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SIMON FAVRE (1760-1813) -
HIS CHOCTAW INDIAN WIFE
We can now positively confirm that Simon Favre (1760 - 1813) did marry a full Choctaw Indian, Pistikiokonay, the daughter of Choctaw Chief Franchimastabe, who lived in various locations in southwest Alabama and southeast Mississippi. Franchimastabe (pronounced Franchi-i-mas-ta-be) was born around 1730. This date is based on the fact that he was a Choctaw "Captain" as early as 1752. To become a Captain, a warrior had to have proved himself in battle, as well as having the respect of the tribe elders, thus he would have had to be a young adult. If he was age 22 in 1752, he would have been born around 1730. Later he was made a "Great Medal Chief" by the early European settlers for his help in dealing with his tribe in military and commercial matters. Many records on him are found in the 1700s signing treaties, in letters by early French and Spanish leaders, etc.
Franchimastabe is believed to have been born in or near the Indian village of West Yazoo, now located in Neshoba County, Mississippi. We know he also lived near "Fort Tombecbe" (later called Fort Confederation), located on the Tombigbee River in what is now Sumter County, Alabama, and Fort Stephen, located in what is now Kemper County, Mississippi. There was also a different "Fort Stephens" in Washington County, Alabama, on the Tombigbee River as early as 1772. He also lived on "Yazoo Creek" in what is now Lauderdale County, Mississippi. He probably died at that location in 1801. The source for this date is found in a book titled "Choctaws in a Revolutionary Age," page 10, endnote 5, by Greg O'Brian. In his book, he cites records by Winthrop Sargent, Mississippi Territorial Governor at that time. His place of death is assumed by the fact that his "widow", Chamnay (pronounced Cham-nay), died there in 1831 as given in a deposition by her grandson, "Lixey Favre" on September 23,1844. This U. S. government deposition was made by Choctaw Indians to establish their Indian heritage to claim a land grant as a result of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. In this deposition, Lixey states that his grandmother, "Chamnay" was at least "80" years old when she died "about one year after the treaty." He said she lived alone on "Yazoo Creek, in Lauderdale County," Mississippi. The treaty was the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek that was signed in 1830. This information is taken from "Choctaw Nation" Volume I, page 693, case #305, National Archives, Washington, D. C. This would make Chamnay born about 1751, and died in 1831. Her claim was rejected on September 30,1854.
Chief Franchimastabe and Chamnay had at least one daughter. This daughter, Pistikiokonay (pronounced Pis-tik-iok-o-nay), would correctly have been referred to as a "Princess" due to the fact that her father was a Chief. Pistikiokonay, apparently her true Indian name, went by several names during her life as found on many records. This name, Pistikiokonay, is also found spelled many ways. People would often spell it phonetically because the Choctaw's did not have a written language, they did not know how to spell their own name. She also used a Christian name as many Indians did, especially when they were closely associated with the local French and Spanish settlers. Some versions include:
Pis ti ak o noy / Pisti Ockaney - as found on a U.S. Government deposition of her son "Lexey Farver" (or Lixey Favre) on October 14,1845. This deposition is found on pages 747-749, cases 11 and 14, and pages 692-693, case 305, in the same National Archives records cited above and below. Also see on same pages, where her son, "Lixy Farver," on October 14,1845, says that his mother, "Pistiakonoy" had children: Mary, Louis, Edward, Silles (female), Katherine, Charles, and Battiese. "Lixy," now living in Hancock County, also states that his mother was a "full-blood Choctaw," and his mother stayed on her own land in Lauderdale County (Mississippi) for "3 or 4 years" after the "Treaty" of Dancing Rabbit
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