Granny Nanny was born in Ghana, West Africa, as a member of the Ashanti nation, part of the Akan people. She was enslaved and brought to Jamaica. Experiencing the cruel treatment of slaves on the Jamaican plantations, she and her five brothers, Cudjoe, Accompong, Johnny, Cuffy and Quao decided to join the autonomous African community of Maroons. This community originated from people formerly enslaved by the Spanish, who had refused to submit to British control. This community developed as many more slaves escaped the plantations and joined the Maroons. By the time of the First Maroon War, the newly runaway slaves were also known as Maroons.
Nanny's family then made the decision to split up in order to be able to organize better resistance to the plantation economy across Jamaica than was possible if they stuck together. Cudjoe went to Clarendon where he was soon joined by about a hundred Maroons from Cottawood, while Accompong went to St. Elizabeth, while Nanny and Quao made their way to Portland.
By 1720, Nanny and Quao had organized and gained control of this town of Maroons located in the Blue Mountains. It was around this time that the town was given the title of Nanny Town. Nanny Town encompassed more than 600 acres (2.4 km²) of land for the runaway slaves to live as well as raise animals and grow crops. Due to the town being led by Nanny and Quao, it was organized very similar to a typical Ashanti tribe in Africa.
The Maroons were able to survive on the mountains by sending traders to the cities to exchange food for weapons and cloth. The Maroons were also known for raiding plantations for weapons and food, burning the plantation, and leading the slaves back to Nanny Town.
Nanny Town was an excellent location for a stronghold due to it overlooking Stony River via a 900-foot ridge, making a surprise attack by the British virtually impossible. The Maroons also organized look-outs for such an attack as well as designated warriors who
