Moytoy I

Infobox Person
name = Amatoya Moytoy


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birth_date = c. 1640
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death_date = c. 1730
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residence = Chota
nationality = Cherokee
other_names =
title = Leading Chief of the Cherokee
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successor = Moytoy II

Amatoya Moytoy of Chota (pronounced "mah-tie") was a Cherokee town chief of the early eighteenth century in the area of present-day Tennessee. Moytoy I is also called Amatoya Moytoy, Moytoy of Chota, and Moytoy the Elder. He held a prominent position among the Cherokee, and held the hereditary title "Ama Matai" (From the French "matai" and Cherokee "ama"--water), which meant "Water Conjurer". He ruled the town of Chota sometime between the beginning of the eighteenth century and 1730.

He was born around 1640, and probably died in 1730. His father was a European, Thomas Pasmere Carpenter, who was descended from the noble Anglo-Norman family of Vicomte Guillaume de Melun le Carpentier. Thus, Moytoy's European lineage can be traced to the Frankish Duke Ansegisel of Metz Meroving, Peppin II, and Charles Martel. This ancestry also makes the Cherokee Moytoys cousins to the Carpenter Earl of Tyrconnell, and thus related to the current British royal family.

In 1680, he married Quatsie of Tellico. Many of their descendants went on to become prominent leaders, founding a family that effectively ruled the Cherokee for a century. One of their sons became Moytoy II (Pigeon of Tellico), the Principal Chief and Emperor of the Cherokee. Another son was Kanagatucko (also Old Hop & Standing Turkey), who briefly succeeded his brother as Principal Chief and Emperor from 1760-1761. Through his eldest daughter, Nancy Moytoy, Amatoya Moytoy was the grandfather of Attacullaculla (who was called Prince of Chota by the British because of this). He was also a great-grandfather of Nancy Ward. Descendants of Moytoy I include the families of Major Ridge, Elias Boudinot, Stand Watie, and Chief Nimrod Jarrett Smith.

Nancy Ward first married Kingfisher, who was killed in Battle with the Creeks. They had two children Katie and Fivekiller. Nancy married second Bryant Ward and their child was Elizabeth Ward. Nancy Ward is buried in Benton, Polk County TN beside her son Fivekiller. See Emmett Star's book, History and Legends of the Cherokee People for a complete listing of Nancy's descendants.