
her death, reportedly at the age of 93.{Grave Site}
Some say Nancy was a firebrand. It's been said of Nancy that she stood six feet tall, had flaming red hair, and apparently was quite a marksman with her musket. The neighboring Indians called her "Wahatchee", meaning "War Woman" out of the healthy respect and fear they had for her.
Some controversy has existed in the past as to whether or not Nancy Hart was a real person, or a figment of someone's over-active imagination. A minor Georgia historian, Rev. G. G. Smith, wrote in The Macon Journal in the early part of this century that ...
"This is a story of fiction. There was no such person as Nancy Hart in real life. It is just a pretty story that was written by a clever writer, and it made such
a hit that the character of Nancy Hart has been given a place in history."{Read Article}
Descendants and friends of Nancy Hart immediately came to her rescue, offering irrefutable documentation and personal knowledge
of the woman, proving beyond any doubt that Nancy was indeed a real person.
One "miffed" supporter from Hart County, Georgia wrote in theHartwell Sun:
"The Nancy Hart Episode is assuming national importance, as Kentuckians have come forward and told us of Nancy's life, death and burial place in that state. It has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Nancy not only lived in Elbert County, but that she did very near everything that tradition gives her credit for. It is sure that the Rev. Geo. Smith is asking for mercy from the attacks on him for saying that Nancy was a myth."{Read Article}
Sometimes, though, it has been difficult to separate the fact from the myth, as it has been the tendency of her admirers to embellish the details of her accomplishments to the point where they took on Amazonian proportions. Even here with this web site I have been asked by some visitors, "Was this woman a real person?"
One of the first printed stories about Nancy Hart appeared
in the Milledgeville Southern Recorder in 1825 as follows:
"One day six Tories paid Nancy a call and demanded
a meal. She soon spread before them smoking venison, hoe-cakes, and fresh
honeycomb. Having stacked their arms, they seated themselves, and started
to eat, when Nancy quick as a flash seized one of the guns, cocked it,
and with a blazing oath declared she would blow out the brains of the first
mortal that offered to rise or taste a mouthful! She sent one of her sons
to inform the Whigs of her prisoners. Whether uncertain because of her
cross-eyes which one she was aiming at, or transfixed by her ferocity,
they remained quiet. The Whigs soon arrived and dealt with the Tories according
to the rules of the times."
According to Pam Wilson in The Hart of Georgia,
...."several years later the same story appeared in Godey's Lady's Book
with a few changes. In this account five Tories paid a visit to their old
acquaintance, Aunt Nancy. After entering her cabin, they asked if it was
true she had helped a Whig rebel escape from the King's men. Nancy boldly
admitted to doing so and proceeded to tell them how. She had allowed the
Whig to ride through the open doors of her house into the swamp beyond. She laughed at how the King's men had been so easily fooled. Out of irritation
the five Tories shot her turkey and demanded that she cook it for then. Nancy sent her daughter, Sukey to the spring to bring water, and more importantly blow the conch-shell to summon Benjamin and the neighbors. Mellowed by
the liquor they drank as they waited on their meal, the Tories stacked
their guns. While they ate, Nancy passed their guns through a chink in
the wall. When they discovered what she was doing they jumped to their
feet. Nancy brought the gun she had to her shoulder and threatened to kill
the first one who moved. One made a move toward her and was promptly shot
dead. When the men arrived, the other four were hanged from a nearby tree.
In later years this story was called into question. However, in 1912 when the Elberton and Eastern Railroad was being constructed, workmen unearthed
a grave which contained the six human skeletons. This discovery tended
to settle the question of Nancy Hart's encounter with the Tories. "{Read Article}
The Georgia Whigs used Nancy as a spy several times. One time she dressed as a man and entered the British camp, pretending to be crazy, and was able to come away with vital information on the British troop movements. Another time the Georgia Whigs badly needed information about what was going on the Carolina side of the Savannah River. As there were no volunteers for the mission, Nancy tied a few logs together with grapevines, crossed the river and obtained the needed information.
Loula Kendall Rogers says, "Many Tories lived on the
other side of the river, opposite her cabin. The stories of her capturing
a large number at her own table and throwing hot, boiling soap into the
face of one who was peeping at her are true." She further states that,
"there was a large oaken stump near her home in which she cut a notch for
her gun. Concealing herself in the undergrowth around, she watched for
Tories as they crossed the river, and without compunction shot them down,
and blew the conch shell for her husband to deliver their bodies over to
the proper authorities."{Read Article}
Georgians and Kentuckians alike can be proud
to call Nancy Hart their own.
RESOURCES CONTRIBUTED BY BARB JOHNSON
Some links on this page at this time may not work.
This page, some links, and other pages, are under construction!
Visit these sites for more information about HART & Related families!
DESCENDANTS of Benjamin HART & Nancy MORGAN - A list of HART Researchers, descendants of Benjamin Hart and Nancy Morgan, who would like to hear from you! Also some Genealogy Data Bases contributed by these descendants.
"All About Hart" - Benjamin's brothers, David, Nathaniel & Thomas HART, were part of the Transylvania Company which opened up the land in Kentucky in the 1700's. These pages are devoted to that era. Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky, Daniel Boone and more! These pages are by descendant Larry Jordan.
Other HART Related Descendants Contributed to NOTABLE WOMEN ANCESTORS Web Site
Elizabeth "Carrie" Hart Lane- Missouri. Born in Kentucky, a descendant of Benjamin HART & Nancy MORGAN, from their son John HART and Patience LANE in Henderson Co., Kentucky. Carrie had a very young sprit at the age of 90, who beat all the "youngsters" at her birthday party in a agility contest!
Georgia W. Lane Shobe - Missouri. Descendant of Benjamin HART & Nancy MORGAN, from their son John HART and Patience LANE in Henderson Co., Kentucky. This is a story as told by Georgia, how her family coped during the War Between the States in Missouri.
Lucretia Hart Clay - Kentucky. Was born in Hagerstown, MD., March 18, 1781. Was the youngest daughter of Colonel Thomas HART (Benjamin HART's brother) and Susanna GRAY. She married Henry CLAY, who had a political career and was U. S. Diplomat, U. S. Congressman, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary of State, U. S. Senator and Presidential Candidate. Contributed by Larry Jordan, "All About Hart" Web site.
Polly Pierce (Pierre) Hart LANE - Kentucky & Oregon. Was born abt. 1802 in Kentucky, orphaned, and taken in by John HART & Patience LANE. First married their eldest son; second married General Joseph LANE, who later became Territorial Gov. of Oregon. Contributed by Heather W. Bowers, LANE Descendants Web site.
These pages are designed with the intent of honoring
ALL of our Notable Women Ancestors.
The majority of the pages have been
contributed by descendants or
relatives of these women.
A work in progress!
You are welcome to use this material for research purposes.
This is a work in progress and freely shared "as is".
My genealogy information has been compiled to the best of my ability as an amateur
genealogist/family historian, and is as accurate as my sources.
I am open to new or different information.
This information provided should be used as a
guide in your search.
Thank you. Barbara E. Johnson
Since December 04 1999. 13,138 Visitors from September 1997 to December 4, 1999. 490 Visitors From July 4, 1997 to August 31, 1997.
Page Revised March 20, 1999
. . . 
DESCENDANTS of Benjamin HART & Nancy MORGAN - A list of HART Researchers, descendants of Benjamin Hart and Nancy Morgan, who would like to hear from you! Also some Genealogy Data Bases contributed by these descendants.
American Women in Uniform - "Women Are Veterans Too!"
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