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Nacogdoche Indian Tribe History
Nacogdoche (Na-ko-hodó-tsi). A
tribe of the Hasinai confederacy of Texas. It has been said that their language
differed from that of the Hasinai group in general, but there is much evidence
to indicate that this is not true. For example, Ramón,
who founded missions at the Neche, Hainai, Nasoni, and Nacogdoche villages in
1716, states in his report that "these four missions will comprise from four to
five thousand persons of both sexes, all of one idiom" (Representacion,
July 22, 1716, in Mom. de Nueva España, 160,
MS.). On the same day the missionaries wrote that the Nacogdoche mission
"N. S. de Guadalupe is awaiting people of the same language and customs" as
those of the Indians of mission Concepci6n, i. e., the Hainai (ibid., 163). In
1752, when the governor of Texas was arranging to inspect the villages of the
Hainai, Nabedache, Nacogdoche, Nasoni, and Nadote, Antonio Barrera was appointed
interpreter, because he was a person "understanding with all perfection the
idiom of these Indians," the implication being that they all spoke a single
language (Jacinto de Barrios y Juaregni, Oct. 30, 1752, in
Archivo General, Hist., 299, MS.). Mezières
said that the Nabedache, Nadaco (Anadarko), Hainai, and Nacogdoche spoke the
same language (letter to Croix, Feb. 20, 1778, Mem. de Nueva España,
xxviii, 229, MS.). Other similar evidence might be cited.
Their main village at the opening of the 18th century
and for a long time thereafter was approximately on the site of the modern city
of Nacogdoches, where four Indian mounds existed until recently. This place
seems to have been called Nevantin. The Nacogdoche were mentioned apparently by
the Gentleman of Elvas in his account of the De Soto expedition; but they were
first made definitely known by Jesus Maria in 1691, who called them the
Nazadachotzi, indicated correctly their location, and classified them as one of
the nine Aseney (Hasinai) tribes (Relation, 108. MS.). It seems probable that
the Nacogdoche are distinct from the Aquodocez with whom Pénicaut
in 1714 said the Assinaïs were at war
(Margry, Dec., v, 504, 1883). At this time San Denis found
the Nacrrgdoche, Hainai, Nadaco (Anadarko), and others at war with the lower
Natchitoch, but he restored peace among them (La Harpe in Slargry,
Dec., vi, 193, 1886; see also letter of Macartij, Nov. 17, 1763, Nacogdoches
Archives, MS.). Espinosa tells its that the Nasoni, whose main village
was some 25 miles to the north, were especially closely allied with the
Nacogdoche, and came to their village for some of their principal religious
observances (Chrónica
Apostolica, i, 425, 1746).
In July, 1716, the Franciscans of the college at
Zacatecas established their first Texas mission at the main Nacogdoche village
for this tribe and the Nacao. This mission became the headquarters of the
president, Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus (Espinosa, Diario,
entries for July 5-8, MS., Archivo General). In 1719 the mission, like
all the others of it Texas, was abandoned through fear of a French attack, but
was reestablished in 1721 on the same site (Peña, Diario,
Mem. de Nueva España,
xxviii, 44, MS.). The mission continued to exist long after three of its neighbors
had been removed; but it had very little success, and in 1773 it was abandoned.
The Spanish settlers, who were removed at this time from Adaes, and at whose
head was Antonio Gil Ybarbo, were allowed to settle on the Trinity, founding in
1774 a place which
they called Pilar de Bucareli. Early in 1779 they migrated, without authority,
to the site of the Nacogdoches mission. The modern city of Nacogdoches dates
from this time.
