The history of Lucy's Branch land was very interesting. This site is named for Lucy Bedingfield, daughter of a slave and a Cherokee Indian. She was born in 1832 and her Indian name was Finch. She married Meredith Bedingfield, a slave, and had 9 children. Lucy was an astute and avid storyteller. Sher purchased 170 acres (some of the property is the RV park where we were staying) in June 1888 for $600, recorded by U.S. Patent #43463. One of the last known Indian Chiefs in the area formerly occupied this land. Lucy mortgaged the farm several times by marking her mark. She used "Gold Coins" of the present standard of weight and fineness" to make payments. Lucy and her descendants farmed this land until the TVA purchased it in 1935 for the creation of Wheeler Lake. Lucy relocated to Oklahoma in later years and is buried there. 
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