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Powhatan Indian Tribes
Appomattoc.
A tribe of the Powhatan confederacy formerly living on lower Appomattox
River, Va. They had 60 warriors in 1608, and were of some importance as
late as 1671, but were extinct by 1722.
Their principal village, which bore the same name was
on the site of Bermuda Hundred, Prince George County, was burned by the
English in 1611. Appomatox was also one of the terms applied to the
Matchotic, a later combination of remnants of the same confederacy.
Chickahominy
(from K'chick-ahän-min'-nough,
'course-pounded corn people.' 'hominy people' Tooker; or from
Tshi-kĕjämĕn, a place name meaning 'swept,' "cleared,' and implying a
clearing—Gerard).
A tribe of the Powhatan confederacy, formerly living on
Chickahominy River, Va. It was one of the most important tribes in
Virginia, numbering 250 warriors, or perhaps 900 souls, in 1608, and was
not so directly under the control of Powhatan as the other tribes over
which he ruled. In 1613 they entered into an alliance with the English and
assumed the name of Tassautessus (sic), or "Englishmen." In 1669 they were
still estimated at 60 warriors, possibly 220 souls, but in 1722 were
reported to number only about 80. Their last public notice occurs in this
same year, when, in connection with the Pamunkey, they were named in the
Albany conference with the Iroquois as among the Virginia tribes not to be
molested by the latter. A mixed-blood band numbering about 220 still keeps
up the name, but without regular tribal organization, on both sides of
Chickahominy River in New Kent and Charles City County, Va., with Wm. H.
Adkins as chief in 1905. They are on close terms of association with the
neighboring bands of Pamunkey and Mattapony.
Matchotic ('bad inlet.'-Hewitt). A
group of tribes of the Powhatan confederacy occupying. the country between
Potomac and Rappahannock rivers down to about the middle of Richmond
county, Va., comprising the Tauxenent, Potomac, Cuttatawomen, Pissasec,
and Onawmanient. They numbered perhaps 400 warriors in 1608, but 60 years
later, according to Jefferson, had become reduced to 60 warriors. See
Appomattoc.
Weanoc. A tribe
of the Powhatan confederacy, formerly living in Charles City co., Va., on
the north bank of James river. In 1608 they numbered about 500. They seem
to have crossed over to the south bank of James river toward the close of
the 17th century, perhaps in consequence of a disastrous attack from the
Iroquois in 1687. In 1722
Beverley stated that their former settlement in Prince George county,
south of the James, was extinct, and in 1727 it was stated that they had
lived at different times on upper Nottoway river and on a tributary
stream, then called Wyanoke creek, near the North Carolina frontier.
Nottoway river was also at one time known by their name.
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
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