The Nacogdoche were normally within the Spanish jurisdiction, but the French
early gained their affection through the unlicensed trade which they conducted
with the Indians. The French supplied guns, ammunition, knives, cloth,
vermilion, and knickknacks, vermilion for horses, skins, bear's fat in great
quantities, corn, beans, and Apache captives. This trade, particularly that in
firearms, was opposed by the Spanish officials, and as a result there were
frequent disputes on the frontier, the Indians sometimes taking one side and
sometimes the other. In 1733, for example, two Nacogdoche chiefs reported at
Adaes that the French had offered them a large reward if they would destroy the
Spanish presidio of Adaes (Expediente sobre la Campaña, etc., 1739, Archivo
General, Provilcias Internas, xxxii, MS.). The charge was denied, of course, by
the French. Again, in August, 1750, it was said that the Nacogdoche chief,
Chacaiauchia, or Sanchez, instigated as he claimed by San Denis of Natchitoches,
went to the Nacogdoches mission, threatened the life of the missionary, Father
Calahorray Sanz, and ordered him to depart with all the Spaniards
(Testimonio
de Autos de Pesquiza sobre Comercio Ylicito, 1751, Béxar Archives, Adaes,
1739-55, MS.). On the other hand, when in 1752 a gathering of tribes was held at
the Nadote village to discuss a plan for attacking all the Spanish
establishments, the Nacogdoche chief, apparently Chacaiauchia, and San Denis
both appear in the light of defenders of the Spaniards (Testimony of Calahorra y Sanz in De Soto Bernnldez, Report of Investigation, Archivo General, Hist., 299,
MS.). Chacaiauchia, or Sanchez, seems to have retained the chieftaincy a long
time, for in 1768 Solís tells of being visited at the mission by Chief Sanchez,
a man of large following (Diario in b1em. de Nueva Espana, xxvii, 282, MS.).
Some data as to the numerical strength of the tribe are extant. In 1721, when
Aguayo refounded the mission, he provided clothing for "the chief and all the
rest," a total of 390 (Pefia, Diario, in Mem. de Nueva Espana, xxvii, 44, MS.).
This may have included some Nacao, and, on the other hand, it may not have
included all of the Nacogdoche tribe. It was reported that in 1733 the two
Nacogdoche chiefs mentioned above went to Adaes with 60 warriors (Expediente
sobre la Campafla,1739, op. cit. ). It is not known whether the warriors were
all Nacogdoche or not, but that is the implication. In
1752 De Soto Bermudez inspected the Nacogdoche pueblo and reported that it consisted
of 11 "rancherias grandes," containing 52 warriors, besides many youths nearly
able to bear arms (Rep. of Investigation, 1752, Archivo General, Hist., 299).
Croix's list of 1778 does not include the Nacogdoche, unless they are his
Nacogdochitos, a group of 30 families living on the Attoyac (Relation
Particular, Archivo General, Prov. Intern., 182). According to a census of 1790,
on the authority of Gatschet, the Nacogdoche were reduced to 34 men, 31 women,
27 boys, and 23 girls. Davenport, in 1809, reported the Nacogdochitos as
comprising 50 men (Noticia, Archivo General, Prov. Intern., 201, MS.).
By 1752 the Nacogdoche pueblo had been removed some 3 leagues northward
(De Soto
Bermudez, op. cit.). When this transfer took place is not clear, but Mezicres
says that they deserted the mission at once (Carta, Aug. 23,1779, in
Mem. de
Nueva España, xxviii, 225, MS.). In 1771 Gov. Barrios reported them as still near
the Hainai (Infonne, 2, MS.). It seems probable that a considerable part of the Nacogdoche tribe was absorbed in the general population at Nacogdoches after the
settlement of the Spaniards in 1779, for census reports thereafter show a large
number of Indians and mixed-bloods at that place. After this time the remnant of
the tribe seems sometimes to appear as Nacogdochitos. Morfi, about1781, located
this tribe on the Attoyac. In 1809 Davenport, writing from Nacogdoches, did not
name the Nacogdoches in the list of surrounding tribes, but placed the
Nacogdochitos on the Angelina, 5 leagues north of Nacogdoches (Noticia, Archivo
General, Prov. Intern., 201, MS. ). A Spanish map made between 1795 and 1819
shows the "Nacodoches" above where Davenport put the "Nocogdochitos,"
i. e., on the east side of the Angelina about halfway between Nacogdoches and Sabine river.
(MS. Mapa Geognifica de lag Provincias Septentrionales de esta Nueva España).
In habit, ceremony, and social organization the Nacogdoche resembled the other
tribes of the Hasinai confederacy.
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