|
|
James River, Jamestown area 1609
This map was compiled by William Strachey, secretary of the Jamestown colony 1610.
It shows the villages in the area with populations of warriors in each, the total population would be about 4+ times the number of "fighting men" ( Multiply the numbers shown on the map by 4 to get an estimate of the population for each village) .
Included are excerpt about the queen of Oholasc and Opussoquonuske as to describe why the colonists referred to the Indian leaders as Kings and Queens. This excerpt contains excellent descriptions of the regalia the Natives wore as royalty.
Each village amounted to a state in the broader confederacy of Powhatan, they paid tribute (taxes) and received protection from Indian nations to the West and North. Powhatan himself is described in his own section on this web site.
To the North were Iroquian speakers, to the West were Siouxan speakers, and the Powhatan confederacy was Algonquin speakers.
It seems that people, even today, enjoy the idea of royalty. These
Indians took it to the limit, the page below has a map of villages in the area ( number approx 40 ) . Click here to see a map of the towns and Kings' houses as determined by modern archeology.
|
|
|
Strachey's Map of 1609 NOTES:
1. Parahunt - Powhatan's son
7. Oholasc - (see below), Queen of Coiacohhanauke(Tapahanock)
4.Opussoquonuske, Queen Appomattuck, sister to Coquonasum. She was mentioned by several writers (see below)
13. Wowinchopunck, King of Paspaheigh, on whose land the Jamestown fort was built (without permission of course) .
Powhatan River is the James River today.. Paumunkey River is the York River today.
|
|
Smith, Archer, and Percy on Queen Opussoquonuske..
On First exploratory trip with Capt Newport up the James River: This event was recorded by several writers as it was the first planned encounter with the Indians.
SMITH: The next day the Queene of Agamatack kindely intreated us, her people being no lesse contented then the rest, and from thence we went to another place, (the name wherof I doe not remember) where the people shewed us the manner of their diving of Mussels, in which they finde Pearles. ...
GABRIEL ARCHER: She had an usher before her who brought her to the mat prepared under a fair mulbuerry tree, where she sat her down by herself with a staid countenance. She would permit none to stand or site near her. She is a fat, lusty, manly woman; she had much copper about her neck, a crownet of copper upon her head; she had long black hair, was covered with a deer's skin, and else all naked; she had her womien attending on her adorned much like herself, save they wanted the copper. ...
GEORGE PERCY: The Queen of Apametica was attired with a coronet beset with many white bones, her ears hanged with copper, a chain thereof six times compassing her neck.....
When visiting Powhatan with Capt Newport:
SMITH: After that, he commanded the Queene of Apamatuc, a comely yong Salvage, to give me water, a Turkie cocke, and breade to eate
Notice that Smith and Archer had some disagreement as to the appeal of Opussoquonuske. Whatever she looked like she was an important pawn in Powhatan's kingdom.
Strachey on Queen Opussoquonuske.
Opussoquonuske, sister to Coquonasum, a werowansqua, or queen, of the small village of Appamatuck, not unlike an ancient episcata villatica -- and she was of power to have spared upon command some 20 able fighting men, mhowbeit her town we burnt and killed some of her people ( herself miscarrying with small shot in pursuit in the woods in winter, 1610 ) for a treacherous massacre which practiced upon 14 of our men, whome she caused her people to invite up into her town to feast and make merry, entreating our men beforehand to leave their arms and their botat because they said how their women would be afraid else of their pieces.
The Algonquin word for queen, werowansqua, is the probably origin of the word Squaw, later used for an Indian woman among Americans.
Strachey on Oholasc:
13. Proceedings of the Virginia Colony on Smith's combat with the Paspahegh King.
hee incountred the King of Paspaheigh, a most strong stout Salvage; whose perswasions not being able to perswade him to his ambush, seeing him only armed but with a fauchion, attempted to have shot him. But the President prevented his shot by grapling with him ; and the Salvage as well prevented him from drawing his fauchion, and perforce bore him into the river to have drowned him. Long they struggled in the water, [Wowinchopunck] would have fled: but the President held him by the haire and throat ... Then seeing howe pittifully the poore Salvage begged his life, they conducted him prisoner to the fort.
| |
|
| |
|
|
